Keynote Speakers

Thursday, October 22:

Thea Atwood, MSLIS 
Slow librarianship, making time for yourself, and the meaninglessness of efficiency 

Photo of Thea Atwood

When you think of time management, what comes to mind? Do you think of efficiency, productivity, the hustle culture? Do you think of a to-do list that never seems to end? Or maybe you think of the life hacks, those upbeat posts on various platforms online that purported to magically fix your life, as though you were a machine that needs optimizing.

There’s also the societal pressure in the United States to be busy (or at least, look busy) – that that every moment should be scheduled in case we miss out on something. Couple this with the ambiguous and infinite work of librarianship and academia, vocational awe (or library work as a calling), misunderstanding of librarianship as a profession, and pressures to do more with less, and it can feel impossible to ‘get it all done.’

In this talk, I’ll cover some of the adages, fallacies, and biases around time and time management, how these relate to “slow librarianship,” or the practice of emphasizing meaningful connection and rejecting efficiency culture, as well as a few structures that might help you think differently about how you use your time. Paying attention to how you make use of the time available to you can help you focus on what is critical for your success – your community, your growth, and your joy.

About Thea: Thea (pronounced, “Tay-ah”) Atwood is the Public Health Librarian and Head of Evidence Synthesis Services at Indiana University, Bloomington. Atwood earned her master’s of science in library and information science from Syracuse University in 2012. She is currently enrolled in the 2026 – 2027 cohort of the MLA’s Research Training Institute, where she is focusing on perceptions of managing time and narratives around how we make time for those projects that are most important to ourselves and our success. Atwood has co-authored several papers and book chapters, recently pivoting to explore intentionality and boundary setting in the work of libraries and librarians. When she’s not supporting evidence synthesis projects, researchers and students in IUB’s School of Public Health, or researching time, she loves to roller skate and make art with her kids.

Friday, October 23: 

Nicollette Davis, MLIS & Mahasin Ameen, MLS
The High Cost of Vocational Awe: Black Librarians Reflect

Photo of Nicollette Davis Photo of 2 women. Mahasin Ameen is on the right.

Through the lens of intersectional feminism - the work of bell hooks, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and experiences of Black Academics such as Melissa Harris Perry, Claudine Gay, the late Latanya Jenkins (Temple University), and the late Jason Arday - Davis and Ameen will discuss mental health, imposter syndrome, the importance of mentorship, advocacy, and how we can work to dismantle harmful power structures in the LIS field. What does care and curiosity look like during these times and how can we support each other and our work, within the library and in the community?

About Nicollette: Nicollette Davis is an Assistant Librarian for Kinesiology, Social Work, and Health Sciences at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. She was named an Emerging Leader by the American Library Association in 2023 for her leadership in programming and advocating for the importance of BIPOC spaces for LIS workers. In 2024, she was named a Mover and Shaker by Library Journal for her contributions to the library field at large. She has presented locally and nationally on topics related to critical issues in librarianship. Outside of the library, she’s an adjunct instructor for LSU’s School of Information Studies. She currently serves as an executive board member for the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, a Community Administrator for We Here, and vice-president/president elect of Louisiana’s ACRL chapter. 

About Mahasin: Mahasin Ameen (She/Her/Hers) is an Associate Librarian at Indiana University Indianapolis. She received her MLS from Indiana University Indianapolis in 2016. In her current role she serves as library liaison to the IU Indianapolis Luddy School of Informatics, Computing & Engineering and the IU Indianapolis School of Social Work. She is a recipient of the 2026 "I love my librarian" award, presented by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, the New York Public Library, and the American Library Association. In her free time, she enjoys working in her garden, playing board games, and watching cringy television. 

MLA and NNLM representatives

Thursday, October 22:

MLA President
Tara Douglas-Williams, MSLS, AHIP
MLA Update

Photo of Tara Douglas-Williams

Tara has served as the Associate Director of the Emory University Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library in Atlanta, GA since July 2021. In this role, she oversees clinical and access services, as well as assessment, programming, marketing, and communications. With a rich background in information science, librarianship, and medical research, Tara is recognized as an innovative knowledge strategist and inspirational leader. She is known for her ability to drive change, make conscientious decisions, and serve as a coach and mentor to others.

Tara's career spans various leadership positions in academic, hospital, and health sciences libraries. Notably, she previously held roles as Library Manager for Information Services at Morehouse School of Medicine and Library Manager at Atlanta Medical Center. Tara holds a master’s degree in library science from Clark Atlanta University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Spelman College. She is also a graduate of prestigious leadership programs, including Emory’s Emerging Leaders program, the Essential Management Skills for Emerging Leaders program at Harvard University, and the Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries/National Library of Medicine Leadership Fellowship Program.

Passionate about addressing health disparities and promoting health equity, Tara is dedicated to empowering communities through health literacy and information outreach programs. She is deeply engaged in professional associations, currently serving as President of the Medical Library Association.

Tara’s commitment to advancing the field is also evident through her previous service on the National Library of Medicine’s Biomedical Informatics, Library, and Data Science (BILDS) Review Committee. At Emory, she co-chaired the Strategic Planning Task Force for Emory Libraries and currently serves as an Advisor/Mentor of the African American Medical Librarians Alliance (AAMLA). Tara is recognized as a distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP). She is a member of Emory Healthcare Women of Impact, Emory Black Employee Network(EBEN) and the Emory Latinx Employee Resource Network(ELERN).


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