How to Stay Positive in a Negative World with Linda Bruno
2026-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get drawn into the world of the negative? Or maybe I should say, “how easy it is to get drawn into what sometimes seems a totally negative world”!

And have you ever noticed that we often tend to share our negativity with others – our co-workers, patrons, friends, and family – and sometimes total strangers?? They often “catch” our negativity, make it their very own, and proceed to share it with even more people!

What we sometimes forget is that holding on to negativity or focusing on the positive is a choice, not something over which we have absolutely no control.

In this 60-minute webinar, we’re going to look briefly at what tends to bring out our negativity, how long we hang on to negative thoughts, and how we generally react to those feelings.

Then we’ll talk about choices – how do we raise awareness of the choices we’re making regarding our own feelings? How do we ensure that those choices are going to be to our benefit? How do we use this skill to impact our lives?

How, in other words, do we choose to stay positive when negativity seems to be the norm?

About the Presenter: Linda has been developing and conducting training workshops for libraries for more than fifteen years. Her favorite thing to do is to help people become their best selves!

That’s why she offers workshops on topics ranging from Leadership Skills to Emotional Intelligence – and lots of areas in between.

Handout

Best Romances of 2025
2026-03-18 13:00 - 14:00
*If you registered for this webinar prior to March 9, 2026 you will need to re-register as the links have changed!

In 2025, publishers gave us thousands of ways to fall in love. But which romance novels made our hearts really sing? Join us for our “Best Romances of 2025” webinar, where we’ll talk about our favorite love stories that came out last year.

We’ll cover titles at all heat levels as we discuss contemporary, historical, romantasy, and more. From award winners to sleeper hits, we won’t let your dream read pass you by!

Who will benefit from this program:

Staff that interacts with patrons

All circulation staff members

Reader’s advisory staff

About the presenter: Emilia Mudd has been a librarian for thirteen years with Calvert Library in Maryland, and has been reading romance for a lot longer than that! She has an MLIS in Library Science from San Jose State University and is a published romance author. In her spare time, she is an avid reader of many genres and enjoys gardening and drinking too much coffee.

Algorithms and Generative AI: Pitfalls and Possibilities for Students
2026-03-24 10:00 - 11:00
Young people spend a lot of time on social media, but do they know why certain content appears on their feeds? Algorithms are powerful but often invisible forces shaping our online experiences — but whose interests are they designed to promote?

This presentation will help you dive into the world of algorithms and generative artificial intelligence so you can teach students and public library patrons to consider the civic and social impact of these technologies. You’ll gain an understanding of how search and social media algorithms work; explore the opportunities and pitfalls of large language model chatbots, such as ChatGPT; and learn about the evolution of AI image generators, such as DALL-E. We’ll also take a look at where these technologies are heading, including the rapid development of AI video, and discuss their implications for civic discourse, research and library best practices.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Tracee Stanford is the Senior Manager of Professional Learning for the News Literacy Project, where she designs and facilitates engaging news literacy professional development sessions for educators nationwide, virtually and in person. Before joining NLP, she was a program manager at Free Spirit Media, where she led media educators in teaching essential journalism skills to youth in underserved Chicagoland communities. She also worked as a high school journalism teacher in Chicago Public Schools, contributing to curriculum development, instructional strategies, and strategic partnerships. Tracee also has a background in local news, producing morning news for WSFA 12 in Montgomery, Alabama, and working as a reporter and producer for Alabama Public Television. She began her career as a statehouse reporter covering politics in Springfield, Illinois. Tracee holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois, Springfield.

Library Signage: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
2026-03-25 13:00 - 14:00
*If you registered for this webinar prior to March 9, 2026 you will need to re-register as the links have changed!

Customer service and library signage go hand in hand. How do patrons see your library’s signage and does it address appropriate customer needs?

This session will look critically at many types of library signs and review the positive and negative aspects of library signage. We will also address how to conduct a signage audit and the importance of library branding. This session also addresses customer service issues as they relate to signage. Online resources will be provided and there will be opportunities for Q&A and discussion.

