The University of Tulsa’s McFarlin Library recently hosted the third annual Building Bridges: A Collaborative Librarianship Conference, bringing together school librarians from across Tulsa and surrounding areas for a day of connection, empowerment and professional growth.
The event was created in 2023 by McFarlin librarian Lisa Grimes in response to her research showing that more than 62% of incoming UTulsa students lacked rigorous library and research skills. With 59% of first-year students from Tulsa and surrounding areas, Grimes and the Instruction & Research team at McFarlin were determined to address this gap and set out to provide free, high-impact training and resources to school librarians who shape students’ academic journeys long before they arrive on a university campus.
The 2025 conference highlighted the importance of building community connections. For the first time, librarians and library students from beyond Tulsa Public Schools were invited to join in workshops focused on discovery, networking and utilizing local resources. In prior years, attendees learned about inventive approaches to library programming, strategies for reinforcing information literacy and the latest advancements in generative-artificial intelligence literacy and educational technology – topics presented in collaboration with UTulsa’s Tandy School of Computer Science and Fab Lab Tulsa.
Thanks to the support of local donors, the conference remained free for all participants, ensuring broad access to professional development. Key partners like UTulsa’s Helmerich Center for American Research, Tulsa City-County Library, Oklahoma School Library Association and several library vendors offered support and insight, while sessions encouraged ongoing dialogue and practical collaboration among attendees. Feedback from past events has resulted in new programming and a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of school librarians statewide.
The impact that McFarlin’s Instruction & Research Department is having on future generations is reflected in the empowered network of school librarians who are now better equipped to guide their communities. By investing in these educators, McFarlin librarians create a ripple effect, cultivating curiosity, critical thinking and confidence in students across Oklahoma. This commitment to community-centered collaboration demonstrates how academic libraries can play a transformative role beyond their own walls, shaping a stronger, more informed future for all learners.