With so many options for online learning, it's great to be able to see all these webinars collected in one place. This list, provided by the Maine State Library, comes out every month and is regularly updated on the Free Training page, where you can also view the offerings by topic. This month's list covers over 60 webinars and four online conferences, covering 19 different topic areas, from advocacy to technology. Take some time to think through your learning priorities and pick those that can help you with focused learning to take the practical next steps to put your... Read more

Community partnerships play an important role in creating successful libraries, and Berks County Public Library is no exception. Each year, the library honors individuals and groups in the community who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and dedication to library service in the community.

In March 2024, I interviewed Emily Orischak, Community Relations Coordinator, Berks County Public Libraries, to learn more about the library system’s 21 years of running an awards celebration. 

Our first official award was the “Public Relations Award,” which was presented to a member of the System Advisory Board back in 1991 who was instrumental in the newsletter our... Read more

Imagine a child standing in front of a brightly lit room at their local public library. Lively music is playing, and bubbles are bouncing all around. Children and adults fill the room, talking loudly and playing with toys. Off in the distance is a colorful rug with letters on it where everyone will gather for storytime. Does the child go right in, look for friends, and find a spot on the rug? Or do they stop, cover their ears, close their eyes, and take a deep breath? And what do the parents decide is best for their child, perhaps remembering... Read more

Much of the work of co-creation happens before you start to plan a concrete service or program. It’s worth spending the time up front to establish authentic, asset-based relationships and craft a scope that aligns with both community aspirations and your library’s mission and capacity. But when the time finally arrives to dive into designing something together, it’s undeniably exciting. This article addresses the “how” of co-design with an approach you can use with your partners. Human-centered design (HCD), also called design thinking, is a process to help you conduct a co-design process.

HCD is particularly useful for libraries with... Read more