As a result of this program, attendees will:

Understand the importance of effective library signage.

Identify common reasons why library signage might be misinterpreted or confusing.

Explore the key components of conducting a library signage audit.

Develop skills to rethink and rejuvenate library signs.

About the presenter: Dr. Curtis Rogers is a library consultant who has worked in the library and information science field for over 35 years. He has worked at the Union (SC) Carnegie Library, and the Charleston County (SC) Public Library, and retired as the Communications Director of the South Carolina State Library. He has also taught courses at the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, a Master of Library and Information Science, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. He is a recipient of the 2015 F. William Summers Outstanding Alumni Award from the USC School of Library and Information Science.

Artificial Intelligence Discussion Group
2026-04-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-06-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-07-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-08-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-02 10:00 - 11:00
Curious about artificial intelligence? Want to learn what others are trying, or get answers to your own questions?

Join us for our upcoming AI discussion group the first Wednesday of each month (except March and May, when we’ll meet the second Wednesday)!

Everyone is welcome, whether you’re brand‑new to AI or already experimenting with tools. Come ready to share your experiences or simply listen and ask questions. It’s a relaxed, peer‑to‑peer space to explore what’s possible.

Next Level Interviewing Skills
2026-04-01 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Looking to get promoted or to take that next step in your professional life?

Take your interviewing skills to the next level in this interactive session designed to help you confidently showcase your gifts and talents as you take your career to the next level.

As a result of this program, attendees will learn:

Steps to take to prepare BEFORE the interview,

How to engage DURING the interview from the moment they step onsite or online until their final exit,

Recovery strategies for those ‘not so perfect moments’ during the interview, and

How to make a positive impression AFTER the interview.

This session will teach you how to not only showcase your gifts and your talents but also view the interview as an opportunity to determine if the employer is the right place for you to grow and to develop.

About the presenter: Clenise Platt is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is a gifted leader, communicator, strategic thinker, and creative who partners with senior leaders, executives, and teams to develop, plan, and execute dynamic and innovative programs, initiatives, and presentations. Her areas of concentration include leadership and board development, employee engagement, talent development, customer service, and culture cultivation. Clenise has authored several books and articles focused on personal, professional, spiritual, financial, community, youth, and leadership development. She has been published in multiple publications including the Virginia Libraries Journal. She is the host of the Platinum Passport Podcast available on podcast platforms across the web and at www.theplattinumgroup.com

Book Displays for Every Library Worker
2026-04-08 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Any library worker can be a hero and use book displays or online book lists to market their library’s collection, revealing the hidden gems on their shelves and introducing patrons to materials they may have missed. In addition, book displays, both in the library and online, can tie your programs, partnerships, and library services into your collection.

Join Passive Readers’ Advisory expert Lila Denning for an hour of all the ways that you can promote your library’s collection with better book displays. Book displays are a fun, creative marketing technique that any library can use. Learn how to create book displays that will draw readers in and help them to find those titles that don’t get enough attention.

Attendees will learn how to:

Understand what are the features of a great book display and how to craft them with a focus on marketing your collection.

Discover ways to use book displays to promote services, and ongoing and special programs and events, while also bringing attention to titles that have been overlooked.

Identify opportunities to fit in book displays all over your building, even in smaller libraries with limited space.

About the presenter: Lila Denning is a librarian in Florida specializing in Passive Readers Advisory for patrons of all ages. She is the Acquisitions Coordinator for the St. Petersburg Library System and has worked in circulation, reference, and youth services. She serves as the volunteer coordinator for the Horror Writers of America. You can find her on Twitter @Vantine and on BlueSky @ Vantine.bsky.social. On her blog, http://bookdisplays.blogspot.com, she talks about ideas for book displays and other forms of Passive Readers Advisory and how to best use it to serve your patrons.

