Professional Development

Find additional resources for library directors, youth services/programming staff, and support personnel in the WRLS Knowledgebase.

What is the WRLS Knowledgebase? The WRLS Knowledgebase is a self-service library of articles, links, worksheets, templates, pre-made publicity templates and posts, and shared documents. Visit the WRLS Knowledgebase through SharePoint in your WRLS Outlook Account or through this link.

Need help accessing the WRLS Knowledgebase? Email itsupport@wrlsweb.org.

Go to the WRLS Knowledgebase

WRLS Continuing Education Scholarship Fund 2022-2023

CE Scholarship Fund Request Forms and More Information

2022-2023 CE Grants

WRLS Wonders Podcast

Listen to the WRLS Wonders Podcast here! Even though the podcast has been on a hiatus during the pandemic, expect an eventual return. The podcast is a great CE resource for library staff on the go.

Directors

Public Library Director (PLD) Certification Forms | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

Certification Manual for Wisconsin Public Library Directors | Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

More resources for library directors can be found in the WRLS Knowledgebase HERE.

2023 Minimum Compensation Recommendations for WRLS Area Library Directors

2022 Minimum Compensation Recommendations for WRLS Area Library Directors

2021 Minimum Compensation Recommendations for WRLS Area Library Directors

2020 Minimum Compensation Recommendations for WRLS Area Library Directors

Online Professional Journals

This collection highlights a small portion of the more than 320 free, full-text journals and magazines in Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, an excellent, library-specific professional development collection from Badgerlink.

Go to the Collection

Niche Academy | Ryan Dowd Training

Recordings include advice for dealing with homeless patrons, patrons with mental health or hygiene issues, and information to help you deal with customers from all walks of life– a great resource for anyone who needs help having “tough conversations.”

(Subscription to this resource paid for by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.)

Are you a first-time user? Email kelli@wrlsweb.org for access.

https://my.nicheacademy.com/dpi-wi-staff

CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES- 2023

January 2023

WRLS WeeWorkshop: Beanstack Refresher w/ Rebekah Garrety

Wed 1/11/2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference

January 25-26, 2023

February 2023

WRLS WeeWorkshop: Wisconsin Talking Books and Braille Library

Wed 2/15/2023 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Marketing & Branding Workshop

Thu 2/16/2023 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Please join us for this in-person workshop on marketing and branding!

Sarah Arendt-Beyer hosts a two-hour workshop on developing your library’s brand.

Note: There will be no afternoon segment of the workshop.

March 2023

WeeWorkshop: Wisconsin Historical Society– Genealogy Resources

Wed 3/8/2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Click here to join the day-of: https://wisconsinhistory.zoom.us/j/84405884448

“Ask the Old Librarian”

Lori Bessler has been researching family and local history for over 40 years. She has been a librarian at the Wisconsin Historical Society for over 30 years. The scope of her work is international and she’s developed many strategies to assisting researchers in this field. Attend this online meeting to hear her stories and come with questions to ask this “old” librarian.

In-Person Genealogy Workshop

Tue 3/14/2023

Learn genealogy essentials so that you can help your patrons and maybe even explore your own family history!

9 am-Noon with Hannah Scholze

Learn about free and select paid genealogy tools including FamilySearch.org, FindAGrave.com, MyHeritage.com as well as local online collections/databases such as ECHO, the La Crosse Public Library Archives Genealogy Database, and the Monroe County Local History Room & Museum website (where Hannah works her day job) which has over a million searchable records for Monroe County families.

Lunch- On your own

1 pm-3 pm BadgerLink genealogy resources with Jen Champoux from the DPI

April 2023

WRLS WeeWorkshop: Password Security

Wed 4/12/2023 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

May 2023

Intellectual Freedom & What’s New in Kidlit with the Cooperative Children’s Book Center

Thu 5/18/2023 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM

At the Holmen Public Library (121 W. Legion St., Holmen, WI, 54636)

9:15-11:45: Intellectual Freedom Discussion/Q&A

11:45-1: Lunch on your own.

1:00pm-2:30pm: CCBC Choices Presentation

2:30pm-3:30pm: Browse the books!

FREE. Registration is required.

Go to tinyurl.com/CCBCworkshop2023 to register.

Questions? Email Cole Zrostlik, cole@wrlsweb.org.

Sponsored by Winding Rivers Library System, Southwest Wisconsin Library System, and CESA #4.

WRLS Events & Continuing Education Calendar

Contains WRLS-specific meetings, events, and workshops as well as significant non-WRLS conferences and workshops.
Subscribe to this calendar with its .ics link or email cole@wrlsweb.org for access and to add this calendar to your Outlook calendar.

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Past Workshops/CE Opportunities

Continuing Education Opportunities- 2022

January 2022 Records Retention Workshop with Shannon Schultz Find out how long you need to keep those old boxes of meeting minutes here! Shannon is the Public Library Administration Consultant with the Library Services Team at the Department of Public Instruction--...

Continuing Education Opportunities- 2021

January 2021 Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference January 27-28, 2021 This year's conference has 14 programs with tracks in Management, Small Libraries, Public Services and Marketing. Participate from the comfort and safety of your own home or...

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...

Continuing Education Opportunities- 2019

Mango Languages WebinarRecording here: https://bit.ly/2sv13g1.5 Contact HoursLearn all about this new resource WRLS is offering to all of it’s member libraries. Biblioboard WebinarFebruary 7th, 2pm Register...

Continuing Education Opportunities- 2018

Wild Wisconsin Winter Web Conference January 24 – 25, 2018 http://www.wildwiscwinterweb.com/program-info–tracks.html Media Literacy Programming Jeff Rand and Lindsay Schmitt February 8, 2018; 1:00pm – 3:30pm Join LPL librarians Jeff Rand and Lindsay Schmitt for...