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To view the complete schedule, click here:
View the Caring for Our Collective - 2026 VLA VLACRL Annual Conference schedule & directory.
Conference Kick Off
Award Celebration and Poster Sessions
The VLA Award Celebration will run concurrently with Poster Sessions. Poster sessions are held from 5 - 7 p.m. There will be a break at 6 p.m. for the award presentations. Expect a relaxed party environment, not a sit down dinner, where winners will accept their awards. Book awards will be presented separately during the opening session on Monday, October 19, at 10 a.m.
Dress is business casual. Cocktails will be served, along with light bites.
Guests of award winners are welcome to attend; all guests must adhere to the VLA Code of Conduct. Award winners receive a complimentary plus one to the event. Tickets for additional guests are $15/person with a 5 person guest cap. All guests must preregister and check in at the registration desk by 5:50 p.m. on Sunday, October 18. Guest registration is transferable before October 1 and must be received in writing. Contact [email protected] for assistance in transferring your guest registration.
No tickets or additional registration is required for conference attendees. You may check in at the registration desk starting at 2 p.m. to receive your badge. Your badge is your "ticket" to the event.
General Sessions
MONDAY - OCTOBER 19
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Exhibit Hall Ribbon Cutting
Registration Opens in the Exhibit Hall |
9 a.m. |
| Opening Keynote |
10 a.m. |
| Break for Lunch |
11:30 a.m. |
| Session Block 1 |
1 p.m. |
| Session Block 2 |
2 p.m. |
| Refreshment Break |
2:45 p.m. |
| Session Block 3 |
4 p.m. |
| Forum Events |
5 p.m. |
| Break for Dinner |
6 p.m. |
| Conference Social - Trivia Night |
8 p.m. |
TUESDAY - OCTOBER 20
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| Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall |
8 a.m. |
| Session Block 1 |
9 a.m. |
| Session Block 2 |
10 a.m. |
| Session Block 3 |
11 a.m. |
Break for Lunch
Exhibit Hall Closes |
Noon |
| Session Block 4 |
1 p.m. |
| Town Hall, Raffle and ARC distribution |
2:15 p.m. |
Poster Sessions - Sunday, October 18 at 5 p.m.
The Invisible Labor of LIS Intern Supervisors
Candice Benjes-Small, William & Mary
Elizabeth McDaniel, William & Mary
LIS internships benefit students—but what about supervisors? Drawing on interviews with librarians across academic, public, and special libraries, this poster explores the hidden labor of supervising interns, shares hard-won advice for first-timers, and offers practical recommendations for making internship programs more sustainable and effective.
Happy Birthday to Us! Community Cards as an Act of Caring
K.T. Vaughan, Washington & Lee University
The W&L University Library turned 250 years old in March 2026. To celebrate, we asked libraries around the country to send us a birthday card. The flood of print and emailed well wished was an unexpected boost to morale and both demonstrated and expanded our collective impact around the country.
Chatting, Then Training: An Assessment and Training Model Based on Web Chat Interactions
Alexis Becker, William & Mary Libraries
Bella Strong, Williamsburg Regional Library
Charlotte Bias, Indiana University Indianapolis
Explore practical ways libraries and library staff can create a sense of belonging in part-time work, incorporating multiple perspectives including student employees and a student supervisor, supplemented by data from outside sources. Stop by the poster session to learn more and receive a reflection guide.
Dissertation Hallucinations
Christine Woods, Saint Leo University
Hallucination is a term commonly used for fake sources created by AI. The increased use of AI for writing support has led to fake sources being cited in dissertations. This poster will feature the results of an empirical study analyzing the number of hallucinations found in recent dissertations.
Collecting Data to Benefit our Collective: An Assessment and Staff Training Model Based on Web Chat Interactions
Laura Crouch, Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries
Oscar Enriquez, Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries
VCU Libraries Access Services staff performed a thematic assessment of the most frequently asked questions received through their web chat service. They used their findings to develop creative new training methods and better prepare staff for the changing ways that patrons interact with information online.
Care by Design: A Case Study Lesson to Inform Administrators’ Practices and Policies
Kim Krutka, Old Dominion University
Have you ever felt that administrators might lack understanding about the impact of their decisions on the library? Drawing from real-world book challenges and policies in one district, this poster shares resources from a case study lesson to guide leadership toward more informed, caring policy-making and practices.
Not Just in the Yearbooks: Preserving Community!
Bryanna Repko, Jerry Falwell Library
The Jerry Falwell Library Archives has an ongoing project of reaching out to the various clubs around campus and asking for donations to preserve their history beyond the official school records. Come explore how we have done this and how it can help you connect with your community through preservation.
This Must Be the Place: Using Institutional History and Digital StoryMaps to Enhance Campuswide Belonging
Hannah Poucher, Randolph College
Campbell Wright, Randolph College
Michael Sechler, Randolph College
Lindsey Van Zile, Randolph College
This poster explores how place-based storytelling connects campus communities and transforms campus spaces into meaningful sites of engagement and shared identity. Learn how Randolph College uses institutional history, archival material, and ArcGIS StoryMaps to highlight campus spaces to boost feelings of belonging.
An Off-Panel Approach to Education and Inclusion: STEM Graphics Novels
Pesu Cadmus, George Mason University
This poster documents the ongoing development of a STEM-oriented graphic novel collection at GMU’s Science and Technology Campus. In addition to the collection, the poster will educate viewers on the multimodal strengths of graphic novels, showcasing how this form of media lends itself well to visualizing data and statistics.
Build it and They Will Come: DIY Escape Rooms for Teens and Adults
Courtney Wyant, Prince William Public Libraries
Shannon Ball, Prince William Public Libraries
Learn how to create your own custom escape room toolbox with help from two librarians who have spent years developing escape rooms for adults and older teens. With the right tools, anyone can develop and run their own escape rooms at a fraction of the cost of the professionals.
The Good, the Bad, and the Unavailable: Movie Management at William & Mary Libraries
Lauren Su, William & Mary
Libby McDaniel, William & Mary
Ever wanted to know to what goes into managing film resources for a college campus? This presentation will take viewers through the entire process of acquiring and managing movies to support research, education, and fun for faculty, staff, and students.
Mapping a Path to Supporting Vulnerable Populations
Cindy Arroyo-Garcia, Norfolk Public Library
Asia Farmer, Norfolk Public Library
Do we offer guidance and services for our most vulnerable patrons while actively seeking feedback and creating opportunities that cater to their needs? Drawing on peer-reviewed research and the Ladder of Citizen Participation Model, we will explore strategies to effectively support populations that rely on our services and programs.
State of the Unions
Kirsten Dean, Virginia Tech
Labor rights are changing in Virginia! This poster offers definitions, historical background, updates on current legislation, and questions to consider about unions and collective bargaining in Virginia libraries.
Who Would Pick This Up? An AI-Assisted Technique for Collection Appeal Profiling
Michael Powers, Ablemarle County
Collection audits measure what's on the shelves. But who's likely to pick those books up? This poster demonstrates appeal profiling — an AI-assisted technique that estimates likely audience for each title in a batch across configurable dimensions chosen by the library, then aggregates to reveal the collection's profile.
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