Check out the Professional Development Calendar for more information and to register for the following FREE online professional development opportunities.
NOTE: until we can get the calendars synced, the calendar will show Maine State Library (MSL), this is ok, as the MSL is the new host for the professional development calendar.
ADVOCACY
- Mar 5: Introduction to AI for Nonprofits (TechSoup)
- Mar 15: Library Advocacy Work is Relationship Building Work: A Panel Discussion (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries)
- Mar 19: Introduction to measuring your impact (Candid Learning)
- Mar 25: Newsletters: Multichannel Impact Reporting for the Modern Era (Productive Fundraising)
- Mar 27: A Higher Purpose: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom Today (Georgia Library Association)
ASSESSMENT & PLANNING
- Mar 5: Cut Costs and Get Creative with Nonprofit Appeals (Firespring)
- Mar 7: Begin With a Strong Foundation: Developing a Data Plan (Research Institute for Public Libraries)
- Mar 19: Start Planning Now (Fast Forward Libraries)
- Mar 19: Maximizing Impact: Nonprofit Website Planning, Budgeting, and Design (TechSoup)
- Mar 27: Set the Path Forward with Smart Technology Decisions (TechSoup)
- Mar 28: Financial Forecasting Model (Every Library Institute)
ACCESSIBILITY
- Mar 14: Making Accessible Educational Materials Available to Students Who Need Them (EdWeb)
- Mar 19: Designing a Website Your Patrons Will Love (Library Journal)
- Mar 20: Tools to Support Task Completion (PACER Center)
- Mar 28: How to Host an Accessible Hybrid Training (Training Magazine Network)
BOARDS
- Mar 6: Five Critical Skills to Lead an Organization—and How to Master Them (Niche Academy)
- Mar 7: How to be a Great Board Chair (Propel Nonprofits)
- Mar 7: Building a Fundraising Board (Bloomerang)
- Mar 12: United for Libraries: Media and Crisis Communications for Trustees & Friends (Nebraska Library Commission)
- Mar 13: Library Boards and Intellectual Freedom: How to Combat Censorship with Your Library Trustees (Niche Academy)
- Mar 21: Get your board fundraising (Candid Learning)
CAREERS
- Mar 13: Creating a Person-Centered Library: Supporting Patrons While Avoiding Burnout (WebJunction)
- Mar 14: Burnout in the Nonprofit Sector: What You Need to Know (Charity Village)
- Mar 20: ACRL Presents: Youth Services to Academia – Transitioning Positions within Librarianship (ALA eLearning)
- Mar 26: Adults Need Social-Emotional Wellness Too! (EdWeb)
CHILDREN & TEENS
- Mar 6: Supporting Social-Emotional Growth Through Project-Based Learning (EdWeb)
- Mar 7: Middle Grade Magic 2024 (SLJ)
- Mar 14: Making Accessible Educational Materials Available to Students Who Need Them (EdWeb)
- Mar 20: ACRL Presents: Youth Services to Academia – Transitioning Positions within Librarianship (ALA eLearning)
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT & MANAGEMENT
- Mar 12: Spring Book Club Picks (Booklist)
- Mar 19: Picture Books (Booklist)
COMMUNICATION
- Mar 5: Introduction to AI for Nonprofits (TechSoup)
- Mar 19: Maximizing Impact: Nonprofit Website Planning, Budgeting, and Design (TechSoup)
- Mar 19: Designing a Website Your Patrons Will Love (Library Journal)
- Mar 25: 10 Tips for a More User-Centric Nonprofit Website (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
- Mar 25: Newsletters: Multichannel Impact Reporting for the Modern Era (Productive Fundraising)
- Mar 27: Inclusive Survey Design: Crafting Questions for Community Representation (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
DIGITAL RESOURCES
- Mar 12: From Resistance to Resilience: L&D’s Role in Unlocking Digital Transformation Success (Training Industry)
- Mar 19: Researching Women’s, Gender, and LGBTQIA+ Perspectives at the Library of Congress (Federal Depository Library Program)
- Mar 21: Open Access Series 101 for Publics (SirsiDynix)
- Mar 21: Open Access Series 101 for Academics (SirsiDynix)
- Mar 26: PFAS and Environment Health: Information and Tools for Public Health Practitioners and Information Specialists (National Library of Medicine)
- Mar 27: What the Research Says – Digital Privacy in Libraries as Digital Literacy (Indiana State Library)
DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
- Mar 5: From Curiosity to Career: Library Services for the Skilled Trades (Library Journal)
- Mar 6: Muslim Information Manipulation and its Impact on Humanitarian Aid and Development (TechSoup)
- Mar 19: Researching Women’s, Gender, and LGBTQIA+ Perspectives at the Library of Congress (Federal Depository Library Program)
- Mar 19: Indigenising the Curriculum: How to Embed Indigenous Knowledge into Library Collections and Why it Matters (ProQuest)
- Mar 27: Inclusive Survey Design: Crafting Questions for Community Representation (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
FUNDRAISING
- Mar 5: Cut Costs and Get Creative with Nonprofit Appeals (Firespring)
