Event day schedule:
9-9:30 am Registration
9:30-10:30 Breakout 1
10:35-11:35 Breakout 2
11:40-12:40 Keynote (in Theatre)
12:40-1:25 LUNCH
1:30-2:30 Breakout 3
2:30-3:30 Breakout 4 (repeat of #3 offerings)
Keynote: Artificial Intelligence, Don Sturm & Courtney Eddleman, Morton District 709
BBREAKOUTS 1:
Library Funding & Advocacy, Cyndi Robinson, ILA Executive Director, Room A
Hear from ILA Executive Director how proposed cuts to the federal IMLS program will impact Illinois Libraries and learn how you can be an advocate for libraries. Plus short Q&A.
Small Libraries Roundtable, Facilitated by Vanessa Hall-Bennett, (Havana), Room B
Come chat with other libraries with small staffs and small budgets on how you handle library operations, collection development and more.
AI in Schools: Embracing the Future with Humanity
Don Sturm & Courtney Eddlemen, (Morton School District), Room C
As AI becomes more prevalent in education, schools are navigating how to integrate these tools while maintaining a focus on human connection, ethical use, and academic integrity. In this keynote, we’ll explore how AI is being used in schools, from enhancing learning experiences to supporting educators and students. Library workers play a crucial role in helping patrons—both students and lifelong learners—understand and responsibly engage with AI. Through real-world examples and emerging trends, this session will provide insight into how schools are balancing innovation with humanity and what it means for the future of libraries and education.
RAILS Deals & Discounts: Access Savings for Your Library, Maggie Thomann (RAILS), Room D
Join us to learn about savings on digital resources, supplies, and library support services available to RAILS member libraries, including how to access and enroll. The RAILS Deals & Discount Team works with major vendors to get the best pricing for your library and manages the entire life cycle of the purchase—it’s a win-win!
CMC Cataloging Best Practices presented by Pamela Thomas, Cataloging Maintenance Center, Washington Library Conference Room
Are you new to cataloging? Do you find all the rules confusing? Dr. Pamela Thomas will discuss best practices in cataloging to help you focus on the information you need to include in a bibliographic record.
BREAKOUTS 2:
Library Funding & Advocacy, Cyndi Robinson, ILA Executive Director, Room A
Hear from ILA Executive Director how proposed cuts to the federal IMLS program will impact Illinois Libraries and learn how you can be an advocate for libraries. Plus short Q&A.
Information Tables, Room B
Get information from various library services and learn more about RAILS Delivery, RAILS Deals & Discounts. Talk to representatives from Xfinity and Baker & Taylor.
AI in Schools: Embracing the Future with Humanity
Don Sturm & Courtney Eddlemen, (Morton School District), Room C
As AI becomes more prevalent in education, schools are navigating how to integrate these tools while maintaining a focus on human connection, ethical use, and academic integrity. In this keynote, we’ll explore how AI is being used in schools, from enhancing learning experiences to supporting educators and students. Library workers play a crucial role in helping patrons—both students and lifelong learners—understand and responsibly engage with AI. Through real-world examples and emerging trends, this session will provide insight into how schools are balancing innovation with humanity and what it means for the future of libraries and education.
Illinois Statewide Databases, Room D
The Illinois State Library will be on hand to help libraries get set up using the statewide databases. They will also go over next steps, promotion, stats, and what new things can be done to make sure libraries and their patrons get the most of these resources provided for free from the Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.
Colorful Cataloging presented by Lisa Schemsky (RSA), Washington Library Conference Room
Join your fellow catalogers for a colorful networking session hosted by members from the RSA Cataloging Department. This time is for you to discuss all things cataloging with other catalogers in RSA, while coloring the provided cataloging & library themed coloring pages as you chat. Don’t want to color? That’s fine too! Come for the snacks and network with catalogers of all skill levels. At the end, you’ll get to vote for the top three pictures colored during our session—winning colorists will get prizes!
Keynote: How can I help you today? Supporting Responsible Academic AI Use in Your Library, Theatre
As AI tools become more accessible, students are increasingly using them in their academic work. This session is designed to help library workers support students in using AI responsibly. We will explore AI use policies from nearby school districts and engage with real-world scenarios that will equip you to guide students in maintaining integrity while using AI. The goal of this session is to build confidence in your role. We welcome participants who are yet unfamiliar with AI use as well as those who have made this technology a part of their everyday lives.
BREAKOUTS 3 & 4
LGBTQ+ Panel: Gray Baker (Peoria), Brea Fearon (Chillicothe), Michael Cannon (Schaumburg), Room A
As Illinois is becoming something of a sanctuary state for LGBTQ+ individuals, it’s more important than ever for Illinois libraries to be prepared to provide safe space for LGBTQ+ patrons and staff members. Join our discussion and have a chance to ask questions about how to handle pronouns & preferred names, what to do when there is accidental misgendering, resources for folks looking to change names, and more.
Gingerbread Houses & Fancy Nancy Programs presented by Brenda Tee (Henderson County), Room B
Learn how to plan, prep, and implement two of Henderson County Public Library’s most popular programs. Gingerbread House Decorating Days can be planned for in person, to-go, or both. Learn how to build the houses, put each to-go kit together, and plan for in-house decorating. Fancy Nancy Tea Party is an event now held off site due to its popularity but can be downsized to work at your library. We will explain how to recruit your table hostesses, book entertainment, and create a seating chart. Walk through the entire process from promotion to execution, and all of the organization in between!
Using Canva for Marketing Panel –Andie Kelch (Brimfield) Amelia Owdom (Chillicothe), Ali Dixon (Washington), Room C
Using Canva for Marketing: From brochures to buttons, hear from three libraries about how they use Canva for Marketing. Go beyond the basics and learn some tips and tricks to get the most out of Canva.
Picklist Tips & Tricks: Beth Duttlinger (Lillie M. Evans), Room D
Find out how the LME Library has streamlined picklist tasks to optimize efficiency and meet requirements. This session also provides an opportunity for dialog on improving picklist training and procedures.
Inventory Panel: Laura Keyes (Dunlap), Nick Hulva (Fondulac), Savannah McClellan (Washington), Washington Library Conference Room
We've all heard that it's important to inventory your collection, but who really has the time to do it? Attend this talk to hear some basic tips on the best way to successfully execute an inventory no matter the size of your collection. Here how three different libraries handle inventory from a onetime project to a rolling inventory process.
Come see RSA Staff for a chat or schedule a 15 minute time slot for a specific problem.
This year’s RSA Day is being specifically catered to front line staff, those employees who work at service points and public facing positions.
Free lunch provided for the first 200 registered attendees!
Come enjoy a great day of learning and networking with area colleagues.
This is event is made possible in part through the support of RAILS Continuing Education Grant.