Hi everyone—

The schedule for the SWAN Expo on Friday, August 23rd is now finalized. You can view the day's sessions at specific times throughout the day.

Our 2024 annual event is shaping up to be a great one. We have 19 sessions covering a range of topics and presenters with expertise in subjects that we hope all of you will enjoy.

Mental health

During the planning of this year's Expo, we picked up from some membership polling at a Fireside meeting that concerns around mental health was theme. We approached the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to present this year's keynote. The staff from NAMI will remain at Expo throughout the day to provide one-on-one consulting and advice in a private meeting room.

Managing your library’s records

Have you wondered how your library should be managing its paper and digital archive associated with library operations? You can hear directly from the experts! The Illinois State Archives will present a primer for public libraries and local government on records retention. 

Creating a crisis plan

The past few years have presented a new set of challenges for libraries, and we have invited HR Source to provide an overview of what your library should include in its crisis response plan.

Your library & the Illinois Digital Archives

Many libraries in SWAN have special collections or artifacts from your community. The Illinois State Library will be on hand to talk about the Illinois Digital Archives and how you can go about digitizing those collections for online access in the statewide platform (which also integrates in SWAN Aspen Discovery).

Learn basic copyright for library staff

Sara Bensen from the University of Illinois will guide you through the basics of copyright and how it impacts fair use and limitations within the library.

Library newcomers & the immigrant experience

Since August 31, 2022, the City of Chicago has welcomed over 45,000 new arrivals from the southern border. Chicago Public Library staff will present their perspective on how the newly arrived immigrants required and relied upon public library staff and services to navigate the path to resettlement and self-sufficiency.

Learn about RAILS delivery

Have you wanted to know more about how libraries in SWAN share materials? RAILS Delivery Director Mark Hatch will show how the Illinois library delivery system works and answer your questions!

SWAN staff presentations at Expo

• School partnerships: Issuing student cards
• Be a WorkFlows detective: Following clues to unravel confusing service scenarios
• Aspen for library staff
• MobileStaff consultation: Bring your library device or learn about how to enhance your tablet experience
• BLUEcloud Analytics basics
• BLUEcloud Analytics Q&A for technical services
• BLUEcloud Analytics Q&A for public services

Library panel presentations

• Collection management: Weeding, storage, renovations
• Circulation best practices: Moments at the service desk

Roundtable discussions

• Support and self-care
• Staff development, library in-service days, & what libraries do for fun
• How to deal with difficult service scenarios

The event will be held at Moraine Valley Community College Business & Conference Center (building M) from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost for the event is $35 per person.

Registration is open! You can register yourself or individuals on your staff. Lunch is included! Confirm your registration or those of your colleagues by clicking on the “view attendees” from the Expo information page. We will be sending out event details to all registered attendees the week of the event.

We hope to see you there!

Aaron Skog

Executive Director

aaron@swanlibraries.net • 630-326-7022

My pronouns: he/him/his

SWAN Library Services

800 Quail Ridge Drive, Westmont, IL 60559

swanlibraries.net • catalog.swanlibraries.net