It's a great time to put a learning opportunity on your calendar, and here are a lot of free choices. Whether you're looking to pick up some programming ideas, sharpen your technology skills, or gather tips on curating a digital collection, there's something here to support your growth. The list, provided by the Maine State Library, includes a variety of webinar topics.

View and subscribe to the Maine State Library Continuing Education (CE) Calendar here. 

Do you have a free program that you would like us to consider for next month? Submit it by the 20^th here.

Questions or Comments? Email us: [email protected]

February 3

Green games for green libraries: video games as tools for environmental education (IFLA)
This webinar aims to explore how libraries can innovate and adapt to new times through video games, with a particular focus on environmental education. While maintaining their traditional role as spaces for silent-reading and study, libraries must increasingly incorporate new practices to engage with their communities.  The webinar will present the most common video game consoles and genres to provide a general context for library staff who may be less familiar with this medium. Within this framework, the session will focus on Nintendo and major Nintendo Switch titles, starting with well-known franchises such as Legend of Zelda. It will then focus on cozy games, which encourage calm, reflection, and non-violent game play. These games are particularly suitable for libraries committed to sustainability, as they have a strong potential to address themes related to nature and environment.

Leveraging AI to Streamline Operations for Nonprofits (TechSoup)
Explore how AI tools can enhance operational efficiency for nonprofits. Learn practical strategies for automating repetitive tasks, optimizing resource allocation, and driving organizational impact. Gain actionable insights into implementing AI solutions tailored to nonprofit needs.

Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program (American Libraries)
Some students entering library school have a clear vision of their ideal job. Others are more eager to explore the diverse career paths their degrees can open up. Whether you’re embarking on a new educational journey or mentoring people who are considering a career in libraries, this webinar will teach you more about specific programs that can help the next generation of librarians follow their interests and enrich the field. Join American Libraries Live for a look at three different library and information science programs and their curricula. Panelists will cover broad areas, like school librarianship and public librarianship, as well as focuses on diversity and the impact of technology on the profession.

Transformational Leadership in the Time of Uncertainty (ASERL)
Join Dr. Consuella Askew for a candid and intimate conversation about the realities of leading an academic library system through a season of profound introspection and transformation. Reflecting on her tenure as Interim Vice President for University Libraries at Rutgers, Dr. Askew will pull back the curtain on a journey that began with deep listening—utilizing climate surveys and open forums to uncover the organization’s true pulse. She will share how these honest assessments revealed a dichotomy: an unwavering commitment to service excellence paired with a critical need to reimagine internal communication, structural clarity, and cultural inclusivity. Dr. Askew will discuss the bold action plan deployed to bridge the gap between current challenges and future aspirations, from establishing a Staff Advisory Committee to redefining the organization’s mission and structure.

February 4

Homesteading at Your Library (Nebraska Library Commission)
This hands-on series of programming offers library patrons the chance to explore essential homesteading skills such as starting a garden, fermenting, raising backyard chickens, vinegar making, canning, and more. Patrons gain practical knowledge for sustainable living in a modern world, from basic techniques to tips for successful practice at home. Homesteading sessions include interactive demonstrations led by knowledgeable staff, volunteers, or local experts, and provide take-home materials to help participants implement what they’ve learned. The homesteading program fosters community engagement and empowers individuals to embrace self-sufficiency in their everyday lives. Leave this session with ideas for implementing similar programs tailored to your own community’s needs.

3 Small Actions for Big Virtual Engagement (Training Magazine Network)
Engagement in virtual training is often treated as a technology problem. More tools. More features. More tactics. But the real driver of engagement is connection, and connection is created through small, intentional actions. In this practical and energizing webinar, Kassy LaBorie shares three simple actions that reliably create connection and, as a result, drive engagement in virtual training and webinars. These actions are easy to implement, require no new platforms, and work precisely because they focus on how people experience being seen, included, and comfortable in a tech-driven environment.

5 Essential Strategies for Planning a Successful Charity Golf Event (Nonprofit Hub)
Charity golf tournaments remain one of the most reliable fundraising events for nonprofit organizations, driving revenue while engaging donors and fostering relationships. But a tournament’s success starts long before the first tee shot. In this fast-paced free webinar, Logan Foote, Sales and Education Director at GolfStatus, will share five proven, practical planning strategies gleaned from thousands of successful golf fundraisers. Designed for both first-time planners and experienced golf event organizers, this session will focus on the fundamentals that help golf fundraisers run smoothly, raise more, and deliver a standout experience for everyone involved.

