Welcome to the Upcoming Events page, where we showcase Georgia's in-person and online continuing education opportunities sponsored by GPLS and associated organizations. These opportunities are tailored to meet the needs of our busy professionals, and most sessions are recorded and archived for later viewing.
Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, learn new techniques, or explore new areas of interest, our continuing education offerings have something for everyone. Our experienced presenters are committed to helping you achieve your goals, and we provide a supportive and collaborative learning environment to ensure your success.
So why wait? Register to attend the listed events and start learning. We look forward to helping you achieve your full potential.
6 Questions to Ask to Diffuse Any Conflict and Save Your Job
Time: Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 12 pm Eastern (9 am Pacific | 10 am Mountain | 11 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Training Magazine Network
No matter what your role, every employee deserves to feel safe and supported to do their job. However, personality conflicts preoccupy us, slow us down and even stop us dead in our tracks. The stress level is off the charts and we can feel like we have no options. Wait, don’t quit! There’s another way. Bonnie Low-Kramen knows that every job ends eventually but she wants employees to have more control of when that happens. Asking key questions could save potentially great jobs. The reality is that many employees feel that it is easier to quit than to confront difficult situations with a manager or with fellow staff. That’s a lose/lose/lose situation. Drawing from her extensive work with staff in 14 countries and consultations with psychologists, Bonnie will introduce six powerful questions that can transform tense situations into opportunities for clearer understanding and diffused conflicts, leading to productive collaboration, not to mention fewer sleepless nights. Whether you are dealing with workplace disputes, family disagreements, or personal conflicts, these techniques are designed to help you maintain your composure and find truly constructive solutions. Bonnie will guide you through real-life scenarios and demonstrate how asking the right questions will build self-confidence and peace of mind. Don't miss this opportunity to save your job and your sanity.
What's up Wednesday - A Conversation about Curating Digital Collections
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific | 8 am Mountain | 9 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Indiana State Library
Join us for a conversation about theories and thoughts about building a digital collection. We will explore questions about what and what not to digitize, the importance of provenance, copyright issues, and how to determine whether it adds value to the vast number of collections out there in the digital universe. We will also look at and evaluate examples of well-curated collections versus a lot of “space junk” filing a void, all from the Indiana State Library’s Digital Collections and Hosted Collections. (Please note: this program will not focus on fundraising nor the actual building of a digital collection.)
Creating and Implementing Library Policies
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 11 am Eastern (8 am Pacific | 9 am Mountain | 10 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Nebraska Library Commission
Policies are a very important piece of how a library is run, but they can be daunting to create or revise for some. In this session, we'll discuss how to craft policies that fit within your library's mission statement and goals, are easier to review and revise on a regular basis, and hopefully can be implemented correctly.
Note: Registration closes Monday, July 21 in the evening.
Maximizing Impact: The Blueprint for Success with Recurring Donors
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 12 pm Eastern (9 am Pacific | 10 am Mountain | 11 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
CharityHowTo
In challenging times, monthly donors are true lifesavers. They keep the lights on. They keep your mission going, no matter what happens in the world. Erica Waasdorp (who wrote two books and lots of resources on monthly giving) will show you how to do exactly that. After this session, you’ll have the magic combination of mini-stories to share and tools to apply to bring in more new monthly donors and know how to steward and keep the ones you already have. You’ll learn lots of great practical examples and case studies that can be applied to your organization right away. You do not want to miss this!
Meetings that Matter: Seven Steps to Running an Effective Meeting
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Niche Academy
David Dodson describes seven steps you can implement to create meetings that matter.
The meeting started late and went over the scheduled time. Attendees were updated on events that had already occurred. Speakers talked too long and repeated themselves in unstructured presentations. Those on video tried to surreptitiously knock off some email while trying to appear fully present. No forward-facing decisions were made.
If any of this sounds familiar, know that it does not have to be. Join best-selling Author, CEO, and Stanford faculty member David Dodson as he describes seven steps you can implement to create meetings that matter.
If you're interested but not able to attend the live webinar, go ahead and register. We'll send a recording to all registrants after the fact.
Trauma-Informed Libraries -- What are they, why do they matter, and how do we become one?
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Trauma-Informed Libraries has become a buzz word in the field and seemingly everywhere, but what exactly does it mean? In this webinar, we will take deep dive into providing easy to digest explanations of what it means to be trauma-informed, why does it matter, and simple, actionable steps that professionals working in libraries can take to implement at their libraries from small scale to large scale.
Trauma and traumatic events impact approximately 90% of adults in the United States. And according to the large-scale study conducted in the late 1990s by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, traumatic events that occur in childhood otherwise known as Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impacted 64% of the study participants and that those traumatic events in childhood later impacted health outcomes for adults.
