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Thursday, October 1
 

7:30am EDT

Registration
Thursday October 1, 2026 7:30am - 5:30pm EDT

Thursday October 1, 2026 7:30am - 5:30pm EDT
Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Registration Desk (Mezzanine Level) 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202

8:00am EDT

TSDD: Opening Keynote: Delali Adjoa and The Free Verse Society
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

Debut author Delali Adjoa joins Valerie Tagoe to discuss The Free Verse Society, writing for teens, the experience of launching a debut novel, and the power of language in finding yourself and connecting with others.

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org. 
Speakers
avatar for Delali Adjoa

Delali Adjoa

Author
Delali Adjoa was born in Togo to Ghanaian parents but grew up in Canada, where she traded sunny cottons for wool tuques and snowsuits. She has been chasing warmer weather ever since. Delali writes fiction centered on identity, freedom, and family, and loves the American South for the stories it... Read More →
Sponsors
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Avant 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

8:00am EDT

PAID EVENT: Rochester Public Library & Strong National Museum of Play Tour
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered attendees will be able to attend, as space is limited.

This full-day preconference takes attendees to Buffalo’s nearby neighbor, Rochester, for a library and museum tour! Attendees will begin the day at the Central Library of Rochester & Monroe County, with a tour of the facilities and light refreshments. In the late morning, attendees will receive a guided tour of the Brian Sutton-Smith Library & Archives of Play and the Strong National Museum of Play, followed by lunch and then self-directed time to explore before heading back to Buffalo in time for Opening General Session!

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org. 
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00am - 5:00pm EDT

9:30am EDT

TSDD: A Deep Dive Into the Alex Award: Titles to Recommend for Adults AND Teens
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

Each year, the Alex Award honors ten outstanding books published in the past year for adults but with high teen appeal; there is also a "longlist" of an additional twenty vetted titles. While the award is intenteded to help librarians recommend adult books for more mature teen readers, it is also worth mining for Readers' Advisory for discerning grown-ups. This workshop will examine the history of the award, highlight some of its outstanding recent recipients, and include discussion of its more controversial recommendations. The presenter has been an Alex Award chairperson.

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.
Speakers
CA

Cathy Andronik

Cathy was a teacher librarian in Connecticut, at all levels at some point in her career.  She spent the 17 up to her retirement in 2018 at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk, CT.  Following her (ha-ha) "retirement," she has been a presenter for the Bureau of Education and Research... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Avant 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

9:30am EDT

TSDD: Don't Leave Tweens Stuck In Between!
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

Planning and leading programming for tweens is essential for bridging the gap between the storytime crowd and older teens. Welcoming and creating space for tweens is essentially to maintaining lifelong library users. Learn about creating engaging tween programs that will help these young patrons feel seen, valued, and prioritized at your library. 

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.
Speakers
avatar for Dania Souid

Dania Souid

Assistant Director, Baldwinsville Public Library
Dania is the Assistant Director and Teen Librarian at the Baldwinsville Public Library in New York. She loves leading crafting programs for tweens and teens and encouraging them to showcase their unique talents through art. She also focuses on fostering partnerships and connections... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Salon 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

9:30am EDT

TSDD: No More Empty Rooms
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

Are your teen programs missing their target audience? If you've ever planned an event, only to have low (or no) attendance, you're not alone! This session will focus on designing programs that actually appeal to teens by centering their interest, removing barriers to participation, and using creative marketing strategies. Learn how to balance structured and casual programming, harness teen input, and make your events the place to be. Walk away with fresh ideas, real-world examples, and a renewed approach to teen programming that works. 

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.

Speakers
avatar for Prairie Hanson

Prairie Hanson

Youth Services Assistant
Prairie is a Youth Services Assistant that focuses on teen programming, outreach, and marketing. They’ve spent the past few years building up teen engagement (and turning the library into a space teens actually want to hang out in). They’re especially interested in creative programming... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Encore 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

10:45am EDT

TSDD: From Conflict to Connection: Lessons from Buffalo's Central Library Teen Transformation
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

In recent years, Buffalo & Erie County Public Library's Central Library experienced disruptive behavior and occasional conflicts among teen patrons--symptoms not of 'problem teens' but of unmet needs. This session shares the practical evolution of Central Library's new Teen Space--from concept to furniture to culture. Attendees will learn how involving teens in design decisions, prioritizing comfort and identity, and creating interest-driven programming transformed our environment. We will explore how ownership over the space reduced behavior issues, and how ongoing feedback continues to shape programming. Whether your library is planning a new teen area or working to reimagine an existing one, this session will provide realistic, youth-centered tools and help teens feel seen, valued, and welcome in the library.

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.
Speakers
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Avant 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

10:45am EDT

TSDD: Manga from the Mouths of Teens
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

Manga (and anime) has become mainstream. However, whether librarians are catering to the otakus or the casual readers, it's best to have a foundational knowledge ourselves to blend with student recommendations and what's appearing in pop culture while adhering to our district's collection development policies and the freedom to read. The session will help secondary librarians curate a collection and build resources to continually feed (and weed!) it, including avenues to solicit feedback from our students. 

