2026 Hawaii School Library Conference

The 2026 Hawaii School Library Conference, centered on the theme "Think. Create. Share. Grow." invites school library professionals to dive deep into the four domains of the AASL Standards Framework for Learners. This theme is a call to action, emphasizing the pivotal role school librarians play in empowering students to become ethical, critical, and collaborative citizens in the digital age.

What to Expect

Through engaging keynotes, hands-on workshops, and collaborative sessions, we will explore practical strategies to:

🧠 Think (Inquire & Analyze): Equip students with the critical thinking and research skills necessary to navigate complex information landscapes, evaluate sources, and become proficient users and creators of knowledge.
💡 Create (Design & Construct): Foster innovation and digital literacy by integrating tools and practices that encourage learners to design solutions, construct new understandings, and express their ideas creatively.
🤝 Share (Collaborate & Connect): Highlight the importance of the library as a hub for collaboration, ethical digital citizenship, and connection, promoting respectful dialogue and the responsible sharing of ideas and resources within the school and global community.
🌱 Grow (Explore & Engage): Focus on the personal and professional development of both students and librarians, championing a mindset of continuous learning, adaptation, and reflective practice that fuels lifelong literacy and intellectual growth.

Join us in celebrating the vital work of Hawaii’s school librarians as we collectively cultivate the future-ready learner by embedding these essential domains into every facet of the school library program.

7:30am HST

Continental Breakfast

Thursday August 6, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Join us in the foyer for coffee, juice and breakfast treats.

Thursday August 6, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

8:30am HST

Welcome

Thursday August 6, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Partners

Library Media Services

Hawaii State Department of Education

Thursday August 6, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

9:00am HST

Keynote: My Life, My Story

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Slide Presentation

Speakers

Mychal Threets

Resident Librarian & Reading Rainbow Host, PBS and PBS Kids

Mychal Threets is a librarian, mental health advocate, and, by his own admission, the library’s number-one fan. A lifelong lover of libraries, Mychal was homeschooled and raised among the stacks, receiving his first library card at the age of five.

He began his career as a library shelver at the same library he grew up in, eventually working his way up to become its Supervising Librarian. Mychal is open and honest about his mental health, sharing his experiences in hopes of helping others on their own journeys. He’s known... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

10:10am HST

Un-Predictable: Reclaiming the Human in the Machine

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:10am - 11:10am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

As generative AI blurs the lines between fact and fabrication, the role of the school librarian as an information expert has never been more vital. This session explores a scaffolded approach to AI literacy for middle and high schoolers, centering on the "Human in the Machine." We will present a dual-grade curriculum (7th and 9th) that integrates media literacy essentials—source evaluation, bias detection, and ethical creation—with the emerging challenges of AI. Discover how to empower students to reclaim their agency in an automated world. Participants will receive access to all featured curriculum modules and adaptation guides.

Speakers

Jennifer Agena

Upper School Librarian, 'Iolani School

Jennifer Agena has served as an Upper School Librarian at 'Iolani School for the past six years, following her time as a librarian at McKinley High School. A graduate of the University of Hawai'i at Manoa with an MLIS, Jennifer has been a part of the team that helped create 'Iolani's... Read More →

Dominique Tosatto

Upper School Librarian, 'Iolani School

Dominique Tosatto is an Upper School Librarian at 'Iolani School and holds a Master of Information Studies from McGill University. Dominique and Jennifer are members of the curriculum team currently designing the school's 7th and 9th grade Media Literacy and AI courses.

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:10am - 11:10am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

Breakout

11:40am HST

Lunch & Networking

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

12:50pm HST

Level Up ʻAmaʻama Escape: Where Culture, STEM, and Game Design Power Up Student Inquiry

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:50pm - 1:50pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Dive into a dynamic learning journey where culture, inquiry, STEM, and game design collide. This session highlights how 6th graders at Kamehameha Schools investigated the decline of the ʻAmaʻama (Hawaiian striped mullet) through mo‘olelo, kilo observations, field studies, interviews, historical documents, and scientific data. Their research became the backbone of a student‑designed hybrid board/digital game that blends ʻike kūpuna with cutting‑edge tools—including AI for custom chatbots, coding platforms for digital mini-games, 3D modeling for custom game components, and media production for storytelling.

You’ll explore practical strategies for guiding students through authentic, place‑based inquiry and helping them synthesize diverse primary sources into meaningful, community‑centered products. The project demonstrates how school librarians can champion interdisciplinary learning that places culture at the forefront while embracing emerging technologies.

