Reflections on Accessibility, Teen Services, and Lifelong Learning
With only a few hundred words to reflect on my first PLA experience, it was difficult to decide which sessions and ideas I wanted to highlight. I took something away from every presentation I attended, but perhaps the most compelling idea came from Bryan Stevenson’s keynote address: “Our strength as a democracy is rooted in willingness to learn.”
I firmly believe there are always ways we can improve ourselves and our work, which is exactly why I wanted to attend PLA. Public librarianship is constantly evolving, and no library is perfect. I wanted to learn how other libraries are adapting services and programs to better meet the needs of their communities.
One session that immediately stood out to me was Creating Inclusive Collections for Patrons with Disabilities. I was so inspired by the presentation that I emailed my manager halfway through the session to discuss how we could begin implementing adapted books into our collection right away.
Presenter Courtney Walker shared how she recognized a need within her own community and developed adapted books that provide equitable access to the same stories and materials, rather than offering entirely separate alternatives. Walker emphasized that adapted books do not alter the stories themselves. No words or images are removed, and no pages are omitted. Instead, adaptations improve durability, interactivity, and ease of use for readers with varying abilities.
What struck me most was how relatively simple these adaptations can be while still making an enormous difference in accessibility. Walker also highlighted how adapting books can become a collaborative learning opportunity for community members and library staff alike.
Another standout session was Teens Lead Internship: Building a Sustainable Future for Libraries. I originally attended because it sounded similar to a project I had started at my own library, but I was amazed by the scope of the internship program presenters Sarah Sever and Amber Hargett had developed.
The program was designed to address high poverty and crime rates affecting youth in their rural communities. Teen interns work eight hours per week at the library, complete community service hours outside the library, attend mentor meetings and financial literacy workshops, and develop a capstone project.
What impressed me most was how intentionally the program addressed both immediate and long-term community needs. Teens gain practical life skills and meaningful experiences while libraries benefit from increased programming support and stronger youth engagement. While implementing a program like this would require significant time and resources, the potential impact makes it incredibly worthwhile, and I hope to adapt some of these ideas for the teens I work with.
Throughout the conference, I kept returning to the idea of “the power of proximity.” Proximity alone is not enough. We must be willing to immerse ourselves in the lives and experiences of others in order to truly learn and create meaningful change.
I appreciated how many sessions at PLA reflected that theme in different ways, demonstrating how deeply library workers are already engaged in this work. In many ways, attending PLA itself was an act of willingness to learn shared by thousands of library professionals. Libraries are doing incredible work, and sharing those ideas with one another helps ensure we continue providing communities with the access, support, and opportunities they deserve.
Tags: pla2026scholarship