Solving Heavy Problems in Light-Hearted Ways (Georgia Library Association)
Library leaders can face some thorny problems when managing organizational change. This is particularly true at institutions with a long-established workplace culture who aim to make effective change across departments. Sometimes, we tend to forget when undertaking difficult projects that you don’t have to have an overly serious attitude when undertaking serious tasks. Bringing in creativity and play can open minds to break outside of established ways of thinking and doing. In this webinar, two department heads from the University of Central Florida Libraries will share how they developed a series of fun and interactive activities to develop a new divisional structure across departments to encourage collaboration and shared decision making. Instead of leading with a pre-defined structure for the organizational change, existing challenges were used as a starting point for the conversation and change management. The activities helped cultivate an open mind set to ensure participants felt empowered to be co-creators in innovative solutions.

Thriving Amidst Bureaucratic Distress: Tools to Help Everyone Involved (Niche Academy)
How do you decide your options when you think you may have experienced misconduct and bullying, and what are the considerations in seeking support or moving forward? What are some of the barriers to seeking disability accommodations, and what are conflict resolution tools that can help you navigate the self-stigma, logistical hurdles, and possible backlashes? When there is an internal or external investigation, what does that mean, and how should you prepare, whether you are the complainant, respondent, or some other kind of witness or stakeholder? During performance reviews, how can you be sure you are advocating for yourself and protecting yourself from inappropriate or harmful misuses of the process? If there is a policy change at your organization, what can you do if there are mistakes or problems in the implementation? And what should the people overseeing all of these processes be doing to ensure they are trauma-informed, procedurally fair, and effective? In this program, mediator Dan Bersetin will share a framework for managing the general distress, tough topics, and obstructions that can occur for all parties involved in bureaucratic processes. You will also receive free access to tools and extra resources to help in the above situations.

Unearth A Story this Summer with SciStarter and the Collaborative Summer Library Program (SciStarter)
Join SciStarter and the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) to explore how to bring citizen science into your library’s Unearth a Story summer reading program! Learn about engaging, hands-on science activities from real research projects that spark curiosity and empower your community to contribute to scientific discovery — all while supporting CSLP’s 2026 theme of exploration and discovery. We’ll share simple ideas, resources, and tips to make citizen science a fun, meaningful part of your summer programs.

February 5

Orientation to Legal Research: Federal Legislative History (LOC: Law Library)
This webinar is designed to give a basic introduction to legal sources and research techniques. This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. federal legislative history resources, including information about the methods of identifying and locating them. In tackling this area of research, the focus will largely be on finding these documents online.

Monthly Giving: Your Nonprofit Sustainability Plan (PACER Center)
This one-hour workshop will introduce mobile apps designed to support mental and emotional well-being for children, teens, and adults. Participants will explore user-friendly tools that encourage calm-breathing exercises, offer guided meditation experiences, support mood tracking and journaling, and teach practical coping strategies and healthy habits. The goal of this session is to help families discover accessible, age-appropriate apps that can help to manage emotions and stress.

Spring Adult Faves (Booklist)
New year new me? More like, new year new titles! Join us for our Spring Adult Faves webinar to find all the best new adult titles to start your 2026 TBR list off right! We’ll hear representatives from Macmillan, W. W. Norton and Co., Hachette and Page & Vine! Register now for this free one-hour webinar.

February 9

Data-Driven Fundraising: Lessons from 2025 to Power Up 2026 (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Join us for an exclusive look at global fundraising benchmarks from 2025. We’ll unpack key trends across campaign types, donor behaviors, and giving patterns—plus reveal where donor value is rising (and where it's not). With a special guest speaker, we’ll also connect the dots between data and day-to-day strategy: how to plan, prioritize, and pivot for the best results in the year ahead.

Certified Swoon Worthy Reads (Booklist)
Set the mood with Certified Swoon Worthy Reads! Join Penguin Random House Library Marketing, Alcove Press, Kensington Publishing, and Zando for a love-filled book buzz. Get a sneak peek at the hottest new titles perfect for the hopeless romantics in your community during this free, one hour Booklist webinar. Register now! Moderated by Booklist's Editor in Chief and Adult Books editor Donna Seaman.

