National Institute 2026

National Institute 2026

KL

Katie Long

Daniel Boone Regional Library

Youth Services Librarian

Columbia, MO

dbrl.org

About me

YSCI Vice-Chair
Missouri Building Blocks Chair

6:00pm EDT

Opening General Dinner Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-G

7:00pm EDT

Opening Keynote with Angie Thomas Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-GAngie Thomas • HarperCollins Publishers

8:00am EDT

Registration Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Registration Desk (Mezzanine Level)

8:30am EDT

Friday Big Ideas: Creating Reading Rainbow Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-DBarbara Irwin • Tony Buttino • Pamela Johnson • West Herr Auto Group

9:30am EDT

Exhibits Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency Ballroom Book Signing: Creating Reading Rainbow Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency BallroomBarbara Irwin • Tony Buttino • Pamela Johnson

10:15am EDT

Every Day, Every Shelf: Bringing Native Stories Into Year-Round Library Life Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GLaurel Goodluck • Stacy Wells

Innovative Play Programs for Babies & Toddlers to Boost Language, Early Learning, and Parent Engagement Embassy Suites Buffalo | AvantAngele Deneve • Emma Gordon • Kelly Smith • Rachel G. Payne • Jessica Ralli

The Role of Therapy Dogs in Public Libraries and Their Supportive Role in Literacy Initiatives Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FDan Caufield • Brigette Atlas-Callahan • Sarah McLean-Plunkett

11:15am EDT

12:45pm EDT

Legal Issues in Libraries Discussion Session Hyatt Regency Buffalo | EllicottEric Stroshane

Information Literacy through Children's Literature Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FBrooke Gross

Libraries Disrupting the School to Prison Pipeline Embassy Suites Buffalo | EncoreCarrie Banks

2:15pm EDT

Examining Early Literacy Spaces: Are We on the Right Track? Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GKim Bolan • Erin Jennings, IIDA, AIA, NCIDQ, NCARB

Fostering a Culture of Connecting Through a County-wide Initiative: Disconnect 2 Reconnect Embassy Suites Buffalo | AvantPatricia Brigham • Janet Donat • Terry Kirchner

3:45pm EDT

Guided by Values: How School Librarians Navigate Collection Development in a Time of Censorship Embassy Suites Buffalo | SalonMelissa Iamonico

Literacy @ Your Library Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom E-FMarion Waldman • Beth Bevars • Valerie Byrd Fort

That Book Should Win an Award Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom GAdrienne Pettinelli

8:30am EDT

Saturday Big Ideas: Dive Deep Into Discovery - Celebrating Children's Nonfiction Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-DMarc Aronson • Lesa Cline-Ransome • Candace Fleming • Scholastic, Inc. • Candlewick | Holiday House | Peachtree • Macmillan Children's Publishing

9:30am EDT

Book Signing: Marc Aronson, Candace Fleming, Lesa Cline-Ransom Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency BallroomMarc Aronson • Lesa Cline-Ransome • Candace Fleming

10:15am EDT

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

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

11:15am EDT

12:45pm EDT

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

2:15pm EDT

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

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

3:30pm EDT

Saturday Closing Session: Playful Picture Books featuring Kari Lavelle, Deborah Marcero, and Rhode Montijo Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Grand Ballroom A-DDerek Ivie Reed • Rhode Montijo • Kari Lavelle • Deborah Marcero • Sourcebooks • Little, Brown Books for Young Readers • Penguin Young Readers

4:30pm EDT

Book Signing: Kari Lavelle, Rhode Montijo, Deborah Marcero Hyatt Regency Buffalo | Regency BallroomDeborah Marcero • Kari Lavelle • Rhode Montijo