CALCON 2026 Courageous Libraries Resilient Communities: Full Schedule

8:45am MDT

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

Whether it’s your first time or you just want to make the most of your conference, this session is your perfect kickoff. Join Becky and Tanya (CALCON 2026 Program Chair and Conference CO-Chair)for a high-energy jumpstart — they’ll share insider tips on can’t-miss sessions, help you connect with fellow attendees, and answer any questions you may have. We will also be highlighting volunteer and leadership opportunities as well as giving attendees a breakdown of how CAL works and it's importance to Colorado libraries. Come get the lay of the land and start your CALCON adventure off right!

Speakers

Becky Van Den Berg

Hosting RPG library programs, Pine River Library District (Bayfield branch)

Tanya Prax

CALCON Co-Chair 2026/Youth Services Librarian, Arapahoe Libraries

Tanya Prax is a Youth Services Librarian at Arapahoe Libraries in Denver, Colorado. Her favorite things about her job (if she had to pick) are a family cooking program and booktalking to kids at schools.Tanya has been involved with ALA, ALSC, CAL, and is just finishing up a term on... Read More →

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

10:45am MDT

You Can’t Pour From Empty (But You Still Have To Show Up)

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

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Working in libraries means holding a lot. You're supporting patrons with diverse needs, managing competing demands, navigating interruptions, and showing up with patience and care, even when the day feels overwhelming.

In this interactive session, participants will explore what overwhelm actually is, how it shows up in the body and mind, and why it can be so hard to stay grounded in high-demand moments. Rather than pushing through or shutting down, we’ll focus on practical ways to notice overwhelm earlier and respond with intention.

Through reflection and simple, in-the-moment strategies, participants will build awareness of their personal stress signals and learn how to reset without stepping away from their responsibilities. Because in environments where everything is happening at once, the ability to steady yourself isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Speakers

Amy Brady

Certified Coach and Facilitator. Certified in many emotional intelligence modalities. 25+ years working with youth and youth organizations., The Flourish Lab

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

1:45pm MDT

Enhancing Access

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

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How can your library move beyond basic access and truly advance equity? This session explores practical, sustainable strategies for strengthening Spanish-language services in your library.

We will discuss the critical role Spanish Services play in building trust, increasing engagement, and fostering inclusion within diverse communities. Topics include the value of hiring native Spanish-speaking staff, developing and maintaining a relevant and culturally responsive Spanish-language collection, designing bilingual programs, and implementing effective translation and interpretation practices.

Participants will gain actionable ideas for expanding outreach, supporting language justice, and creating welcoming spaces where Spanish-speaking patrons feel seen, heard, and valued. Whether your library is just beginning this work or looking to deepen existing efforts, this session will provide tools and inspiration to better serve your community.

Speakers

Lidia Gurrola-Navarro

As the Spanish Services Coordinator for the past three years, I bring hands-on experience in developing and expanding Spanish-language services in the library. My work centers on building trust with our Spanish-speaking community, improving language accessibility, and ensuring that our Latine community can fully benefit from the library’s programs, resources, and partnerships. am the Spanish Service Coordinator and have been for 3 years I'm very invested in the community and always looking for ways that my Latine community can benefit from our services., Lake County Public Library

Stephanie Puebla

As a Bilingual Library Assistant III, I am often the first point of contact for many of our patrons. I take pride in representing my community within the library and bringing my lived experience into my work. This perspective helps inform areas such as collection development and the creation of meaningful bilingual programming., Lake County Public Library

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

3:00pm MDT

What’s Next? Possibilities for Adult English Language Learners After the Curriculum is Done

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

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Do you have programming for adult English language learners? Have they completed a textbook series or curriculum? What’s next for these patrons? Come and learn about how a library and nonprofit community based organization are addressing the diverse needs of people who are mostly fluent in English but still growing in their confidence and desire to connect. Participants will learn more about who this specific group of library patrons are: adult English learners who have completed curriculum goals but still want to build confidence in their fluency. They will explore possibilities for adults who are English learners to participate in “bridging” activities: book clubs, conversation groups, and other supported engagement activities. Finally, they will take away information about how to create their own supplemental programming for this unique group of library patrons.