Inviting emerging adults into the library: Lessons from El Paso’s Centre Future (WebJunction)
Libraries often struggle to engage emerging adults (ages 16-26) in ways that meaningfully support their career and life decision-making, identity exploration, changing relationships and the search for autonomy. Centre Future, a program of the El Paso Public Library, blends mentorship, technology, and community in ways that traditional classrooms and job centers often cannot. Centre Future tailors services to emerging adults who are re-skilling, upskilling, and finding their footing.  Learn how Centre Future’s youth fellows created this meaningful space and continue to revise as they grow. Take away new ideas for how libraries can position themselves as an important part of emerging adults’ lives.

February 10

AI Applications and Safeguards for the Future-Forward Finance Office (Blackbaud)
Join Blackbaud, along with nonprofit finance experts Mike Gellman and Paul Preziotti, as we explore strategies for integrating AI into the nonprofit finance office. We’ll review essential AI safeguards and policy best practices before diving into a discussion about practical applications of AI in nonprofit finance. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of the benefits of generative AI for core financial processes, how to assess data source suitability, and effective approaches to organizational buy-in and staff training.

Chronicling America for Historical Research (Library of Congress)
Unlock the full potential of the new Chronicling America for historical research. Learn advanced search strategies and tips for researching early historic American newspapers. Whether you're new to historical research or exploring topics like the American Revolution, this session will help you go beyond the basics and uncover powerful stories from the past.

Hope in the Library: How Libraries Can Help Shape Our Future with Artificial Intelligence (ASERL)
In an era where our information environments are increasingly redesigned for artificial intelligence, Hope in the Library (published Feb 2026) poses a vital question: What is the role of the library in an age of automated systems? Dr. Michael J. Paulus, Jr. argues that far from being obsolete, libraries are the essential counterbalance we need—serving as human-scaled sanctuaries for reflection, imagination, and agency. By reframing the library as a site of “hope,” this talk will explore how these institutions function as archives of the past and catalysts for a better future, ensuring that we do not just survive the rise of AI, but thrive alongside it.

Future-Ready Classrooms: Innovating Early Learning with Digital Tools, AI, and Data-Informed Instruction (edWeb)
In this edWebinar, the presenters will explore how digital learning tools and AI are further transforming early childhood classrooms in the current landscape. They’ll discuss strategies to supplement core curricula with adaptive assessment and progress monitoring tools, and highlight 2026 trends shaping instructional design, family engagement, and funding priorities in early learning. Key themes include equity in digital access, teacher support, AI literacy for educators, and personalized learning trends. Attendees will leave with practical, classroom-ready insights that can be applied immediately. This edWebinar will be of interest to PreK-3 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.

The Reading Culture Advantage Webinar Series: Module 6 | Partnering with Families & Caregivers (LibrariesLearn/CSL)
What role do families and caregivers play in building a thriving reading culture? How can we move from good intentions to meaningful, strategic partnerships that honor the diverse reading lives already happening in students' homes? Join us for this interactive webinar that explores family and community partnerships as a cornerstone of reading engagement. Building on our statewide book study of Dr. Margaret Merga's Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools, this session introduces Colorado's Family, School, and Community Partnerships (FSCP) Framework and provides practical tools for implementation. See Feb 26 for Module 7. Modules 1-4 can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8riLQL7j5vxlxbXXASVffycXW04MLX_A

February 11

What's Up Wednesday - Story & Strategy: A Library Con (Indiana State Library)
Want to bring Library Con to your library? Learn how our library held a full day, system-wide library con across three locations. We'll share our strategy for working with community partners to offer LARP demonstrations, Dungeons & Dragons and other TTRPGs, cosplay demos and miniature painting, a costume contest and an outdoor movie night. All of this and more to engage new library patrons while highlighting services, programs and collections.

Library Trustees and Advocacy (Niche Academy)
One of the most important jobs for a library trustee is advocating for the public library the board represents. Many trustees consider their advocacy role to be conscripted to library crises, such as loss of funding or large-scale book challenges. However, there is a great deal that trustees are allowed (and encouraged!) to do to advocate on behalf of the libraries they represent that isn't tied to a specific event. In this webinar, Al Hayden, Library Advisory Specialist with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, will discuss ways that library trustees and other library advocates can keep their public library a part of the local, county, and state conversations throughout the year. Trustees, those who regularly work with trustees, or other library advocates such as library Friends, will come away with customizable ideas to highlight the essential nature of their libraries to their communities, regardless of their situation or level of experience.