- Mar 7: Building a Fundraising Board (Bloomerang)
- Mar 19: Start Planning Now (Fast Forward Libraries)
- Mar 19: Introduction to measuring your impact (Candid Learning)
- Mar 21: Get your board fundraising (Candid Learning)
- Mar 28: Financial Forecasting Model (Every Library Institute)
LEGAL
- Mar 5: Online Program Managers in Higher Education: The Role of Academic Libraries (Association of College & Research Libraries)
- Mar 8: Loida Garcia-Febo on the Freedom to Read in 2024 (Northern New York Library Network)
- Mar 13: Library Boards and Intellectual Freedom: How to Combat Censorship with Your Library Trustees (Niche Academy)
- Mar 27: A Higher Purpose: Censorship and Intellectual Freedom Today (Georgia Library Association)
- Mar 27: What the Research Says – Digital Privacy in Libraries as Digital Literacy (Indiana State Library)
- Mar 28: Financial Forecasting Model (Every Library Institute)
MANAGEMENT
- Mar 5: 5 Trends in Volunteer Management You Can’t Afford to Ignore (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
- Mar 6: Five Critical Skills to Lead an Organization—and How to Master Them (Niche Academy)
- Mar 7: Begin With a Strong Foundation: Developing a Data Plan (Research Institute for Public Libraries)
- Mar 7: Navigating Difficult Conversations: Turning Tension Into Progress (Training Magazine Network)
- Mar 8: Loida Garcia-Febo on the Freedom to Read in 2024 (Northern New York Library Network)
- Mar 12: United for Libraries: Media and Crisis Communications for Trustees & Friends (Nebraska Library Commission)
- Mar 14: Burnout in the Nonprofit Sector: What You Need to Know (Charity Village)
- Mar 25: How to Keep Your Team Engaged (GovLoop)
- Mar 27: Set the Path Forward with Smart Technology Decisions (TechSoup)
OUTREACH & PARTNERSHIPS
- Mar 12: Blue Marble Librarians: Libraries Helping Their Communities Prepare for Extreme Weather and Foster Socially and Ecologically Conscious Culture (Network of the National Librarians of Medicine)
- Mar 15: Library Advocacy Work is Relationship Building Work: A Panel Discussion (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries)
- Mar 20: Award-Winning Nature Books for Teachers, Children and Families in Your Program! (Early Childhood Investigations)
- Mar 22: Health Programming at Your Library (Network of the National Librarians of Medicine)
- Mar 27: Inclusive Survey Design: Crafting Questions for Community Representation (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
- Mar 27: Community Driven Science Adventure(s) at Your Library this Summer! (SciStart)
- Mar 27: Advancing Climate Resilience, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice: A Public and Academic Libraries Partnership in San Diego County (National Library of Medicine)
PROGRAMMING
- Mar 13: Public Libraries and Adult Literacy: State of the Field (Colorado State Library)
- Mar 22: Health Programming at Your Library (Network of the National Librarians of Medicine)
- Mar 27: Community Driven Science Adventure(s) at Your Library this Summer! (SciStart)
READERS’ ADVISORY
- Mar 7: Middle Grade Magic 2024 (SLJ)
- Mar 7: Matchmaking with Macmillan Library (Booklist)
- Mar 12: Spring Book Club Picks (Booklist)
- Mar 14: Readers’ Advisory: Ideas and Practice (ALA eLearning)
- Mar 19: Picture Books (Booklist)
- Mar 20: Award-Winning Nature Books for Teachers, Children and Families in Your Program! (Early Childhood Investigations)
REFERENCE
- Mar 5: From Curiosity to Career: Library Services for the Skilled Trades (Library Journal)
- Mar 6: Muslim Information Manipulation and its Impact on Humanitarian Aid and Development (TechSoup)
- Mar 7: Hitting the Inbox: Email Authentication Changes and What You Need to Know (TechSoup)
- Mar 12: Blue Marble Librarians: Libraries Helping Their Communities Prepare for Extreme Weather and Foster Socially and Ecologically Conscious Culture (Network of the National Librarians of Medicine)
- Mar 13: Creating a Person-Centered Library: Supporting Patrons While Avoiding Burnout (WebJunction)
- Mar 26: PFAS and Environment Health: Information and Tools for Public Health Practitioners and Information Specialists (National Library of Medicine)
- Mar 27: Advancing Climate Resilience, Sustainability, and Environmental Justice: A Public and Academic Libraries Partnership in San Diego County (National Library of Medicine)
SCHOOL LIBRARIES
- Mar 5: From Curiosity to Career: Library Services for the Skilled Trades (Library Journal)
- Mar 6: Supporting Social-Emotional Growth Through Project-Based Learning (EdWeb)
- Mar 7: Middle Grade Magic 2024 (SLJ)
- Mar 12: Civics Fireside Chat with the Archivist of the United States and U.S. Secretary of Education (National Archives)
- Mar 13: Assistive Technology Supports for Math (PACER Center)
- Mar 14: Making Accessible Educational Materials Available to Students Who Need Them (EdWeb)
