Free April webinars for library staff
There is a great list of free webinars to dive into this April. Whether you're looking to enhance your technology know-how, explore new approaches to community engagement, or expand your leadership skills, there's something here to support your growth. The list, provided by the Maine State Library, includes over 50 webinars and an online conference, covering 20 different topic areas.
View and subscribe to the Maine State Library Continuing Education (CE) Calendar at: https://maine-msl.libguides.com/CECAL.
Do you have a free program that you would like to be considered for next month? Submit it by the 20th here: https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/ce/ce_program_submission_form.shtml
Questions or comments about the calendar? Email: [email protected]
View the list of offerings by topic on our Free Training page, and for additional training, check out the WebJunction Catalog, free and open to library staff and volunteers everywhere.
Online Conference
April 17: Library Journal Day of Dialog Spring 2025 (Library Journal)
Join us April 17 for our Library Journal Day of Dialog virtual event! Spanning a variety of genres, this day-long program will offer an in-depth look at the biggest forthcoming books for summer/fall 2025. You’ll hear directly from top authors as they discuss their new titles, inspiration, process, and more. And don’t forget the virtual exhibit hall! Visit the booths to download free resources and chat with representatives.
Webinars
April 1
Bridging Social and Academic Language for Newcomer and Emergent Multilingual Students Through Tech (edWeb)
In this interactive edWebinar, educators will explore how to effectively teach social language while providing equitable access to academic content for newcomer and emergent multilingual students using tech tools that provide speech recognition, visual aids, translation, and more. Attendees will learn practical, tech-driven strategies that support both conversational fluency and academic language acquisition, fostering student confidence and engagement. This session will also highlight how these tools align with state English Language Development (ELD) Standards, ensuring that instructional practices meet linguistic and academic expectations while accelerating language growth. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and digital resources to enhance instruction and empower multilingual learners in their classrooms. This edWebinar will be of interest to K-12 teachers, school leaders, district leaders, and education technology leaders.
The Secondary Literacy Crisis: Why Reading Scores Are Falling—and How to Fix It (edWeb)
Too many older students slip through the cracks, missing out on critical literacy interventions that could change their academic trajectory. Join leading experts as they tackle the biggest challenges in secondary literacy education and share actionable solutions that work. This isn’t just another discussion—it’s a call to action. Walk away with research-backed strategies to integrate literacy support into secondary classrooms, strengthen professional development, and ensure all students have the tools they need to succeed. Don’t miss out—join us and be part of the solution! This edLeader Panel will be of interest to K-12 teachers, district leaders, and education technology leaders. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
Focus on the Future: The Art of Selling Your Board and Funders on Capacity Building (Firespring)
You won’t need a crystal ball to see the future for your nonprofit organization when you attend this entertaining and engaging session with Firespring’s Director of Nonprofit Solutions, Kiersten Hill. Join this session to gain invaluable insights into crafting a case for capacity that merges strategic prowess with impactful storytelling. Register now to save your spot for this informative webinar brought to you by Firespring.
April 2
Coaching and Managing: The Intersection of Leadership (Blackbaud)
By combining both coaching and managing, leaders can create a balanced approach that not only drives performance but also supports the growth and development of their team members. This intersection of leadership allows leaders to harness the strengths of both approaches to elevate their leadership game and create a thriving, high-performing team. Whether you’re looking to refine your management skills or become a more effective coach, this webinar is a must-attend for people managers at all levels. Join us and transform the way you lead!
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.
April 3
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.
Shuffling Your Donor Engagement Strategy for Nonprofit Success (CharityVillage)
Join DonorPerfect experts to shuffle your engagement strategy and ace your retention activities in one cohesive approach. Using the Donor Engagement Models, you will learn how to create meaningful connections with each supporter, no matter their giving capacity! From this unique session, you’ll take away research-driven steps and real-life examples to secure lasting relationships. This webinar will be of primary interest to fundraisers, nonprofit professionals, leaders, and board members.
