Continuing Education Opportunities- 2020

September
Tech Days 2020 Online

Online September 23 – 24
Learn from experts without having to travel — we’ve transformed our annual event from workshops to webinars! Tech Days 2020 is a series of 4 webinars over 2 days, and you may register here.

You’ll find descriptions of all 4 webinars on the registration page, where you may sign up for any or all sessions.

When you participate in all four 90-minute sessions of the Tech Days webinar series, you’ll earn the same number of tech-related continuing education contact hours as you would from attending one traditional in-person workshop.

All webinar sessions will be recorded and available at the Tech Days Resources page.

There is no charge to attend Tech Days, thanks to sponsorship by all 16 library systems and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Public Library Development Team, with funding support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

May
Streamline for Success: Library Programs and Services Reboot
CANCELLED

Thursday, May 7th
The Lodge at Mauston
104 Lodge Lane, Mauston, WI 53948
9:00am-4:00pm

7 Contact Hours

We all want our library services to be strong and strategic, but how do you ensure that your library is producing meaningful, intentional services that support your mission, rather than simply falling into the traps of “more is more” or “we’ve always done it this way”? This workshop will lead participants through perspectives on creating and implementing mission-driven library services. Participants will have an immediate opportunity to put their learning into practice at this hands-on workshop.

Presenters: Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser (St. Paul Public Library) and Amy Koester (Skokie Public Library)

Co-sponsored by Wisconsin Library Systems and the Department of Public Instruction, with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in the form of Library Services and Technology Act funding.  Provides 6 contact hours.  Lunch included at no charge.

April
CCBC Workshop: Everyday Reading: Diverse Books & CCBC Choices
CANCELLED

Thursday, April 2nd
Holmen Public Library

9:15-11:45: Everyday Reading: Ideas for Moving Diverse Books Off the Shelves and Into Readers Hands
11:45-1:00pm: Lunch
1:00pm-2:30pm: CCBC Choices Presentation
2:30pm-3:30pm: Browsing
Register Here!

Diverse books are an essential part of library collections, but buying them doesn’t guarantee they’ll get checked out. What can you do to encourage library patrons to embrace the wide range of choices you’re offering? Join us for a facilitated discussion in which we invite you to ask questions and share ideas for ways you can incorporate diverse books into displays, storytimes and other programming throughout the year, as well as the recommendations you make to patrons. Share your success stories and frustrations, ask questions and offer your perspectives as we talk about how librarians can serve as role models in their communities when it comes to seeing diverse books as essential, everyday reading.

CCBC Choices is a brief overview of some of the top literature from the previous year.

March
StrengthsFinder & Leadership Training
CANCELLED

Thursday, March 19th
9am-12pm
WRLS Offices
3 Contact Hours

Register Here! 
**Registration Closes on March 2nd**

StrengthsFinder is a powerful online assessment that helps individuals identify, understand, and maximize their strengths. Prior to this workshop, participants will take the StrengthsFinder 2.0 quiz and identify their leadership traits. During the workshop, we will be exploring individual strengths and the strengths of others and forming dynamic partnerships. Each participant will understand the varying strengths of others, the value of different strengths, and take away additional strategies for learning about strengths as individuals or with their team.

February
Department of Workforce Development Meet and Greet & Health Online: Finding Information You Can Trust
CANCELLED

Thursday, February 27th
2615 East Ave S #103, La Crosse, WI 54601Join us in the morning as we meet the Workforce Development team, explore their great space, and learn about the skills and resources they can offer to public libraries and the communities they serve.

In the afternoon, Wisconsin Health Literacy will be sharing information about how to help patrons find reliable health information online. By the end, library staff will feel confident helping patrons, especially from underserved populations and those at risk for low health literacy, identify and effectively use trustworthy sources of online health information.

January
Back to Basics: Rethinking and Refreshing Storytimes

Friday, January 17th – Westby: 9am-12pm
Thursday, January 23rd- New Lisbon: 1pm-4pm
Monday, January 27th- Galesville: 9am-12pm
3 Contact Hours

Register Here! 

Brooke Newberry, the Collaborative Consultant, will be presenting about brain development in young children, how to use developmental milestones to your advantage, and best practices for storytimes with all ages. Time will be set aside for participants to share their own storytime tricks and tips as well as share their storytime format.