Trauma is ubiquitous, so what do we do about it? Join Bea Forkan and find out.
As a result of this program, attendees will:
Understand key definitions as it pertains to both trauma and trauma-informed practices.
Understand the importance of cultivating a trauma-informed philosophy at your organization and as part of your work style.
Learn how to implement strategies at your organization.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Getting to Know Graphic Novels
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
From their ability to reach wide communities to the singular way visual narratives impart deeply nuanced and informative ideas, comics, graphic novels, and manga offer a fresh, accessible form of storytelling to readers of all ages. But while the comics industry continues to expand, training for library staff charged with filling shelves or creating programs around these titles has not. Join Booklist for its first virtual workshop series introducing library workers to the world of comics!
Navigating E-Rate Federal Policy
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Libraries4DE
Join us for a 30-minute talk and 15-minute Q&A designed to help libraries navigate E-Rate participation and effectively manage hotspot programs. We will provide an update on the status of the e-rate program and cover its basics, including eligibility, the status of the program (both Supreme Court decision and Congressional Review Act actions), how to maximize funding opportunities, and best practices for deploying and sustaining a successful hotspot lending program. Whether new to E-Rate or looking to enhance your existing program, this webinar will provide valuable insights to support your library’s connectivity initiatives.
Lead through Change: The Science that Helps Managers Adapt - Not Resist
Time: Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Training Magazine Network
Middle managers are catalysts for most organizations. They're the ones caught between strategic shifts from above and the emotional whiplash of teams below. And when change hits—whether it’s restructuring, market disruption, or internal transformation—they’re expected to adapt fast, keep others aligned, and deliver results. But here’s the truth: most managers crave the status quo. Our brains are wired to resist uncertainty. That’s why change initiatives often stall, cultures stagnate, and teams underperform. In this interactive webinar, Russ Hill, cofounder and managing partner of Lone Rock Leadership will share ChangeOS, the science-backed framework used by companies like Lockheed Martin, Chick-fil-A, and Hormel to help managers move from change resistance to change readiness. You’ll walk away with a practical, powerful approach to help your managers lead through change.
Dare to Weed: Deselecting, Deaccessioning, and Discarding in Academic Research Libraries
Time: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 11 am Eastern (8 am Pacific | 9 am Mountain | 10 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
ASERL
Libraries can’t hold everything but deciding what not to keep is every bit as complicated as developing the collection to begin with. In this webinar we will discuss four ventures into managing print collections, including notes from library-scale deselection and the logistics of large projects, to tackling smaller bites of the whole in focused collections and popular literature and media.
AI-Generated Images - What's Really Real? Strategies for Teaching Critical Inquiry through the History of Synthetic Media
Time: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
ASERL
This session offers a hands-on, historically grounded approach to teaching with and about synthetic media, tracing the long history of image manipulation from spirit photography to deepfakes to build critical media literacy. Participants will examine archival photographs, test their verification skills, and fabricate their own fake historical images using prompts and open-access collections. Along the way, we’ll address the ethical stakes of misinformation, the limitations of conventional “spot the fake” strategies, and how well-meaning detection methods can sometimes reinforce ableist assumptions about the human body. This session shares both practical tools and approachable frameworks that librarians can use to engage others in meaningful analysis of AI-generated images.
The American Revolution: Transatlantic Resources in the Library of Congress Collections
Time: Friday, July 25, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
FDLP
This presentation will focus on resources originally created outside of the United States related to the American Revolution. We will begin with a brief overview of the Library of Congress--its history, research centers, collections, research guides—followed by an exploration of select published and manuscript materials as a portal into the complexity of the period.
Up Your Numbers Game: How to Gather and Use Data to Drive Fundraising, Programming, and Strategic Planning Efforts
Time: Monday, July 28, 2025, 11 am Eastern (8 am Pacific | 9 am Mountain | 10 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Nonprofit Learning Lab
In these challenging times, having objective, quantifiable data at your fingertips to support your organizational efforts is more important than ever. This workshop will provide you with easily applied ways of collecting key information, techniques for tracking progress and impact in a single repository and tips on how to make sense of findings and prepare visually appealing and compelling reports and data briefs.
Navigating Workplace Dynamics at Your Agency
Time: Monday, July 28, 2025, 4 pm Eastern (1 pm Pacific | 2 pm Mountain | 3 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
GovLoop
Every agency’s workplace is dynamic. It’s unique to your organization’s values, processes, and, most importantly, personalities and perspectives. Navigating these internal dynamics can be tricky and downright stressful, but as a supervisor, it’s critical for you to lead your team effectively without succumbing to conflict or confrontation. Join us to learn how to handle your workplace dynamic with grace and savvy.
