[Libs-Or] Upcoming learning opportunities

[HANNING Darci * SLO]

Hello Library Community!

Here’s a summary of upcoming learning resources available through the State Library and other organizations. Be sure to visit the State Library of Oregon’s CE website<https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/> for more learning resources and the CE Calendar<https://slo.oregon.gov/conted#s-lib-ctab-24120710-1> which also includes links to the PDF<https://maine-msl.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=76010632> and online<https://www.webjunction.org/find-training/free-events.html> versions of this month's free events listed by category (compiled by the Maine State Library and hosted by WebJunction).

You can view this email online as well.<https://slo.oregon.gov/conted#s-lib-ctab-24120710-2>

>> If you’re looking for learning resources on a particular topic, please contact me<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon?subject=I'm%20looking%20for%20CE%20resources> – I’m happy to help! <<

WATCH: Intellectual Freedom in Crisis: Moral Panics, Censorship, and the Cost to Library Workers<https://my.nicheacademy.com/oregonstaff/course/90198> (Library 2.0 recorded webinar, Oregon libraries only)

This one-hour webinar examines the current landscape of attacks on intellectual freedom and the impacts of coordinated censorship campaigns. We'll analyze the role of moral entrepreneurs, including organized advocacy groups and bad faith social media influencers.

We'll explore the historical context of how moral panics operate to limit access to reading materials and confine intellectual freedom. Understanding this history helps us respond more effectively in today’s environment. The webinar covers legal threats facing libraries, including new state laws in Idaho, Missouri, Louisiana, and other states. Finally, we'll address the human cost of this crisis: the occupational trauma and burnout facing library workers, including anticipatory anxiety and the disproportionate impact on marginalized staff.

Note: This recording is being made available in the Oregon Library Staff Academy. Oregon library staff and volunteers can request access to this tutorial from the Oregon Library Staff Academy by using this form<https://www.cognitoforms.com/StateLibraryOfOregon/RequestAccessToContinuingEducationResources> and choosing the option for the Oregon Library Staff Academy.

LEARN: De-escalation: Recognizing & Preparing for Tense Situations<https://my.nicheacademy.com/oregonstaff/course/12671> (self-paced tutorial, Oregon libraries only)
Have you ever dealt with a patron who is yelling, pacing, or pointing at you? Maybe they’re arguing about something you can’t fix, or disrupting other people trying to use the library.  Whether they’re a regular patron having a bad day or someone you’ve never seen before, tense situations and bad behavior are common in libraries.  Before you can address these situations, you need to understand what escalated behavior looks like so you can be prepared to respond.

De-Escalation – Skills and Practice<https://my.nicheacademy.com/oregonstaff/course/12814> (self-paced tutorial, Oregon libraries only)
Your ability to recognize, respond to, and prepare for a tense situation in your library is only part of de-escalation. Specific skills will help you deal with patrons who are angry or frustrated. In part 2 of 2 in our series on de-escalation techniques, you will learn verbal and non-verbal skills to manage tense situations.

Note: These tutorials are being made available in the Oregon Library Staff Academy. Oregon library staff and volunteers can request access to this tutorial from the Oregon Library Staff Academy by using this form<https://www.cognitoforms.com/StateLibraryOfOregon/RequestAccessToContinuingEducationResources> and choosing the option for the Oregon Library Staff Academy.

LISTEN: Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace for Neurodivergent Staff with Renee Grassi<https://libraryleadershippodcast.com/174-cultivating-an-inclusive-workplace-for-neurodivergent-staff-with-renee-grassi/> (Library Leadership Podcast)
Have you wondered how you can support neurodivergent staff and volunteers in the workplace? On this show, Renee Grassi (she/her), Librarian and Accessibility Consultant, discusses cultivating an inclusive work environment for neurodivergent team members, including accessible communication and promoting neurodiversity in our organizations.

