Past Conferences

2023

On October 21, 2023, CML again partnered with the Maryland State Library Agency to present the 2023 Annual Conference for Friends, Trustees and Library Supporters at the Bowie Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System.

The program included:

• CML President, Susan Sherman with opening remarks.

• Maryland State Librarian, Irene Padilla with an update on Maryland State Library Agency  activities.

• Ellen Oh,  children's author and recipient of the Maryland Author Award. Ms. Oh gave a presentation entitled, "The importance of Diversity in Children's Book Characters and the Importance of Free Access to Information by Today's Youth." 

• "Preparing for Library Book Challenges" - a panel discussion featuring:
• • Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, CEO of the Baltimore County Public Library and President of the Public Library Association
  • Tatanisha Love, Library Media Specialist and Past President of the Maryland Association of School Librarians
  • Morgan Miller, Executive Director of the Cecil County Public Library and Chair of the Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators Inter-Governmental Task Force. 

• The Citizens for Maryland Libraries annual business meeting.

2022

On October 15, 2022, CML was pleased to partner with the Maryland State Library to present the 2022 Annual Conference for Friends, Trustees and Library Supporters at the Michael E. Busch Annapolis Library in Anne Arundel County.

The program included:

• CML President, Phyllis Kilby with opening remarks.

• Maryland State Librarian, Irene Padilla with an update on MSL activities.

• Martin Garnar, PhD.,  Director of the Amherst College Library and editor of the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual who gave a presentation entitled, "Intellectual Freedom: Fighting the Good Fight."
  
  
• Veronda Pitchford, Assistant Director of Califa, a nonprofit consortium of 230 California Libraries. Ms. Pitchford's topic, Library Board Effectiveness, highlighted the characteristics of a strong Board and how to develop them. 

• The CML Annual Business Meeting.

NOTE: The presentations by Dr. Garnar and Ms. Pitchford were recorded and are available to CML members through October 31, 2023 on a passworded server.  Links to the presentations have been emailed to all current CML members.  For members who may not have received the message, please send a request for the information to CML@citizensformarylandlibraries.org.

2021

CML was pleased to partner with the Maryland State Library to present the 2021 Annual Conference for Friends, Trustees, and Library Supporters via Zoom on Saturday, October 16, 2021. Watch the recording.

The program included:

• CML President, Jay Bansbach with opening remarks.

• Maryland State Librarian, Irene Padilla with an update on MSL activities.

• Keynote Speaker, Rebecca Cokley is a program officer in the President’s Office of the Ford Foundation. She is developing a U.S. disability rights program strategy, the first of its kind at the Ford Foundation, and gave her talk on “Building a world where everyone has the power to change their lives.” Panelists included Tina Campanella, CEO, Quality Trust and John Owen, Director, Maryland Library for the Blind and Print Disabled.

• The CML Annual Business Meeting and Presentation of Awards.

2020

CML was pleased to partner with the Maryland State Library to present the 2020 Annual Conference for Friends, Trustees, and Library Supporters via Zoom on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Watch the recording.

The program included:

• CML President, Pat Hofmann with opening remarks.

• Maryland State Librarian, Irene Padilla with an update on MSL activities.

• Keynote Speaker, Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress was interviewed by CML Executive Director, Lynn Wheeler on her ground-breaking work at the Library of Congress and shared words of wisdom and inspiration, as libraries forge a new service path through the challenging landscape of social distancing.

• The CML Annual Business Meeting, including a review of the new Strategic Plan and announcement of annual Awards.

• Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., President of the American Library Association, was interviewed by Joseph Thompson on “The Power of the Library Advocate.”  Jefferson is the Section Head of the Research and Library Services Section in the Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division at Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress.