LUC 2026: Full Schedule

LUC is the LOUIS Users Conference, the annual conference for all LOUIS member institutions.

arrow_back View All Dates

8:00am CDT

Registration

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT

Main Hallway

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am CDT
Main Hallway

Conference Events and Meals

8:30am CDT

Conference Welcome & Keynote Address

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am CDT

Auditorium

Speakers

Chris Yandle

Associate Commissioner for Strategic Communications, Louisiana Board of Regents

I write notes. Every school day for nearly a decade, I've tucked a Post-it into my kids' lunches. A small habit that turned into #DadLunchNotes — featured on TODAY, Good Morning America, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.And now the spine of a book I'm writing about fatherhood, mental... Read More →

Emily Frank

Associate Commissioner & Executive Director for LOUIS, LOUIS

Wednesday October 7, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am CDT
Auditorium

Conference Events and Meals

9:45am CDT

40 Tips for using AI in 40 minutes

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT

Room 322

This spin on a sharing session features 40 one-minute, rapid-fire tips delivered by library professionals across the state, addressing how they incorporate AI into their daily professional duties. The objective is to provide lessons learned, tips, and best practices from seasoned and new professional alike in a concise format. Topics will span all library services, but will be categorized by function. A brief Q&A will follow.

Speakers

Brian Sherman

Dean, LSU Shreveport

Mild mannered librarian by day, milder mannered librarian by night.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Room 322

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Breakout Session

9:45am CDT

What Should We Lend Next? Exploring the Potential of a Library of Things

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT

Upper Reception Room

This session explores how Library of Things collections can support holistic student development by addressing intellectual, emotional, social, and physical well-being. From study supplies and technology to recreational and culinary equipment, these collections are redefining the role of the academic library. Through peer discussion, participants will explore student needs, collection ideas, and practical considerations for developing sustainable and accessible Library of Things collections.

Speakers

Tiffany Ellis

Head of User Engagement and Instruction Librarian, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Upper Reception Room

Collection Development and Management, Sharing Session

9:45am CDT

Navigating the Tenure & Promotion process: Tips for Helping New Librarians

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT

Room 327

Two tenured librarians will present on tips & tactics which help new librarians build up “accomplishments” for earning tenure. We will speak from two different vantage points. Angela has mentored librarians working towards tenure (formally and informally) for almost twenty years, and Amy has only recently begun her role. We will discuss our experiences, and identify the support practices we find important to provide. We encourage audience members to share ideas they think work well!

Speakers

Amy Baptist

Head of Cataloging, Southeastern

Angela Dunnington

Executive Library Director, Louisiana Tech University

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Room 327

Professional Identity and Career Development, Breakout Session

9:45am CDT

Read the Rainbow: Tips to Make a Summer Reading Program in an Academic Library Fly High

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT

Room 324

Summer reading programs aren’t just for public libraries! Join us to learn about our successes (and challenges) with Read the Rainbow, the 2026 summer reading program at Sims Memorial Library. We’ll walk y’all through the logistics of running a summer reading program at an academic library, with insider tips from the librarians who’ve been through it.

Speakers

Alex Sharp

Jules Cannon

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Room 324

Student Engagement and Programming, Breakout Session

9:45am CDT

The Libguides of Theseus: A Tale about Rebuilding Libguides at LSUS

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT

Room 326 & Streaming Online

We built it so you don't have to! Join us for a discussion of the trials and tribulations faced in completely rebuilding a series of very dated Libguides during the era of accessibility and Bootstrap 5. See the outcomes, learn some tips and tricks, and join in thanking the many librarians who share their Creative Commons licensed content.

Speakers

David Gaither

Scholarly Communications and Analytics Librarian, Louisiana State University Shreveport

Martha Dauzat

Celeste Leeds-Laliberte

Wednesday October 7, 2026 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Room 326 & Streaming Online

Web & Electronic Resources, Breakout Session

10:45am CDT

Library Constellations: Interactive Mapping and Findings from a Louisiana Study

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:15am CDT

Room 324

Want to see your own unique Academic Library Team Member Constellation? Built on 6 themes (Sharing, Advocating, Supporting and Collecting, Maintaining, Developing) this data visualization will show your own unique make up; each attendee walks away with a visualization. These themes represent academic librarianship, a type of librarianship spilling over with tension, from the collective level to the individual level. Join me to learn more about this tension, the themes, and your constellation.

