2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 23-24
Table of Contents Welcome from the AzLA President...................................................................................3 Keynote Speakers...............................................................................................................7 Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................11 AzLA Service Awards........................................................................................................12 Conference Sponsors.......................................................................................................14 Exhibitors...........................................................................................................................15 Exhibit Hall Map...............................................................................................................19 Schedule at a Glance.......................................................................................................20 Session Details..................................................................................................................22 Conference Map...............................................................................................................30 Survey.................................................................................................................................31 Save the Date....................................................................................................................32
Welcome to the 2025 AzLA Annual Conference! Welcome to the 2025 AzLA Annual Conference, "Arizona Blooming: How Libraries Empower Community!" Hello and welcome, friends! I’m so excited to welcome you to the 2025 Arizona Library Association Annual Conference here in sunny, stunning Tucson! This year’s theme—Arizona Blooming: How Libraries Empower Community—is all about growth, renewal, and celebrating how our library community continues to thrive and blossom across the state. After the challenges and changes of recent years, it’s wonderful to be together again to share ideas, spark inspiration, and remind ourselves why we love what we do. Over the next few days, you’ll have the chance to hear from incredible keynote speakers, dive into engaging sessions, and pick up fresh ideas and resources to take back to your libraries. Be sure to spend some time exploring the exhibit hall and connecting with our fantastic exhibitors and partners who help make our work possible. And don’t forget to network with your fellow attendees! One of the best aspects of AzLA is the sense of community. Please take a moment to introduce yourself, share stories, and make connections that will continue to flourish long after the conference ends. A huge thank you to our conference committee for their creativity, dedication, and countless hours of work in bringing this event to life. Because of them—and because of you—this conference is a celebration of everything that makes Arizona libraries strong: our shared commitment to intellectual freedom, equitable access to knowledge, and learning that lasts a lifetime. So, take a deep breath, soak in that desert sunshine, and let yourself be inspired. Together, we’re Arizona Blooming! Karly Scarbrough 2024-2025 AzLA President
Thursday, October 23 Opening Keynote
Lydia R. Otero Lydia R. Otero, Ph.D. is Emeritus Associate Professor in the Department of Mexican American Studies at the University of Arizona. Their scholarship focuses on urban redevelopment and contested landscapes, with particular attention to how historical narratives are mobilized to legitimize power and dominance. Otero is the author of La Calle: Spatial Conflicts and Urban Renewal in a Southwestern City (2010), an award-winning study of a 1966 urban renewal project that targeted the most densely populated 80 acres in Arizona. While Mexican Americans made up the majority of residents in the area, it was also home to many of Tucson’s African American and Asian American communities. They have since expanded their work into memoir, publishing In the Shadows of the Freeway: Growing Up Brown & Queer (2019) and L.A. Interchanges: A Brown & Queer Memoir (2023), both of which merge personal narrative with archival research. Otero’s current project centers on María Navarette Cordova (1895–1975), whose downtown Tucson home, La Casa Cordova, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The forthcoming book, Storied Properties, will be Otero’s first interactive print publication, offering readers access to archival documents and photographs through embedded QR codes. The work continues their engagement with preservation, displacement, and how archives shape public memory. More information at:https://www.lydiaotero.com
Friday, October 24 Closing Keynote
Library Advocacy 2025 - Standing strong together Join a panel of experts to examine how advocacy works differently in a variety of scenarios. Lisa Varga, Associate Executive Director of the American Library Association's Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington DC, and Lisa Morris Wilkey, Librarian at Casa Grande Union High School, will join Erin MacFarlane, AzLA Advocacy Committee Chair, on a panel moderated by Cheryl Gerken from AzLA's Professional Development Committee. We'll discuss how strong advocacy differs in form depending on the scale, location, and needs of the community. You'll walk away with actionable steps to become a more effective library advocate in your own work.
