Free December Webinars for Library Staff
Give yourself and your team the gift of learning this holiday season! As you wrap up the year, take some time to reflect on areas you'd like to explore, alone or with others. And remember, many of the sessions will be made available as recordings so you can revisit topics when the time is right for you. Take inventory with everyone on your team, staff and volunteers, and consider dividing up topics and then share that learning back with the full group, to grow the knowledge of your learning organization. This list of over 50 webinars and 2 online conferences, covering 21 topic areas, was collected by the Wyoming State Library with the Maine State Library. It's updated monthly on the Free Training page, where you can also view the offerings by topic.
For additional training, check out the WebJuntion Catalog, free and open to library staff and volunteers everywhere.
Online Conferences
December 7: Penguin Random House Winter Book & Author Festival 2023 (Library Journal)
Join Penguin Random House, Library Journal, and School Library Journal for our Winter 2023 virtual book and author festival, a free day-long event celebrating reading, authors, and librarians everywhere! Enjoy a day packed with author panels and interviews, book buzzes, virtual shelf browsing, and adding to your TBR pile. You’ll hear from many of your favorite authors, whose work runs the gamut from Picture Books to Young Adult titles to the best new Fiction and Nonfiction for adults. There is something of interest for every reader.
December 7: Leader Talk: Create Impactful Learning Experiences (Training Industry)
Employees want to learn new skills, but they also want training to be engaging. With an increasing demand for learning in today’s fast-paced world of work, learning leaders must ensure that training meets modern learners’ expectations and builds learner engagement and retention. To do this, learning leaders must understand how to create memorable learning experiences. During this Training Industry Leader Talk, you will gain key insights on how to create impactful learning experiences that foster learner engagement and increase learning outcomes.
Webinars
December 2
Observing in the City (SciStarter)
Urban stargazers face a host of challenges when turning their attention skyward: Limited horizons, the blight of light pollution, suspicious neighbors – even the rules of the local homeowners association! What’s an aspiring citizen scientist to do? Answer: Science! With a little ingenuity, it’s possible to observe even in the brightest inner-city environment. Join us online as Dr. Brian Kloppenborg, AAVSO’s executive director, shares his experience with observing from urban environments, and provides advice and techniques for making the experience more productive.
December 4
Nurturing Digital Well-Being in K-12 Schools Through Collaborative Family Partnerships (edWeb)
Attend this edWebinar with Common Sense’s Jasmine Hood Miller and Tali Horowitz to explore nurturing genuine family/school partnerships. They’ll review new resources teachers can share with families to help students build digital agency and reinforce their understanding of the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Learn strategies for identifying and reframing tech use to support positive media habits at home and at school, and leave with tools to build a sustained partnership that supports students in navigating the digital landscape with resilience and balance.
Bookelicious Middle Grade Book Club with Library Girl - Simon Sort of Says (Bookelicious)
Join Jennifer LaGarde and Bookelicious for a fun, joy-filled Middle Grade Book Club. Together we’ll discuss new and notable Middle Grade titles with their authors! Additionally, we’ll explore strategies for creating joyful and engaging reading communities for the young people we serve.
December 5
Orientation to Legal Research Webinar: Tracing Federal Regulations (Law Library of Congress)
This webinar will provide an overview of U.S. federal regulations, including information about the notice and comment rulemaking process; the publication and citation of regulations; and the tracing of regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations, to the proposed rule in the Federal Register, to the regulation’s docket.
Graphic Novels and Manga for Teens and Tweens (Infopeople)
Hey, library staff! Comics! Everyone is looking for them at your library, but they all want something different. What do you say to the parent whose child won’t let go of Dog Man? How high is your stack of Raina Telgemeier read-alikes? Where is your manga section, and how do you know which series to add to your collection? This session will provide an overview of all kinds of graphic novels in libraries, complete with extensive booklists and links to review sources so that your library will be the hottest destination for teens and tweens readers’ next comics fix.
How to Encourage Diversity in the Hiring Process (Grantstation)
Diversity and equity in hiring allows your nonprofit to better represent your community and openly demonstrates your values. Diverse teams bring together individuals with various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This diversity can lead to more creative problem-solving and innovative ideas, in addition to consideration of a wider range of factors and viewpoints when making decisions.