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.
Speakers
avatar for Alicia Abdul

Alicia Abdul

School Librarian and Adjunct, Albany High School | St. John Fisher University & University at Albany
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Encore 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

10:45am EDT

TSDD: Navigating the Library with Generative AI
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered Teen Services Development Day attendees will be able to attend. 

Generative AI tools are transforming the way people search for, process and create information. But what role can these tools play in libraries, where trust, equity, and access are all central values? This session will explore how children's and youth services librarians can teach patrons of all ages and backgrounds to use AI responsibly as a tool for navigating library resources. 

Participants will learn how AI can serve as a creative partner for discovery, helping patrons generate book recommendations, summarize complex texts, and brainstorm research topics, while also reinforcing the importance of verifying information with trusted library sources. The presentation will demonstrate real-world applications, including sample prompts for common library questions, ways to integrate AI into literacy and learning, and strategies for bridging language and accessibility barriers. 

Attendees will walk away with practical frameworks, activity ideas, and patron-facing messaging that positions librarians as both trusted guides and technology mentors. This session emphasizes the balance between innovation and critical thinking, empowering libraries to be safe, inclusive spaces where patrons can explore new AI tools with confidence. 

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org.
Speakers
GS

Georgette Spratling

Assistant Library Director, North Miami Public Library
Georgette Spratling serves as the Youth Services Librarian and Assistant Director at the North Miami Public Library in Miami, FL. She is also a PhD student at Simmons University's School of Library and Information Science, where she holds the position of Dean’s Fellow for Diversity... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Salon 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

12:00pm EDT

TSDD: Luncheon Keynote
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available

Thursday October 1, 2026 12:00pm - 1:30pm EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Avant 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

1:00pm EDT

PAID EVENT: Bookmaking and Printmaking In the Library
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
This is a ticketed event. Only registered attendees will be able to attend, as space is limited.

This half-day preconference, facilitated by Buffalo’s Western New York Book Arts Center, located just two blocks from the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, will provide two hands-on crafting experiences:

Bookmaking: Simple Techniques - Participants can expect to learn about various bookmaking structures and complete at least two (2) different handmade origami books (difficulty appropriate for children & tweens).
Letterpress Printmaking - Participants will engage in hands-on typesetting & printing with antique letterpress type and imagery, operating a press from the 1930s to create a commemorative, collaborative custom broadside or greeting card. Time will be devoted to discussing alternative simple printmaking methods for young students.

Participants will be able to create materials using WNYBA’s expansive knowledge and resources and learn practical applications for bookmaking and printmaking programming in their communities. 

Registrants will be added to this event in SCHED based on ALA registration data and will be sent details accordingly. If you are not registered for this event but would like to be, please email Sarah Polen at spolen [at] ala.org. 
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Western New York Book Arts Center 468 Washington St, Buffalo, NY 14203, USA

1:45pm EDT

TSDD: Building Year-Round Connections Through Dynamic Teen Programming
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Looking for new ways to grow your teen audience and deepen their engagement with the library? Learn about three unique program offerings at the Middle Country Public Library - Friday Teen Night, Media Teens and Teens Tech 4 Good - that continue to evolve in response to the needs of teens in the community. Discover how year-round programs, offered in both formal and informal learning settings, help keep teens involved and break down barriers to library services. By providing teens with ongoing opportunities to socialize and explore, participate in meaningful volunteer work, and expose to new technology and library resources, these intentionally designed programs foster relationship and establish the library as a safe, welcoming space. You will leave this session with practical tips on designing sustainable, creative teen programming at your library. We will cover how to adapt to changes, retain teen participation, and brainstorm strategies for library staff to connect with and support teens. 
Speakers
KT

Kristine Tanzi

Coordinator for Teen Services, Middle Country Public Library
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Avant 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

1:45pm EDT

TSDD: Helping Youth Lead the Way to a More Sustainable Future
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the current state of the world? This program will uplift you and provide concrete examples of ways youth services librarians involved in the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program are providing learning opportunities to children and teens in their communities to empower both library staff and the audience they serve to become leaders in sustainable thinking. Programming and collection development examples will be shared, including community service opportunities for both children and teens. Elevator speech examples to help advocate for strong youth services programs to assist in sharing the importance of this work to other leaders in a community, like service organizations, municipal government leaders, etc., will be explored. The concept of sustainability shared will include the "triple-bottom line" definition of work that is both environmentally friendly while also being financially and socially equitable - particularly in underserved communities and those that experience the effects of climate change more so than others. 
Speakers
KC

Keturah Cappadonia

Outreach Librarian, Southern Tier Library System
MM

Michelle Muller

Member and Youth Services Consultant, Ramapo Catskill Library System
avatar for Lisa Kropp