Cheryl Gerken is the Course Content Initiatives Manager at University of Arizona Libraries, where she works with a team that supports students, instructors, and departments to promote and support course materials affordability on campus. As a former bilingual educator and school librarian with an MA in Language, Reading and Culture and an MA in Library and Information Science, she recognizes the importance of advocacy for promoting and maintaining intellectual freedom at all levels of society, particularly the K-16 community. Lisa Varga became the Associate Executive Director of the American Library Association's Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, DC in April of this year. Prior to that, she had been the Executive Director of the Virginia Library Association for 15 years. Lisa also served as Chair of the Virginia Beach Public Library Board and in 2024 was named Library Journal's Librarian of the Year. She is a mom to three young men who all went through a "reluctant reader" phase. Lisa Morris-Wilkey serves as the District Librarian for the Casa Grande Elementary School District, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the district's library programs and resources. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she also acts as the Vice President of the Friends of the Library in Casa Grande, extending her commitment to library advocacy beyond the school environment. In December 2023, she completed the American Library Association Advocacy Workshop, further strengthening her advocacy skills.
Acknowledgements Our sincere thanks to those listed and apologies and thanks to those we may have missed! Special Appreciation Karly Scarbrough, AzLA President Jessica Salow, AzLA President-elect Terry Ann Lawler, AzLA Secretary Marissa Dailey-McLennon, AzLA Treasurer Holly Henley, State Librarian All AzLA Board and Committee members Tina Packard, Webmaster Casino Del Sol Staff All breakout session presenters All volunteers for registration booth All volunteers for speaker liaisons All raffle prize donors
Conference Committee Co-Chairs Dianna Manasse (Year 1) Stacey Akahoshi (Year 1)
Service Awards Committee
Janelle Nash, co-chair (Year 2) Heather Severson, co-chair (Year 2) Deborah Winlock Kerrlita Westrick (Grand Canyon Reader) Ivy Jarvis (Louise A. Stephens scholarship) Casey VanHaren (Louise A. Stephens scholarhip)
Conference Coordinator Lisa Lewis, Past President
Program Committee
Aubrey White, co-chair (Year 1) Jill Brenner, co-chair (Year 1) Diana Flores Melissa Kummen Jill Thomsen Ophelia Spencer Amanda Takacs Alison Williams Jasmine Mundo Nicole Swanson Ophelia Spencer
Volunteer Committee Kaitlyn Sparks, co-chair (Year 2) Tetima Parnprome, co-chair (Year 2) Jennifer Volkert Jon Karki Meade Alonna Larson Karen Docherty Dawn Ferro Debbie Winlock
Membership, Marketing, & Outreach Committee Erin Lorandos (Chair) Bob Diaz Debe Moreno Shelley Reddy Amadee Ricketts Donna Throckmorton Debbie Winlock
Congratulations to our Award-Winning Librarians! Sharon G. Womack Award . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mona Ammon (University of Arizona Libraries) Given to an individual who has served as a model of the important role that the paraprofessional plays in providing quality library service and has exemplified an integral part of the paraprofessional performs as a library staff member. Louise A. Stephens Memorial Scholarship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Caitlyn Leigh Ratcliff Louise Stephens, a graduate of the University of Arizona School of Information, worked for Glendale Public Library for 30 years, retiring in January 2007. As a children’s librarian and a library manager, Louise was active in the Arizona Library Association, serving as its Association President, Public Library Division President, and Awards Chair at various times. In 2001 she was named the association’s Librarian of the Year, and in 2007, she received the Rosenzweig Award for distinguished service. Louise advocated for libraries as a centerpiece of a community as well as the need to network with other librarians as the forces to keep those institutions running. Louise passed away in July 2007 and an endowed scholarship was established in her memory. The Recipient receives a certificate from AzLA and a monetary award ($2,000) from the Louise A. Stephens Scholarship Fund. Emerging Leader Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barbara Porter (Mesa Public Schools) Open to any person working in a library who shows exceptional promise as a leader in the field. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals with strong leadership potential in order to encourage them to take on roles of increasing responsibility in library work. Newton and Betty Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award . . .Amber Mathewson (Pima County Public Library) Honors anyone who has provided significant accomplishments and leadership over the past five years in Arizona. Emphasis is placed on effectiveness institutionally, regionally or state-wide. Follett School Librarian of the Year Award . . . . . . Kerri Williams (Chandler Unified District #80) Given to an individual who serves as a model for implementing the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) National Standards. Follett School Library Resources sponsors this award. The recipient receives a $500 Titlewave voucher. Outreach Services Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Youth Services Team (Prescott Public Library) The Little Chapel of All Nations, Tucson, provides a monetary award to the library, librarian, library staff, or library related group or person that provides exemplary library outreach services to unserved, underserved, or minority populations.
