How can we help our patrons stay safe and protect their personal information online? In this session, school, public and academic librarians will provide tips and resources for training library users about the basics of online privacy protection, including using public computers and wifi networks safely, savvy use of social media, tracking by Google and…Read more Cybercreeps, Data Miners and Peeping Uncle Sams – Teaching Patrons about Privacy Online

Description Public libraries and schools should team up to teach how to evaluate information. In a Stanford study, 2/3rds of students couldn’t recognize a sponsored ad vs true news, over half believed a fake video of ballot stuffing. We need digital literacy curriculum to guarantee the vitality of American democracy. The best approach is inoculation…Read more A Natural Alliance Youth Librarians, Schools and Teaching Critical Thinking [aka dealing with Misinformation]

Does your library prioritize lifelong learning and promoting literacy? If so, then it’s time to bring those initiatives to patrons who are incarcerated. Low literacy is linked to incarceration and recidivism while access to higher education has been shown to reduce recidivism by 43%. Even so, in Oregon only 6% of the prison budget is…Read more Library Services to People Experiencing the Carceral System and Those Reentering

Legal questions strike fear into the hearts of most library staff, but it doesn’t have to be that way. After years working in public libraries, the presenters shifted almost overnight to law librarianship. Our previous work prepared left us ill-prepared for legal research. We’ve discovered, though, that we don’t need to do legal research for…Read more How We Learned to Love Legal Reference and You Can Too

Description The new RDA Toolkit (the official version of RDA as of December 2020) incorporates new concepts and terminology, such as the use of application profiles and relationship elements. This presentation will provide an overview of the new Toolkit and plans for training and implementation, with an emphasis on how the cataloger’s decisions will be…Read more Restructured, Redesigned – Ready or Not for the New RDA Toolkit

Description Public libraries should encourage EDI within their institutions and provide ongoing support for building our democracy. Yet, some basic political structures don’t support EDI. To change them we must first understand “inclusivity and equity” is not one representative for 750,000 people, nor 70% of a Senate vote representing 30% of the population. It is…Read more ” Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” – How Libraries Can Support EDI Beyond the Institution

Reference librarians sometimes interact with patrons who are concerned about a particular local government ordinance, administrative regulation, or state statute. They say, “It’s not right! It’s unfair! It must be changed!” Help these ‘activist patrons’ by gaining a greater understanding of how everyday citizens can make a difference in their communities. Hear first-hand accounts from…Read more So You Want to Change The World! – How to Be a Great Librarian to Your Activist Patrons

In the US, over 20% of our population has at least one condition that makes reading a printed book difficult or impossible. Whether they have blindness, arthritis, dyslexia, or some other condition, many people would benefit from accessibility technology if librarians knew what is available and how to use it. The IMLS-funded Reading for Access…Read more Reading for Access and Inclusion

It is always a feeling of relief and accomplishment after a successful conference, workshop, or webinar. It is becoming common to provide online session materials for attendees to access once the continuing education event is completed.  OLA is asking that you help to coordinate posting of your program’s presentation materials to NW Central: Submit materials…Read more Submit Event

Description Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of Internet access was a serious issue facing many Americans, particularly older adults, racial minorities, rural residents, and those with low incomes or low educational attainment. Without the Internet it can be difficult or impossible to apply for jobs, access government forms, complete homework, and communicate with…Read more Lending the Internet Bridging the Digital Divide with WiFi Hotspots

“It is the way we’ve always done it” – it is a common response to so many questions. It is a response that many of us cringe when we hear it. Yet it is the exact response we give when we ask, why do you use the Dewey Decimal System. It is the way we’ve…Read more Preconference – Rethinking Dewey

Description By now, as people invested in libraries, we have all heard the term Diversity Audit. However, many still have so many questions around this process. For example, what exactly is a diversity audit? How would I actually do one? My collection is too big, that is an impossible task! We plan to dive into…Read more Diversity Audits, Let’s Talk About It!

OLA Support Staff Division 25th Annual Conference 2019 Transforming Together: Building a Better Library July 16, 2019 Clackamas, Oregon Exploring Other Libraries to Restore Your Beginner’s Mind – Keynote Speaker: Kristine Alpi, University Librarian at OHSU Book Mending – Carolee Harrison, Special Collections and Conservation Technician at Portland State University Othering in the Library –…Read more Support Staff Division Conference 2019

Description Come meet and greet our poster session creators live! Did you see something particularly awesome in a poster session? Drop by to congratulate the creator. Did you have questions about one of the poster sessions? Now’s your chance to ask. The poster sessions will be available for viewing at any time during the conference…Read more Spotlight on Poster Sessions

Description Author, David F. Walker is an award-winning comic book writer, filmmaker, journalist, and educator. His writing career started in the 1990s with the self-published ‘zine, BadAzz MoFo. In 1997 he produced and directed Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered, and Shafted, a feature-length documentary on the history of blaxploitation films. Walker is best known for his work in graphic novels and…Read more Keynote Speaker presentation with David Walker, April 22

Speakers: Emily O’Neal, Deschutes Public Library; Adrienne Doman Calkins, Sherwood Public Library; Marie Felgentrager, Roseburg Public Schools; Lizbeth Chavez Villasenor, Beaverton City Library Description: In this time of extensive challenges to library policies, materials, and practices, one of the best defenses a library system can proactively take is to have well-documented and officially adopted library…Read more Library Policies: Best Practices for Strong Library Policies

Description What do you think of when you think of Graphic Novels? Out of this world storytelling? Avant-Gard artwork? International images and topics of every variety? What about diversity? Graphic novels are an engaging format that can convey diversity in age, race, ability, and gender identity. So, let’s talk about it! The three-part panel will…Read more Diversity in Children’s Graphic Works

Welcome from OLA President, Kate Lasky / Land Acknowledgement by Courtney Terry / Keynote by Paul Lumley. Keynote Title:  Libraries and the Native American Experience “Libraries are so much more than a place for books. The Native American experience is essential to the future of libraries as well as other communities that could benefit from…Read more Welcome, Land Acknowledgement and Keynote “Libraries and the Native American Experience

All Oregonians can benefit from understanding the vast diversity of the Oregon Native American experience. K-12 schools statewide are implementing the new Tribal History/Shared History curriculum that offers historically accurate, culturally embedded, contemporary, and place-based curricula developed in partnership with the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon. How can your programs and materials align with…Read more Preconference – Tribal History/Shared History: Programming and Resources

                Keynote Speaker: Sally Eck, Interrupting Oppression in Our Everyday Lives  Moment of Reflection  with Jaylyn Suppah and Jillisa Suppah Basic Book Repair for Libraries, Carolee Harrison (Special Collections and Conservation Technician at Portland State University). – Book Repair Workshop Resources & Bibliography 2022 Liberation Books: A Panel…Read more Support Staff Division Conference 2022