Free, online, continuing education events for the week of January 24 from the Wyoming State Library Training Calendar. Descriptions and links are below. You can subscribe and view the events in your calendar software, or you can find all the events at library.wyo.gov/services/training/calendar.
All times MST
Tuesday, Jan 25 (10-11 am)
Pinpointing Your Brand and Target Market (Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network)
Do you want to get more sales from the marketing you do? Learn the fundamental rules of perfecting your brand and defining your target markets so you can maximize your marketing. You will find this discussion helpful to create consistency in your presence that will help you build your audience instead of confuse them. This workshop is perfect for business owners who want to put the right message in front of the right audience to build their customer base and convert more sales. If you are new to business, early on in business, considering a rebrand, trying to navigate a pivot, or haven’t worked on your brand messaging before, you’ll find this material especially helpful!
Tuesday, Jan 25 (12-1 pm)
Social and Emotional Learning Support in Gale In Context (Gale)
Social and emotional learning (SEL) has never been more important. Educators recognize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ emotional health and are taking action to help them find support and build the resilience they need to navigate uncertainty. Gale In Context resources can help! Topics related to SEL have been added to our Elementary, Middle School, and High School databases; in this session we’ll share how you can find this content and share it with your students to support their emotional intelligence.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (8-9 am)
Be the Hero! Tween and Teen Live Action Roleplaying (LARPing) Games (Indiana State Library)
Secure big numbers of tweens or teens with a real-life video game where they are the heroes! Live Action Roleplaying (LARPing) games allow for a unique opportunity that youth can’t get anywhere else. Get an in-depth look at this revolutionary event type and even create a mini version of the game on the spot.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (9-10 am)
NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech (Nebraska Library Commission)
Join the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Amanda Sweet, as she guides us through the world of library-related Pretty Sweet Tech.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (10-11 am)
Annual Reports: Simplifying the Process for Maximum Donor Engagement (Productive Fundraising)
Join fundraising master trainer, Chad Barger, CFRE, for a workshop focused on simplifying the process of creating a nonprofit annual report. Chad will review the evolution of annual reports over the last 20+ years and provide multiple real life examples of what is working today. The focus of the session is on designing an annual report that donors actually want to read. Participants will leave the workshop with templates and samples to make implementing the best practices a breeze at their nonprofit organization.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (11-12 pm)
Info2Go! FindHelp.org: Connecting Patrons to Local Support Services (Idaho Commission for Libraries)
Together with the Idaho Health Data Exchange, United Way of Treasure Valley is bringing findhelp.org to your community to make your work easier and more effective, while getting clients the resources they need. With just a zip code, patrons can find food assistance, help paying bills and other free, or reduced cost programs in their local area. Join us for this live webinar to learn all about this tool and how libraries can easily connect patrons to the resources they need. Anne Wolverton from United Way Treasure Valley will present.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (12-1 pm)
Engaging Online Community Members (Montana State Library)
Virtual programming is here to stay. For individuals who are homebound, have caregiving responsibilities, or uncertain transportation, online engagement with the library is a good option. It allows them to learn, grow, and connect without the burden of visiting a physical location. As librarians, we should be intentional about our work with these community members and focus energy on finding new ways to engage with them.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (12-1:30 pm)
Even Superheroes Need Support: The Power of Emotional Intelligence for Early Childhood Educators (Early Childhood Investigations)
In this timely and empowering webinar Dr. Donna Housman and early childhood educator and trainer Emily Stone, discuss how imperative it is that we focus on emotional well-being in this moment and as a foundation for every early childhood learning environment. We will explore why this is so critical not only for your mental health and emotional well-being, but also for the children with whom you work.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (12-1 pm)
Small Scale ESL Programs for Your Library (Niche Academy)
Getting started with an English as a Second Language (ESL) program at your library does not have to be an intimidating commitment. You may offer conversation group sessions with minimal investment of time and resources. Not only do these classes benefit the English language learning community, they also offer a window into the needs of this population. Beginning your journey with a conversation group will allow you to get to know your second language patrons. As your English language program grows, you can offer other group classes and/or one-on-one lessons. However, it is not necessary to start with a complete range of offerings. In this webinar, Claudia Ratay will share her experience and insights into establishing a solid foundation for what can become a very successful ESL program.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (2-3 pm)
Deeper Dive into Citizen Science Kits Webinar – Professional Development for Libraries Series (SciStarter)
This webinar will dive deeper into citizen science projects and how to build kits for your community.
Wednesday, Jan 26 (2-3 pm)
Fostering Creativity Through Collaborative STEAM Learning (edWeb.net)
Join this edWebinar to gain confidence in implementing STEAM with K-8 students. We will focus on pedagogy, the reasoning behind STEAM, and how integrating it into education can build a critical-thinking foundation and problem-solving skills for younger students.
Thursday, Jan 27 (11-12 pm)
Win Back Your Lapsed Donors (Bloomerang)
Get ready for easy, practical, and actionable steps to help you win back your lapsed donors. From learning how to identify, qualify, and communicate with them – we will help you put together the right plan to win your donors back. Don’t leave money on the table, join us and learn how to re-engage these valuable donors.
Thursday, Jan 27 (11-12 pm)
Examples & Blueprints to Sell Out Your Next Fundraising Event (Charity Village)
Not every organization is going to have success using the same strategies–which is why we don’t preach that we have the be-all, end-all of event marketing advice. Instead, we will provide you with tactics and guides to improve your current strategies and results, and show you how to determine what is working for your specific donors, your specific event, and your specific organization.
Thursday, Jan 27 (12-1 pm)
Creating a Culture of Volunteer Engagement (VolunteerMatch)
It’s important to create a culture of inclusion and engagement of volunteers within your organization. But, it can be hard to recognize what your current culture says to volunteers, or identify how to make changes to help volunteers feel more welcome. This webinar will help you identify how your organization’s current culture is shaping or limiting what volunteers do, and provide steps you can take to start to create more understanding, respect, and appreciation for engaging volunteers.
Thursday, Jan 27 (12-1:30 pm)
Create a Vision-Focused Action Plan as a Program Leader (Early Childhood Investigations)
Now’s the time to refresh the vision for your program. Moving beyond the stress and challenges of the past year requires early childhood leaders like you to renew your enthusiasm and refresh your optimistic focus. Now is the time to be intentional and focused on all that is possible. This motivational presentation by author and founder of Inspiring New Perspectives, Susan MacDonald, will help you create a vision-focused action plan for effectively managing your time.
Thursday, Jan 27 (1-2 pm)
Library Signage: Effective Crisis Communications (WebJunction)
Good signage in the library helps to create clarity and build awareness, while bad signage can lead to frustration and confusion. Has your library had to implement COVID-related signage? Has there been a review of other temporary and permanent signage? This session will look at recommended types of library signs and address aspects of library signage within crisis communications. We will also address how to conduct a signage audit, the importance of library branding and using templates, and internal communications as they relate to signage. Online resources will be shared and there will be opportunities for Q&A and discussion.
Wyoming students in grades 4-12 are invited to read, be inspired, and write back to the author (living or dead) of a book that changed their lives. Sponsored by Wyoming Humanities, the 2022 Wyoming Letters About Literature Contest is now open.
On January 23, 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman in America to earn a medical degree — graduating first in her class! Two resources in 
The Wyoming Library Association’s 
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