Continuing Education Archives

Looking to learn about what the best books for kids (ages 0-14} were in 2024? Then sit back and enjoy this presentation that covers everything from board books to upper elementary nonfiction. It's a rousing round-up of some of the true gems of last year. Some you may know but don't be surprised if a lot of them strike you as new! 

Presented by Betsy Bird.

This webinar discusses the importance of representation in literature for youth, explores curated book lists filled with culturally relevant texts, and covers practical resources for finding books that celebrate diverse voices, backgrounds, and experiences.

Slides.

Handouts.

Are your patrons passionate about true crime, murder mysteries, and thrilling investigative stories? If so, this is the perfect opportunity to create an unforgettable experience that taps into their curiosity and love for suspense. In this session, you will learn how to craft intricate and immersive storylines, designed to capture the attention of your audience while also seamlessly blending important STEM concepts and literacy skills.

Librarians are key community members involved in fostering reading skills and attitudes. This presentation will review the framework termed 'Science of Reading' as it relates to reading development and difficulties in school-age children. We will review current research on reading instruction, assessment, intervention, and experiences, with a focus on librarian roles. Our discussion will also include cognitive neuroscience insights to complement our understanding of how children learn to read. 

Presented by Dr. Joanna Christodoulou. 

Join Illinois Heartland Library System’s school membership coordinator Leah Gregory and Reaching Across Illinois Library System’s member engagement specialist Jessica Silva as they take you on a deep dive into using the new state databases in school libraries.

This session covers types of children’s material with a focus on cataloging children’s literature and non-fiction. Tips for evaluating records, assigning Dewey and LC call numbers, and local fields of interest to children’s materials such as award winners are discussed. Also covered are strategies for managing and organizing children’s collections to enhance accessibility and discoverability.
 

Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods who has transformed our understanding of nature-deficit disorder; Westchester Public Library (IL), who deliver nature programming on a tight budget; and Anythink Libraries (CO), who are creating a dedicated Nature Library branch focused on immersive nature-based learning, explore and demonstrate the vital role libraries can play in nurturing a deeper connection to nature.

Dungeons & Dragons is more popular now than ever before, with new players coming to the hobby every day! Join Dungeon Master Luke to learn how to start and maintain a D&D club at your library! Webinar will include: 

-Why run a D&D club at your library? -The benefits of playing RPGs, including facilitating creative problem solving and teamwork 

-How to play D&D -Discuss the roles of the Dungeon Master (DM) and their players, and cover the core mechanic of D&D: the d20 roll 

We are living in the Golden Age of Children's Literature, no doubt about It. At the same tlme, we are also living in an era where more books are being published for kids than we've ever seen before. How can you possibly cut through the mass to find the gems?

Whether building a collection from scratch or brushing up on what’s new and noteworthy, this presentation covers best practices for collection development and maintenance, up-and-coming series to keep an eye on, to boost your circulation statistics with appealing titles for elementary through high school readers.

This session provides an overview of research into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the lifelong consequences of trauma. Special attention will be paid to the behavioral responses to trauma commonly observed among public library patrons. We will explore ways that libraries can move to become trauma-informed, providing customer service that addresses the needs of the whole person. Please note that while ACEs occur during childhood, the repercussions are felt throughout our lives; this session is not specific to children and youth.

Details/Watch

A superb high school librarian, in a discussion of making a place for all stories, explained the groups she was expanding her collection to more accurately and completely represent. When I asked about voices of those living in generational poverty, she paused and very honestly replied, "I never thought about representation and socioeconomics," and proceeded to ask me about titles.

Details/Watch

Jon Lewis draws on his more than 10 years experience working in libraries, songwriting, and performing in day care centers and preschools to compile his best practices for including music and puppets in storytimes and circle times. Using a mix of PowerPoint, video clips, discussion, live music, and more, "Mr. Jon" will have attendees singing and dancing, discussing music tips and tricks, and learning all about best puppet practices.

In August, 2021, the State of Illinois enacted groundbreaking legislation requiring the teaching of news literacy at every public high school. Hopefully this is the start of a nationwide trend, and it represents an incredible opportunity for school librarians to partner with teachers to help future generations become media-savvy and disinformation-aware.