Speakers

Emily Bufford

First Year Experience Librarian, Xavier University of Louisiana

Instruction and making stronger librarian-faculty connections are two topics I am passionate about. Also, I love to hear about other folks' kitty cats and talk hair-dos.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:15am CDT
Room 324

Professional Identity and Career Development, Breakout Session

10:45am CDT

Meta Literacy: Integrating a Digital Learning Tool into a Curriculum

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT

Room 326 & Streaming Online

As participants of the LSU Libraries’ OER Advancement Fellowship, we developed a digital learning toolkit. The toolkit was adapted into the HSS 1000 residential college curriculum. This session we will discuss our approach to address the gaps between information and AI Literacy.

Speakers

Narcissa Haskins

Jazzlynn Boyd

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Room 326 & Streaming Online

Affordable Learning, Breakout Session

10:45am CDT

Accessibility Across Clarivate Products

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT

Upper Reception Room

Libraries play a vital role in connecting users with information, making accessibility essential as digital experiences evolve. This session explores accessibility across Clarivate and Ex Libris solutions, highlighting our approach, strategic priorities, recent enhancements, and roadmap plans for products including Alma and Primo. Learn how accessibility is shaping the user experience and supporting more equitable access to library resources.

For more information about accessibility across Clarivate projects, visit: https://clarivate-p.allego.com/kCl4Vn1QKn-HOvk.

Speakers

Katy Aronoff

Director, Solution Consulting, Ex Libris, Part of Clarivate

Katy Aronoff is director of solutions architecture for Ex Libris, running the pre-sales team for North America and conducting product demonstrations and workshops at libraries across the United States, Canada, and Latin America for Ex Libris. Prior to joining Ex Libris, she worked... Read More →

Sponsors

Clarivate

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Upper Reception Room

Alma Migration/LSP, Breakout Session

10:45am CDT

From LS 102 to LS 1020: The Further Adventures of Teaching a Credit Information Literacy Course

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT

Room 322

This panel discusses Southeastern’s long-time credit information literacy course, LS 1020: Introduction to Research, and its recent history: the good, the bad, and the in-between. The panel comprises four current instructors and one former instructor of the course

Speakers

Donis Marie Lambert

Ryan Castillo

Coordinator of the library instruction program, Southeastern Louisiana University

Penny Hecker

eResources & Web Services Librarian, Southeastern Louisiana University

Robert Barnes

Reference/Instruction Librarian, Southeastern Louisiana University

Lauren Rhodes

Head of Electronic Resources & Serials, Southeastern Louisiana University

Alexis Breaux

Wednesday October 7, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am CDT
Room 322

Instruction and Information Literacy, Panel Discussion

11:30am CDT

Lunch

Wednesday October 7, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm CDT

Auditorium Dining

Wednesday October 7, 2026 11:30am - 1:00pm CDT
Auditorium Dining

Conference Events and Meals

12:00pm CDT

LUC Awards Ceremony

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT

Auditorium

Wednesday October 7, 2026 12:00pm - 12:30pm CDT
Auditorium

Conference Events and Meals

1:00pm CDT

Been There, Done That: 10 Tips from Libraries That Migrated before You

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT

Room 322

Drawing on conversations with library staff from institutions that have already migrated to Alma/Primo, this session shares 10 quick, practical tips for libraries also making the change. Learn strategies, lessons learned, and real-world advice to help your library navigate the migration process with greater confidence and fewer surprises.

Speakers

Jessica Lee

Technical Services Librarian, Fletcher Technical Community College

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Room 322

Alma Migration/LSP, Lightning Talk

1:00pm CDT

Mic Drop: Bringing Podcasting to Your Library

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT

Upper Reception Room

Three librarians will discuss how to create podcasting spaces in academic libraries that support student and faculty projects, instruction, and original research podcasts. Presenters will share strategies for gaining university buy-in, planning podcasting spaces, and navigating key logistical considerations. They will also discuss how these spaces were used to create, produce, and publish the original research podcast, Research Bites.