- Mar 19: Indigenising the Curriculum: How to Embed Indigenous Knowledge into Library Collections and Why it Matters (ProQuest)
- Mar 20: ACRL Presents: Youth Services to Academia – Transitioning Positions within Librarianship (ALA eLearning)
- Mar 20: Award-Winning Nature Books for Teachers, Children and Families in Your Program! (Early Childhood Investigations)
- Mar 26: Adults Need Social-Emotional Wellness Too! (EdWeb)
- Mar 27: Anxiety in Academia: Librarians’ Guide to Recognizing, Responding, and Collaborating for Student Well-Being (Niche Academy)
TECHNOLOGY
- Mar 5: Introduction to AI for Nonprofits (TechSoup)
- Mar 7: Hitting the Inbox: Email Authentication Changes and What You Need to Know (TechSoup)
- Mar 12: From Resistance to Resilience: L&D’s Role in Unlocking Digital Transformation Success (Training Industry)
- Mar 13: Assistive Technology Supports for Math (PACER Center)
- Mar 19: Maximizing Impact: Nonprofit Website Planning, Budgeting, and Design (TechSoup)
- Mar 19: Designing a Website Your Patrons Will Love (Library Journal)
- Mar 20: Tools to Support Task Completion (PACER Center)
- Mar 21: Open Access Series 101 for Publics (SirsiDynix)
- Mar 21: Open Access Series 101 for Academics (SirsiDynix)
- Mar 25: 10 Tips for a More User-Centric Nonprofit Website (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
- Mar 27: Set the Path Forward with Smart Technology Decisions (TechSoup)
TRAINING & INSTRUCTION
- Mar 5: Online Program Managers in Higher Education: The Role of Academic Libraries (Association of College & Research Libraries)
- Mar 13: Creating a Person-Centered Library: Supporting Patrons While Avoiding Burnout (WebJunction)
- Mar 25: How to Keep Your Team Engaged (GovLoop)
- Mar 27: Anxiety in Academia: Librarians’ Guide to Recognizing, Responding, and Collaborating for Student Well-Being (Niche Academy)
- Mar 28: How to Host an Accessible Hybrid Training (Training Magazine Network)
VOLUNTEERS
- Mar 5: 5 Trends in Volunteer Management You Can’t Afford to Ignore (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
At Your Leisure / Pre-recorded webinars to view at your convenience
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.
Homelessness in Small and Rural Communities: Libraries Can Help! (WebJunction)
Maybe you’d like to help address the needs of patrons experiencing homelessness, but aren’t sure how—especially with stretched financial and human resources. This webinar offers practical insights on services and resources you can provide for people without stable housing. You’ll also learn how to create a welcoming environment, and how to engage your community in conversations and myth-debunking about homelessness.
Preparing for Program Challenges at your Public Library (Programming Librarian)
Learn best practices and strategies to support staff, board, and community through program challenges. Are you unsure how to handle a program challenge in your library? Do you worry about having the right policies and procedures in place? Two public library directors will share their personal experiences with intellectual freedom challenges of programs. Learn best practices and strategies for supporting staff, board, and community members through program challenges. Resources to assist in responding to challenges and crafting appropriate policies, procedures, and training will be provided.
Online Conferences
March 12-14: Southeast Collaborative Online Conference
The 2024 Southeast Collaborative Online Conference is a collective effort by the Georgia Public Library Service, State Library of North Carolina, South Carolina State Library, Tennessee State Library & Archives, and The Library of Virginia, to offer innovative and useful online learning experiences for library staff at all levels through a convenient online conference.
March 21:AI and Libraries: Application, Implications, and Possibilities
How has artificial intelligence impacted library services, resources, and work so far? How have libraries responded to these evolving technologies to better support their communities? It’s been over a year since generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Dall-E have been introduced in public spaces and consciousness, but AI has been around long before these tools yet there are still lingering concerns, challenges, and considerations. Join us for this free virtual conference to learn how libraries and library workers are engaging with artificial intelligence tools in their libraries from research support to information literacy to technical services. The conversations held in the conference will address the practical implications of these tools in the profession.
*Training opportunities are compiled and shared by the Maine State Library each month via WebJunction. See WebJunction for detailed abstracts. Note: some of these opportunities may not be free.