Spreading the Risk: When One Basket of Eggs is Not Enough (Bloomerang)
The best safeguard in these turbulent times is to diversify your funding sources. Take a moment to think back to the uncertain days of COVID-19. We were all challenged to find creative and impactful ways to share our stories and raise funds. The lesson remains clear—never put all your eggs in one funding basket!
Prove Your Value: Five Simple Steps to Advance Your Career (Training Magazine Network)
This session will describe how to manage your career and develop it to be what you want it to be. It takes the mystery out of why individuals receive promotions, get special assignments, avoid disappointing reviews, and escape layoffs. It examines five critical questions: 1. Who controls your career? You must manage your career. Yes, you can have great leaders, mentors, and personal coaches, but ultimately, your career is yours. 2. Who can help you? There are many possibilities for support, advice, and encouragement. 3. What is performance? This is a critical issue. On-the-job performance has five different levels, and some of these levels are more important to executives than others. 4. How do you document your performance? You need to track, document, and describe your performance. You cannot rely on your memory or others to remember your work. 5. How do you communicate your performance? You need to decide when and how to communicate your performance.
April 4
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!
April 5
Membership Monday: Volunteer for PLA (Public Library Association, ALA)
Learn about PLA Committees and Advisory Groups and how to increase your chances of being selected. Volunteering for a PLA Committee or Advisory Group is a great way to expand your professional development and impact the public library field. Learn more about the work of PLA’s Committees and Advisory Groups, the volunteer process and timeline, and what to include on your application to increase your chances of being selected.
April 7
Discover CultureRoad – The Future of Workplace Learning & Community Engagement (ASERL)
The workplace is evolving, and organizations need scalable, accessible, and people centered solutions to keep up. How do you ensure continuous learning, real engagement, and real-time support for your employees—without overloading your HR team? Join us for this exclusive one-hour webinar to explore CultureRoad, a revolutionary platform designed to transform workplace learning, leadership development, and employee support. Attendees will get an exclusive live demo of CultureRoad in action, showcasing its features and real-world applications. Don’t miss this opportunity to see how CultureRoad can help your organization navigate change, enhance engagement, and build a stronger, more resilient workforce.
April 8
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.
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.
Summer Reading & Series Nonfiction (Booklist)
It’s never too early to start thinking about summer reading, and with so many titles out there, what’s the best way to curate your list? By joining us, The Creative Company, Albatros, Nomad Press and Highlights for this free one-hour webinar! They will share all their best upcoming titles to help you get ahead of the summer slide, as well as highlight their newest series nonfiction titles! Associate Editor of Books for Youth, Kelly Ferreira, will moderate. Register now!
April 9
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.
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.
Creating Escape Rooms for Learning Using an Action-First Learning Approach (Training Magazine Network)
Escape rooms can be more than just fun and games—they are effective tools for creating immersive and engaging learning experiences. By blending problem-solving, teamwork, and storytelling, escape rooms can transform traditional learning into an adventure that promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and deep knowledge retention. Discover how to harness this innovative strategy to drive real learning outcomes through experiential and action-driven methods, learn a few cyphers and codes that should be in every escape room and explore the impact they can have on learner performance.
April 10
How to Engage Older Adult Patrons through Creative Aging this Summer and Beyond (Colorado State Library)
Think 360 Arts for Learning, a leading Colorado arts education organization, has been involved in the Creative Aging movement since 2017. In this session, Think 360 staff will share their experience developing and leading Creative Aging programs with community organizations and libraries across the state. Library staff will have opportunities to discuss their own experiences with older adult programming and explore ideas and resources to launch Creative Aging initiatives in their communities
Increasing Privacy Online: Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence in the Digital Age (TechSoup)
Survivors are often looking for ways to increase their privacy online. As advocates and service providers, it’s essential that we empower survivors with the knowledge to increase their digital safety, including sharing tools and resources that can help them meet their privacy needs. With the right cybersecurity measures, survivors can stay connected, access vital resources, and regain their independence, all while protecting their identity in an increasingly digital world. Join us for an engaging session with experts from Norton and NNEDV (National Network to End Domestic Violence) to learn how to support survivors in navigating the digital landscape and increasing their privacy online. This session will provide insights into the critical role of cybersecurity in helping survivors stay safe while engaging online.
