Free Webinars
The information in this list is provided as a service to Nebraska librarians. If you need further information about a program, please check with the program
producer (listed in parentheses after the program title.) It's a good idea to double-check program times and registration
requirements in advance.
Programs added after the regular beginning-of-the-month update are marked
with a red asterisk (*).
The list is in chronological order.
All times are Central time.
5/1/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
What does a successful internship look like? (Nebraska Library Commission)
From advertising for the position to saying goodbye, thoughtful planning of an internship will go a long way to making the experience meaningful for you and your intern. Kathryn Brockmeier, from the Nebraska Library Commission, will also discuss ways your library and your community can benefit from an internship at your library. Time for brainstorming and sharing will follow the presentation.
5/1/2013
1:00 - 2:00 (CDT)
Recruiting Professional Volunteers (NonProfit Webinars)
Finding qualified professionals to contribute as volunteers can be a challenge. This webinar provides leaders of non-profit organizations and social purpose businesses with tips and logistical steps to successfully engage professional volunteers, access new relationships, and build board membership.
5/1/2013
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. (CDT)
Free E-Government Webinar for Public Librarians (American Library Association)
As governments continue to move services online, public libraries are a bridge between the government agencies and the communities they serve. To assist libraries in providing job-related e-government services to patrons, the American Library Association will host the no-cost webinar "E-Government in Action: Matching People with Jobs." As part of the webinar, participants will hear from numerous e-government grant recipients on innovative workforce development programs that have successfully connected people with jobs.
5/2/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Successful Volunteer Interview Strategies (VolunteerMatch)
Interviewing each prospective volunteer can seem overwhelming, but it's one of the best ways to ensure that the volunteers you recruit are the volunteers you need. This webinar introduces a variety of question types used in volunteer interviews and offers strategies for honing your interview skills. Materials will be provided to help you implement this process in your organization, as well as a training syllabus so you can learn how to recruit and train a volunteer staff to assist with prospective volunteer interviews.
5/2/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Sizzling Spring Cookbook Buzz (Library Journal)
Break out those farmer's market carts, uncover that barbecue grill, and unfold your best checkered picnic blanket. Warm weather is an invitation to cook! Fantastic meals for sunny spring celebrations and family dinners start with fresh ingredients and fresh ideas. Join us for our Sizzling Spring Cookbook Buzz, and inspire your patrons to cook up something special! With fresh offerings from Running Press, Random House Inc., and Tuttle Publishing, spring will be nothing short of delicious.
5/3/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Tech Tools with Tine: MS Office Tricks (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
Please join us for a special series with technology trainer, Christine Walczyk, all about popular online tools. The series is meant to be short on talk about library context and higher concepts. It's really all about the tools themselves! Our aim is to demonstrate how to use one tool in each webinar in under 60 minutes with time for Q&A built in.
5/6/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
B-Ready: Building College and Career Readiness with Digital Resources (School Library Journal)
School librarians play a key role in ensuring that students have the tools and knowledge to succeed. Now, in light of the Common Core's increased emphasis on college, career, and world readiness, is your school library equipped with the right next-generation digital resources for mastering 21st century skills? Using examples from Britannica Digital Learning's exciting portfolio of digital solutions, this webinar will illustrate valuable criteria that school librarians can apply when evaluating online resources to support digital literacy development. Participants also will learn a new approach, using a third-party rubric, for guiding students through the objective assessment of resources they find when reading or researching online.
5/7/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Finding Government Information - Water (Wyoming State Library)
In the third of our three part webinar series, the Wyoming State Library will focus on finding federal government information on specific topics and issue of particular interest to Wyoming residents on Water. We will explore the extensive federal government online resources available and look at some relevant issues within these areas, such as safe drinking water levels, applying for water rights, and where to find laws pertaining to water issues.
