FLA 2026 POSTER PRESENTATIONS SESSION III (Thursday 8am – 9:30am) |
Planting your future: Notes from a staff-to-librarian success story This poster by an early career academic librarian shares a personal journey from a full-time staff role to professional librarian. A visual journey of the progression from paraprofessional and library school student to librarian, this poster will focus on how one librarian navigated new expectations, responsibilities, and built confidence in their professional identity as an early career librarian. Personal experience is used to share lessons learned, advice, and practical tips applicable to others considering becoming a librarian, those in library school, and those just starting their professional librarian careers. A QR code will be included for all conference participants to ask questions on the topic or to share their own advice and experiences. Handouts listing practical first steps will be provided for those considering moving from a staff to a librarian role. The aim is to foster discussion among conference participants of all career paths and to provide a starting point through one librarian's experience for those considering or working towards a similar switch. NOTE: this poster is based on the FLA webinar presented on Jan 27, 2026 under the same title of 'Planting your future.'
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Listening to Autistic Patrons to Develop More Inclusive Libraries Autistic library patrons have a story to tell about their library experiences, and we have a responsibility to listen, learn, and create more autism-inclusive spaces. A recent survey of Autistic adults asked them to reflect on their time in school libraries. This poster presents the stories they shared about how they spent time in their school libraries, what attributes of the library and their librarians they found to be helpful, and how they believe their school librarians could have provided better support. These survey participants indicated that librarians should be knowledgeable about autism and listed many areas in which librarians should be able to offer support, all of which will be outlined for session attendees. Of particular interest, and beyond specific autism knowledge, many emphasized the value of librarian qualities such as patience and kindness. While this survey focused on school library patrons, the messages apply to all librarians and this poster will be relevant to all. Session attendees will be encouraged to share their own experiences, and conversations will be tailored to address attendees’ questions. Attendees will be able to: 1.Recognize the value of librarian disposition in providing inclusive services. 2.Analyze their current library services through the lens of Autistic experiences. 3.Prioritize areas of support valued by Autistic library patrons in their own libraries. 4.Develop library services in alignment with Autistic preferences.
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More Than Manga: Fandom Events in Library Spaces Anime After Hours at the Buenaventura Lakes Library showcases how libraries can support personal and community storytelling through creativity, fandom, and intergenerational participation. This multi-station, drop-in event engages patrons of all ages with activities like 3-D printed Pokémon painting, hidden Pokémon hunts, button making, and glass panel painting. The event culminates in an intergenerational cosplay contest judged on creativity and accuracy, with prizes from program partners and local vendors. By inviting small businesses and creatives to host vendor tables, the library strengthens community connections and supports local artists. Attendance has grown as anime and manga popularity rises, demonstrating libraries’ role in fostering identity, creative expression, and nontraditional literacy. Conference attendees will learn practical strategies for designing inclusive, engaging, and scalable fandom-based programs, building community partnerships, and creating spaces where stories, talents, and passions intersect. The poster itself will model interactive engagement using visuals, samples, and handouts to guide discussion and inspire attendees. |
America 250 Booklists: The Methods, Merits, and Many Voices In preparation for the national initiative marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (America 250), Orange County Library System partnered with the Florida Humanities Council to create three book lists for: Children, Young Adult, and Adult age groups. Each list reflects diverse perspectives while emphasizing literary merit, historical significance, and the founding principles of the nation. The poster presents the lists and explains the librarians’ selection process. This included gathering suggestions, ranking titles on a 1-10 scale, confirming availability and print status, reviewing scope alignment, checking availability across Florida libraries, and consulting professional reviews. A funnel chart will visualize how titles were narrowed. Special consideration was given to historically underrepresented perspectives, including enslaved people, women, and Indigenous communities during the Revolutionary War era. The poster also addresses how potentially biased or inaccurate works were evaluated, highlighting intellectual freedom and informed civic engagement in alignment with the American Library Association’s commitment to the Public Good. Audience takeaways include identifying a clear process for developing a statewide book list, learning strategies for incorporating diverse perspectives related to Revolutionary War history, and understanding how curated collections uphold ALA's values of informed and balanced civic engagement. |
Poetry Programming as a Platform for Voice and Expression This poster presentation highlights a series of National Poetry Month (April) events designed to advocate for and share diverse voices through poetry. In light of the increasing presence of artificial intelligence in academic spaces, this poetry programming offered the university community an opportunity to nurture creativity through human-centered, expressive practices. The programming combined low-barrier, passive engagement opportunities with hands-on, creative participation—such as a generative poetry workshop (blackout poetry), to amplify the voices of underrepresented writers while inviting participants to explore their own creativity. |
Poster Presentation Session III
