Kansas Library Association

The 2023 Kansas Library Association conference, "meeting the challenge," was a great success. Once again, this is the only statewide Library conference in Kansas that is vital to bringing together all levels of Library staff from all types of libraries for high-quality professional development with 100+ different programs offered over a 3-day period. Our educational programming keeps Library staff, trustees and other stakeholders aware of advocacy efforts, new technologies, innovations in programming and other key topics needed to deliver the best Library service to kansans.

Kla put in place a new website this summer with better navigation. The public Library section set a goal in 2022 to be more active and offer members support in their day to day work as librarians. A major endeavor to meet this goal was a website. The website launched in may 2023.

The kla colleges and universities section met in 2023 for their annual professional development event offering a day of training on academic Library topics at the topeka & shawnee county public Library. 50 Library staff and stakeholders attended. This event was focused on connections beyond collections and the keynote speaker delved into using play as a way to engage students of all ages. There were also 10 different breakout sessions offered on various topics. The conferene theme was "better together."

Provided grants to libraries throughout the state for various programs.