5/7/2013
Noon - 1:00 (CDT)
LibraryYOU: Library as Content Creator (WebJunction)
Learn how the Escondido Public Library partnered with local experts to create digital content for the library's collection. Funded by an LSTA grant, the LibraryYOU project consists of a digital media studio, a website, and public training classes encouraging community members to share their knowledge and learn how to communicate through digital media formats. LibraryYOU helps strengthen connections with local businesses, establishing the library as a technology leader in the community. This webinar covers how Escondido set up LibraryYOU and how other libraries, large and small, can set up similar community content creation projects.
5/7/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Geek the Library Informational Webinar (Geek the Library)
Get a complete Geek the Library overview and your questions answered in a live format. Our informational webinars are a simple way to learn about the details before committing to participate in the program.
5/7/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Truth About Social Learning (Insync Training)
"Social learning" and "informal learning" are among the training industry's hottest phrases these days. But there's so much confusion over what they mean, and what they mean to those of us in the business. In this session we'll spend some time looking at real examples of social and informal learning as it happens in workplaces all the time, every day. Along the way we'll generate some ideas for locating, supporting and facilitating social learning opportunities toward the greater goal of enhancing organizational performance.
5/7/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Worlds of the Imagination: What's New in SF/Fantasy (Booklist)
Science fiction and fantasy remain greatly popular among genre fiction readers and are gaining new fans fast! In this hour-long, free webinar, hear what series promise to hit it big and what authors have upcoming volumes. Expand your universe without leaving your seat as representatives from Baen, Galaxy Press, Tor, and Tu Books cover titles for all ages. Moderated by Booklist Adult Books editor Brad Hooper.
5/7/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Inbound Marketing: The Latest Techniques to Attract More Donors, Volunteers, and Others (NonProfit Webinars)
Nonprofits' efforts to find supporters are rapidly being supplanted by the need for supporters to easily find you. Learn about specific, low-cost marketing and fundraising techniques that will drive more traffic to you online, and increase your "conversion rate" so more of them become donors, event attendees, and other supporters. We'll examine how to implement inbound marketing by combining techniques like search engine optimization, pay-per-click, blogs, articles, websites, landing pages, calls to action, links, social media, and more to promote and leverage your content, boost online traffic, generate leads, and convert those leads into supporters. We'll also discuss how to easily measure results to validate that your fundraising programs are working.
5/8/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Hastings StoryWalk: Walk, Read, Explore (Nebraska Library Commission)
The StoryWalk(r) Project combines family fun, exercise, and literacy into one great community activity. The concept involves posting pages of a book at certain intervals along a walking path. Library Director Amy Greenland will present lessons learned by the Hastings Public Library, especially in preparing materials for Nebraska wind and weather, and participant comments.
5/8/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Behind the Scenes with Gale Publishing Stories (Library Journal)
Every book has a story. Peak behind the scenes...learn the secrets, curiosities, and fun facts about two essential reference series from Gale. Register today to reserve your spot in this informative session brought to you by Gale, Cengage Learning.
5/8/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Managing Fundraisers; for the Non Fundraising Executive (NonProfit Webinars)
Specifically designed for President's, CEO's, Executive Directors and others without a fundraising background. This webinar will discuss the components of development planning, questions to ask, answers to expect, and potential red flags. Proper roles for executive leadership,ways to champion an increasingly effective office as well as techniques to bolster lesser results. Your organization deserves the best fundraising department and personnel possible. Be it a one person shop or much larger, how that department is managed will determine their effectiveness and in turn the number of dollars raised.
5/9/2013
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. (CDT)
How Senior Friendly is Your Website? (Accessible Technology Coalition)
The percentage of older people using the Internet continues to rise. As does the number of younger people who rely on the Internet for information and resources as they provide support to an older family member or friend. Learn what it means to deliver web content and navigation choices that are specifically geared for older web visitors and their families and caregivers.
5/9/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Library Learning Goes Online (American Libraries)
Online learning is changing the way schools work. From elementary to graduate school to continuing education, online tools are creating new horizons in distance learning and new tools to supplement in-person learning. But what does this mean for libraries? How can we enhance traditional library instruction with online tools? How do we create standards in the face of technology that is constantly changing?
