HESTL EdCON26

What happens when you give elementary students a seat at the table? In this fast-paced session, discover how forming a Student Library Leadership Team transformed our library from a place students visit into a space they truly own.

Learn how handing over the reins to a dedicated group of young leaders sparked innovative programming, boosted peer-to-peer engagement, and brought fresh, kid-approved ideas to the stacks. We’ll cover the logistics of starting a team, the surprising initiatives they’ve led, and why student voice is the secret ingredient to a thriving library culture.

In just 15 minutes, you’ll walk away with:

• A simple framework for recruiting and organizing a student leadership team.
• Real-world examples of student-led projects that increased circulation and engagement.
• Strategies for balancing student autonomy with your library’s learning goals.

SEATING GUIDANCE: The EdTalk sessions will be immediately followed by the Reference Roundtable session. Please sit at a table that corresponds to the Reference Roundtable discussion topic you selected at registration. Not sure which topic you selected? Match the colored dot on your nametag to the colored dot on a table sign.

Drawing on qualitative interviews with 20 caregivers participating in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, this EdTalk explores how families experience book access and shared reading-- and what these insights mean for school librarians.

Participants will learn how consistent access to high-interest books supports children’s motivation and reading identity, how caregivers describe children’s engagement, and how gaps in access outside of school shape students’ relationships with reading. Attendees will gain practical strategies for strengthening home–school literacy connections, promoting programs available to families during school breaks, and using caregiver perspectives to support equitable access to literacy resources beyond the school day.

SEATING GUIDANCE: The EdTalk sessions will be immediately followed by the Reference Roundtable session. Please sit at a table that corresponds to the Reference Roundtable discussion topic you selected at registration. Not sure which topic you selected? Match the colored dot on your nametag to the colored dot on a table sign.

Does your library feel like a curated bookstore — or a daunting warehouse? For many students, a wall of alphabetized spines is more intimidating than inviting. This session explores how to transform your space into a browse-first destination using high-impact genre feature walls and rotating micro-genre displays, without rearranging your entire collection.

Drawing on visual merchandising techniques, you'll learn how to group books in ways that mirror the "shopping" experience students already love: identifying trending sub-genres (think Cozy Fantasy, Fast-Paced Thrillers), designing eye-catching focal points, and using displays to spark independent discovery. Carin will also share a DIY plan for creating B&N-style tables even when you only have one copy of most books. Whether you're working with a big budget or just spare shelf space and a printer, these strategies are practical, scalable, and ready to implement.

Participants will learn how to:

• Apply retail-inspired wayfinding to make collections more navigable and enticing
• Design a genre feature wall that simplifies browsing for reluctant readers
• Curate rotating micro-genre displays responsive to student interests and trends
• Help students independently find their next read (no staff intervention required)

SEATING GUIDANCE: The EdTalk sessions will be immediately followed by the Reference Roundtable session. Please sit at a table that corresponds to the Reference Roundtable discussion topic you selected at registration. Not sure which topic you selected? Match the colored dot on your nametag to the colored dot on a table sign.

Teens need opportunities outside the classroom to connect, build friendships, and fuel a love of reading, and school and public librarians are uniquely positioned to create them. Through our experiences with the Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award and Douglas County Library's Teen Library Connection, we'll share what we've learned about launching and sustaining book clubs and beyond, both in person and online.

You'll hear our stories, pick up practical strategies for recruiting members, structuring meetings, and choosing the right format for your community, and yes, we'll even show you how to run a digital murder mystery together!

SEATING GUIDANCE: The EdTalk sessions will be immediately followed by the Reference Roundtable session. Please sit at a table that corresponds to the Reference Roundtable discussion topic you selected at registration. Not sure which topic you selected? Match the colored dot on your nametag to the colored dot on a table sign.