Spring CE 2025

Bethany Hammond is a book pusher, a feminist hype woman, and the proud owner of Card Carrying Books & Gifts. In 2023, she made it official and bought the shop after managing it for three years—because some love stories end with a set of keys and a stack of inventory forms. She curates every shelf and display with intention, intersectionality, and a dash of delightful rebellion. Her mission? To create a safe, welcoming space where everyone—especially those most often left out—feels seen, celebrated, and empowered. Fueled by coffee and an unbreakable bond with French fries, Bethany believes in building a feminist future one book, sticker, and sparkly enamel pin at a time. 

The door prize raffle at Spring CE 2025 is sponsored by OverDrive and Unique Management!

Thank you OverDrive & Unique Management!

Additional sponsorship for this event provided by Baker & Taylor. Thank you!

Keynote: Building Joy-Centric Libraries: An Experiential Approach with Rebecca Hass

Library joy is more than a feeling; it is a choice and call to everyday practices of connection, empowerment, and wellbeing. And it isn’t a heavy lift—in fact, it can all start with a few tiny seeds.

“Start your day with a smile to yourself, a service worker, a stranger, or a coworker.”

“Reminisce about a book that you’ve enjoyed and why. Post a book recommendation in a workroom or share it with a coworker.”

“Encourage someone new to libraries today – a library student, a new library user, a new coworker, or new community partner.”

This delightful book brims with dozens of joy-centering approaches and activities ready to draw on whenever your day could use a boost. It also makes a perfect gift and is sure to bring smiles to your fellow library workers, trusted volunteers, board members, and all the book lovers in your life.

Rebecca Hass (she/her/hers) is the programming and outreach manager for Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) and author of 101 Seeds for Library Joy. Prior to AACPL, she served in librarianship and management with the Enoch Pratt Free Library and Ramsey County Public Library. Rebecca received her MLIS from Dominican University in 2008 and her Life and Engagement Coaching Certificate from Anne Arundel Community College in 2022. Rebecca integrates positive psychology practices with DEIB approaches in libraries, community engagement, coaching, and consulting in her business, Joy Work, LLC.

Track 1: More than a Buzzword: DEI Matters with STLS DEI Committee members Kelly Povero, Sally Jacoby Murphy, and Sarah Trumpp

Join the DEI Committee for an interactive session exploring practical ways to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) into your library work. We’ll discuss our mission and why DEIA remains essential in libraries. Discover useful tools like program resource kits and collection development resources. Engage with hands-on materials at themed stations and get answers to all of your DEIA-related questions. Whether you’re looking for actionable resources or inspiration for more inclusive library services, this session will provide valuable insights and takeaways.

Kelly Povero has been director at the Watkins Glen Public Library since 2021. She has a BA in Political Science and an MLIS degree from St. John’s University. Kelly actively supports DEIA initiatives in her own library and community. She is on the Board of Directors of the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce and a trustee for the Schuyler County Historical Society. Kelly presented at the Chamber’s 2024 SPARK DEI Conference with Executive Director Brian Hildreth on the challenges libraries face and how to overcome them.

Sarah Trumpp is the director of the Friendship Free Library and a long-time advocate for the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in all spaces, including and especially library spaces.   Sarah believes in the power of compassion, communication, and collaboration as the most important tools libraries and public spaces can use to empower all members of the communities we serve.   In a world where people are far too quick to blindly hate, Sarah chooses to blindly love. 

Sally Jacoby Murphy is the Director of the Fred & Harriett Taylor Memorial Library.

Track 2: Reviving Teen Engagement through “Subscription Service” Programming with Samantha Adelman

Combining traditional readers’ advisory with “subscription service” style programming, Teen Book Boxes have proven to be an exciting jumping-off point for connection and relationship building with teens in our community. This program will explain the process of building a subscription box service from the ground up, with the aim of empowering librarians to create similar programs at their libraries! 

Samantha Adelman has worked in libraries for almost 20 years. Currently, she is a Youth Services Librarian in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System where she has been working exclusively with teenagers since 2021. In her free time, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her son.

