Thursday, March 7 - Brown County Central Library (Green Bay)
Friday, March 8 - Stephenson Public Library (Marinette)
Tuesday, March 12 - Little Chute Civic Center
A Conference for NFLS & OWLS Libraries
Where do OWLSnet librarians go to meet? Hoot-Con!
Welcome to Hoot-Con, the premiere library conference hosted by Outagamie Waupaca Library System. Directors, managers, and frontline staff will enjoy fun-filled opportunities to learn, connect, and explore in breakout sessions ranging from CARL and ILLs, to customer service, to inclusion and accessibility.
Brown County Central Library
Stephenson Public Library (Marinette)
Little Chute Civic Center
Important Dates
January 15, 2024
Registration opens
February 16, 2024
Registration closes
March 7, 8, 12 2024
Hoot-Con
Session Descriptions
Analyzing Your Collection – Tools to Diversify Your Picture Books: Creating a diverse children’s collection is an important role for library staff. Interested in analyzing your collection, but don’t know where to start? In this session, the presenter will discuss how to develop a critical lens with which to review books. This will empower you to build an authentic and inclusive library collection that counters bias and promotes cultural pluralism. Additionally, the presenter will provide trusted resources and tools which can analyze your collection for you, suggest books, and assist you with making informed purchasing decisions. Presented by Kristie Hauer, Wisconsin Valley Library System, and Hannah Good Zima, NFLS
BadgerLink Basics: What’s BadgerLink? How can it help your patrons find great books, research family history, make informed consumer decisions, and learn at any age? Join Angela Schneider from Winnefox Library System for an overview of some of the many online resources and databases available to your library patrons for free through BadgerLink. Then work in groups to complete your BadgerLink Bingo Card for a chance to win a prize! Presented by Angela Schneider, Winnefox Library System
CARL and BiblioCommons and Capira, oh my! Are you confused about the difference between the ILS, InfoSoup, and the app? You aren’t the only one! Join Amanda as she explains the difference between CARL, BiblioCommons, and Capira. Presented by Amanda Lee, OWLS
Cataloging Basics: Join John and Amanda as they walk you through the cataloging workflows, from searching for your item in CARL and OCLC to adding item records and everything in between. They’ll go over searching techniques, loan rules, spine labels, and what to do when you can’t find something in OCLC. Presented by Amanda Lee, OWLS, and John Wisneski, OWLS
Digital Accessibility in Libraries: Technology should be accessible to everyone – including people with disabilities. Not only is ensuring digital accessibility for all the right thing to do but it also helps libraries avoid lawsuits for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (section 508). Accessibility is an important aspect of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and digital accessibility is about making sure digital technology, such as websites, apps, and electronic documents, is usable by people with disabilities. Presented by Lori Baumgart, NFLS
Giving Great Service: When libraries put their patrons first, great customer service is possible on every interaction, from when they enter the library to when they leave. Learn tips on assessing and improving your library’s commitment to great service, and how to deliver it. Presented by Jamie Matczak, Wisconsin Valley Library System
Job Connection: Learn more about how Appleton Public Library offers free virtual or in-person sessions with a library staff member or volunteer for help with job searches & online applications, writing cover letters & resumes, learning new skills using free online resources, and exploring career changes, including jobs that allow people to work from home. Presented by Zephyr Kendzierski, Appleton Public Library
New Employee CARL 101: Are you confused by all the CARL/ILS lingo and codes? Look no further! During this session, we will go over CARL basics that will help you with your daily tasks. We will go over library codes (how did we come up with those, anyway?), location codes and media codes, how loan rules get assigned to items, and more! Great for both new employees and seasoned vets who need a refresher. Presented by Molly Komp, OWLS
Onboarding – Showcasing the Value of Why: Learn how a comprehensive and team-led onboarding plan can help set up a new hire for success, create a culture of openness and deepen their understanding and appreciation of your library. Presented by Melanie Kearn, Fond du Lac Public Library
Reaching More Readers with Libby: Use of Wisconsin’s digital library grew by one million checkouts in 2023! Make sure your readers aren’t left behind – learn how to help your patrons, from the tech-savvy to the tech-phobic, enjoy this amazing resource. We’ll cover basic Libby troubleshooting, how to assist new users, and how your library can enhance your digital collection and use Libby for programs. Presented by Kristin Laufenberg, OWLS
Training Focus Group: Training is a key focus for OWLS in 2024 and we want your help! Have you participated in a training and thought “this is not how I learn.” Or “this could be more beneficial if…” We all have! Now is the time for us to put our brains together and compile beneficial ways that we at OWLS can enhance training so that everyone can feel confident in the software and content they’re accessing daily. Presented by Molly Komp, OWLS
Where Did THAT Come From?! (And Where Is It Going?) – Interlibrary Loans and Delivery Best Practices: Items travel within and without our systems – with and without our permission. We are stewards, and whether it’s an ILL, a book mistakenly returned to a library in the wrong system, or any number of oddities that cross our paths, we want every item to reach its destination quickly and safely. So what’s up with those new pink slips? What’s the difference between “route to” and “for”? I haven’t seen this library before; how do I find its system delivery hub? Why does the OWLS office keep asking for our interdepartmental envelopes? Let’s have a chat! I have a lot of answers prepared, but I bet you have some questions I didn’t see coming! Presented by Danielle Kramer, OWLS
Hoot-Con Guest Speakers
Lori Baumgart
(she/her)
Lori Baumgart joined the library world as the Marketing, Communications and Continuing Education Specialist for the Nicolet Federated Library System in 2018. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lakeland University with majors in Marketing and Communications, and a Technical Diploma in Digital Marketing from Fox Valley Technical College.
