In higher education, students have the chance to pursue educational opportunities beyond the US through study-abroad programs. These programs are typically led by faculty members offering courses that align with the unique context of the destination. While these experiences provide invaluable hands-on learning, librarians are not often considered as collaborators in these ventures. However, integrating librarians into study abroad programs can enrich the academic experience. Professors should consider partnering with librarians, as their expertise and resources can be invaluable assets to these immersive learning opportunities.
Presenters: Lynne Lambdin - Systems Librarian - Northern Michigan University
Learning Objectives: Librarians will learn to support study abroad programs by guiding pre-departure research, curating destination-focused resources, and ensuring access to academic materials abroad (1). They'll explore strategies for incorporating language and cultural learning (2) while facilitating student reflections, helping integrate study abroad experiences into academic work through research and presentations (3).
As digital collections grow with digitized and born-digital content, libraries face mounting pressures: growing backlogs, commitments to equitable access, and the need for sustainable workflows. This session explores how libraries and JSTOR are using innovative, collaborative tools and strategies to bridge gaps in description, preservation, and access.
The session will discuss leveraging technology to reduce backlogs, enhance metadata, and expand discovery, framed by critical considerations such as AI's impact on professional roles.
Presenters: Alexis Braun Marks, Department Head & Archivist, Eastern Michigan University; Michael Barnes, Cataloging/Metadata Librarian, Eastern Michigan University; Jason Przybylski, Associate Director, JSTOR Digital Stewardship Services Outreach, ITHAKA
Learning Objectives: Provide participants with actionable insights into leveraging technology and collaboration to address contemporary challenges in managing digital collections; Learn practical strategies for reducing backlogs, enhancing metadata, and expanding discovery of libraries' digital collections
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney are challenging established legal and conceptual frameworks such as copyright and intellectual property. Drawing on media studies and intellectual property discourse, this presentation will examines fundamental questions: What constitutes authenticity in an age of algorithmic generation' How do we conceptualize creativity when human and machine collaborate' This presentation provides librarians with critical perspectives for understanding the profound intellectual property challenges posed by Generative AI.
Presenters: Edward J. Eckel, Scholarly Communications, Copyright, and Licensing Librarian, Western Michigan University Libraries
Learning Objectives: Attendees will be able to: Examine the ways Generative AI technologies are challenging traditional frameworks of intellectual property and creative ownership; Critically evaluate the conceptual boundaries of creativity, originality, and authorship in the context of human-machine collaboration; Develop practical approaches to the ethical and legal implications of synthetic media generation.
This session will explore the ways a librarian has used gamification as a strategy to tackle big projects and other professional challenges. Many librarians use gamification in instructional contexts, but the things that make gamification a powerful tool in teaching, increasing motivation, desire for extrinsic rewards, changing user behavior, also make it a powerful tool for our own. Gamification can help clarify progress toward goals, prioritize and tasks, and inject whimsy into your day.
Presenters: Caitlin Benallack, Information Literacy Librarian, Michigan State University Libraries
Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: Define gamification as a concept; Apply gamification strategies to their work.
Staff from the Turfgrass Information Center share lessons learned from 40 years of training undergraduate student employees to create complex bibliographic records. Learn how TIC's student-driven model has allowed the turfgrass database to become a world-class resource, and how your institution can also navigate the challenges and opportunities of utilizing student labor to meet your cataloging and metadata needs.
Presenters: Andrew Lundeen, Curator of Turfgrass Collections, Turfgrass Information Center, Michigan State University Libraries; Elisabeth Mabie, Department Head, Turfgrass Information Center, Michigan State University Libraries
Learning Objectives: Participants in this session will be able to: 1. Evaluate their metadata workflows to determine which tasks can be delegated to developing employees; 2. Compose their own guidelines and standards of conduct for their students, part-time employees, and/or library volunteers; 3. Implement a defined advancement structure.
This presentation will be centered around the origins of the IIT (Influencer, Influenced, Topic Niche) research question construction model for undergraduate students and why this model represents an innovative new approach to teach students how to construct undergraduate level research questions and, in the process, improve their research outcomes. This presentation will also cover results from the implementation of the IIT model in undergraduate library instruction at Central Michigan University.
Presenters: Mr. Lee Parker, Central Michigan University
Learning Objectives: List and define the components of the IIT research question model; Differentiate between questions which are and are not constructed according to the IIT research question model; Construct a research question according to the IIT model; Summarize the benefits of using the IIT model in one's information literacy classroom.
