MASL 53 Annual Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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7:45am EDT

Thursday October 29, 2026 7:45am - 8:00am EDT

Welcome to MASL 53! We hope you will enjoy the conference this year and participate in our costume contest celebrating our theme, "All Characters Welcome." Dress up as your favorite character. Judges will roam during the welcome and opening keynote to decide the winners. Winners will be announced during lunch on Thursday.

Thursday October 29, 2026 7:45am - 8:00am EDT
Grande 2 & 3

Networking

Interest Level All

8:00am EDT

Opening Keynote with Lauren Mobley

Thursday October 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Grande 2 & 3

Library as the Lead: Main Character Energy
In a time when schools are navigating challenges, change, and constant demands, the library has the power to lead the story. In this inspiring and energizing keynote, attendees will explore how school libraries can move beyond supporting roles and step fully into the spotlight as the heart of the school community. Through storytelling, practical examples, and a celebration of student-centered library leadership, “Library as the Lead: Main Character Energy” challenges librarians to embrace bold advocacy, intentional programming, inclusive collections, and authentic relationships that position the library as essential to student success. Participants will leave encouraged to own their impact, amplify their voice, and lead with the confidence, creativity, and “main character energy” their schools need now more than ever.

Speakers

Lauren Mobley

School Library Media Specialist, Promise Career Institute High School

Thursday October 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Grande 2 & 3

Keynote

Interest Level All

9:15am EDT

Breakout Session - Branding Yourself to Connect

Thursday October 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT

Vanderbilt

This session is for librarians who are done being invisible and ready to be intentional. We’ll dig into how your presence -- not just your collection -- shapes student relationships, staff collaboration, and the overall vibe of your library. The goal? To help you define a persona that’s authentic, recognizable, and sustainable (no fake enthusiasm required), then translate that into small, consistent moves that make you the person students seek out -- not just the place they’re sent.

Speakers

Joy Currie

Everett High School Librarian, Lansing Schools

I have been an educator for 31 years, and I have been a school librarian for most of the last 19 years. I've worked in libraries K-12, public libraries and at the college level. I am currently the librarian at Everett High School, a 7-12 building in Lansing. Outside of work, I love... Read More →

Thursday October 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT
Vanderbilt

Sessions

Conference Strands Advocacy & Leadership, Collaboration, Curriculum & Programming
Interest Level All

9:15am EDT

Breakout Session - Diversity by Design: Building Inclusive Book Collections

Thursday October 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT

Conservatory

A collection that reflects our diverse world takes thought, data, and intentional action. In this practical and engaging session, participants will explore tools and strategies for assessing gaps in their library collections and transforming them into spaces that authentically represent and affirm all students. Learn how to use diversity audits, circulation data, and student feedback to guide collection development decisions while balancing curriculum needs and student interests. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for building inclusive collections, increasing student engagement, and creating a library where every student feels seen, valued, and connected through books.

Speakers

Lauren Mobley

School Library Media Specialist, Promise Career Institute High School

Thursday October 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT
Conservatory

Sessions

Conference Strands Curriculum & Programming, Literacy Resources, Management & Administration
Interest Level All

9:15am EDT

Breakout Session - Media and AI Literacy That Meets Students Where They Are

Thursday October 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT

West 1

Deepfakes. AI-generated images. Viral misinformation. Algorithmic rabbit holes. If your digital citizenship unit was built more than a year ago, it's missing half the story. Join Jennifer Ehehalt, Sr. Education Manager, Common Sense Media's as she showcases the all new classroom-ready news & media literacy collection -- including lessons, videos, and activities that reflect the information landscape students are actually navigating. You'll explore strategies for helping students think critically, practice digital empathy, and find their civic voice online. We'll also tackle AI literacy head-on: what students need to understand about how AI creates, curates, and sometimes distorts the content they encounter every day. Walk away with free resources you can use tomorrow & the confidence to lead conversations your students are already having without you.

Speakers

Jennifer Ehehalt

Senior Regional Manager, Common Sense Media

Thursday October 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:00am EDT
West 1

Sessions

Conference Strands Curriculum & Programming
Interest Level All

11:15am EDT

Shoptalks: MAMSA

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

West 3

Meet with fellow MASL members to discuss school library issues related to your grade/interest level.

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
West 3

Networking

Interest Level All

11:15am EDT

Shoptalks: Paraprofessional

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

West 2

Meet with fellow MASL members to discuss school library issues related to your grade/interest level.

