Attending the American Library Association (ALA) conference had long been on Robyn’s library bucket list, and this year, the dream finally came true. But not only did she get to attend, she also had the incredible opportunity to present—a milestone that surpassed even her wildest aspirations.
Robyn was part of a dynamic panel that brought together a library professional and two architects, focusing on an innovative and crucial topic: “Designing Libraries with Diverse Communities in Mind Using Lenses of Neurodiversity & Process Driven Approaches.” Her presentation, titled “Seeing IS Believing: The Power of Representation. Impact of the Portraits on the Walls aka ‘What Is Up With the Dude Wall?'” delved into the transformative potential of inclusive artwork in library spaces.
The highlight of Robyn’s presentation was the discussion around the “Inclusive Artwork Project,” which challenged the traditional representations in library spaces, questioning whose portraits adorn the walls and why. This project was not just about art; it was about making a statement that libraries must be spaces where everyone feels seen and represented. Robyn emphasized the power of intentionality in expanding the definition of diversity beyond race and gender, urging libraries to meet the needs of all their constituencies through thoughtful, inclusive design.
While the conference offered various presentations and poster sessions, Robyn found some of them less impactful than she had hoped. However, an unexpected delight came from an experience outside the conference halls. The city’s rail system allowed her to see locomotives up close—a surprising and thrilling highlight that added a touch of adventure to her trip.
Robyn’s experience at the ALA conference was a blend of professional growth and personal fulfillment. Her work underscores the importance of representation in our libraries and the need to be intentional in every aspect of design to create spaces that truly reflect the diversity of our communities.
Christy Allen also attended the ALA conference. She is co-chair of the Sherlock Holmes Society The Sub-Librarians Scion of the Baker Street Irregulars. In her role within the Society, Christy works with Beth Gallego from the Los Angeles Public Library to organize ALA sessions related to Sherlock Holmes.
This year, she took the lead in organizing a panel titled “Writing Sherlock Holmes into the 21st Century.” Members of the panel were Laurie R. King (New York Times bestselling author of the Mary Russell series), Nicholas Meyer (New York Times Bestselling author of “The Seven-per-cent Solution”), and Leslie S. Klinger (Sherlock Holmes bibliographer and consultant on the Robert Downey Jr. “Sherlock Holmes” movies). The panel discussed the following topics: Why is Sherlock Holmes still so popular after more than a century? How did the original stories change the course of crime fiction? How has the character of Sherlock Holmes shifted to become more nuanced and inclusive? How do writers keep reinventing the archetypes of the “great detective” and the “good doctor”? How do you write a Holmes that is both true to the original, yet reflects a modern, multicultural society in a way that Arthur Conan Doyle never could have envisioned? The panel had over 100 attendees, and was followed by book sales and book signings by all three panelists.