MASL 53 Annual Conference 2026: Full Schedule

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

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

9:30am EDT

Preconference Morning Session - Navigating Conflict with Empathy: Looking for the Win-Win

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:30am - 11:15am EDT

We all have lenses through which we see the world, which help our brains sort information and make meaning out of the world around us. However, when we’re stressed, busy, or in conflict with someone, we often forget to consider that everybody else is doing the same thing, and our views might not align. In this participatory and practical session, we’ll examine our own filters and consider how they impact our perspectives. We’ll also discuss strategies to infuse a more empathetic mindset into your work and life in order to better navigate difficult interactions and work toward transforming conflicts into win-win situations.

Speakers

Jenny Kobiela-Mondor

Library Strategist, Midwest Collaborative for Library Services

A love of learning and passion for people led Jenny Kobiela-Mondor from journalism to libraries and now to the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services. In her role as a library strategist on the Engagement, Consulting, and Training Team, Jenny works with library staff and administration... Read More →

Wednesday October 28, 2026 9:30am - 11:15am EDT
Conservatory

Preconference

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

11:15am EDT

Preconference Morning Session - Tech and Values Activity

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT

Conservatory

Join Common Sense Media facilitator, Jennifer Ehehalt, in this introductory activity that will help us examine the relationship between technology use and our core values.

Speakers

Jennifer Ehehalt

Senior Regional Manager, Common Sense Media

Wednesday October 28, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm EDT
Conservatory

Preconference

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

1:00pm EDT

Preconference Afternoon Session - Tech and Values: Helping Students Align Tech with What Matters Most

Wednesday October 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Conservatory

Students’ digital lives are deeply tied to their mental health and educators play a powerful role in helping them thrive. In this interactive discussion, you’ll reflect on how tech may or may not align with your core values, then explore Common Sense Media's all new K-12 Digital Literacy and Wellbeing curriculum, including lessons, videos, and activities that reflect the information landscape students are actually navigating.

Speakers

Jennifer Ehehalt

Senior Regional Manager, Common Sense Media

Wednesday October 28, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Conservatory

Preconference

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

2:30pm EDT

Preconference Afternoon Session - Idea Exchange

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Grande 2 & 3

The Idea Exchange is a free-flowing, conversation generating, resource collecting session where participants roam from table to table to learn from one another’s expertise and leave with practical ideas you can adapt in your own practice and setting

Wednesday October 28, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Grande 2 & 3

Preconference

Conference Strands Collaboration, Advocacy & Leadership, Literacy Resources, Curriculum & Programming, Management & Administration
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

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 - VW eLabs: Integrating Digital Fabrication to Meet AASL Standards and Boost Learning

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

West 3

Spaces with digital fabrication tools support inquiry, design thinking, and real-world problem solving -- core competencies of modern school libraries. This practical session demonstrates how introducing digital fabrication tools in the library aligns directly with AASL School Library Standards, increases student engagement, supports classroom learning goals, and fosters school and community partnerships. Through four real-world project stories, attendees will see concrete examples of curricular integration, community collaboration, and strategies for developing a supportive learning environment for students and adults. Participants will also get a chance to play with some of the tools we use.

Speakers

Carrie Betts

Media Specialist, MAME Board Member, Birmingham Public Schools

Terry-Ann Whitfield

Jason Pesamoska

Melissa Wiercinski

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

Sessions

Conference Strands Advocacy & Leadership, Collaboration, Curriculum & Programming, Management & Administration
Interest Level Elementary

1:00pm EDT

Breakout Session - Beyond the Stacks: Boosting Impact with REMC

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

West 2

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