Join us for this unique one-day event!
April 20, 2026 | Virtual Symposium
Libraries continue to be at the heart of community engagement. In this one-day virtual symposium, you’ll learn how library staff around the country are adapting to the dynamic needs of the people they serve. Explore ways to establish local business partnerships, leverage existing resources to build out your programming, finesse your engagement plans with strategic planning, and revolutionize services for disabled adults.
The iSchool at UW-Madison is thrilled to offer this one-day symposium via Zoom. Registrants will have access to session recordings and any relevant resources shared by speakers. Please contact ce-info@ischool.wisc.edu with any questions!
Registration will open soon. Please check back in December for updates!
Dates: April 20, 2026
Location: Zoom
Registration will open soon!
Quick Links:
Contact Conference Staff
Past Events:
Lead the Way 2025
Lead the Way 2023
Lead the Way Symposium 2021
Lead the Way 2020
Opening Keynote: Barbara Alvarez
Barbara Alvarez has over 13 years of experience with libraries and information organizations. As a former business liaison librarian, Barbara designed and delivered partnerships, programs, and continuing education tools to job seekers, professionals, and business owners. For her work, she received the Morningstar Public Librarian Support Award and the PrivCo Award for Outstanding Business Librarianship. She was also nominated for the Athena Award for innovation and creativity in the library’s community.
Barbara is the author of the book Embedded Business Librarianship for the Public Librarian with ALA Editions. She has taught at the university-level for five years, including business reference and service classes. Barbara has a PhD in Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Engaging Entrepreneurs: Why Local Businesses Need Libraries (and Vice Versa!)
Speaker: Kellee Forkenbrock, Public Services Librarian at North Liberty Library
According to Knology, nearly 70% of businessowners don’t consider their local library to be an entrepreneurial resource. Consider all of the services your library offers – meeting rooms, computer access, tech assistance. Why aren’t more businesses using your library’s bountiful resources?
In this session, we’ll explore how to build beneficial partnerships with local businesses, create successful programs catered toward entrepreneurs, and how to best position your library to be a small biz’s best ally!
From Planning to Progress: The Communication-Centered Approach to Library Strategy
Speaker: Chelsea Coleman, Co-Founder & Consultant at Library Logic Consulting LLC
In today’s rapidly evolving world, libraries face unprecedented challenges that demand thoughtful planning. Yet even the most brilliant strategies falter without effective communication—the true heart and soul of the strategic planning process.
Join us to explore how intentional, ongoing communication transforms strategic planning from a static document into a living framework that energizes staff and community stakeholders alike. By establishing two-way communication channels, developing accessible materials, leveraging local media outlets and embracing transparency, you can enhance community connection and, ultimately, the impact of your library’s strategic initiatives.
Attendees will leave with scalable examples using a variety of media, and practical tools for weaving communication throughout the strategic planning lifecycle. This session is for anyone looking for concrete methods for disseminating information about the great work your library is doing.
AnyAbility and Beyond: Lessons from 10+ Years of Programming for Adults with Disabilities
Speakers:
Catherine Odson, Guide at Anythink Libraries
Hannah Martinez, Concierge at Anythink Libraries
For more than 10 years, Anythink Wright Farms has provided revolutionary programming for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through their AnyAbility program. In 2022, Anythink Brighton started down a different path – welcoming adults with IDD into programming alongside other audiences. Learn how both libraries have successfully created programs that have grown into engaging experiences and how you can start building inclusive programming at your own library. Takeaways: Participants will learn how both active and passive programming can serve adults with IDD in the library. Participants also will leave with actionable steps for evaluating community needs and tips for getting started, even if the thought of adding another program to the calendar is daunting.
Community Engagement Needs Assessment Project: Using Internal Focus Groups to Build an Intentional, Strategic, and Inclusive Community Engagement Plan
Speaker: Amanda Schlumpberger, Faculty and Community Engagement Librarian at University of Kansas Libraries
This session will present a case study on how using internal focus groups at the University of Kansas Libraries helped provide the foundation to build a new and intentional community engagement plan for the Libraries. The session will provide context around the decision to use this methodological approach, the way it was planned for and executed, and the results. It will then discuss how the results have been applied to build a new community engagement plan and approach to achieve goals of creating a more inclusive, welcoming, and community-centered academic library for those at and beyond the university. It will wrap-up with a discussion about key takeaways from this methodological approach and lessons learned. Finally, it will conclude with open discussion time to discuss applicability to other libraries and communities or alternative methods to begin the work of building a new community engagement focus and plan.
The learning goals are: 1) To provide methods and discussion on how to establish new or evolving community engagement in organizations that may not have a strong foundation of community engagement activities; and 2) Generate conversation on how to build internal buy-in to external engagement.