Iowa Library Association Conference 2026

Learn how a high school library became a student-centered, high-engagement space by leveraging student voice, simple programming, and staff collaboration. This session highlights practical, low-barrier strategies to transform your library into a visible, student-centered space that builds engagement, belonging, and sustained participation.

 This session introduces library staff to the fundamentals of fundraising, including the importance of creating a fundraising plan, defining goals and team roles, refining messaging, exploring common fundraising tactics, managing donor data, stewarding supporters, and understanding how grants fit into a broader fundraising strategy.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Identify the key components of a basic fundraising plan, including defining goals, audiences, and strategies. Develop a clearer fundraising message that communicates the value and impact of their library. Recognize appropriate roles for staff, leadership, and volunteers in supporting fundraising efforts. Describe common fundraising tactics used by libraries and nonprofits, including events, annual giving, partnerships, and grants. Understand the importance of donor data management and stewardship in building long-term supporter relationships.

 Learn how to combat library misinformation and build community trust by creating a core group of library advocates in your community.  

Attendees will learn new methods of community engagement to build library advocates. They will also understand how advocates can help build trust and share vital, truthful information about the role of libraries in their community. 

We will be teaching library staff how to repair and extend the shelf life of books and also how to turn these skills into a program.

Attendees will gain knowledge about proper tools and techniques for preserving and extending the circulating life of materials during a time when funding is especially thin.

"History repeats itself" is a phrase often thrown around during times of uncertainty and is particularly relevant today when considering attempts at censorship and threats to intellectual freedom in libraries across the United States. The Second Red Scare era was a time that defined intellectual freedom for the American people and the library's role in standing up against censorship attempts. Today, we are seeing similar attempts at censorship in our libraries across the US.
Participants will be able to identify the relevance of the Freedom to Read Statement and the Library Bill of Rights as they relate to issues of modern-day censorship attempts. Participants will be able to describe the parallels between the Cold War-era censorship in libraries and current-day censorship attempts. Participants will be able to evaluate modern censorship efforts and utilize the ALA, Library Bill of Rights, and the Freedom to Read Statement to help advocate for these efforts.