Welcome to the New Mexico Library Association's 103rd annual conference!
Tentative Schedule
Current information is available here.
The Registration Process
NMLA hopes that you have a smooth registration process. To facilitate the process, before registering please familiarize yourself with the following details.
Scholarships
A limited number of conference scholarships have been made available. You can view more information on the Scholarships Page. To apply please reach out to contact@nmla.org by October 1st.
Thursday Lunch
What is a convention without food? You can purchase Thursday lunches at time of registration.
Cost
$18/meal
Meal Options
You can choose between a Turkey Sandwich or a Grilled Vegetables Sandwich, which include the following:
- Artisan Bread or Gluten-free Bread
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Cheese
- Onion
- Kettle Chips
- Fresh Baked Cookie
Closing date for meal purchases is October 10.
Any dietary acommodation requests must be submitted to contact@nmla.org at time of purchase.
Celebrations!
Each conference we hold several celebrations. We honor outstanding library workers and library supporters during our Thursday Awards Ceremony Dinner. And we host an author during our Friday Author Luncheon.
Thursday Awards Ceremony Dinner
Cost
$32/ticket
Meal Options
Green Chile Chicken Alfredo Buffet, which will offer:
- Grilled Chicken Breast or Plant-based Chicken Alternative
- Linguini Pasta
- Green Chile Alfredo Sauce
- Steamed Broccolini
- Garlic Bread
- Frosted White Cake
- Cheesecake
Closing date for meal purchases is October 10.
Any dietary acommodation requests must be submitted to contact@nmla.org at time of purchase.
Friday Author Luncheon
Cost
$32/ticket
Meal Options
A Taco Bar Buffet, which will offer:
- Chipotle Chicken
- Vegan Black Bean Quinoa
- Taco Shells
- Tortillas
- Lettuce
- Diced Tomatoes
- Chopped Onions
- Cheddar Jack Cheese
- Guacamole
- Sour Cream
- Salsa
- Pinto Beans
- Spanish Rice
- Key Lime Pie
- Frosted Chocolate Cake
Closing date for meal purchases is October 10.
Any dietary acommodation requests must be submitted to contact@nmla.org at time of purchase.
Preconference Sessions
You don't need to worry about selecting your preconference sessions at time of registration. However, so you can have an idea of the topics...
Morning Sessions: 9:00 am - noon
- Working with the New Mexico State Library: What to Know as a Library Director with Carmelita Aragon Kelly McCabe, Ursula McDade, Ada Negraru from New Mexico State Library / Development Bureau
- Planting the Seeds of Open Education with Jennifer Jordan from UNM University Libraries
- Growing Digital Opportunity: The Evolving Role of Libraries in Digital Inclusion with Bo Ford from New Mexico State Library
Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- Fundamentals of Leadership with Jason E Shoup from Rio Rancho Public Library
- Nourish Your Programs with Art-Rich STEM Activities with Christine Shupla from Lunar and Planetary Institute
- Convincing the Unconvinced: Using Data to Prove Your Library Matters with Ursula McDaid from New Mexico State Library
Conference Sessions
In case you didn't look at the full schedule, here are the session offerings. With so many great options, selecting can be challenging. However, please select one workshop from each session block.
Thursday Morning Sessions: 9:00 am - noon
Session 1
10:30 am - 11:20 am
- Cultivating Collections: Building an Institutional Repository at NMHU with Katie Gray
- SRP101 Getting Started With Summer Reading with Kelly McCabe
- Tending the Learning: How Libraries Can Protect the Struggle AI Wants to Skip with Leslie Ross & Brita Sauer
- Updates & Conversation: Public Library Directors Meeting with Carmelita Aragon
- Building a History Exhibit through Experiential Student Learning with Erin Renee Wahl (Angel Corona & Guinevere Mayse, students)
Session 2: Lightning Talks
11:30 am - noon
- Fostering Community With Library Programming with Kesheena Doctor
- Makerspace in a Nutshell: Starting DACC Library's Makerspace with Mak Jones
- Morally Injured: Time to Plant or Move On with Angelica Garcia-Hughes
- Space Utilization Evaluation & Atmosphere Shifts with Karina Todechine
- Programmatic Leadership with Bo Ford
- When AI Answers Health Questions: What Librarians Should Know – A Bilingual Medical Librarian’s Reflection with Evelyn Wang
- Taking Library Services to Charter Schools: Filling the Information Gap for Charter School Students with Enrique Valdivia
- Plant the Seeds: Practical Ways to Cultivate a Reading Culture with Natasha Carty & Karin Trujillo
Thursday Afternoon Sessions 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Session 3
1:00 pm - 1:50 pm
- The Pioneer and the Four Founders: The Ladies Who Started the State Library and NMLA with Joe Sabatini
- Residency; Helping People Find Proof of Residency for RECA Claims with Susanne Caro & Regina Bouley Sweeten
- Planting Seeds of Engagement: Growing Community Connections Through a Library Postcard Project with Moses Moya
- The Freedom to Read: Why Legislation Matters: Part 1 with Ann Nihlen, NM House Representative Kathleen Cates, NM Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, NM Senator Harold Pope & Regina Dickens
- How to Spend That $240,000 Grant You Did Not Ask For with Joseph McKenzie, Maria Monclova de Padilla
Session 4
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
- Tending the Digital Garden: Growing AI Safety Practices in New Mexico Libraries with Ada Negraru and Bo Ford
- Growing Community Connections: Using YesNMConnect to Cultivate Better Social Care with Laura Clark
- Growing the Next Generation of Librarians Through Hands-on Experiences in Academic Libraries with Adrienne Warner
- The Freedom to Read: Why Legislation Matters: Part 2 with Ann Nihlen, et al.
