2025 CALA Midwest Chapter Annual Conference
Theme: Libraries 2035: Adapting and Innovating for the Next Quarter-Century
Date and Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm CDT, May 9, 2025, online
Facilitator: Angel Tang, Science & Engineering Librarian, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Program Schedule
Welcome and Opening Remarks by CALA Midwest Chapter President
- Feng-Ru Sheu, Instructional Design Librarian, Kent State University
Panel Discussion: Future-Ready: What Services Will Look Like in 2035
Moderator: Xiao Zeng, Open Publishing Librarian, University of Houston
Panelists:
- Patricia Wong, City Librarian, Santa Clara City Library
- Jing Xu, Library Media Specialist, Syracuse City School
- Ziyang Xu, PhD, University of Oklahoma
Presentations
- “Libraries as Partners for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Times of Crisis”
Lian Ruan and Kelda Habing, Illinois Fire Service Institute Library - “Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Web Accessibility in Library Instruction”
Wanheng Li, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Information Sciences - “Publish or Perish: Escape Room Edition”
Emma Bekele and Angel Tang, University of Wisconsin–Madison - “Proactive Retention: How Stay Interviews Can Support Your Library Team”
Vincci Kwong, Indiana University
Pre-recorded Lightning Talks
- “AI Deep Research & Library Scholarly Guidance: A Case Study”
Daniel Xiao, Texas A&M University - “Through the Eyes of a Librarian: An Empathic VR Experience”
Xinhui Hu, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, School of Information Sciences - “No Studio? No Problem! Leveraging AI to Scale Up Library Video Content”
Feng-Ru Sheu, Kent State University
Presentation of Awards
Best Student Proposal Award
- Wanheng Li, “Breaking Barriers: Enhancing Web Accessibility in Library Instruction”
Best Professional Proposal Award
- Feng-Ru Sheu, “No Studio? No Problem! Leveraging AI to Scale Up Library Video Content”
Best Lightning Talk Video
- Feng-Ru Sheu, “No Studio? No Problem! Leveraging AI to Scale Up Library Video Content”