August Professional Development Opportunities

Check out the Professional Development Calendar for more information and to register for the following FREE online professional development opportunities.

NOTE: The calendar shows Maine State Library (MSL). MSL is the host for the national professional development calendar.

NEW TO NICHE!  Starting this month, will highlight the library continuing education trainings and tutorials newly added to the NMSL Professional Development Niche Academy Learning Platform. Find them after the At Your Leisure pre-recorded webinars section.

READ THIS NEXT! This section features one recent reading (print book, eBook or journal article published within the last five years) focusing on the librarianship profession. Scroll down after the New to Niche section to find this month’s reading selection.

CONFERENCES

Thursday, Aug 7 (all day) SLJTeen Live! (SLJ)

Join us for our 14th annual SLJTeen Live! virtual event! Come hear about the latest and most exciting forthcoming titles for teens and tweens. From rom-coms and mysteries to graphic novels and classic coming-of-age stories, our daylong program of author panels, in-depth conversations, and keynote talks will keep you inspired and entertained. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the virtual exhibit hall to meet with leading publishers, and download digital galleys and other free resources. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.slj.com/section/events?eventtype=virtualEvents

Tuesday, Aug 26 (3-6 pm) The Innovative Library: Creativity, Change, and Impact (Library 2.0)

Join us for our second Library 2.025 mini-conference. Libraries are at the forefront of innovation, evolving to meet the changing needs of their communities in creative and impactful ways. The Innovative Library conference explores how librarians across all types of institutions—academic, public, and beyond—are leading change, turning ideas into action, and forging new partnerships. Through case studies and real-world examples, we’ll highlight how libraries are not just adapting to the future but actively shaping it. From leadership in transformation to securing funding for ambitious projects, this event showcases the bold thinking that propels libraries forward. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.library20.com/the-innovative-library

PROGRAMS BY TOPIC

ACCESSIBILITY

Aug 21: Listening with Text-to-Speech: Tools to Support Reading Access (PACER)https://www.pacer.org/workshops/

ADVOCACY

Aug 22: Librarians, Legislation, and Media Training: Successfully advocate for libraries in legislature and your local community (SLJ) https://www.slj.com/section/events?eventtype=webcasts

ASSESMENT/PLANNING

Aug 5: Scenario Planning (Propel Nonprofits) https://propelnonprofits.org/trainings/

Aug 5: The Research Data Services Landscape: How Do You Start and Where Does Your Library Fit In? (NNLM) https://www.nnlm.gov/training

Aug 11: Maximizing Donor Surveys for Impactful Year-End Fundraising (NonprofitLearningLab) https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars

Aug 12: Smarter Grant Prospecting: Using GrantStation + AI Tools to Streamline Your Grant Strategy (GrantStation) https://grantstation.com/product/online-education/view-all-2

Aug 14: Blueprint for Community Change: Strategic Planning Made Easy (Alliance Research & Training) https://allianceresearchco.org/

BOARDS

Aug 26: Tech Buy-In Starts Here: A CEO’s Guide to Board Engagement (TechSoup) https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events-and-webinars/

CAREERS (Staff)

Aug 6: Balancing the Books: Addressing Economic Insecurity Among Library Workers (Colorado State Library) https://www.librarieslearn.org/csl-in-session

Aug 7: Leading Gen Z: Empowering the Next Generation to Thrive (Training Industry) https://trainingindustry.com/webinar/

Aug 19: How to Present with Confidence (Even though you feel nervous) (Training Magazine Network) http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/calendar

Aug 20: Banding Together: Lessons from the MPLA Leadership Institute (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

Aug 26: How to Put a Career Plan in Place (GovLoop) https://www.govloop.com/training/

Aug 27: Share Knowledge, Ideas, Learning, and Library Solutions! (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

CHILDREN & TEENS

Aug 13: Ditching 1000 Books: A New Initiative (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

Aug 14: Book Drop in Your Library (STAR Net) https://www.starnetlibraries.org/development/webinars/

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Aug 14: Preservation Steward Collection Inventories: Requirements and Guidance (FDLP) https://www.fdlp.gov/events

COMMUNICATION

Aug 13: Social Media Roundup for Librarians (Niche Academy) https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

DIVERSITY/EQUITY/INCLUSION

Aug 4: Understanding the Current Political Climate & Taking Action for TGX+ Rights (NonprofitLearningLab) https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars

 DIGITAL RESOURCES

Aug 14: From Chaos to Coordination: Utilizing Census Bureau’s Emergency Management (US Census) https://www.census.gov/data/academy/webinars/upcoming.html