Track 3: STARCat, WorkFlows & BCA : A Little Bit of All Three with Kylie Baker, Mandy Fleming, Casey Hobbie, and Larissa Wagner

Join the ILS (Integrated Library System)Team as we cover reminders and share new information about STARCat and WorkFlows. We will also review what BCA can do for your library and show some newly added reports.

Please bring your ILS questions! 

Track 4: Policies in Action: When Policies Get Real with Paulette Roes and Matt Corey

What would you say to a patron complaining about not being able to sip their coffee at a public computer while staff can eat lunch at their desks? What would you do if a patron demands to be able to read a prepared statement at your board meeting? What about when a local group protests the library’s current events display? What if law enforcement starts asking questions about your patrons? Whenever you have a situation where you’re not sure what to do, the first place to look for an answer is library policies. 

It can be easy to treat policies as well-crafted writing exercises that live in a three-ring binder on a shelf, but the truth is that publicly funded organizations are facing more scrutiny than ever before. Creating strong and ethical policies – and being consistent and transparent about them – provides guidelines for how the library is run and helps maintain the trust we’ve built with our communities. 

Join us for a discussion about a variety of based-on-a-true-story situations* and how you can prepare yourself and your staff for them through policies in action! 

Paulette Roes is currently the Executive Director of the North Country Library System in Watertown NY. Before becoming the Director, she served as the system’s Outreach Coordinator and was responsible for establishing several community partnerships in the system’s four-county service area. 

In addition to community partnership and sustainability initiatives, Paulette also enjoys assisting libraries with long-range planning and policy development. She has helped many north country libraries secure additional permanent funding through successful ballot referendums. 

Outside of work, she’s an active “sports mom” of four and spends most of her free time at her children’s athletic events or working on art projects. 

Matthew Corey, a North Country native, joined the North Country Library System team in 2011. Matt’s hats include annual reports, online resources, advocacy, funding, and trustee education. Proud cat dad and musician, Matt also enjoys spending his free time crafting and navigating poorly marked trails. 

Track 1: Dealing with Uncertainty and Change with Mary Kay Diakite, LCSW

Understand why change and uncertainty are so difficult to deal with and develop practical strategies to cope with changes.

Mary Kay is an LCSW licensed to practice psychotherapy in New York State. Mary Kay began her career working with immigrant and refugee communities. Her work included running school based services, case management, support groups, parenting workshops and professional development, primarily around cultural competency and diversity. She is skilled in cross cultural communication, trauma informed care, survivors of torture, and victims of human trafficking. Later on she worked in the field of HIV providing supportive counseling and case management services and here became quite knowledgeable about issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. Mary Kay has four years of mental health experience, primarily serving elementary school children and their families. Mary Kay’s expertise includes anxiety, depression, managing chronic illness, PTSD and transgender health. She has been trained in dialectical behavior therapy and uses an ecclectic approach in her work with individuals. Mary Kay is aware of how privilege and systemic racism interact in society and holds space for these experiences and conversations within her work. Mary Kay is fluent in both French and Bambara.

Track 2: The Adult Programming Equation with Rachel Stevenson

Coming up with new adult programs every year can be difficult. In this interactive workshop, we will learn a process for creating programs that can be used for multiple populations of adults; a new way of designing programs instead of using holidays that the Pennsylvania Library Association designed; and what evaluation is so you can start to evaluate your programs.

Rachel Stevenson is a programming librarian in northwest Pennsylvania. She credits her ability to create fun programs for adults to her years as an event planner for colleges and universities. She received her MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh and her Master of Arts in Arts Administration from Goucher College where her thesis focused on programming in museum libraries. She has presented at the Pennsylvania Library Association’s annual conference and at other conferences in Pennsylvania as well as teaching continuing education classes to librarians in New York and Ohio.

Track 3: An Introduction to Password Managers with Ken Behn

• Boost Your Security: Learn how to create and manage strong, unique passwords effortlessly. 

• Save Time: Discover the convenience of having all your passwords securely stored and auto-filled. 

• Stay Organized: Keep your digital life in order with a single, secure tool. 

Join Ken to learn about password managers (like LastPass, 1Password, or Bitwarden), installing them, and creating a strong master password. Regular updating, backing up, and using two-factor authentication (2FA) to access them are best practices to ensure maximum security and accessibility across devices. 