And yes—you’ll get dedicated time to play the game. Experience firsthand how research, STEM, and cutting edge technology can level up student engagement, cultural connections and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Speakers

Patricia Louis

School Library Media Specialist, Kamehameha Elementary School - Kapālama

Veteran educator and librarian with 30+ years of experience as a practicing school librarian and over a decade working with Native Hawaiian communities. She has dedicated her career to integrating technology into educational practices. Currently focused on integrating game based learning... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:50pm - 1:50pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

Breakout

2:00pm HST

What if reading level didn't stand between a child and their curiosity?

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Explore ways to turn student curiosity into literacy and critical thinking.
Discover accessible, standards-aligned digital resources that let curiosity lead and deepen learning across the curriculum.
See how PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next articles correlate to 90+% of the C3 Framework, NGSS and the Hawaii Social Studies and Science Standards.
Using PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next’s read aloud voice audio, even your struggling readers will grasp the content. Teach even your youngest students how to use PebbleGo once and they can use it on their own. We have made it even easier to support your teachers and students.
See examples on how to integrate PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next into your curriculum and classroom.

FYI- It would be great if I could have a session on both days since there are a number of schools new to PebbleGo. (This info is for the Conference staff only.)

Speakers

Teresa Sakurada - StarrEd LLC

Hawaii Capstone Sales Rep, CAPSTONE

After 20 years as a CPA, in 2004, I started selling manga (graphic novels) to libraries. Our 5th grade daughter got me started as she was so passionate about reading manga; she kept wanting to read more. I felt manga would be a great way to hook students into reading. Through selling... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

Breakout

3:10pm HST

Closing

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 3:30pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:10pm - 3:30pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

7:30am HST

Continental Breakfast

Friday August 7, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Friday August 7, 2026 7:30am - 8:30am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

8:30am HST

Welcome

Friday August 7, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Partners

Library Media Services

Hawaii State Department of Education

Friday August 7, 2026 8:30am - 9:00am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

9:00am HST

Keynote: Libraries Are the Heart of Our Schools

Friday August 7, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Slide Presentation

When a library becomes more than a place to check out books, it becomes the heart of a school.

In this keynote, Kristina A. Holzweiss shares how school libraries can transform into dynamic hubs of connection, creativity, and impact. Grounded in real stories from the field, this session explores how libraries support not just literacy, but belonging, student voice, and meaningful learning experiences that extend far beyond the walls of the school.

You’ll discover how to position your library at the center of your school’s mission by aligning with instructional goals, building authentic partnerships, and creating experiences that matter to students and the wider community. From innovative programming and makerspaces to service learning and advocacy, this keynote offers a clear path to elevating the role of the library in ways that are visible, valued, and sustainable.

Whether you’re a librarian, educator, or school leader, you’ll leave with practical strategies and a renewed sense of purpose—ready to lead with heart, tell your story, and ensure your library is not just a space, but a force for change.

Speakers

Kristina A. Holzweiss

School Library Media Specialist, Syosset Schools

Kristina A. Holzweiss (MLIS, MA) is a school library media specialist with additional certification in educational technology, computer science, and secondary English (7-12). She has taught all grades from k through 12, as well as on the college level. Kristina shares ideas and resources... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

10:10am HST

From Topic Pages to Classroom Practice: Using HIDOE Gale Resources in Middle and High School

Friday August 7, 2026 10:10am - 11:10am HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Discover powerful ways to elevate middle and high school instruction using Gale resources from the HIDOE. This session focuses on using Topic Pages from the In Context resources to supplement classroom units of study and library learning across content areas. Explore how curated Topic Pages provide trusted content, multimedia, and primary sources on topics ranging from Financial Literacy and Manifest Destiny to Endangered Species, American Revolution, Climate Change, and Plate Tectonics. In addition, this training highlights the wide variety of premade, ready-to-use student activities and lesson plans available on the Gale Support Site, designed to seamlessly connect the library to the classroom. Explore engaging student activities such as Escape Rooms, Searching Skills activities, Novel Studies, DBQs, Choice Boards, Argumentative and Persuasive Writing tasks, CER activities, and more. Walk away with practical strategies and classroom-ready resources that support inquiry, critical thinking, and active learning in middle and high school classrooms. A guest librarian will join us to share firsthand experiences and instructional strategies for integrating Gale resources into classroom teaching and library instruction. **Will send over contact information as a follow-up after we finalize the details.