2026 Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference
2026-04-10 09:00 - 15:00 | Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd Bldg 20, Pensacola, FL, 32504, United States
The eighth annual Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference is scheduled for Friday, April 10, 2026, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (CST) at Pensacola State College in Pensacola, Florida. View the conference LibGuide for more information.

Keynote Speaker: Captain Chandra Newman (read her bio)

Breakout Sessions:

Shonda Knight, Executive Director of Community and Media Relations, Leon County Sheriffs Office, Author of My Omnilocks

Dr. Erin Shaw, University of Central Arkansas, Bridging the Gap between Secondary Media Centers and Academic Libraries

Pamela Monroe, Library Director, Leroy Collins Leon County Public Library, Second Floor Library Renovation Plan

Dr. Chris Levesque, The University of West Florida, Transcribathon Results

Regina Burgess, Executive Director, PLAN, America’s 250th Anniversary Resources

Sarah Snider, Librarian, Gulf Coast State College, Using Gamification to Enhance Your Library Sessions

Michelle Finley, Head of Circulation and Operational Support, The University of West Florida, Loaning Technology in Your Library: A Student-Centered Approach to Policy

Jules Bailey, Health Sciences Librarian, Florida State University, and Kyung Kim, Program Director for Social Sciences, Florida State University, Campus and Community Outreach: Tabling at a Health Fair

Kirsten Bedford, Social Sciences Library Associate, Florida State University, and Kyung Kim, Program Director for Social Sciences, Florida State University, Promoting AI Literacy Through Library Collections: A Case Study of Print and Digital Book Displays

We’re also having a pre-conference event at Historic Pensacola Village on April 9th!

Register for the Pre-Conference Here!

Biography of Keynote Speaker, Captain Chandra Newman

Captain Chandra Newman is a native of Inverness, Florida. She enlisted in the Navy May 2001 and commissioned from Officer Candidate School in November 2002 after completing a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Troy State University in Education, summa cum laude. She earned her wings of gold August 2004. Newman graduated from the Naval War College earning her Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies focusing on Eurasia and has completed the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive Education program.

Newman’s assignments started with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 including 2005 Pakistan Earthquake Relief operations in Kashmir and detachments onboard USS Bataan (LHD-5), USS Kearsarge (LHD-3), USS Iwo Jima, (LHD-7) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). She served as an Aviation Safety Officer and Standardization Officer at HSC-2 and provided Presidential support to Camp David. Newman was the Assistant Navigator of the Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) earning Officer of the Deck and Command Duty Officer Underway qualifications. She served as the Operations Officer Department Head at HSC-25 in Yigo, Guam. Her tour included Detachment Officer in Charge for Operation Damayan and Talisman Saber as well as joint operations with U.S. Army 3-2 General Support Aviation Battalion in the Republic of Korea. In her joint tour, she was the Executive Officer of U.S. European Command C4 Directorate and Joint Cyber Center.Newman commanded HSC-5 Nightdippers of CVW-7, deploying around the world with Carrier Strike Group 12 and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) earning the 2019 Battle “E” supporting Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Sentinel.

More recently, Newman was a Secretary of Defense Executive Fellow with Raytheon Intelligence & Space in Arlington, Virginia integrating with the Vice President of Maritime Dominance and the Vice President of Strategy, Campaigns, and Analysis. Newman most recently served as Naval Aviation’s Leadership, Education, Growth, Advocacy, Culture and Youth Outreach (LEGACY) Director at CNAF Headquarters.Newman assumed command of Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Nov. 15, 2024.

Her personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (three awards), as well as additional unit and personal awards.

More Than Alt-Text: Practical Accessibility for Library Workers
2026-04-15 11:30 - 12:30
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

This session introduces practical, achievable steps library staff can take to improve the accessibility of their library’s digital content. Moving beyond the basics, participants will learn how to create accessible documents and PDFs, use clear structure and plain language, improve readability, make social media posts more inclusive, and recognize common barriers on library websites and online forms.