READ: Curiosity as a Professional Skill<https://ripslawlibrarian.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/curiosity-as-a-professional-skill/> (Stephanie Grace for the Research, Instruction, and Patron Services Special Interest Section (RIPS-SIS) of the American Association of Law Libraries)
I never thought of curiosity as a professional skill. I can’t recall ever mentioning it in job interviews or performance reviews. I should have. It’s one of the most valuable things I bring to work. [Read more<https://ripslawlibrarian.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/curiosity-as-a-professional-skill/>]

ONLINE CONFERENCES:

Friday, February 27,  6:45a-3:00p: Big Talk from Small Libraries 2026<https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=25071> (Nebraska Library Commission and Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL))
This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries - the smaller the better! All of our presenters are from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people, or are directly partnered with a small library and co-presenting with the library. Topics range from technology to programming to new roles for the library. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the innovative things your colleagues are doing in their small libraries.

Recordings: Unless otherwise noted, sessions are recorded and posted to the Previous Conferences<http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/previous-conferences/> page as soon as possible after the event. You do not need to register for the conference to access the recordings.

You can register here<https://nlc.nebraska.gov/scripts/calendar/eventshow.asp?ProgId=25071> to attend the live conference sessions for free.

HIGHLIGHTED WEBINARS/COURSES:

Monday, February 2, 10:00a PT: “You Work for the Public; Your Thoughts Aren’t  Sacred” (EveryLibrary Institute)
Join The Political Librarian<https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/publishing> for an "In Conversation" webinar series that brings together some of the authors featured in the Political Librarian Special Issue to examine how Executive Orders and political narratives are reshaping DEI, public memory, free speech, labor, and professional ethics in the galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) fields.

No registration required, attend via one of these methods on Monday, 10a:

  *   Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/2548559422191032
  *   YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqyydgUSmMA

More about this session:
Too often, anti‑DEI arguments claim that librarians and public workers deserve a special sphere of protected “thought privacy,” where belief can be separated from professional obligation, and that equity efforts violate it. Dr. John Mack Freeman, Assistant Dean for Interdisciplinary Initiatives and Director of the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons at the Georgia Tech Library, challenges this premise head‑on in his new Political Librarian article, arguing that librarians are public servants whose responsibilities extend beyond personal ideology.

More about this series.<https://www.everylibraryinstitute.org/tpl_webinars_weaponized_politics_dismantled_policies>

Wednesday, February 4, 11:00a PT: Solving Heavy Problems in Light-Hearted Ways<https://georgialibraryassociation.org/Carterette-Series-Webinars> (Carterette Series)
Library leaders can face some thorny problems when managing organizational change. This is particularly true at institutions with a long-established workplace culture who aim to make effective change across departments. Sometimes, we tend to forget when undertaking difficult projects that you don’t have to have an overly serious attitude when undertaking serious tasks. Bringing in creativity and play can open minds to break outside of established ways of thinking and doing.

In this webinar, two department heads from the University of Central Florida Libraries will share how they developed a series of fun and interactive activities to develop a new divisional structure across departments to encourage collaboration and shared decision-making. Instead of leading with a pre-defined structure for the organizational change, existing challenges were used as a starting point for the conversation and change management. The activities helped cultivate an open mind set to ensure participants felt empowered to be co-creators in innovative solutions. Webinar attendees will be provided with an overview of the process, considerations to develop these activities within their own contexts, and example activities participants can take to their own organizations to help foster collaboration on difficult issues.

Wednesday, February 11, 11:00a PT: Library Trustees and Advocacy<https://www.nicheacademy.com/webinar-library-trustees-and-advocacy> (Niche Academy live webinar)
One of the most important jobs for a library trustee is advocating for the public library the board represents. Many trustees consider their advocacy role to be conscripted to library crises, such as loss of funding or large-scale book challenges. However, there is a great deal that trustees are allowed (and encouraged!) to do to advocate on behalf of the libraries they represent that isn't tied to a specific event.

