Big Talk From Small Libraries 2026
Brittany Durgin, Director, Moultonborough Public Library, Moultonborough, NH, Population served: 5,000
Enhancing Your Board’s Knowledge and Advocacy Power
Brittany Durgin has been working in public libraries in New Hampshire for 11 years. She is currently the director of the Moultonborough Public Library in Central New Hampshire on the shores of the state’s largest lake and just south of the White Mountain National Forest. She serves on the New Hampshire Library Association’s Sustainability Committee, Legislative Committee, and was awarded Director of the Year by the New Hampshire Library Trustees Association in 2025.
Trina Erickson, Director, McIntosh Memorial Library, Viroqua, WI, Population served: 4,500
Books UnBanned: The Freedom to Read
Trina Erickson serves as the Director of the McIntosh Memorial Library in Viroqua, Wisconsin. During her 18 years in the position, Trina spearheaded a campaign to construct a new library in downtown Viroqua which opened in 2016. The library has become a true pillar of the community offering innovative programs and services. In 2022 the Wisconsin Library Association named the McIntosh Memorial Library the, “Best Library in the State of Wisconsin.”
Nicholas Gardner, Library Director, West Virginia University Potomac State College, Mary F. Shipper Library, Keyser, WV, FTE: 885
Small Library, Big STEAM Energy
Nick Gardner is the library/learning resource center director at WVU Potomac State College in Keyser, WV. He is responsible for overseeing operations, student instructional programs, special collections, and all other facets of the library/learning resource center. He enjoys teaching information literacy and research skills to students and working in a small environment.
Janene Hill, Library Director, Jensen Memorial Library, Minden, NE, Population served: 3,113
Hello, School! Your Friendly Public Library Here
Janene Hill has always said she didn’t choose libraries, libraries just kept pulling her in…for 27 years. Beginning as a page then desk supervisor and office assistant at Fort Hays State University’s Forsyth Library, she then found herself in circulation, teen, and youth departments in Kearney, Nebraska, and Ulysses, Manhattan, and Junction City, Kansas before taking on the role of Library Director at Jensen Memorial Library in Minden, Nebraska where she has spent 12 years. She is a member of NLA, PLA, MPLA, and ARSL, and has made numerous professional presentations throughout her career. Outside of the library, Janene serves an assistant Track & Field Coach at Wilcox-Hildreth High School, sits on the board of the Minden Opera House, and is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She devotes time to crocheting, crafting, reading, podcasts, coffee, wearing cardigans, and her cat – because she likes to embrace (some) librarian stereotypes. Her favorite genres are Historical Fiction and True Crime.
Emilia Jury, Youth Services Director, McIntosh Memorial Library, Viroqua, WI, Population served: 4,500
Books UnBanned: The Freedom to Read
Emilia Jury serves as the Youth Services Director, where, for the last year, she has overseen the purchasing and management of youth library collections and leads the design, scheduling, and implementation of programs for youth patrons and their families. She also directs the Afterschool Program, supporting engaging and inclusive services for young people and their families.
Meghan Kowalski, Outreach and Reference Librarian, The University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC, FTE: 2,900
Designing for Reality: Building a Space in Academic Libraries for Caregivers
Meghan Kowalski is the Outreach and Reference Librarian and an Assistant Professor in the Learning Resources Division at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). She focuses on promoting person-centered service through library outreach, leadership training, and scholarship to enhance library services and instruction. Prior to joining UDC, she held a variety of positions in both public and technical services at The Catholic University of America’s Mullen Library. Outside of her academic work, Meghan writes two newsletters—Content Prompt, offering creative ideas for content development, and The Weekly Wrap, a curated mix of personal and professional reflections. You can learn more about her work at www.meghankowalski.com or connect with her on Instagram (@meghan1943) and LinkedIn.
Denise Lawver, Library Director, Wahoo Public Library, Wahoo, NE, Population served: 4,800
Denise began her library career at Wahoo Public Library 38 years ago. She was originally hired as an evening desk clerk and took advantage of many opportunities for continuing education and leadership roles to become library director in 2006. She credits supportive Library Board members, and Library Friends who have been mentors throughout her career. She plans to retire at the end of this year!
