2026 TNLA Conference: Full Schedule

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.

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

300 A

**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

Arlene Limas

Tuesday April 21, 2026 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
300 A

Pre-Conference Ticketed Event

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

300 A

**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

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 →

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 →

Abebe Rorissa

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

Dania Bilal

Caramia Milloway

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

Pre-Conference Ticketed Event

8:30am EDT

Hiding in plain sight: Experiential Learning for K-12

Wednesday April 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am EDT

300 A

As the world has evolved and advancements have been made, we have seen some of the most powerful tools make history. Yet, the most powerful tool a person can possess isn't a tool at all, but information. This is why it is our pleasure to share the resources at the University of Tennessee Libraries with the surrounding community as we partner with local schools to give students the ability to empower their projects. See how we customize information, design programs, and see real results in this presentation as we apply the information that has been in plain sight all along.

Speakers

Thura Mack

Guest Presenter, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Professor, Macebearer 2021-2022 Department Head, Community Learning and Engagement, UT Libraries [email protected]

Angelica Rose Nepomuceno

Scarlett McConville

GSLA

Wednesday April 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
300 A

Program Session

1:10pm EDT

Academic Roundtable

Wednesday April 22, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT

300 A

KELLY

Speakers

Kelly Tilton

Wednesday April 22, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm EDT
300 A

Meeting

2:10pm EDT

The Greatest Show on Campus: Building Belonging with the University Libraries Welcome Carnival

Wednesday April 22, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT

300 A

New students are trying to figure out how campus works and where they belong. Academic libraries have a lot to offer, but the things we have and do can be overwhelming and hard to get across through tabling at campus-wide events. Enter the Welcome Carnival, an event designed to bring students into the library to learn about information about resources and services in a fun and engaging manner with games, giveaways, and popcorn. In this presentation, we will detail our planning, implementation, and results of the University of Memphis Libraries Welcome Carnival.

Speakers

Carl Hess

Undergraduate Success Librarian, University of Memphis

Carl Hess (he/him) is the Undergraduate Success Librarian at the University of Memphis. Carl works to improve library outreach and services for undergraduate students with a focus on traditionally underserved student populations. His research interests include intra-campus academic... Read More →

Brannen Varner

TNLA Presentation Welcome Carnival pdf

Wednesday April 22, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm EDT
300 A

Program Session

3:10pm EDT

Access and Patron Services Roundtable

Wednesday April 22, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT

300 A

A business meeting for members of the TNLA Access and Patron Services Roundtable. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct Roundtable business, including voting for Roundtable Leadership.

Speakers

Dwight Hunter

Marketing and Assessment Librarian, Chattanooga State

Beth Williamson, CPACC

Program Manager, Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | Nashville Public Library, Graduate Student, University of South Carolina

Beth Williamson is Program Manager for Library Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Nashville Public Library, a certified accessibility professional, and an MLIS student at the University of South Carolina. Her work focuses on inclusive public service, equitable library practice... Read More →

Wednesday April 22, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm EDT
300 A

Meeting

4:10pm EDT

**CANCELLED** Technical Services Roundtable

Wednesday April 22, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT

300 A

This is the annual business meeting of the Technical Services Roundtable. In this session, we will get to know one another and share and solicit feedback on developments, projects, challenges in our area of librarianship, as well as discuss ideas for roundtable programming and engagement for the coming year.

Speakers

Tiffany Day

Wednesday April 22, 2026 4:10pm - 5:00pm EDT
300 A

Meeting

8:30am EDT

How Do YOU Reference? The Evolving Face of Reference Service in Academic Libraries

Thursday April 23, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am EDT

300 A

The nature of reference services at academic libraries continues to evolve. The number and complexity of questions asked at a traditional reference desk are steadily declining. In an attempt to address these and other trends, libraries are offering individual appointments, chat and email reference services, and online self-help resources such as FAQs, tutorials, and research guides. However, some believe that there is still value in point-of-need, in-person assistance, and are exploring a variety of staffing practices. In this panel presentation, representatives from academic libraries in Tennessee will briefly discuss their unique approaches to connecting with and supporting their users.

Moderators

Bess Robinson

Head of Research and Instructional Services, University Libraries, University of Memphis

Perveen Rustomfram

Head of Government Publications, The University of Memphis

Perveen Rustomfram is the Head of Government Publications at the University Libraries, University of Memphis.

Speakers

Alexandra Boris

Social Sciences Librarian, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

I'm a social sciences librarian whose subject areas cover education, psychology, and neuroscience.

Hannah Brandon

Information literacy librarian, Lincoln Memorial University

Zoe Bastone

Reference Coordinator & Instruction Librarian, Assistant Professor, Pellissippi State Community College

HI, I'm Zoe! I am the Reference Coordinator and Instruction Librarian at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. In my role, I coordinate reference services, supervise part-time staff and student employees, provide information literacy instruction, and develop... Read More →

Thursday April 23, 2026 8:30am - 9:20am EDT
300 A

Program Session

9:30am EDT

Books, Families & Fun – An Overview of Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF) Programming

Thursday April 23, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT

300 A

Have you ever wondered about GELF’s programming? Join us and learn about GELF and how we support children and families across Tennessee. From building home libraries through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and our K – 3 Home Library program to providing funding opportunities for Book Buses and Storybook Trails, we will explore all the ways GELF is strengthening early literacy in Tennessee. Most importantly, participants will discover how they can best partner with GELF.

Speakers

Heather Logan

Governor's Early Literacy Foundation

Thursday April 23, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am EDT
300 A

Program Session

11:10am EDT

Growing Community: Cultivating Mental Wellness in a Post-Pandemic Academic Library at a Public HBCU

Thursday April 23, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT

300 A

This is the summary of a library project that was started by a support staff member and carried out for the benefit of the campus community and mental wellbeing of the students attending. It covers the unique needs and challenges of an HBCU library, and the process of networking and creativity to keep it going despite campus tragedy and a minimal budget.

Speakers

Meaghanne Hooberry

Student Success & Outreach Librarian, Tennessee State University

Growing Community (1) pdf

Thursday April 23, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT
300 A

Program Session

1:30pm EDT

Traveling with Diverse Books; How Far Can We Go?

Thursday April 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT

300 A

Let's have some fun thinking about diversity in a different way! Can picture books and biographies published in the last 4-5 years get us all the way around the world. We'll focus on English language and bilingual books for the youngest among us and participants are invited to bring their most obscure or even favorite book about people outside the US or inside with ties to other countries. To paraphrase Dr. Seuss, how many places can we go?

Speakers

Dr. Cindy Welch

Thursday April 23, 2026 1:30pm - 2:20pm EDT
300 A

Program Session

2:30pm EDT

The Art of Saying No: Establishing and Maintaining Equitable Workplace Culture

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT

300 A

The two presenters, one current and one former academic librarian, will discuss barriers librarians face in establishing effective partnerships with collaborators across higher education that lead to burnout and inequitable working conditions. Combining existing literature and lived experience, the presenters propose practical strategies for sustainable improvements to professional priorities and workplace culture for individuals and organizational decision makers.

Speakers

Calantha Tillotson

Social Sciences Librarian and Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee Knoxville

Christy Urquieta Cortes

Thursday April 23, 2026 2:30pm - 3:20pm EDT
300 A

Program Session

9:00am EDT

1:30pm EDT

8:30am EDT

1:10pm EDT

2:10pm EDT

3:10pm EDT

4:10pm EDT

8:30am EDT

9:30am EDT

11:10am EDT

1:30pm EDT

2:30pm EDT

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