Lisa Kropp

Library Director, Lindenhurst Memorial Library
she/her
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Encore 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

1:45pm EDT

TSDD: Middle Grade Grows Up: Making Room for Young Teen Experiences in Literature
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Are you struggling to find engaging books that are developmentally appropriate for young teens? Where have all the 12-15 year old protagonists gone? They've moved to middle grade, a category traditionally targeted at 8-12 year olds, and its time to talk about why. This interactive session explores the shifting landscape of literature for younger teens, including the recent aging up of middle grade and young adults, current trends, and what this means for readers, writers, and librarians. We'll share standout titles, discuss how these books resonate beyond their target age group, and invite you to join our conversation about common challenges in readers' advisory for young teens. 
Speakers
avatar for Erica Schimmel

Erica Schimmel

Teen Services Librarian, Arapahoe Libraries
Catherine and Erica work with teen services at Arapahoe Libraries, Catherine as supervisor of Teen Services and Erica as a teen services librarian. As part of their work with ALD, they maintain a robust schedule of booktalking visits with local schools and also manage their district’s... Read More →
avatar for Catherine Boddie

Catherine Boddie

Supervisor, Teen Services, Arapahoe Libraries
Catherine and Erica work with teen services at Arapahoe Libraries, Catherine as supervisor of Teen Services and Erica as a teen services librarian. As part of their work with ALD, they maintain a robust schedule of booktalking visits with local schools and also manage their district’s... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Salon 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

3:00pm EDT

TSDD: Include Con: A Comic Con for Everyone
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Many neurodivergent people (those with brain differences affecting processing, like autism and ADHD) love comics and graphic novels, and visual mediums support literacy, especially for those with learning differences. However, typical comic conventions are often sensory nightmares, with crowded, loud and bright convention centers creating a hostile or outright exclusionary environment for neurodivergent attendees. Because of this, many interested patrons have never been able to attend a con. 

Inspired by a suggestion from a patron and funded by a Brooklyn Incubator grant, Inclusive Services at Brooklyn Public Library designed Include Con, a first-of-its-kind library comic convention with sensory needs considered at every stage. By taking major steps to manage the sensory experience of the event and providing a range of sensory tools, we allowed many neurodivergent patrons to attend and/or enjoy their first convention.

In this presentation, public and school librarians alike will learn about the barriers that typically exclude people with sensory-processing issues from comic conventions and feel empowered to create their own sensory-friendly conventions, as well as sensory-friendly teen programming more generally. 
Speakers
LI

Laura Indick

YA Librarian, Inclusive Services, Brooklyn Public Library
Thursday October 1, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Avant 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

3:00pm EDT

TSDD: The Lost Art of Booktalk
LIMITED
Thursday October 1, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Limited Capacity seats available
Booktalking is an important part of active programming for tweens and teens. Join Scot Smith as he discusses the hows and whys of booktalking. Included in this fast-paced and informative session are techniques to motivate reluctant and potential readers, different styles of booktalks, and recent research about adolescent literacy. 
Speakers
avatar for Scot Smith

Scot Smith

Assistant Professor of Practice, University of Tennessee--Knoxville
Scot Smith is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Tennessee. Before changing careers, he worked in school libraries for more than 25 years. He served on the 2018 Printz Award committee and has read for the jury of the Schneider... Read More →
Thursday October 1, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Embassy Suites Buffalo | Encore 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY, 14202

6:00pm EDT

Opening General Dinner
Thursday October 1, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

Thursday October 1, 2026 6:00pm - 7:00pm EDT
Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-G 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA

7:00pm EDT

Opening Keynote with Angie Thomas
Thursday October 1, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Angie Thomas is the author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Nic Blake and the Remarkables series, The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose as well as Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth. She is also a coauthor of the bestselling collaborative novels Blackout, Whiteout, and Breakout. A former teen rapper who holds a BFA in creative writing, Angie divides her time between her native Mississippi, and Atlanta. You can find her online at angiethomas.com.
Speakers
avatar for Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas

Author
Angie Thomas is the author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Nic Blake and the Remarkables series, The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose as well as Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth. She is also a coauthor of the bestselling... Read More →
Sponsors
Thursday October 1, 2026 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-G 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY 14202, USA

8:00pm EDT

Exhibits
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Join us for the launch of the exhibit hall! 
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency Ballroom 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, USA

8:00pm EDT

Book Signing: Angie Thomas
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Angie's books will be available for purchase onsite at the National Institute bookstore, including Nic Blake series, The Hate U Give, and 2026's Breakout (co-authored with Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon).
Speakers
avatar for Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas

Author
Angie Thomas is the author of the award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling Nic Blake and the Remarkables series, The Hate U Give, On the Come Up, and Concrete Rose as well as Find Your Voice: A Guided Journal for Writing Your Truth. She is also a coauthor of the bestselling... Read More →
Sponsors
Thursday October 1, 2026 8:00pm - 9:00pm EDT
Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency Ballroom 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo, NY, USA
 
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