Kristie Hauer (she/her)
Kristie Hauer is the Public Library Services Consultant at Wisconsin Valley Library Service. She’s been working in libraries since 1999, the first five in elementary school libraries and the rest in public libraries. Kristie has held a variety of positions including library assistant, children’s department supervisor, branch manager, and director. Additionally, she has taught a course on Rural Libraries for Louisiana State University. Kristie earned her BA in English and Humanistic Studies from UW-Green Bay and MLIS from UW-Milwaukee.
Melanie Kearn (she/her)
Melanie is the Information and Outreach Services Coordinator at the Fond du Lac Public Library and has recently learned to explore onboarding from a new lens.
Zephyr Kendzierski
(they/he/she)
Zephyr Kendzierski helped launch Job Connection at Appleton Public Library (APL) in July 2019 and has been helping patrons with job-search assistance since then. In their current role as the Public Services Assistant Supervisor, they help lead staff and create a welcoming environment for everyone in the library. Prior to working at APL, Zephyr applied skills in technical writing, customer service, training, e-commerce, lean continuous improvement, business management, and leadership across various roles in the computer, health-care, and not-for-profit retail thrift industries.
Molly Komp (she/her)
Molly Komp started working in public libraries in 2014 while working on her LTA (Library Technical Assistant certificate). After receiving her LTA from the College of DuPage, she moved to her MLIS from UW–Madison graduating in 2018. Molly has worked for the Neenah Public Library, the Appleton Public Library and OWLS. For seven years Molly has worked as the Circulation Specialist for the OWLSnet libraries and is currently starting a new role as the Training Librarian.
Danielle Kramer
(she/her)
Libraryland is storied (haha) and vast and, while Danielle hasn’t remotely traveled the length and breadth of it, she has had nearly sixteen years to study and explore her own little corner of it. Danielle has been known to recite the alphabet (and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious) backwards, shift collections with uncanny precision on the first try, and balance a decent stack of books on her head.
Kristin Laufenberg
(she/her)
Kristin Laufenberg has been working in public libraries since 2010. She joined OWLS as the Consulting & Outreach Librarian in 2022.
Amanda Lee
(she/her)
Amanda Lee began working in libraries in 2005 as the Acquisitions Assistant at Lawrence University before moving to public libraries in 2015. She joined OWLS in 2016 as the Catalog Librarian before becoming the OWLSnet Manager in 2018. Her expertise lies behind the scenes in technical services and database/ILS management. In her spare time she enjoys crocheting and cross stitching.
Jamie Matczak (she/her)
Jamie Matczak is the education consultant at Wisconsin Valley Library Service where she focuses on professional development and communications. In addition to 18 years of experience in public library consulting, she has a BA in Advertising from UW-Eau Claire, and an MS in Applied Leadership for Teaching and Learning from UW-Green Bay. Jamie has given over 80 presentations on marketing, social media, customer service and communications.
Angela Schneider
(she/her)
Angela Schneider is the Public Library Development Consultant at Winnefox Library System. She has spent the last 12 years working in Wisconsin public libraries, most of that time in OWLS. She’s done a little bit of everything in that time, always with an emphasis on friendly service, reducing barriers to access, and empowering patrons and staff to succeed. When not in library land, Angela is at a play or musical, being a hermit at home, or dabbling in 100 hobbies she never follows through with.
John Wisneski (he/him)
John Wisneski has filled the Catalog Librarian role for OWLSnet since 2018. Before that, he spent a decade in various roles in academic and corporate libraries.
Hannah Good Zima (she/her)
Hannah Good Zima joined the library world in 2017 after relocating to Green Bay from California. She spent several years at the Brown County Library before joining Nicolet Federated Library System in 2020 as the Outreach Coordinator. Hannah is originally from Arizona and enjoys hiking, biking and gardening.
Hoot-Con Agenda
Agenda is subject to change.
8:30 AM | Registration, Coffee & Snacks
Sign in at the registration desk and help yourself to some coffee and snacks to start the day.
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Breakout Sessions
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM | Breakout Sessions
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Keynote Speech
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch
Catered lunch available
1:00 PM - 1:45 PM | Breakout Sessions
2:00 PM - 2:45 PM | Breakout Sessions
3:00 PM - 3:45 PM | Breakout Sessions
“Hoot-Con was made possible with funding support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.”