September 25th-27th was the yearly South Dakota Library Conference held this year in Aberdeen. The theme of this year’s conference was “Stronger Together.'

The attendees were privileged to hear from 3 great keynote speakers. First was Kao Kalia Yang. Kao Kalia Yang is a Minnesota writer with a story that stretches across the globe. The daughter of Hmong immigrants, Yang was born in a Thai refugee camp, Ban Vinai, in 1980. Her family came to Minnesota when she was seven. Her amazing story of the time spent in a refugee camp was eye-opening.

The second keynote was Thursday morning featuring Taté Walker (they/them) is a Lakota citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. They are an award-winning Two Spirit storyteller. Taté is a co-founder of the Phoenix Two Spirit Community group, which helps organize the annual Arizona Two Spirit Powwow and Rainbow Gathering. They are also a longtime member of—and also serve on the board of directors for—the Oceti Sakowin Writers Society, which has a mission to mentor, empower, and promote Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota literary traditions.

The final keynote was Lauren R. Harris, who grew up in a military family and visited most of the U.S., studying history along the way. She blended her experiences as an elementary teacher and a journalist to write her extensively researched children’s historical picture books, The Plum Neighbor and A Place for Harvest: The Story of Kenny Higashi. Harris lives in the Pacific Northwest in a vintage farmhouse with her husband and three children.

I appreciate the City of Lake Andes for allowing me to attend the conference. I anticipate using the information of the conference to improve our library.