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.

Do you have an active learning information literacy activity, lesson plan, or method you’ve used to great effect in class? Do you miss your elementary show and tell? This session gives you a chance to share your great work without putting together an entire presentation. Participants will have the option to spend two or three minutes describing your work in this unconference style session, no slides or preparation necessary.

Learning Objective(s): ​​​​1) Participants will connect with other information literacy instructors through sharing active learning techniques; 2) Participants will strengthen their understanding of active learning and why it is a vital tool in teaching and knowledge retention; and 3) Participants will co-create a collection of learning artifacts that they will be able to access and modify for use at their home institutions.

Academic librarians are no strangers to burnout and workplace siloing. Through its Fundamental Understanding of Needs (F.U.N.) committee, one library re-centered core values of academic librarianship and fostered resilience to burnout and siloing by revitalizing social and wellness-focused events building relationships, belonging, and recognition. This presentation shares strategies for coordinating low-cost activities that reconnect staff across units, normalize wellness, and invite personal expression. It also highlights survey results assessing the committee’s impact.

Learning Objective(s): ​​​​1) Attendees will be able to describe the F.U.N. committee’s formation and how it built community, resilience, and connection to core values; and 2) Attendees will be able to adapt F.U.N. committee initiatives to the needs of their own institutions.

This lightning presentation will detail the Library's new sensory room and sensory kits, designed and created to better meet the needs of our neurodiverse students and visitors. It will briefly cover our research, planning and process. Equipment selected for the sensory room and kits will be showcased and policies and procedures detailed. Feedback from users will also be shared.

Learning Objective(s): Attendees can expect to 1) Learn about the research, planning, and execution needed to create sensory rooms and kits in libraries; 2) Understand the benefit of sensory experiences for neurodiverse students and visitors; 3) Learn about various types of sensory equipment and tools; and 4) Leave with practical ideas of how their library might increase its sensory experiences/offerings.
Presentation link

Join us for a brief session on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Known as 'good soldiers,' workers who engage in OCB are the people in our workplaces who take the initiative to engage in behaviors that may not be recognized or part of their job description but are considered essential to cultivating a positive work environment. Learn more about OCB, relevant literature, and how to care for yourself and others engaging in OCB.

Learning Objective(s): Participants will learn 1) The definition of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB); 2) Highlights from relevant literature on OCB; and 3) Considerations for self-care if we are the good soldier, and nurturing others who engage in OCB.