We've crawled the web for some of the most useful library learning opportunities, most of them free and all of them curated for the librarians of Illinois.

Here's where you can expand your skills in January 2025...

All learning is online unless noted otherwise.

Library Issues & Book News 

• Jan. 7, Noon
  Care of Newspaper Clippings (Connecting to Collections Care)
• Jan. 7, 1 p.m.
  Project 2025 and Its Consequences for Libraries (ASERL)
• Jan. 8, 10 a.m.
  Promotion of Digital Access & Literacy among People who Use Substances  (NNLM)
• Jan. 8, 9 a.m.
  Empowering Libraries to Support Caregivers: Essential Resources and Strategies  (Indiana State Library)
• Jan. 8, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Best New Teen Reads of 2024 (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Jan. 9, Noon
  DPLA's 2025 Kickoff (Digital Public Library of America)
• Jan. 9, Noon
  Library Customer Data: Privacy vs. Personalization (RIPL)
• Jan. 9, 3 p.m.
  C&C's Teaching Copyright K-12: Ready To Go and It's All Free! (Copyright & Creativity)
• Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
  Find Inclusive Reads for Every Reader (NoveList)
• Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
  Information to Support Research from the National Agricultural Library (Federal Depository Library Program)
• Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
  Spring & Summer Book Club Picks (Booklist)
• Jan. 14, 2 p.m.  
  Public Libraries Standing Up and Standing Together (PLA)
• Jan. 15, 1 p.m.
  Building Community: Strategies for Coming Together (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 15, 7 p.m.
  Filmmaker Talk with Zach OHora – Carl the Collector (PBS Books)
• Jan. 22, 1 p.m.
  Copyright Confusion? Fair Use to the Rescue! (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 23, Noon
  Health Programming at Your Library (NNLM)
• Jan. 24, Noon
  What’s It Really Like? Join the 2025 Mock Newbery LIVE! (School Library Journal)
• Jan. 29, 1 p.m.
  Adventures in Library Partnerships (Colorado State Library)
• Jan. 29, 2 p.m.
  An Inside Look at the United States Code (Federal Depository Library Program)
• Jan. 29, 7 p.m.
  PBS Books Readers Club – “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt (PBS Books)
• Jan. 30, Noon
  Advancing Evidence-Based Interventions in Rural Communities, a Region 6 Spotlight Speaker Webinar (NNLM)

Cataloging

• Coming Soon!

Grants & Fundraising

• Jan. 6, 1 p.m.
  Getting Your Grants Program “AI Ready" (Grant Station)
• Jan. 7 & 8, 2 p.m. (Two Day Series)
  Social Media Boot Camp (Firespring)
• Jan. 9, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Finding Grants (Candid. Learning)
• Jan. 9, 1 p.m.
  Nonprofit Website Audits & Best Practices for Fundraising Success (Bloomerang)
• Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Proposal Writing (Candid. Learning)
• Jan. 14, 2 p.m.
  Why Your Annual Report Should Be a Marketing Tool and Not a Snooze (Firespring)
• Jan. 16, 1 p.m.
  Major Gifts in Two Hours a Week (Bloomerang)
• Jan. 22, 11 a.m.
  Designing Inclusive Surveys for Effective Fundraising (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Jan. 22, 2 p.m.
  Storytelling for Impact (Firespring)
• Jan. 23, Noon
  Fundraising Basics for Small Nonprofits: How to Make Your Grant Search More Effective (Charity Village)
• Jan. 23, 1 p.m.
  Get Your Board Fundraising (Candid. Learning)
• Jan. 23, 1 p.m.
  The State of Capital Campaigns 2024-25 (Bloomerang)
• Jan. 29, 11 a.m.  
  Annual Reports: Simplifying the Process for Maximum Donor Engagement (Productive Fundraising)

Leadership and Communication 

• Jan. 6, 10 a.m.
  Strategies, Systems and Shortcuts: Effective Content Marketing (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Jan. 7, 3 p.m.
  Spark Joy, Achieve Growth: Student-Centered Literacy Strategies (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 13, 10 a.m.
  The Hidden Costs of Staff Turnover and How to Hire Right the First Time (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Jan. 14, 2 p.m.
  The New Science of Vocabulary: AI-Enhanced Approaches to Word Selection (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 16, Noon  
  Engaging Gen Alpha and Gen Z: Strategies That Slay! (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 16, 2 p.m.
  Don't Manage Change - Embrace It (WebJunction)
• Jan. 21, 3 p.m.
  The Science of Reading in Action: Misunderstandings of the Science of Reading (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 27, 11 a.m.
  An Equation to Unleash Collective Impact and Foster Meaningful Connection (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Jan. 27, 1 p.m.
  Empowering Future Professionals through a Data Fellowship Program at Florida State University Libraries  (ASERL)
• Jan. 27, 2 p.m.
  Effective Communication for Educators: Build Rapport, Establish Trust, and Navigate All Conversations (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 29, 1 p.m.
  What Gets in the Way of Excellence? (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 30, 2 p.m.
  Building Community Connections by Hiring for Cultural Knowledge (WebJunction)

Technology 

• Jan. 9, 10 a.m.
  Info2Go! Librarians Collaborating to Teach Critical Engagement with Artificial Intelligence (Idaho Commission for Libraries)
• Jan. 14, 3 p.m.
  School Strategic Technology Planning and Investment: Aligning Priorities, Costs, and Outcomes (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 14, 4 p.m.
  Leading with Impact: Forging Connection Through Technology (Follett)
• Jan. 21, Noon
  AI-Powered Nonprofits: 2025 Report on AI Adoption Rates, Use Cases, and Outcomes (Techsoup)
• Jan. 22, 1 p.m.
  How Does Your Cybersecurity Strategy Measure Up? (GovLoop)
• Jan. 29, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech - Online  (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Jan. 29, 1 p.m.
  AI Ambassadors: Building AI Expertise and Engagement in Libraries (ASERL)
• Jan. 29, 3 p.m.
  AI at Work: Exploring Use Cases (GovLoop)
• Jan. 30, 1 p.m.
  Increase Your Library Instruction Engagement and Interaction with Nearpod (ASERL)
• Multiple Sessions
  Canva for Education Overview for Schools, Districts, and School Systems (Canva)

Wellness

• Jan. 9, Noon
  The Power of Mental Health First Aid (NNLM)
• Jan. 15, 1 p.m.
  Mental Health in the Workplace (NNLM)
• Jan. 27, 3 p.m.
  2025 Is Your Year: How to Goal-Set for Success (GovLoop)
• Jan. 28, 1 p.m.
  How to Deal With Change at Your Agency (GovLoop)

Upcoming Conferences 

Grab your tickets! These conferences are coming up in the next few months. 

• Feb. 12, 2025
  IHLS Member Day (Illinois Heartland Library System; Virtual)
• Feb. 25-27, 2025
  North American Virtual Reference Online Conference
• Feb. 27-28, 2025
  Illinois Youth Services Institute: Find a New Narrative

Other Events by IHLS

Illinois Heartland Library System has an expanding variety of learning opportunities, too. View them all on our Events page.

Have suggestions, ideas, or questions about Continuing Education? Contact our Continuing Education Coordinator at 618.474.9948. 

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