Using Collaborative Competition to Boost Reading Culture (School Library Journal)
Join School Library Journal and Charleston County School District’s (CCSD) Christy James, MLIS, district library and media services coordinator and teacher librarian, Rosie Herold, to learn proven strategies that drove their district’s reading engagement. They will zoom in on CCSD’s 20 Million Minute Challenge from the district and school building perspective. You will gain tangible and lightweight best practices to apply to your district, building, or classroom.
Spread the Word! Promoting NoveList Plus to Your Community (Novelist)
Join NoveList expert Caleigh Haworth for this 30-minute microtraining to learn easy, effective ways to promote NoveList Plus. You’ll come away with a 5-step plan you can begin implementing right away to spread the word about NoveList Plus so all the readers in your community can find the books that perfectly match their reading preferences.
Is starting a nonprofit right for you? (Candid Learning)
In this session you’ll learn the legal and logistical elements necessary to start a successful nonprofit. You’ll also learn about possible alternatives to starting your own nonprofit that you may not have considered. Finally, you’ll be introduced to a tool that will help you assess your own readiness to move forward.
Tools for Reimagining School Readiness (WebJunction)
The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit provides free, online, research-based resources, created specifically for library staff. These resources make it easy for you to enhance what you are already doing, with eye-catching tips, planning tools, program surveys, activity ideas, family conversation starters, social media posts, and more. This webinar will introduce library staff to the background and components of the Toolkit, along with testimonials from practitioners about how they are reimagining school readiness in their own libraries. You’ll leave with ideas and strategies for supporting your families and communities.
December 6
NCompass Live: Using Creativity to Grow & Develop (Nebraska Library Commission)
Justin Hoenke shares his experiences moving from the super creative world of youth services in libraries to the still creative but not the same kind of creative world of leading a library. He discusses the pros and cons of moving into leadership and managing teams and how to use your creativity to engage your team and community.
Connecting with Teens Using Discord (Georgia Library Association)
Discord is a dynamic and powerful virtual platform that offers users the ability to communicate through voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media, files and more. It is a great tool for libraries to use to reach teens who are already online and who may not be able to visit the library. At the Salt Lake County Library in Utah, we’ve used Discord to help connect with teens in our community and help teens connect with each other. In this webinar, we will discuss how and why you should consider using Discord to expand library services for teens into the virtual world.
Overcoming Burnout in the ECE Workplace (Early Childhood Investigations)
Most professionals in every field occasionally experience flagging motivation and workplace frustration, but in early childhood education, rates of burnout have skyrocketed. We’re all looking for the magic answer to banish the blues, rejuvenate educators, and inspire program leaders. Join keynote speaker, author, and experienced early childhood leader, Ellen Drolette to explore strategies for avoiding burn-out and low morale. Based on the book, Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood: Strategies for Change. Ellen will use inspiring stories from the field to examine the structures and practices that support the development of healthy attitudes, quality engagement, and optimism in the workplace.
Welcome to TechSoup: New Member Orientation and Q&A (TechSoup)
Have you recently joined TechSoup as a member, or are you thinking about becoming a member and want to better understand how TechSoup can help your nonprofit organization? Join us for our meeting on how your organization can access TechSoup's wide variety of product discount and donation programs. From hardware to software, we'll give you a tour of the tools available to help your nonprofit with productivity, collaboration, financial management, donor tracking, security, and more. We'll also show you how to access our many learning resources, tech services, courses, and community offerings designed to help you optimize technology for your organization. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so be sure to bring your questions!
Transforming Business Models (Propel Nonprofits)
Learn the four core components of a nonprofit business model – revenue mix, understanding the cost of programs, infrastructure, and capital structure – and explore how all these components connect to mission and your organization's financial health.
Understanding the Digital Workplace (GovLoop)
The days when a desk and a pad of paper were enough to do your job are long gone and navigating the modern digital workplace can be difficult. Join us to hear how agencies are operating in this new digital landscape and the tools and policies for making it work.
Assistive Technology for Writing (Pacer Center)
In this workshop, we'll look at assistive technology to help with a range of writing skill levels. We'll see apps to help with different stages from drafting to revising along with learning the basics and various digital and voice options.
Policy Writing and Implementation with an Equity Lens (Niche Academy)
Using a recent Behavior Policy revision process as an example, as well as current Collection Development policy work, Adrienne Doman Calkins will share ways to approach policy writing as a process rather than a product. Join us to learn about the processes and pitfalls in library policy writing and implementation. Get tips for using an equity lens, applying trauma-informed concepts, researching, the writing process, building feedback loops, and a holistic approach to implementation.