Speakers

Tiffany Curtin

Tiffany Curtin has served as the the Adult Literacy and Community Outreach Specialist with Douglas County Libraries since 2012. This program serves serves around 100 adult English learners annually at all levels. Since 2015, Ms Curtin has taught a graduate seminar in Adult Literacy for MLS students at San Jose State University as an adjunct instructor.., Douglas County Libraries

Karin Bates

Karin Bates is the TESOL Specialist for Intercambio Uniting Communities in Boulder, Colorado. Karin has her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She has over 35 years of experience teaching ESOL in multiple levels and settings. Before joining Intercambio, she worked with adult immigrants and refugees for five years at the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado. At IRCNOCO, she helped to develop programming with the cooperation of the High Plains Library District. At Intercambio, she now specializes in curriculum writing and volunteer teacher training, and regularly presents at regional and national adult education and TESOL conferences., Intercambio Uniting Communities

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

10:45am MDT

Charting Your Path: Career Development for the Courageous Library Professional

Thursday September 10, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT

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What if you had a clearer roadmap for your library career? Whether you are early in your journey, considering a move into management, or simply figuring out your next step, this deep dive session meets you where you are! Through a short strengths and goal-setting exercise, small group conversations with experienced library professionals, and a take-home career path template, participants will leave with more than inspiration – they’ll leave with a plan. We will explore the real challenges of navigating careers in libraries, including how to keep growing when the path feels uncertain. This session offers a practical, hands-on career development opportunity shaped by community knowledge sharing and focused on building individual resilience.

Speakers

Xochil Arellano

Equity Diversity and Inclusion management for Poudre Libraries, Poudre Libraries

Thursday September 10, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am MDT
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Breakout Session

2:00pm MDT

Thursday Thought Talks

Thursday September 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT

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Thought Talks are 15-20 minute mini-sessions within a session!

1. Numbers (Help!) Tell Our Library Story:
This session will focus on statewide, multiyear trends in public library services, collections, finances, staffing, and more. Highlights from the latest data from the 2025 Public Library Annual Survey as well as national trends will tell the story of Colorado’s public libraries. The presenters will demonstrate free tools available from the Library Research Service that attendees can use to tell their own library’s stories.
2. Supporting All Students: Considerations & Challenges in Implementing Academic Library Support for Campus Prison Education Program:
Regis University librarians are in the process of implementing library support for the school’s prison education program. Regis’ Prison Education Program (RPEP) serves students at the Limon Correctional Facility. University prison education programs vary drastically across the country and within Colorado and require various specialized services. Providing library services and information literacy education to this population presents additional challenges.
3. EPA Region 8 Community Library Program - Providing Resources, Making Connections:
The Healthy Schools Team in the Denver office of the USEPA recently launched a new program to work with community libraries in several states including Colorado. We are excited to connect with Colorado libraries to share more about the Community Library Program and invite new libraries to participate. The goal of the Community Library Program is to provide environmental outreach and education and increase community engagement.

Speakers

Kim Bartels

Children's Environmental Health and Healthy Schools Coordinator, USEPA Region 8

Charissa Brammer

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

Dana Petersen

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

Amanda Davidson

Amanda is a Research & Instruction Librarian at Regis University. She has worked in academic libraries for over three years and has an MLIS from San Jose State University. Amanda is the subject liaison for Communications, Counseling, Education, and Psychology and is currently the lead librarian for the Regis University Prison Education Program., Regis University

Ashley Meisenheimer

Ashley Meisenheimer, MA, MLIS currently serves as a Research and Instruction librarian at Regis University. Her previous positions have seen her in both private business, as well as industry, and she has worked with varied populations across her career. Her specialties are History, Politics and Medicine., Regis University

Thursday September 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm MDT
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Breakout Session

4:00pm MDT

From Idea to Impact: First Steps to Transforming Your Library

Thursday September 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT

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Libraries evolve with their communities. Whether you’re expanding, renovating, refreshing, or building a new facility, knowing where to begin can be the biggest challenge. This session will guide librarians, staff, and trustees through the essential first steps. It starts with community engagement: listening to residents, understanding what they need, and building the case for investment. From there, we’ll explore facility planning, including phasing projects, maintaining operations during construction, and using case studies and analysis to support decision-making. Finally, we’ll discuss funding pathways, from mill levies and library districts to municipal budgets, bonds, and private funding. Attendees will leave with a clearer roadmap for turning community needs into actionable plans, and the financial support needed to make their next library project possible.

