Lyrasis Members' Table

The Lyrasis Members' Table

The Members’ Table is a new series for Lyrasis Members reflecting the heart of Lyrasis’ mission by creating member-led, candid, off-the-record spaces for Lyrasis members to connect, share wisdom and strengthen resilience together. The topics blend academic theory with real-world practice to help our community navigate "disrupted times" together. Lyrasis Member feedback has consistently shown a stronger preference for inclusive, cross-institutional dialogue and the Members' Table is designed with this in mind.

At the Members' Table, we provide a space where our members lead the conversation around the immediate, real-world issues we face collectively. 

The Members’ Table concept and ideals are the following:

  • Member-Driven: The agenda is set by the community, elevating grassroots projects, speakers and expert panelists from deep within our membership network. 
  • Elevate: Sessions showcase member-led projects, leaders, grassroots speakers and expert panelists from deep within the membership network. This ensures that the conversations reflect immediate, real-world pressures rather than theoretical trends, turning the membership's shared experience into collective leverage.
  • Intentional: The Members’ Table panels are a multi-dimensional mix of voices by balancing institutions by size, geographic location and sector.
  • Curated: The Members’ Table weaves diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into every topic and panel. 
  • Benefit: The Members’ Table is for Lyrasis Members only.

We held an inaugural session in September 2025, Planning in Disrupted Times: Protecting What Defines Us, with Lyrasis members: Jason Kucsma, Director of Toledo Lucas County Public Library and Lyrasis Board Chair; Trevor A. Dawes, Vice Provost for Libraries and Museums at the University of Delaware; Anthony Chow, Director of the iSchool at San Jose State University; and Takeya McLaurin, Chief Human Resources Officer at Lyrasis.

Future Members' Table discussion tentative topics and sessions:

  • Summer 2026:
    • July 27, Making Room: AI and the Push Toward More Inclusive Collections
    • Panelists: Dr. Roslyn Dean (LVCCPL), Brenda Gunn (UVA) and Michael Meth (SJSU)
    • Moderator: John Bracken (DPLA)
  • Fall 2026:
  • Winter 2027: Big data

The ultimate goal of the Members’ Table is to transform individual institutional challenges into shared community strengths. When diverse professionals share how they navigate systemic hurdles so the entire community is at the table and gains actionable insight.

Would you like to submit a future topic or would you like to be considered as a panelist? If so, let us know. Use the submit button below and provide us with your ideas for topics or your bio and area of expertise. The Members' Table is open for conversation!