Building Library Advocates Through Shared Learning

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

In the last five years, Iowa has seen an overwhelming number of library averse bills in the state legislature. As a way to combat misinformation and build community trust, Ames Public Library created a program for library advocates called Library Champions. Through this four-part series, library staff teach community advocates about library principles, policy, and procedures; then give participants a chance to use the knowledge they’ve learned through engaging exercises. From a peek behind the curtain to fun interactive activities, the Library Champions series has engaged library supporters in new ways.

This on-demand webinar shares how the Library Champions program was created, the outcomes of those sessions, and how your library can create a similar cohort of library advocates.

Recorded live on October 7, 2026.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:

• Use new methods of community engagement to build library advocates; 
• Understand how advocates can help build trust and share vital, truthful information about the role of libraries in their community; and 
• Know how building a core group of advocates can benefit their library as well as benefiting broader library advocacy efforts. 

Who Should Attend

This on-demand webinar is intended for public directors and administrators, library board members, and friends/foundation directors and members.

Panelists

Megan Klein-Hewett (she/her) is the adult services manager at Ames (IA) Public Library (APL). Prior to joining APL in 2019, she spent the first eight years of her career at Omaha Public Library in Omaha, NE. In Omaha, Megan served in a wide range of positions, from library aide to borrower services manager.

 

Sheila Schofer (she/her) is the director of the Ames (IA) Public Library. She returned to her home state of Iowa in 2019 after spending much of her professional career at the Brooklyn Public Library in New York City, where she oversaw the staffing, public services, and building operations at fifty-eight diverse neighborhood branches.

 

Tracy Briseño (she/her) is the customer account services manager at the Ames (IA) Public Library. She's worked in libraries since she was fiften, doing everything from home delivery and preschool storytimes to teen services and driving the bookmobile.

 

Alissa Dornink (she/her) is the resource services manager at the Ames (IA) Public Library. She started working in academic libraries in college and made the switch to public, where the books are much more fun.

 

Brianne Anderson’s (she/her) love of libraries started early as she often helped her librarian mother shelve books in her elementary school library. Nearly twenty years later, that passion for helping kids find books has only grown. Now the youth services manager at the Ames (IA) Public Library, Bri is dedicated to connecting kids with reading, building early literacy skills, and partnering with community organizations to ensure patrons have access to the services they need. She believes deeply in what libraries stand for: free access to all. When she's not recommending books, you'll find her quilting, reading (obviously), and chasing her three kids through their many activities.

 

Important Registration Information

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Accommodations

This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).

If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.

Attendees are prohibited from using any artificial intelligence, machine learning, large language model, automated decision-making tool, or any other software or tools to record this event and from using this event to train, develop, or improve any artificial intelligence system, machine learning model, or similar automated technology. This does not preclude attendees' personal use of AI notetaking tools for accessibility purposes.

Tech Requirements

To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.

Contact

This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).