Determined to Change: Five Leadership Essentials for People-Centered Change in a Fast-Paced World (ASERL)
We know too well the challenges with constant change. The rapid pace of change calls for an intentional look at how we lead and inspire people to be more committed to the next change initiative. In Determined to Change, you will learn and apply five evidence-based strategies to lead meaningful change through others. These people-centered strategies are designed to help organizations and the people in them thrive in highly demanding times.
How to Conduct Board Recruitment in 3 Easy Steps (CharityHowTo)
Join Sabrina Walker Hernandez where she will show you how to conduct board recruitment in 3 easy steps. With the advent of board term limits, one thing is for sure, the nonprofit board generally completely turns over about every four to six years. Keeping this in mind, both board members and executive leadership need to be on the lookout for potential directors who are competent to tackle the sometimes unpredictable challenges of the future. If your current recruitment process involves having past directors take off their obligatory year between terms then coming back on to the board. Or you place friends or relatives on your board because it’s convenient. I encourage you to look at your board recruitment process. Board recruitment should be strategic in nature and when done correctly you will get the right people to say yes. At the end of this 45-minute webinar, you will have the knowledge and tools to implement a board recruitment process for your nonprofit.
April 14
Am I Making the Right Decision? The Role of Ethics in Volunteer Engagement (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
We all encounter ethical dilemmas in our daily work with and for community, but rarely do organizations focus on ethics related to volunteer engagement. This session provides an opportunity for practitioners to understand the difference between personal, organizational and professional ethics. The core values and principles identified by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) will be shared. Participants will learn a process for ethical decision-making that can be applied in any situation, and then practice this using real-life scenarios related to volunteers. Finally, several specific strategies will be offered for increasing awareness of ethics within an organization and helping both volunteers and staff become more effective at handling ethical dilemmas.
April 15
Designing Inclusive and Impactful Nonprofit Websites (TechSoup)
Discover how to create nonprofit websites that inspire action and foster inclusivity. This session will provide strategies for designing user-friendly, visually compelling websites that connect with diverse audiences and reflect your mission. Learn practical tips to optimize layout, content, accessibility features, and navigation, ensuring your website engages supporters and serves your community effectively. Whether you're revamping an existing site or building a new one, this workshop will empower your nonprofit to create a digital presence that is both impactful and inclusive.
Library Love for LibraryReads (Booklist)
Curious about LibraryReads? Not sure what books you should vote for? Interested in what your colleagues are reading and are excited about? Then join us as we get a behind-the-scenes look at LibraryReads from Executive Director Rebecca Vnuk! You’ll learn where you can access e-ARCs, how to promote the monthly list to your patrons, who participates, and more! Plus, we’ll get a first look at upcoming titles from Tor Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster, W.W. Norton & Company, and the Penguin Random House Library Marketing team that are top contenders for your LibraryReads vote. Register now for this free, one-hour Booklist webinar moderated by Susan Maguire, Booklist’s Senior Editor, Collection Management and Library Outreach.
How to Supercharge Your Grant Research (CharityHowTo)
There is no doubt, to be done successfully, grant research takes critical time away from effective grant writing and grant relationship development and maintenance. However, without the appropriate amount of time spent on grant research, your relationship-building efforts, and especially your grant writing work will fall flat! Participating in “How to Supercharge Your Grant Research” will strengthen your grant research process. In this live webinar, we will discuss how to best use the variety of tools available for foundation research to create and support your grant-seeking plan and strategy. We will look at opportunities for discounts or short-term access to reduce grant research expenses while supercharging your results from the research. We will also address the key role that your colleagues should play in the grant research process and how to get them excited and engaged to help keep their eyes open for grant opportunities.
Key Volunteer Stats & Trends from 2024 and Proven Strategies (Firespring)
Let’s put our best foot forward in 2025 by learning from the past: What worked? What didn’t work? What could you try differently? Maybe you’re thinking about how to take advantage of this time to revamp and re-imagine your volunteering program? If so, join us to talk all things volunteering for your nonprofit organization.
