Southern Library Support Staff Conference 2026: Full Schedule

8:45am CDT

Opening Keynote - Lead from the Heart, but Don’t Forget Your Medication

Wednesday May 27, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT

Community Room

Wednesday May 27, 2026 8:45am - 10:15am CDT
Community Room

Keynote

10:30am CDT

Leveling Up Your Libraries' Defenders

Wednesday May 27, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

Community Room

Are your library supporters adequate advocates? We know that people love your library and use your library, but how do you get them to be vocal about their support? Join us as we teach you how to level up your library supporters into advocacy. You'll leave with ideas for increasing their visibility and ideas for increasing your brand recognition.

Speakers

Stacy Creel

Director and Associate Professor, The University of Southern Mississippi, School of Library and Information Science

Dr. Creel earned her Ph.D. in information science from the University of North Texas and specialist and master’s degrees from Florida State University. As an associate professor, she has taught online synchronous and asynchronous courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels... Read More →

Dr. Sarah Mangrum

Assistant Teaching Professor, The University of Southern Mississippi, School of Library and Information Science

Dr. Sarah Mangrum earned her Ed.D. in higher education administration and her MLIS from the University of Southern Mississippi. As as assistant teaching professor in the School of Library and Information Science she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses pertaining to children... Read More →

SLSS Presentation CreelMangrum pptx

Get Your Advocates to Be Loud Toolkit pdf

Wednesday May 27, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Community Room

General

10:30am CDT

Meeting student needs in a 24 hour library

Wednesday May 27, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

Divinity 211

When students need a highlighter at 3 a.m. or a flash drive between classes, traditional service hours often fall short. This session shares the real-world implementation of an office supply vending machine at an academic library--an initiative led by frontline Public Services staff who know student needs firsthand. While the project took place in an academic setting, the approach and lessons are...
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Speakers

Joslin Lee-Nuhfer

Public Services Lead, Georgia Institute of Technology

Joslin Lee-Nuhfer is a Public Services Lead at the Georgia Tech Library, bringing over 20 years of experience in academic and public libraries. Known for her dedication to student engagement, Joslin has spent the majority of her career in Public Services, driven by a passion for directly... Read More →

Diann Lindsay

Executive Assistant to the Dean of Libraries, Georgia Institute of Technology

Diann Lindsay, Executive Assistant to the Dean of Libraries, joined the Georgia Tech Library in 2023 as a member of the Public Services team, where she played a key role in managing the Study Room Reservation system and overseeing the LibChat and LibAnswers customer service platforms... Read More →

SLSS PresentationForMay pdf

Wednesday May 27, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Divinity 211

General

1:15pm CDT

Lightning Talks: AI

Wednesday May 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:10pm CDT

Community Room

Algorithms, Influence, and the Library’s New Role in the Age of AI - Charisse BrentWith this lightning talk presentation, I aim to explore how artificial intelligence has transformed propaganda from something visible and centralized into something invisible and personalized. What once appeared in posters or broadcasts now lives in algorithms that predict and manipulate human behavior—deciding...
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Speakers

Charisse Brent

Archival Intern, University of Southern California

As an Archival Intern at the Wilson Dental Library at the University of Southern California, I collaborate closely with the Head Librarian to process, describe, and organize historical photographs and documents related to the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry. Drawing on my academic... Read More →

Jim Duran

Director, Vanderbilt Television News Archive, Vanderbilt University

Jim Duran is the Director of the Vanderbilt Television News Archive. He has about 20 years of experience building digital collections and preserving audiovisual materials. Duran has master's degrees in library and information science and history, emphasizing in library administration... Read More →

Kathy Foushee

Interlibrary Loan Specialist, Western Kentucky University

Oversee Interlibrary Loan department at Western Kentucky University Libraries.

Amanda Hardin

2026 SLSS Conference Presentation (1) pptx

Wednesday May 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:10pm CDT
Community Room

Lightning Talk

1:15pm CDT

Lightning Talks: Student Engagement

Wednesday May 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:10pm CDT

Divinity 211

The Hiring and Motivation of Student Assistants - Pearl ChaiIn this talk, I will focus primarily on what I do to foster connections, establish relationships and build “community” with the students we are privileged to have working at our library. Even before the students are hired to work for us, I set out to make them feel motivated to work by mindfully remembering traits about them that...
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Speakers

Pearl Chai

Coordinator for Public Services, Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt University

In my role, I coordinate the circulation and other activities that take place at the EBL Information Desk. This role includes the hiring, training, scheduling and management of Student Assistants to work at the desk. With an educational background in training and human resource management... Read More →

M Roberts

LPO & Online Engagement Librarian, Vanderbilt University, Heard Libraries

M is the liaison librarian for the Leadership, Policy, and Organizations (LPO) department in Peabody College at Vanderbilt University. There, they provide instructional and reference support for master’s and doctoral students in the LPO program. They also support distance education... Read More →

Audrey Bentch

Librarian for Creative & Instructional Technologies, Vanderbilt University

Audrey is an early career librarian at Vanderbilt University libraries on the Teaching & Learning team, providing holistic pedagogical support across her institution. She specializes in educational technology and multimodal assignment design, with a passion for introducing new modes... Read More →

Rachel Oakley

User Services Coordinator, Vanderbilt University Science and Engineering Library

Rachel Oakley is a growing library professional in Vanderbilt University's Science and Engineering Library where she supports student staff, organizes technology lending, and assists in general library operations as the User Services Coordinator. Prior to serving in this role at SEL... Read More →

SLSS lightning talk 051426 to upload pdf

slss lightning talk slides 052126 pptx

EBL Pre hiring Questionnaire for Student Assistants Summer Fall 2026 020926 docx

SA Exit Interview Questions 042224 pdf

Wednesday May 27, 2026 1:15pm - 2:10pm CDT
Divinity 211

Lightning Talk

2:30pm CDT

Meaningful Connections Inspired through an Unforgettable Library Art Exhibition

Wednesday May 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT

Divinity 211

A journey through one inspiring art exhibition centered on life changing reading journeys told through an unconventional lens. This exhibition shines a light on the often solitary journey of readership by blending storytelling and visual design into an engaging viewer experience. The personal accounts incorporated into each design have inspired continuous conversation and a wildly popular...
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Speakers

Jennifer Kring

Youth Services Supervisor, Cleveland Bradley County Public Library

As the Youth Services Supervisor for the Cleveland Bradley County Public Library, I aim to cultivate new pathways to the world of reading and egalitarian education. With a passion for the arts and community outreach, I love building unconventional, creative initiatives that spark... Read More →

SLSS Presentation pdf

Wednesday May 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Divinity 211

Guided Tour

2:30pm CDT

Safety and Security Procedures Explained at Western Kentucky University Libraries

Wednesday May 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT

Community Room

This presentation will be a panel discussion that will provide an overview of safety and security at Western Kentucky University Libraries. The panel will be available to field questions about handling emergency situations, overseeing student patrollers, communication, cameras, tools and other issues relating to safety and security in an academic library. Panel members from Western Kentucky...
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Speakers

Alley Sircy

Access Services Manager, Western Kentucky University

I work at Western Kentucky University Libraries as the Access Services Manager, overseeing the evening and weekend staff and operations.

Wednesday May 27, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Community Room

Panel

3:45pm CDT

Thinking Outside the Chat Box: Building Chatbots for Any Topic with Springshare

Wednesday May 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

Divinity 211

Do you seem to receive the same questions over and over? Are you looking to reach patrons outside traditional library hours? A custom chatbot might be a great way to easily and accurately answer your users' questions any time of the day or week! This workshop will equip you with the knowledge to build a rule-based chatbot within Springshare's LibAnswers system from the ground up without prior...
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Speakers

CJ Ellward

Public Services Coordinator, University of Florida Libraries

CJ Ellward is the Public Services Coordinator for Marston Science Library at the University of Florida Libraries. She leads virtual reference services for UF Libraries at large reaching approximately 10,000 patrons annually, coordinates student engagement activities at the busiest... Read More →

SLSS Conference Handout pdf

slss26 shell pptx

Wednesday May 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Divinity 211

General

3:45pm CDT

Support your Intern, Develop your Future Colleague

Wednesday May 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

Community Room

The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Duke University employees 10-15 interns each year. These interns are spread across four departments (Research Services, University Archives, Collection Development, Technical Services) and two physical locations. Internships are designed to give students interested in libraries and archives experience with reference, public service,...
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Speakers

Jennifer Baker

Access Services Section Head, Research Services, Rubenstein Library/Duke University

I oversee the public services offered by the Rubenstein Library - the reading room, stacks and circulation management, reproduction services and permissions requests. I currently serve as the Co-Chair of the Mentorship Committee and Co-Coordinator of the RL West intern program.