Speakers

Phillip Martin

Digital Strategies and Technology Librarian, Louisiana State University Shreveport

Celeste Leeds-Laliberte

Martha Dauzat

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Upper Reception Room

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Lightning Talk

1:00pm CDT

What Can We Learn from the 'Students First' AI Act?

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT

Room 324

This summer, high school students from across the U.S. met in mock Senate proceedings to create the “Students First” Act, a proposal for a national AI policy framework covering rights and responsibilities for K-12 students and schools alike. In this quick talk, I’ll share highlights from the Students First Act and compare it to our institutions’ current AI policies. Let’s consider how our future students’ perspectives on generative AI could inform our approach to AI in higher education.

Speakers

Lauren McAdams

Reference Librarian/Associate Professor, Baton Rouge Community College

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Room 324

Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Lightning Talk

1:00pm CDT

Remaking Library Spaces for Campus Collaboration

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT

Room 327

Prescott Memorial Library has been reimagining library spaces and services to strengthen its role as a welcoming, open space. Over the past year, we have attempted to transition from being largely ignored and forgotten on campus, to serving as an active hub by teaming up with campus partners, hosting conferences/symposia, and more. We’ll discuss these efforts, as well as strategies for building relationships across campus and ways to transform library spaces for multiple uses and users.

Speakers

Lindsay Zack

Engineering and Science Librarian, Louisiana Tech University

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Room 327

Space Design and User Experience, Lightning Talk

1:00pm CDT

Beyond the Display Case: Using LibGuides and LibWizard to Extend Archival Exhibits

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT

Room 326 & Streaming Online

What happens when an archival exhibit extends beyond the display case? This session demonstrates how LibGuides and LibWizard can turn physical exhibits into interactive digital experiences. Learn how to use familiar Springshare tools to provide supplemental resources, interactive activities, and opportunities for deeper engagement with historical collections.

Speakers

Taiya McDowell

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:00pm - 1:20pm CDT
Room 326 & Streaming Online

Web & Electronic Resources, Lightning Talk

1:30pm CDT

Ctrl+Alt+Digital Dexterity: Tackling Digital Literacy in Community Colleges

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT

Upper Reception Room

An interactive session on student digital literacy gaps and the strategies institutions are using to address them. Staff from the Delgado Community College library and the SOWELA library will share their experiences, struggles, and successes in an open discussion with the audience. The Delgado library recently started a new workshop program to help address this issue and will speak about their success while the SOWELA library will speak about their struggles in implementing a solution.

Speakers

Holly Goodwin

Librarian, SOWELA

Connie Milton

Reference and InstructionLibrarian, SOWELA Technical Community College

Dustin Dirickson

Librarian, Instructor, Delgado Community College

Will Buckingham

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Upper Reception Room

Instruction and Information Literacy, Sharing Session

1:30pm CDT

The State of Play: Immersive Information Literacy Instruction through Videogames

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT

Room 322

Gamification usually focuses on a game as a means to deliver tailored content. I wish to explore an alternative, where analyzing the mechanics of playing a game allow students to enact core concepts of information literacy. Building on a successful model I have previously used, we will be doing an interactive session using The Stanley Parable and Untitled Goose Game to experience; “Authority is Constructed and Contextual”, “Research as Inquiry”, and “Searching as Strategic Exploration.”

Speakers

Patrick Butler

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Room 322

Instruction and Information Literacy, Breakout Session

1:30pm CDT

Live at the Library: Music, Outreach, and Community

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT

Room 326 & Streaming Online

Live at the Library is an award-winning outreach program that transforms the Monroe Library into a creative hub through collaboration with student musicians. By offering space for rehearsal and monthly performances, the program positions the library as a creative partner for Loyola’s College of Music and Media students.