In this webinar, Al Hayden, Library Advisory Specialist with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, will discuss ways that library trustees and other library advocates can keep their public library a part of the local, county, and state conversations throughout the year.

Trustees, those who regularly work with trustees, or other library advocates such as library Friends, will come away with customizable ideas to highlight the essential nature of their libraries to their communities, regardless of their situation or level of experience.

Thursday, February 19, 11:00am PT: Smarter Search, More Content: What’s New in Gale Power Search<https://cengage-gale.zoom.us/webinar/register/7517654749952/WN_Ve1di6ZnSPSKnnJMwxiebg#/registration> (CENGAGE/Gale)
Join us as we showcase the redesigned interface, improved navigation, and expanded cross-search capabilities of Gale Power Search - making it easier than ever for your students and patrons to find trusted information. These enhancements help learners discover new content types, including primary sources and literature reference, and allow topic guides to be cross-searched for deeper, more meaningful research. With a cleaner, more intuitive experience, you’ll be equipped to support inquiry and engagement in your school or library.

For more information and to register or access the recording, go here<https://cengage-gale.zoom.us/webinar/register/7517654749952/WN_Ve1di6ZnSPSKnnJMwxiebg#/registration>.


LIVE WEBINARS for the week of February 2 (details are available in the CE Calendar<https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/free#s-lib-ctab-24120710-1> or at WebJunction<https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/free-webinars-for-library-staff.html>)

Monday, 1/26

  *   10am You Work for the Public; Your Thoughts Aren’t Sacred

Tuesday, 1/27

  *   8am Green games for green libraries: video games as tools for environmental education (IFLA)
  *   10am Leveraging AI to Streamline Operations for Nonprofits (TechSoup)
  *   11am Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program
  *   11am Pathways and Specialties: Choosing the Right LIS Program (American Libraries)
  *   11am Transformational Leadership in the Time of Uncertainty (ASERL)

Wednesday, 1/28

  *   8am Homesteading at Your Library (Nebraska Library Commission)
  *   9am 3 Small Actions for Big Virtual Engagement (Training Magazine Network)
  *   10am Sustainable & Future-Ready Roundtable - Seeking Solutions to the Problems of Practice in Library Makerspaces
  *   10am 5 Essential Strategies for Planning a Successful Charity Golf Event (Nonprofit Hub)
  *   11am PCI: Stoplights, Roundabouts, and Leadership: Navigating the Highways and Backroads of Organizational Life & Leadership
  *   11am Solving Heavy Problems in Light-Hearted Ways (Georgia Library Association)
  *   11am Thriving Amidst Bureaucratic Distress: Tools to Help Everyone Involved (Niche Academy)

Thursday, 1/29

  *   10am Orientation to Legal Research: Federal Legislative History (LOC: Law Library)
  *   11am Monthly Giving: Your Nonprofit Sustainability Plan (PACER Center)
  *   11am Spring Adult Faves (Booklist)


Cheers,
Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/
State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov> | www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>

[State Library of Oregon (Logo)]

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Schedule time to meet with me<https://outlook.office365.com/bookwithme/user/a59abb0a2327467fac503ddb3913cf5e@slo.oregon.gov?anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled&ep=pcard>





Darci Hanning, MLIS (she/her/hers)
Public Library Consultant / CE Coordinator
Continuing Education Resources: https://slo.oregon.gov/conted/
State Library of Oregon | Library Support and Development Services
971-375-3491 | darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov<mailto:darci.hanning at slo.oregon.gov> | www.oregon.gov/library<http://www.oregon.gov/library>

[State Library of Oregon (Logo)]

[cid:image002.png at 01DC8F72.4B749ED0]<https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/a59abb0a2327467fac503ddb3913cf5e@slo.oregon.gov?anonymous&ep=signature>
Schedule time to meet with me<https://outlook.office365.com/bookwithme/user/a59abb0a2327467fac503ddb3913cf5e@slo.oregon.gov?anonymous&ismsaljsauthenabled&ep=pcard>


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