Continuing Education

In addition to attending multiple webinars per month, I attended ALA Annual Conference in Chicago from June 22-26, 2023. During my time at the conference, I attended several excellent informational presentations. Not only did I learn more about a variety of topics, attending also helped me recharge and gain ideas to bring back to my library.

Seminars & Discussions Attended:

• Health Programming at Your Library

• Intentionally Diversifying: Strategies for Building Collections That Matter

• You're a Grown-Up--So Why Are You Reading a YA Book?

• Tabletop Gaming with Kids and Families: Using Games to Foster Language and Social Emotional Development

• Transforming Public Libraries' Approach to Digital Literacy

• Facilitating Conversations Around Data Privacy

• Inclusion of Justice-Involved Individuals in Library Service

• Creative Aging in Libraries

 

ALA provided me with a lot of information and takeaways. For example, the panel about the benefits of table top gaming for communication, collaboration, and other skills supported my Q4 programming proposal for an all-ages board gaming night at Center Street. Attending a seminar on popular YA reads with adult audience crossover helped reinforce my desire to provide a YA Book Club for Adults. Additionally I learned about programs other libraries implement to better serve justice-involved patrons, as well as, what other libraries do to increase health literacy in their communities, both of which are areas for programming that I want to start/expand at Center Street. 
 

ALA Core Competencies:

• 3A. Participate in and lead on-going professional development to better serve their communities.

• 3B. Recognize the role of the library in continuing education and lifelong learning initiatives.