SDLA 2026 Pierre

The South Dakota State Library is going to do a live state library update. That's right, not over Zoom, but in-person!!   The update will give attendees a chance to hear about the current doings regarding programs and services of the state library from the people who do the work. Plus, there will be ample opportunity to ask questions and really grill or stump the team. 

Get ready to book-talk to your teens! Discover and explore the South Dakota Teen Choice books from the 2026-2027 list. Presented by the Young Adult Reading Program Committee.

As patron expectations shift towards intuitive, app-driven interfaces, the traditional OPAC is no longer the Final Frontier for discovery of your collection. This session explores how the Online Dakota Information Network (ODIN) is moving beyond traditional catalog searches to create a dynamic, patron-first digital ecosystem. We will fly over Undiscovered Country and dive into our recent implementation of Vega Discover and Mobile, illustrating how these tools modernize the user journey and provide more intuitive search experiences, merges physical with digital, and aims to meet patrons where they are. On oue Journey Home, we will discuss other tools and services we are working on to create a personalized experience for patrons while also providing library staff with better data on there collections and patrons. So set your phasers to 'discover' and join us as e step into the transporter and beam up a new patron experience!

This program will address the changing copyright environment as AI is used in creating everything from student papers to reference answers to images to some really creepy videos (and less creepy videos). What is copyrighted? Who owns that copyright? What can you use for personal use or in class? How do you cite AI created material? There are so many question, I will address as many as I can acknowledging that answers are still changing.

Working in a public library next to public schools brings many opportunities. Having dozens of unattended elementary aged students and teens in the library also poses unique challenges to keeping the public library an inviting space for all guests. Amy and Claire have worked together to implement procedures and programs with proven results to create a library space for everyone. This presentation will focus on building relationships and planning programs. It will also address the importance of staffing levels, strategically positioning staff during the afterschool hours, and the need for staff to present a united front in consistency and expectations. Additionally, the presentation will touch on ways to meet the needs of adult patrons during the busy afterschool time as well. Implementing these successful measures has allowed the library to celebrate being a cornerstone of the active neighborhood for all patrons.  

In 2025-2026, three South Dakota institutions participated in the first year of the Minitex Network for Open & Affordable Practices (MNOP) OER Pathfinder Grant program, a regional microgrant initiative designed to support locally driven open education and affordability efforts. This session brings together librarians from Augustana University, South Dakota State University, and the University of South Dakota to examine the development, implementation, and outcomes of these locally-defined projects, highlighting their impact on institutional capacity for open education and affordability initiatives.  Presenters will offer brief, practical overviews of their projects, including faculty stipends, student engagement initiatives, resource development, marketing campaigns, platform evaluation, and efforts to raise the awareness and profile of OER- highlighting both successes and challenges. In addition to these project snapshots, attendees will gain insight into how the Pathfinder program was launched and how similar opportunities may continue to support institutions across the state.  The session will conclude with an open discussion focused on building a more connected and sustainable open education ecosystem in South Dakota. Participants will be invited to share ideas, identify needs, and explore opportunities for collaboration across institutions.

In 2025, Rapid City Public Library partnered with Pennington County Jail's IGNITE program to create Reconnecting Families Through Reading, an initiative designed to strengthen family bonds despite physical separation. In this session, we will look at the development of this collaboration, lessons learned through the process, and the future of this unique program.

The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) offers a variety of grants to support the work of nonprofits across the state to help them realize their dreams and continue investing in their communities. SDCF Grant Programs include: South Dakota Fund, Nonprofit Savings Account, Community Savings Account, and in partnership with the Bush Foundation, Beyond Idea Grant and Bush Prize: South Dakota. Grant opportunities address program and project needs, sustainability for nonprofits by partnering with organizations and their donors to build endowment funds, partnering with local communities to create and grow endowed funds within their community, community-based problem solving and celebrating organizations that are highly valued within their communities and have a track record of transformational impact through creative solutions.