The session also covers how to collaborate effectively with IT staff and vendors to support broader accessibility efforts. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies they can apply immediately to better serve all patrons.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Recognize common accessibility barriers in library websites, documents, forms, and social media content.

Apply practical techniques to create accessible documents and PDFs using clear structure and plain language.

Improve readability and usability of digital content through formatting and design choices.

Incorporate inclusive practices into social media and online communications.

Use effective questions and documentation strategies when collaborating with IT staff and vendors about accessibility.

About the presenter: Lindsay O’Neill designs accessible, inclusive learning experiences for adult professional audiences, with a focus on higher education and libraries. Through her consulting practice, she helps institutions create compliant, engaging online learning that blends strong pedagogy with practical implementation. Her expertise spans accessibility compliance, inclusive course design, online teaching strategy, and eLearning development.

Developing Your Personal Archive
2026-04-15 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Personal archiving involves capturing and protecting your “living history” to ensure that your experiences remain available for the duration of life- and for the benefit of future generations. Whether your history is contained in overflowing physical boxes, or a sprawling digital footprint, archival principles provide a roadmap to transform these materials from a stuff to be filed pile into your organized legacy.

This webinar will teach you how to get started putting together your personal archive, allowing you to manage your memories methodically.

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

Determine which items have enduring informational, evidentiary, or intrinsic significance to their personal narrative

Organize their collection

Identify appropriate preservation guidelines for non-digital media

Begin to outline a digital storage strategy, including social media

About the presenter: Mitchell Friedman, EdD, APR, develops people. Known as an enthusiastic, energetic, and insightful educator and consultant, he relishes opportunities to help others to develop their skills and abilities on the path to achieving their full potential. Dr. Friedman teaches leadership, management communication, organizational behavior, and public relations at universities located throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Friedman also helps a range of organizations to develop the communications and leadership skills of their employees.

Quick Wins for a Better Website with Laura Solomon
2026-04-15 14:00 - 15:00
Don’t have full control over your library’s website? That doesn’t mean you can’t make it better.

In this webinar, you’ll discover simple, high-impact tweaks that improve usability and give your patrons a smoother online experience. From refining your writing and navigation to adjusting graphics, you’ll learn how even small changes can make a meaningful difference.

Walk away with practical strategies you can implement right away – no major overhaul required.

Key Takeaways:

Learn how to make your website more user-friendly with small, strategic changes

Discover quick fixes for writing, navigation, and graphics that improve usability

Understand how to address patron needs even without full site control

Gain confidence in making incremental improvements that add up over time

About the presenter: Laura Solomon, CPACC, MCIW, MLS, is the Library Services Manager at the Ohio Public Information Network and a W3C-certified front-end web developer. With nearly three decades of experience in web development and design, Laura has honed her expertise in both public libraries and as an independent consultant, specializing in Drupal development and in website accessibility.

Recognized as a 2010 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, she has authored books on social media and content marketing tailored for libraries, as well as about library website design. She has dedicated many course hours to learning how to make websites accessible, ensuring that digital spaces are inclusive for all users.

Laura is a frequently-requested speaker for public library organizations, sharing her passion for bringing the fun of technology to audiences and equipping libraries with the tools to better serve their virtual customers.

Interactive Tools for Teaching and Presenting - 2 parts
2026-04-16 10:00 - 11:30
Part 1: April 16 from 10 AM to 11:30 AM CTPart 2: April 23 from 10 AM to 11:30 AM CT

How do we truly engage our audience when presenting ideas, welcoming new users, or teaching? There are plenty of freely available tools which allow more interaction, which can be used either instead of or alongside traditional presentation tools like PowerPoint. The great thing is they work equally well in online environments like Zoom or Teams, or in person when presenting face-to-face.

We’ll explore a range of tools including Menti – a surprisingly versatile quizzing tool in which you can create slides and entire presentations; Google Slides – the Google equivalent to PowerPoint with one crucial interactive Q&A feature added; and Padlet – an interactive board that allows your audience to collaborate with you and each other.