Share Knowledge, Ideas, Learning, and Library Solutions!
Time: Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Nebraska Library Commission
Get together virtually with librarians to Share Knowledge, Ideas, Learning, and Library Solutions! 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.
Vendor Challenges & Collection Evaluation - Aquisitions Roundtable
Time: Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Connecticut Library Consortium
Join us for an acquisitions roundtable to discuss common vendor issues and delays in receiving materials. We'll also explore how libraries are evaluating collection purchases—what criteria are used, how decisions are made, and how libraries are adapting to changing needs and budgets.
This open forum is a chance to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from your peers. Please be prepared to have your cameras on if you're comfortable - seeing faces helps us feel more connected - and audio. If you do not have a microphone, you can call in on your phone.
Great Graphic Novels: Graphic Novel Book Buzz Part 2
Time: Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
We’re closing out Graphic Novels month at Booklist with the second part of our two-part series! Register now for Great Graphic Novels to hear all about the best upcoming #ReadGraphic titles from Fantagraphics, Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children’s Books, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and Abrams Books! This one-hour webinar is happening Tuesday, July 29 at 2 pm and will be hosted by Sarah Hunter, Booklist’s Graphic Novels and Books for Youth Editor.
What's up Wednesday: AI in Libraries - Transforming Information Access
Time: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific | 8 am Mountain | 9 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Indiana State Library
Explore how AI enhances library services, including automated cataloging, AI-driven search tools, and personalized recommendations. Discuss ethical considerations and best practices for implementation.
Modern Marketing for Mission-Driven Teams: Tools, Tactics, and Trends
Time: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 11 am Eastern (8 am Pacific | 9 am Mountain | 10 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Blackbaud
Nonprofits today need to do more with less—and digital marketing can help. Join us to learn how the Constant Contact and Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT® integration empowers nonprofit teams with smarter tools that save time and improve results. From AI-assisted content creation to dynamic audience segmentation and cross-channel outreach, you’ll discover how to elevate your marketing without overwhelming your team.
Pretty Sweet Tech
Time: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 11 am Eastern (8 am Pacific | 9 am Mountain | 10 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Nebraska Library Commission
Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Note: Registration closes the evening of Monday, July 28th.
Trauma-Informed Care or Services for Teens in the Library
Time: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Libraries are uniquely positioned to play a support role to teens who have experienced trauma. Libraries can be a familiar, welcoming environment that can encourage autonomy and healing.
This webinar will go through the basics of trauma-informed care and provide specific examples of programs and practices for librarians to make a safe and calm atmosphere for teens.
As a result of this program, attendees will learn:
Basics of trauma-informed care
Communication practices
Basic mindfulness techniques that can be added to library programs
Ideas for library programs with a trauma-informed care lens
Library collection and display suggestions
Ideas for partnerships to create a trauma-informed library
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
DK's Fall 2025 Librarian Preview
Time: Wednesday, July 30 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
Get a glimpse at the publisher’s top adult & children’s title picks for the season. Prepare for epic get-togethers with the help of Brie Larson (yes, that Brie Larson!) and Courtney McBroom’s Party People, and Erin Lichy’s She’s a Host; discover the latest epic page-turners from popular fiction adult imprint Canelo: espionage thriller A Spy Alone and romantasy A Kiss of Hammer and Flame; embrace summerween with the first in an adorably charming, brand-new children’s fiction series The Witches of Anderson House; and help kids understand the importance of what we eat in Asma Khan’s A Kids Book about Food.
How Libraries Can Promote Computational Thinking and Learning among Preschool Families with Work it Out @ Your Library
Time: Wednesday, July 30 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Public Library Assocation (PLA)
Work It Out @ Your Library! is a new program for librarians and families built around Work It Out Wombats!, the national PBS Kids television series for four- to six-year-olds. The first public media series to promote computational thinking to preschoolers, Work It Out Wombats! follows the adventures of Malik, Zadie, and Zeke, a trio of marsupial siblings who live with their grandmother and an array of diverse friends and neighbors in a fantastical treehouse apartment complex called the Treeborhood. Through hands-on activities, library storytime sessions, animated videos, and a family app (all available free of charge), Work It Out @ Your Library is a flexible program that helps library staff guide families through the exploration of computational thinking (CT for short). CT is a creative way of solving problems in more organized ways. When children make believe they are running a restaurant, they explore sequencing by figuring out the steps for serving a customer a meal. When they play with blocks to make a castle, they can practice the design process by creating, testing, and improving the structure. It is important to start building children’s CT skills when they are young to get them ready for school success right from the start! The webinar will also cover why CT skills are important for young children; how to access these free, multimedia resources; how they have been used to run fun and engaging programs in libraries; and recent research findings that demonstrate significant impact.