Aug 20: Introduction to the American Community Survey (US Census) https://www.census.gov/data/academy/webinars/upcoming.html

FUNDRAISING

Aug 7: Late summer strategies for fall fundraising success (Bloomerang) https://bloomerang.co/webinars-events/

Aug 13: Raise more money from your community through peer-to-peer and digital-first fundraising (Candid Learning) https://learning.candid.org/page/course-catalog

Aug 13: The $250 BillionOpportunity: How to Drive More DAF Giving (Nonprofit Hub) https://nonprofithub.org/webinars-events/

Aug 25: Top Tips to Supercharge Your Next Fundraising Appeal (Productive Fundraising) https://productivefundraising.com/event/

LEGAL

Aug 6: Protecting Access: Concrete ways to Prepare for and Respond to Book Challenges (Bibliotheca) https://bibliotheca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r_uqleRwSViBsSREqNf5mg#/registration

MANAGEMENT

Aug 5: Conflict Busters: Equipping Teams to Navigate Conflict with Confidence (Training Magazine Network) http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/calendar

Aug 21: Building Drama-Resilience: Evidence-Based Methods for Engaging Conflict with Compassionate Accountability (Training Magazine Network) http://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/calendar 

Aug 25: Engaging an Unengaged Team (GovLoop) https://www.govloop.com/training/

OUTREACH & PARTNERS

Aug 6: Foundations of Philanthropic Partnership (Niche Academy) https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

PROGRAMMING

Aug 12: Building Community Through Craft Programs (WebJunction) https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction.html

Aug 13: What’s Up Wednesday: Adult Programming Made Easy Part 2 (Indiana State Library) https://continuinged.isl.in.gov/find-training/online-training-series/

Aug 18: How to Increase Money for Programs and Services Without Relying on a Grant, Event, or Campaign (NonprofitLearningLab) https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars

Aug 20: Citizen Science Month 2026: Make Your Acts Count – A Kickoff for Libraries and Event Facilitators (STAR Net) https://www.starnetlibraries.org/development/webinars/

READERS’ ADVISORY

Aug 5: Adult Faves (Booklist) https://www.booklistonline.com/GeneralInfo.aspx?id=63

Aug 5: Fall Audiobook Preview (Library Journal) https://www.libraryjournal.com/section/events

Aug 7: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure & Horror (Booklist) https://www.booklistonline.com/GeneralInfo.aspx?id=63

Aug 12: YA Announcements (Booklist) https://www.booklistonline.com/GeneralInfo.aspx?id=63

Aug 26: Comics to the Core: Graphic Novels & Manga Essentials (Booklist) https://www.booklistonline.com/GeneralInfo.aspx?id=63

REFERENCE

Aug 5: AI-Hallucinated Citations in Libraries: A Discussion (ASERL) https://www.aserl.org/events/

Aug 20: News Literacy Practices and Partnerships (Niche Academy) https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Aug 5: Empowering Your Library Program with AI (Follett) https://www.follettcommunity.com/s/webinars

Aug 5: Supporting Struggling Math Students: 6 Recent Research-Based Recommendations for Elementary and Middle School (edWeb) https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

Aug 6: Keeping It Real: Building Reading Integrity and Accountability in Schools (SLJ) https://www.slj.com/section/events?eventtype=webcasts

Aug 12: Math and STEM Walks: Inquiry-Based Learning Experiences that Engage All Students (edWeb) https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

Aug 13: Finding Balance: Wellness Strategies for School Librarians (Library 2.0) https://www.library20.com/

Aug 13: Open Education 101 Session 1: Open Education Foundations (ASERL) https://www.aserl.org/events/

Aug 14: Teaching Copyright K-12: Ready to go and it’s all FREE! (Copyright & Creativity) https://copyrightandcreativity.org/online-training/

Aug 14: What’s New in ML Drawings: Simplifying Asset Mapping for Schools (Follett) https://www.follettcommunity.com/s/webinars

Aug 20: Back to School Special: Ask a Future Ready Librarian (All4Ed) https://all4ed.org/activity/2025-future-ready-librarians-webinar-series/

Aug 21: Teaching Core Science with STEM: More Than a Supplement (edWeb) https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

TECHNOLOGY

Aug 5: Streamlining Nonprofit Website Navigation for Better Engagement (TechSoup) https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events-and-webinars/

Aug 5: Super Searchers and Meet LEO (ALA: Public Library Assn) https://www.ala.org/pla/education/onlinelearning/webinars

Aug 13: Keeping Threats at Bay: The Latest in Cybersecurity (GovLoop) https://www.govloop.com/training/