Speakers

Rob Cullin

Rob brings over 20 years of experience working with libraries nationwide and internationally. As co-founder of ReThinking Libraries (RTL) and a former leader at Kimberly Bolan & Associates (KBA), he has supported thousands of libraries and visited more than 1,000 facilities. His work focuses on strategic planning, facility planning, and community engagement. Rob’s expertise includes library space programming and design, demographic and usage data analysis, technology planning, and organizational assessment, helping libraries translate community insights into practical, data-informed decisions., ReThinking Libraries

Wells Squier

Wells has more than 29 years of professional experience working with public sector clients, and has a proven record of success with library projects in Colorado. He is known for his gracious demeanor and collaborative approach, successfully bringing clients, communities, and design teams together to create legacy projects., Anderson Hallas Architects

Rebecca Silva

Rebecca brings hands-on experience managing library projects from concept through completion, each grounded in robust community engagement. Her work is driven by a passion for holistic, context-sensitive design that connects people, place, and purpose, ensuring library spaces reflect and support the communities they serve. She also brings expertise in evaluating and implementing sustainable design strategies, helping libraries create efficient, resilient, and future-ready facilities., Anderson Hallas Architects

Thursday September 10, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
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Breakout Session

8:45am MDT

From Curiosity to Career: Building STEM Pathways Through Libraries

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

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How can libraries spark curiosity, inspire future innovators, and connect families to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) possibilities? According to an article published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, informal STEM learning can lead to positive outcomes for students from historically marginalized communities. In response to opportunity gaps for students to participate in informal STEM enrichment programs, this session will equip you to incorporate STEM programs and events into your library’s offerings. You will learn how to bring together STEM leaders, educators, and families to showcase STEM’s relevance in everyday life while positioning libraries as key partners in fostering discovery and exploration. Participants will leave with strategies for hosting STEM-focused programs, building community partnerships, finding funding sources, and encouraging youth to see science, technology, engineering and mathematics as meaningful career pathways.

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

Alyssa Johnson

Alyssa is an Innovation Technician at HPLD and is an adjunct chemistry instructor at University of Northern Colorado, she has been making science accessible to people of all ages for more than a decade., High Plains Library District

Victor Sam

Victor is an engineer and a DEI administrator at Stantec who has been assisting STEM enrichment programs at schools, libraries, and recreation centers for over 15 years., Stantec

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

10:00am MDT

CUnique Stories: Community Connection Through Storytelling

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

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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
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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

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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

Amy Bahlenhorst

Amy has successfully planned research and assessment projects with the Library Research Service and projects in public libraries. She has 32 hours of formal project management training as required for the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.., Colorado State Library

Sara Wicen

Over four years of experience working at Library Research Service (LRS), a degree in English and a professional writing certificate, and a year of planning and executing the Colorful Colorado Libraries blog series. This session will share lessons from this lived experience., 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 and has been a reference librarian, technology librarian, library manager, and library director. With more than 20 years of experience leading complex, high-impact initiatives, Jami brings both structure... 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

Becky Van Den Berg

Tanya Prax

10:45am MDT

Amy Brady

1:45pm MDT

Lidia Gurrola-Navarro

Stephanie Puebla

3:00pm MDT

Tiffany Curtin

Karin Bates

10:45am MDT

Xochil Arellano

2:00pm MDT

Kim Bartels

Charissa Brammer

Dana Petersen

Amanda Davidson

Ashley Meisenheimer

4:00pm MDT

Rob Cullin

Wells Squier

Rebecca Silva

8:45am MDT

Melissa Beavers

Alyssa Johnson

Victor Sam

10:00am MDT

Cynthia Keller

Amanda Rybin Koob

Caroline Sinkinson

1:15pm MDT

Charissa Brammer

Amy Bahlenhorst

Sara Wicen

Jami Yazdani

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