Continuing Education Archives

HR functions come down to: Recruitment, Interviewing, Orienting, Coaching, and Termination. This workshop will help employers and supervisors identify essential skills for all library applicants, learn how to tease out those skills during an interview, and provide tips for diagnosing and coaching wayward employees. Also discussed will be how to end a work relationship that can't be saved.

Dr. Leanne Furby, Project Manager and Course Developer, gives an overview of the statewide iLEAD Trustee Training Portal. This free resource is designed to give Illinois public library trustees a solid foundation of learning and best practices on which to build their library knowledge.

In this webinar, participants will learn practical strategies for engaging with and “speaking” to positional power with clarity and confidence. First, we will explore how awareness is strategic and how successful interactions begin with this core principle. Next, participants will see how “plating” helps set the table for the discussion and provides an opportunity to be positioned as a thoughtful, solution-oriented leader; scenarios will be shared to illustrate the approach.

As AI and emerging technologies continue to reshape the information landscape, libraries should embrace experimentation to navigate uncertainty and drive innovation. Using techniques from startups and rapidly evolving tech companies, this program explores how experimentation can lead to evidence-based decisions and transformative initiatives. Through interactive activities, you’ll learn how to cultivate curiosity and innovation within traditional library constraints.

Emily Weak, founder of Hiring Librarians, explores ways to improve each stage of your hiring process, from defining recruitment needs to onboarding new staff. Learn how to evaluate and update outdated or harmful practices, broaden your applicant pool, and fairly assess candidates. Gain tools to communicate clearly about the process and foster a collaborative, team-based approach to hiring.