Training
Self-Paced Online Classes
Self-Paced Online Classes
Self-Paced Online Classes
We offer self-paced online learning. We are currently offering
1:1 Coaching
Self-Paced Online Classes
Self-Paced Online Classes
Sign-up to get 1:1 coaching with Kate. Get help with writing policies, discuss a thorny issue, or ask your questions.
Live Online Classes
Live Online Classes
Live Online Classes
Sign-up to learn about upcoming live virtual trainings.
In Person Workshops
Live Online Classes
Live Online Classes
Sign-up to learn about upcoming in person workshops.
Training
Challenging Situations
1st Amendment Audits & Book Challenges (1-3 hours)
In the past two years, libraries have been bombarded with threats against intellectual freedom and freedom of speech. Staff are still recovering from the big "T" trauma of a worldwide health crisis and are now dealing with repeated little "t" trauma with first amendment audits and book bans. Learn what these are and how libraries and library staff can uphold core library values while protecting themselves.
Customer Service Essentials (1-3 hours)
The customer is always right. Or are they? Whether you work with patrons or your customer is other members of the library staff, learn what good customer service entails and how to offer stellar customer service while maintaining your own mental and emotional health and well-being.
Failure IS an Option (1-1.5 hours)
Failure is not a four-letter word so why do we treat it like one? Learn how failure is not only an option, but is something we all have done and will continue to do. . . . and that is ok.....and even more than ok, it is good. Find out how you can embrace failure and recognize it for what it is: A First Attempt In Learning. You will leave this program ready to face your darkest failures and come out on top.
Library Operations
Library Director Essentials (3-6 hours)
This workshop is a primer on how to be a library director and dives into key topics necessary to run a library. Covering library finances, trustee and director roles, relationships, personnel, legal issues, building upkeep, and the different types of insurance needed, these sessions will offer core competencies for every director. Learn how to stay organized and set yourself up for success in each area with practical tips and checklists woven throughout the sessions.
Records Retention Made Simple (1-1.5 hours)
Records retention is often seen as a 4-letter word. It is required by law, but can seem confusing and intimidating. We will cover what a record is, share easy-to-copy models for records management, show how good records retention procedures simplify FOIA requests, and address the challenges of handling digital records.
Building Jenga (1-1.5 hours)
Hear about best practices for keeping our staff and patrons safe in our buildings. We will also dive into potential future changes for buildings. We will discuss with attendees what changes they might need to make long term in their buildings to keep patrons and staff safe.
Emergency Preparedness Jenga (1-1.5 hours)
We will focus on the safety training we have already put in place and then move into what changes need to be made to other emergency procedures as a result of the current library landscape, giving examples of what has worked for us in our libraries. We will review a common emergency procedure and discuss with attendees what changes need to be made to make it more accessible.
Library Jenga (1-1.5 hours)
Running a library is like playing Jenga. You need to work collaboratively to set up a solid base and then carefully move the pieces to ensure everything doesn’t come tumbling down. In this interactive session, come play giant jenga and learn what the building blocks are to being an effective director and how moving them around can lead to success or failure.
In Person
HR Essentials (3-8 hours)
Most managers and directors have no HR training and are expected to just know how to manage people. This series will take attendees through what you need to have in place for a solid HR foundation and then dive into the steps to hire and onboard staff. We will focus on how to provide ongoing feedback and what annual evaluations should do for staff and organizations. We will also cover how to discipline and, if necessary, let go an employee and will show how to plan for the future with strong succession planning. We will provide helpful worksheets and resources to supplement the learning.
Departures and Arrivals: Succession Planning for Directors and Boards (1-1.5 hours)
Libraries are like airports with continual arrivals and departures of key staff. In order to have takeoffs and landings go smoothly, directors and trustees need to prepare for the departure of a director in times of crisis and otherwise by creating a succession plan. After covering what the current director and board must put in place prior to the landing of a new director, learn how to prepare for the arrival of a new director and the role of trustees in successfully onboarding a new director and gain strategies for how to transition the new director.
