Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Libraries have long been leaders in technology, helping their communities navigate an ever-changing information landscape. Today, the pace of innovation can make it challenging to stay informed and confident about the latest tools and trends. Which AI tools can enhance library workflows or better serve patrons? What precautions should library staff and patrons take when sharing information online? Do the digital safety strategies we learned just a few years ago still hold up in today's environment? Together, we'll examine strategies for leading thoughtful conversations about AI, identifying evolving risks in cybersecurity, and focus on the skills needed to make informed decisions in a rapidly changing digital world.
The day will begin with a keynote speaker in the morning, followed by a breakout session where attendees can choose from two featured speakers. After lunch, we’ll continue with a second breakout session offering two afternoon speaker options. We’ll then hear a brief presentation from the Cuyahoga County Office of Consumer Affairs Scam Squad, followed by roundtable discussions focused on current and emerging hot topics in technology. We’ll close out the day with an engaging panel discussion featuring local IT experts, offering practical insights, perspectives, and expertise on the issues shaping today’s technology landscape.
Connect with peers, discuss real-world challenges, and dive deep into today's most important technology issues affecting libraries. You'll leave with practical insights, greater confidence, and actionable strategies to help lead your library and community through the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies.
Keynote
Artificial Intelligence: Breaking through the hype, understanding the ethics, and educating our communities
AI is seemingly everywhere these days. With increasing pushes towards adoption of AI across technological platforms, it's imperative that library workers gain a deeper understanding of these technologies, as well as their attendant ethical issues and problems. Join Alison Macrina of Library Freedom Project to examine AI from an ethics-based framework. Macrina will help us gain a better understanding of just what artificial intelligence actually is, an overview of the ethical issues with widespread AI adoption, and an analysis of some major consumer-facing tools and AI integrations. Macrina will share results of LFP's "AI in libraries" survey, which examined the increasing uses of AI in libraries and the impacts on our patron communities - things like misinformation, hallucinations, and environmental issues caused by data center construction. She'll close by sharing some of the practical resources LFP has built to resist hype-driven AI adoption, and create ethical approaches to AI engagement and skepticism.
Presenter: Alison Macrina, Executive Director, Library Freedom Project
Alison is an activist librarian and the director of Library Freedom Project. Alison started LFP in 2015 to organize and build community with other librarians who are dedicated to library values of privacy, intellectual freedom, social responsibility, and the public good.
Breakout Session I
Practical Privacy and Security Education
Libraries can play a vital role in supporting patron privacy but teaching privacy in an approachable way can be difficult. As library workers, we can incorporate privacy lessons into our programming in a way that recognizes both the comfort levels and tech literacy levels of our learners. Alison Macrina from Library Freedom Project will share practical ways to teach our communities about online privacy, the risks involved with sharing personal data, and more. Attendees will learn good practices and techniques for teaching privacy, and leave resources and adaptable lessons to take back to their institutions.
Presenter: Alison Macrina, Executive Director, Library Freedom Project
Understanding Social Engineering in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity attacks succeed by exploiting human instincts, not intelligence. Strong systems and well-trained staff can still fall victim to social engineering. This engaging, practical session explores how social engineering exploits trust, urgency, and publicly available information to deceive even careful users. Through real-world examples, including phishing scams, wire fraud, website spoofing, and a live voice-cloning demonstration, participants will see how quickly these threats are evolving. The session connects cybersecurity directly to library operations, emphasizing that an attack can threaten public trust, services, and funding—not just IT systems. Designed for library IT staff and technology trainers, attendees will gain practical strategies for recognizing threats and developing the confidence to trust their “something doesn’t feel right” instinct.
Presenter: Dave Hatter, Cyber Security Consultant, Speaker, Author, Educator
An accomplished, enthusiastic, award-winning technology leader with over 30 years of software development, cybersecurity, and project management experience. Dave is a committed lifelong learner earning many leading certifications including CISSP, CISA, CISM, CCSP, CSSLP, Security+, Network+, MS Azure Fundamentals, PMP, PMI-ACP, PMI-PBA, PSM 1, PSD 1, and ITIL Foundation V3. He earned a BS in Information Systems from NKU and has written or contributed to 12 technology books, written more than 100 technology related articles and has been quoted in publications including The Wall Street Journal, Money, MSNBC, Salon, Reader’s Digest, MSN, Daily Mail, Business Insider, The Street, Yahoo!Money, The Ladders, Dice.com, InfoWorld, ComputerWorld, CIO, CSO, CIO Update, Search CIO, Recorded Future, Digital Trends, Tech Beacon, CyberNews, Lifewire and GearBrain.