Speakers

Caroline Lee

Librarian, Honouliuli Middle School

Middle school librarian

Carolyn Kirio

Librarian, W. R. Farrington High

Carolyn H. Kirio is a Librarian at Farrington High School where she collaborates and instructs with teachers in project-based learning work. She has presented at state and national conferences and has coauthored Collaborating for Project-based Learning in Grades 9-12 (Linworth Publishing, 2008). In 2006 the American Association of School Librarians selected Kapolei High's library as one of the National School Library Media Programs of the Year (SLMPY), in 2015 awarded Kirio with the Information Technology Pathfinder Award, and in 2016 President Ob... Read More →

Tammi Burke

Senior Training Consultant, Gale in partnership with the HIDOE

Tammi Burke is a Senior Training Consultant at Gale with over a decade of experience helping librarians and educators maximize their Gale resources. A former educator with degrees in Education and Advertising/PR, Tammi combines instructional expertise with a passion for practical... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 10:10am - 11:10am HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

Breakout

11:40am HST

Lunch & Collaboration

Friday August 7, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Friday August 7, 2026 11:40am - 12:40pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General

12:10pm HST

Lunch Keynote: The Power of Us: How Collaboration Becomes Change

Friday August 7, 2026 12:10pm - 12:40pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

In today’s complex learning landscape, school librarians are uniquely positioned to turn connection into transformation. This 30-minute lunch keynote explores how intentional collaboration—grounded in the AASL National School Library Standards—moves beyond partnership into meaningful, systemic change. Through a focus on the Shared Foundations and the integrated roles of the school librarian, participants will examine how collaborative practices amplify learner voice, strengthen instructional design, and build inclusive, future-ready school communities. Attendees will leave with a renewed vision for leveraging “the power of us” to lead from the library, influence across disciplines, and create lasting impact for every learner.

Speakers

Amanda Kordeliski

President, American Association of School Librarians

Amanda Kordeliski is the current president for the American Association of School Librarians and works as the Director of Libraries and Instructional Technology for Norman Public Schools. She has held a variety of leadership positions within the Oklahoma Library Association and Oklahoma... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 12:10pm - 12:40pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

12:50pm HST

Small Projects, Big Impact: Community Service in Your Library

Friday August 7, 2026 12:50pm - 1:50pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Slide Presentation

Community service doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.

In this session, you’ll discover how simple, student-centered service projects can make a real difference—both in your community and in your school culture. Learn how to design and manage projects that connect to curriculum, build empathy, and give students a true sense of purpose, without adding more to your already full plate. From quick, low-prep ideas to larger initiatives, you’ll walk away with ready-to-use projects, strategies for building partnerships, and ways to make service a natural, powerful part of your library program.

Speakers

Kristina A. Holzweiss

School Library Media Specialist, Syosset Schools

Kristina A. Holzweiss (MLIS, MA) is a school library media specialist with additional certification in educational technology, computer science, and secondary English (7-12). She has taught all grades from k through 12, as well as on the college level. Kristina shares ideas and resources... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 12:50pm - 1:50pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

Breakout

2:00pm HST

AI in the Library | Using Notebook LM

Friday August 7, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

In an era of overwhelming information, how can school librarians harness AI without sacrificing academic integrity? This hands-on workshop introduces NotebookLM, a powerful "source-grounded" AI that only knows what you tell it.
Designed for K–12 library professionals, this session moves beyond AI theory into immediate, practical applications for the school library setting.
We will explore how to use AI to differentiate complex materials for diverse learners and streamline administrative tasks by transforming dense documents into searchable databases or engaging audio summaries. Whether you are supporting early literacy or advanced secondary research, you’ll leave with the tools to model responsible, evidence-based AI use across your entire school community.

Speakers

RIeko Goo

school librarian, Mililani High School

Rieko Goo has been a Hawaii educator since 1993; including 13 years as an ELA teacher and 19 years as a certificated school librarian. Rieko is deeply committed to fostering literacy and driving instructional innovation across her school community.

Vic Millar

school librarian, Mililani High School

Vic Millar has been a librarian at Mililani High School since 2024. His passions include reading science fiction at the beach and listening to Stephen King audiobooks on Libby. He has no awards or honors to speak of, but he is a loyal Costco member and recently achieved Premium rewards... Read More →

Friday August 7, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

Breakout

3:10pm HST

Closing, Door Prizes & Evaluation

Friday August 7, 2026 3:10pm - 3:25pm HST

Piinaio Ballroom 1

Don't miss out on final reflections and be eligible for door prizes. Must be present to win!

Friday August 7, 2026 3:10pm - 3:25pm HST
Piinaio Ballroom 1

General