In the world of organizing for change, a common saying holds that it's not rocket science...but it's not intuitive either. Anyone can organize well, enabling them to create change in Wyoming. But not many people do.
This session will explore the three powerful concepts that form the foundation of any successful change-making effort: building power, organizing versus mobilizing, and public narrative. Immersion in research-informed best practices, illustrated by Better Wyoming's own hard-won successes in the state, will leave attendees ready to build community support across the Cowboy State.
Daniel Galbreath, PhD, is a community organizer and communications professional based in Cheyenne. As a member of the Better Wyoming team, he has led successful narrative campaigns around issues with statewide impact, and built active organizing chapters across the state. He draws... Read More →
Wednesday September 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm MDT Wyoming Room A
Last conference’s scenario activity was well-received, so Wyoming's Law for Librarians presenters are back with more scenarios – and another presenter! We’ll combine Director-vetted “what if?” moments with information from the Law for Librarians training program to help you prepare for tough conversations about intellectual freedom, privacy, and other tricky topics. Participants will work together to draft a speaking points document that can be used as a resource at your own libraries.
"Program-in-a-Box" is a turnkey solution for library events. Each kit acts as a complete, pre-packaged toolkit containing both the plan and the materials needed to run an activity.
Essentially, they remove the prep work: instead of spending hours researching and shopping, staff can simply open a box and begin a high-quality session. They are designed to be "plug-and-play," ensuring that even a busy or new staff member can lead a professional, engaging program that appeals to the community’s curiosity and educational needs.
Youth Services Librarian and former teacher "booked" for life. Between co-hosting the PB&J webinar and writing The WY-YS Librarian Lowdown eNewsletter, I stay busy crafting youth-minded resources for librarians across Wyoming!
April Freeman is the Youth Services Librarian at Albany County Library. A storytime enthusiast, she focuses on building community and connecting local kids with great books.
With 18 years at Natrona County Library, Angel Capone Evans leads youth programs and storytimes, sparking curiosity and a love for literacy in the community.
Thursday October 1, 2026 9:30am - 10:20am MDT Wyoming Room A
Last year, we unlocked the secret to making library data less boring and more joyful. This year, let’s put those numbers to work! Information enthusiasts know statistics aren’t just lists or numbers, they’re stories waiting for their time to shine. We’ll deep-dive into the practice of "data translation,” explore how to pair hard metrics (like circulation and door counts) with compelling community narratives, translate our discoveries for various audiences, and learn how to audit your current data for the strongest impact stories, bridging the gap between complex data and public understanding to ensure our libraries and communities continue to thrive together.
Research and Statistics Consultant, Wyoming State Library
Jessica’s time at the WSL working with national-level data peers has driven her passion for highlighting the impact of libraries and the communities they serve.
We will talk about how to use the lending models to stretch your budget, how to set up your patron interest manager and smart lists, managing pre-order titles, maintaining the statewide holds list, how to deal with expired metered access titles with holds, finding and ordering items with high interest from your own patrons, and more.
Library work is constantly evolving, often in response to external forces. This presentation will discuss practical strategies that Collections library staff implemented to mitigate turnover and loss of institutional knowledge in an academic library. In this session, we’ll share our lessons learned from this experience and why they are relevant to different library types. We’ll outline three main areas we find crucial to continuity of library work and supporting team morale: documentation, file organization, and community building.
Amanda is the Discovery Librarian at the University of Wyoming Libraries. In this role, she manages, configures, and coordinates the Libraries' discovery platforms.
University of Wyoming Libraries, University of Wyoming
Amber is the Electronic Resources Librarian at the University of Wyoming Libraries. She provides leadership for the lifecycle of the libraries’ electronic resources.
The Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection at https://wyomingnewspapers.org has grown to nearly 6 million pages of content and will continue to grow. Come learn how best to use it for your local community, learn tips and tricks, as well as new information about upcoming work.
Chair, Digital & Disctinctive Collections, University of Wyoming Libraries
Chad Hutchens is the Chair of Digital and Distinctive Collections at the UW Libraries. He is also the main coordinator and contact for the Wyoming Digital Newspaper Collection. He has been a professional academic librarian since 2004.
Learn how to help with WLA's advocacy efforts. This session, hosted by the WLA Legislative Committee, will cover what's upcoming for library advocacy, library-related legislation, and the upcoming election. Learn about how the People's Initiative ballot measure will impact our libraries. As time allows, this session will offer practical strategies for communicating impact, building community support, and influencing decision-makers using a blend of data, storytelling, and partnerships.