Nichole Novak, Head of Reference and Instruction Services, Illinois Institute of Technology – Paul V. Galvin Library, Chicago, IL, FTE: 7,502
Beyond the Stacks: Creative Campus & Community Partnerships for Student Success
Nichole Novak is the Head of Reference and Instruction Services at the Paul V. Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology. She leads the Information Literacy Services and Instruction program and provides oversight of reference and research consultation services. She also co-convenes the library’s Promotion, Outreach, Engagement and Marketing (POEM) Committee.
Cassandra O’Connell, Teen/Reference Librarian, Crete Public Library District, Crete, IL, Population served: 8,400
Cassandra O’Connell is the Teen/Reference Librarian at Crete Public Library District, in Crete, Illinois. She has been working in libraries since 2004. She has her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Columbia College Chicago and Masters in Library and Information Science from Dominican University. One of the pluses she has experienced over the years from working in libraries is being able to create programming from hobbies or interests she enjoys and sharing them with others. Her hobbies include: art, cooking, crochet and listening to audio books.
Marie Elena “Jett” Reed, Branch Manager, Indian Springs Library – Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Indian Springs, NV, Population served: 1,000
Food for Thought: Food Pantries, Rescues, and Feeding Our Future
Jett has been working in libraries for 22 years, with seven years of that experience in larger metropolitan libraries and the most recent fifteen in rural libraries. For the past eight years, Jett has worked to expand her library’s services focusing on combatting food insecurity. When not serving up meals at work, she spends time with her 3- and 4-year-old pups, double-speeding an audiobook while multitasking, and thinking about food (because who doesn’t love a good meal?). She received her MLS from the University of North Texas, has presented at the Nevada Library Association about hydroponics programming, and is a Toastmaster.
Kylie Riordan, Information Literacy & Instruction Librarian, Illinois Institute of Technology – Paul V. Galvin Library, Chicago, IL, FTE: 7,502
Beyond the Stacks: Creative Campus & Community Partnerships for Student Success
Kylie Riordan is the Information Literacy & Instruction Librarian at the Paul V. Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology.. She is a member of the library’s POEM committee, and works frequently with other campus groups to promote library resources, including Undergraduate Admissions, Career Services, and Office of Student Life.
Audra Shaneman, Director, Winthrop City Library, Winthrop, MN, Population served: 1,400
Rural Libraries and Mental Health
Audra Shaneman is the former director of the Winthrop City Library in rural Minnesota. Her career spans over 20 years in the communications, public relations and marketing areas in government and non-profit sectors. This experience and her support for public libraries were assets that brought new vision and enthusiasm to the library seen in the programming, culture and physical space.
Winthrop is a community of 1400 people, no stoplights, 350 library card holders, and a really decent coffee shop with the biggest cinnamon rolls around.
Stephanie M. Smith, Library Operations Manager, University of New Mexico Center for Development & Disability Library, Albuquerque, NM, Population served: 3,300
Through the Lens of Disability: Library Services Centered on Disability in an Abled World
Stephanie M. Smith, M.A., Ph.D., is the Library Operations Manager for the University of New Mexico Center for Development and Disability Library. The UNM CDD is New Mexico’s grant-funded University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDD). Its special library houses the largest collection of disability-related resources in the state, and services are available to all state residents. The library serves as a hub for disability information and resources statewide, and library and information network staff also conduct outreach with individuals with disabilities, families/caregivers, and professionals. Stephanie comes to the CDD Library with a wide range of experience. Her background includes work in Technical Services in the medical library of Detroit’s flagship academic hospital, as a visiting professor at Auburn University, and U.S. Air Force civil service, from which she retired in 2025.
Emily Zumbrun, Rural Entrepreneurship Librarian, West Virginia University Potomac State College, Mary F. Shipper Library, Keyser, WV, FTE: 885
Small Library, Big STEAM Energy
Emily Zumbrun serves as the Research and Outreach Librarian for Business and Agriculture at WVU Potomac State College. She works to support student success while building meaningful partnerships between the campus and the local community. Emily is passionate about outreach and inspiring a love of lifelong learning.