2026 ILA Conference

A Galaxy of Ideas is a fun, hands-on session that provides teen and youth librarians with programming ideas for the 2027 Summer Reading theme and beyond!

At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Learn about new programming ideas for Tweens and Teens for their Summer Reading Program.
- Identify at least three different resources to contact for programming.
- Create teen and tween programs at their library that can be scaled up or down.

Clarinda's Community Pathways for Accessing Literacy (CPals) program brings people together to help improve reading skills through community partnerships and excitement.

Participants will explore how Clarinda implemented a suite of interconnected programs, including community reading volunteers, neighborhood free libraries, expanded student library card access, classroom library support, community book clubs, and a reader-to-reader recommendation network.

This session will explain how planning youth art-centered initiatives in your library can create high-impact yet budget-friendly programming and outreach opportunities throughout your community.  Learn how Waterloo Public Library's Dot Day yearly student art installation has grown into a city-wide programming and outreach opportunity that includes engagement from every Waterloo Community Public School, multiple city departments, local artists, businesses, and organizations. 
Attendees will leave with a framework for student art installations to customize to their communities. 

This session discusses how to use data analysis to control runaway e-book and audiobook spending, while arguing for a mission-driven approach to digital collections management. 

Attendees will: -Learn how to use OverDrive Marketplace tools to analyze performance metrics 
- Learn a scalable formula to determine the practical value of e-book and audiobook licenses 
- Learn how to think about intangible values of community access to e-books and audiobooks 

This session is designed for both school librarians and children's services librarians who want to transform the upcoming Goldfinch Award and Iowa Children's Choice Award book lists into engaging experiences. Participants will explore adaptable storytimes, programs, and lesson plans aligned to next year's award titles. The session will include time for guided exploration of sample plans as well as a hands-on, creative work period in which participants can collaboratively design new programming ideas to take back to their libraries. These activities are intended to spark anticipation for reading, elevate visibility of award titles, and create a shared literary experience that bridges school and public libraries.

Participants are welcome to engage at a level that feels most comfortable: observing, participating actively, or moving between the two. The session emphasizes collegial collaboration, idea-sharing, and practical takeaways that can be immediately implemented.

Attendees will be able to identify strategies for using children’s choice literature to build anticipation and highlight new library materials. Apply collaborative approaches that bridge school and public library services through shared literary programming.

There's a mentor in you; let's talk about ways to help your inner expert shine through to help future librarians!