Elevating Core Skills with New Library Foundational Training (LiFT) Courses
Time: Wednesday, July 30 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
WebJunction
The Library Foundational Training (LiFT) courses build on the popular ABLE (Alternative Basic Library Education) curriculum while introducing fresh content and innovative learning approaches. This webinar offers an overview of the Collection Management series, the first series of the LiFT courses. Understand the findings from WebJunction's surveys of the field regarding core library skill needs; become familiar with topics in the LiFT Collection Management courses and how they address core foundational skills; and learn how to create a staff development plan using the LiFT courses. Join this webinar to find out how the Collection Management LiFT courses can be used to empower staff and enhance library services. This webinar is designed for public library staff—from front-line workers to directors and managers, state library continuing education staff, and anyone involved in staff training or in collection development.
An Introduction to the Journal of the House of Representatives: Everything That (Hasn't) Changed in 250 Years
Time: Thursday, July 31 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
FDLP
This webinar will introduce attendees to the Journal of the U.S. House of Representatives, the constitutionally mandated record of the proceedings of the House. Topics covered in this overview will include the history of the Journal, the production process of the daily Journal, and the importance of consistency for the historical record.
Celebrate Stories across Generations
Time: Thursday, July 31 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
Join Random House Children's Books for an engaging author event celebrating the magic of family traditions through captivating picture books during this free, one-hour Booklist webinar on Thursday, July 31. Hear from authors Daniel Nayeri (A Knot is Not a Tangle), Carole Boston Weatherford (Family Feast!), Jamal Saeed (My Sister The Apple Tree), and Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Two Artists, My Grandad and Me) as they share stories of heartfelt memories and embracing diversity within families. These inspiring books foster cultural understanding, strengthen community bonds, and highlight the importance of the power of family ties. Don’t miss this special event celebrating the enduring connections that unite us across generations! Moderated by Booklist's Books for Youth associate editor Kelly Ferreira.
Outreach Roundtable - Understanding Capacity for Outreach and Burnout Prevention
Time: Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Connecticut Library Consortium
Whether you’re a solo librarian juggling multiple hats or part of a large outreach team, this session will offer practical strategies and fresh perspectives to help you thrive. Together, we’ll explore how leveraging your library’s mission can help set clear priorities and avoid overextension.
We’ll also dive into burnout prevention techniques that are both realistic and effective; and how you can use assessment tools to help determine the true value and impact of outreach, guiding smarter decisions and better balance. This is your opportunity to connect with fellow librarians, share experiences, and walk away with tools you can use to not only protect your own well-being, but to ensure your outreach efforts are both impactful and sustainable.
Adult Faves
Time: Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
Summer is winding down, but the TBR list stops for no one! Join us on Tuesday, August 5, at 2 pm for a one-hour webinar to hear all about the hottest new books to recommend to your adult patrons! Representatives from Hachette, Soho Press, W.W. Norton and Co, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster will be sharing their titles, with Donna Seaman, Editor-in-Chief at Booklist moderating. Register now!
AI Hallucinated Citations in Libraries: A Discussion
Time: Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
ASERL
With the advent and widespread use of large language models like ChatGPT, hallucinations (information presented as factual but which does not actually exist) have become more prevalent, even in academia. This workshop will present the results of a study on hallucinations in undergraduate papers, broach some additional topics about librarians’ role in dealing with them, and open the floor for a wider discussion.
Plain Language in the Library
Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 10 am Eastern (7 am Pacific | 8 am Mountain | 9 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
SEFLIN
Learn how plain language turns complex health information into clear, reader‑friendly content your patrons can actually use. This webinar shows librarians concrete techniques—like choosing everyday words and guiding readers with simple layouts—and explains how these changes boost understanding, engagement, and trust. Walk away with practical tools and free resources you can apply right away in teaching, outreach, and collection development.
Please note: Registration closes Tuesday, August 5th.
Foundations of Philanthropic Partnership
Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Niche Academy
Ready to transform how you approach philanthropy? Join Mary Riddick for this foundational session to shift your perspective from traditional fundraising to authentic partnership-building. Discover how to spark generosity in others by connecting your mission to a community who believes in what you do. When there is a need, humanity always rises to the occasion – let's unlock that potential together.
Three Key Takeaways:
Move from transactional fundraising to meaningful partnership that honors both your mission and donor values
Gain insights into the authentic drivers that inspire people to become generous partners in your work
Define your organization's unique role in creating positive change and community transformation
10 BIG Time Management Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all that you have to do at work or around the house, then this webinar is for you! There are some common mistakes that people make when managing their time, but you can avoid them and learn how to “create” more hours in the day. Reduce stress with these practical time management and organizing tips and techniques and see how you can get things done!