By the end of the training participants will have learned about a variety of interactive tools, tried them all out, and be able to make an informed choice as to when to use them in their presentations, lectures, workshops, or orientation sessions.

About the presenter: Ned Potter is the Faculty Engagement Manager: Community & UX at the University of York, and a Trainer for various organizations including the Bodleian Libraries and the British Library. He has run library workshops across four continents, and his presentations have been viewed over 2.5 million times online. His book The Library Marketing Toolkit was published by Facet in 2012. Ned can be found online at ned-potter.com and on Bluesky at @nedpotter.bsky.social.

Domestic Violence: A Conversation with Dr. Carolyn West
2026-04-16 13:00 - 14:00

Help! I Have Too Much Empathy! How to Manage Staff When You Feel Too Much
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

There are a lot of trainings on how to develop more empathy, but what do you do when you have too much empathy? Are you someone who can walk into a room and feel what everyone is feeling?

Do you have difficulty maintaining boundaries with staff because they feel comfortable sharing so much with you? Are difficult conversations difficult because you can feel the emotions from the other person? This ability makes it difficult to manage and lead other people.

In this session we’ll learn what it means to be an empath, how that ability can make us strong and effective leaders, and some tools, tips, and tricks to setting boundaries, taking care of yourself, and being the best leader to help your staff succeed.

About the presenter: Connie Sureck has been in libraries for the past 18 years in Virginia and Ohio and has served in various leadership and management roles for about 15 years. Connie has presented at multiple conferences and conventions for both the Ohio Library Council and the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System and has been involved in OLC action councils and program committees. She was part of the succession plan for chairing the convention, serving as Program Committee Chair in 2016 and then Convention Chair in 2017. She’s been with the Medina County District Library since 2009, taking a short break for a couple of years to manage a branch at the Stark County District Library, and then came back and is currently the branch manager at the Brunswick Library.

Leading From the Middle
2026-04-29 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Do you have more than one boss at your library? Do you have lots of responsibility, but little authority? Are you working between multiple departments? Are you looking to improve your communications skills with your managers and your direct reports? If so, this webinar can help you communicate better and manage up, and down.

In this program, participants will learn about:

Communication techniques for communicating with upper management and employees

Prioritizing tasks and setting goals

Performance evaluation strategies: How to better give and receive feedback

Time management concerns: How to organize and prioritize your time to meet multiple (and sometimes competing) goals

About the presenter: Carrie Rogers-Whitehead is the founder and CEO of Digital Respons-Ability, a mission-based company that educates tens of thousands of students, parents and teachers through in-person and online courses across the country. She has written two books for librarians around adolescents: Teen Fandom and Geek Programming: a Practical Guide for Librarians and the ALA-award winning Serving Teens and Adults and the Autism Spectrum: a Guide for Libraries and continues to work with teens.

How To Get the Most Out of a Conference with Linda Bruno
2026-05-05 14:00 - 15:00
Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned conference-goer, there are many ways to improve your conference experience.

With the conferences often on the horizon, now is the time to think about the ingredients that go into a successful conference experience.

In this 60-minute webinar, we’ll look at 3 areas to think about- the before, during, and after of the conference. We’ll cover some basic things such as how to save money. We’ll also delve deeper and reflect on how you move through the world – are you an introvert or extrovert? What’s that got to do with your level of enjoyment and/or how much you will absorb?

Conferences can be fun, exciting, educational, eye-opening – and tiring. Come to this webinar to make sure you experience the first 4 adjectives and only experience the last one because the first 4 were so abundant!

About the presenter: Linda has been developing and conducting training workshops for libraries for more than fifteen years. Her favorite thing to do is to help people become their best selves!

That’s why she offers workshops on topics ranging from Leadership Skills to Emotional Intelligence – and lots of areas in between.

