Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) upcoming events

Mentoring from the Sidelines (22 Oct 2026)

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

MENTORING FROM THE SIDELINES

Join the Academic Library Association of Ohio for a virtual Luncheon & Learn featuring a conversation with Deidra Herring, Associate Professor and Educational Librarian at The Ohio State University, recipient of the 2025 ALAO Kathryn L. Venditti Mentoring Award.

Deidra will reflect on her mentoring journey, share practical strategies for supporting early-career professionals, and discuss the importance of mentorship in the library and information science profession.

The program will also include a brief overview of the Kathryn L. Venditti Mentoring Award and ALAO Mentoring Program, followed by Q&A.

Deidra N. Herring is an Associate Professor and Education Librarian at The Ohio State University. She earned her MLIS degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Central State University. She is a former Head of Reference and Cohort Lead for the Humanities and Social Sciences Librarians under the division of Research and Education. As an early career librarian, she worked in Monographs and Acquisitions as a Mary P. Key Diversity Resident and served as Interim Head of the Department.

Out of all her endeavors, mentoring has been the most rewarding aspect of her professional 20-year journey which has led her to lifelong connections and continuing efforts for personal growth.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/B4xy5rKLR6GafaWC4UghVQ

2026 ALAO Pre-Conference: Designing Libraries Without Barriers: Accessibility in Libraries (29 Oct 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Join us for several topics addressing different approaches to enhancing accessibility of the library.

In this pre-conference presenters will share insights from the ALA Accessibility Assembly, the use of AI in an accessibility context, actual workflows, and building accessibility into your library wholistically.

Using AI to Aid Accessibility Work

Presenters: Annamarie C. Klose, MLIS |Metadata Initiatives Librarian& Olivia Wood, MLIS | Metadata SpecialistatThe Ohio State University Libraries

Digital collections require significant investment by institutions in order to comply with federal digital accessibility standards. The presenters work on a repository of digitized and born digital special collections and archival resources with non-MARC metadata. A large portion of their work includes images that need Alt-Text or a longer description. There are accessibility considerations with text and audiovisual resources. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), there is the potential to leverage digital accessibility and metadata work at scale. However, there are pros and cons with doing so. This session explores various scenarios, workflows, basic terminology, and AI prompting. Additional considerations involve bias, ethics, copyright law, transparency, and the environment.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees learn key definitions related to AI
Attendees will understand the advantages and disadvantages of using AI for this work
Attendees will become familiar with different tools that are available for this work

Making Accessibility Manageable: A Practical Workflow for Libraries

Presenters:Ruth Light, MLIS |Electronic Resources Access Administrator& Rachael Cohen, MLIS | Head, Discovery and User ExperienceatIU Bloomington Libraries

As libraries face increasing accessibility responsibilities, many are searching for practical ways to evaluate electronic resources and digital content without dedicated accessibility specialists or extensive campus support. This presentation shares how Indiana University Libraries developed an accessibility review workflow through an iterative process of testing, documentation, refinement, and collaboration. We will discuss how we built the skills needed to review VPATs, conduct library-led accessibility testing, and support remediation of library content while integrating these activities into existing library workflows. Along the way, we will highlight how the workflow evolved in response to lessons learned, feedback, and changing institutional needs.

Learning Outcome:

Attendees will learn strategies for developing and maintaining a scalable accessibility review workflow that integrates into local library operations

Creating a Lasting Culture of Accessibility: Moving Beyond the Compliance Deadlines

Presenters: Katie Gibson, MLIS | Humanities and Area Studies Librarian & Jerry Yarnetsky, MLIS | Web Services Librarian at Miami University Libraries

The new Americans with Disabilities Act Title II rules required our library to do a thorough examination of the entirety of our online footprint — from our discovery interface and licensed content to PDFs on LibGuides. We have completed an inventory of existing inaccessible content and remediated it. We are now looking towards implementing a yearly work plan for continual evaluation of our online resources. This presentation will briefly discuss our documentation and remediation process. Our main focus will be the creation of a work plan that ensures we are able to proactively address accessibility issues. Our goal is to create a culture of accessibility in the library that will continue long after the initial compliance deadline of April 2026. We will share insights gained throughout this process, make recommendations for institutions who are also undergoing this work, or for those who would like to implement similar projects at their institution. We will recommend resources to support ongoing accessibility work at institutions of all sizes and types.

Learning Outcomes:

Attendees will be able to understand the scope of requirements in the ADA Title II rules in order to apply them to the day-to-day library work in a variety of contexts including acquisitions, licensing, public services, and web-programming.
Attendees will be able to identify possible areas for inaccessible content in order to create a successful and lasting accessibility plan at their own institutions.
Attendees will be able to apply lessons learned throughout our library’s accessibility project to their institution’s context

SCHEDULE

Registration and coffee: 9am - 10am

Morning session: 10am - 12pm

Using AI to aid accessibility work
Making Accessibility Manageable: A Practical Workflow for Libraries

Lunch: 12pm - 1pm

Afternoon Session: 1:15 - 2:15pm

Creating a lasting culture of accessibility: Moving beyond the compliance deadlines

Break: 2:15 - 2:30pm

ALA Accessibility Assembly: notes and trends from the past year

Open Discussion

End: 3:30pm

2026 ALAO Pre-Conference: Cultivating Sustainable Academic Libraries: From Mindset to Practice (29 Oct 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Cultivating Sustainable Academic Libraries: From Mindset to Practice

SCHEDULE

Registration and coffee: 12pm-1pm

1st session: 1pm - 3pm

Break: 3pm - 3:30pm

2nd session: 3:30 - 5:30pm

End: 5:30pm

What if sustainability in academic libraries began not with doing more, but with seeing differently?

