<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap">Hello colleagues,</span><br></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">After a long winter, signs of spring are finally starting to emerge, and with them, the countdown to the Long Island Library Conference has begun! </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap">Join us on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Melville Marriott for a full day of professional development and inspiration with colleagues from libraries across Long Island. </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt;white-space:pre-wrap">This year’s theme, “Empower, Engage and Evolve,” reflects the ways our libraries continue to grow, adapt, and serve our communities in meaningful ways. The conference program offers something for everyone, and here’s a small sample of what you can expect:</span></p><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Intro to AI: The Good, the Bad, and the Weird:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Understand how AI is shaping everyday life and what it means for libraries</span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Beyond the Bookshelves: Empowering Library Leaders to Build LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplaces:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Build stronger, more inclusive teams </span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">“Con” Your Library:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Learn how to plan large-scale, high-impact events like GamerCon</span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Your Anxiety is a Liar: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Practical strategies for professional confidence</span></p></li></ul><b><br></b><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="background-color:transparent;font-size:11pt"><b>Challenge Accepted: How Library Staff Thrive in Times of Change!:</b></span> Lead with purpose in an evolving field</span></p></li></ul><br><ul style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left:15px;list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Outreach & Marketing Strategies to Reach Diverse Communities:</span><span style="font-size:11pt;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline"> Strengthen engagement across your service area</span></p></li></ul><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We’re also excited to welcome keynote speaker Jamar Rahming, who will share perspectives on leadership and community engagement.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you’ve been meaning to register, now is the time! </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Registrations will once again be processed through Eventbrite using the link on the Conference </span><a href="https://libconference.org/registration/attendee/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">website</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Payment can be made by credit card, PayPal, or Google Pay until April 30, 2026. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Rates:  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NCLA/SCLA Members: $85  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Non-Members: $110  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Students: $50  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Day-Of: $195  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We encourage you to become an individual member of SCLA or NCLA to receive the Member Rate. When registering, you will need your individual membership number. Institutional memberships do not qualify for the Member Rate.  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.656;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">If you have questions about your membership, you can contact Emily Trezza at </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:etrezza@whplibrary.org" target="_blank">etrezza@whplibrary.org</a></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> for NCLA or SCLA at </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:sclamembershipli@gmail.com" target="_blank">sclamembershipli@gmail.com</a></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Conference questions can be directed to </span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(17,85,204);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a href="mailto:lilcregister@gmail.com" target="_blank">lilcregister@gmail.com</a></span><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> or by visiting </span><a href="https://libconference.org/registration/attendee/" style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">https://libconference.org/registration/attendee/</span></a><span style="background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.   </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">We hope to see you in May!</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The 2026 Long Island Library Conference Committee</span></p></div>
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