What are the standards for excellence when providing 24/7 study space in academic libraries' Surprisingly, few publications have laid out best practices or analyzed data in this realm. This session will discuss issue identification, data collection, data analysis, and the planning and implementation of solutions to increase attendance and satisfaction with 24/7 study space in an academic library.
Presenters: Ann Kucera, Manager of Library Systems, Central Michigan University
Learning Objectives: One approach to a program review of a space-related academic library service; Integration of LibCal and Alma is easy!; Opportunities for future research
Academic institutions, especially liberal arts and community colleges, face challenges in managing records with limited resources. The Library of Michigan, Michigan Service Hub, and Michigan Digital Preservation Network offer free and subsidized statewide services to enhance digital access, reduce costs, and support digital preservation efforts. This session will provide information on these services, provide an open forum for sharing challenges, and help attendees build a community of practice to improve digital stewardship.
Presenters: Richard Adler, Coordinator, Michigan Service Hub; Dr. Chelsea Denault, Michigan Digital Preservation Network Coordinator, MCLS; Biz Gallo, Statewide Digitization Initiatives Coordinator, Library of Michigan
Learning Objectives: Participants will emerge with knowledge about: statewide resources for digitization, online access, and digital preservation and how to access those resources, how these three services work together to sustainably care for digital content over the long-term, & opportunities to continue to engage with a community of practice surrounding digital collections building.
College students may be entering the workforce for the first time when they apply for a job at the library. Staff from Van Wylen Library at Hope College will share how their Student Employment Committee uses technology and in-person coaching to set students up for success at Hope and beyond.
Presenters: Sarah Baar, Metadata Associate, Hope College; Heidi White, User Services Associate, Hope College
Learning Objectives: Learn about potential tools for hiring and training students; Identify areas to streamline student employee management workflows; Share best practices with other library professionals.
The MSU Libraries are actively addressing the new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II rules and regulations. This presentation will describe how we have approached advancing our digital accessibility to work towards Title II compliance. We will provide a very brief overview of Title II. We will discuss our: overall approach and workflows, prioritization efforts, library and campus partnerships, documentation efforts and specific goals and actions to improve our digital accessibility.
Presenters: Austin Deneau, Accessibility and User Experience Specialist, Michigan State University Libraries; Sruthin Gaddam, User Experience and Accessibility Librarian, Michigan State University Libraries; Heidi Schroeder, Accessibility Coordinator, Michigan State University Libraries
Learning Objectives: 1. Learn about some of the Title II impacts on academic libraries; 2. Gain practical knowledge on strategies for implementing and documenting digital accessibility to comply with Title II; 3. Find ways to collaborate with other campus stakeholders to support digital accessibility; 4. Learn about resources and best practices to improve libraries' digital accessibility and Title II compliance.
In response to budget constraints, academic libraries must enhance efficiency without compromising quality. This presentation outlines strategies for optimizing resource management through cost-saving and time-saving tactics. Attendees will learn to evaluate acquisitions, manage inflation-and-technology-driven price hikes, and develop negotiation points. This session fosters collaboration and innovation in managing library resources sustainably by sharing best practices.
Presenters: Courtney Cooney, MPH, MLIS, Head of Collections Access, Kettering University Library, she/her/hers
Learning Objectives: Develop actionable strategies for purchasing resources more efficiently in terms of cost and time savings.
Students in institutions across higher education are experiencing an increase in feelings of isolation, anxiety, and mental health issues. How can we meet our students' needs in a small (literally!), inexpensive, and creative way' By promoting and encouraging self-care through plant-care. Join us as we guide you through the creation, implementation, and trial and error of setting up a plant propagation station in the library.
Presenters: Jill Beckwell, Instructional Design Librarian, Rochester Christian University; Allison Jimenez, Director of Library Services, Rochester Christian University; Abby Koet, Electronic Resources Librarian, Rochester Christian University
Learning Objectives: Attendees will understand what plant propagation is and be able to apply their own PPS in their academic institution on a small scale, be able to discuss how plant care can be reflected in self care for their communities, and gain an understanding of how promoting non-traditional academic library services has fostered relationships to boast academic library services.
