NLA/MPLA Joint Conference

As artificial intelligence reshapes how students access, evaluate, and create information, academic libraries stand at the heart of ensuring equitable AI literacy across higher education. This session explores how academic librarians can create safe, judgment-free spaces within information literacy and research instruction where students explore AI's complexities, experiment with emerging tools, and develop critical evaluation skills. Attendees will learn practical approaches to integrating AI literacy into existing library instruction programs, including a detailed outline of a newly developed for-credit AI literacy course based on the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for teaching students to use AI to enhance rather than replace research processes while upholding academic integrity and information ethics.

Roots of Justice: A History of Race and Racism in Nebraska is a pathbreaking, multidisciplinary edited volume that confronts the history of racism experienced by minority populations in Nebraska. The book contains chapters on Native American, African American, Latino, Asian, and Refugee populations. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field, who is also a member of that particular community. The authors capture the lived experience of these groups, and point the way forward for racial understanding and reconciliation.

The presenter, Gabriel Bruguier, authored the chapter, “A History of Native People in Nebraska, Part I”. He is an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, Assistant Professor and Teaching and Learning Librarian at University of Nebraska Libraries, and the City of Lincoln Commissioner on the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. He will contextualize his contribution through his family history, discuss some of the challenges experienced while writing the chapter, and explain the significance of the Native American rallying cry, “We are Still Here!"

This presentation will also give an overview of other chapters in the book, focusing on the multidisciplinary approach taken by the authors; discuss accompanying resources to the book; discuss the open accessibility of the book and individual chapters; and discuss ways in which librarians and educators might integrate the work into community programs and educational curriculum.

This presentation is about what you can achieve without formal training and the imposter syndrome that comes with it. As a person with a drive to excel and a creative mind, I have led initiatives at the Minot Public Library, in my local community, and state-wide that have made a difference.

The goal of this presentation is to encourage library staff to step out of their comfort zone and do the uncomfortable things because you know who you are doing those things for- your community, your patrons, and all the people who come after you.

We know libraries are becoming more: not just places for check-outs, computers, programming, or study groups, but spaces for our community members to find, connect, and fulfill needs. How do we bring in more unique resources to our customers without burning out our staff? This presentation uses the example of a rural library that focuses on partnerships to bring food programs to their community and highlights partnerships as a way to respond to local needs.

Libraries have become an increasingly contentious battleground in the political landscape. More than ever, we need to be able to speak up for critical thinking, empathy, and the freedom to read. This discussion begins with a review of the library bills brought before the 2026 Utah Legislative Session and the story behind how the ULA’s Advocacy Committee collaborations helped to defeat multiple anti-library and book-banning bills. Then we will teach you and your advocacy team how to navigate the legislative process and provide state-specific resources to help you prepare for 2027!

Join us for a conference favorite - One Book Many Librarians - book discussion group. We'll be joined by Nebraska author Alex Kava in disucssing the first in the Ryder Creed series - Breaking Creed. It's a great chance to join your colleagues and the author, and the program includes beverage and snacks for a relaxed and fun environment. Get started now in reading - Breaking Creed by Alex Kava.