MiALA 2026 Annual Conference

This session explores the design and implementation of a year-long, library-facilitated faculty learning cohort focused on digital literacy and digital learning. Co-led by a librarian and a campus administrator, the cohort supported faculty across various disciplines in designing multimedia assignments using Adobe Express. The presenter will share insights on the planning, collaboration, funding, and outcomes of the cohort, while highlighting the libraries’ role in fostering meaningful faculty connections and professional growth.

Learning Objective(s): 1) Understand how to support faculty at your institution through a learning cohort; 2) Understand how to design, market, and coordinate a year-long learning cohort; and 3) Discuss planning structure and learning outcomes of individual learning sessions.

For 20 years, the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) has united Michigan libraries from coast to coast, big to small, and public to academic. As IMLS funding finds itself staring down the barrel of a gun, it's more important than ever that we share the impact that funding has on our patrons. The MeL map is a showcase of MeL transactions since 2006 between Wayne State University libraries and its statewide partners.

Learning Objective(s): 1) Examine the role of data visualization in strengthening library partnerships across diverse sectors, and how these tools can foster a deeper understanding of library impact on local and statewide communities; and 2) Assess the power of storytelling through statistics in library advocacy, understanding how libraries can creatively represent their value and demonstrate their contributions, especially in the face of the IMLS crisis.

Join us for a panel discussion about making colleague connections through MiALA Interest Groups (IGs). Panelists will include MiALA members from multiple institutions in a variety of roles. Participants will learn more about the experience of creating and running a MiALA IG and the benefits of being a member, including the importance of connections, mentoring, and networking.

Learning Objective(s): Participants will learn 1) How to start and participate in an IG; 2) How to benefit from networking; 3) How to engage in mentoring; and 4) How to prepare for leadership roles.

This presentation is a preliminary analysis of survey data (n = 550) gathered on ageism in academic and research libraries. The survey tries to tease out details of people’s experiences with ageism by investigating responses to general questions, including whether people self-reported experiencing ageism or specific forms of ageism, and an analysis of comments. This initial survey snapshot can highlight areas where we can improve inclusiveness within libraries.

Learning Objective(s): 1) Understand the basic premise and methods behind this survey, including: goals and objectives, creation of the survey questions, need for the survey, limitations of the survey; and 2) Understand initial response to general questions on ageism from the survey participants.