Professional Development Opportunities – DECEMBER

 

CONFERENCE

Thursday, Dec 4 (10 am-5 pm) Penguin Random House Winter Book & Author Festival 2025 (Library Journal & School Library Journal)

Join Penguin Random House, Library Journal, and School Library Journal for our Winter 2025 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, virtual shelf browsing, audiobook discovery, 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. Attendees will also have the opportunity to check out the virtual exhibit hall, access eGalleys, and enter to win prizes and giveaways. For more information and to register, visit: https://www.libraryjournal.com/event/prh-winter-festival-2025

PROGRAMS BY TOPIC

ACCESSIBILITY

Dec 10: Accessible by Design: Preparing Your Library Website for the 2026 Accessibility Rule (Washington State Library) https://www.sos.wa.gov/library/resources-libraries/library-development/training/training-calendar?audience=state

ADVOCACY

Dec 11: The Neuroscience of Customer Testimonials (Training Magazine Network) https://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/calendar

ASSESMENT/PLANNING

Dec 1: Building Resilience through Adaptive Management (Nonprofit Learning Lab) https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars

Dec 2: First Tuesdays: Open Data for Libraries-A Toolkit (Washington State Library) https://www.sos.wa.gov/library/resources-libraries/library-development/training/training-calendar?audience=state

Dec 2: The Art of the Possible In Action: Turning Data into Decisions (TechSoup) https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events/

Dec 3: Beyond Survival: Building a Sustainable Nonprofit Model (GrantStation)  https://grantstation.com/product/online-education/view-all-2

Dec 3: Start Your 2026 Grant Strategy Off Right! (CharityHowTo) https://www.charityhowto.com/nonprofit-live-webinars

Dec 4: Preparing Your Nonprofit’s Finances for 2026: A Roadmap to Preparedness (Charity Village) https://resources.charityvillage.com/learning-centre/webinars/

Dec 10: Why Your Annual Report Should Be a Marketing Tool and Not a Snooze Fest (Firespring) https://firespring.com/resources/

Dec 15: Advanced AI Techniques for Grant Seeking: Enhancing Search and Assessment (Nonprofit Learning Lab) https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars

BOARDS

Dec 4: Successful board fundraising in 5 steps (Bloomerang) https://bloomerang.com/webinars-events/

Dec 11: From Overwhelmed to Organized: Upgrading Board Governance for Nonprofits (TechSoup) https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events/

Dec 17: Where Does Governance Stop and Management Begin? (Propel Nonprofits) https://www.propelnonprofits.org/upcoming-trainings/

CAREERS (Staff)

Dec 18: Share Knowledge, Ideas, Learning, and Library Solutions! (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

CHILDREN & TEENS

Dec 18: The Power of Stories (National Girls Collaborative Project) https://ngcproject.org/events-announcements

COMMUNICATION

Dec 3: Social Media Show & Tell! (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

Dec 16: What Your Nonprofit Website Needs in 2026: Strategies for Engagement, Growth, and Impact (TechSoup) https://events.techsoup.org/techsoup-events/

DEVELOPMENT & MANAGING CHANGE      

Dec 11: The Future of Work: What Learning Leaders Must Know Now (Training Magazine Network) https://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/calendar

Dec 16: Conflict Transformation: Learning to Love (or at Least Deal With) Conflict (GovLoop) https://www.govloop.com/training/

FUNDRAISING

Dec 2: Ask Me Anything: Emergency Funding (Candid Learning) https://learning.candid.org/page/live-training

 LEGAL

Dec 10: Libraries, Social Media, CIPA, and the Internet (Niche Academy) https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

Dec 11: Orientation to Legal Research: Tracing Federal Regulations (Law Library of Congress) https://blogs.loc.gov/law/

LIBRARY SPACES

Dec 9: Navigating New Building Projects (WebJunction) https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction.html

 MANAGEMENT

Dec 15: How to Handle Negativity and Naysayers (GovLoop) https://www.govloop.com/training/