Building Community and Positivity Through Library Design (Demco)
Join author and education space expert Dr. Robert Dillon and teacher, librarian, and author Shannon McClintock Miller to explore how library design can increase positivity and build your school community. School leaders, librarians, and educational professionals will learn impactful tactics to improve their space. Participants will explore: Leveraging the library for all learners, Activating an uplifting atmosphere in the library, Building and fostering collaboration in the library.
April 16
Donor Retention | The Most Important Metric That Fundraisers Love to Ignore (Nonprofit Hub)
Donor retention isn’t just stuck, it’s on the decline. While nonprofits often are focused solely on finding new audiences and acquiring new donors, the donors who have already invested in your cause are walking out the back door. In this session, we’ll explore the current state of donor retention, why it might be slipping, and how you can leverage both AI enabled tools and proven optimization strategies to get retention back on the right track.
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.
Unlocking Economic Opportunities: A Comprehensive Overview of U.S. Census Bureau’s Business Programs (US CENSUS)
The Census Bureau serves as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people, places and economy. Join our webinar for an overview of business data essential to decision-makers and researchers. Find out how to access these resources, explore different data tools, and engage with our analysts to get answers to your questions. This session is a prequel to the Exploring Census Data webinar series that highlights statistics from economic and demographic programs.
April 17
Break Through the Barriers Between Finance and Development (Blackbaud)
Your organization’s donor management and accounting solutions are two of the key vehicles that drive your mission forward. When these two vehicles aren’t in sync, challenges like duplicative data entry, inaccuracies, and manual reconciliation can become roadblocks to success. But what if your solutions worked together to eliminate those challenges?
Memorable Manga (Booklist)
Interested in learning more about Manga titles or expanding your Manga collection or reading list? We’ve got just the thing for you! Representatives from Viz Media, Yen Press, Square Enix, Tuttle Publishing and Nakama Press will be here to shepherd you to all their latest and greatest Manga reads! Hosted by Senior Editor of Books for Youth, Ronny Khuri. Register now!
Library Data 101 (Texas State Library)
Data is a powerful tool for improving library services, making informed decisions, and understanding patron needs. In this webinar, TSLAC’s Data and Project Coordinator Promise Madu will introduce the basics of library data—what it is, how it’s collected, and why it matters. You’ll learn how data can help libraries manage resources, plan programs, and enhance patron experiences. We’ll also cover simple data analysis techniques, useful tools for organizing information, and real-world examples of how libraries use data effectively. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a passion for learning. Whether you're a librarian, library staff member, or simply interested in data-driven decision-making, this session will give you a good foundation to get started.
April 22
Communicating Our Non-Partisan Mission (Libraries4de)
These are scary times for libraries. It may feel like there are political traps everywhere, but we still have a critical message to deliver: we know our mission, and we won’t give up on it. Join Libraries4DE in a frank discussion on keeping our heads above water. We’ll share practical tips for communicating our non-partisan mission to any audience, even the most hostile. Attendees can expect vocabulary tools, messaging ideas, and a supportive conversation. After all, libraries are still good news for everyone.
An Introduction to the National Climate Action Strategy for Libraries (Public Library Association, ALA)
ALA and Sustainable Libraries Initiative provide guidance and tools to help expedite climate action work in libraries. Climate change is one of the grandest challenges facing our generation. The National Climate Action Strategy for Libraries was announced in 2024 by the American Library Association in partnership with the award-winning Sustainable Libraries Initiative in order to provide guidance and tools to help expedite climate action work in libraries. From working to reduce the impact library operations have on future climate change, to the pressing need for work to adapt in the face of the predicted impacts of climate change, to how to ensure climate action is done through a justice lens—the strategy helps library stakeholders better understand the context of decisions that will be made at your library in the coming years and how you can be a catalyst for positive change at your library and in your community. In addition to rolling out the strategy itself, a practical implementation guide with definitions, examples, and simple steps to get started was also released. This webinar will explain both the strategy and the implementation guide and help any library stakeholder identify a path forward on this important topic.