Beyond Behavior: Understanding Attention-Seeking in Young Children (Early Childhood Investigations)
Ever wonder why some children seem to demand attention in ways that leave you feeling unsure or frustrated? In this workshop, we’ll uncover the hidden stories behind four distinct types of attention-seeking behaviors. You’ll learn to look beyond the surface and understand the why behind each child’s actions, helping you unlock new pathways to connection and care. As educators, it can be challenging when we’re unable to meet the needs of every child at once. In this session, led by Early Childhood Leader and Multi-Site Specialist Shelby Secoura, RECE, you’ll gain the confidence to recognize the subtle differences in attention-seeking behaviors and respond in ways that nurture each child individually. Together, we’ll explore practical strategies to help you enter your classroom prepared to handle any situation with empathy and insight. Join this journey of discovery, where we’ll question daily techniques and learn how to be more present, responsive, and prepared for each unique child who crosses our path.

Asking Styles: A Revolutionary Concept in Fundraising (CharityHowTo)
There is no one right way to ask for a donation. Some people take great care preparing well-organized and complete presentations. Others prepare with just a few talking points and then use the energy of the prospect to guide the conversation. Some people are energized by the prospect of tying down a gift. For others it is a great act of courage. You have your own Asking Style, and if you learn to ask in your Style, you will be more comfortable, confident and successful as an asker. Are you a Rainmaker? Go-Getter? Kindred Spirit? Mission Controller? A mix of two Styles? Join Brian Saber, President of Asking Matters, to learn about the revolutionary concept of Asking Styles created by his company.

A Math Education Game Changer: Assessing What Really Counts (edWeb)
What does high-quality student work look like in today’s math classroom? The recent versions of mathematics standards (e.g., NCTM, CCSS, TEKS) emphasize the development of mathematical reasoning, problem-solving strategies, and associated habits of mind (e.g., precision, perseverance) along with computational accuracy. In addition, many schools and districts have adopted a Portrait of a Graduate that identifies cross-disciplinary competencies that are valued in the modern world (e.g., creativity, ability to work effectively in teams, responsible citizenship, communication using various media). Such learning outcomes have significant implications for mathematics instruction as well as for assessment practices. In this edWebinar, Jay McTighe and Jay Meadows will explore what math teaching and assessment should look like in today’s schools for students to achieve these valued outcomes. This edWebinar will be of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.

Cosmic Pioneers: Discovering Galaxies Together (SciStarter)
We’ll meet the scientist behind Dark Energy Explorers, a project designed to look deep into space for galaxies and black holes. Your participation work will help scientists make the largest map of the universe yet and better understand dark energy. Do NASA Science LIVE is an occasional series of one-hour virtual events featuring NASA citizen science projects that need your help. During the events, we'll learn about a project, hear from a project scientist, and do the project together. Your questions will be answered in real-time, too! All you need is a computer, iPad, or smartphone with Wi-Fi...and your curiosity! Best for ages 13 and older. You don't need any prior experience or specialized tools.

Telling the Library Story: Advocacy Tools for Budget Season (ALA/AASL)
As school library budgets continue to face increasing challenges, this session will feature school librarians from across the nation sharing practical tools and strategies for effective advocacy during budget season. We hope you will join us for this timely and empowering conversation.

February 12

LibGuide Accessibility Webinar – Part II (Technical Focus) (Library Accessibility Alliance)
The Library Accessibility Alliance invites you to join us for the second installment of our LibGuide Accessibility Webinar series! This session will dive into the technical aspects of creating accessible LibGuides, offering practical strategies for library staff, developers, and administrators. This webinar will provide actionable guidance for improving accessibility in LibGuides, helping you ensure that your content is usable and inclusive for all audiences and ADA Title II compliant. Whether you’re an author, administrator, or developer, you’ll leave with practical techniques to apply immediately.

An Introduction to Congress.gov Webinar (LOC: Law Library)
This orientation is designed to give a basic overview of Congress.gov. While the focus of the session will be searching legislation and the Congressional member information attached to the legislation, the new features of Congress.gov will be highlighted.

