CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities: Full Schedule

arrow_back View All Dates

10:45am MDT

Empowering Teens through Meaningful Service

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

How do you build a teen volunteer program that truly serves teens, and also adds value to your library? In this session, two colleagues from a mid-sized suburban library share how they manage teen volunteers across departments, with a shared commitment to making opportunities meaningful, skill-building, and teen-centered. We'll walk through specific opportunities, logistics, and the philosophy behind centering teen volunteers' needs. Bring your questions and your own stories to share. This program was originally presented as a webinar through Colorado State Library’s Talking Teen Services series in March 2025.

Speakers

Jessica Schwartz

Lindsay Huth has spent 20 years in public libraries with a focus on early childhood services, and currently coordinates teen volunteers in the Children’s Department at Louisville Public Library. Jessica Schwartz has 15 years of experience in teen services and has been developing and managing teen volunteer programs throughout her career. Both presenters work collaboratively at the same library, giving them firsthand experience building a cross-departmental volunteer program with a shared philosophy. Together, the presenters bring nearly 35 years of combined public library experience, with deep specialization in youth services. They presented on this topic together for CSL’s Talking Teen Services webinar series last year, and Jessica recently presented on this topic for the Infopeople course “Teen Services Fundamentals.”, Louisville Public Library

Lindsay Huth

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Query Queen Breakout Room 3

Breakout Session

1:45pm MDT

Budget Development and Forecasting

Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT

Query Queen Breakout Room 3

This session provides a practical overview of budget development and financial forecasting for local governments, including forecasting techniques, managing uncertainty, and using financial projections to support informed decision-making, long term planning, and fiscal sustainability.

Speakers

Amanda Karger

Amanda Karger served Colorado’s state and local communities for over 17 years as a government finance leader in various roles from budget analyst to the Director of Finance and Operations providing accounting, budget, forecasting, compliance, grants management, procurement, and financial oversight services at the Colorado Department of Education – Charter School Institute, Colorado Department of Revenue, Jeffco Public Schools, and the City of Aurora., Plante Moran

Reed Smythe

Reed Smythe served as Accounting Supervisor for the City of Wheat Ridge, overseeing core financial operations including audit preparation, reconciliations, cash management, budgeting, capital assets, and two bond issuances. He prepared monthly internal financial statements, managed AP/AR, led implementations of multiple financial systems, and developed processes to ensure compliance with GASB 87 and 96., Plante Moran

Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Query Queen Breakout Room 3

Breakout Session

3:00pm MDT

Once Upon a Time in the Library: How Film and TV Portray Libraries

Wednesday September 9, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT

Query Queen Breakout Room 3

Libraries appear frequently in film and television, often serving as symbols of knowledge, authority, and community. Using a series of short, curated clips, this session moves from familiar, traditional depictions of libraries and librarians in popular media to more expansive and contemporary portrayals found in lesser-known films and documentaries.
Attendees will be introduced to library-related media they may be unfamiliar with and encouraged to consider how these portrayals shape public expectations of what libraries are, what they do, and who they are for. The session also looks at how such examples may support advocacy, outreach, and instruction by offering shared reference points for broader library conversations.

Speakers