Headed to ALA? Check out these Programs Sponsored by the ALA Washington Office!

E-Government Services At your Library: Conquering An Unfunded Mandate
Thursday, June 23, 2016
12:30–4:30 p.m.

Ever felt frustrated by the prospective of another unfunded mandate from the federal, local or state government? Empower yourself, your library and your community by learning to navigate major e-government resources and websites by attending “E-Government Services At your Library: Conquering An Unfunded Mandate.” Learn about taxes, housing, aid to dependent families, social security, healthcare, services to veterans, legal issues facing librarians in e-government and more.

Washington Office Update: Concrete Tips to Take Advantage of Workforce Funding
Saturday, June 25, 2016
8:30-10:00 a.m.

Learn how to secure workforce support funding for your library at this year’s 2016 American Library Association Annual Conference. During the Washington Update session “Concrete Tips to Take Advantage of Workforce Funding,” a panel of library and workforce leaders will discuss best practices for supporting job-seekers at the conference session “Concrete Tips to Take Advantage of Workforce Investment Funding.” Participants will hear about effective job training from two different panel discussions and learn about activities, classes and programs you can offer in your own library. Conference session attendees will also discuss new workforce support opportunities as the federal government rolls out the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA regulations will be announced on June 30, 2016.

Taking Libraries Transform and the Policy Revolution! to the New Presidential Administration
Saturday, June 25, 2016
10:30-11:30 a.m.

The presidential election is right around the corner, with the presidency, Congress, and the U.S. Supreme Court in the balance, and a new Librarian of Congress imminent. Learn about actions that the American Library Association (ALA) is taking to prepare for the coming opportunities and challenges at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla. Join political and library leaders at the conference session “Taking Libraries Transform and the Policy Revolution! to the New Presidential Administration,” where experts will discuss strategic efforts to influence federal policy initiatives in Washington, D.C., and how these efforts transfer to the state and local levels. Speakers include Susan Hildreth, former director, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), ALA Treasurer-elect; and executive director, Peninsula (Calif.) Library System; Anthony Sarmiento, executive director of Senior Service America, Inc., member of the ALA Public Policy Advisory Council, and past senior official with AFL-CIO; Alan S. Inouye, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP); and Mark Smith, Director and Librarian of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. This conference session is sponsored by ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy and United for Libraries.

3D Accessibility Synergy: Anchor Institutions ‘Make’ Opportunities for Diverse Learners
Saturday, June 25, 2016
3:00-4:00 p.m.

3D printers may seem novel, but they are already being harnessed for social good. A prime example: The Silicon Valley-based social advocacy organization Benetech has forged a partnership between libraries, museums and schools to level the playing field for learners with disabilities. During the session, “3D Accessibility Synergy: Anchor Institutions ‘Make’ Opportunities for Diverse Learners,” attendees will learn about how this partnership is giving rise to new learning tools and strategies that help individuals with print and other disabilities more easily grasp complex science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) topics.

Addressing Digital Disconnect for Low-Income Americans
Saturday, June 25, 2016
4:30-5:30 p.m.

From the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s ConnectHome effort to the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline Program to citywide digital inclusion initiatives, libraries are playing leadership roles in connecting low-income Americans. Policy and library leaders will discuss public policy options and share exemplars of how libraries and allies are expanding digital opportunities. During the conference session “Addressing Digital Disconnect for Low-Income Americans,” leaders will explore efforts to connect disadvantaged Americans to the digital world.

Digital Content Working Group—Update and Future Directions
Sunday, June 26, 2016
8:30–10:00 a.m.

What has changed in the library ebook lending environment in the past year? A panel of library and publishing experts will provide an update on the library ebook lending market and discuss best ways for libraries to advance library access to digital content at the 2016 American Library Association’s Annual Conference. Library leaders from ALA’s Digital Content Working Group (DCWG) will provide an update on the DCWG’s activities. The event features an expert panel that focuses on future directions. The ALA Digital Content Working Group was established by ALA leadership to address the greatest digital opportunities and challenges for libraries.

Libraries Ready to Code: Increasing CS Opportunities for Young People
Sunday, June 26, 2016
10:30-11:30 a.m.

Coding in libraries? Learn about the variety of programming in school and public libraries at the 2016 American Library Association’s (ALA) Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla. During the conference session “Libraries Ready to Code: Increasing CS Opportunities for Young People,” a panel of library experts will share experiences gained through a yearlong look at what’s behind the scenes in coding programs for youth—especially for underrepresented groups in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and computer science fields. Panelists will also discuss “computational thinking” and the unique library perspective on successful learning models based on coding concepts.

Ask Us Anything: Copyright Open House
Sunday, June 26, 2016
1:00-2:30 p.m.

Have a question about copyright policies? Library copyright experts will be available during the 2016 American Library Association’s Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla. to respond to vexing copyright questions about licensing, fair use, electronic reserves, using music, images and video content, and more. Join copyright leaders during the interactive session “Ask Us Anything: Copyright Open House,” participants have the opportunity to engage copyright on all of their copyright concerns. The program will include a late breaking copyright policy update from copyright leaders. The session will be a great opportunity to meet copyright geeks keen on helping academic, public and school librarians. The session is co-sponsored by the ALA Committee on Legislation Copyright Subcommittee.

Coding in Tomorrowland: Inspiring Girls in STEM
Sunday, June 26, 2016
1:00-2:30 p.m.

What are the best ways to excite young learners about science and math? Join the “Coding in Tomorrowland: Inspiring Girls in STEM” session which will feature a NASA astronaut and Disney television executives and producers as they discuss the creation of Disney Junior’s acclaimed animated series “Miles from Tomorrowland. The show weaves science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts geared towards kids ages 2-7 into its storylines. Session speakers are: “Miles from Tomorrowland” creator and executive producer, Sascha Paladino; series consultant and NASA astronaut, Dr. Yvonne Cagle; and Disney Junior executive, Diane Ikemiyashiro. The panelists will discuss the relationship between science and entertainment and detail ways that the show imparts scientific concepts and principles to young viewers, particularly girls.

Student Privacy: The Big Picture on Big Data
Monday, June 27, 2016
10:00-11:30 a.m.

Every day, technology is making it possible to collect and analyze ever more data about students’ performance and behavior, including their use of library resources. The use of “big data” in the educational environment, however, raises thorny questions and deep concerns about individual privacy and data security. Join privacy and library experts at the conference session “Student Privacy: The Big Picture on Big Data” for an informative look at the big picture on student data privacy.

Accessible Books for All
Monday, June 27, 2016
10:30-11:30 a.m.

There has been a shift in the way people access information: Ebooks and the widespread use of graphics to convey information have created a “new normal” for how we read and learn. While these resources are readily available, too many of them are not accessible. As a result, people with disabilities such as vision impairments, physical limitations and severe learning disabilities, often face barriers to information. During the session “Accessible Books for All,” a panel of ebooks and accessibility experts will discuss the successful partnership between Benetech/Bookshare, the New York Public Library and others to provide free access to over 400,000 books, periodicals and more to qualified library patrons.

The People’s Incubator: Libraries Propel Entrepreneurship
Monday, June 27, 2016
10:30-11:30 a.m.

The library community does more to promote entrepreneurship than many realize. Libraries provide assistance at every stage of the effort to launch and operate a new venture—from writing a business plan, to raising capital, to managing workflow. Learn about best practices for supporting entrepreneurs in libraries at the 2016 American Library Association Annual Conference. During the session “The People’s Incubator: Libraries Propel Entrepreneurship,” a panel of experts will elucidate the value of this assistance to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and discuss ways in which libraries might make an even greater impact on the innovation economy moving forward.