PROGRAMMING

Dec 2: Libraries Supporting Small Business Skills for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals (WebJunction) https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction.html

Dec 11: Do NASA Science LIVE! (SciStarter) https://scistarter.org/events

Dec 15: Acts of Science: Connected Info Session (SciStarter) https://scistarter.org/events

READERS’ ADVISORY

Dec 3: Page Turners and Heart Burners: The Art of YA Romance (Booklist) https://www.booklistonline.com/GeneralInfo.aspx?id=63

Dec 17: Best New Children’s Books of 2025 (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

 REFERENCE

Dec 4: Academic Library Collection Trends (ProQuest/Clarivate) https://about.proquest.com/en/events/events/

Dec 4: Empathy Lens: Humanizing Images & Education for Reducing Stigma Against People Who Use Drugs (NNLM) https://www.nnlm.gov/training/schedule

Dec 4: Research in the Federal Government with the Federal Research Division, Library of Congress (FDLP) https://www.fdlp.gov/events

Dec 9: Congress.gov Webinar (Law Library of Congress) https://blogs.loc.gov/law/

Dec 9: Finding Local History in Library of Congress Collections (Texas State Library & Archives Commission) https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ldn/cec/upcoming-webinars

Dec 10: Effective Health Communication and Health Literacy: Understanding the Connection (NNLM) https://www.nnlm.gov/training/schedule

Dec 10: Using University Archival Materials to Teach Social Justice Topics (Georgia Library Association) https://georgialibraryassociation.org/Carterette-Series-Webinars

Dec 11: Connecting Older Adults to Health Information (NNLM) https://www.nnlm.gov/training/schedule

Dec 16: “Data” and Indigenous Studies: Entry Points for Academic Libraries (Choice360/ACRL) https://www.choice360.org/media/webinars/

SCHOOL LIBRARIES

Dec 4: Building Stronger Schools: Partnering with Blackbaud K–12 (Blackbaud) https://www.blackbaud.com/events/all-events

Dec 8: Small-Group Instruction to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners (edWeb) https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

Dec 10: The Literacy Breakthrough: Turn Parents into Your Most Powerful Reading Partners (edWeb) https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

Dec 11: Creation in the AI Era (All4Ed Future Ready Schools) https://all4ed.org/activity/new-literacies-in-the-ai-era-a-collaboration-from-isteascd-and-all4eds-future-ready-schools/

Dec 16: 20 Proven Teaching Strategies to Save Time and Maximize Impact (edWeb) https://home.edweb.net/webinars/

Dec 16: Digital Citizenship in Action: Preparing Students for a Connected World (Follett) https://www.follettcommunity.com/s/webinars

TECHNOLOGY

Dec 2: AI in Action: How a Library Leader Is Empowering Students with Artificial Intelligence (Follett) https://www.follettcommunity.com/s/webinars

Dec 2: Mission Telecom’s E-Rate Support (Libraries for Digital Equity) https://libraries4de.org/resources/upcoming-events/

Dec 3: Academic AI in Action: Enhancing Library Services with Alma (Library Journal) https://www.libraryjournal.com/section/events?eventtype=eventHome

Dec 4: AT to support executive function in early childhood (PACER Center) https://www.pacer.org/workshops/

Dec 8: Supercharge your Nonprofit with AI and Automation (Nonprofit Learning Lab) https://www.nonprofitlearninglab.org/webinars

Dec 9: New Ways of Content Delivery with AI – Podcasts, Instant Translations and AI Coaches (Training Magazine Network) https://www.trainingmagnetwork.com/calendar

Dec 15: AI in Action: Coding & Applications for Academic Libraries (ASERL) https://www.aserl.org/events/

Dec 31: Pretty Sweet Tech (Nebraska Library Commission) https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventlist.asp?Mode=ALL

TRAINING & INSTRUCTIONS

Dec 3: How to Identify, Plan, & Deliver Needed Training in 2026 (Nonprofit Hub) https://nonprofithub.org/webinars-events/