Attendees will learn how to:
Become more aware of how they’re using time
Handle email more efficiently
Look ahead proactively
Handle interruptions and distractions more effectively
Who will benefit from this program:
All Staff who want to get more out of their day at work or home
Managers who want to handle email better
Any volunteer or staff who feel overwhelmed
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Balancing the Books: Addressing Economic Insecurity among Library Workers
Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Colorado State Library
Library workers face economic insecurity due to low wages, inadequate benefits, and unstable job conditions. This panel will explore the scope and impact of economic insecurity among library staff, highlighting the unique financial challenges they encounter in comparison to other professions.
Through personal stories, data, and expert insights, we will discuss how economic instability affects mental health, career advancement, and job performance. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to address economic insecurity in their institutions and actionable strategies for supporting financially vulnerable library workers.
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure & Horror
Time: Thursday, August 7, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
If you’re looking for a little more excitement in your TBR list, look no further than our latest free one-hour webinar! Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure & Horror is happening Thursday, August 7 at 2pm ! Hear publisher representatives from Macmillan, ECW Press, Sourcebooks and HarperCollins tell us all about their most adventurous titles! Susan Maguire, Booklist’s Senior Editor, Collection Management and Library Outreach will host. Register now!
Building Community through Craft Programs
Time: Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
WebJunction
Craft programs in libraries can create space for fostering social connection in addition to participating in art projects. In this webinar, explore practical strategies to encourage interaction among participants and build shared learning experiences in your existing programming. Learn how to design activities that enable people to express their talents and encourage them to step into leadership roles to help each other succeed. Gain ideas for programs that incorporate inexpensive process art techniques for intergenerational attendees. This session will provide actionable insights and examples to help library staff integrate intentional community-building into craft programs.
What's up Wednesday: Adult Programming Made Easy, Part 2
Time: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 10 am Eastern (7am Pacific | 8 am Mountain | 9 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Indiana State Library
Need more adult programming ideas? I've got you! I have gathered 12 more programming ideas, complete with instructions, for your library to use. These programs are adaptable to any budget.
Advocating for Our Work in the Age of AI
Time: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 1 pm Eastern (10 am Pacific | 11 am Mountain | 12 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
SEFLIN
As AI reshapes industries, libraries must advocate for the value of human expertise in metadata, information literacy, and ethical data use. This workshop explores how AI can support - but not replace - library professionals. Learn to navigate stakeholder conversations, identify where AI falls short, and use practical tools and strategies to build efficient, ethical workflows that highlight the critical role of human judgment in the age of AI.
How do we advocate for our work in the age of AI? Will AI replace us?
As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, libraries must take an active role in defining the value of human expertise in knowledge organization, data stewardship, and information literacy. This workshop explores strategies for advocating library work in an AI-driven landscape, ensuring that key stakeholders and decision-makers understand the unique contributions of library professionals beyond automated processes.
Participants will examine how AI can assist but not replace human decision-making in areas such as reconciling complex and conflicting policies, making local cataloging and metadata decisions, and upholding ethical standards in data management. We’ll explore real-world scenarios where AI lacks the contextual awareness required for critical judgment and emphasize the human role in media literacy and combating disinformation.
Additionally, attendees will gain practical insights into using AI ethically and responsibly to build efficient workflows without compromising credibility or data stewardship. Through discussions, exercises, and case studies, we will develop strategies for leveraging AI while reinforcing the importance of human oversight in data curation and decision-making.
Attendees will receive a curated selection of AI tools, communication strategies for advocacy, exercises, and resources to help frame discussions with stakeholders, ensuring libraries remain essential in the age of AI.
Intended audience: All library staff, systems librarians, metadata librarians, and those interested in working with AI or data.
Please note: Registration closes August 12th for this two hour course.
Social Media Roundup for Librarians
Time: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Niche Academy
Join Melody Karle to learn about new social media platforms, existing platforms that have recently changed, and how social media is impacting libraries and library staff.
What's new with social media? Join Melody Karle to learn about new social media platforms, existing platforms that have recently changed, and how social media is impacting libraries and library staff.
Some topics will include: is TikTok banned already, or what? Is RedNote safe? How about Signal? Which platforms have recently changed how "news" and facts are vetted? Which platforms are in use by libraries and librarians? Whether helping patrons or just trying to stay ahead of technology, this session will give you the details.
How to Organize Anything
Time: Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Ever wonder how some people can be so organized? Being disorganized is not a character flaw! As a child you may not have learned these skills, but you can learn them now. With the 5-step “C.L.E.A.R.” methodology, you can organize anything at work or home including your papers, things, and space.
