Join us for hors d'oeuvres and watch the hackers from the IUG Hackathon present their ideas. An esteemed panel of judges will award gold, silver and bronze to the top hacks!
This session will explore ways to use modern LLM (AI) chat systems to create and check your SQL code. Although the examples in the program will be based off coding for the Polaris SQL server, the major concepts will be applicable to any coding platform or project.
In 2017 & 2018 Gem Stone-Logan originally presented Automating Reports with Python , aiming to teach Python in under an hour to attendees with no prior programming experience. That presentation has continued to be cited regularly by members throughout IUG and is directly responsible for my present career. The original presentation focused on crafting a single script capable of conducting a query, placing the results into a formatted Excel file, and emailing that file out as an attachment. In this session we will take the structure of that script and illustrate how its modular nature can be adjusted in order to accomplish a wide variety of tasks with little required in the way of additional experience. It is highly recommended that attendees familiarize themselves with the original presentation in advance, but it is not required.
Data Curation Librarian, Minuteman Library Network
Data Curation Librarian for the Minuteman Library Network, former Steering Committee Member, Beacon Award Winner, SQL oversharer, and owner of far too many comics.
Are you perpetually surrounded by carts and boxes of materials awaiting cataloging and processing? Have you ever been tempted to construct and hide inside a cardboard fort to avoid the backlog? Have you ever dreamed of working remotely? Are your customers knocking down the doors to get their hands on new releases? If this sounds familiar, you need our session! Our session aims to provide Catalogers and other Technical Services staff with the foundation and infrastructure to rethink and revolutionize their workflows. This session will focus heavily on the concept of Workslip Cataloging, with a splash of LEAN for good measure. We will highlight our current workflow and staff layout, and share our trials and failures, as well as best practices developed along the way. Sno-Isle Libraries are unique in our efficient workflow of moving materials from the selection and ordering stages all the way through processing and cataloging, and out to our customers. We have utilized LEAN principles and Workslip Cataloging to reorganize and realign all of Circulation and Collection Services staff and their duties in order to get new materials into the hands of customers within days of delivery, rather than weeks or months. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated our shift to Workslip Cataloging when taking materials home was not an option. Applying LEAN principles and adapting quickly during that difficult time helped us succeed. Change does not have to be sudden, nor overwhelming-- start with small improvements, move away from traditional practices, stay open to new ideas, and consider Workslip Cataloging as your next step toward efficiency! Join us to discover practical strategies that will help you clear the backlog, speed up delivery, and delight your customers! Topics/Sample Outline: LEAN (15 mins) Customer Service Change Management Staff and Duty Realignment Continuous Process Improvement (or "Question and Critique EVERYTHING!") Ergonomics and Equipment Enhancement Workflow Streams: Shelf-Ready, Pretty Darn Quick (PDQ), and nonPDQ (lightly or unprocessed materials) Workslip Cataloging (30 mins) Value to Staff and Customers Remote vs. In-Person Work Surrogate Cataloging Process & Resources Workslip Layout and Data Call Number Redesign and Assignment Process Reports & Other Support Tools Handling Processing & Cataloging Errors Leveraging Community Library Staff Processing and Delete Permission and Training What's ahead? (5 mins) Leveraging Vendor Pre-Processing and Enriched EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) to increase SR and PDQ Materials, while reducing nonPDQ Zebra Printer Pilot with Community Library Processors Q & A (10-15 mins) This session is appropriate for public libraries and Circulation/Technical Services staff of any size or budget utilizing any integrated library system. Attendees will leave armed with the tools, tips, resources, and confidence needed to implement their own LEAN and Workslip Cataloging revolution at their libraries!
Overview: Library technical services departments face ongoing challenges, including staffing shortages and budget constraints. This program offers a forum-style discussion where everyone can share issues and brainstorm solutions together. Format: Moderator case studies to spark conversation Open forum for attendees to present their own challenges Peer exchange of strategies and best practices Outcomes: Practical, peer-informed solutions to common problems Stronger professional connections A foundation for continued collaboration Bring business cards to exchange and expand your professional network with colleagues tackling similar challenges.
Director of Collections Management, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Ms. Glazier is the Director of Collections Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has worked in libraries for over twenty-five years. She has worked in both public and academic libraries with the majority of her work focusing on the traditional areas of technical... Read More →
Tuesday April 14, 2026 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT Houston
Come and learn more about the MEEP process. We will discuss the life of an idea and how it gets submitted to then get voted on for enhancement. We will also cover how to get involved as any questions you have about the process.
Head of Customer CARE/System Administrator, Clinton-Macomb Public Library
I have been working at Clinton-Macomb Public Library since April 2003. I started at a page before moving through the organization and landing in my current position in 2020. I manage a staff of 50+ employees in circulation across 3 locations.
Technology & Metadata Services Manager, Helen Plum Library
Alex Vancina is a systems librarian with over 20 years of experience, including 14 working with Sierra. He currently manages the Technology & Metadata Services department at Helen Plum Library in Lombard, IL.
Have you been given cataloging duties? Not sure where to start? Does reading the rules feel like a Choose Your Own Adventure book? In part 1, we'll start at the beginning with some cataloging history and theory, including a discussion of cataloger's judgment, and a high-level look at some 'rules.' Part 2 will then look at applying what we talk about here.
Technical Services Manager, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Hi! I've been a cataloger for over 20 years in both public and academic libraries. I'm passionate about making our catalogs work for our patrons and while this may mean something different at each institution, I strongly believe the end product should be useful!
AI is everywhere and the use in products is rapidly on the rise. When can AI make a difference? How best should it be used? Is it taking over or helping out?
For those that missed the chance to hear Rhonda's first presentation, she has graciously agreed to a repeat!
Overview: Library technical services departments face ongoing challenges, including staffing shortages and budget constraints. This program offers a forum-style discussion where everyone can share issues and brainstorm solutions together. Format: Moderator case studies to spark conversation Open forum for attendees to present their own challenges Peer exchange of strategies and best practices Outcomes: Practical, peer-informed solutions to common problems Stronger professional connections A foundation for continued collaboration Bring business cards to exchange and expand your professional network with colleagues tackling similar challenges.
Director of Collections Management, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Ms. Glazier is the Director of Collections Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and has worked in libraries for over twenty-five years. She has worked in both public and academic libraries with the majority of her work focusing on the traditional areas of technical... Read More →
Wednesday April 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am CDT Denver
When OCLC is all you've ever known for cataloging, how do you transition an entire consortium to a different cataloging utility? And then, when that transition includes BTCat, how do you transition from BTCat to another option without having to go back to OCLC? This is what our consortium has done in the last year, and I'm sure other poeple have too. I'd like to moderate a forum where people can talk about their experiences with non-OCLC cataloging utilities, discuss options, and maybe mourn the loss of BTCat as well. Since ILLs are a huge part of why people stay with OCLC, discussion will also touch on what to do about ILLs, and how to message all of it to customers.
It can be a taboo topic, but let's talk about weeding. We weed for a variety of reasons, sometimes we're running out of space, sometimes we need to move collections, sometimes it's just because we haven't weeded in 50+ years (do you really need that Windows 95 instruction book??), or there was a major roof leak and water went everywhere. But what happens afterwards, how do you maintain your updated and beautiful collection (and not wait another 50 years to weed.) In this session we'll look at managing a whole library weeding project and then delve into ideas for maintaining that beautiful collection.
Technical Services Manager, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library
Hi! I've been a cataloger for over 20 years in both public and academic libraries. I'm passionate about making our catalogs work for our patrons and while this may mean something different at each institution, I strongly believe the end product should be useful!