Ken oversees the Division of Information Technology, which includes the ILS (the catalog which contains all of our member library collections and the database which contains all of our member library patrons), E-Rate (the federal reimbursement program that subsidizes member library internet costs), the STLS data center with various virtualized servers, IT procurement and support, the Help Desk, and STLS email. 

Track 4: Aligning Dollars with Impact: Service-Based Budgeting Strategies with Kelly Povero, Melanie Miller, Raeanne Smith, and Tina Dalton

Library directors face the ongoing challenge of balancing financial constraints with community needs. This director-led session will explore practical strategies for aligning your budget with your library’s long-range plan, ensuring financial decisions directly support your mission and services. We’ll discuss how to engage your board and community in the budgeting process, make a case for staff equitable pay and benefits, and successfully advocate for a tax referendum. Walk away with actionable insights to make your budget a powerful tool for sustainable growth and impactful service.

Tina Dalton began working at the Cuba Library in 2014 as the Youth Services Coordinator, moving to the director’s position in 2018. Previously, Tina worked as a reference librarian at the Olean Public Library and St. Bonaventure University. She is a NYS certified public librarian who holds her Masters in Library and Information Science from Drexel University. During her graduate studies, she had the honor to serve as a Junior Fellow at the Library of Congress. She also serves on the boards of the Cuba Chamber of Commerce and Cuba Historical Society. Tina is passionate about library collaboration with community groups. She wants the library to meet the needs of the community and support the hard work of these wonderful organizations. 

Kelly Povero has been director at the Watkins Glen Public Library since 2021. She has a BA in Political Science from Pace University and an MLIS degree from St. John’s University. Kelly has been working with library budgets since 2018 and currently manages an annual budget of $323,000. The WGPL saw a successful tax referendum in May 2024 resulting in a 64% increase of the overall budget. 

Raeanne Smith’s academic journey began at Salamanca Central School, followed by studies at Ellicottville BOCES and Alfred State College, where she honed her skills and developed a deep passion for community engagement and education. Her professional career saw a remarkable rise as she took on the role of Director for two association libraries. In 2017, Mrs. Smith commenced her tenure at Genesee Library, where her leadership and vision have greatly enhanced the library’s services and outreach programs. Her dedication and innovative approach have been instrumental in fostering a vibrant and inclusive library environment. Building on her success, Mrs. Smith expanded her influence by assuming the directorship of Scio Memorial Library in 2022. Her efforts have transformed Scio Memorial Library into a hub of knowledge and community activities, further solidifying her reputation as a leader in the field. Mrs. Raeanne Smith’s commitment to library services and community development continues to inspire and impact the lives of many, making her a respected figure in library management and education.

Melanie Miller is the director of the Alfred Box of Books Library.

Track 1: Libraries are for Everyone: Tools to Protect Our Values & Show Up For Our Most Vulnerable Patrons with Jen Graney

As public libraries find themselves on the frontlines of our nation’s homelessness crisis, they strive to serve their most vulnerable patrons – diverse folks of all ages, living their private lives in public – while facing challenges from all angles. In this webinar, Library Operations Coordinator Jen Graney will speak about her experience and provide tools to help protect what public libraries stand for as institutions and to help advocate for and serve our vulnerable patrons.

After this session, you will: 

• Be able to affirm that libraries do this work and back up the claim by pointing to library values and ALA policy.
• Know how to start assessing your library’s policies, procedures, and daily operations in terms of how they impact patrons experiencing poverty and homelessness.
• Know where to find (1) valuable staff training and (2) crucial education for yourself, staff, trustees, and the general public about the experience of living with poverty and homelessness as well as some possible ways forward.
• Remember to make your personal wellbeing your #1 priority.

Jen Graney is the Library Operations Coordinator at Durland Alternatives Library, whose mission is to provide resources for social change. Prior to that, she held positions at Cortland Free Library, Fayetteville Free Library, and the Central NY Library Resources Council. Jen holds an MLIS from Syracuse University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from VCFA. She also owns & operates Cabinet Thirty-One, which specializes in vegan, gluten-free baked goods and used books. 

