Annual Conference

2026 WLA Annual Conference

Libraries Uplift, Advocate & Cultivate
Friday, June 5, 2026

Legislative Session with Westchester County Executive, Ken Jenkins and Local Legislators
Keynote Address: Cultivating Libraries in the 21st Century: Yonkers Public Library, Director Jesse Montero & the YPL Team
Uncovering the Roots of Our Rancor: The Science Behind the Political Divide: Prof. Mark Horowitz, Seton Hall University
Closing Keynote: Emily Drabinski, Former ALA President

2026 WLA Keynote Speaker: Yonkers Public Library : Repositioning the Public Library as Civic Infrastructure

Loading Viewer...

2025 WLA Annual Conference

Thank you for helping to make the 2025 WLA Annual Conference and Business Meeting a great success!

2025 Conference Photos

IMG_6174

Image 42 of 63

2025 WLA Conference Agenda

Thursday, June 12, 2025 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Westchester Community College • The Gateway Center • Valhalla, NY

Community Building: Libraries as the Cornerstone Of our Communities

8:30 a.m. Doors Open: Check-ln and Walk-ln Registration
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Breakfast, Vendors, Exhibits, Networking
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. WLA Annual Membership & Business Meeting
9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Keynote Speaker – Nate Hill, Director of METRO Council NY
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Session 1: 2 Options –
- (1) The Importance Of Staying Focused during an Age Of Distraction with Motivational Speaker Greg Dwyer
- (2) Librarianship Roles • Academic, Public, School & Special with Anthony Reda, Patrick Raftery, and Daniel Frett
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Session 2: 2 Options –
- (1) Wellness for Library Workers with adjunct lecturer at Columbia University and Rutgers Business School Young Mi
- (2) Civil Service Revisited with Library Directors Jessica Pacciotti, Karen LaRocca-Fels, and Eugenia Schatoff
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch and Vendors, optional Tour of WCC Library & Native Plant Garden
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Legislators’ Session
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Session 3: 2 Options –
- (1) An introduction to the Westchester County Historical Society’s Resources and its New Digital Collection: Experiencing the Neutral Ground Of the American Revolution: The McDonald Interviews, – WCHS Librarian Patrick Raftery and Project Archivist Monica Genuardi.
- (2) Librarians as Social Workers with Antonia Bruno, Social Work Fellow at the New York State Library
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Professional Development & Bonnie Katz Awards and Closing Remarks

Thanks to Our 2025 Sponsors!

Previous Conferences

2022 WLA Annual Conference

2022 WLA Annual Conference Sponsors

WLA Virtual Annual Conference May 6 2022 Agenda

Special Meeting of the Members of the
Westchester Library Association

A special meeting of the members of the Westchester Library Association was called by the Board of Directors on Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00pm via zoom to carry out a vote for the newly revised and updated Bylaws of the Organization.

By an overwhelming majority of votes the membership approved our newly revised and updated Bylaws.

Click here to view current Bylaws

Thank you to those who participated.

2020 Virtual Business Meeting

“Nate Hill, Executive Director, Metro: Presentation Slides”

Recording of Business Meeting

2018 Annual Conference

Workshop C – Path to a Sustainable Future

2016 Annual Conference

Workshop F – Digital Preservation of Local Newspapers & Heritage Materials

Providing Digital Access to Heritage Resources Presentation

Workshop G – Volunteer Management: Training and Resources
Presenter Chrissie Morrison

VolunTeens 101 Webinar

VolunTeen Training Sample

Sample VolunTeen School Year Application

Sample VolunTeen Sign In Sheet

Sample VolunTeen Tasks

Summer VolunTeen Application

Summer VolunTeen Application Rules Supplement

Summer Reading Headquarters Cheat Sheet

Summer VolunTeens Cheat Sheet

Summer VolunTeens FAQ

VolunTeen Recruitment Poster

Summer Reading Save the Date

Summer VolunTeens Sub List Script

Summer VolunTeen Tracker Sample

VolunTeen Training Prep

2014 Annual Conference

Workshop A: 3D Printers – Technology and Application

3d Printing PowerPoint

Workshop B: Providing Inclusive and Accessible Library Programs & Services for Everyone in My Community