Congratulations to our Award-Winning Librarians! Library Volunteer of the Year Award. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Barb Collins (Prescott Public Library), Mel and Bonnie Warren (Casa Grande Public Library) This award is open to any individual or group serving in a volunteer capacity in any library. Nominees should exemplify exceptional library service. Emphasis will be placed on activities that go beyond the standard requirements of good library service and the nominee's investment of personal time. Outstanding Services-Academic Libraries . . . . . . . Deirdre Kirmis (Arizona State University Library) The Outstanding Services Award in Academic Libraries is given to an individual at a university, college, or community college library who provides exemplary services, collection management and programs for students, staff and faculty. Outstanding Services-K-12 Libraries. . . . . . .Bianca Valencia(Carl Hayden Community High School) The Outstanding Services Award in K-12 School Libraries is given to an individual at a K-12 library who provides exemplary services, collection management and programs for students and staff. Outstanding Services-Public Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danielle Ave (Pima County Public Library) The Outstanding Services Award in Public Libraries is given to an individual at a public library who provides exemplary services, collection management and programs for their community. Innovation in Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allen Brown (Phoenix Public Library) This award is given to the library staff member, project team, or library who facilitated an innovative program by engaging, empowering, or partnering with the library’s community. This award is open to all library types. Programs should exemplify values of education or information, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and community engagement. Applicants need to show evidence of a positive public relations benefit occurring as a result of the program. Innovation in Research Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Team Leap (Mesa Public Library) This award is given to the library staff member, project team, or library who facilitated an innovative research program demonstrating creativity, quality, and positive community impact. This award is open to all library types. Innovative research programs should exemplify values of education or information, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and community engagement. Applicants need to show evidence of a positive public relations benefit occurring as a result of the program. Innovation in Technology Award........................ . . . Tech Help Program(Cottonwood Public Library) This award is given to the library staff member, project team, or library who facilitated an innovative technology program demonstrating creativity, quality, and positive community impact. This award is open to all library types. Innovative technology programs should exemplify values of education or information, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and community engagement. Applicants need to show evidence of a positive public relations benefit occurring as a result of the program.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to our exhibitors!
Plan to stop by the Exhibit Hall! Thurs. 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm (Refreshments sponsored by Baker & Taylor) Friday 10:15 am - 10:45 am (Refreshments sponsored by Amigos)
Exhibit Hall Map
Thursday, October 23th 7:30 – 4:15 pm
AzLA Registration Desk Open
7:30 – 8:15 am
Breakfast Buffet in the Ballroom; Welcome & Housekeeping Announcements from AzLA President
8:15 – 9:30 am
Opening Keynote Lydia R Otero
9:30 – 10:00 am
Visit the Exhibit Hall
10:00-11:00 am
Session 1
11:00 – 11:30 am
Transition Time
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Session 2
12:30 – 1:45 pm
Lunch and Raffle
1:45 – 2:45 pm
Session 3
2:45 – 3:00 pm
Visit the Exhibit Hall
3:00 - 4:00 pm 5:00 - 7:00 pm
Session 4
University of Arizona Alumni Mixer
Full Program and Presenter Information
Friday, October 24th 7:30 – 1:30 pm
AzLA Registration Desk Open
8:30-9:00 am
Breakfast Buffet in the Ballroom
9:00-9:30 am
Transition Time
9:30-10:30 am
Session 6
10:30-11:00am
Visit the Exhibit Hall
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session 7
12:00 - 12:10 pm
Transition Time
12:10 - 1:10 pm
Session 8
1:15 - 2:30 pm
Plated Lunch in the Ballroom Presentation of Service Awards
2:30-3:30 pm
Keynote Closing Session
Full Program and Presenter Information
Registration in Atrium
BALLROOM
Conf. Office
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2026 AzLA Annual Conference October 22-23, 2026 Casino Del Sol Help us celebrate 100 years!