Weeding Popular Materials Collections
2026-05-06 11:30 - 12:30
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

When it comes to books, we all like to buy! However, selecting materials is only half of the collection development process. Book hoarding does not create a useful collection. Weeding, or deselecting materials, must receive equal and continuous attention as selection to have a truly patron driven collection that serves its community.

As increasing demands tax libraries’ limited resources, every item in a physical collection must justify its shelf space; while every item, both physical and digital, vies for patrons’ time and attention. We’ll discuss practical advice for weeding popular materials collections for youth or adults across formats. Along the way, I’ll debunk some popular weeding excuses.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:

Articulate to internal and external stakeholders that weeding is equally as important to collection development

Implement logical, rigorous weeding doctrines within their popular materials collections

Weed to create space for new collections, highlight materials, and increase circulation with confidence

Promote patron-driven collection policies and revitalize collections

Who will benefit from this program:

All staff that interact with the collection and the public

Staff who select for the collection

Staff who maintain the collection

About the presenter: Karen Toonen is the Collection Services Manager at Naperville Public Library, the second-highest circulating public library in Illinois. Throughout her time as a Readers Advisory Assistant, and Adult Services Librarian, and in Technical Services, Karen has remained focused on collections. She has presented extensively on weeding and other collection development aspects at the regional, state, and national level. Her service on the Adult Reading Round Table’s Steering Committee has not only allowed her to learn about weeding from colleagues across northern Illinois but also informed her philosophy that weeding and readers advisory go hand in hand.

Get Smart About Emotional Intelligence: Enhance Your Effectiveness
2026-05-06 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Emotional intelligence (EI) is being able to perceive, interpret, and respond to your emotions and those of others. It is crucial for working collaboratively and effectively and having difficult conversations.

People with more emotional intelligence tend to be more resilient, better decision makers, more effective leaders, better communicators, have more self-awareness and self-control, and more success in life overall.

The good news is that EI can be learned and developed. Discover how to harness the power of emotions for more effective interactions!

As a result of this program attendees will:

Define emotional intelligence and describe its 4 domains

Explain the benefits of emotional intelligence in the workplace

Describe 4 ways you can improve your EI

About the presenter: Laura Greco spent more than 20 years in nursing before focusing on coaching and speaking to help professionals live vibrantly with joy and purpose. She believes that mindset and self-care of body, mind, and spirit, are cornerstones for well-being and that we all have the capacity to make positive lifestyle changes. Her work highlights simple action steps and why they work. Laura has a BSN (University of Michigan), master’s in adult education (Penn State), trainings from HeartMath and the Mass General Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, and certifications in wellness coaching from both Wellcoaches and Center for Credentialing and Education. Her books include Wellness Made Simple and Wellness Made Simple for Residents. You can find more information on her website www.YouBloomWellness.com.

You're Not a Social Worker, But...
2026-05-13 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

While library staff are not trained social workers, they are often placed in situations that require empathy, de-escalation, and informed referrals due to the growing complex behavioral, and social-emotional needs within their branch communities.

This webinar is designed to provide practical, realistic tools that library professionals can use within their role and scope, without expecting them to replace trained clinicians or social service providers.

Attendees will learn how to:

● Communicate with patrons using empathy while maintaining professional boundaries

● Recognize and manage personal bias, stress reactions, and emotional triggers

● Build and leverage relationships to connect patrons with appropriate community resources

Who will benefit from this program:

This training is ideal for library staff, customer service representatives, frontline professionals, supervisors, and administrators who regularly interact with the public and encounter patrons experiencing mental/emotional distress, crisis, or other complex life challenges.

About the presenter: Bryanta L. Spencer, LISW-S, is the Founder and CEO of Fortitude Wellness & Consultations and the Social Work Manager of the Cuyahoga County Public Library system. Holding certifications in trauma, integrative medicine, and mental health first aid she specializes in therapeutic services, clinical supervision, professional development and consulting for organizations, schools, and community-based systems. Bryanta is known for her out-of-the-box thinking, charismatic engagement style, and practical equity centered trauma-informed trainings that bridges real-world challenges with clarity and impact. Her work focuses on strengthening frontline professionals and helping institutions better service the underserved and unseen with dignity, skill, and compassion.