December 7
Techniques for Getting the Most Out of Foundational AI Models Like Chat GPT (Wyoming State Library)
Just under a year ago, ChatGPT took the world by storm with its groundbreaking ability to think and access knowledge much like a human being. In this presentation, we will delve into prompt engineering techniques aimed at extracting the maximum potential from ChatGPT and similar foundational large language models. We’ll start with straightforward methods for asking questions, generating content, and editing text. Progressing from there, we will explore advanced techniques, including teaching the model to mimic your voice and revolutionary research on its ability to perform tasks on your behalf. Along the way, we will also examine limitations and common mistakes that users encounter when utilizing ChatGPT.
Simplified Fundraising Planning for Small Nonprofits (Bloomerang)
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, CFRE, for a workshop covering fundraising planning. We’ll cover some of the biggest mistakes that nonprofit organizations make when putting together their annual fundraising plan and how to avoid them. Processes and tools will be shared which pare the planning process down to its simplest form. Attendees leave with actionable steps that they can take to make their organization’s planning process more effective and efficient.
Inclusive and Ethical AI for Academic Libraries (Association of College and Research Libraries)
Academic libraries have historically been early adopters and implementers of new and emerging technologies. Yet, many are caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty as the world accelerates the adoption of generative and other forms of AI. This webinar will focus on defining and implementing inclusive and ethical AI for academic libraries.
Spring Youth Preview (Booklist)
What new titles do your favorite publishers have in store this spring? Find out during Booklist’s Spring Youth Preview on Thursday, December 7. Learn about upcoming picture book, middle grade, and YA titles coming to a shelf near you from Bloomsbury, Norton Young Readers, and Abrams Children’s Books. Register now!
CSL in Session: Playing Well with Others – At Work (Colorado State Library)
We all know that children learn through play, but what about adults? Research shows that when humans, at any age, play, they learn and grow into healthy, happy, well-functioning individuals. Indeed, embedding playful work techniques into your day can lead to greater creativity, productivity, and resilience in you and your library. And knowing others’ play styles will help build better teams, improve collaborative work, and create a more enjoyable work culture. Join us for this lively, interactive, and fun session, as we delve into the research on play, identify your play style, and explore ways to add more play into your work.
Library Girl & Friends: Among the Stars! Library Girl and The Book Whisperer Share Their Favorite Books of 2023! (Bookelicious)
Join Jennifer LaGarde, Donalyn Miller and Bookelicious for a fun, festive hour of pure book joy! Together we’ll share the titles (for K-8 learners) that have received the most starred reviews from industry trade journals along with the books we’ve awarded the stars of our hearts! Be prepared to share your own recommendations while also growing your To Be Read pile!
December 11
Donor Retention Strategies for Time Limited Giving Efforts (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Whether it is Giving Tuesday, your organization’s own giving day, or a community foundation matching day, chances are your organization has been involved in a time-limited giving effort. These campaigns help your organization raise new funds, identify new donors, and quickly increase your social media presence. But the work doesn’t stop when the clock strikes midnight. What happens the day after Giving Day? How do you acknowledge gifts and retain donors? Do you have a strategic plan for new donors? How does donor relations play a role in these efforts? Join Lynne Wester, Principal and Founder of DRG , as she discusses Giving Tuesday giving days, how they impact your organization, and ways to make the most of the generosity.
December 12
Get Your Board to Help You Fundraise—Even if They Don’t Wanna! (Firespring)
Are you a nonprofit trying to fundraise? You have a board—and believe it or not, your board should function as a fundraising machine. If it runs more like a college clunker than a luxury sedan, this webinar’s for you.
Navigating Privacy Issues in the Public Library (Indiana State Library)
In this webinar, we will answer some common questions about privacy, including: What patron or employment records must be disclosed and to whom? Can a citizen take video of staff and other patrons – and the materials they are accessing – in the library without their consent? Can a staff member post cute photos of children participating in library programming on the library’s social media? This webinar will provide you with an overview of various state and federal laws that address privacy in the library and considerations for crafting related library policies.
Start Your 2024 Grant Strategy Off Right! (CharityHowTo)
Join our free webinar training to enhance your skills and knowledge with valuable tips and take your grant strategy to the next level.
