Library Journal Directors' Summit

REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Directors’ Summit - Nov. 9-10, 2023

Library Journal invites director-level leaders at public libraries to join us for our 2023 Directors’ Summit, being held Nov. 9-10 (Safety pre-con on Nov. 8th) at Houston Public Library.

This annual day-and-a-half of interactive thought-leadership, learning and networking, titled Thriving Together, will address ways that library leaders - often isolated in their work – are connecting, collaborating and resource-sharing to better tackle the complex and difficult challenges of library management.

Topics for the event’s sessions and breakouts are curated by LJ’s editorial team based on a survey of event registrants, as well as input from the event’s advisory board of library directors.

While the program is still under development, topics under discussion include:

· Supporting staff – trauma, resiliency, moral, mental health

· Resources to support directors - coaching, leadership, organizational skill building, burnout, peer support

· Defending against censorship

· Developing and writing policy

· How to be more politically savvy to achieve goals

· How to rediscover and create joy in the job

Who should attend: This event is exclusively for director-level leaders at public libraries. If you work in a different type of library and/or are in a leadership position with a different title and would like to request an invitation, please email us at ljevents@mediasourceinc.com.

If you have questions or topic\speaker suggestions, please email them to ljevents@mediasourceinc.com

Library Safety & Security Pre-Con - Nov. 8, 2023

This one-day convening for library directors will precede Library Journal’s Directors’ Summit and will build on the learnings from our April 23 Library Safety Summit and Fall online library safety courses.

This peer-led program will explore equity-centered and trauma-informed safety and security solutions for libraries, and will prioritize tangible, actionable information and networking, including facilitated breakout groups where attendees can discuss and workshop safety policies and procedures. More details to come!

Who should attend: The pre-con is designed for director-level leaders in public and academic libraries but is open to any library professional with a stake or interest in library safety and security.

Advisory Board Members:

Library	First Name	Last Name	Title
Austin Public Library, TX	Roosevelt	Weeks	Director of Libraries
Belvedere Tiburon Library, CA	Crystal	Duran	Director
Califa, CA	Veronda	Pitchford	Assistant Director
Califa, CA	Veronda	Pitchford	Assistant Director
Central Arkansas Library System, AR	Nate	Coulter	Executive Director
Hoboken Public Library, NJ	Jennie	Pu	Director
Tulsa Public Library, OK	Kimberly	Johnson	Director
Wilmington Public Library, DE	Jamar	Rahming	Director

LJ is aware of Texas' decision to cut ties with the American Library Association. Over the years we have run into similar situations where a particular state in which LJ was planning to host an event adopted policies or laws that were in opposition to library values.

LJ strongly believes that our colleagues in these states need our support the most, and the content and conversation at this year’s Summit in Houston will reflect that—along with other critical issues for challenging times. The show of solidarity with our Houston colleagues is particularly important right now, and we hope that attending library leaders will be able to offer their encouragement as well.

Interested In Sponsoring? Please contact Advertising Director Roy Futterman: rfutterman@mediasourceinc.com

Program
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023 AGENDA (Subject to change)
9:00 – 9:45 AM	REGISTRATION, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
9:45 – 10:00 AM	WELCOME
10:00 – 10:45 AM	OPENING KEYNOTE
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM	SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS & FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS
12:00 – 1:00 PM	LUNCH
1:00 – 3:00 PM	SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS, FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS & BREAKOUTS
3:00 – 3:20 PM	BREAK
3:20 – 5:00 PM	SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS & FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS
5:00 – 6:00 PM	COCKTAIL RECEPTION HOSTED BY HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023
8:00 – 8:45 AM	CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & NETWORKING
8:45 – 10:30 AM	SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS & FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS
10:30 – 10:50 AM	BREAK
10:50 AM – 12:00 PM	SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS, FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS & BREAKOUTS
12:00 PM	LUNCH - GRAB & GO or STAY & NETWORK