The Power of Color in Library Marketing
2026-05-13 14:00 - 15:00
Can color really affect how people feel about your library? Research says yes. The colors you choose can shape emotion, trust, and engagement – and they play a big role in how your brand and promotions are perceived online. In this one-hour webinar, you’ll get a practical, library-focused introduction to color theory for marketing and social media. Learn which colors work best for different purposes, how to use them strategically, and how thoughtful color choices can make your online presence more engaging and effective.

Key Takeaways:

Understand the basics of color theory and how it applies to libraries

Learn how different colors can influence emotions and perceptions;

Discover which color choices work best for branding, marketing, and social media.

About the presenter: Laura Solomon, CPACC, MCIW, MLS, is the Library Services Manager at the Ohio Public Information Network and a W3C-certified front-end web developer. With nearly three decades of experience in web development and design, Laura has honed her expertise in both public libraries and as an independent consultant, specializing in Drupal development and in website accessibility.

Recognized as a 2010 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, she has authored books on social media and content marketing tailored for libraries, as well as about library website design. She has dedicated many course hours to learning how to make websites accessible, ensuring that digital spaces are inclusive for all users.

Laura is a frequently-requested speaker for public library organizations, sharing her passion for bringing the fun of technology to audiences and equipping libraries with the tools to better serve their virtual customers.

Cataloging for Non-Catalogers
2026-05-20 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Wherever you work in the library, knowledge of some basic cataloging will enhance and improve your skills in library work. This will serve as a brief introduction to cataloging for non-catalogers and will help you to understand cataloging’s purpose, its goals, and some of its terminology, especially the changes you may have been seeing with the implementation of RDA recently.

Join catalogers Christopher Hill, McKenna Leckrone and Jessica C. Williams for an hour of focus on the catalog and bibliographic records. MARC may seem intimidating, but there are rules and guidelines that help catalogers create bibliographic records that make it possible for you and patrons to find the exact material you are looking for.

As a result of this program, attendees will learn:

● The catalog from both staff and user view

● Bibliographic records

● The ins and outs of MARC

● Authority records

Who will benefit from this program:

All staff that interacts with patrons

All circulation staff members

Technical Services staff not directly cataloging

About the presenters:

Chris Hill is a Cataloging Librarian II with Greene County Public Library and has held this position since December 2011. He has been cataloging library materials since 2003 and has been working in libraries since 1996.

McKenna Leckrone is the Head Cataloger at the Avon Lake Public Library near Cleveland, Ohio. She has been working in libraries for almost 20 years and began her career as a public library page, eventually working in circulation, reference, marketing, technology and IT, and now cataloging.

Jessica C. Williams has been a cataloger at Cleveland Public Library since 2023. Formerly Information Services Librarian at Tiffin-Seneca Public Library, she transitioned to Technical Services Librarian-Cataloging at T-SPL in 2022. She started in libraries as a public library page in 2000.

All presenters are current leadership for the Ohio Library Council Technical Services Division Action Council.

Bots, Books and Bedtime Stories: Spotting AI-Generated Books in Children's Collections
2026-05-27 13:00 - 14:00
This webinar is exclusive to PLAN member libraries.

Children’s librarians are on the front lines of a rapidly shifting landscape, as generative AI enters children’s publishing and AI-generated books increasingly appear on Amazon, self-publishing platforms, and from library vendors. These titles can be difficult to identify, often mimicking traditional authorship, illustration styles, and series branding while lacking transparency about their creation. This trend raises concerns about the veracity of library collections.

This webinar will equip librarians and selectors with practical tools to critically evaluate children’s books for signs of AI generation. Participants will explore real-world examples, discuss ethical and collection development implications, and learn strategies for making informed, defensible decisions that support quality, authenticity, and trust in children’s literature collections.

