Effective communication is often what sets great leaders apart. Through listening, questioning, and refining, managers can assertively provide direction and effective feedback to staff. Learn about the importance of non-verbal communication, active listening techniques, how to influence others, and having difficult conversations with your staff. Effective communication can create the difference between a good workplace and a great one.

With the emergence of more severe wind and rain events, including in places that had not previously been prone to these occurrences, many libraries find themselves updating their plans for the care of collections and facilities. With practical guidance from an experienced preservation specialist, this session will review the essentials for recovering from a wind and rain event and consider the most likely vulnerabilities in libraries’ current plans and procedures.

Libraries have always coexisted with mold and mildew, happily and unhappily. Examine how mold affects library facilities and collections today. Equip library staff and facilities managers with the training and strategies necessary to protect their library collections, patrons, and staff from the disruptions posed by mold or mildew.

Customer service expectations across industries are changing rapidly – and that trickles into libraries at the very same moment many are contending with reduced staffing and funding levels. But good service equates to more than just smooth transactions and satisfied customers. It helps build support and advances the relationship between the library and the community it serves.

Surveys are an essential way to collect data about library services, programming, and community needs. But many libraries struggle to fully realize their surveys’ potential to collect high quality data. Good survey design is an artform that can be developed through practice. With a focus on design and development principles and hands-on exercises creating surveys for various library needs, new and seasoned survey designers will walk away more confident and capable to field their next survey.

The library has its idea for a project or service – and even has a funder in mind. But writing the grant proposal, tracking all the required forms and documents, and aligning to the funder’s priorities can be a daunting task. Get started on the right path with guidance for planning and organizing the elements of the proposal; analyzing and embedding funder priorities across the application; designing the plan with successful management built in from the start. The best practices shared reflect experience administering grant programs, serving as a grant reviewer, and winning competitive grants.

Change can often happen when we are already deep into a rhythm, process, or workflow, requiring a quick pivot to new services, responsibilities, and roles. Strong, cohesive teams position an organization to successfully face transitions such as reorganizations, staff vacancies and changeover, and external upheaval. With a focus on teambuilding and collective planning during times of transition, organizations can find new paths and navigate changed roles.

Whether you are working with colleagues, engaging community partners, or getting active in professional organizations – meetings are a fact of life for library staff. Save valuable time and motivate others by learning the most efficient ways of preparing for and running everyday meetings. With practical guidance and proven tools, learn how to the make the most effective use of conveners’ and participants’ time while avoiding common pitfalls. Leave with practical tips to plan, facilitate, and follow-up after different types of meetings.

There are times when we seek board or committee service and then there are times when we are called to board or committee service. Discover the first steps in becoming a great board or committee member. Become versed in board and committee best practices.