Wednesday May 27, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Community Room

Panel

9:00am CDT

**CANCELLED** Leveraging Emotional Intelligence to Foster Community Within and Beyond the Library

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Community Room

Libraries are uniquely positioned as community-centered institutions, yet the emotional labor required of library staff is often underrecognized and underdeveloped. This session explores how cultivating emotional intelligence (EI) among library employees can strengthen internal workplace culture while deepening meaningful connections with patrons and community partners.Drawing on practical...
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Speakers

Whitney Taylor, PhD

Tech Services and Assessment Librarian, Univ. of the Cumberlands

Dr. Whitney Taylor, Ph.D., is an accomplished leader in both academia and library services. With a Ph.D. in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands. Her research focuses on leadership applications of industrial psychology in the workplace, emotional intelligence, and job... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Community Room

General

9:00am CDT

Forging Lasting Connections at a R1/Top 100 University Through Human Interaction and Embracing Technology

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Divinity 211

In an age when the very foundation of library service undergoes swift and unrelenting change, a solemn obligation to bind patrons to knowledge through profound and inventive means stands even more imperative. This session presents a practical, relationship-centered approach to strengthening library engagement while responding to rapid changes reshaping library services at a R1/Top 100...
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Speakers

Parrish Bush

Broward Services Librarian / Research & Instruction Librarian, Florida Atlantic University

Parrish Bush is a librarian, educator, and writer whose work centers on student engagement, information literacy, research support, and inclusive program development. He currently serves in a Research & Instruction role at Florida Atlantic University, where he supports undergraduate... Read More →

Lawrence J. Mello, Jr.

Government Documents Coordinator/ Research & Instruction Librarian, Florida Atlantic University

Lawrence J. Mello, Jr., a U.S. Navy veteran and dedicated library professional, has built a career rooted in service and scholarship. With degrees in History from Florida Atlantic University and Library Science from the University of Maryland, he has committed himself to making government... Read More →

Southern Library Support Staff Conference – FINAL 5.25.2026 pptx

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Divinity 211

General

9:00am CDT

Let’s Talk About Books

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Community Room

Join me for a fun, relaxing session as I share with you some of the books I have read this year, loved, disliked, thought-provoking. And then ask that everyone participate in sharing something they have read this year, with the hopes that everyone has a few adds to their TBR list.

Speakers

Machelle Keen

Manager of Logistics and Access Services, Vanderbilt University

Library Support Staff for Vanderbilt Libraries for 36 years; currently working at the Central Library as the Manager of Logistics and Access Services. Advocate for advancing knowledge base for support staff and librarians as a cohesive group of library professionals. Creator/organizer... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Community Room

General

10:15am CDT

Lightning Talks: Outreach

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:10am CDT

Community Room

Community On Full Display: How Book Displays Strengthen Connections in the Library - Cyrenity AugestinThis lightning talk will explore and expand upon the way that book displays, a task typically overlooked, can serve as a stage for larger conversations. Through taking the initiative of including personal anecdotes and reaching out to patrons within the community for title contributions, the...
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Speakers

McKindree Borges

Library assistant, The University of Florida

Taylor McPeake

Public Services and Engagement Librarian, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Responsible for public services including reference, circulation, and research assistance, planning student engagement and outreach events/initiatives, assisting Student Success Librarians with classroom instruction, and participating in various professional development and scholarship... Read More →

Cyrenity Augustin

Public Services Associate I, Georgia Institute of Technology Library

As a Public Services Associate I, I utilize the Alma library management system in order to manage patrons’ fines, holds, and loans and assist library patrons through phone calls, desk interactions, and online chats to ensure they have a positive and informative library experience... Read More →

Nichaela Williams

Overnight Access Library Assistant, University of Florida Marston Science Library

My role involves making sure the library is welcoming and accessible at all hours of the night, working odd hours to make sure all patrons have access to student engagement opportunities. You can email me at [email protected].
I will be presenting with my coworker Kin Borges who you can also find on LinkedIn: McKindree Borges, MLIS - University of Florida | LinkedIn... Read More →

Kelseigh Bien

Public Services and Engagement Librarian, University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Surprise Date with a Book pdf

Surprise date With A Book Handout pdf

Community On Full Display SLSS Presentation 2026 pdf

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:10am CDT
Community Room

Lightning Talk

10:15am CDT

Lightning Talks: Technical Services

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:10am CDT

Divinity 211

Whose Catalog?: Homosaurus as a Pathway to LGBTQ+ Belonging - Jude Romines (PowerPoint uploaded, link below speakers)Since 2021, Emory University Libraries (EUL) has been adding Homosaurus, a linked data vocabulary of LGBTQ+ terms, to bibliographic records in the catalog. The goal of this project is to increase the discoverability of LGBTQ+ resources, which are often under-described due to various...
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Speakers

Kayce Gill

Health Sciences Librarian for Collections, Vanderbilt University

Kayce holds a Master of Science in Information Science from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and is a distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals. She is the Health Sciences Librarian for Collections for the Annette and Irwin Eskind Family Biomedical... Read More →

