Association of College and Research Libraries of Greater Metropolitan New York City upcoming events

Spring 2026 ACRL/NY User Experience Discussion Group- Introduction to WCAG 2.1 : Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and ADA Title II (23 Apr 2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

ACRL/NY User Experience Discussion Group

Spring 2026 Meeting: Introduction to WCAG 2.1 : Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and the ADA Title II

Thurs, April 23, 2026 (1pm-2pm) via Zoom

You will receive the Zoom link in the confirmation email.

Our Spring 2026 virtual meeting will discuss the upcoming Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) which take effect April 24, 2026. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are internationally recognized technical standards designed to make web content accessible to people with disabilities. They are the technical standards used to fulfill the legal requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II.

Professor Ashley Dirzis, Health Sciences Librarian at the College of Staten Island, CUNY, will be our guest speaker for our meeting. She will discuss the importance of WCAG 2.1 level AA and how you can incorporate these best practices into your LibGuides, YouTube videos, and instructional materials. With the WCAG 2.1 Title II deadline approaching in April, librarians need clear, actionable steps to prepare their digital content for compliance. The presentation will begin by introducing the foundational concepts of WCAG as a framework for evaluating digital accessibility. Then, these core concepts will be applied to actionable steps librarians can take to ensure their web content is inclusive. Color contrast ratios, alt text, headings, and more will be discussed. Finally, we explore how to craft effective Statements of Commitment to Accessibility that reflect library values and reduce institutional risk by documenting ongoing accessibility efforts. Attendees will leave with practical guidance to strengthen accessibility and inclusivity across their library’s digital presence.

We invite you to an informal meeting where we can talk about how to adapt and revise our current LibGuides, instructional videos, PDF files, and other digital assets so they adhere to the current standards and best practices of WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

The spring 2026 meeting is open to ACRL/NY members only.

We do encourage you to join ACRL/NY.

Please join online https://acrlny.org/join-us

If you think you are a member, but are unsure of your membership status, please contact Werner Sbaschnik, ACRL/NY Membership Secretary, at acrlnymembership@gmail.com

All ACRL/NY events, programs, and discussion groups are guided by our Code of Conduct https://acrlny.org/code-of-conduct/, which we encourage you to review.

Please reach out if you have any questions!

Mark Aaron Polger and Joy Dunkley, co-chairs
ACRL/NY User Experience Discussion Group
https://acrlnyux.wordpress.com

2026 Symposium Planning Committee (SPC) April Meeting (24 Apr 2026)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join us for the April Symposium Planning Committee (SPC) meeting! We will continue planning the 2026 ACRL/NY Annual Symposium. New SPC members are welcomed!

April SPC meeting agenda:

New Member!
SPC Photo
Progress Update
Subcommittee Check-ins
Circulating CFP

Questions? Email the SPC chairs at symposium-chair@acrlny.org.

ACRL/NY Executive Board meeting - Friday, April 24, 2026 (24 Apr 2026)

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:00:00 GMT

ACRL/NY Executive Board meeting - Friday, April 24, 2026

EVENT DETAILS:

When: April 24, 2026 from 1:00 PM, EDT

In Person & Online via Zoom

Hello ACRL/NY Members and Friends,

Please join us for the next ACRL/NY Executive Board Meeting on Friday, April 24th from 1pm to 3pm.

Registration is required to attend in-person or via Zoom. Your registration confirmation will include the Zoom link.

Agenda is available here

We welcome & encourage your suggestions.

Please email acrlnypresident@gmail.com with agenda items or other feedback.

Wishing you well!

Romel, Alyssa, and Diana

ACRL/NY Presidents’ Council

Romel Espinel, President
Alyssa Brissett, Vice-President/President-Elect
Diana Moronta, Immediate Past President

ACRL/NY First Year Experience Spring Discussion Group Meeting – 5/22/26 (22 May 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Topic: Creating a Comprehensive AI Training Course for Community College Students

(For ACRL/NY Members)

Date & Time: Friday, May 22, 2026 | 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM via Zoom (link will be sent prior to the session)
Session Type: Panel Presentation (75 minutes)
Target Audience: First Year Experience academic librarians, community college educators, instructional designers, and information literacy professionals

Presenters:

Dr. Anthony Bishop, Librarian, Borough of Manhattan Community College
Prof. Jana Porter, Librarian, Bronx Community College

Session Description:

As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly integrated into academic and professional environments, community college students need training to navigate AI technologies ethically and effectively.

In this panel, Dr. Bishop and Prof. Porter will showcase two innovative approaches to AI literacy education:

A certified three-module workshop series for both in-person and online delivery (Dr. Bishop)
A self-paced online AI training course through Brightspace LMS (Prof. Porter)

These complementary programs are designed to meet the unique needs of community college students, including first-generation college students, working adults, and individuals from underrepresented communities.

Attendees will learn:

Practical strategies for implementing AI training programs
Assessment methods for AI literacy competencies
Scalable models for institutional adoption

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore innovative AI literacy initiatives and gain actionable insights for your own library instruction programs!

Co-facilitators: Carl R. Andrews, Bronx Community College and Derek Stadler, LaGuardia Community College