Amazing Audiobooks (Booklist)
Listen up! Audiobook popularity is on the rise for patrons everywhere, but how can you find the best recommendations to fit every listener’s needs? With our free one-hour webinar of course! Join us to hear about all the best new and upcoming audiobooks! Representatives from Sourcebooks, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House and Hoopla will join us! Editor of Audiobooks at Booklist, Heather Booth, will host. Register now!

The Science of Reading is Necessary but Insufficient: Enter the Three-Sciences Framework (edWeb)
Literacy success requires literacy science, instructional science, and learning science. However, we often focus on just literacy science—and then wonder why our best-intentioned efforts don’t consistently lead to student success. In this edWebinar, Dr. Paige Pullen and Linda Diamond will discuss the new Three-Sciences Framework and illuminate these three essential sciences for achieving durable literacy teaching and learning results: What we teach: Are we teaching all components of literacy science? How we instruct: Is our instruction designed and delivered to ensure that students learn to mastery and retain their learning? How we learn: Are we using what cognitive science tells us about how all humans learn? This edWebinar will be of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, and district leaders.

February 17

9 Green Flags You're Ready for Federal Grants (Even If No One's Ever Told You That Before) (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Mid-sized nonprofits are often told they aren't ready for federal grants. After working with organizations like this for a decade and helping them secure $135 in federal grants, these organizations share signs ("green flags") that they were ready for federal grants. This workshop breaks down 9 "green flags" that are nontraditional indicators of federal grant readiness.

Acts of Science: Connected Info Session (SciStarter)
Join us each month to prepare for the April event series "Acts of Science: Connected," a set of hybrid events, featuring different projects. Each month, we will host a meet up with one of the projects scheduled to be featured in April. For the first 30 minutes, you will learn about the project and how to participate in it. This will be an opportunity to ask the project leader questions and test out participation. For the last 30 minutes, we will provide facilitation support for the corresponding April event. We will discuss how your library or community space can host a satellite event and what resources will be available to you. These will include access to leaderboards, ways to personalize the community call to action, and promotional tools. These events are a part of Global Citizen Science Month and America 250, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

All About the 990 (TechSoup)
Almost all nonprofit organizations must complete some type of 990 information return at the end of each fiscal year. The returns are due  5 1/2 months after year-end, and being late can result in HUGE fines. Organizations that fail to file can lose their tax-exempt status. Once filed, these returns tell the story of your organization’s activities and are publicly available to funders and donors via IRS as well as other sites such as GuideStar.org. As important as the 990 is, most organizations know little about them.

The New Instruction Librarian Live: Real Problems, Real Solutions (ASERL)
Step into the classroom with confidence! This webinar brings to life teaching scenarios from the 2025 (2nd edition) book The New Instruction Librarian, tackling the common (and sometimes surprising) challenges that instruction librarians face. Together, we’ll look at practical ways to respond in the moment, keep students engaged, and build confidence as an instructor. Our goal is to keep things real, practical, and reassuring, because you don’t have to figure this out alone. Co-authors Candice Benjes-Small and Rebecca Miller Waltz will be joined by a panel of librarians who served as experts in the book.

Booklist Spring 2026 Graphic Novels & Manga Preview (Booklist)
What big graphic novel releases, continuing manga series, or exciting debuts should you be aware of in 2026? Find out at Booklist's Spring 2026 Graphic Novels & Manga Preview. This 90-minute free webinar will showcase upcoming releases from your favorite publishers, featuring everything from early reader comics to the next installment of your favorite manga series! We’ll be joined by Levine Querido, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Fantagraphics Books, MadCave Studios, and Yen Press. Register now! Moderated by Booklist’s Books for Youth associate editor Kelly Ferreira.

February 18

Communicating Your Library’s Value and Getting your Board “On Board” to Help! (Nebraska Library Commission)
How do you let your community know how valuable your library is? Come hear some ideas for communicating your value and how to encourage your library board to be involved in your efforts. There will be time for Q&A as well as for sharing your own examples of what has worked well in your community.

