15 October 2025 Illinois Library Association Conference Rosemont, IL Day 2

 

The day started with a panel discussion entitled We Do Belong: Candid Conversation on the Future of Libraries. The panel included the director of the two library systems, Past President, President elect and the Current President of ILA. An Academic Librarian and a School Librarian.

The discussion was very interesting about what everyone sees in the crystal ball. The funding aspect was a big concern at both the State and National level. The eBook pricing for the licensing of books needs to be resolved.  As the prices of eBooks and Journals rise at a rate that is not sustainable for most libraries.

Discussing educational opportunities for library staff there was concern as directors are spending more time with the issues of HVAC, Building maintenance and escalating energy costs. The curriculum in most of the MLIS programs do not include Accounting, Finance and other items that the public library runs into every day.

The next session was ChatGPT: A Libr-Al-rian’s Sidekick. Monica Cameron of Shelbyville Public Library  discussed the journey as she wanted to learn more about Generative AI. She looked at how AI works by predicting data based on a big language model. She showed several examples of the work that she did with Chat GPT and discussed the limitations. She pointed out some inaccuracies in the logic. She felt that there was limited resources when dealing with library issues. One item she pointed out was building on premises that were not accurate.

The environmental issues were also mentioned. The amount of energy needed to support a data center. The demand for water for cooling the machines. Noise factors as the centers run around the clock.

Benefits included saving time as it acts as a powerful assistant. Allows for better communication can define target audiences. Proof Reading is the biggest help in her opinion.

She uses it at the library for brainstorming ideas. Excellent tool for charts, graphs and outlines. One feature that they use a lot is the ability to turn a video into a step by step instructions. Staff training can be enhanced by summarizing policies and creating tutorials.

Many other examples were presented in the seminar. Left the session with some ideas to try with ChatGPT.

The next session was the Membership Meeting and Presidents Program Featuring Dilla.

The Annual Meeting is to inform members of any changes that are in the organization and give the audience a look at the new legislation that is proposed for the Illinois State legislature. Chair of the Public Policy Committee introduced 3 items that were going to be pursued. An increase in the per capita grant for schools and libraries and for academic libraries. Additional funding for the generation of Open Educational Resources through CARLI. Taking further action in the  eBook legislation as several new options are on the table with the Maryland and Michigan legislation.

The featured speaker was Chicago Historian Sherman Thomas who goes by Dilla. He discussed the history of the Chicago libraries and the effects it had on his youth. It was very interesting to hear how a marginalized community sees the library in their youth through adulthood. Dilla also talked about the Pullman area in a historical perspective.

The Exhibit Hall was open for discussion with vendors. The book vendors were especially busy with the news of Baker and Taylor closing their Momence, IL facility. The Lilly M. Evans had over 200 books on back order from them.

Interesting to see some vendors and network with many different librarians and trustees.

Get outside! Steps to Creating an Outdoor Master Plan was the next session. It looked at the Barrington Public Library as they developed a plan for the areas around the main building. The facility had large acreage that could be developed for things like a community garden space, Book Walk, and children’s story area.

The designer and library staff discussed the process and how they worked on the project in stages as funding was available. They used a series of grants and donations from their foundation to complete the project.

This was an interesting approach that could be utilized at my own library.

Outreach and Makerspace Unite! Extending Makerspace Access through Library Outreach involved getting the services to senior citizens, patrons with mobility challenges and residents of memory care. They did this by preparing around 800 kits a year to be distributed throughout the community from the bookmobile, and services provided to assisted living and memory care locations. They also included some with the home delivery program of books to homebound residents.

They went through the design process of the kits and how they were assembled. The cost factor was partially underwritten by community support. This outreach a deep community connection for the library in the community. Delivering makerspace opportunity beyond the walls of the library.

Ending the day was the film presentation of The Librarians. It is a new documentary that was introduced at the Sundance Film Festival and has seen much acclaim. The film looks at book banning in Texas and the Southeast. What school librarians and public library workers were subjected too. It was a moving documentary of  the social implications and legal consequences of book ban groups.

The film was followed by a discussion with the film makers and the ALA staff. This film is a must see. The PBS Independent lens series have reached out to the makers to show it eventually on PBS.

PLA Forces: Force 1 The nature and pace of change. The Illinois Library Association annual conference membership meeting was all about the future of libraries. The new legislation that ILA is looking at for the next year was discussed at the meeting. Update on the IMLS status and the Keynote speaker talked About the changes in the Chicago Public library as the city changed on the Southside of Chicago.

Force 3 Building Community. The site plan and the follow through of the area outside the Barrington Library was enumerated as the plan was set up in sections. Using the open space for gardens, Children’s reading area, and a common use area that had a lot of great improvements. The session was how the library used a landscape architect to talk to staff, the board and patrons to see what they want to do with the open spaces on the library exterior. The plan was presented and the foundation set up a fund raising account for them.

Force 5 The challenge of leadership. Ended the day with the new film the Librarians. It looked how librarians faced adversity in the libraries in Texas. Looked at the book bans and how the Library boards acted in many of the cases that were brought up. The film was very riveting and made one think how they would act in that situation.

Work total 8 hours                  Semester total 57