Leatherstocking Conference 2023

How do students in the Amazon rainforest get to school? What kinds of popsicles do people eat in Colombia? Can you really ski in Dubai even though it’s in the desert? In this presentation, author Alicia Klepeis will share how to make nonfiction fun for all learners, providing hands-on activities/primary sources connecting to her 200 books. She will also share tips on showing young people the connections that bind us together as global citizens. Alicia is the author of more than 190 kids’ books, both nonfiction and fiction. Her titles include Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Astronauts; Penguins & Polar Bears: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic; and Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. Alicia lives with her family in upstate New York.

Session B Title:

Promoting the Ethical Use of Generative AI (Secondary)

Room:

Adirondack Room

Presenter:

Cathi Brewer, MOBOCES Media Librarian

In this session, you will discover how you can guide students to use AI tools responsibly and ethically, as well as assist teachers in preserving the integrity of student work. We will delve into the "AI Help is a Start, Finish with HEART" framework and share other strategies to promote fairness and transparency when using AI tools to complete projects.

Session C Title:

Canva for School Librarians (K-12)

Room:

Conference Center

Presenters:

Jackie Buzzard, Ashley Sperber & Liz Wise, VVS Elementary Librarians

Canva for School Librarians is a fantastic session that equips librarians with the skills and knowledge to create stunning graphic designs using Canva. With Canva, librarians can easily create posters, flyers, infographics, and other visual materials that are both informative and visually appealing. Whether you're promoting a new reading program, creating a bulletin board display, or designing a handout for a library event, Canva for School Librarians will give you the inspiration you need to create visually stunning materials that will make an impact. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take your library's design game to the next level!

Session II Descriptions

Elementary Grade Level Share

Session A Title:

Katie Parker, Clinton Elementary Librarian & Erica Thomas Camden Elementary Librarian

Grand Ballroom

Room:

Facilitators:

Gather with other librarians at our conference session options designed to encourage engaging conversations and create new connections. These gatherings are meant to serve as a platform to exchange insights and stories, sparking inspiration among colleagues. Join your grade-level session to come together to ignite fresh ideas that can be implemented in your own libraries.

Middle School Grade Level Share

Session B Title:

Amy Austin , VVS MS Librarian & Julie Horwat, Holland Patent MS Librarian

Facilitators:

Adirondack Room

Room:

Session C Title:

High School Grade Level Share

Room:

Conference Center

Facilitators:

Michelle Babbie, Sauquoit Valley HS Librarian &

Michelle Hitchcock, Cooperstown HS Librarian

Session III Descriptions

From Chaos to Order: Navigating the Digital Maze.

Session A Title:

Room:

Grand Ballroom

Presenter:

Heather Turner, Teacher Librarian for O²CM School Library System. K-12.

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the digital chaos in your professional life? By the end of this session, you'll not only have a newfound confidence in managing your digital life but also be better equipped to help your students more effectively. Say goodbye to hours wasted searching for files or emails, and hello to more time for the activities that truly bring you joy! Join us for this fast-paced, information-packed session as we take the crucial first step toward a more organized and productive educational journey. To make the most of our time together, don't forget to bring your computer. You'll be able to dive right into your organizational journey during the session, ensuring immediate progress towards digital orderliness.

Session B Title:

Library Playground: Affordable Tech Tools for Exploration

Room:

Adirondack Room

Presenters:

Cathi Brewer, MOBOCES Media Librarian & Lisa Davis, OHMBOCES Instructor

Provide technology and STEAM related tools that can be leveraged in the library media center. Tools can be used in alignment with literary books or as a challenge station within the library. Presenters will provide an overview of the resources with examples of how to incorporate them into the library. Participants will be given some time to explore the tools themselves.

Session C Title:

Mid Grade Novels to Share: New, Old, and Dusti Bowling

Conference Center

Room:

Mary Laverty, Canastota HS Librarian

Presenter:

There’s something about middle grade novels - maybe it’s their balance of innocence and profound insights! - that makes them especially wonder-ful. Join a local school librarian and book talker in a tour of some oldies, newbies, and all around goodies (including Dusti Bowling titles.) Participants are invited to bring a favorite middle grade title to share with their colleagues (and may even submit a book selfie in advance to mlaverty@canastotacsd.org.) Three pre-publication titles (December 2023) will also be shared!

Keynote Speaker: Nikki Grimes

New York Times bestselling author Nikki Grimes is the recipient of the 2022 Virginia Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2020 ALAN Award for outstanding contributions to young adult literature, the 2017 Children's Literature Legacy Award, the 2016 Virginia Hamilton Literary Award, and the 2006 NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. Her distinguished works include the much-honored books Garvey's Choice, ALA Notable book Southwest Sunrise, Coretta Scott King Award winner Bronx Masquerade, and five Coretta Scott King Author Honor books, Printz and Siebert Honor winner Ordinary Hazards, Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor One Last Word, its companion Legacy:Women Poets of the Harlem Renaissance, and NYT Bestseller Kamala Harris:Rooted in Justice. Creator of the popular Meet Danitra Brown, Make Way for Dyamonde Daniel, Bedtime for Sweet Creatures, and Off to See the Sea, Ms. Grimes lives in Corona, California.

Featured Speaker: Alicia Klepeis

Around the World in 200 Books: An Author's Perspective

From color-changing animals to global candy preferences, Alicia loves to research and write about fun and out-of-the-ordinary topics that bring the world to young readers. She began her career at the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. and was a middle school World Geography teacher for years. Today she is the author of more than 190 kids’ books, both nonfiction and fiction. Her titles include Gutsy Girls Go for Science: Astronauts; Penguins & Polar Bears: A Pretty Cool Introduction to the Arctic and Antarctic; and Secrets of the Forest: 15 Bedtime Stories Inspired By Nature. Alicia lives with her family in upstate New York.

Featured Share Sessions III

***New this year!*** Gather with librarian colleagues from the greater region for a dose of professional inspiration and insight. These grade-band sharing sessions will serve as platforms for sharing professional ideas and conversations. Participants will come away with fresh approaches to library instruction and programming that can be implemented in their own libraries.

Elementary Grade Level Share

Facilitated By: Katie Parker, Clinton Elementary Librarian & Erica Thomas Camden Elementary Librarian

Middle School Grade Level Share

facilitated By: Amy Austin, VVS MS Librarian & Julie Horwat, Holland Patent MS Librarian

High School Grade Level Share

facilitated By: Michelle Babbie, Saquoit Valley HS Librarian & Michelle Hitchcock, Cooperstown HS Librarian

Delta Hotels by Marriott Utica

200 Genesee St, Utica, NY 13502

Get Directions

For hotel rooms at a special rate, Call +1315-797-8010.

Registration Information

All attendees must register on MLP before October 19, 2023.

The registration fee of $75 is now CoSerable. It includes access to all sessions, continental breakfast, and lunch. If your district would like to CoSer the cost of the conference, please fill out the highlighted portions of the quote below. Have your business official or superintendent sign the quote and then we can move forward with an adjustment to service. Fill out the highlighted sections of this quote. Send this completed and signed quote to the address below. You can also pay via a check made out to OHM BOCES.

Presented by:

Please send all registration payment information to:

OHM BOCES c/o School Library System

502 Court St. 3rd Floor

Utica, NY 13502

Vendor inquires

Please contact Sue Leblanc at sleblanc@moboces.org.

Printable Flyer

PDF Version

Session Handouts

Link to Shared Folder