Continuing Education Archives

How far would you go for your job? According to vocational awe, the ideal librarian should die for it, happily, and without complaint. It is the idea that your work is good and sacred, and therefore is more important than any one person. Mission above all. When your work is holding up democracy and democratic values, it's a lot harder to advocate for "simple" things such as equitable pay and a reasonable work-life balance.
This webinar was recorded live on April 7, 2020, and runs for approximately one hour.

As we have witnessed the social, financial, and mental health challenges of our patrons escalate during the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries must connect and build relationships with local providers focused on these needs so that we may serve our communities as effectively as possible. This session will explore why it is imperative that libraries connect with social service providers in their communities, how to cultivate these connections, and tips to make sure the agencies you work with are effective, ethical partners.

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Illinois library statutes require a public library to engage in the competitive bidding process under many circumstances. Attorney Derke J. Price, partner at Ancel Glink Law Firm, shares valuable information on the competitive bidding process. Topics covered in this presentation include:

• Powers and limitations under the library code
• General requirements for competitive bidding and exceptions
• Intergovernmental agreements and additional opportunities
• Issues for review and inclusion in contract documents

After years of stable prices, libraries are running into the prospect of sharp increases in costs, compounded by labor shortages. Piled on top of COVID-stress, the normally sedate budgeting process may suddenly feel chaotic and uncertain. In this webinar, we'll talk about the impacts inflation is likely to have on your library - and it turns out some of these are good! We'll provide strategies for approaching and taking control of planning this year. You'll also find out a little about what your colleagues are expecting and doing too.

With multiple funding opportunities now available to purchase library technology, it is a great time to assess and upgrade your technology based on your community's needs. But how does one even start such a daunting task?" Join library technologist Carson Block as he introduces tools for pinpointing technology problems and needs, provides strategies for prioritizing and purchasing new equipment, and explains how to create an ongoing maintenance plan for your library's technology.

An essential process for any library, strategic planning engages stakeholders to create a shared vision for the future and charts a course for how to get there. This training will provide a top-level overview of community needs assessment methodologies, user engagement tactics, and key considerations as you prepare to embark on a strategic planning effort.

Topics:

- Benefits of community need assessment methodologies

- How to involve the community and users in the process

- How to decide on the length of time a strategic plan will cover

Since the CDC issued its updated masking guidance in mid-May, several other governmental entities have followed up with added guidance on masking and vaccination, including OSHA, State of Illinois, City of Chicago, and most recently, the EEOC.

Disaster can strike at any time in any locale, disrupting operations, threatening human safety, and damaging or destroying collections. Having a plan in place before disaster strikes makes good business sense; institutions that view emergency management as critical and provide staff with the authority and tools to plan will ultimately respond more successfully than those that have not prepared. Annie Peterson of LYRASIS provides an overview of different steps that libraries can take to be better prepared for a disaster of any size.

As libraries consider plans to reopen their facilities or expand hours, what steps can be taken to make our indoor environment safer? This webinar will provide guidance on issues related to air quality in library facilities. Topics covered during this presentation include:

Baby boomers are retiring, genXers are running some libraries and there are not enough of them who want to lead. Not surprisingly the profession is asking "who will lead the libraries?" Be proactive and ahead of the curve! Learn how to accelerate planning to fill key positions.

Topics:
* What is succession planning and making the case for it
* It's not only about leadership succession -- building bench strength
* Ingredients for success
* The process to create a succession plan
* Planning development opportunities

Participants will learn:

Kate Hall and Kathy Parker, authors of The Public Library Directors Toolkit, discuss the ins and outs of overseeing a building. From large scale projects to small renovations and everything in between, you will learn what you need to know in order to successfully manage a building. This program is aimed at public library directors with less than 3 years of experience and assistant directors.

This presentation was recorded on November 13, 2020. It is approximately 70 minutes long.

Learn how to manage smoother, well-defined projects with a toolbox of skills and resources to help you organize and bring projects to life. In this webinar, Brian Pichman will discuss different project management techniques and tools to help you not only have a successful project but more importantly, a well-planned and detailed project launch.

This webinar was recorded on September 29, 2020, and runs approximately one hour. The slide deck can be accessed here via SlideShare.

NYU Professor David Vinjamuri and Architect Joe Huberty of Engberg Anderson cover different phases of reopening and methodically discuss key considerations. They explain how good space planning techniques can help you reinvent your library to allow physical distance between patrons and streamline checkout and other interactions with staff. Safety considerations, including a discussion of HVAC system performance, is also covered.

This webinar was recorded on July 8, 2020, and runs approximately one hour and 20 minutes.