It’s easier to get organized once you know how. In this program, you'll learn tips that can be applied immediately in your life so you can reduce stress, clear clutter, and reap the rewards of a calm, more productive, and enjoyable day!
Attendees will learn how to
Use a methodology to get organized
Stay organized with helpful, easy tips
Get motivated to make some changes
Who will Benefit from this Program:
All Staff who want to get more organized
Managers who want to have less stress
Any Volunteer or Staff who feels overwhelmed
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Working Towards Positive Outcomes: Mental Health and Special Education
Time: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 1 pm Eastern (10 am Pacific | 11 am Mountain | 12 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PACER Center
This introductory workshop will help parents and others understand the special education process, navigate Individualized Education Program (IEP) team disagreements, and give tips for how to prepare for a positive IEP team approach to support their child’s mental health needs. This workshop is funded in part by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Education.
News Literacy Practices and Partnerships
Time: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Niche Academy
Join communication professors Amy Damico and Melissa Yang for a webinar designed to support college librarians in integrating news literacy materials into their educational practice. The session will provide a brief overview of key news literacy strategies and explore how they can be applied across disciplinary content.
Successful collaborations between librarians and faculty featured in the pair’s edited book, News Literacy Across the Undergraduate Curriculum, will be highlighted as a way of offering real-world examples of effective collaborations between college librarians and faculty. The session will conclude with an interactive discussion where attendees can brainstorm and share ideas for implementing news literacy content at their own institutions.
Nontraditional Lending to Aid Your Community’s Environmental AND Safety Efforts
Time: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
The increasing damage and length of our severe weather events is concerning for all of us. How do we begin helping our communities to be sure they’re ready before disaster strikes? One way is with a new free kit created for the Maine State Library (MSL) by The Healing Library (THL)!
In 2020 the Maine State Library received a grant to support deepening their science programming from NASA. Join us to learn about the grant and about the kit that it created. It features three sections centered around disaster preparedness: Before Severe Weather, During Severe Weather, and After Severe Weather. Each section is filled with tips to stay as physically and emotionally safe as possible, all while instilling a love of nature in our children.
As a result of this program, attendees will learn:
How the Maine State Library got involved in the grant
The Maine State Libraries' thought process in striving to offer a wellness-centered initiative that included The Healing Library
What’s inside the Severe Weather & Climate Engagement Kit to help your community and ideas for deploying the kit in your community
Who will Benefit from this Program:
Youth Services Staff Members
Community Engagement Staff
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Listening with Text-to-Speech: Tools to Support Reading Access
Time: Thursday, August 21, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PACER Center
This workshop will introduce a variety of text-to-speech tools that enable users to listen to written content. Participants will see demonstrations of reading pens, mobile apps, and computer-based tools compatible with Chrome and Microsoft platforms. These technologies can benefit individuals of all ages and abilities, particularly those with dyslexia, ADHD, low vision, slower cognitive processing, or reading comprehension challenges.
Executive Function Tools for School and Work
Time: Monday, August 25, 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PACER Center
Executive function skills like focus, organization, and time management are essential for success in both education and the workplace. This workshop will introduce assistive technology tools—such as apps, smart devices and strategies—that can support adults in managing tasks, setting reminders, and staying on track. Whether you're a student, employee, or supporting someone who is, you'll leave with practical strategies to enhance productivity and independence.
Getting Started with Libby
Time: Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 11 am Eastern (8 am Pacific | 9 am Mountain | 10 am Central)
Cost: Free
Description
OverDrive
Join OverDrive's training team for this live session to learn how easy it is to get your patrons started with Libby, the library reading app. This session will demonstrate:
• How to browse and borrow ebooks and audiobooks.
• Tips for customizing the experience.
• Answers to frequently asked questions from end users.
• Where to find Libby marketing and help resources.
Notes:
• This session will be recorded.
• Attendees will be muted and able to submit questions under Q&A.
• We understand the timing may not suit everyone but signing up ensures that a recording is sent the day after the live session so you can view at your convenience.
Inclusive and Impactful: Reinventing Your Meeting Culture
Time: Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Meetings should be productive and have a purpose. Many times, staff members dread meetings and would rather do anything but attend them.
This session will introduce and reaffirm various components of hosting and attending meetings. We will discuss group dynamics, active listening skills, conflict management, creating an inclusive environment, and communicating clear meeting guidelines, instructions, and outcomes.
Attendees will be able to discuss methods to avoid and what works well in their organization’s settings.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Low Vision Assistive Technology Solutions for Independence
Time: Thursday, August 28, 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PACER Center
This workshop will explore assistive technology tools that can help individuals with low vision live more independently. Participants will discover solutions for daily tasks, communication, mobility, and accessing information.