Speakers

Iriana Lonon

Outreach Librarian, Loyola University New Orleans - Monroe Library

Iriana Lonon is the outreach librarian at Loyola University New Orleans. In addition to managing library outreach and communications, she is also library liaison to the College of Business, Mass Communication, and Theater Arts & Dance. She is currently serving as the Treasurer of... Read More →

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Room 326 & Streaming Online

Student Engagement and Programming, Breakout Session

1:30pm CDT

Beyond the Spreadsheet: Open-Source Dashboards for Physical Collection Analysis and E-Resource Renewals

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT

Room 327

Tired of piecing together weeding lists in Excel or dreading renewal season? Come see two free tools that do the heavy lifting: a dashboard that turns your circulation data into LC trend charts, tiered weeding candidates, and ebook targets in a few clicks, and a renewal review app that ingests usage data, checks uniqueness, and drafts renew/negotiate/cancel briefs. Both are open-source and ready for your own data. Bring a laptop if you'd like to follow along.

Speakers

Kaypounyers Maye

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Room 327

Web & Electronic Resources, Breakout Session

1:30pm CDT

EBSCO Discussion on use of AI within the EBSCOhost Platform

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT

Room 324

Join us for a discussion and live demonstration of the EBSCOhost AI Exchange. We will explore features such as Ask AI and AI Conversational Search to show how they retrieve data through Linked Data, Unified Subject Lists, and the EBSCO Scholarly Graph. Additionally, we will cover how EBSCO collaborates with LLM providers to enable seamless institutional linking to subscribed content.

Speakers

Matt Andros

Sales Director, EBSCO

Sponsors

EBSCO Information Services

Wednesday October 7, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm CDT
Room 324

Web & Electronic Resources, Breakout Session

2:15pm CDT

Sponsor Break

Wednesday October 7, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT

Sponsor Hall

Wednesday October 7, 2026 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
Sponsor Hall

Conference Events and Meals, Sponsor Break

3:00pm CDT

Cataloging Sharing Session on moving to Alma

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Upper Reception Room

With LOUIS’s migration from SirsiDynix to Alma, Catalogers are looking at how the new system will change our workflows, procedures, and perhaps even which cataloging tasks we prioritize. Additionally we will have a Network Zone with shared bibliographic records. How are different LOUIS sites thinking about using this feature? Please join me in a Cataloging Sharing session so we can talk about how we are approaching these changes.

Speakers

Amy Baptist

Head of Cataloging, Southeastern

Janelle Zetty

Head of Cataloging, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Upper Reception Room

Alma Migration/LSP, Sharing Session

3:00pm CDT

Introducing Information Literacy at a Career-Focused University

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Room 322

Within this past academic year, Frazar Memorial Library at McNeese State University, a career focused school, has incorporated a greater focus on information literacy across campus. In this panel, two public services librarians and an information literacy coordinator discuss the methods of out reach and engagement, forms of measuring success, and analysis of collected data regarding information literacy. They will also discuss areas of improvement and plans for said improvement.

Speakers

Taryn White

Mackenzie Reason

General Librarian, McNeese State University Frazar Memorial Library

Madeline Wyatt

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Room 322

Instruction and Information Literacy, Panel Discussion

3:00pm CDT

Lessons from Grace King: Reflections on a Student Research Project

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Room 326 & Streaming Online

This presentation reports on an LSU Libraries Special Collections Summer Project, in which undergraduate researcher Jessie Bourgeois used the Grace King Papers and related collections to explore representations of New Orleans at the turn of the twentieth century. Her work highlights the value of a high-profile collection for undergraduate research despite its complex administrative history and access considerations.

Speakers

Kelly Larson

Jessie Bourgeois

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Room 326 & Streaming Online

Instruction and Information Literacy, Breakout Session

3:00pm CDT

Maximizing OCLC Services: Enhancing Library Efficiency and Access

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT

Room 324

Discover how the power of partnership can transform your library’ operations from functional to phenomenal. This session will help you optimize your existing OCLC services to streamline your workflows and get insights into future enhancements—all to unlock your library’s full potential.

