Pop YS Con FAQs
Frequently asked questions for attendees, presenters, and exhibitors.
Attendees
When and where will the conference be held?
Pop YS Con will be held Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center at 2100 Green Hills Drive, Ames, IA 50014. The conference will take place Monday from 9:30 a.m. - 4:20 p.m. and Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
What is the cost and how do I register?
The cost to attend both days is $175; the cost to attend Monday or Tuesday only is $125. Conference presenters receive a $20 discount on two day registration or $10 discount on one day registration. Presenters may also choose to deliver their session without attending the conference at no cost. Parking at the hotel and conference center is free.
The deadline to register is Friday, March 22, 2024.
Register for Pop YS Con Registration has closed.
What forms of payment are accepted?
Payments can be made online after submitting the registration form with a credit card, debit card, or electronic bank transfer using a checking or savings account.
Payment may also be submitted via check by mailing it to the State Library. Checks must be received by March 25, 2024.
Where do I mail my check for the registration fees?
After registering online, print a copy of the registration form to mail along with your check for payment by March 25, 2024. Mail check and registration form to:
State Library of Iowa - Pop YS Con Registration
Attn: Linda Choate
1112 E. Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319
What meals are included?
The Pop YS Con registration fee covers breakfast, lunch, snacks, and an all day beverage service on both Monday and Tuesday. Monday night dinner is not included in the cost of registration.
Where is the hotel and how do I get a hotel room?
The Gateway Hotel and Conference Center is located at 2100 Green Hills Drive, Ames, IA 50014. The hotel is the same location where the conference will be held. A block of rooms has been reserved for attendees at the conference rate of $114. Use the link below to book a room or call 515-292-8600 and mention Pop YS Con.
Reserve by March 17, 2024 to get the discounted rate.
Book Hotel Room Hotel deadline has passed.
What is the deadline for registration?
The deadline for registration is Friday, March 22, 2024.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
If you need to cancel your conference attendance for any reason, the deadline to cancel with a full refund is March 22, 2024. Cancellations after March 22 will not be refunded but may be transferred to another person.
How do I receive Continuing Education credit for attending the conference?
The full two-day conference will be worth 10 hours of CE Credit. Attendees can scan a QR code on the back of the program to go to the CE Evaluation for the conference. Attendees will also receive an email with the link to the CE Evaluation after the conference.
On the evaluation, indicate which sessions you attended and how you plan to apply what was learned in your library. Once your evaluation is submitted, the CE Team will add the hours to your IA Learns account.
What is the schedule for the conference?
The conference is tentatively scheduled to kick off at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 8 and wrap up Tuesday, April 9 at 3:20 p.m. The full conference schedule is now available;
Who will be speaking and presenting at the conference?
The 2024 Pop YS Con keynote speakers have been announced!
- Monday Morning Keynote: Chapters in Childhood: Growing a Spine with Charity Nebbe, Iowa Public Radio host
- Monday Lunch Keynote: School and Public Library Collaboration with Tasha Squires, Teacher Librarian, O'Neill Middle School
- Tuesday Morning Keynote: Outside the Box: Graphic Novelists in Conversation with graphic novelists Drew Brockington and Jason Platt, moderated by Janeé Jackson-Doering, State Library of Iowa
- Tuesday Lunch Keynote: Beyond Storytime: How Librarians Can Help Parents Nurture Reading from Birth with Maya Payne Smart, Literacy Advocate & Author
Many Iowa librarians and subject matter experts will also give breakout sessions throughout the conference. The full roster of session presenters has been announced! Browse the full schedule, including keynote and session descriptions as well as speaker bios:
Where will everything be located in the conference center?
See the below map and directory of conference registration, keynotes, exhibitors, and breakout sessions:
- Registration: Gallery Lobby (outside Cardinal & Gold Rooms)
- Morning Keynotes and Breakfast: Prairie South & Central
- Lunch Keynotes and Lunch: Garden Room
- Exhibitor Area and Book Signings: Prairie North
- Breakout Sessions:
- Cardinal & Gold
- Meadow
- Prairie Central
- Prairie South
Are there any requirements or prerequisites to attend the conference?
Pop YS Con is open to anyone working with or interested in serving children and teens in libraries and there is no prerequisite for attendance. Priority may be given to Iowa librarians if attendance numbers approach upper limits.
Will presentations be recorded and available for viewing after the conference?
The State Library will not be recording the sessions. In most cases, attendees will have access to the slide decks and any handouts from the sessions.
Presenters
Do presenters receive a discount on conference registration?
Conference presenters receive a $20 discount on the two day registration fee or $10 discount on the one day registration fee. Presenters may also choose to deliver their session without attending the conference at no cost.
Once notified by the Pop YS Con team that they have been selected, presenters can register at the below link and select their discounted registration type in the dropdown:
Pop YS Con Registration Form Registration has closed.
I am interested in being a presenter, who do I contact?
The call for proposals has closed. To be considered for future youth services presentation opportunities, contact Janeé Jackson-Doering.
Exhibitors & Sponsors
How do I become an exhibitor or sponsor for Pop YS Con?
Businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations are encouraged to be an exhibitor or sponsor for Pop YS Con! Exhibitors will have the opportunity to interact with more than 200 attendees during the two-day conference. The schedule will allow for no-conflict times and breaks will take place inside the Exhibit Hall.
Find out more information and register to become an exhibitor:
Pop YS Con Exhibitor Information Exhibitor registration has closed.