Transform Your District’s Strategic Plan into Action: From the Boardroom to the Classroom (edWeb)
School districts invest significant time and resources in developing strategic plans, but turning those high-level visions into meaningful, day-to-day actions is often a challenge. This edLeader Panel will guide district leaders, technology administrators, and educators through the process of transforming their strategic plans into actionable, measurable steps that drive real impact. Whether you’re finalizing a new strategic plan or struggling to implement an existing one, this session will equip you with the strategies needed to move from planning to progress. Don’t let your strategic plan sit on the shelf—transform it into a driving force for districtwide success! This edLeader Panel will be of interest to K-12 district leaders, education technology leaders, chief academic officers, and federal grants officers.
Unlock the Power of Adobe Express for Your Library with Martha Bongiorno (Follett)
In this engaging webinar, join Martha Bongiorno, a nationally recognized library leader and advocate, as she explores how Adobe Express can empower you to create stunning visuals, streamline workflows, and amplify your library’s impact – all with free, easy-to-use tools! Adobe Express offers librarians an intuitive way to design eye-catching promotional materials, engaging digital resources, and compelling advocacy campaigns, without needing advanced design skills. Whether you're crafting social media posts, flyers, or interactive learning materials, this session will equip you with practical strategies to bring your library’s story to life
April 23
Zero to Chatbot in 30 Minutes: Build Your First AI Learning Assistant in Half an Hour (Training Magazine Network)
Want to create your own educational chatbot but don't know where to start? Are you working with a limited (or non-existent) budget? AI learning pioneer Margie Meacham follows up on her previous chatbot webinar with this hands-on mini workshop where you'll build a working chatbot in just 30 minutes! Drawing from her decade of experience designing award-winning AI learning solutions for organizations like the United Nations and major corporations, Margie will guide you through the process step by step.
Disciplinary Differences: Generative AI in the Research and Publication Process (Niche Academy)
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has exploded onto the scene, leaving librarians scrambling to keep up with the latest news and use cases. Understanding disciplinary differences in GenAI use and how these differences impact publication is a critical step in contextualizing and understanding recent sources. In this webinar, assistant managing editor of Library Trends, Evan Allgood, shares of how GenAI has impacted different academic disciplines and changed the publishing process.
Spirituality in the Library Workplace: Bringing Your Whole Self to Work (Colorado State Library)
Library employees face numerous challenges that impact their mental health and overall well-being. While libraries focus on creating inclusive and welcoming spaces for their patrons, how can we also nurture the well-being of our staff, particularly through practices of spirituality and mindfulness? This panel will explore the role of spirituality in the library workplace, discussing how it can contribute to mental health, resilience, and a more balanced work life. We will examine the intersection of spirituality and inclusivity, providing strategies for fostering a respectful and supportive environment for diverse spiritual and religious beliefs. Through a blend of philosophical insights and practical recommendations, this session will highlight ways to integrate spirituality into workplace culture in a way that respects personal boundaries and enhances collective well-being.
April 24
How to Get Your Board to Fundraise (Productive Fundraising)
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP for a workshop focused on equipping and motivating your board members to be great fundraisers. You’ll learn how to help them get over their fear of fundraising and develop the fundraising habit. Accountability and follow through will also be discussed. The session includes tools and samples that you can use to start building a fundraising culture within your board.
Imagining Our Future: The Essential Role of Climate Fiction and Nonfiction in Shaping Middle Grade Minds (Booklist)
Join us for an author panel that is sure to leave attendees with a renewed passion for empowering young readers to take action in their own communities. As today's young readers navigate an increasingly complex world, climate literature—both fiction and nonfiction—emerges as a vital tool in fostering environmental awareness, empathy, and critical thinking skills. During this session, middle-grade authors will explore how engaging narratives can inspire middle grade students to envision potential futures, understand the science behind climate change, and cultivate a sense of agency. Booklist editor of Books for Youth and Graphic Novels, Sarah Hunter will appear in conversation with Mikaela Loach (CLIMATE IS JUST THE START), Lynne Kelly (THREE BLUE HEARTS), and María José Fitzgerald (TURTLES OF THE MIDNIGHT MOON), and Nicholas Day (A WORLD WITHOUT SUMMER).