 VOLUNTEERS

Dec 3: Recruiting and Engaging Volunteers (Niche Academy) https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars

Dec 9: Ethics and Decision Making When Leading Volunteers (Volunteer Match) https://www.idealist.org/en/orgs/volunteer-engagement-resources

 

AT YOUR LEISURE:

Pre-recorded webinars to view at your convenience

Big Programming Ideas for Small Budgets (Programming Librarian)

Tiny program budget? No problem! Learn how you can offer programming that engages people of all ages and backgrounds, no matter your budget size. In this webinar, Chelsea Price (Meservey, Iowa) discusses fun, easy and cost-effective programming ideas drawn from her ALA Editions book “209 Big Programming Ideas for Small Budgets.” Participants in this session will hear ideas for outreach, marketing, fundraising, partnerships and more. Visit: https://programminglibrarian.org/learn/big-programming-ideas-small-budgets

Building a Fundable Strategic Plan (EveryLibrary Institute)

It’s often difficult to motivate voters or elected officials to say yes to new funding. Developing a “fundable strategic plan” for your library helps communicate to local leadership and the citizens about where the money is going, who is spending it, and the impact it will have on the community. Funders and supporters need to know how outcomes will be enhanced through new features at the library, and diminished across the community if it is not funded. EveryLibrary’s executive director John Chrastka will share actionable insights from nearly 100 library funding campaigns about inclusive planning, and uncover what data drives successful strategic plans to build political and social support for funding libraries. Visit: https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/fundable_strategic_plan

Rekindling from Burnout: Lessons and Strategies for Public Library Workers (Infopeople)

Library workers provide support for patrons in distress on a regular basis. A hard and busy day might leave us depleted. Though we feel the effects of secondary trauma, we may not have the tools to describe and process the experience, leading to our own emotional distress. Without a practice of self-care and a network of support and solidarity, the stress of service work can evolve into guilt, cynicism, numbness, chronic exhaustion, and diminished creativity–legitimate responses that contribute to burnout. In this webinar we will discuss: Trauma exposure at the library, how our library’s “Rekindling from Burnout” project came about, and strategies & actions you can try at your library to build resiliency and networks of support. Visit: https://vimeo.com/647511173

 

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.

Tutorials added in November 2025

• Library Development Bureau Presentations
  • • “More than a Chore: Why Library Plans and Policies Are Important and How to Write Them”
• Library Boards
  • • “Welcome to the Board!” series
      • “Advocating for Your Library”
      • “Dealing with Material Challenges”
      • “Evaluating and Firing a Director”
      • “Hiring a Director”
      • “Preparing for Material Challenges”
      • “Reviewing and Approving Policies”
      • “Strategic Planning”
      • “Understanding Library Budgets”
      • “Your Role as a Trustee”
  • Digital Literacy
    • • “Digital Inclusion Playbook”

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!

Hillary Dodge. “Gather ’round the table: food literacy programs, resources, and ideas for libraries” (Chicago: ALA Editions, 2020)

No matter the time of year, food is always in season. In “Gather ’round the table,” Hillary Dodge defines the concept of food literacy and offers thorough guidelines for incorporating it in library programs and collection development. The book includes a list of “food movements every librarian should know,” as well as a “primer to the field of culinary arts,” which come in handy for any librarian new to food-based library projects. One chapter details the importance of conducting community food assessments and provides practical ideas and assessment tools. In the appendices, one can find detailed subject lists supporting collection development, a community food assessment toolkit, and a list of interactive websites related to nutrition and the culinary industry. With chapter titles creatively named to include food terminology, “Gather ’round the table” is a delightful, yet thought provoking invitation to add food literacy to every library’s collection and program planning.

For more library and information science titles, 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. The New Mexico Reads portal also includes a selection of Library and Information Science works. Access those through the New Mexico State Library’s website or directly: https://nmreads.boundless.baker-taylor.com/ng/view/library

Happy Reading! Happy Learning!