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KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 29, 2024

The 2024 Joint Georgia Libraries Conference and Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Conference, held in Athens, Georgia, from October 6-8, 2024, showcased the latest in library and archival innovation. This year, ʳɫÊÓƵ’s (ʳɫÊÓƵ) Museums, Archives, Rare Books, and Libraries (MARBL) unit made a strong impression with an impressive lineup of three Quick Takes, five sessions, a round table, a poster presentation, and two awards. The MARBL team’s contributions reflected their dedication to user-centered design, resource management, accessibility, outreach, and advocacy for open educational resources (OER), and each session received enthusiastic feedback from attendees.

Highlights from the Conference:

User experience and accessibility were prominent themes across ʳɫÊÓƵ’s presentations. Brianna Parfaite and Erica Flint led a Quick Take titled, ʳɫÊÓƵ Libraries Website Redesign: A User-Centered Approach, where they demonstrated how usability testing and a focus on community needs informed the ʳɫÊÓƵ Libraries’ recent website redesign, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. Building on this topic, Parfaite joined Femi Jayeola for a full session titled, Creating a Subject Guide Template with Usability Testing. This session took attendees through the process of redesigning ʳɫÊÓƵ’s subject guides with a student-centered approach, transforming them into cohesive and accessible resources for ʳɫÊÓƵ students. Additionally, Michelle Lee’s round table, Considering Accessibility and Accommodations in Research Appointments, explored how libraries can adapt research services to better support students with disabilities, sparking valuable discussions on bridging accessibility gaps.

MARBL also delivered impactful presentations in resource management and advocacy. In Enriching Oral Histories as Scholarly Resources, Tamara Livingston, Christian Kelly, and Kate Matheny introduced attendees to the Oral History Metadata Synchronizer (OHMS), an open-source tool that enhances the accessibility and research value of oral history collections. By implementing OHMS, ʳɫÊÓƵ has created new ways for students and researchers to engage with these collections. Finding Success in Open Educational Resource Advocacy, presented by Kristina Clement, Chelsee Dickson, and Jin Jo, joined by their colleague Sabrina Davis from Texas Tech University, provided practical strategies for librarians working with OER, backed by research funded through an Affordable Learning Georgia Grant. This session outlined steps for promoting OER, empowering advocates to elevate affordable educational materials across academic communities.

Another session, Rebuilding the Nest: An Inside Look at ʳɫÊÓƵ Libraries’ Reorganization, hosted by Kristina Clement, Chris Sharpe, Hannah Givens, and Chelsee Dickson, provided a candid look into the nine-month reorganization of ʳɫÊÓƵ Libraries. Under the guidance of a new Associate Vice Provost, ʳɫÊÓƵ Libraries underwent a transformative change to enhance collaboration and streamline operations, offering attendees insights into effective change management strategies.

Maggie Thomas represented ʳɫÊÓƵ MARBL in the session Into the Branches: Innovative Approaches to Genealogy and Local History Programs. This panel, which featured representatives from diverse institutions, explored how genealogy and local history programs can foster both personal and community connections. By sharing adaptable strategies for planning such programs, Thomas and her co-panelists offered guidance for institutions looking to tap into the popularity of genealogy and local history, even if they lack dedicated departments for these areas.

The poster presentation, From Brainstorms to Blueprints: Designing and Implementing Effective Library Programming, by Alyssa Kowis and Kristina Clement, outlined the process of turning ideas into impactful library events. Covering everything from identifying partnerships to marketing and assessment, this poster provided a practical roadmap for library professionals aiming to develop engaging programs. Another highlight, the Quick Take Working Together: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Building a Graphic Novel Collection, presented by Kristina S. Lang and Hannah Givens, discussed ʳɫÊÓƵ’s collaboration with academic departments to create a graphic novel collection that supports both scholarly and leisure needs.

Beyond her poster presentation, Alyssa Kowis played a key role in the conference’s community-building efforts by leading the scholarship raffle table, raising over $2,500 for Georgia Library Association scholarships—a testament to MARBL’s dedication both in and outside of sessions. MARBL also had two award winners this year. Amanda Hartman was awarded a GLA Library Support Division award and Michelle Lee was awarded the BIPOC Travel Award.  

Overall, the 2024 Georgia Libraries Conference and Society of Georgia Archivists Annual Conference was a remarkable success for MARBL. Through innovative, collaborative presentations, the team showcased a forward-thinking approach, underscoring MARBL’s role as a leader in academic library practices.