Within typical one-shot, librarians have little control. Exerting power to regain control diminishes student agency, stunting the opportunity for learning instead of embracing challenge as an important part of that process. What if we embraced failure as part of learning to become resilient researchers'
In this presentation we will define the issue of controlling learning, summarize interdisciplinary perspectives to create a framework for engaging with this problem, and provide examples of applications.
Presenters: Dylan McGlothlin (he/they), Humanities Librarian, Western Michigan University; Edward Eckel (he/him), Scholarly Communications Librarian, Western Michigan University
Learning Objectives: Identify teaching practices in information literacy instruction that diminish student agency; Summarize interdisciplinary perspectives on student agency in the learning process to reframe the role of librarians as teachers.
While the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy is useful for promoting information literacy practices, it has some drawbacks when applied to a closed information space, such as an echo chamber constructed of low-quality information sources. One of those flaws is the question of authority, or why people believe the sources they select. This presentation will introduce a mathematical model for examining how information is processed and deemed to be accurate or inaccurate.
Presenters: KT Lowe, Assistant Librarian for Instruction, Indiana University East Campus Library; Jeffrey Reynolds, Adjunct Professor of Engineering, Macomb Community College
Learning Objectives: Those who attend this presentation will: 1. Discover how questions of authority can affect, and potentially impair, an information user's ability to identify good quality information; 2. Describe a potential mathematical model for mapping information processing behavior; 3. Assess information environments from the perspective of authority and assist patrons in developing better information-seeking behavior
As systematic reviews publications increase in various disciplines, such as education, political science, social work, psychology, finance, and others, librarians have an ever-growing likelihood of receiving requests from faculty, researchers, and graduate students to support a systematic review project. This session will share lessons learned and guidance to librarians in navigating the challenges and opportunities of involvement in a systematic review, as well as exploring the practicalities of each decision point with a focus on the various options and considerations.
Presenters: Mariela Hristova, Associate Professor, Kresge Library, Oakland University; Andrea Kepsel, Health Sciences Librarian, Michigan State University; Jessica Sender, Health Sciences Librarian, Michigan State University; Stephanie Swanberg, User Services Librarian, Michigan School of Psychology
Learning Objectives: Attendees will become familiar with the possible roles that librarians can hold within a systematic review; Attendees will learn the main considerations associated with each aspect of research support for systematic reviews; Attendees will identify how to navigate the decision points they are likely to encounter while offering research support for a systematic review.
Too often, librarians struggle with balancing their work and personal life. While finding a sense of pride and purpose in our work is a wonderful experience, we all deserve the time and mental space to pursue personal interests. Join us to reflect on current stressors at work, habits that affect personal time, personal values, and beliefs about time and priorities. The session will also include identifying techniques to build habits that contribute to work-life balance.
Presenters: Dylan McGlothlin (he/they), Humanities Librarian, Western Michigan University; Caitlyn Stypa (she/her), Reference and Instruction Librarian, Lansing Community College
Learning Objectives: Question current stressors and habits from work that affect personal time; Define personal values and reframe beliefs around time and priorities; Identify techniques and develop plans to build habits that contribute to work-life balance
The Kettering University Library has undergone significant changes to develop a robust digital collection in our new learning commons space. These shifts created an opportunity for reconnection. Today, we will outline how we leveraged a migration from SelectedWorks Faculty Profiles to Pure Research Faculty Profiles as a liaison opportunity for faculty reconnection, with many positive outcomes and lessons learned along the way!
Presenters: Meagan Brown, Research, Instruction & Outreach Librarian, Kettering University, she/her/hers; Dawn Winans, Head of Research & Discovery, Kettering University, she/her/hers
Learning Objectives: Ability to identify the opportunities that come as a result of change to reinvigorate your librarian liaison program; Discover what methods of outreach, communication, and education sessions worked best to reconnect with faculty during a time of change
Souce evaluation is a standard component of library instruction. However the focus is often on the source's credibility itself rather than how a student intends to use the source. By incorporating rhetorical theories, librarians can help students close the loop on source evaluation. This workshop introduces the I-BEAM schema, works through a one-shot lesson, and gives example lessons that can be incorporated into their instruction offerings.
Presenters: Liz Svoboda, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, University of Michigan-Flint
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to describe how sources are used rhetorically in a work according to the I-BEAM schema; Participants will be able to identify and categorize sources and their use in a work.