5/10/2013
Noon - 1:00 (CDT)
Tech Tools with Tine: Prezi (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
Please join us for a special series with technology trainer, Christine Walczyk, all about popular online tools. The series is meant to be short on talk about library context and higher concepts. It's really all about the tools themselves! Our aim is to demonstrate how to use one tool in each webinar in under 60 minutes with time for Q&A built in.
5/13/2013
2:30 - 3:30 p.m. (CDT)
Are You Prepared to Meet the Literacy Needs of African American Male Youth? (University of North Carolina)
The need for quality literacy education is strong, particularly for certain underserved populations. One group in critical need of improved literacy instruction is African American males. This webinar will explore the role of the education community, including librarians, in: 1) closing the literacy achievement gap, 2) nurturing the resolve of African American male youth, helping them reconcile their different identities, and reimagine their place in the world, and 3) enabling African American male youth to take action in their own lives and in their communities.
5/14/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Dazzling Debuts: Hot New Names in Fiction (Booklist)
In this free, hour-long webinar, Random House will introduce four not-to-be-missed names in fiction, sure to be popular at your library this summer. You'll hear directly from the authors about their novels, the writing process, and the inspiration behind their works. Booklist Collection Management editor Rebecca Vnuk will moderate the panel and interview the authors, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions of Lottie Moggach (KISS ME FIRST), Jessica Brockmole (LETTERS FROM SKYE), Koren Zailckas (MOTHER, MOTHER), Robert Rotstein (CORRUPT PRACTICES).
5/14/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Books for Kids: Spring Reading for Growing Minds (School Library Journal)
Are you ready for an adventure? With beautiful illustrations, imaginative journeys, and timeless lessons, a great children's
book captures the hearts and minds of all generations. Whether you're looking for the perfect book to fit in with the
Common Core State Standards or you're just looking to spice up story time, this free webcast is for you. Join Groundwood
Books, Teacher Created Materials, and Random House Inc. as they present the best new upcoming books for kids from
Shell Education, Archie Comics, National Geographic for Kids, Blue Apple Books, and Quirk Books.
5/14/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Handling Challenging Situations: What Do I Do Now? Part I of II (InfoPeople)
To a great extent, libraries' users behave within the framework of acceptable social norms. But a subset of users in all libraries - large, small, urban, rural, suburban, special and academic - behave outside these norms, placing stress on the staff and other users. Whether the behaviors are exhibited by those who are homeless, mentally ill or just plain rude, providing your staff with limit-setting and self-care skills can turn challenging situations into empowering ones. San Francisco Public Library has turned to other City agencies to assist staff in gaining skills and strategies for responding to these situations.
5/15/2013
Noon - 1:00 (CDT)
Effective Strategic Planning part 3: Measure, Monitor, Report (NonProfit Webinars)
No matter how rewarding a planning process is in cultivating your stakeholders, focusing your board and staff, and developing your organization, and no matter how promising the goals and objectives of your plan, strategic planning cannot be successful unless it drives action. A bit of wisdom from the business world is that we manage what we measure. This webinar rounds out our strategic planning series with a look at selecting what to measure and how to use, track and report the data.
5/15/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Planning: A Small Library's Strategies for Tech Success (TechSoup)
Join us as we talk about technology planning in libraries with special guest Alexis Caudell, director of the Mitchell
Community Public Library in Mitchell, Indiana - a busy small-town library, serving a population of 12,009 across
three rural townships. Successful technology implementation requires time, attention, planning, money, and training.
Alexis focuses on thinking ahead, pursuing grants, and making people a priority - including both staff members who
need training and community members whose needs are the driving force. We look forward to learning from Alexis as
she shares her experiences and ideas in this session. This webinar is part of a series of webinars exploring the Edge
Initiative Benchmarks, specifically Benchmark 7, which says: Libraries integrate public access technology into planning
and policies.