- Community Outreach: Growing Strong Roots in Your Community with Sarah Jones
Session 5
3:10 pm - 4:00 pm
- Growing Your Religious Collection: Collection Development Resources with Ellen Bosman
- Planting Seeds of Change: Revitalizing the Community College Library with Mak Jones & Tiffany Schirmer
- From Roots to Results: The Foundation Behind the Bloom with Samantha Hardin, Gilda & Baeza-Ortego
- What I Didn't Learn in Library School and Why It Matters with Bentley Clark
- Ranganathan's Colon Classification: What it is and what we can learn from it about organizing contemporary library materials with Kevin Comerford
Session 6
4:10 pm - 5:00 pm
- Grow Your Library Team: A Leader’s Guide to Working With Individuals with Teresa Smith
- Planting Seeds of Insight: Arts-Integrated Creative Inquiry for Libraries in Bloom with Kat Gullahorn, Amalia Giebitz & Stephen W. Morris
- AI Transcription of Handwritten Historical Documents Using an Edge Reasoning Model with Jason Bengtson
- NM Litigant Portal – Using AI to Provide Legal Information with Amy DiBello
- A Reader's Guide to New Mexican Literature (a new book from UNM Press) with Baker H. Morrow & V.B. Price
Friday Morning Sessions: 11:00 am - noon
Session 7
11:00 am - 11:50
- From Story Seeds to Community Blooms: Library Ideas that Grow Engagement with Karin Trujillo
- Growing Your Community: How-tos of Creating a Seed Library with Jeri Hurd
- Bringing Your Collections to Full Bloom: Displaying Your Materials in the Best Light with Susan Asplund
- Rooted in Belonging: Weeding Out Imposter Syndrome and Gaining Agency & Community Through Zines with Jess Zubia and Jessi Galanter
- Highlighting Collections and Community Through Open Access Digital Tours with Regina Bouley Sweeten
Friday Afternoon Sessions: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Session 8
1:05 pm - 1:55 pm
- Blooming Researchers & Writers: A Story of Collaboration Between an Academic Librarian and a Writing Instructor with Joy Urbina & Dr. Isabel Baca
- Making the Career Switch: Moving From One Library Type to Another with Erin Renee Wahl, Kimberly Underwood and Veronica Soto
- Tiny Book Crafting with Susanne Caro
- North Fourth Street: Albuquerque’s Original Route 66 with Joe Sabatini
- Art of Being Present with Jess Zubia and Alisa Gonzalez
Session 9
2:00 pm - 2:50 pm
- Battle of the Books Basics with Karin Trujillo
- Empowering Libraries to Support Caregivers: Essential Resources and Strategies with George Strawley
- Grow Your Own Reading Challenge: Using Google Forms and Data Studio to Create Your Own Digital Reading Tracker with Heather Christensen
- Decolonizing the Catalog- How We Ditched Dewey in our Indigenous Collection with Lisa Longeteig & Tara Abeita
- Growing Your Summer Reading Program with Kelly McCabe
Lodging
Lodging is not processed by NMLA, but we do provide here online access to several local lodging options.
The Fine Print
Cancellation Policy: Due to costs associated with the conference, cancellation requests must be received in writing by 09/30/2026, email to contact@nmla.org. Payment is non-refundable after this date.
Code of conduct: NMLA is committed to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone engaged with the association at events regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, religion or other group identity. Harassment will not be tolerated in any form and constructive discussion is encouraged during all NMLA programming.
Check payments: Mail to PO Box 26074, Albuquerque, NM 87125
Questions?: Call (505)400-7309 or email contact@nmla.org.
Thank you for joining NMLA at its 2026 Conference!
