2026 ILA Conference

Learn to plan a building project, from ideas to planning to funding and execution of plans.

Attendees will learn how to start working on a building project. They will get a list of things that I learned from experience. They will learn how to fund and manage the project, how to track the funds for the project, and how to keep the library in motion during and after the building project is completed.

This presentation provides an overview of how one big dream came to fruition when CFPL decided to rebrand and adopt a mascot in an attempt to expand and enhance library awareness. 

Attendees will learn about library identity as an important factor in library awareness; adopting a mascot can increase community engagement with the library; libraries can implement a mascot in a variety of ways, with any budget.

A practical, tiered approach to library advocacy that empowers attendees to take action at every level, while navigating legal boundaries and responding to Iowa's evolving legislative landscape.

Attendees will learn about a range of advocacy strategies across varying levels of time, visibility, and effort. Distinguish between what library staff, trustees, Friends groups, and Foundations can and cannot do in advocacy contexts. Build and maintain relationships with elected officials and their staff. Confidently participate in legislative outreach efforts through the development of clear, compelling advocacy messages tailored to different audiences.

This session explores how the Opportunity Center at the Cedar Rapids Public Library helps connect patrons to employment, essential resources, and community partnerships to build pathways toward long-term stability and economic independence.

Attendees will learn about the core components of the Opportunity Center model and how it supports employment and economic stability. They will learn about common barriers to employment and how libraries can help address them through programs and partnerships.

Discover how nonfiction and fiction picture books can be used as springboards for STEAM programming that's fun, doable, and budget-friendly. Dig into the science behind stories and find ways to engage children of all ages and interests with hands-on activities. Picture book-inspired, STEAM-based programming fuels curiosity, facilitates literacy, and fosters a love of learning.

This session will discuss how allowing patrons to use reservable rooms with as few restrictions as possible creates an environment that reflects the needs and interests of the community. Specifically, I will discuss the benefits of allowing celebratory events to take place in reservable rooms without associated fees and restrictions. Along with the importance of letting patrons have the freedom to use private rooms, I will discuss how we manage our spaces at the Cedar Rapids Public Library through our dedicated Events team and a handful of examples when we would charge for room usage.

Attendees will gain an understanding of how versatile library spaces can be used and the importance of viewing spaces as resources, similar to materials and technology. They will also learn how to manage different spaces in a professional and timely manner.