Informal Leadership (IL) can inject momentum into your career and provide valuable experience. But it can be a 'heavy lift.' In this 'knowledge-share session,' participants of varying levels of experience will learn together about IL in 'real life.' Relative novices and veterans will work together in small groups to develop questions and provide stories of success and failure based on: IL opportunities, how to 'do' IL, managing tricky peer relationships, and difficult lessons learned.
Presenters: Susanne Markgren, Director of Technical Services, Manhattan University
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to identify informal leadership (IL) opportunities; Participants will be able to leverage strategies to successfully 'lead from among.'; Participants will be able to recognize and develop traits of an inclusive leader; Participants will be able to develop strategies for avoiding burnout when taking on IL labor.
Do you remember completing a practicum or internship as part of your library education' Hopefully your experience was foundational in beginning and helping you to thrive in your library career. Would you be interested in 'paying it forward' by hosting a practicum student at your library' Come learn about the benefits to your library and the library community that come from becoming a host site for students completing library practicum hours.
Presenters: Ellen Robinette, Library Services and Technology Faculty and Program Coordinator, Oakland Community College; Lindsay Mitchell, Learning Resources Technician, Oakland Community College
Learning Objectives: At the end of the session participants will be able to explain the value to the growth and thriving of the library community that comes through library student practicums, describe potential benefits that could come to their library through hosting a practicum student and evaluate if hosting a library student practicum would be manageable and beneficial for their library.
Librarians David Scott and Lauren Vogt submitted a Merit Grant application through Ferris State University to pilot launch a library of things. This lightning talk will discuss what a library of things is, the thought process to apply for the grant, the grant application, and the outcome. The lightning talk will discuss the pros and cons of the process, and the next steps in constructing and implementing the collection to support our student population.
Presenters: David Scott, Outreach and Marketing Librarian, FLITE Library; Lauren Vogt, Student Engagement Librarian, FLITE Library
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to use the presenters' experience to identify whether a Library of Things would be relevant to their institutions; Participants will discuss whether a similar grant would be useful to utilize Participants will take the ability to organize a timeline and action list for their own grant effort.
This lightning talk explores the Michigan State University Digital Scholarship Lab's Project Incubator, investigating the unique opportunities and challenges of supporting early-stage research projects. By examining the program's structured approach to collaborative scholarship, we'll discover the dynamics of guiding digital projects from initial concept through development, highlighting the landscape of interdisciplinary research support.
Presenters: Yuri Cantrell, Digital Scholarship Librarian, Michigan State University.
Learning Objectives: Fostering interdisciplinary collaboration; Guidance on project lifecycle management; Research support with digital tools and technology; Coordinating access to resources and subject expertise.
Social media is a powerful tool for engaging students and fostering campus connections. This session explores how our library used platforms like TikTok and Instagram to promote resources and cultivate a sense of belonging. By collaborating with marketing students, other departments, and tailoring content to student interests, we created an interactive space that builds trust and engagement. Participants will gain some insight on how to leverage social media to enhance outreach and strengthen connections.
Presenters: Tiler Jewell, Research & Collection Development Librarian, Saginaw Valley State University; Heather Fisher, Head of Access Services, Saginaw Valley State University
Learning Objectives: Demonstrate how strategic use of social media fosters student engagement with library resources; Share techniques for aligning social media content with institutional goals and campus culture; Discuss lessons learned and best practices for creating authentic, engaging, and inclusive online interactions.
In February 2021, the UM-Flint Thompson Library experimented with launching a virtual 'match-making' service in addition to its physical Blind Date with Book display. In 2025, the program is still going strong and has expanded its offerings to include audiobooks. Learn about the planning process and execution of this successful program and get some tips on how to implement it in your library.
Presenters: Liz Svoboda, Instruction and Outreach Librarian, University of Michigan-Flint
Learning Objectives: Attendees will learn about the options to include ebooks and audiobooks into blind date with a book programming.
As various, short-term inventory projects continue to come about, there becomes opportunities to train staff members and students workers on copy cataloging who may not normally work in this capacity. Using Rise 360, a tutorial software introduced to our liaison librarians for class instruction, this copy-cataloging training module was created to assist colleagues who may have little to no knowledge in cataloging.
Presenters: Janelle Manuel, Cataloging & Metadata Librarian, Grand Valley State University
Learning Objectives: 1. Open the conversation about different ways to train copy-cataloging for short-term projects; 2. Provide an alternative solution to potential remote work collaboration in cataloging.