Using Digital Body Language for the Human Connection in Your Remote Training Sessions (Training Magazine Network)
It’s understandable that lots of people were overjoyed about being able to get back into the physical classroom after lockdowns and being apart. Trainers and facilitators around the world rejoiced in seeing people’s body language, using their flipcharts and finally being with real human beings again. But what if you could see people’s body language in virtual classrooms? What if the electronic whiteboard was as intuitive to you as your pens and paper? And what if those pixels were real people that you could connect with on the most human of levels? This is what Jo Cook, live online learning specialist with over a decade of experience, wants to bring to your virtual offerings: remote training sessions where everybody leaves not just having learned something, but feeling great about it too.
Census of Governments (Federal Depository Library Program)
Interested in learning more about the Census Bureau's Public Sector surveys? Join us for this webinar which will introduce you to the Census of Governments. You will learn about the basics of what is collected, the estimates and datasets produced from the Census of Governments, resources available on our website, and how to access Census of Governments data products through a variety of methods.
Super Searchers for Library Workers (American Library Association)
The ease with which misinformation can be created and spread online endangers everyday discourse—and libraries are uniquely suited to help counteract its negative effects. Using research developed at University of Washington, Google has created a new set of tools for evaluating material found online, making it easier to think critically about the veracity of digital information right at the point of search. In this interactive presentation, library consultant Toby Greenwalt will demonstrate the capabilities of Super Searchers and showcase potential applications in the library workspace.
December 13
Expanding Claire's Community Y2 Project: Creating a Partner Violence Prevention Education Program (Network of the National Library of Medicine)
Claire’s Community is comprehensive relationship violence prevention program created to teach safe and healthy relationship skills; engage and equip influential adults and peers; disrupt pathways to relationship violence; and create proactive, protective, and safe communities. This project was made possible from funding by NNLM Region 3.
NCompass Live: Canvaholic (Nebraska Library Commission)
Kelly absolutely loves using Canva because the options are endless when it comes to creating digital content on Canva. From worksheets, flyers, research organizers, library signage, posters, or heck, even birthday party invitations, Canva has your back. In this session, Kelly will share some tips and tricks learned on her six-year journey using Canva.
ChatGPT: Engaging with Technology in the Generative AI Era (Niche Academy)
Have you heard about ChatGPT or Generative AI in 2023? It is a powerful and revolutionary tool that has gained 100 million users. Many may think it is a new Google-like search engine where you get information from the internet. This is only half correct. Generative AI goes a step further – it creates. Borui Zhang will introduce you to the concept of generative AI and show you how you can adapt ChatGPT as your personalized assistant for planning activities, learning new skills, and drafting text-based communication. Borui will compare ChatGPT with traditional search engines as well as provide tips for some best prompting practices with the new conversational AI tool. Further, we will also discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by conversational AI in educational settings.
Scholastic Presents: Picture Books that Inspire (School Library Journal)
Join us for a delightful picture book webinar where we explore the magical world of colorful illustrations, engaging storytelling, and valuable insights into the art of creating picture books.
Flirting with AI: Spend Some Interactive Time Exploring New Apps and Tools for Research (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries)
Do you feel exhausted or not enough time to explore the newest AI tools for research or to make your life easier? From developing a research question to finding key articles for a literature, different AI tools can be used to make the process more efficient and effective. Do you need seed articles for research topic? Do want to make sure that none of your references have been retracted? Are you looking for a generative AI tool that will give you actual versus hallucinated citations? Let’s head into the winter break with new tools to play with. This interactive talk will allow participants time to follow along as we speed date our way to going beyond Chat GPT.
Planning for Citizen Science Month 2024 (SciStarter)
Join the National Citizen and Community Science Library Network to start planning your 2024 Citizen Science Month (CSM) events! CSM is an April-long invitation to learn more about a global movement and to find ways to get started through hundreds of free events and programs around the globe. Hundreds of libraries have hosted CSM events over the past five years, boosting awareness and participation in citizen science. Learn more at CitizenScienceMonth.org. This webinar will feature event guidance and examples of past events from libraries who have participated!
Stronger Together: Collective Impact and Climate Action Programming (WebJunction)
This webinar with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative will feature libraries having a collective impact on climate action through community collaborations. Libraries are catalysts and conveners for climate action in our communities. This webinar will feature practitioners who are having a collective impact through collaborations with others in the community, to address the pressing challenges related to climate change. Join these practitioners to hear practical ideas for how to ensure that good intentions have a positive impact on our communities.
Introduction to proposal writing (Candid Learning)
Are you new to proposal writing or want a quick refresher? If so, you don't want to miss one of our most popular classes!