5/15/2013
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. (CDT)
Making I.T. Happen! A Toolkit for Building Collaborative Relationships with your IT Department (Colorado State Library)
IT folks carry the stigma of being particularly non-collaborative, but the stereotype of the loner programmer barricaded in a cubicle is not necessarily accurate. The growing number of collaborative projects between library public services and IT departments make it necessary to examine relationships and create excellent communications for resulting success. This program will discuss proven management and collaborative techniques for building relationships, through self-assessment and teambuilding techniques, and will offer a glimpse into how strong relationships between IT and public services libraries can lead to award-winning and innovative projects.
5/15/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Engage! Teens, Art & Civic Participation: Creating Local, Issues-Based Programming (American Library Association)
This session will focus on issues based discussions for teen audiences, using the Engage! Teens, Art & Civic Participation model. Adam Davis, Director for the Project on Civic Reflection and an advisor to the Engage! project, will walk webinar participants through how to identify locally relevant issues and images for issues-based teen programming, and Christie Chandler-Stahl, formerly of the Evanston (Ill.) Public Library and currently at the Rakow Branch of the Gail Borden Public Library District in Elgin, Illinois, will share how this approach worked in her library.
5/15/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Planning an Adult Program on a Budget: Creative Library Program Solutions (InfoPeople)
This webinar will introduce the beginning program coordinator to the basic tools necessary to plan, implement and evaluate successful library programs for adult programming on a budget. From book discussions and author visits to craft programs and film screenings, this webinar is designed to help public librarians create programming that underscore the role of the public library as an important cultural, recreational and educational institution in the community. This webinar will provide participants with ideas and samples of programs they can bring to their own library. A step-by step process and details including getting started, program types and associated costs, resources for low cost programs, and marketing and evaluating programs.
*5/16/2013
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (CDT)
Be the Change: Raise the Bar with Effective Collaborations (Mackin
Educational Resources, Capstone, Rosen Publishing, and School Library Journal)
Get the big picture and nitty gritty on what you need to about how to pull off collaborations that work--with peers, principals,
public libraries, parents, and others—using partnerships as well as technology to turn gaps into opportunities for learning
and leadership.
5/16/2013
12:30 - 1:30 p.m. (CDT)
Assistive Technology (AT) Latest and Greatest (Accessible Technology Coalition)
Hosted by AT Network. Presented by Debbie Drennan and Janet Nunez. Trends in Assistive Technology - The Latest from 2013
ATIA and CSUN Conference. You must sign up for a free membership in ATC to enable registration.
5/17/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Tech Tools with Tine: Wikis (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
Please join us for a special series with technology trainer, Christine Walczyk, all about popular online tools. The series is
meant to be short on talk about library context and higher concepts. It's really all about the tools themselves! Our aim is
to demonstrate how to use one tool in each webinar in under 60 minutes with time for Q&A built in.
5/21/2013
Noon - 1:00 (CDT)
Zero to app in two weeks (O'Reilly)
In working with top tier app partners, the Windows Ecosystem Team has seen developers produce an app in a little as
two weeks, whereas others meander around for months with little to show. Why this discrepancy? What are the factors
that make the difference between struggle and success? In this webcast, Kraig Brockschmidt will share the experiences
that he and his team has gained from working with these partners to help you get your productivity in high gear for
your own app-building efforts.
5/21/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Handling Challenging Situations: What Do I Do Now? Part II of II (InfoPeople)
A partnership between the San Francisco Public Library and the local Department of Public Health resulted in the placement
of a social worker at the Main Library to link users to housing and social services. Eventually a job-training component
was added, providing opportunities to develop marketable skills for people who had been homeless. Meet and hear the story
of a library outreach worker who helps herself by helping others.
5/21/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Part 6 On Common Core - Serving the CCSS and Youth (School Library Journal)
What resources do librarians have in their collections that meet the goals of the Common Core initiative? How will the Common
Core State Standards influence the decisions school and public librarians will be making as they continue to develop their
collections? What specifically should educators be looking for in the resources they select? Join Kathleen Odean, librarian,
speaker, reviewer, university instructor, and the author of guides to children's titles as she discusses the books that
engage children and meet the goals of the CCSS.
5/22/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Library Planning: A Customized Program for Success (Nebraska Library Commission)
Planning gives a library greater depth of understanding of the community it serves, goals to work toward, and a path to follow.
