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CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities
Venue: Tome Raider Breakout Room 1 clear filter
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Thursday, September 10
 

10:45am MDT

From Data to Dialogue: Understanding Burnout, Coping, and Support in Library Settings
Thursday September 10, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
More than 800 library workers from across the country responded to a survey exploring the relationship between burnout and mental health practices. Follow up interviews with 50 library employees created a more robust and nuanced understanding of how library workers are faring in today’s complicated world. This presentation will share results from both the survey and interviews, exploring how work-place, patron, and personal burnout rates are influenced by personal coping strategies, including the value of employer-provided counseling (EAP), individual therapy, or other activities focused on stress reduction. This interactive session will also provide attendees with the opportunity for discussion and strategizing about how to address burnout vulnerabilities, such as compassion fatigue, secondary (or primary) trauma, and organizational friction, as well as interventions to reduce the impact of burnout when it happens.
Speakers
avatar for Annie Epperson

Annie Epperson

Academic librarian with more than 20 years of experience working in academia. Active researcher in assessment, belongingness, and space utilization., University of Northern Colorado

avatar for Jayne Blodgett

Jayne Blodgett

Academic librarian for more than 18 years with nearly 10 years as an administrator. Soon to graduate (Aug. 2026) from UNC with an MA in clinical mental health counseling., University of Northern Colorado

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Kristin Kang

University of Northern Colorado
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Thursday September 10, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

2:00pm MDT

Moving the goal posts or raising the bar? Deciding on the best objectives in Children’s Services
Thursday September 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Create proficient readers by third grade or nurture lifelong readers? Focus on high door counts or measure the effectiveness of programs? Buy decodable books recommended by schools or those craved by kids? Take books and programs out to the underserved families in the community or keep the community coming to the library building?  Are these and other topics false dichotomies or the current reality of hard choices and balancing acts when working in children’s services in public libraries? Since Every Child Ready to Read (2000), children’s librarians have recognized the importance of using valid research to support programming and collection development decisions that will convince directors and best serve the families in their communities. But who has time to round up high-quality relevant research? We do! Join us for a lively and informative discussion of the compelling research behind these and other issues and gather points for making your case. 
Speakers
avatar for Jim Erekson

Jim Erekson

Jim Erekson has been teaching language and literacy at the college level since 1989. His Ph.D. in learning and development (Michigan State, 2000) focused on language and literacy development. He has a wide K-12 background in both elementary and secondary schools, including research, teaching, and consultation. His professional work and publications focus on helping readers who don’t have a clear path forward, and interpreting children’s literature. He is currently Professor of Reading at University of Northern Colorado., Literacy Program, School of Teacher Education, University of Northern Colorado

avatar for Lu Benke

Lu Benke

Lu Benke brings to her consultations, presentations, and research articles experiences from over 35 years as a children’s librarian (most recently at Poudre Libraries) as well as the best of recent research from her Master’s in Reading and PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. She is passionate about identifying and strengthening the connections between what libraries do and what research indicates creates lifelong readers. She currently consults through Linking Libraries and Literacy and presents and writes locally and nationally on topics such as current trends in the teaching of reading, the role of motivation in literacy, creative outreach, and the history of children’s librarianship. In addition, Lu is active on three Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) groups—Legislative Committee, Intellectual Freedom, and Children and Teen Services., Linking Libraries and Literacy

Thursday September 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1

4:00pm MDT

Strategic Planning Reimagined - AI and Gamification in Public Libraries
Thursday September 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Public libraries are rethinking strategic planning—and this session offers a blueprint for doing so with innovation, equity, and engagement. Learn how one library district replaced traditional consulting with AI-assisted tools to analyze trends, community input, and internal metrics. Discover how gamification was used to anonymize data and foster objective, inclusive planning during a full-day retreat with staff and stakeholders. Participants were assigned fictionalized branches based on real libraries, allowing them to assess community needs and generate strategic objectives without bias. This approach democratized planning, elevated diverse perspectives, and aligned decisions with data rather than emotion. Attendees will leave with replicable strategies for integrating AI into planning workflows, designing engaging retreats, and using anonymized data to reduce bias. A panel of library leaders will share insights, lessons learned, and future possibilities for AI in public library strategy.
Speakers
avatar for Amy Nelson

Amy Nelson

I have over 20 years of experience in public libraries and have been in leadership for over a decade. As the Associate Director, I led the strategic planning project our library conducted last year with our Executive Director of Library Foundation and Strategic Initiatives and we plan to present this session together. We both work extensively with data and community engagement, as well as planning and administration for our library district. We are both on the task force for AI implementation at PCCLD we and have completed extensive professional development in AI to support responsible AI governance and application in in public libraries., Pueblo City-County Library District

Thursday September 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Tome Raider Breakout Room 1
 
CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities
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