December 14
Academic Library Support and Services for the Research Community through Scientific Data Sharing (Association of College and Research Libraries)
It goes without saying that the role of the library in providing access to digital resources and data, as well as helping to navigate science data sharing and usage, is crucial to students and researchers alike. Data sharing encourages more connection and collaboration between researchers and librarians, which can result in important new findings within the field but also comes with its own challenges which need to be navigated and addressed.
National Archives Comes Alive! Young Learners Program: Meet James Monroe (National Archives)
James Monroe was a lawyer, U.S. diplomat, and Founding Father. Monroe is best known for drafting the “Monroe Doctrine,” which is the U.S. policy toward the Western Hemisphere and turns 200 this year. The doctrine, still in effect today, warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere as such interference would be perceived as a threat to the United States. James Monroe is portrayed by educator and historian James “Jay” G. Harrison III.
The Top Actionable Fundraising Tips, Tools & Resources I Discovered in 2023 (Productive Fundraising)
Join fundraising master trainer Chad Barger, CFRE, ACNP for a rundown of all the new fundraising tactics he learned in 2023. Chad spends the first half hour of every workday reading the latest fundraising research and tales of what's working on the front lines. He translates that data into practical tips that you can immediately put into action in your shop. During this fast-paced webinar Chad will share his top actionable fundraising tips, tool and resources that he discovered in 2023.
Building a Story Brand. Clarify Your Messaging So Supporters Will Listen (TechSoup)
Join us in harnessing the transformative power of storytelling. Led by renowned experts Chad Bellow and Jason Spangler, this session promises insights into creating compelling brand stories that forge deep connections, inspire action, and drive advocacy. Learn the art of clear messaging, audience engagement strategies, and the blueprint for a narrative that not only resonates but also compels your audience to action. This is your chance to redefine your organization's communication approach and secure enduring support.
Found in Translation (School Library Journal)
Translating any book is a challenge, but bringing books from around the world into the laps of young readers requires a special combination of passions: cultural compassion and respect, an ear for poetry, an ability to emulate another's voice in spirit as well as on the page, and accessibility. We've assembled a panel of the often-unsung writers and editors toiling behind the pages, sometimes without attribution, to talk about the nuances and beauty of creating books in translation and the wish to unlock cultures for young readers.
December 15
The Bill of Rights Protects You (Grades 6–12) (National Archives)
Join the National Archives for a special Bill of Rights Day presentation of "The Bill of Rights Protects You!" During this program, students will explore the Bill of Rights and how it outlines both limits on government and the rights of the people. Students will work together to analyze three case studies that underscore the remedies that citizens can use to address instances where their rights have been violated. This program will introduce students to the Bill of Rights and strengthen their civic understanding. This program is a part of Civics for All of US, the national civic education initiative from the National Archives.
Make Your Voice Count: Learning About the First Amendment (Grades K–2) (National Archives)
Join the National Archives for a special Bill of Rights Day presentation of Make Your Voice Count: Learning About the First Amendment! During this interactive civics program, students will explore the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights using primary historical sources to learn about the importance of rights and how to exercise their freedoms. This program is a part of Civics for All of US, the national civic education initiative from the National Archives.
December 18
Setting Group Norms and Agreements (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
Having clear roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities is the key to creating successful teams. Establishing Group Norms and Group Agreements helps ensure your teams remain focused and expectations are managed. In this session we will review the purpose of Group Norms and Agreements, where and when to use them, and how to get started. This session is ideal for anyone leading organizations or teams.
How to Hold Your Team Accountable (GovLoop)
There are times when you need to hold your team accountable for their actions. Whether it’s a missed deadline, unprofessional behavior or maybe even a commitment issue, there are certain behaviors that are non-negotiable. However, as a new supervisor, figuring out how to hold your team accountable can be difficult.
December 19
Overcoming Conflict-Avoidance to Build Strong Teams (GovLoop)
While no one really likes conflict, constructive disagreements can lead to productive and innovative problem solving. But first, you have to be willing to deal with conflict head on.
Introduction to project budgets (Candid Learning)
Are you ready to start fundraising for your project or idea, but don't know what and how much to ask for? If preparing a budget for your foundation grant is holding you back, come learn the basic elements of how to draft a project budget with confidence.
Data Security (TechImpact)
Data is the life and breath of organizations. As your organization expands, the process of safeguarding data becomes more challenging, and your digital information can fall victim to corruption, theft, and unauthorized access. In this December webinar, our expert speaker outlines the need for data governance, provides recommendations for best practices, and helps you to start protecting your data throughout its entire life cycle.
December 27
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech (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.