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
West 2

Networking

Interest Level All

1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - Computational Thinking Meets Literacy: Hands-on Pathways to Empower Learners

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

West 3

Computational thinking is an essential literacy that helps students develop the problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex world. School library media specialists are uniquely positioned to bring these concepts to life through literature, inquiry, and meaningful learning experiences. In this interactive workshop, discover how engaging read-alouds and quality children's literature can become powerful entry points for teaching computational thinking concepts such as decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms. Through hands-on activities and cross-curricular connections, you'll explore practical strategies for weaving computational thinking into literacy instruction, storytime, research, and maker experiences.

Speakers

Judy Bowling

Instructional Technology and Library Consultant, Wayne RESA

Judy Bowling currently serves as an Instructional Technology and Library Consultant at Wayne RESA. Prior to this role, she served as a classroom teacher, technology specialist, library media specialist, and Media & Technology Coordinator in Livonia Public Schools. With a Master of... Read More →

Laura Gabrion

Literacy Consultant, Wayne RESA

Laura Gabrion is an Literacy Consultant for Wayne RESA. In 2017, Laura defended her dissertation in Reading Education with an emphasis on improving student writing. Her current projects and interests involve disciplinary literacy, literacy coaching, family/community engagement, self... Read More →

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
West 3

Sessions

Conference Strands Collaboration, Curriculum & Programming, Literacy Resources
Interest Level All

1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - MeL in the School Library: Powerful Resources for Student Success

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

West 1

The Michigan eLibrary (MeL) provides every Michigan student and educator with free access to high-quality e-resources that support research, literacy, career exploration, and classroom instruction. This session will introduce school librarians to MeL’s extensive collection of databases, eBooks, educator resources, and student-friendly tools that support K-12 learning. Participants will learn practical strategies for integrating MeL resources into instruction, reinforcing information literacy skills, and promoting equitable access to trusted information. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the most relevant MeL resources for K-12 settings, ideas for incorporating them into classroom and library instruction, and access to ready‑to‑use promotional and instructional materials.

Speakers

Sandra Teft

Michigan eLibrary (MeL) Coordinator, Library of Michigan

Thursday October 29, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
West 1

Sessions

Conference Strands Collaboration, Curriculum & Programming, Literacy Resources
Interest Level All

3:15pm EDT

Breakout Session - Michigan AI and Media Literacy Collections

Thursday October 29, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

West 2

MASL was a partner with the Michigan Department of Education, MACUL, REMC, Michigan Virtual, and Common Sense Media in developing a set of resources for teaching Artificial Intelligence and Media Literacy. This session will cover where to find and access these resources and will highlight some of the best resources included. We will also discuss how school librarians can leverage their expertise in information/media literacy to ensure that Artificial Literacy (AI) considerations are included as our schools begin to adopt AI.

Speakers

Kathy Lester

Adjunct Faculty, Wayne State University - School of Information

Kathy Lester is a Past President of the American Association for School Librarians (AASL), adjunct faculty at Wayne State University and a former school librarian at East Middle School in Plymouth Canton Community Schools in Michigan. She also serves on the ALA Committee on Legislation... Read More →

Thursday October 29, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
West 2

Sessions

Conference Strands Advocacy & Leadership, Collaboration, Curriculum & Programming
Interest Level All

3:15pm EDT

Breakout Session - What Sixth Graders Told Us About AI at School, Home, and Beyond, And Why It Matters For Your School Library

Thursday October 29, 2026 3:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

West 1

Since 2022, when OpenAI made widespread access to free, high-speed generative AI tools, educators have grappled with how to adapt, reject, or harness the power of AI in learning. School librarians are particularly anxious about how generative AI tools are rapidly shifting the information landscape, transforming the research process (or lack of one), and stress-testing our information literacy curricula. We wanted to know what kids themselves thought about AI - so we asked them! In this session, we’ll report on a Spring 2026 survey taken by about 75 sixth graders involved in the Digital Wellness Initiative of the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Public Schools. We’ll share what these middle schoolers told us about AI as a tool to promote creativity, efficiency, learning, social relationships, positive mental health, and good grades. The results may surprise you.

Speakers

Sessions

Conference Strands Curriculum & Programming
Interest Level All, Middle School

MASL 53 Annual Conference 2026

7:45am EDT

8:00am EDT

Lauren Mobley

9:15am EDT

Joy Currie

9:15am EDT

Lauren Mobley

9:15am EDT

Jennifer Ehehalt

11:15am EDT

11:15am EDT

1:00pm EDT

Judy Bowling

Laura Gabrion

1:00pm EDT

Sandra Teft

3:15pm EDT

Kathy Lester

3:15pm EDT

Liz Kolb

Jennifer Colby

Kristin Fontichiaro

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