Speakers

Jamie LaRue has appeared on National Public Radio, been quoted and highlighted in newspapers (the Denver Post, New York Times, the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal), magazines (Forbes, Governing), and has hosted an author interview cable TV program. A newspaper columnist for over two decades, he also wrote The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges (Libraries Unlimited, 2007), and On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US (Fulcrum Publishing, 2023). Jamie is a frequent presenter for library associations, regional workshops, and library staff days. 

From 1990 to 2014, he was director of the Douglas County (Colorado) Libraries, widely known as one of the most successful and innovative public libraries in the nation. In 2014, he embarked on a career of writing, speaking, teaching, and consulting. From January 2016 to November 2018, LaRue was Executive Director of the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Freedom to Read Foundation. In 2019, he returned to independent consulting.  As of May 2022, he has been the Executive Director of the Garfield County (Colorado) Public Library District.

Tasslyn Magnusson is an independent researcher and a library trustee in Prescott, Wisconsin. She works with PEN America and EveryLibrary supporting their work to advocate for libraries and the right to read.

Thomas has been Parliamentarian for a few volunteer organizations, but his entry into the field was accidental. He was pressed into service several years ago when his voluntary organization had no one else identified who could, or would, do the job. He brushed up with some reading, research, and two publications from the Robert's Rules organization. This isn't rocket science, but some training is better than none. I encourage each organization to develop their own experts. My professional life was as a Senior Scientist in the UW Medical School, performing biomedical research. I was, and still am, a scientist.

Kris Turner began working at the Law School Library in January 2012 as a Circulation Assistant and Daytime Supervisor, and also worked as the Reference and Technology Services Librarian and the Head of Reference before becoming the Associate Director of Public Services. Kris is responsible for managing the reference and circulation departments and enhancing the legal research services that the library offers or may offer in the future.  Kris also works with emerging technology and with faculty in preserving their scholarship in the UW Law School Digital Repository. Kris also teaches Law Practice Technologies, a course focused on the use of tech in law firm offices, and co-teaches Advanced Legal Research.

Previously, Kris worked at Madison Public Library for three and a half years, and at the Forest Products Laboratory Library, located on UW-Madison's campus.  He also worked in a busy bankruptcy and personal injury law firm in downtown Chicago and as a teacher in Evanston, Illinois, and Novi, Michigan. 

In his free time, Kris enjoys traveling, trivia, reading all kinds of books, and going to concerts.

Charity Tyler was named Executive Director for the Cedar Rapids Public Library Foundation in 2015. She has led the transition from capital to annual giving focus while creating policies and improving governance structures to support fundraising on behalf of the Cedar Rapids Public Library and to support Foundation-funded programs, including Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. She currently serves as United for Libraries’ fiscal officer.