Speakers

Mary Miller

Library Services Consultant, OCLC

Mary Miller is an OCLC library services consultant based in Georgia. Her MSLS is from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and she worked in a public, an academic, and a special library before she started helping libraries with software and services. She looks forward to meeting... Read More →

Sponsors

OCLC

Wednesday October 7, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm CDT
Room 324

Resource Sharing, Breakout Session

4:00pm CDT

Stronger Together: Unlocking the Value of Alma and Primo in a Consortial Environment

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Upper Reception Room

What does the future of Alma and Primo mean for consortial libraries? This session explores current and upcoming innovations designed to improve efficiency, enhance discovery, and deliver better user experiences. Attendees will learn how consortial collaboration, shared infrastructure, and initiatives such as the Next Discovery Experience (NDE) help libraries maximize value and prepare for the future. Join us for insights into emerging opportunities and the Alma and Primo roadmap.

Speakers

Katy Aronoff

Director, Solution Consulting, Ex Libris, Part of Clarivate

Sponsors

Clarivate

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT
Upper Reception Room

Alma Migration/LSP, Breakout Session

4:00pm CDT

It is a Unicorn? Awareness of Misleading Books, Bots, & Sellers

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Room 327

AI is the newest term for machine learning technologies which have had a profound impact on academic libraries. However, this use of artificial intelligence in publishing has left a negative impact on information stewardship. Academic and specialized librarians will need to develop a stronger skill set in identifying AI-generated content if this tool is utilized by academic publishers.

Speakers

Rachel Sherman

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT
Room 327

Collection Development and Management, Sharing Session

4:00pm CDT

What’s the Big Deal with BIG DEALS? History, Experiences, and Recommendations When Considering Large Journal Packages

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Room 324

Would you believe it if I told you there’s a library that loves “Big Deal” journal packages? Come learn about our experiences with large journal package subscriptions at a health sciences library. We will cover the history of our deals, how we evaluate packages, trends, and lessons learned along the way. We will also provide strategies for maximizing your budget, negotiating with publishers, interpreting usage statistics, and ultimately how to provide the best collection you can for your users.

Speakers

Rebecca Bealer

Head, Serials/Systems Librarian, Louisiana State University Health Center New Orleans

Marlene M. Bishop

Head, Collection Development, LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Library

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT
Room 324

Collection Development and Management, Breakout Session

4:00pm CDT

Employing Range with One-Shots & Source Types

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Room 322

This presentation encourages a diversified approach to Source Type selection for librarians involved in Bibliographic Instruction. Source Types will be reviewed and considered through the lens of humanities and social sciences coursework. Aristotelian Appeals will be aligned with Source Types for their impact. Through thoughtful recommendation, librarians can facilitate the selection of resources that convey emotion, rationality, and perceptions of credibility for student "one-shot" attendees.

Speakers

Dustin Dirickson

Librarian, Instructor, Delgado Community College

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT
Room 322

Instruction and Information Literacy, Breakout Session

4:00pm CDT

Practical Magic: Evidence Synthesis and Multi-Institutional Collaboration

Wednesday October 7, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm CDT

Room 326 & Streaming Online

Ever wondered what it's like to conduct a scoping or systematic review? Gaining practical experience with evidence synthesis methods is a great way to hone researcher support skills while also making a scholarly contribution to the library field. Join a team of librarians as they share their experience conducting a scoping review, reflect on our dual role as researchers and service providers, and invite participants to join a community of librarians doing and supporting evidence synthesis.

Speakers

Professional Identity and Career Development, Breakout Session

5:00pm CDT

User Appreciation Party

Wednesday October 7, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT

Lower Reception Room

Join the LOUIS Team for some fun times! We'll have trivia hosted by Rob Stephens, and an open bar sponsored by Infobase, as well as delicious appetizers.

Speakers

Rob Stephens

Member Services Manager, LOUIS

Wednesday October 7, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm CDT
Lower Reception Room

Conference Events and Meals

8:00am CDT

8:30am CDT

9:45am CDT

9:45am CDT

9:45am CDT

9:45am CDT

9:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

10:45am CDT

11:30am CDT

12:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:00pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

1:30pm CDT

2:15pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

3:00pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

4:00pm CDT

5:00pm CDT

Get help with the event