Julie was Head of Communications for a municipality in the UK before moving to Canada in 2008. She has worked as Communications Manager in a large acute hospital and as Assistant Head of Libraries for a municipality in North West England. Since 2009 she has been the Communications and Fund Development Coordinator for St. Albert Public Library, working with staff and the Board to promote the Library's services and programs and to advocate for a new branch library.

Deb has had a varied career working in school, post-secondary, special, and public libraries. She has an undergrad degree from the University of Lethbridge, a LIT diploma from the SAIT and a MLIS from the University of Alberta (which she started at the ripe old age of 40). When she isn’t ensuring that people have access to the library, teaching an online LIT course or serving on a variety of committees she finds important, she can be found knitting or chasing her VERY FAST Border Collie puppy.

For more than a decade, Jamie has worked to provide support and professional development to school and public library staff implementing new technologies. She assumed the role of the Online Reference Centre (ORC) Coordinator in 2012. Jamie brings a variety of experience to her present position including classroom teacher, library and technology consultant, and teacher-librarian. She holds a B.A.Sp. (Augustana), a B.Ed. (Concordia) and an M.Ed. in Educational Studies (U of A).

Jordan DeSousa has been a Client Services Librarian at Yellowhead Regional Library for the past two years. Providing a range of consulting services, from training on Polaris to figuring out why your iPhone won’t connect to the library Wi-Fi, he enjoys the variety of the regional library environment and appreciates learning about the unique communities YRL serves. The best way to get him talking is to ask him why the San Jose Sharks are the best team in the NHL—just be careful what you wish for…

Cera Dixon has been a Client Services Librarian at Yellowhead Regional Library for over five years. Her favorite part of her job is providing training and support to the YRL member libraries as well as recommending the next must-read books to staff and patrons. When she's not at work you'd probably find Cera re-reading Harry Potter as she has a slight obsession. She even flew to London and stood outside in the rain for 20 hours to see J. K. Rowling at the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiere.

Sheila Drummond has been the Adult Services Coordinator at St. Albert Public Library since September 2015. Prior to that, she worked at Medicine Hat Public Library where adult programming was a large part of her portfolio. In her experience, some of the most successful programs require the least cost and provide the greatest opportunity for community engagement.

Caleigh is the Training & Communication Coordinator at Marigold Library System where she provides training to member libraries in the use of eResources and other technologies. She also develops and delivers library programs, creates online publications for Marigold websites and develops communications and marketing materials to promote library services.

Dan is an award-winning educator and author with more than 25 years of experience in the field of personal growth. He's worked with leaders and aspiring leaders in national and international companies, organizations and institutions. His goal: walk the risky path of personal transformation with people who dare to engage life more fully. In a world desperate for authentic leadership, he champions the mantra: “be the change you want to see."

Jean has been the library manager at the Rimbey Municipal Library for 11 years. She has, however, been an active library user her whole life. She is passionate about breaking down barriers, particularly economic, cultural and for those with disabilities. She believes that if managed properly libraries can become society’s equalizers.

Dave Mckenzie is a retired RCMP officer and a current Regional Traffic Safety Consultant. Dave is passionate about serving his communities and beyond. As the co-creator of the Learn to Drive initiative, Dave has first-hand experience with the importance of creating a safe driver right from the start.

Laura Ross-Giroux is president of the Alberta Library Trustees' Association and former chair of the Chinook Arch Regional Library System and the Taber Public Library. A lifelong volunteer, she sits on several boards and is also a councillor for the Town of Taber.

Willow has been the Library Manager at New Sarepta Public Library for nine years and Library Clerk at New Sarepta Community High School for three years. Before she started in the library world, Willow worked for 10 years as an education assistant for Edmonton Public Schools. She recently attended a "Moving Forward with High School Redesign" session and has run several demonstrations for the public, for students, and also has run several PD sessions for teachers.

Wendy Sears Ilnicki knew she wanted to be a librarian since she played the library game as a child by signing her children’s books out to friends and family with homemade pockets and cards. A graduate from the University of Western Ontario’s MLIS program, Wendy has worked at a variety of libraries over the course of her career. As Bibliographic Services Manager for YRL, she's knowledgeable about cataloguing data and how it supports libraries’ collections.

Michelle Steinhusen is the Adult Programming Librarian at St. Albert Public Library. She joined the Library in 2012 and leapt in with both feet, planning diverse programs for the adult community of St. Albert, from erotic romance writing workshops to Armchair Travel to Storytime for Grown-ups. Michelle is also part of the computer training team at the library, and provides reference and collections services.

Tatiana Tilly is currently the Dawe Branch Manager at Red Deer Public Library. She got her passion for serving community from being a Community Development Librarian and has had many other library roles. She earned her MLIS in 2005 from the U of A and has presented at a number of international, national, and provincial library conferences. In her spare time, Tatiana rides her bike (when the temp is above zero), knits, reads and makes costumes for the branch costume inventory.

Jocie Wilson is a Client Services Librarian at Yellowhead Regional Library. Over the past six years she has provided consulting and training on all aspects of library services. She loves to challenge herself by learning new ways to problem-solve and implement creative solutions. Her favourite part of library service is programming. Even though she is not actively programming anymore, sometimes she tries to sneak in an impromptu read aloud during library visits.

Kim has been involved in programming at the Jasper Municipal Library for just over two years and is currently the Children and Youth Programmer. She has a background in recreation and has worked in a variety roles in community development. Kim loves children's literature and the highlight of her week is preschool story time. When Kim is not at the library, she can be found exploring the lakes in Jasper National Park by kayak.

Wendy Hodgson-Sadgrove, the Assistant Director of Westlock Municipal Library, is passionate about service delivery, program development/promotion and delivery that entices both young and old to utilize all that libraries have to offer. A seasoned trainer, Wendy continues to provide interactive workshops/conference sessions/speaking engagements in a way people want to acquire new information both inside and outside the “Library World."

Nancy Keough came into the Library world 10 years ago this fall quite by accident, formally from a cosmetic business management background. Swan Hills, Alberta is now her home and libraries and library service are her passion. Nancy thrives on the motto, why be less when you can be more? Coming from a small rural library, budgets are small and times can get tough, but by finding unlikely partners and working with your community, big things can happen.

Dr. Tanya Pollard is the Yellowhead (area 2) representative for ALTA and is the Chair of the ALTA Education and Resources committee. She has been the Chair of her local library board for 4 years and also sits on the board of directors for several other organizations in her community, including Vice Chair of the Westlock and District FCSS.

Angie has been at the Jasper Municipal Library since February 2003. She was the Children and Teen programmer until November 2014 when she became the Director of Library Services. Angie loves that each day has a different challenge and enables her to make a difference for someone.