Mastering Economic Data Searches on data.census.gov (US Census)
Unlocking valuable economic data from data.census.gov is only a few clicks away - if you have the right techniques to find it. In this webinar, participants will discover that the difference between time-consuming searches and tailored results often comes down to specific search strategies. Join us on this session to learn essential skills for accessing economic datasets through filtering techniques, customizing table views, and creating compelling visualizations through our interactive maps and charts. From industry analysis to preparing reports and beyond, these tips and tricks for searching on data.census.gov will help to improve your search times and relevance of the economic data you discover. Our presenter will perform live demonstrations and provide you with helpful resources to help you achieve your data needs.
April 25
DPLA Book Talk: Jacqueline Woodson on Banned Books (DPLA)
DPLA’s Book Talk returns this spring with a special free webinar, featuring award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson in conversation with Jill Egan, leader of DPLA’s Curation Corps and curator of the Banned Book Club. Woodson, whose acclaimed works—including Brown Girl Dreaming and Red at the Bone—have been frequently challenged or banned, will discuss the impact of censorship, the importance of diverse storytelling, and the power of literature in shaping young readers’ lives. This conversation is part of DPLA’s efforts to ensure access to books that have been removed from schools and libraries due to bans. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of today’s most influential voices in literature and the author of multiple titles available in The Banned Book Club.
April 28
Marketing for a Mission (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
The digital landscape is as crowded as ever, so how do mission-driven nonprofits stand out to reach new donors, volunteers, and other supporters? In this session, we will explore how nonprofits can develop and improve online communication plans that drive results.
How to Be Productive Without Burning Out (GovLoop)
For better or worse, output is generally considered a key indicator of productivity at work. But when all the focus goes into how much work we’re getting done, burnout is an obvious consequence. As supervisors, this can be a very difficult thing to manage. How can you lead an effective team that meets goals and expectations while also protecting yourself and your team from burnout? Join us for a virtual discussion to hear from a career expert about how to stay productive while maintaining personal well-being.
April 29
Where Have All the Future Leaders Gone? (Training Industry)
Remember when becoming a people leader was a source of pride — a coveted role that many aspired to attain? Being a “boss” marked a significant achievement, allowing individuals to make impactful decisions, lead teams and enhance their contributions to the organization. However, this excitement for leadership positions has diminished and many employees are now declining promotions to these roles, viewing them as unappealing. Join us for this complimentary Training Industry webinar, sponsored by GP Strategies. Your hosts, Leah Clark, practice lead, leadership, and Nic Girvan, director of leadership and inclusion product, will discuss how to reenergize the perception of being a people leader and make it attractive again, both personally and professionally. This engaging session will provide: The reasons employees are opting out of people leadership roles; Insights from executives on what qualities are essential for future successful leaders; Strategies to support employees in transitioning to leadership positions, ensuring that it benefits both the individual and the organization.
Cultivating Relational Connections that Lead to Co-Laboring (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Meeting regularly to stay connected and learn about everyone’s work is one thing. It’s quite another for those connections to translate into working together to solve real problems in your community. What is necessary for the emergence of deep trust and sustained engagement?
Share Knowledge, Ideas, Learning, and Library Solutions! (Nebraska Library Commission)
Get together virtually with librarians to Share Knowledge, Ideas, Learning, and Library Solutions! You are welcome to join any or all of the meetings for networking and discussions. Research has shown that networking with fellow librarians is beneficial professional development that improves professional practice, promotes shared leadership, and helps people remain in the profession.
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.
April 30
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.
Pretty Sweet Tech: Computers in Libraries 2025 Highlights & Trends (Nebraska Library Commission)
Special monthly episodes of NCompass Live! Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech. Computers in Libraries is the world's leading technology and innovation conference for librarians! In this session I will cover some of the awesome ideas, tools, tips, and tricks of the trade I picked up while in D.C. this year. I hope to see you there! As a side note, if you're looking for more emerging tech trends in the library, check out Computers in Libraries magazine.
Strategy, Planning, and Outcomes: Bridging your strategy work with ground level impacts (Propel Nonprofits)
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.