This interactive preconference, co-sponsored by the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), invites academic library workers to envision a more sustainable future for academic libraries in Ohio.

Participants will be introduced to the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI), which recently formed a partnership with ALAO, and consider how everyday library practice can be transformed and supported by a mindset focused on a balance of environmental stewardship, social equity, relationships, responsible resources use, and well-being

At its heart, sustainability connects closely with what librarians already do well: stewardship. Librarians help to sustain resources, knowledge, spaces, and communities with attention to both present needs and future generations. From this perspective, participants will explore how academic libraries can advance sustainability as a joyful practice and from where they are.

Through appreciative conversation and reflection, participants will consider what stewardship looks like in their own context, what practical actions can help sustain people, libraries, and communities during times of increasing disruption, and how our relationships with the natural world can inform this work.

The emphasis of the sustainability movement in libraries is not on adding more to an already full plate, but on approaching existing and evolving work with greater intention and making meaningful choices with what we can influence now. The program will include practical application and a short, guided reflective exercise outdoors focused on restoration, self-reflection, and connection with the natural world.

Lunch is not included for this free event. Participants are welcome to bring snacks and encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for spending a portion of the session outdoors, including walking, and sitting outside.

PRESENTERS

Rebecca Miller from SLI:

The Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI) provides library leaders with a proven path forward to co-create libraries and communities that will thrive in the coming years. The Sustainable Library Certification Program and the SLI community of practice enables you, your library, and ultimately the community you serve, to become more environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically feasible. In 2026, SLI and ALAO formed a partnership to help bring resources to ALAO members.

Pamela Espinosa de los Monteros is an educator, engaged scholar, and organizational development consultant whose work explores how people, organizations, and communities can transform and flourish together through change. Through Imagine Lucha Lab, a social enterprise grounded in a head, heart, and hands approach, she helps individuals and organizations build sustainable practices that strengthen capacity, interdependence, and collective flourishing.

Pamela is an award-winning public and academic librarian and serves as an Associate Professor and Area Studies Librarian at The Ohio State University. She has led leadership development programs for the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries, Minnesota Institute for Early Career Librarians, OhioNet, the State Library of Ohio, and the Association of Research Libraries. Her work has been recognized with a Fulbright García Robles Fellowship and The Ohio State University Community Engaged Scholar Award. She is an active member of ALAO and SALALM, her two professional association homes, which she values for their strong sense of community.

2026 ALAO Annual Conference (30 Oct 2026)

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

2026 ALAO Annual Conference

OCLC Conference Center/Smith Building, 6600 Kilgour Place, Dublin, Ohio

In-Person Early bird rates (available through September 20)

$130 ALAO/MiALA/OELMA Members
$160 Non ALAO Members
$77 ALAO Student Members/Retirees

In-Person Regular rates

$160 ALAO/MiALA/OELMA Members
$190 Non ALAO Members

Online Only Conference Package Option

Includes all online and hybrid Conference programming content:

*Oct 30th Conference Keynote, Hybrid Track sessions

Rates

$50 ALAO/MiALA/OELMA Members
$56 Non ALAO Members

In-Person Conference - Friday, October 30, 2026, OCLC Convention Center / Smith Building, 6600 Kilgour Place, Dublin, OH

The Friday in-person portion of the Conference will feature many informative and inspirational sessions, posters, and lightning talks from your colleagues. The program will also include:

The 2026 Conference Keynote Presentation.
Presentations in a “hybrid track room” where sessions will be simulcast live online throughout the day. Each of these sessions will feature presentations on a variety of topics that impact services and activities across all library departments.

Let's Get Social, ALAO!

ALAO is hosting a social on Thursday evening, October 29 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at PINS Mechanical Company in Dublin, OH. Join us for pizza, conversation, and lovely surroundings. Have dinner at one of the delicious nearby restaurants and then join us for the social!

Conference Grant Opportunities

ALAO is committed to supporting professional development and encouraging participation in its annual conference. 2026 Conference grant program opportunities include:

Two award opportunities for our Support Staff Conference Grant
Two award opportunities for our Student Conference Grant
Two award opportunities for our Technical Services Staff Grant (one for an attendee and one for a presenter)

See the respective links for grant details and application deadlines.

If paying by check, please make checks payable to ALAO and send to Don Appleby at the address below:

Don Appleby

4377 Maplepark Rd

Stow, OH 44224