Track 2: Team Up for Impact: Partnership-Driven Programming with Cherilyn Wise, Eba Klindt, Jessica Westlake, Melissa Green

In this session, you will hear from four member libraires on partnerships they have developed to increase programming efforts and support their community needs. These programs range from big to small and support a variety of age groups. Join us to hear from The Cuba Public Library on their SNAP-ed Nutrition Classes, The Hornell Public Library on Multilingual Storytimes, The Montour Falls Public Library on Read to a Dog, and The Penn Yan Public Library on their annual Book & Bike Fest.

Cherilyn works in Youth Services at the Cuba Circulating Library. She has spent the last six years creating innovative library programs and partnerships for the Cuba community.  

Eba has spent the last two years as the Programming Assistant at the Hornell Public Library. Previous to that she was a library aid for the Cohocton Public Library. She has a deep love for non-profit work after spending some time in AmeriCorps and traveling the country. 

Jess has been a part of the Montour Falls Memorial Library team since September of 2017. She took a leading role in her library as Director in August of 2023.  

Melissa Green is the Youth Services Library Assistant at the Penn Yan Public Library. She has been working with them on lots of fun programming since 2008.  

Track 3: AI in Libraries with Dr. Christopher Harris

ChatGPT and other forms of generative AI have burst into our lives and workplaces as a disruptive new technology. It is critical that libraries lead the way in educating both the community and our colleagues on how this technology works and how to best work with it. In this webinar, Dr. Harris will demystify artificial intelligence and provide examples of how to use the technology within libraries. Examples include basic book recommendations, homework help, translation services, and even AI-powered interrogations of our collections using customized GPTs.  
 
This session will include: an overview of AI technologies; hands-on demonstrations of different AI tools and services; and suggestions for best practices to ensure ethical aspects are considered, such as protecting patron privacy. 
  
Dr. Christopher Harris is the Director of the School Library System for Genesee Valley BOCES, an educational agency supporting 22 small, rural districts in Western NY. He was a participant in the first American Library Association Emerging Leaders program in 2007 and was honored as a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2008. In 2022, Dr. Harris was named a Senior Fellow for the American Library Association. Dr. Harris received his Ed.D. from St. John Fisher University in 2018 for research on helping teachers become confident teaching computer science. He is the lead on the LibraryReady.AI PK-12 curriculum project. 

Track 4: All the World’s a Stage: Library Board Meeting Reader’s Theatre with Heidi Eckerson & Erika Jenns

Library board meetings are open to the public so that your community can observe the decision-making process. Sometimes it can feel like being in the limelight — or the spotlight —depending on the situation. In this interactive session, we’ll review board meeting best practices as we work our way through a typical library board meeting agenda. The script (agenda and board packet) provides an outline of the action, but what exactly happens at a board meeting? What roles are people playing? Using a Reader’s Theatre style approach, we’ll witness four scenes including: 

• Conflict of Interest 
• Executive Session 
• Financials 
• Public Comment 

Join Erika and Heidi for this creative-yet-critical look at a typical library board meeting. 

Heidi Eckerson is the Member Services Librarian for the Finger Lakes Library System in Ithaca, NY.  She consults with trustees on many projects from planning to policy-making. Content for her bi-monthly trustee newsletter is often inspired by her work with library board volunteers. With over a decade of experience in education, Heidi makes information understandable and applicable. And as a former small business owner, she knows the importance of having a team of professionals you can reach out to for support. 

Erika Jenns is the Assistant Director at the Southern Tier Library System (STLS) and has been working in libraries for 10 years. At STLS, she provides support to 48 public libraries across a five-county region in Upstate New York. Erika works with libraries on policy development, library administration and governance, and funding. She also coordinates professional development opportunities for all library system members. A passionate library advocate, Erika attends NY Library Advocacy Day annually, champions the work of rural public libraries year round, and works with libraries to uphold the Library Bill of Rights, ALA Core Values of Librarianship, as well as Constitutional First and Fourth Amendment rights. #LibrariesAreForEveryone

Spring CE is brought to you in partnership by the Southern Tier Library System and the Chemung County Library District via Central Library Services Aid.