CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities: Full Schedule

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8:45am MDT

From Check-Ins to Breakthroughs: Rethinking One-on-Ones

Friday September 11, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am MDT

Are you stuck in a routine when it comes to holding one-on-one meetings? Have you been eager to overhaul your approach to ensure both you and your employees get more value from these sessions? In this workshop, you will understand the pivotal role one-on-one meetings play in enabling supervisors to nurture growth, enhance retention, and boost overall performance. Uncover techniques for creating purposeful and staff-driven one-on-one interactions that transcend basic status updates or casual conversations. Whether you are a supervisor aiming to elevate team performance or an employee eager to make stronger connections with your manager and peers, you will discover how to level up your one-on-ones and leverage these meetings to achieve your objectives.

Speakers

Melissa Beavers

As an experienced manager, I have been working towards improving the success of one-on-ones both as a facilitator with my staff and as an attendee with my supervisor. I have read numerous books and articles on the topic and be using various techniques for many years with strong results., High Plains Library District

Friday September 11, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am MDT
Reference Ranger Breakout Room 2

Breakout Session

10:00am MDT

CUnique Stories: Community Connection Through Storytelling

Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am MDT

Reference Ranger Breakout Room 2

How might libraries enact compassion and belonging through storytelling? Librarians at CU Boulder explored this question over the past several years and designed intentional events to better understand the possibilities. CUnique Stories was a storytelling event in celebration of our 2025-2026 campus One Read title. In an effort to center compassionate listening and community connection, the University Libraries offered a program inspired by the traditions of both Storycorps and the Human Library. Members from the campus community, Storytellers, shared their stories of finding fulfillment in their lives. Participating students, faculty, and staff, or Listeners, heard a wide range of life experiences and pathways towards finding one’s calling. Listeners and Storytellers engaged in dialogue, conversation, and exchange to strengthen community connections. During this presentation, we will share the values, processes, and materials used to design CUnique Stories and offer suggestions for how a similar program might be adapted for a variety of audiences and libraries. We will invite participants to briefly engage as Storytellers and Listeners, giving a taste of what it looks and feels like to authentically connect with others through compassionate listening. We will also share possibilities for assessment of programs like CUnique Stories.

Speakers

Cynthia Keller

Ample years of experience designing and facilitating engagement programming to promote connection, community, and belonging in academic libraries., University of Colorado Boulder

Amanda Rybin Koob

Ample years of experience designing and facilitating engagement programming to promote connection, community, and belonging in academic libraries., University of Colorado Boulder

Caroline Sinkinson

Ample years of experience designing and facilitating engagement programming to promote connection, community, and belonging in academic libraries., University of Colorado Boulder

Friday September 11, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am MDT
Reference Ranger Breakout Room 2

Breakout Session

1:15pm MDT

Project Management in Libraries: Make a Plan and then Paddle Like the Dickens

Friday September 11, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm MDT

Reference Ranger Breakout Room 2

Much of the work we do in libraries is project-based, and we often find ourselves in charge of projects without formal training in how to successfully manage them. While most projects are still successful, they can be more stressful than they need to be. This session will help support people who manage projects in the library to plan those projects to ensure success and reduce stress for everyone.
In this session, we will introduce the project management cycle and agile techniques and how they help to simplify successful projects. Attendees will work step by step with their own project idea to identify key phases, clarify project purpose, define deliverables, outline a realistic schedule, and determine meaningful measures of success. We will also explore stakeholder engagement and communication strategies that strengthen collaboration and support smoother implementation.
Participants will bring a project they are considering or that is in progress and will develop a detailed and flexible project plan and tools to use to manage the project.

Speakers

Charissa Brammer

Multiple years of experience working in survey design, implementation, and data analysis., Colorado State Library

Jami Yazdani

Strategic Execution Partner, Yazdani Consulting & Facilitation

Jami Yazdani, MLIS, is the founder of Yazdani Consulting and Facilitation, where she helps changemakers lead collaborative teams with clarity and confidence—so their work creates meaningful impact. Jami began her library career in circulation roles before earning a library degree... Read More →

Friday September 11, 2026 1:15pm - 2:45pm MDT
Reference Ranger Breakout Room 2

Deep Dive

CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities

Success you have shared X tickets.

CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities

8:45am MDT

Melissa Beavers

10:00am MDT

Cynthia Keller

Amanda Rybin Koob

Caroline Sinkinson

1:15pm MDT

Charissa Brammer

Jami Yazdani

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