As a result of this program, attendees will learn how to:

● Identify four common indicators of AI-generated children’s books in print and digital collections.

● Distinguish between acceptable AI-assisted creation and fully AI-generated content when reviewing titles for purchase or retention.

● Make informed, defensible collection decisions using professional standards.

Who will benefit from this program:

Children’s and Youth Services Librarians

Collection Development Librarians

School Librarians and Media Specialists

Library Administrators developing AI policy

About the presenter: Kira Smith has been a Virtual Reference Specialist with Florida’s Ask A Librarian service for over 16 years and is a recipient of multiple Exemplary Reference Awards. In addition to her work in virtual reference, Kira freelances as a research consultant for journalists, providing fact-finding, source verification, and background research. She also regularly designs and presents professional development webinars for librarians, focusing on online reference, information literacy, and emerging issues affecting library practice. Kira’s professional background includes experience as an elementary school teacher and a certified childbirth educator. She is particularly interested in how new technologies — including generative AI — affect information quality, trust, and decision-making in library collections.

Website Makeovers Live!
2026-06-03 14:00 - 15:00
Ever wish you could see exactly how to make your library’s website look better- and why certain changes work? In this highly interactive webinar, you’ll watch as real library websites are redesigned live, with each decision explained step by step. From layout adjustments to visual refreshes, you’ll see practical design improvements in action and learn how to apply the same principles to your own site. Attendees will also have the chance to submit their websites for consideration as makeover candidates before the session.

Key Takeaways:

Watch live demonstrations of website redesigns in real time

Understand the reasoning behind each design decision

Gain practical tips you can immediately apply to your own website

See how small changes can create a more polished and user-friendly site

About the presenter: Laura Solomon, CPACC, MCIW, MLS, is the Library Services Manager at the Ohio Public Information Network and a W3C-certified front-end web developer. With nearly three decades of experience in web development and design, Laura has honed her expertise in both public libraries and as an independent consultant, specializing in Drupal development and in website accessibility.

Recognized as a 2010 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, she has authored books on social media and content marketing tailored for libraries, as well as about library website design. She has dedicated many course hours to learning how to make websites accessible, ensuring that digital spaces are inclusive for all users.

Laura is a frequently-requested speaker for public library organizations, sharing her passion for bringing the fun of technology to audiences and equipping libraries with the tools to better serve their virtual customers.

Managing Difficult Conversations Online
2026-07-08 10:00 - 12:00
The more we successfully promote the library online, the higher the chances of attracting negative or problematic attention. This session focuses on how to encourage and then manage engagement with your social media, especially when covering conversations around controversial topics, or themes which encourage trolling online. We’ll look at how to categorize difficult conversations, when and when not to respond, and how to engage.

About the presenter: Ned Potter is the Faculty Engagement Manager: Community & UX at the University of York, and a Trainer for various organizations including the Bodleian Libraries and the British Library. He has run library workshops across four continents, and his presentations have been viewed over 2.5 million times online. His book The Library Marketing Toolkit was published by Facet in 2012. Ned can be found online at ned-potter.com and on Bluesky at @nedpotter.bsky.social

PowerPoint is Your Secret Weapon
2026-09-02 10:00 - 12:00
PowerPoint is a surprisingly versatile tool which can go far beyond creating traditional presentations. Because the interface is familiar it can be a really simple tool to use for a wide variety of tasks, and we’ll see examples of many different content types in the session.

This in-depth hands-on workshop will look at PowerPoint interactivity, PowerPoint as a creator of brilliant posters or digital content for screens and social media, and even PowerPoint as a creator of video.

About the presenter: Ned Potter is the Faculty Engagement Manager: Community & UX at the University of York, and a Trainer for various organizations including the Bodleian Libraries and the British Library. He has run library workshops across four continents, and his presentations have been viewed over 2.5 million times online. His book The Library Marketing Toolkit was published by Facet in 2012. Ned can be found online at ned-potter.com and on Bluesky at @nedpotter.bsky.social