Employee Handbooks Made Easy (1-1.5 hours)
Employee handbooks reflect how you treat your employees, but they also help you comply with key state and federal laws. Discover the key policies every personnel policy manual should have and gain first hand knowledge from a public library director on how to update your manual including how to incorporate equity, diversity, and inclusion principles into the individual policies. You will leave understanding what should be in your personnel policy manual and the steps needed for a successful update process.
Say What? Giving Feedback (1-1.5 hours)
Most people feel that feedback is always negative. But that’s not what feedback should be. Learn what feedback actually is and why managers should provide it on an ongoing basis for every employee. Walk away with tips on how staff at every level can provide ongoing feedback that will help everyone learn and grow.
There’s No Crying in Baseball: Receiving Feedback from Anyone in your org (1-1.5 hours)
Everyone needs feedback. Learn how you can ask for feedback from superiors, direct reports, and peers. Then discover how to incorporate it into your work to make you a stronger employee. Walk away with tips on how to receive feedback and what to do with the hard feedback we all sometimes get.
Developing Your HR Philosophies (4-8 hours)
Personnel is usually over 50% of a library’s budget, but few libraries have dedicated HR professionals navigating the ins and outs of HR. In this 4-part series, participants will learn how to lay a foundation for what type of manager they want to be and how to create an HR philosophy for their library that aligns with their library’s mission, vision, and values. Participants will learn about best practices and craft their own management, hiring, compensation, and discipline philosophies.
Personnel Jenga (1-1.5 hours)
In this session, we will lecture on what we have learned about the changes both immediate and long term that need to be made to personnel in our libraries. We will discuss with attendees what changes are coming and encourage participants to think about what they need to do to set their library up for success now and in the future as it relates to their employees.
Career Advancement
Level Up Your Career (1-1.5 hours)
Thinking about movin’ on up in Libraryland either now or in the future? Learn what skills are desirable to your employers and what you can do to acquire them. Also hear advice on what to do (and not do) from applying to interviewing. Find out what you can do today to set yourself up for tomorrow.
Always Ask: Negotiating for Salary (1-1.5 hours)
Have you ever negotiated for a higher salary? Most people don’t negotiate, but everyone should, and we are going to tell you why. Learn about the importance of advocating for yourself and securing fair compensation, while still maintaining a good relationship with your supervisor and showing commitment to the organization.
Search, Apply, and Interview for Jobs Better (1-3 hours)
Looking to land a job that interests you and benefits your career? Learn best practices that will help you progress along your career path and practices that will prevent you from moving forward. From writing a compelling resume and cover letter to preparing for the interview and researching potential employers, the presentation will cover what you need to do to set yourself up for success.
So You’re a Library Director, Now What? (1-3 hours)
Congratulations! You’ve just landed a job as a Library Director (or hope to in the future). Now what do you do? In this gameshow style format, laugh and learn as we share:
· what to do to set yourself up for success from day one,
· what every director needs to know (but isn’t usually covered in library school), and
· what to never do once you are sitting in the director’s chair
Covering topics including legal, personnel, building maintenance, finances and future forecasting, this fast paced, practical program will stuff your head with knowledge on how to be a successful director.
Top 10 Things NOT to do to Move Up in Libraryland (1-1.5 hours)
Are you navigating the intricate world of Libraryland and aspiring to climb the professional ladder? Ever wondered why some librarians effortlessly ascend the ranks while others struggle to make headway? Discover the answers as we delve into real-life scenarios, anecdotes, and cautionary tales. From cringe-worthy missteps to eyebrow-raising blunders, this presentation is a candid exploration of what not to do in Libraryland.
Top Tips for New Managers (1-1.5 hours)
Ready to supercharge your managerial career? Embarking on a managerial role can be both exciting and challenging. To help new managers thrive in their positions, it's crucial to focus on key areas that lay the foundation for success. Learn about where to start, how to stay in the know, getting organized, legal issues, and HR topics to learn about.