Continuing Education and Professional Development: Other Upcoming Free Webinars

Below is a selection of upcoming free webinars this month collected by the Maine State Library. To see the full list, please visit: https://maine-msl.libguides.com/CECAL

Wednesday, Apr 2 (4-5 pm)

Loneliness and Social Isolation: Tackling the Social Disconnection Epidemic (Colorado State Library)

The U.S. is currently experiencing a loneliness and social isolation crises. This webinar will discuss why we should care about loneliness and social isolation, the negative health consequences of these issues, how to recognize and identify loneliness and social isolation, and potential solutions for loneliness and social isolation including the role of community. 

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.librarieslearn.org/csl-in-session

Thursday, Apr 3 (11am-12 pm)

Managing the 15 Most Challenging Employees (ProQuest)

Let’s face it, managing employees in a public-facing environment like a library is not always easy. Sometimes staff doesn’t get along with each other, is not as service-oriented as you’d like them with be with your patrons, and can be dismissive, passive-aggressive, and even outwardly challenging toward your ideas, policies, projects, and approaches. Every employee that works for you has both a personality style and a preferred way to engage with you, other bosses, their colleagues, and the patrons. You already know there is no one “Perfect Way” to supervise people and manage for the goals you want to achieve and to get the collective outcomes your peers and other leaders are seeking.

For more information and to register, visit: https://about.proquest.com/en/events/events/

Friday, Apr 4 (11 am-12:30 pm)

Fleshing Out Your Summer Reading Plans (Nebraska Library Commission)

Part of being a librarian is sharing and borrowing ideas. At this point in the year, some of you have basically completed all your summer reading plans. Others, whether because you are new, don’t have much planning time, or are simply still looking for ideas, have a bit of preparation left. Whatever category you fall into – or somewhere in between – we invite you to participate!

For more information and to register, visit: https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

Tuesday, Apr 8 (1-2 pm)

Strategic Planning Insights: Effective Approaches and Common Trends (Fast Forward Libraries)

Join Fast Forward Libraries for a discussion on effective approaches in strategic planning, common priorities, and emerging trends. Amanda Standerfer, Laura Huddleston, and Kirstin Gebhart from Fast Forward Libraries, will explore how libraries are shaping their strategic directions, responding to community needs, and achieving meaningful results. You’ll learn effective practices and hear fresh perspectives to strengthen your planning process. Come for a discussion on approaches to strategic planning. Leave with effective practices in strategic plan application.

For more information and to register, visit: https://fastforwardlibraries.com/

Tuesday, Apr 8 (1-2 pm)

Taking the Terror Out of Technology for Your Staff (TechSoup)

Join us for a webinar that dives into the root causes of your staff's fear of technology and gives you change management strategies to address them. Everyone from the most seasoned tech professional to a newly accidental techie will have something to learn and reflect on. With plenty of opportunities for audience interaction, we hope to see you for a compelling presentation.

For more information and to register, visit: https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events-and-webinars/

Wednesday, Apr 9 (1-2 pm)

Info2Go! Visual Literacy in Graphic Novels and Comics (Idaho Commission for Libraries)

Whether you love or hate graphic novels, comics, and manga, they are an important part of any library collection, so let’s talk about them! This webinar will discuss why you should be reading these formats, recommending them, and maybe even advocating for their use in classrooms. We’ll talk about the importance of visual literacy and how learning to critically read graphic novels helps you and your patrons to be better consumers and creators of visual communication. We’ll touch on the history of comics, the roots of their bad reputation, and give you tools to combat pushback from teachers or parents. Additionally, we’ll highlight the populations that benefit the most from graphic narratives, but also the benefit for everyone of learning how to examine this misunderstood format more critically.

For more information and to register, visit: https://libraries.idaho.gov/continuing-education/info2go/

Wednesday, Apr 9 (2-3 pm)

The First Amendment and Libraries (Niche Academy)

The First Amendment affects how libraries operate in so many ways that understanding it has become a vital skill for librarians. Join Matt Beckstrom for this webinar on developing and updating library policies and offering spaces and services with the First Amendment in mind. Starting with the founding of the Bill of Rights, Matt will discuss many of the rulings and legal cases that have molded the way the First Amendment affects libraries.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

Wednesday, Apr 16 (2-3 pm)

Andragogy: Understanding Adult Learners (Niche Academy)

Most learning theories and the instructional design practices derived from them are based on our understanding of how children learn. Adult learners come to instruction with more extensive and varied experiences and social roles, which impact their needs and should influence our instruction. Join Laura Saunders and Melissa Wong as they discuss the theory of andragogy, or adult learning, including constructivist and humanist approaches to teaching adults, along with strategies for tapping into their intrinsic motivation and building on prior knowledge.

For more information and to register, visit: https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

Tuesday, Apr 29 (4-5 pm)

Graphic Empathy: Using Graphic Novels to Elevate Excluded Voices and Connect Communities (Infopeople)

As library workers, we are ever more challenged to ensure that our increasingly popular graphic literature collections are curated to reflect and serve the diverse identities, experiences, and voices of our communities. This webinar will explore the importance of depicting diversity in graphic literature collections and programming, offering practical strategies for building a more inclusive selection. Participants will learn how to create a thoughtful collection development plan, discover recommended selection aids, and reflect on exemplary titles that successfully showcase diversity.

For more information and to register, visit: https://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar

Wednesday, Apr 30 (10-11 am)

Start Your Community’s Journey to Information Literacy (Indiana State Library)

In 2024 the Institute of Museum and Library Services launched a new website to provide resources to teach about the different types of literacy there are including information literacy, digital literacy, financial literacy, health literacy, and science literacy. The website includes programming resources to help develop skills in using and understanding information in a quickly changing world. In addition, the website includes training resources specifically for professionals, funding opportunities to promote information literacy, ready-made lesson plans, evaluation tools and more. Please join us for a look at what can be accomplished using the materials available on the website.

For more information and to register, visit: https://continuinged.isl.in.gov/find-training/online-training-series/