About This Event
On Wednesday, February 11, 3-4 p.m., we will host a RAILS Member Update. This event will feature three short presentations. A full agenda is available in Files section of this page below.
- Dan Montgomery, Executive Director of the American Library Association, will present on the future of ALA. We anticipate many questions for Dan, so we’ve created a question submission form. Preference will be given to questions submitted in advance. Please submit your question by Monday, February 9, at 5 p.m.
- Sonya Schryer Norris, Plum Librarian LLC, will present on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II web accessibility and what libraries need to know about the upcoming April 2026 deadline.
- Bree Kirsch, Head of Learning and Engagement, Associate Librarian, at Miami (OH) University, will present on the Illinois Libraries AI Ambassador Program, which was created to help libraries explore generative AI fundamentals, tools, and library applications.
All levels of staff from RAILS member libraries are invited to join us for this event on Zoom. After the event, a recording will be available on the RAILS YouTube page.
Location(s)
See event details.
Daniel J. Montgomery is the Executive Director of the American Library Association (ALA). A longtime advocate for public education and workers’ rights, Montgomery previously led the 103,000-member Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) as president and chief operating officer, overseeing policy, programs, and a statewide professional staff. Recognized for his commitment to public institutions and his ability to navigate diverse political environments, he brings deep experience in guiding complex, member-driven organizations. Montgomery holds an A.B. from the University of Michigan and an M.S.Ed. from Northwestern University.
Sonya Schryer Norris has worked in eAccessibility since 1999. Sonya led the Library of Michigan web team through a two year remediation process after a Department of Justice civil rights complaint and she then consulted with public libraries also under investigation. Sonya has taught eAccessibility online and in person to thousands of library staff in all 50 states and internationally. She has presented on eAccessibility for ALA-CORE and PLA as well as the Library of Virginia, the Library of Michigan, RAILS, California Libraries Learn, and the State Library of North Carolina. She also conducted a survey of over 600 public libraries on eAccessibility success indicators. Sonya published on this study with Jared Oates, former COO of Niche Academy, in Computers in Libraries.
Dr. Breanne Kirsch is the Head of Learning and Engagement, Associate Librarian at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is the founder and co-coordinator for the Generative AI in Libraries (GAIL) Conference. In addition to her MLIS, she has a PhD in education focused on instructional design and technology. Dr. Kirsch led the Illinois Libraries AI Ambassadors Program in 2025.