CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities: Full Schedule

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8:45am MDT

Censorship and Sensibility: Intellectual Freedom Then, Now, and Beyond

Wednesday September 9, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am MDT

What is intellectual freedom, and why does it matter in today’s libraries? Join CAL Intellectual Freedom Committee Co-Chairs, Ally and Michaela, to explore the history of book challenges, what makes a book “banned,” and the impact these issues have on our communities. This session introduces key milestones and movements that have shaped intellectual freedom, while also addressing current issues and emerging challenges.

Participants will engage with peers through guided activities and discussions that explore real-world scenarios, encouraging reflection and collaboration. Content will be tailored to the unique intellectual freedom concerns faced by public, school, and academic libraries, providing a practical and relevant foundation for understanding and responding to these challenges.

Speakers

Michaela Wilson

CAL's IFC Co-Chair, Pine River Library

Ally Rodriguez-Marshall

CAL's IFC Co-Chair, High Plains Library District - LINC Library Innovation Center

Wednesday September 9, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Deep Dive

10:45am MDT

Turning Outward: Using the Harwood Approach to produce greater relevance, significance, and impact

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

Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Being "turned outward" is a mindset that uses community voices as a reference point to create meaningful change. Using this framework and tools developed by the Harwood Institute has led to intentional choices and actions that have strengthened connections and sparked actions to build civic culture. This session will share how this approach has been used in several public library settings and give participants a chance to practice one of the basic tools to gather community aspirations.

Speakers

Currie Meyer

Library Branch Manager, attended multiple Harwood Institute Labs and used tools over past 8 years, Poudre River Public Library District

Diane Lapierre

Executive Director of Library and 20+ years doing community engagement work, Poudre River Public Library District

Wednesday September 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Breakout Session

1:45pm MDT

Power of the People: Seeking and leveraging long-term staff insights for organizational effectiveness

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

Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Through years of service, staff turnover, technological impacts, leadership changes, economic shifts, and other notable events, long term staff accumulate insights and ideas that can benefit organizations. Learn about ways to identify an insightful group of staff, create surveys, organize focus groups, and synthesize and present relevant information to key stakeholders. Garfield County Public Library District used these strategies to collect information and integrate long term staff insights for strategic planning, during a leadership change, and to increase the library trustees' understanding of how to support staff longevity.

Speakers

Kim Owens

Head of Human Resources. Focused on staff retention and growth. Headed up this project, including identifying staff to solicit feedback, developing and deploying surveys and focus groups, and presenting the information to key stakeholders., Garfield County Public Libraries District

Abraham Korah

Hands on experience in completing this project, including identifying staff to solicit feedback, developing and deploying surveys and focus groups, and presenting the information to key stakeholders., Garfield County Public Libraries District

Wednesday September 9, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Breakout Session

3:00pm MDT

Three Kinds of Conversations: Preparing Effective Legislative Advocacy for Libraries

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

Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Library leaders are increasingly called on to speak with legislators about funding, policy, and the future of library services. But not every conversation with an elected official should be approached in the same way. This session introduces a practical framework for legislative advocacy built around three types of conversations: Affirmative, where advocates persuade someone who is likely persuadable; Corrective, where advocates address misunderstandings or opposition; and Confirmational, where advocates strengthen or deepen the support of an existing ally.
Participants will explore how elected officials tend to orient their decisions around the people they represent, the place they represent, or the platform they ran on, and how advocates can tailor testimony, meetings, and messaging accordingly. The session will offer a strategic lens for preparing testimony, planning legislative meetings, and communicating effectively about library initiatives.

Speakers

John Chrastka

Executive Director, EveryLibrary

I am the executive director of EveryLibrary, the national political action committee for libraries. I am open to chat about ballot measures, local political issues, and ways to improve relationships with local elected officials and stakeholders. All of our work is pro-bono and for... Read More →

Wednesday September 9, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

Breakout Session