12 Golden Rules of Nonprofit Finance (Propel Nonprofits)
Nonprofit financial health can seem like an elusive, nuanced, and subjective judgment call. In this webinar we will break it all down to 12 Golden Rules of nonprofit finance to keep your organization healthy. From budgeting to operating reserves, if you follow these rules, you’ll be on your way to a better understanding of nonprofit financial health. This session is a great introduction for those who are new to nonprofit finance.

DEI, Burnout, and the Case for Compassionate Leadership (GrantStation)
Many nonprofits are deeply committed to equity and community impact, yet internally, staff are stretched thin, disengaged, or struggling to stay connected to the mission. When the internal culture erodes, even the most values-driven organizations feel the strain. During this webinar Bonnie Chavez will explore the often-overlooked connection between DEI and burnout and why compassionate leadership is not a “nice to have,” but a critical strategy for sustainability. You’ll discover how small but intentional shifts can reduce costs, improve retention, and reinforce your organization’s values from the inside out. You’ll leave with new, actionable strategies to better support staff and volunteers and a renewed perspective on what compassionate leadership can achieve. This webinar is ideal for executive directors, HR managers, and people managers who want to motivate and inspire their teams while keeping everyone aligned with the mission.

Meet FRED® from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FDLP)
Come learn about FRED, the free economic data aggregator from the St. Louis Fed. Attendees will view a live demonstration of the data search, visualization, and customization capabilities of the website. FRED is a trusted resource for anyone who’s interested in using data to make informed decisions.

The Donor Cultivation Playbook: Smarter Touches, Stronger Results (Bloomerang)
You’ve got donors—but if your revenue isn’t growing, generic outreach and scattered data may be holding you back. In this session, you’ll learn how to use a unified platform to cultivate donors more effectively, personalize every touchpoint, and raise more by turning one-time gifts into long-term support—without piling more on your plate.

The HarperCollins Spring/Summer 2026 Adult Preview (Library Journal)
The Library Love Fest team from HarperCollins Publishers is back for our World-Famous Book Buzz! We’re highlighting our faves from the Spring/Summer 2026 Adult list. Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, fantasy, and much more! Tune in to hear about titles that have set our hearts aflutter!

February 19

Info2Go! Libraries as Cooling Centers: Every Library Can Be One! (Idaho Commission for Libraries)
Your library can be a cooling center, even if you don’t use that term! As extreme heat events become more common even where people typically worry more about snow or ice than heat waves, libraries are adapting to welcome people who require shelter from heat. Before inviting attendees to share tips from their libraries, we’ll discuss heat risks, who is most affected, and challenges encountered in this work. Attendees will get ideas about incorporating this into existing library services, staffing needs, buy-in, and publicity. Emphasis will be on creative, inexpensive strategies. Not every library is air-conditioned, but every library can do something to meet this increasing need in their community! Presented by Joy Worland, Library Consultant at the Vermont Department of Libraries.

MacKids School & Library Spring 2026 Preview (Booklist)
RSVP now for the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Spring 2026 Preview Event, where they’ll preview upcoming picture books, middle grade, young adult, and adult titles during this free, one hour Booklist webinar. Stay tuned for our live special guests! Author Julian Randall will introduce his lyrical middle grade novel, SHOOK, and #1 New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Honoree author Christian Robinson will be in conversation about DAD, a beautifully-illustrated picture book.

Support Student Well-Being Through Focused Learning and Meaningful Human Connection (edWeb)
Today’s schools are navigating a complex learning environment shaped by constant connectivity, rising student stress, and increasing demands on educators. Creating conditions where students can focus deeply, engage authentically, and build meaningful human connections has become both more challenging—and more essential—than ever. This edLeader Panel will explore how school leaders can intentionally design learning environments that support student focus, well-being, and connection while addressing the realities of modern technology use. Drawing on research, district leadership experience, and practical implementation examples, the panelists will examine how distractions, digital habits, and schoolwide systems influence learning, classroom culture, and student mental health. Attendees will explore key insights related to attention, anxiety, engagement, and emotional well-being, and consider how continuous access to smartphones and digital content shapes students’ school experiences. Attendees will leave with a clearer framework for evaluating approaches that strengthen focus, support student well-being, and foster meaningful human connection—along with practical ideas adaptable to their own school communities. This edLeader Panel will be of interest to middle and high school teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.

