Public libraries across New York serve extraordinarily diverse communities—urban, suburban, coastal, and rural—often within the same system. While access to information has never been more important, barriers like inconsistent connectivity, device fatigue, language differences, and varying levels of tech confidence continue to shape how patrons engage with library resources.

This session will explore practical, library-centered approaches to expanding access to literacy, learning, and technology—especially for patrons who benefit from low-barrier, intuitive formats. Through real-world examples, we’ll look at how libraries are supporting early learners, students, adults, and seniors with solutions that reduce friction, circulate easily, and work right out of the box.

Presenters from Playaway Products:

Donna DeStefano, National Sales Lead
ddestefano@playaway.com
Donna supports the largest library systems (pop served >25K) in the Northeast and Canada. She serves as Team Lead for the division, bringing over 15 years of experience with Playaway Products. Two of her favorite Playaway Audio reads are Isola by Allegra Goodman and Open an autobiography of Andre Agassi, which she is currently listening to.

Bobbie Bensur, Inside Sales Representative

bbensur@playaway.com
Bobbie supports smaller and mid-sized libraries throughout the eastern part of the US (pop served <25K). She joined Playaway Products after her time with Baker & Taylor and brings extensive experience across publishing, content development, and library sales, particularly in the youth space. She is currently listening to All the Way to the River on Playaway Audio and enjoying the new Mo Willems Wonderbooks with her five-year-old daughter.

 Code of Conduct

For questions, please email Eliscia Cirrone, ecirrone@lilrc.org.

Contact Hours: 1

Program Recording:  Yes 

Non-member Ticket Price (log into your account for Member pricing): Free For All

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