This course is an introduction to preserving library collections. It will cover the difference between preservation and conservation and will focus on budget friendly actions that can extend the life of your library collections. Basic collection housekeeping, risk management, appropriate storage and environment, as well as an introduction to emergency preparedness will be covered.

Interested in Genealogy? Do you know where to start? Which resources to use? How to keep track of it all? This course will demonstrate a step-by-step beginning research strategy by tracking down a specific ancestor and gathering their information and leads to other relatives. Learn to use a research journal, ancestor information sheets, and decipher database results. We'll use Ancestry Library Edition and Family Search to build our ancestor from scratch.

Library users want to feel loved. The best kind of PDA in a library is patron driven acquisition. We will look at the current role of this PDA in our library collections. This session will offer ways to celebrate and support patron requests.

As libraries are moving services online, there is a renewed emphasis on chat and online reference services. How is chat reference different from traditional in-person reference? This course will provide techniques and best practices to provide effective chat reference services. We will learn how to conduct a thorough online reference interview and explore tools and apps for the virtual reference desk.

Designed for those new to cataloging, this overview of the basics highlights the essential tools and techniques, including descriptive cataloging, subject cataloging, and Machine-Readable Cataloging (MARC). With clear instruction and an overview of available resources to consult, become empowered to catalog library materials and contribute to their discoverability.

Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and interpersonal skills, play a critical role in virtual and in-person library services. Explore new ways to support staff’s development in these areas by understanding soft skills, developing personal improvement goals and implementing training plans.

Authority control, the process of ensuring consistent use of access points in bibliographic records, helps library users discover all relevant information within a library’s catalog. To be effective, authority requires record maintenance. This session will cover the basic principles of authority control and guide users on maintaining consistency in authority records.

If your library struggles to get the right messages to the right people and show those people how valuable the library is to help them solve their problems, a solid marketing plan can make all the difference. By performing an analysis of the environment in your library and service area (also known as a SWOT analysis), and selecting the right channels for your messages, you'll define your target audience, understand what that audience wants and needs, and develop a messaging strategy that resonates with them.

Every beginning genealogist knows that Federal Census records are a great place to start searching for one's ancestors. However, we can learn more from them than just the places, dates, and names listed. Knowing the history and historical importance of data collected by census records is an important tool in every genealogist's kit. Gleaning information not indexed in a database can lead to big breakthroughs in your research. Learn how to sift through and interpret enumerator’s abbreviations as well as your ancestor’s historical data.

Making a volunteer experience truly rewarding takes coordination and care – and leading library volunteers can be an experience unlike any other. By identifying opportunities for volunteers in the library and establishing a plan for coordinating their work, this session explores meaningful ways to inspire and celebrate volunteers. Discover best practices for recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers in the library and develop strategies for making the volunteer role beneficial for the volunteer and the organization.