SPEAKERS
			Stephanie Chase is the Founding Principal of the Constructive Disruption consultancy and the Executive Director of the Libraries of Eastern Oregon, a resource sharing cooperative covering over 55,000 square miles in rural Oregon. Previously, Stephanie was the Director of Libraries for Hillsboro (OR) and the Director of Library Programs and Services for The Seattle Public Library. Stephanie is the founder of the Green Mountain (VT) Library Consortium, a founding member and inaugural chair of the LibraryReads Steering Committee, has served on the Public Library Association Board of Directors and the ALA Council, and is a member of the American Library Association’s Executive Board.
			A leader in the use of human-centered design in public libraries, Georgia Coleman is a champion for library services that enhance community connectedness. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at the award-winning Richland Library in Columbia, SC, where she is responsible for public services, collections, technologies and facilities. Georgia is passionate about customer experience and intellectual freedom.
			Nate Coulter is a native of Nashville, Arkansas. He graduated from college and law school at Harvard University, then later earned a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In March 2016, Coulter became the Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System. CALS has 15 libraries, an annual operating budget of approximately $27 million, and more than 300 employees. Nate is married to Nathalie, who is an assistant principal at Roberts Elementary School in Little Rock. They have four adult children, one grandson and their rescue pup, Theo.
			Stephen Jackson is a motivational speaker, consultant, licensed professional counselor, and Director of Equity and Anti-Racism at Oak Park Public Library (IL). He values public service and contributing to people’s lives through utilizing both Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices to create positive and safe cultures for organizations and communities.
			Veronda J. Pitchford is the Assistant Director for the Califa Group, a California based public library consortium. On behalf of Califa, she supports national grant partner projects, and manages Infopeople, Califa’s national online library training program. She is an active member of the American Library Association (ALA) and currently serves on the ALA Business Advisory group, and the Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group. In her free time, she serves on the board of Reading Between the Lines, a non-profit that holds space for just impacted people to exercise critical thinking skills via literature and other arts. She is a die-hard library chick.
			Jennie Pu is the Director of Hoboken Public Library in Hoboken, New Jersey. Under her leadership the Library eradicated late fines, launched a new strategic plan, significantly expanded its community outreach and engagement initiatives, and reopened a fully renovated youth services wing and makerspace as part of the multimillion dollar historic restoration of the main library. Prior to this Jennie was Dean of Libraries for Hudson County Community College, an ARCL award winning urban library. She currently serves on the board of directors at Urban Libraries Council and chairs the New Jersey Library Association Public Policy Committee. Jennie holds a bachelor’s degree in American Ethnic Studies from University of Washington, a master’s in library science from Queens College, and is a certified New Jersey School Media Library Specialist.
			Courtney “Court” Stevens is an accidental librarian who cares intentionally about joy, leadership and mattering. She's the executive director of Warren County Public Library in Bowling Green, Kentucky by day, an author for HarperCollins by night, and a hobby goat farmer whenever there's time. Last Girl Breathing, her latest novel, came out Tuesday (November 7th.) and she's pretty bummed about the recent banning of Dress Codes for Small Towns from a Mississippi library. To keep her origin story at peak geek interest, you should also know she is a former professor, youth minister, Olympic torchbearer, and bookseller at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN.
			Rory Steele serves as the Executive Director of Freedom to Learn Advocates, a C-4 non-profit organization that works to ensure universal access to books and educational resources for all communities. Our goal is to guarantee that books and education are available to everyone. A native of Seattle, Washington, and proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Rory has spent over two decades at the highest levels of political organizing, non-profit advocacy management, and legislative affairs work.
			Roosevelt Weeks is the Director of the Austin Public Library where he leads a dynamic team and library system. His responsibility includes 20 branch locations, the History Center and a new Central Library. Weeks joined the Austin Public Library team in September of 2017. Prior to joining the Austin Public Library, Weeks was the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff at the Houston Public Library.
			Lance Werner is the Executive Director of the Kent District Library in western Michigan. He is a librarian, attorney, former registered lobbyist, former administrative law judge, and son of a school librarian. He loves to chew gum, take people fishing, defend civil rights of all Americans, and fight fascism.
			Executive Director of the Conneaut Public Library Lead Instructor for the Association for Rural & Small Libraries 2.0 Leadership Academy Kathy Zappitello is an accomplished public library director with a diverse background and education that demonstrates the intersectionality of rural librarianship and leadership. With over 20 years of experience, she has displayed courageous commitment to leadership paired with a genuine passion for empowering others, all within the framework of rural America.