February 23

Turning Impact Into Investment: Storytelling that Drives Funding (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Your work makes a difference, but funders don’t always see it. In this 30-minute session, learn how to turn your impact into investments with a story funders understand and support. We’ll explore common pitfalls, show what’s possible with a clear, confident story, and share reflection questions to help you strengthen your fundraising success.

Improving Team Motivation (GovLoop)
Supervisors set the tone for engagement, yet motivation can dip when workloads rise or priorities shift. It’s up to you as a leader to not only maintain healthy levels of motivation and productivity but also anticipate these dips and have a plan in place to address them. Join us as we talk with a management and leadership expert about practical ways to re-energize and inspire your team.

February 24

Nonprofit Leadership Trifecta: HR, Marketing, and Grant Writing (TechSoup)
Discover how the essential functions of HR, marketing, and grant writing come together to strengthen organizational impact and long-term sustainability. This expert panel will explore practical strategies that help nonprofits attract and retain top talent, deepen donor engagement, and improve grant success rates. Learn how AI-powered recruitment tools can enhance hiring, how to craft marketing that inspires supporters to act, and how to streamline grant writing workflows to increase efficiency and win more funding. Whether your organization is growing, restructuring, or preparing for its next phase, this session will equip your team with actionable insights from nonprofit sector specialists.

February 25

What’s Up Wednesday – Preparing for Tomorrow: The Benefits of Futures Thinking in Libraries (Indiana State Library)
This webinar will discuss foresight (or futures thinking) and how strategically thinking about the future can support the people that work in libraries, the library organization, and the community the library serves. With insights from a group of library staff across the state of Idaho, library consultants at the Idaho Commission for Libraries have been investigating how to incorporate thinking about the future into library work and developing fun ways to share what they’ve learned. Their newest toolkit, the Things From Future Libraries Toolkit, provides a guide for anyone to put on a creative, participatory design workshop where attendees imagine and prototype an object from a library in a future they select.

Monthly Giving: Your Nonprofit Sustainability Plan (Productive Fundraising)
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP for a session on launching, marketing and growing a monthly giving program at your nonprofit organization. Chad will highlight the data behind why monthly giving is the key to nonprofit sustainability and then provide specific, actionable steps that you can take to launch or expand a monthly giving program. Templates and resources will be provided to help attendees implement the recommendations.

Communicate effectively, influence upward, and anticipate leadership needs (Niche Academy)
Are you struggling to find clarity, collaboration, and strategic alignment with your boss? Managing up is a vital skill, especially when you and your supervisor are both juggling long to-do lists. Join Emma Kieran to learn practical tools to help strengthen your relationship with your manager that will lead to effective communication, influencing upward, and anticipating leadership needs.

Harnessing community strengths for research and interventions on wildfire smoke in the Yakima Valley of Washington state (NNLM)
Millions of pregnant women and children are exposed to dangerous levels of wildfire smoke in the US every year, a public health crisis predicted to accelerate in coming years. While there exist effective methods for reducing wildfire smoke exposure, many families face barriers to implementing recommendations that could protect child health. We will describe a study in the rural, agricultural Yakima Valley in Washington state aimed at understanding the barriers in order to develop programs that could best support families in future wildfire smoke events. We’ll highlight the partnership between the University of Washington and a local university, Heritage University, and engagement of undergraduates from the community in research activities and pursuit of their own original research using project data. Finally, we’ll discuss how both the research findings and our unique approach to collaborating with the local community could be applied to help other regions of the US being impacted by wildfire smoke.

Influence Is Your Superpower: The Human Advantage Al Still Can't Automate (Training Magazine Network)
AI can automate tasks. It can optimize processes. It can even simulate conversation. What it cannot do is influence human behavior. In today’s workplace—where technology is accelerating faster than trust—Influence has become the defining human advantage. As organizations rely more on AI, bots, and automation, the ability to read people, build momentum, and move ideas forward has never mattered more. Leading research from the World Economic Forum and Harvard Business Review confirms it: Influence and communication skills are now mission-critical. As we become more digitally connected, the human element has been quietly neglected—creating a widening gap between technical capability and real effectiveness.

Social Media Boot Camp - Two-Day Webinar Series (Firespring)
This two-day webinar series combines our Social Media 101 and 102 topics and includes additional resources to elevate your social media presence. Attendees will receive a Social Media Boot Camp Workbook and get additional Q&A time with our experts each day.