Providing Inclusive and Accessible Library Programs and Services for Everyone in My Community PowerPoint Presentation

Workshop C: The Science of Goal Meeting

The Art & Science of Goal Meeting PowerPoint Presentation

Productivity For Librarians Review

Goal Setting Worksheet

Flow Chart Wheel of Life

Additional Resources

Workshop D: Great Literacy and Reading Apps for Youth

Great Literacy and Reading Apps for Youth PDF of PowerPoint Presentation

Great Literacy and Reading Apps Handout

Listen and Read – eBooks, audiobooks, and more

Workshop F: Discrimination in Public Accommodations and Reasonable Accommodations under the Westchester County Human Rights Law

Workshop F PowerPoint Presentation

Panel Discussion

Library Accessibility – What You Need to Know

13 Free Assistive Technology Resources

Learn the Signs. Act Early.

My Child Has Autism Cards

Library Apps

2013 Annual Conference

Tech Trends & Library Services in the Digital Age: Slideshare Presentation

Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Demystifying the Common Core in Public Libraries: Powerpoint Presentation

Connecting Youth with Books through Storytelling: Rafe Martin’s Website

2012 Annual Conference

Author Garden: Author Garden Lineup

Technology Tools & Universal Design: References, YouTube Videos

Reading Rants: Reluctant Readers, Blogs & Youth Services: Powerpoint, Book Blogging Tips, Reaching Reluctant Readers

2011 Annual Conference

Photos from the 2011 Conference on Facebook

2011 Presentation Materials

Up To The Challenge: Libraries Successfully Serving Job Seekers Presentation Slides

Leveraging Library Services Using QR Codes The following link provides access to the reading list and PowerPoint presentation:

http://stjohns.campusguides.com/qrcodes

2010 Annual Conference

2010 Presentation Materials

Information Ethics in a Lib 2.0 World Presentation Slides, Delicious Link of Presentation

Libraries, Literacy and Gaming PowerPoint Slides, Handout, Link to LibGuide

Advocacy 101 Handout 1, Handout 2, Handout 3, Handout 4

By Teens for Teens By Teens for Teens Handout

Difficult People Difficult People Handout

Successful Children’s Programs – What Works Handout 1, Handout 2, Handout 3

Wow Factor PowerPoint Presentation for WOW Factor

Volunteens Volunteen Presentation, Volunteen Handout

From Street Lit to Steam Punk PowerPoint Presentation for From Street Lit to Steam Punk

2008 Annual Conference

Read the 2008 WLA Annual Conference Informational Brochure

Handouts for: Tracie Hall’s Morning Program and Luncheon Talk

May I Please Blow Up the Reference Desk

Information 911

Handouts for: Tween and Teen Programs That Sparkle, Dazzle, and Shine!

Terrific Teen Programs

Tweens in the Library

Books by Rosemary Honnold

2007 Annual Conference

Read the 2007 WLA Annual Conference Press Release

List of Washington Irving Award Winning Authors Who Attended the WLA 70th Annual Conference

PowerPoint of “The Connected Library” presented at the 2007 WLA MidWinter Conference by Siobhan A. Reardon, Director Westchester Library Sytem

MidWinter Conference 2007 Evaluation Form

Slide Show of “Organizing the Stuff You Find and Getting Stuff to Find You” presented at the 2007 WLA MidWinter Conference by Liam Hegarty, Larchmont Public Library

“Click anywhere on the lecture to move forward. Point your mouse at the bottom right and forward and back navigation buttons will appear. The page will automatically format differently for printing. Press “t” to switch to print view and back.”