Poster Sessions

Wednesday, February 18, 9:30-10:15AM

Better Together: How Public Libraries Can Support our Schools
• Diana Price, Educator and School Services Librarian I, Burlington County Library System
• This poster session by Burlington County Library System’s Educator and School Services Librarian, is designed to showcase the unique partnership between BCLS and Burlington County’s public schools, private schools, homeschooling families and unorthodox educational organizations.
BCLS’s collaborative relationship with local educational facilities means that we can offer specialized support materials for educators via Classroom Kits (prepackaged curriculum support), Classroom Assistant (requested curriculum support), two different types of educator cards, school outreach projects, and student e-access cards we make in bulk for entire schools. Our dedication to community equity through partnership shows through this work.

Beyond the Alphabet: Genrefication as a Strategy to Unlock Middle Grade and Young Adult Collections
• Emma Tallman, Head of Reference, Collingswood Public Library; Kristin Bilson, Adult Services Librarian, Burlington County Library System
• The traditional alphabetical arrangement of fiction limits book discovery for Middle Grade and Young Adult readers. This poster presents a case study on designing and implementing a successful genrefication project for these critical collections. Genrefication organizes fiction by subject appeal, aligning directly with how youth readers browse and select books. The project details practical implementation steps, including genre labeling, effective staff training, managing series logistics, and creating responsive signage. Post-implementation data reveals an increase in circulation for the genrefied sections and positive patron feedback regarding ease of use. This poster offers a clear, replicable model for libraries seeking to modernize their shelving practices to enhance access and reading enjoyment.

Beyond the Shelf: Leveraging NJ's LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity Commission to Create Safe Spaces for All
• Andrea Caporale, School Library Media Specialist, Somerville High School; Kate Okeson, Director New Jersey Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools
• In the wake of New Jersey's Freedom to Read Act (FTRA), which protects affirming library resources, the focus shifts from defense to proactive implementation. This poster session explores how the Advisory Commission on Advancing LGBTQIA+ Youth Equity and Inclusion in Schools provides the essential framework for that crucial next step: creating safe spaces for all—students, educators, and staff. We move beyond maintaining diverse collections to utilizing these resources to impact the entire school community. Librarians are positioned as indispensable partners, leveraging the Commission's recommendations on policy, professional learning, and curriculum. Attendees will gain actionable strategies for integrating the Commission’s work to ensure comprehensive, systemic, and sustainable support, turning policy into tangible equity throughout the entire school environment.

Building a Successful Library Merchandise Program: A Model for Public Libraries
• Lakshmi Ramesh, Princeton Public Library; Sonja Vloeberghs, Head of Lending Services Department, Princeton Public Library
• This poster highlights how Princeton Public Library developed a thriving merchandise program that strengthens community engagement, attracts tourists, promotes local identity, and generates sustainable revenue. It outlines operational strategies, product ideas, vendor partnerships, marketing approaches, and insights that other libraries can adopt to launch or enhance their own merchandise store.

Celebrating the 250th Through STEM-"Revolutionary" Craft Ideas for Every Library
• Lizzie Latham, Branch Manager/Head of Youth Services, Parsippany Library-Lake Hiawatha Branch
• Blending STEM and Maker ideologies with practical, historically based crafts can help bring the story of the American Revolution to life for children of all ages. This poster session will showcase activities that give a better sense of the “how’s” and “why’s” of life before modern conveniences and are designed to convey everyday experiences of colonial life in NJ to modern families.

Exploring ESL Services in NJ Public Libraries
• Andrea Levandowski, New Jersey State Library; Michael Maziekien, New Jersey State Library
• In Fall 2025, the New Jersey State Library surveyed public libraries to determine the scope of English as a Second Language classes and services currently offered. The results demonstrate a range of teaching methods, staffing strategies, and partnerships with adult literacy organizations. This poster session will illustrate the preliminary findings that show widespread commitment to ESL support and an ongoing challenge to meet demand for services.

