Libraries Learn

Quick Bites: STEM with Toddlers: Yes You Can! with Kate Brunner
2020-12-22 12:00 - 12:20 (America/Denver)
Session Archive
Toddlers are natural scientists. Dropping blocks down the stairs? Physics experiment with gravity! Banging pots and pans? An exploration of sound waves! Come learn how to use play-based programming to foster scientific thinking in our youngest library users and how to encourage families and FFNs to embrace the mess of STEAM-powered play.

Executive Function: Building Core Capabilities for Life
2021-01-12 12:00 - 13:00
View the Archive
What is executive function and why is it important? Come learn how to
help children build executive function skills and why these skills are crucial to success
for children and adults. We will go through all areas of executive function, determine
what might work for different ages and practice a little ourselves.
Resources:

Session Slides (PPT)
Video – The marshmallow test
Video- Executive Function: Skills for Life and Learning

About the presenter
Lisa Dengerink is an Early Learning Librarian for the Denver Public Library.

Proactive Advocacy and Communication for Library Trustees and Staff
2021-01-13 15:00 - 16:00
This webinar explores communication tools and strategies for boards and library staff to proactively share consolidated messages about the library.
View the archive.

Let’s Get Digital: How to Bring Your Programs Online
2021-04-20 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Resources
Are you tasked with increasing program attendance and reaching a wider audience? Digital platforms can help. In this session you will learn how to use digital platforms to host programs, promote your events and analyze your results.
About Lovely Murrell
Lovely Murrell, a lifelong library lover, has been a paraprofessional with Pueblo City-County Library District for seven years. When she is not developing strategies to help folks navigate social media you can find her online through her Facebook page: Lovely From The Library.

Getting Past Symptoms to the Root of the Problem: Tools for Root Cause Analysis
2021-05-26 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive
When you have a process problem to resolve, it’s important to be able to distinguish between symptoms and the problem. What’s more, to have any real hope for problem resolution, you need to be able to identify the root cause of the problem. In this interactive session, you will explore six simple tools to help you dive deeper and gather critical clues: Pareto charts, fishbone charts, is/is not analysis, scatter diagrams, problem concentration diagrams, and the five whys.

About Jane Martell
As the customer experience coordinator for the Arapahoe Library District, Jane develops patron satisfaction surveys and metrics, designs service-related training for employees, and manages the patron feedback system. Jane holds a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Science in Education and has 30 years of professional experience in business, government, and non-profit organizations. She puts her focus on process improvement, customer service, and innovation to work to ensure that the patrons’ experience is nothing short of…wow!

There’s A Dragon In The Library: D&D For Librarians
2021-06-16 12:00 - 13:00
Note: Unfortunately, we had some connectivity issues today where the speaker was kicked out of Adobe Connect several times. She was able to join back in each time very quickly, and the participants were fabulous and kept the conversation going in chat while she was gone!
Session archive
Session Slides (PDF)
Whether you’re the sort of person who knows the dangers of gelatinous cubes firsthand or have never touched a d20 in your life, this introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for librarians will give you the tools to start your own D&D program!
Join us to discuss the basics of building a collection of circulating D&D sourcebooks, digital tools for facilitating online gameplay, and how to run the game yourself or encourage your patrons to run games in your space.
Sadly, Cheetos and Mountain Dew will not be provided, but you will get valuable information and inspiration to help tap your library into this pop culture phenomenon!
About Emily Embry
Emily Embry got her start in libraries as a teenager, and now the Teen Librarian at Bemis Library in Littleton. When she isn’t running the Teen Deck and offering excellent weekly programs, she enjoys playing games (video, role playing, and board), creating art, and riding on scooters with her partner and their adorable dog.

Quick Bites - A-B-Cs AND 1-2-3s!: Numeracy & Early Literacy
2021-07-20 12:00 - 12:20
Session archive
Session slides (PPT)
Did you know numeracy actually strengthens print literacy? Modeling early math skill development in your library helps FFN caregivers learn how to encourage numeracy in early childhood.
Come learn with Kate Brunner about the importance of including your 1-2-3s along with the A-B-Cs in early literacy library services and jumpstart your own play-based early math programming.

