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Welcome to the 2026 Tennessee Library Association Conference!  #tnla26  We’re glad you’re here.  Build your schedule below, and be sure to check the various pages for additional conference details.
Type: Ticketed Event clear filter
Tuesday, April 21
 

9:00am EDT

From Shelves to Safety: Equipping Library Staff with Tools for De-escalation and Crisis Response
Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
**Separate registration required.  Please register at the TNLA website.**
Libraries are vibrant community spaces that sometimes face moments of tension or conflict. Front-line staff are often the first to respond but may feel unprepared. This session offers practical, library-specific tools for de-escalation and crisis response that maintain safety while preserving the library's welcoming spirit. Participants will learn to recognize early signs of escalation, set boundaries, and use calming communication. The program emphasizes empowerment, resilience, and teamwork, providing actionable strategies for building supportive staff cultures. Attendees will leave with confidence, tools to prevent escalation, and a framework for fostering safe, inclusive, and thriving library environments.
Speakers
Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
300 A

9:00am EDT

THeSLA Meeting: Finding Data for Health Sciences Research
Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
**Separate registration required.  Please register at the TNLA website.**
This session will cover topics around helping library users who are looking for data. This will include information on common library data services in this area, such as locating datasets, providing guidance on data access and reuse, and connecting users to other resources. We will also discuss the reference interview process, data sources, repositories, and aggregated search tools such as the National Library of Medicine’s Dataset Catalog. Additionally there will be a guided data finding exercise for workshop attendees.
Speakers
avatar for Justin De La Cruz

Justin De La Cruz

Program Specialist, National Center for Data Services
I'm interested in thinking about how to educate, how people learn, etc. I have some experience with Python. I'm interested in Wikipedia. I like playing guitar and writing songs.
Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
300 B

1:30pm EDT

Prompting the Future: A Discussion on Generative AI (GenAI), Applications, and Challenges in Libraries
Tuesday April 21, 2026 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
**Separate registration required.  Please register at the TNLA website.**
GenAI has become a mainstream topic since November 2022. How are libraries navigating this technology? This interactive, two-hour session will engage the audience to explore the practical realities of GenAI in the library world. We will begin with a rapid-fire overview of GenAI in libraries.  We move into a "World Cafe"-style discussion to share how GenAI has changed roles and responsibilities and to address critical issues, including AI education, algorithmic bias, ethics, and AI literacy. Attendees will work in small groups on themed topics, then rotate to share their stories and compare notes. One spokesperson will report on behalf of each group.  The moderators will summarize the session's outcomes and outline the next step.
Speakers
avatar for Brianne Dosch

Brianne Dosch

Head of Data and Digital Scholarship, University of Tennessee Libraries
I partner with social sciences researchers to connect them with the data and resources they need to succeed. I try to bring passion and excitement to everything I do, which sometimes includes referencing Harry Potter, travel, and cats. I love working with faculty and students alike... Read More →
avatar for Scot Smith

Scot Smith

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Tennessee--Knoxville
Scot Smith is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee. Before changing careers, he worked in school libraries for more than 25 years. He served on the 2018 Printz Award committee and has read for the jury of the Schneider... Read More →
avatar for Abebe Rorissa

Abebe Rorissa

Professor & Rene and Clara Said Director, University fo Tennessee, Knoxville


Tuesday April 21, 2026 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
300 A

1:30pm EDT

Taking A Walk in the Shoes of the Students We Serve: How Student Backgrounds Affect Literacy
Tuesday April 21, 2026 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
**Separate registration required.  Please register at the TNLA website.**
This is an interactive session that promotes academic discourse among educators about how family dynamics and choices affect the literacy of our students. Participants will put themselves in the shoes of our underserved students and families by selecting a career and working through daily choices as a group. These real world choices determine if a student comes to school and if their basic needs are met by their parents or guardians. All these decisions ultimately affect student literacy and performance in school.
Speakers
Tuesday April 21, 2026 1:30pm - 4:30pm EDT
300 B
 
Wednesday, April 22
 

11:45am EDT

CYA Luncheon
Wednesday April 22, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm EDT
Awards Given: Frances Neel Cheney Award; Daniel Taylor Memorial Award


**Ticketed event. Please register at the TNLA website.**
Speakers
avatar for Jeff Zentner

Jeff Zentner

Jeff Zentner is the author of two New York Times Notable Books: The Serpent King and In the Wild Light, as well as Goodbye Days and Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee. Among other honors, he has won the ALA’s William C. Morris Award, the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award twice, the... Read More →
Wednesday April 22, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm EDT
200 D&E

5:00pm EDT

SIS Alumni Reception
Wednesday April 22, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Please RSVP at https://utk.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1YvQWkoVm7OV3p4

More details will be sent near the event date. This invite is open to all SIS Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Students, and Friends - past and present.
Wednesday April 22, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm EDT
Maple Hall 414 S Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37902, USA

6:00pm EDT

All-Conference Reception
Wednesday April 22, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
**Ticketed event. Please register at the TNLA website.**
The All Conference Reception will feature a screening of The Librarians, Kim Snyder’s documentary dealing with the book bans in Texas, Florida and other states and how librarians have been dealing with them. A mashed potato bar will be served starting at 6pm. Cash bar will be available and each attendee will receive one complimentary drink ticket.

The optional film screening will start at 7:00 pm. The film runs 1 hour and 28 minutes. 
Wednesday April 22, 2026 6:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Park Concourse
 
Thursday, April 23
 

12:00pm EDT

Trustees & Friends Luncheon
Thursday April 23, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm EDT
Awards Given: TNLA Trustee Award; Friend of the Year (small library); Friend of the Year (large library)

**Ticketed event. Please register at the TNLA website.**
Speakers
avatar for Kathy Dooley-Smith

Kathy Dooley-Smith

President, Friends of Tennessee Libraries
avatar for Eric Dawson

Eric Dawson

Eric Dawson is Manager of the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, the Special Collections and History department of the Knox County Public Library. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s degree in Information Science, both from the University of Tennessee... Read More →
Thursday April 23, 2026 12:00pm - 1:15pm EDT
200 D&E
 
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