At our libraries, we often have to weigh a single patron's need against the needs of the rest of our patrons. How can we disengage from lengthy interactions and still ensure that our patrons are satisfied? Join RISci for a group of mediated round tables to discuss strategies for ending reference interactions that have gone on a little too long. As always, this event is for all library types. Come prepared to share your tips, tricks, and scenarios! Register at https://nwacc.libcal.com/event/7659781

Zack McCannon, Garden Programmer at the Faulkner County Library, will outline practical steps to quickly implement and maintain garden-based initiatives at your library. From community garden plots, food donation gardens, seed libraries, Little Free Pantries, cooking classes, food festivals, to educational workshops - the garden is fertile place to build community and a stronger local food system.

Creating a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan for Your Library
     With Leah Frieden, Fayetteville Public Library

Learn how to create a diversity, equity, and inclusion plan for your library! I learned about creating a DEI plan by participating in a 10-month long workshop given by TRUE Northwest Arkansas, an initiative to Train, Report, Uplift, and Engage our community towards diversity and inclusion. TRUE Northwest Arkansas is a program of the Arkansas Community Foundation and is made possible with support from the Walmart Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation.

We will discuss getting to know the demographics of your area, common barriers to entry for diverse populations and how to overcome them, how to create a DEI survey for your library, evaluating your survey to form a plan, and carrying out your DEI plan.

Free to members, $15.00 for non-members.

The 2021 Arkansas Library Association's Annual Conference will be held October 12-15, 2021 and hosted virtually.

Join us as we seek to share our wisdom, lessons learned, and best practices at this conference. There will be many opportunities for networking, fun and growth; for new ideas for a new time. Keynotes will be CO State Library's Kieran Hixon, storyteller and advocate for small rural libraries, and AR food enthusiast and author Kat Robinson; as well as, award winning sci-fic/gothic author John Hornor Jacobs of LR and Delta author Kalya Tate Boerner.

Deadline to be a part of the ARLA 2021 Conference Exhibition will be May 15, 2021. Please email Shankles08@gmail.com a vector drawing if your logo for the Vendor page in the program and for use to advertise the conference.