Breakout Session II
Building Ransomware Resiliency: A Technical Roadmap for IT Leaders and Practioners
Join Steph Saunders a Senior Security Consultant from TrustedSec, as she delivers a practical, engineering and management-focused look at how modern IT teams can strengthen their environments against today’s most disruptive cyber threat. This session breaks down the evolving ransomware landscape and provides a clear, actionable roadmap for hardening infrastructure, protecting critical data, and ensuring rapid recovery when incidents occur.
Attendees will participate in exploring the technical foundations of ransomware resilience—from securing identity and endpoints to architecting systems that withstand targeted attacks. The session highlights real-world failure points, common misconfigurations, and the operational gaps adversaries exploit, translating them into concrete steps IT teams can implement immediately.
Whether you manage enterprise systems, support public-sector environments, or maintain community-facing services, this roadmap equips you with the strategies needed to reduce risk, maintain continuity, and build a resilient IT environment capable of withstanding modern ransomware threats.
Presenter: Steph Saunders, Senior Technology Consultant
Steph Saunders has over 14 years of experience in the Information Security field, working mainly in retail, critical manufacturing, and other IT organizations. Steph actively presents at various Pittsburgh Information Security events, such as InfraGard, ISC2, ISACA, TRISS, BSides Pittsburgh, etc. Steph is an active mentor in cybersecurity, a frequent cybersecurity panelist and panel moderator, board member for various cyber security groups, and an overall connection-maker for the Information Security community. Steph has hosted various webinars and given talks on topics ranging from ransomware and Incident Response to GRC updates and best practices.
Steph is passionate about Information Security as a whole. She particularly enjoys promoting best practices for education and awareness training, especially from a Defense in Depth (DiD) perspective. She is an expert in physical security, Incident Response, governance risk, and compliance, and is always improving her forensics and assessment skills through learning about each security domain. She has developed and hosted tabletop exercises while creating relationships in the security field, IT, and other parts of organizations
AI Literacy and Digital Literacy: What's the Difference and Why Does It Matter?
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everyday tools and services, libraries are being called upon to help customers navigate a rapidly changing information landscape. But where does AI literacy fit within the broader framework of digital literacy?
This session explores the key distinctions and intersections between digital literacy and AI literacy, examining the skills, knowledge, and critical thinking required for each. Participants will learn how traditional digital literacy competencies provide an essential foundation while AI literacy introduces new challenges related to understanding AI systems, evaluating AI-generated content, recognizing bias, and using AI responsibly.
Designed for library technology staff and trainers, this session will provide practical examples, program ideas, and strategies for integrating AI literacy into existing digital literacy initiatives. Attendees will leave with a clearer sense of how libraries can support learners in an increasingly AI-powered world.
Learning Outcomes:
-
Differentiate between digital literacy and AI literacy competencies.
-
Identify emerging AI literacy needs among library customers.
-
Explore strategies for incorporating AI literacy into library training and outreach programs.
-
Develop ideas for preparing customers and staff to engage critically and responsibly with AI technologies.
Presenter: Rebecca Ranallo, Literacy & Learning Director, Cuyahoga County Public Library
As Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Director of Literacy & Learning, Rebecca leads the development, implementation, oversight, and evaluation of library programming and literacy services for people of all ages. Community needs are ever-changing, and Rebecca works to ensure that CCPL embraces the challenges in our community and recognizes the value of life-long learning. With twenty years in public libraries, Rebecca has a strong history of implementing library initiatives that build confidence and access across the community.
Rebecca has a Masters in Library and Information Science and a background in adult technology instruction. She has been active in Northeast Ohio’s digital equity community for more than 25 years and considers equity and access to information to be an essential right.
Hilton Garden Inn
8971 Wilcox Dr
Twinsburg, OH 44087
UNITED STATES
click here for Google Maps
click here for Mapquest
Competency: Innovation and Technology Infrastruce Support
Non-Member Cost: $160
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $120
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: $80
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $80
There is an additional $40 surcharge for facility use and amenities.
Lunch will be provided.
We encourage you to register a minimum of three (7) days in advance for this event in order to ensure that we can accommodate your full participation in terms of seating, hand-outs, food, etc.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
11/12/2026
Information & Technology (IT)
Innovation
Academic Libraries
School Libraries
Special Libraries
Technology Infrastructure Support