Crafting a Resilient Library: One-Page Disaster Plan Essentials
Time: Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
This informative webinar is designed to empower library staff with the skills needed to develop a concise and effective one-page disaster plan. This session will cover critical topics including effective communication strategies during emergencies, ensuring continuity of core library services, and building and nurturing partnerships with local disaster planners and law enforcement.
Participants will gain insights into best practices for maintaining seamless operations and collaboration during times of crisis, ensuring that your library remains a resilient and supportive community hub.
As a result of this program, attendees will:
• Learn the basics of a one-page disaster plan for libraries.
• Create effective emergency communication strategies.
• Maintain essential library services during crises.
• Access to a one-page disaster plan template.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Agility in the Fog
Time: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Niche Academy
In today’s rapidly changing world, nonprofit leaders are constantly faced with unpredictable challenges and uncertainty. Whether navigating through program crises, financial turbulence, or organizational change, the ability to lead with confidence, clarity, humility, and humor is more important than ever.
This webinar will explore key strategies for leading teams and organizations—regardless of size, location, or mission—through times of ambiguity. You’ll leave with practical tools to make informed decisions, foster resilience, and maintain a clear sense of direction.
Join Kari Anderson, Principal with Incite! Consulting for an empowering hour that equips leaders with the mindset and skills needed to not just survive, but thrive in times of uncertainty. Whether you are an experienced leader or new to a leadership role, this session will provide valuable tools to enhance your leadership capabilities and ensure long-term success in volatile times.
During the webinar, we’ll discuss real-world case studies, leadership frameworks, and actionable insights. Webinar attendees will learn how to:
Adapt their leadership style to shifting circumstances and emerging challenges
Build trust and engagement with teams during times of change
Cultivate agility and resilience within themselves and their organizations
Make bold, yet calculated, decisions in the face of uncertainty
Communicate effectively and inspire confidence in others when the path forward is unclear
Trauma-Informed Programming: Using Mindfulness to Create Safe Space
Time: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
This one-hour webinar will give you a brief overview of what it means to experience trauma and how it manifests. We will discuss ways to help your staff and your physical spaces be more trauma-sensitive, including topics such as sensory issues and architecture, self-defense, mindfulness, self-care, non-violent intervention, and mental health first aid training.
We will practice looking at a space with our trauma glasses on. We'll also explore different populations that may be living with trauma and how to make programs accessible for everyone.
Using mindfulness techniques, we will also ask ourselves some tough questions about our own coping skills and what trauma we may be bringing to the workplace and how to greet ourselves and others with kindness and compassion.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
A Pure Belpré Picture Book Celebration!
Time: Monday, September 15, 2025, 3:30 pm Eastern (12:30 pm Pacific | 1:30 pm Mountain | 2:30 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Booklist
Are you ready to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in your Library? Join three Pura Belpré honor author-illustrators, Eliza Kinkz (Papa's Magical Water-Jug Clock), Carlos Aponte (Across the Bay), and Zeke Peña (My Papi Has a Motorcycle), as they share their processes, inspirations, and the cultural significance of their newest picture books (Mistaco, Precious, and Sundust) during this one-hour Booklist webinar on Monday, September 15. Then stay tuned to hear about new and upcoming Latine releases from Penguin Young Readers for all ages and readers!
Techniques for Uncomfortable Conversations
Time: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Through this workshop, we examine some important strategies for navigating challenging conversations with confidence and empathy. You'll learn how to maintain composure, foster understanding, and communicate effectively even in difficult situations. We’ll also consider how to create safe and supportive communication spaces.
Together, we will become more confident and productive in our communication.
As a result of this program, attendees will:
Understand effective listening and empathy techniques
Manage emotional responses and maintain composure in tense situations
Increase confidence in communicating
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Unraveling Legacy Toxicity: Navigating Dysfunctional Environments in Leadership
Time: Tuesday, September 23, 2025, 3 pm Eastern (12 pm Pacific | 1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
Colorado State Library
Legacy toxicity poses a formidable challenge for individuals stepping into leadership roles within toxic organizations or groups. This phenomenon entails inheriting a dysfunctional environment characterized by abuse, neglect, and resistance to change from previous incumbents. Addressing legacy toxicity requires a nuanced understanding of its roots and dynamics, as well as strategic approaches to mitigate its effects. In this discussion panel, we delve into the complexities of legacy toxicity, exploring its manifestations, impact on leadership effectiveness, and strategies for fostering positive change in challenging environments.
How to Manage Your Boss - 10 Do’s and Don’ts for a Healthy and Productive Working Relationship
Time: Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Managing your relationships at work is important if you want to perform at your best and advance in your career. This principle applies to every relationship, from colleagues to the boss. By managing your relationship with your boss, you can set and meet expectations and create a productive environment that will benefit both of you.
