MASL 53 Annual Conference 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to #MASL53! We are glad you are here.

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1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - Beyond the Stacks: Boosting Impact with REMC

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

School librarians are uniquely positioned to drive systemic change, but expanding your reach requires the right support. Discover how to leverage free resources, frameworks, and professional learning from the REMC Association of Michigan to increase your capacity and position yourself as a vital district leader. This session will explore four key ways REMC resources can boost your district-wide impact. Learn how to support administrative staff and teachers with ADA Compliance and Accessibility Toolkits, partner with tech departments using Student Data Privacy initiative and TSES framework, and directly support classroom teachers through project such as Promoting STEM Through Literature (PSTL) and Tabletop Games for Critical Thinking. Attendees will walk away with free toolkits that save prep time, support diverse learners of all ages, and provide an actionable plan to maximize their library's impact throughout the school year.

Speakers

Melinda Waffle

Professional Learning Coordinator, REMC Association of Michigan

Melinda Waffle, who has a masters in Educational Technology, taught high school before moving into a district technology coordinator role in 2003 which was solely responsible for helping teachers rethink their classroom and curriculum through technology use. After eight years of serving... Read More →

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
West 2

Sessions

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

1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - Bring a Problem, Leave with a Plan: Secondary Library Problem-Solving Circles

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

Vanderbilt

Come with one real school library challenge and leave with practical solutions. In this interactive session, participants will join small groups to share problems, ask clarifying questions, brainstorm strategies, and build realistic action steps. Whether your challenge involves student engagement, teacher collaboration, scheduling, collection development, AI, advocacy, or library management, you will benefit from the collective wisdom of your peers. Bring one problem. Take one solution, or several.

Speakers

Melissa Lambert

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
Vanderbilt

Sessions

Conference Strands Advocacy & Leadership, Collaboration, Curriculum & Programming, Management & Administration
Interest Level High School, Middle School

1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - Intellectual Freedom and the Law: A Practical Toolkit for School Librarians

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

West 3

School librarians are often on the front lines of intellectual freedom issues—yet many feel underprepared when concerns escalate into legal or policy-based challenges. This toolkit-style session grounds intellectual freedom in its legal foundations while keeping the focus practical and school‑appropriate. Participants will explore the constitutional principles, court decisions, and policy structures that shape intellectual freedom in K–12 libraries. Through real‑world scenarios and ready‑to‑use tools, attendees will learn how to respond confidently to challenges, communicate professionally with stakeholders, and protect both students’ rights and their own professional responsibilities. This session is designed for school librarians at all levels and emphasizes what librarians can rely on legally—even when community pressure is high.

Speakers

Jaclyn Martin

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT
West 3

Sessions

Conference Strands Advocacy & Leadership, Management & Administration
Interest Level All

1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - Starting a Friends of the School Libraries Organization in Your District

Friday October 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm EDT

West 1

In 2024, a group of parent and community advocates formed the Friends of the Ann Arbor School Libraries to promote equity across libraries, facilitate volunteers, raise money for specific actions, advocate for libraries in the community, and help to address financial challenges. Working with the Library Services Department chairs as well as librarians across the district, the Friends group has since coordinated large-scale, community-wide book covering events, represented and promoted school library programs at broader community events, and increased awareness of and support for school library programs across the district. In this session, parent organizers and school librarians will share lessons learned and advice for starting a similar group in your district, including presenting sample mission statements, by-laws, and legal organization documents.

Speakers