From Quiet Space to Creative Hub
• Dana Caterina, Student/School Library Assistant, Rutgers University - School of Communication and Information
• After working in a public library for two years, I heard endless questioning on why the librarians were "so loud" when libraries are known to be strictly a quiet space. This poster session will highlight the transformation I like to promote in my school library environment. Why can't libraries be vibrant? A traditional, quiet-only school library turned into a creative common-space is important for student engagement and excitement. I work in a school where students are extremely passionate about the library and they look forward to their "Browse and Borrow" days; I think this lies in the space we make it into and our attitude as their librarians. Our space is bright, full of colorful books, makerspaces, and a space where our older students can come hang out, read, and utilize the space to collaborate on their projects. We like to face challenges such as underutilized space, limited instructional collaboration, and outdated perceptions of the library’s role. The project focused on reimagining both the physical environment and the programming of the library (which is something I learned in the public library space as well). Through intentional zoning for quiet reading, collaboration, and creation; the use of flexible, mobile furniture; and the integration of makerspace and media-creation activities, the library turned into something more than just a space to get books and be shushed. Why is there a stereotype of librarians where we just shush our students, when we can enlighten them with new worlds, creativity, collaboration, and more?

High Performance Mascotry: A How-to from the Jersey City Free Public Library
• Timothy Decker, Production and Data Coordinator, Jersey City Free Public Library
• Mascots capture our attention. Good mascots keep it. Stewardship of our patrons’ attention is essential in uplifting any community.
Mascots can work on many levels, which means any library can create and utilize a mascot to attract attention, deliver library messaging, enhance marketing initiatives, and increase patron engagement. Regardless of the size or budget of a library, there is a way to implement a mascot or improve the impact of an existing mascot. All it takes is a plan, creativity, and a little time. In this poster session, learn how to bring your character to life and strategize how to use it.

Improving Voter Information Services
• Kathleen DiGiulio, Librarian, Piscataway Public Library
• Learn about the Voter Information Station Piscataway Public Library debuted for the 2025 General Election, as well as tips for providing voter information throughout the year.

Leadership, morale, and the freedom to read: The impact of experience of a book challenge
• Cara Berg, Business Librarian, William Paterson University
• As librarians, we know about the exponential rise in book challenges since 2020. We hear about the book titles, the meetings, and the social media posts- but behind the challenge is a librarian who defends what is challenged and defends their library's collection. 14 public and school librarians from the northeastern US were interviewed in the fall of 2024 who encountered a book challenge; librarians were asked to share their experience and were asked questions about library leadership and morale. This poster will showcase the findings, explore the experiences, and discuss implications for librarians.

Serving Our Adult Community Through Book Tasting and Book Celebration Events
• Bonnie Lafazan, Library Director, Springfield Free Public Library; Christine Brandenburg, Assistant Director, Springfield Free Public Library
• Not Just for Kids! Inspired by a popular school library trend, this public library adapted book tasting and book celebration events to engage adult readers—particularly Millennials and Gen X. By reimagining traditional readers’ advisory as an interactive, low-cost, and highly social experience, these book tasting and book celebration events encourage genre exploration, boost circulation, and strengthen community connections, evolving into a low-cost, replicable model for adult engagement and much-anticipated gatherings for adult readers in our community.

School Libraries Leveled Up: Exploring New and Multiple Literacies
• Patricia Dennis, Library media specialist, Forest Street Library Media Center / New Jersey City University
• School library staff participate in surveys, case discussions, and artifact reviews (Makerspace, Minecraft, Bee Simulator) to examine how they define, use, and access technologies for new literacies. Activities gather evidence for the study’s research questions and identify resource gaps to inform equitable library programming and professional support.

Think Like a Student
• Kerry Weinstein, Librarian/Media Specialist, Bayonne High School Library
• For the past four years, the Bayonne High School Library has actively reorganized its print collection to better align with student needs and interests. By observing student browsing habits and listening carefully to how they request materials, the library has organized the collection in a way designed to be more appealing and highly engaging for our users.

Thursday, February 19, 1:30-2:15PM

AI's Potential in Library Cataloging: An Experiment With ChatGPT
• Katrina Zwaaf, Cataloging & Metadata Librarian, Somerset County Library System of New Jersey
• This poster will examine ChatGPT’s possible applications in library cataloging, exploring whether AI can assist with or potentially replace aspects of cataloging work. It will delve into recent discussions about AI’s impact on libraries and consider how tools like ChatGPT can be integrated into cataloging workflows.