But how do you build a healthy working relationship when you frequently disagree with and don’t feel supported by him or her?
Inspired by an article in Forbes magazine, join Andrew for this program as we examine the Ten Do’s and Don’ts for a Healthy and Productive Working Relationship with Your Boss.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Using Book Displays and More to Market Your Winter Holiday Collection
Time: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Providing readers’ advisory for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule, and Kwanza can be a daunting task for staff. Setting up effective book displays as well as using other forms of passive readers’ advisory can allow patrons to find the titles they are seeking while also shining a light on materials that may see the bulk of their circulation during a few months. It is also important to include materials that are fall, harvest, winter, and snow themed to include those who do not celebrate these holidays.
Join Passive Readers’ Advisory expert Lila Denning for an hour of all the ways that you can leverage your book displays and other forms of passive readers’ advisory to patrons of all ages. You will learn how to combine physical and digital materials to showcase your holiday collection. She will also show you how to design these displays and replicate the idea online, where possible.
Attendees will learn how to:
Understand the basic features of book displays and other forms of passive readers’ advisory as a readers’ advisory tool and well as marketing tools.
Identify best practices for creating well-designed passive readers’ advisory tools.
Discover themes, titles, and planning ideas for your library.
Find ideas to inspire your passive readers’ advisory efforts
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
A Day in the Life of a New Library Leader
Time: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Have you recently been promoted to a leadership position in your library, or are you starting a brand-new job? There is so much you need to know, and it’s hard to decide where to begin.
In this webinar, we’ll follow two supervisors as they become comfortable in their new roles: Eric, who’s been promoted from circulation clerk to circulation manager, and Charlotte, who brings management experience from her previous role but is starting fresh at a new library. Each faces unique challenges: having to post a position on the first day; navigating a department without training; adjusting expectations in previous relationships; and more.
We’ll discuss how Eric and Charlotte can succeed in these constantly shifting environments.
As a result of this program, participants will:
● Learn how to gain authority and trust in a leadership role
● Discuss how to manage unique situations such as inheriting a position and moving from peer to supervisor
● Discuss hiring and personnel management decisions
Intended audience: New library leaders including supervisors and managers.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
From Librarian to Lieutenant Governor Candidate: Lessons Learned from the Campaign Trail
Time: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
In 2024, former Utah Library Association President and Let Utah Read Co-Founder Rebekah Cummings became the first librarian to run for Lt. Governor on a major party ticket in the United States.
Join Rebekah as she shares a deeply personal account of her experience as a first-time candidate and librarian running for statewide public office. Grounded in a framework of “lessons learned” from the campaign trail, attendees will hear a practical and inspirational message on battling imposter syndrome, fundraising, messaging, boundaries, and finding new ways to define success. Additionally, Rebekah will discuss how our librarian training, experience, and values make us uniquely and wonderfully suited for public office.
Whether you are looking for a dose of courage or practical tips for stepping into leadership, this talk is sure to engage and inspire you to show up as your most courageous self in 2025 and beyond!
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
NotebookLM in Action
Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Are you curious about how AI tools can enhance your work and learning, but want to focus on information you trust? Join us for a practical webinar exploring Google's NotebookLM, a powerful AI-powered research and writing assistant that works exclusively with your uploaded sources. Unlike general chatbots trained on the broad internet, NotebookLM focuses its analysis on the documents, links, and audio files you provide. This makes it an ideal partner for organizing, analyzing, and extracting insights from your own materials.
In this session, you will learn how to get started with NotebookLM, including uploading various source types such as PDFs, Google Docs, web links, and audio files. You will discover how to generate summaries, briefing documents, quizzes, mindmaps and an interactive podcast. We’ll conclude with a showcase of creative ways librarians, teachers, researchers, and library staff are using this tool.
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
Romance Readers’ Advisory: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
Time: Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 2 pm Eastern (11 am Pacific | 12 pm Mountain | 1 pm Central)
Cost: Free
Description
PCI Webinars
Readers love romance, but with all the different sub-genres and tropes, it can be hard to keep up! Join us for a one-hour webinar to get the skinny on all things romance RA. We’ll talk about how to talk about romance from across the desk (door closed, open or cracked?) and how to craft the most effective search to find your patrons the book of their dreams!
We’ll also discuss the language we use surrounding the content of romance novels (including spice levels), read-a-likes for popular authors, and if you can really judge a romance novel by its cover!
Who will benefit from this program
All staff that Interact with patrons
All circulation staff members
Readers’ advisory staff
Please note: All PCI Webinars are recorded and will be available on the GPLS Learning Center within a week of the original airdate. Kindly refrain from contacting the host for a copy of the recording.
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