Since libraries and their communities are all unique, every library's plan is custom designed. Eric Green, Denise Harders,
Sharon Osenga, and Sarah Warneke, Nebraska Regional Library System directors, and Laura Johnson from the Nebraska Library
Commission will discuss the importance of planning and introduce a new program they will be offering to libraries to make
the vital activity of planning simpler and more immediate.
5/22/2013
Noon - 1:00 (CDT)
Broadband Adoption Toolkit (WebJunction)
Increasing access and use of information technologies is essential for communities and individuals. Libraries, local government, community-based organizations and businesses are creating a variety of solutions. Building a digitally inclusive community requires multiple strategies, collaborations and creativity. Some digital inclusion strategies are referred to as "broadband adoption" which includes technology training, broadband awareness, low cost internet service and low cost home computers. NTIA is expected to release a Broadband Adoption Toolkit in May 2013. Join us for a conversation with the creators of the Broadband Adoption Toolkit to discuss what they learned and how the broadband adoption pieces fit together.
5/22/2013
Noon - 1:00 (CDT)
Conversations Across the Invisible Yellow Line - Board and Staff Roles (NonProfit Webinars)
If you've ever watched a football game on television, you've seen the yellow line that appears on the screen, showing the
placement of the next down. We can see it, but those on the field cannot. It's invisible to the players. The same is true
in many board and staff relationships. There is a yellow line that defines who does what, but it is invisible. This fast
paced webinar will share some of the basic on both sides of the yellow line and suggest ways to make it less 'invisible'
to the players in a nonprofit.
5/22/2013
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (CDT)
Where's the Power? What's your Point? (Insync Training)
Tired of seeing PowerPoint shows that have neither power nor a point? This session provides strategies for developing memorable slides with punch, not just pretty slides peppered with bullets. Join us as we look at ways to hook our learners, highlight critical information, and create learning points that will stick.
5/22/2013
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (CDT)
Can Your Board Tell Your Story? (NonProfit Webinars)
Board members often don't want to ask for funds, but when it comes to raising friends for your organization, most of them are eager. But, do they know how to tell your story? Here are some things board members can do: Develop their own 30-second elevator speech about your organization, Present "just the facts, ma'am" fact sheet to a local business person, and Speak with passion about your organization to potential donors.
5/24/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Tech Tools with Tine: Music Fun (Texas State Library and Archives Commission)
Please join us for a special series with technology trainer, Christine Walczyk, all about popular online tools. The series is
meant to be short on talk about library context and higher concepts. It's really all about the tools themselves! Our aim is
to demonstrate how to use one tool in each webinar in under 60 minutes with time for Q&A built in.
5/29/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Digital Literacy: What's it All About? (Montana State Library)
Lauren McMullen and Jo Flick will lead a discussion about the meaning of Digital Literacy for libraries. Together, participants
will explore the important role libraries play in promoting digitally literate communities. In the second half of this
session, participants will explore online resources they can access to support their digital literacy services and training.
5/29/2013
10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (CDT)
Tech Talk with Michael Sauers (Nebraska Library Commission)
In this monthly feature of NCompass Live, the NLC's Technology Innovation Librarian, Michael Sauers, will discuss the tech
news of the month and share new and exciting tech for your library. There will also be plenty of time in each episode for
you to ask your tech questions. So, bring your questions with you, or send them in ahead of time, and Michael will have
your answers.
What are the criteria for inclusion in this list?
- The program sounds like it's worthwhile.
- The program is library-related or would be useful to librarians.
- The program is free.
- The program is being offered live at a particular time (though it will probably be archived and available after the Webcast as well.)
- The program is at least half an hour or longer.
You can earn C.E. credit in the Nebraska Librarian Certification Program by
participating in any of these programs. You'll have to let us know when
you view one of these--there's a form for your convenience at:
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ce/libcertceu.asp.
We're always
interested to hear what you thought of a program, so drop me a line (Laura Johnson) if you like.
Library Training
Calendar