Beyond the Books: Collaborative Programming that Transforms the School Library
• Christine Szeluga, Librarian, Cranford High School; Kerri Valesey, Cranford High School
• This poster session showcases how a dynamic partnership between a high school English teacher/yearbook coordinator and the school librarian/student council advisor can transform the library into a vibrant, welcoming, and highly flexible learning hub. By combining instructional expertise with student-centered leadership, this collaboration has reimagined the library as both an academic and cultural center of the school.
Attendees will explore how strategic co-programming—ranging from high-energy events to subtle community-building activities—can boost student engagement and expand the library’s role beyond traditional expectations.
In a time when libraries are competing for attention (and sometimes even justification) this poster session will inspire attendees to rethink the possibilities of school library programming. By demonstrating how cross-department collaboration can elevate both literacy and school spirit, the session highlights a model that is sustainable, exciting, and deeply student-centered.

Bridging the Gap: Updating the NJ Information Literacy Progression Standards for Higher Education
• Joe Louderback, DeVry University; Ewa Dziedzic-Elliott, The College of New Jersey; Christine Jansen, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Leslie Murtha, Atlantic Cape Community College; Justin Savage, Montclair State University
• The NJ Academic Librarians Section’s Information Literacy Progression Standards Task Force will share progress on a statewide initiative to align NJ’s Higher Education Information Literacy Standards with the ACRL Framework and the emerging NJ K-12 IL standards (Four Pillars of Information Literacy) developed by NJ school librarians. Rooted in leadership, partnership, and empowerment across the state, this collaborative work will strengthen student success by fostering continuity across educational transitions. This poster will present achievements and next steps and seek valuable feedback as we attempt to create a flexible, bi-directional resource for information literacy librarians throughout the state. Be part of the conversation shaping the future of information literacy in New Jersey schools from elementary through higher ed. This poster provides an update to the poster/presentation at the 2025 NJ Academic Libraries Conference.

Building Language-Friendly Libraries: Tailoring Instruction and Programs for ESL Populations
• Sara Imranyi, Middlesex College
• See easy strategies for adapting Library Programs and Instruction for multiple levels of English Language Learners. We modify interactive tours, create library vocabulary support sheets and reach out to classes with community programs.

Curating a YA Manga, Anime, and Light Novel Collection
• Micaela Hegarty, School Library Media Specialist, Rutgers University
• This poster grew out of my passion for helping teens discover stories that truly speak to them, whether through panels, pages, or the screen. Manga, anime, and light novels offer young readers creative entry points into reading, visual storytelling, and global perspectives. My poster leads to my website which introduces each format in a clear, approachable way and explores the history, genres, and cultural roots behind them.
I also highlight practical ideas for building a vibrant and inclusive YA collection: seasonal displays, virtual “world tour” shelves, character-inspired signage, and multimedia pairings that connect manga, anime, and light novels. The session also shares easy, high-interest program ideas like a “Read the Anime” book club, light novel writing workshops, and character-creation activities that invite teens to explore their own storytelling voices.
This work is shaped by my time living in South Korea, where I worked as a manhwa editor for platforms like Lezhin and Webtoon while also teaching in a private school and supporting young readers in a public children’s library. Being surrounded by students who loved reading in both Korean and English, and who saw manga, manhwa, and light novels as normal parts of their reading lives, deepened my understanding of how powerful these formats can be for engagement and identity.
After returning to the U.S., I continued this journey while completing my Master’s in School Librarianship at Rutgers University. This poster brings together those experiences with my belief that libraries should celebrate diverse storytelling and meet teens where their interests already are with enthusiasm, respect, and a sense of fun.

Development of an Archives at Monmouth Medical Center
• Frederic Pachman, Momouth Medical Center Medical Library; Elsalyn Palmisano, Consulting Archivist
• Monmouth Medical Center, founded in 1887, was the first hospital at the Jersey Shore. Over the previous thirty years there was a limited effort to develop archival and historical collections that document this rich history. In conjunction with the medical center’s 125th anniversary in 2012, a consultant was retained to evaluate the archives, develop operational policies and prepare exhibits. Public programs and exhibits about the medical center have been presented to state and local organizations, and a schedule of historical programs is offered in-house during National Hospital Week. The archival collections were actively used to celebrate the medical center’s anniversary, and continue to be utilized for promotional activities, preparation of reports, and programming.

From Books to Data to Resources: How Librarians Can Lead Climate-Change Learning with Rutgers’ CCLC Tools
• Brielle Kociolek, Academic Librarian (iSTEM Coordinator), Rutgers University; Edward Cohen
• Public school librarians and media specialists are uniquely positioned to support and amplify climate-change education across subject areas. Yet many may be unaware of the free, ready-to-use, and standards-aligned resources available through Rutgers’ CCLC. This session introduces those resources and demonstrates how librarians can integrate them into curricula, and collaborative teaching. Participants will leave with concrete strategies and ready-to-use resources to support teachers, administrators, and students in building climate-aware, data-informed, and equity-centered learning across K–12.