Using Courage to Confront Bias
2021-07-22 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive
Session Slides (PDF)

Video 1 – LISTEN: How Do You Respond to Microaggressions?
Video 2 – Asking about Pronouns at Work
Video 3 – Correcting Insensitive Language
Video 4 – Giving Space
Video 5 – Example of Microaggression Toward Natural Hair

Bias is a natural part of the human condition and comes into play in many of our decisions and interactions. We have all experienced bias either personally or directed at others. Responding to bias takes courage. Developing a framework can help us make informed decisions on how to proceed or not. Courage is hard and goes against many of our survival instincts. It can feel risky. But it is how we can positively affect ourselves, our teams, our patrons, our communities, and our libraries. We’ll also explore how to take a stand in a way that is objective, factual, and affirming.
About the presenters

Jean Heilig has been with the Colorado State Library since 2005 and is currently the Fiscal Officer and LSTA Grant Coordinator. Previously, she was Senior Director of Jones e-global library at JonesKnowledge.com where she developed an online academic library. She also held the title of Library Director for Jones International University. She spent four years as a Public Services Librarian in the Helen Fowler Library at the Denver Botanic Gardens. She earned her MLIS from the University of Denver and her MBA from the University of Colorado Denver campus.
Beth Christ
Beth Crist is the Youth & Family Services Consultant for the Colorado State Library. She is passionate about equitable library service (ask me about eliminating overdue fines!), encouraging people to spend more time outside, and supporting all family members at the same time.

That’s Not What I Meant: Improving Your Online Communication Skills
2021-08-26 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive
Session slides (PPT)
How to Make Virtual Meetings Feel More Real (Video watched during session)
The internet offers a variety of communication channels that most of us are relying on during the Pandemic. Personal relationships aside, poor online communication skills can harm your productivity and effectiveness. This means more emails, phone calls or repeated work when something is misunderstood. In this session we will discuss simple ways to improve your online communication skills with both your co-workers and patrons.

About the presenters

Jean Heilig has been with the Colorado State Library since 2005 and is currently the Fiscal Officer and LSTA Grant Coordinator. Previously, she was Senior Director of Jones e-global library at JonesKnowledge.com where she developed an online academic library. She also held the title of Library Director for Jones International University. She spent four years as a Public Services Librarian in the Helen Fowler Library at the Denver Botanic Gardens. She earned her MLIS from the University of Denver and her MBA from the University of Colorado Denver campus.

Outreach Series: Session One - Foundations of Outreach
2021-09-07 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session slides (PPT)
This is the first in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn what Outreach is, why it is important, and how to do it. You will learn about how to make your Outreach efforts successful through setting goals and priorities, evaluating services, and using that information to advocate for continued support from stakeholders.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Brittany Raines is the MOVE Manager at High Plains Library District. She started as a Page in 2013 and then held multiple positions in the Outreach Department. In 2020, she became the Outreach Manager, and, in the summer of 2020, the Events and Experience team was added to the department and the department officially became MOVE (Mobile, Outreach, Virtual and Events/Experiences). Brittany has a B.A. in Sociology and an MLS from Emporia State. She enjoys building data systems to assist in the evaluation of MOVE’s library services. Brittany loves to garden in her free time.
Rick Medrano is the Patron Services Supervisor for the Erie Community Library Branch of the High Plains Library District. Rick started in libraries in 2010 at the Salida Regional Library before moving to Greeley. At HPLD, he has served in a variety of positions including paging, working in the Virtual Library and Mobile Services department, and as an Outreach Librarian. As an Outreach Librarian, Rick focused on connecting transitional and reentry populations with library services and in formalizing data collection and analysis processes with the MOVE Department. He has passion for serving underrepresented populations, library advocacy, and service evaluation. Rick holds BAs in Sociology and History from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA in Sociology (Applied Emphasis) from the University of Northern Colorado, and an MLS from Emporia State University.
Rosa M. Granado is an Associate Director of MOVE for the High Plains Library District (HPLD) located in northeastern Colorado. She believes that although Outreach is one of the most misunderstood facets of public library services, it is also one of the most rewarding and impactful ways we can serve the community. Rosa started in public libraries as a Page, working her way up to an Outreach Librarian. She served as the HPLD Outreach Manager for three years before moving into her new position. Rosa holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts in School Library Instructional Leadership from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a Master of Management and Library Information Sciences from the University of Southern California.