Aug 26: Empowering research with GenAI and Agentic AI: From synthesis and understanding to insights and innovation (ACRL/Choice360) https://www.choice360.org/media/webinars/

Aug 27: What’s Up Wednesday: AI-Powered Research and Data Analysis (Indiana State Library) https://continuinged.isl.in.gov/find-training/online-training-series/

Aug 28: Unlocking Insights for Impact: Navigating Google Analytics 4 (TechSoup) https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events-and-webinars/

TRAINING & INSTRUCTIONS

Aug 7: How to Make Learning Accessible for All: Designing Training with Inclusion in Mind (CharityHowTo) https://www.charityhowto.com/nonprofit-live-webinars

AT YOUR LEISURE

Pre-recorded webinars to view at your convenience

 AI-Enhanced Storytelling & Content Creation (Bloomerang)

Discover how to amplify your nonprofit’s message with storytelling strategies and AI tools. Learn Hailey’s EPIC Framework and 5-Part Storytelling Blueprint to communicate effectively, engage supporters, and boost your impact. Visit: https://bloomerang.co/webinar/ai-enhanced-storytelling-content-creation/

Homelessness in Small and Rural Communities: Libraries Can Help! (WebJunction)

A webinar hosted in collaboration with ARSL on how small or rural libraries can provide services to community members experiencing homelessness, especially with limited access to resources, like a social worker. Homelessness means having no predictable and safe place to sleep. Libraries in rural and small communities are often a source of information and daytime shelter for individuals facing homelessness or housing insecurity. In an already busy library with limited resources, staff may be challenged to respond to the needs of these patrons and to cope with compassion fatigue. This webinar will provide practical insights on providing services to people who don’t have stable housing. Visit: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/homelessness-in-small-and-rural.html

 Make It Rain! Tips for Getting an ALA Grant (Programming Librarian/ALA)

Opportunities abound! Join Public and Cultural Programs Advisory Committee members for an informative session that will show you the behind the scenes of the ALA Public Programs Office grant process and help connect your library with innovating programs and impactful initiatives. Learn how to navigate the grant process and successfully bring opportunities to your community. Visit: https://programminglibrarian.org/learn/make-it-rain-tips-getting-ala-grant

NEW TO NICHE!

Hosted on Niche Academy, a learning, training, and development platform for public library staff and managers, the NMSL Professional Development Academy provides dozens of recorded trainings and tutorials focusing on a variety of topics such as basic librarianship skills, library management, community relations, accessibility, and many others. Each month, new recordings and tutorials are added to the NMSL Academy. Starting in July 2025, the Continuing Education Coordinator will highlight the trainings added to the NMSL Professional Development Academy during the previous month.

Newly added categories and tutorials – July 2025

COLLECTIONS CARE

• • “Basic Book Repairs”
  • Book Repair Clinic”

CYBERSECURITY BASICS

• • Your Digital Footprint
  • Creating Strong Passwords
  • Preventing Human Errors

GetSetUp TRAINING MATERIALS

• • How To GetSetUp at Your Library – Instructions and Promotional Materials. Through a partnership between New Mexico State Library and the GetSetUp program, library patrons can enroll in online courses on a variety of topics, such as digital literacy skills, cooking, fitness and wellness, and many more. The Niche Academy tutorial offers an overview of the program and has training and promotional materials for libraries that want to embed GetSetUp on their website or include courses in their programming.

   Upcoming / Under Construction

LIBRARY FOUNDATIONAL TRAINING (LiFT)

• Developed by the Idaho Commission for Libraries in partnership with WebJunction and using an IMLS grant, this series of trainings will gradually replace the ABLE (Alternative Basic Library Education) courses. The Collection Management series is now available on the WebJunction website (free account is needed to access the courses): https://learn.webjunction.org/course/index.php?categoryid=130

Note: While the Niche Academy trainings are available for free to New Mexico public library managers and staff through the New Mexico State Library subscription, an account is needed to access the content. Some of the tutorials require additional approval prior to watching. For more information, please contact Ada Negraru, Continuing Education Coordinator: ada.negraru@dca.nm.gov

READ THIS NEXT!

In addition to the calendar of professional development webinars, Read This Next! highlights one recent reading (print book, eBook, journal article or blog post published within the last five years) focusing on the librarianship profession.

Wong, Melissa Autumn, and Laura Saunders, editors. Reference and Information Services: An Introduction. Seventh edition. Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited, 2025.

Check out NMSL’s recently acquired library and information science collection titles: 2025 – New in Library and Information Science – LibGuides at New Mexico State Library

Happy Reading! Happy Learning!