Head Start's With the Library
• Mandy Decker, Outreach Coordinator, Jersey City Free Public Library
• This poster showcases the ways the Jersey City Free Public Library and Jersey City Head Start connect library programming to the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (PFCE) Framework. Over five years of collaboration, JCFPL and Head Start has supported thousands of families with their profound partnership and innovative network of library advocates. This partnership, the model for New Jersey, reflects JCFPL’s commitment to put the community first and Head Start’s mission to improve the lives of low-income residents.
Each PFCE, with the corresponding library programs, are clearly displayed on the poster. Innovations include providing library cards for entire families, collaborations to bring families into the library, utilizing library platforms and programs, developing easy, meaningful programs which tie to curriculum, teaching free ESL classes, serving on the Policy Council, providing professional development, hosting Early Head Start Meet-ups to show the library as more than a place to borrow books, and more.

Misinformation Matters: A Learning Initiative
• Valerie Coughlin, School Outreach Librarian, Hoboken Public Library
• Misinformation threatens informed decision-making and societal trust. Join Valerie Coughlin for a presentation on integrating misinformation-focused programming into schools or public libraries, developed with the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public. This program equips educators and librarians with the tools and resources to teach students about the current digital information landscape.
This poster on misinformation is particularly relevant and important to our community of librarians and library workers because it addresses a critical challenge in today's digital age: the proliferation of misinformation and its impact on our young adults and students. I am currently completing a fellowship with the University of Washington to help develop programming that helps teach kids, teens, and families about misinformation. I am hoping that by sharing my personal experiences and resource library I can make it easier for public and school librarians to incorporate media literacy based programming in their communities.

Outer Library Loan: Lessons from Library Spaces Beyond Our Own
• Jessica Martorano, Assistant Director of Library Learning and Engagement, Stockton University Richard E. Bjork Library; Luke O'Connor, Student Engagement Aide, Stockton University Richard E. Bjork
• Beginning in 2022, this project has grown into a multi-year, multi-institution exploration of how academic library spaces are evolving. What started as a small inquiry has expanded across numerous campus visits, each revealing new layers of design innovation, technology integration, learner needs, and the shifting role of Special Collections. This poster highlights the insights accumulated over several years of sustained observation, showing how different libraries approach flexible, future-oriented space planning. And as our exploration continues to evolve, this work remains an ongoing study of what libraries are becoming and where they are headed next.

Policy is Your Friend: Updates on School Policies Required by Freedom to Read Act
• Mary Moyer Stubbs, Legislative Consultant, NJASL; Tricina Strong-Beebe, NJASL Advocacy Chair; Amy Penwell, NJASL Vice President
• The Freedom to Read Act required that school districts implement the requirements by December 5, 2024, to protect students’ right to read and to create a minimum standard for materials selection and for removal of library materials. Learn what is new in Straus Esmay and NJ School Board Association board policies for library materials and to see if your district policies match those new requirements.

Pride Hour: A Safe and Social LGBTQ+ Space
• Ruby Constantino, Adult Services Librarian, Piscataway Public Library
• Pride Hour at Piscataway Public Library is a monthly gathering for LGBTQ+ adults and allies. Piscataway Public Library has hosted Pride Hour on a monthly basis since June of 2024, with the goal of building community among queer and trans patrons. The weekday evening event features a different activity each month, including book and clothing swaps, film screenings, game and craft nights, PowerPoint parties, and more! This recurring program is the first of its kind in that it provides LGBTQ+ community members a social and welcoming environment, rather than a strictly educational one. Stop by this poster for programming ideas, advice and tips on advertising and outreach, and suggestions for cultivating a queer-friendly space at your own library!

3D Printing Basics for School and Youth Librarians
• Christina Carr, Library Media Specialist, Highland School Library, Midland Park, NJ
• Explore the world of 3D printing in this poster session designed for youth librarians. Learn about FDM 3D printing, including key processes, materials, and tools. See how digital designs become physical objects, with tips on finding free models, slicing, and troubleshooting common issues. Enjoy a visual walkthrough and discover practical ways to bring 3D printing into your library programs for kids. Join me at the poster and pick up a useful or fun takeaway.