Day One: We’ll teach you practical tips and tools for extending your cause and mission via social media. We cover the basics of using social media for your nonprofit organization and give you handy tips for the most useful social media platforms for nonprofits.

Day Two: Now it’s time to use social media to stand out from the crowd. You’ll learn a few advanced social media tips and tricks, elevate your social media presence through micro strategies and activate your advocates.

Innovation in Action – Libraries that Power Digital Learning - Future Ready Librarians Webinar Series (All4Ed)
This session highlights how Future Ready librarians are leading meaningful digital learning experiences that support teachers and empower students. Participants will examine real-world examples of innovation driven by collaboration, instructional partnerships, and purposeful technology use. This series empowers you to lead from the library with confidence, clarity, and purpose—strengthening your role as a catalyst for teaching, learning, and innovation across your school community.

February 26

Creating a Culture of Recognition & Engagement (Training Magazine Network)
Employee recognition and engagement is the most important human resource issue in business today. Employees of different backgrounds spanning four generations have a direct influence on the customers they serve daily. As such, it is important for employers to maximize the full potential of their workforce with proper forms of recognition and engagement. Dr. Bob Nelson will show you how to create a culture of recognition, regardless of the size or type of business you are in. Based on his books The 1001 Rewards & Recognition Fieldbook and Recognizing & Engaging Employees For Dummies, this presentation will expand your thinking of what recognition really means and what you can do to build it into your culture.

Exactly What to Say in the Ask (Blackbaud)
Do you get tongue tied when asking for money? Does your mind go blank when you look at the donor? In this session, fundraising expert Marc Pitman will show you exactly what to say when making the ask. You'll learn: exact phrases to use in asking for money, how to make the situation less tense for both of you, and why talking to your steering wheel is essential.

Nonprofit Sustainability: Build Strategies That Actually Work (Candid Learning)
Community-based nonprofits have long been engines of innovation, care, and resilience, often operating with limited resources but unlimited commitment to those they serve. As funding models shift, public scrutiny increases, and political landscapes become more polarized, sustainability isn’t just a goal, it’s a necessity. Join seasoned nonprofit leaders who have successfully led small-to-mid-sized organizations through growth, crises, and change. Through real-world examples, lessons learned, and strategies grounded in lived experience, they will share the practices that helped them build financially resilient, community-rooted, and mission-driven organizations. Participants will walk away with practical tools, clear strategies, and renewed confidence in transforming their mission from survival to truly thriving.

Intergen at the Library: Programming and Engagement Across Ages (WebJunction)
Generational divides are some of the steepest, defined not just by age, but by differences in experiences, cultures, and perspectives. Through intergenerational programming, libraries foster design opportunities for people to interact with, learn from, and share with people of different ages, interests, and cultural backgrounds. In this session, participants will distinguish between “intergenerational” and “multigenerational,” explore generational labels, discover the benefits of and barriers to intergenerational relationship building, and find resources from and beyond the library landscape for designing their own intergenerational programs.

The Reading Culture Advantage Webinar Series: Module 7 | Cracking the Code on Reader Engagement (LibrariesLearn/CSL)
Looking for a way to re-engage students who've fallen away from reading? Not quite ready to implement a whole-school reading program like Just Read? Join literacy consultant Gabrielle Mace as she shares her innovative, research-backed approach to transforming students who say "I hate reading" into engaged, motivated readers. Drawing on recent research on gamified literacy instruction, Gabrielle demonstrates how a detective-style reading experience can boost motivation, build stamina, and hook even the most resistant learners—without fancy technology or complicated preparation. Building on our 2025 statewide book study of Dr. Margaret Merga's Creating a Reading Culture in Primary and Secondary Schools, this session introduces an evidence-aligned gamification approach that works when traditional programs don't. See Feb 10 for Module 6. Modules 1-4 can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8riLQL7j5vxlxbXXASVffycXW04MLX_A

February 27

Acts of Science: Connected Info Session (ProQuest/Clarivate)
Explore how leading institutions and content providers are harnessing AI to expand new possibilities for discovery. From Vanderbilt University to ProQuest, this session highlights real-world applications of AI in digitized archives, from handwritten text recognition to machine translation, and shows how these innovations empower researchers while making rare and fragile content more widely accessible.