National Institute 2026

National Institute 2026

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8:00am EDT

Quiet Room Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Franklin Registration Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Registration Desk (Mezzanine Level)

8:30am EDT

Big Ideas: TBA! Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-D

9:30am EDT

Exhibits Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency Ballroom

10:15am EDT

Discussion Session Library of One Hyatt Regency Buffalo | EllicottPatricia Mumau

Beyond Compliance: How Community Partnership Drives Meaningful Library Accessibility Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FTess Botkin • Kristin Williamson

Centering Joy, Justice, and Black Girlhood Through Romance Embassy Suites Buffalo | EncoreJessica Grider

Children’s Librarian to Public Library Director Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GKristi Dougherty

Making the Case for Nonfiction: Inspiring Readers and Celebrating Informational Books Embassy Suites Buffalo | SalonStacey Rattner • Elisa Gall • Cathy Potter

Pride Everywhere: Rainbow Family Storytime Success Across Two Systems Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Delaware A-CNatalie Magnatta • Alec Chunn • Rebecca Chernay • Sam Bashakevitz

The Powerful Impact of Play: How Play Can Engage Your Community and Strengthen Early Literacy Skills Embassy Suites Buffalo | AvantNichole King • Raina Tuakoi

11:15am EDT

Lunch Break Exhibits Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency Ballroom

12:45pm EDT

BIPOC Library Staff Discussion Session Hyatt Regency Buffalo | EllicottShamika Fusco

A Case Study of Censorship in a Louisiana Public Library or You Can’t Make This Stuff Up Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FTanya DiMaggio

Create a Critical Thinking Program Recipe Embassy Suites Buffalo | EncoreMichelle Muller

Nonfiction Matters: How to Find Excellence, Engagement, and Depth in Path-breaking Nonfiction Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Delaware A-CDeborah Taylor • Deborah Heiligman • Marc Aronson

Pages to Purpose: Using the Power of Story to Inspire Action Embassy Suites Buffalo | SalonJen Donnalley • Susan Polos

Supporting Neurodiverse Youth Ages 0-12 Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GLauren Williams • Erin Richards

Using Photos, Videos, and Webcams to Enrich Informational Literacy Embassy Suites Buffalo | AvantMelissa Stewart

2:15pm EDT

Discussion Session: Children's Services Management Hyatt Regency Buffalo | EllicottKristi Dougherty

Before 1, 2, 3: Early Math Precursors for Babies and Toddlers Embassy Suites Buffalo | AvantKatie Campana • Jacqueline Kociubuk

Feel-Good Family Learning Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FAmanda “Mandy” O’Brien

Finding and Serving Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Delaware A-CDr. Vikki C. Terrile

Scalable STEAM Programs for Any Budget and Bandwidth Embassy Suites Buffalo | SalonAbby Jean Duvall

Trading Spaces: How to Build a Tween Space in a Children's Room Embassy Suites Buffalo | EncoreOlivia McElwain

Writing, Illustrating, and Publishing Kidlit 101: How Books Go from Our Brains to Your Shelves Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GSarah Mead • Heather Lee • Deena Viviani

3:30pm EDT

Saturday Closing Session Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-D

4:30pm EDT

Closing General Book Signing Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency Ballroom