Sheri L. Edwards

Electronic Resources Librarian, University of Florida

I am an Electronic Resources Librarian at the University of Florida. I manage a team of the electronic resources specialists and one metadata specialist. While the vast majority of my team's work is behind-the-scenes, I believe it's important for us to remain aware and mindful... Read More →

Jude Romines

Resource Description Specialist, Emory University

Jude Romines (they/them) is a cataloger at Emory University. Before their current position, they held roles ranging from circulation and teen programming at Nashville Public Library to student archive work at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Recently, they were a co-author on... Read More →

SLSS Homosaurus and Belonging pptx

SLSS It takes a village Gill pdf

Thursday May 28, 2026 10:15am - 11:10am CDT
Divinity 211

Lightning Talk

1:15pm CDT

Finding New Ways to Connect Patrons with the Collection: WKU Libraries A&P Bones Study Sessions

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

Divinity 211

How can we expand access in our collections to patrons who need our materials but are unable to get that access? Whether that lack of access is through lack of adequate copies or simply lack of knowledge that the materials exist. By using WKU Libraries BIOL 131 A&P Bones Study Sessions program as an example, we will explain how to best assess your collection and see if there is need that is not...
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Speakers

Daniel Newman

Library Assistant (Evening), Western Kentucky University

I am one of the four library assistants that works in the evening and supervises our student workers. I primarily assist in stacks management and course reserves. I also handle patron count data collect by our staff and security student building patrol rounds. I am also the Co-Lead... Read More →

SLSS Presentation pptx

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Divinity 211

General

1:15pm CDT

From Life to Desk: Transferable Skills from Unlikely Places

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT

Community Room

Past experiences often define who we are today. Our past has led and shaped each of us into the person we are now, but no one shares the same path in life. Differences in backgrounds are what make each of us unique in our daily lives and future pursuits. Today we'll hear from three individuals working in the same field of information science, each with very different pathways...
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Speakers

Joanna Tuskey

Daytime Operations Manager at Marston Science Library, University of Florida

Marston Science Library is the busiest library on UF's main campus, welcoming over 2 million visitors annually. As part of my role at Marston, I supervise close to 20 part-time student employees and 1 full-time employee. I'm often found at our busy public service desk assisting... Read More →

Bryn Murphy, MLIS, AHIP

Health Science Informationist, Vanderbilt University

I work as one of the Health Sciences Informationists at Eskind Biomedical Library at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. I hold an MLIS degree from University College Dublin and previously worked as an education and instruction librarian. With nearly two and a half years of experience... Read More →

Riley Vagis

Library Supervisor, MD Anderson Library, University of Houston

I currently work as a library supervisor at the University of Houston, and I am working on my MLIS with UNT. I have a previous history of music, having gained my Bachelor's degree in Voice and Music Theory at Loyola University, New Orleans and my Master's degree in Vocal Performance... Read More →

Thursday May 28, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm CDT
Community Room

Panel

2:30pm CDT

Rising to the Occasion: Personal Narratives of Transformative Practice

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT

Community Room

Library users and their expectations for services and collections are evolving, resulting in libraries being proactively responsive to providing services. In the 2020 Spring Semester, the University of Houston Music Library, along with the rest of the world, transitioned to a fully online remote environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This transition required creative solutions to maintain...
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Speakers

Michelle M. Joseph

Music Library Manager, University of Houston

My Name is Michelle Joseph. I work at the University of Houston, Music library. I have an appreciation for music, particularly loving musical performances. At the Music library, I oversee the daily operations, including student workers supervision, collection maintenance, circulation... Read More →

Eric Larsen

Senior Library Specialist, University Of Houston

The Senior Library Specialist positions involve describing, classifying and processing library resources. It also involves supporting patrons and maintaining the ALMA integrated library system

SLSS pptx

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Community Room

General

2:30pm CDT

We're All In This Together: Modeling Leadership & Professionalism in Access Services

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT

Divinity 211

In the demanding environment of Access Services, we can often “lose the forest for the trees” by letting daily operational demands overshadow core principles that ensure departmental success. This session explores a strategic approach to leadership that fosters a productive and healthy work environment by mentoring and supporting library staff to model departmental expectations and core...
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Speakers

Catherine Paolillo

Head of Access and Outreach Services Librarian, University of San Diego

I am Copley’s Head of Access & Outreach Services Librarian at the University of San Diego's (USD) Copley Library. In my role as Department Head, I oversee circulation, resource sharing, course reserves, day to day building operations, and the Access & Outreach Services Department’s... Read More →

Paolillo 2026 SLSS.pptx pdf

Thursday May 28, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Divinity 211

General

3:45pm CDT

Finale Keynote: The Emotional Economics of Libraries: Why Human Connection Is Our Greatest ROI

Thursday May 28, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

Community Room

Thursday May 28, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Community Room

Keynote

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