Outreach Series: Session Two - Mobile Services
2021-09-14 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
This is the second in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about the types of mobile library services, purchasing and designing vehicles, staff training, vehicle maintenance, collection maintenance, safety, and on-the-road services. This is the second session in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Megan Lowery is the Mobile Services Supervisor in the MOVE department of HPLD. Megan started her library career as a Library Associate substitute in 2015 at the Lincoln Park branch. She quickly worked her way through various positions, including Library Associate at the Riverside Branch and Outreach Librarian. Megan has a B.S. in Rangeland Ecology with a concentration in Restoration Ecology, a M.S. in Rangeland Ecosystem Science, and an MLIS from Texas Women’s University. Libraryland is a second career for Megan, and she has truly found her calling! In her rare spare moment, you will find Megan with a book in her hands or even listening to an audiobook while doing other chores.
Lynde McCaleb is an Outreach Librarian at the High Plains Library District in Weld County, Colorado. She specializes in bookmobile services, teen services, and accessibility services. Lynde received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University. She loves comic books, Rock ‘n Roll, and is a Slytherin.

Outreach Series: Session Three - Outreach Services
2021-09-21 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive (Note: The Zoom host lost connectivity during the Q & A, so we lost some content at the very end).
Session slides (PPT)
This is the third in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about the different types of Outreach Services guided by goals and priorities. Learn about a community-driven approach and about creating a direct line of access to patrons for requesting services. This is the third session in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Brittany Raines is the MOVE Manager at High Plains Library District. She started as a Page in 2013 and then held multiple positions in the Outreach Department. In 2020, she became the Outreach Manager, and, in the summer of 2020, the Events and Experience team was added to the department and the department officially became MOVE (Mobile, Outreach, Virtual and Events/Experiences). Brittany has a B.A. in Sociology and an MLS from Emporia State. She enjoys building data systems to assist in the evaluation of MOVE’s library services. Brittany loves to garden in her free time.

Megan Lowery is the Mobile Services Supervisor in the MOVE department of HPLD. Megan started her library career as a Library Associate substitute in 2015 at the Lincoln Park branch. She quickly worked her way through various positions, including Library Associate at the Riverside Branch and Outreach Librarian. Megan has a B.S. in Rangeland Ecology with a concentration in Restoration Ecology, a M.S. in Rangeland Ecosystem Science, and an MLIS from Texas Women’s University. Libraryland is a second career for Megan, and she has truly found her calling! In her rare spare moment, you will find Megan with a book in her hands or even listening to an audiobook while doing other chores.
Lynde McCaleb is an Outreach Librarian at the High Plains Library District in Weld County, Colorado. She specializes in bookmobile services, teen services, and accessibility services. Lynde received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University. She loves comic books, Rock ‘n Roll, and is a Slytherin.

Outreach Series: Session Four - Virtual Services
2021-09-28 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
This is the fourth in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about how our virtual services function, types of virtual programming, managing a virtual environment, and evaluation of virtual services. This is the fourth session in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Brittany Raines is the MOVE Manager at High Plains Library District. She started as a Page in 2013 and then held multiple positions in the Outreach Department. In 2020, she became the Outreach Manager, and, in the summer of 2020, the Events and Experience team was added to the department and the department officially became MOVE (Mobile, Outreach, Virtual and Events/Experiences). Brittany has a B.A. in Sociology and an MLS from Emporia State. She enjoys building data systems to assist in the evaluation of MOVE’s library services. Brittany loves to garden in her free time.

Lynde McCaleb is an Outreach Librarian at the High Plains Library District in Weld County, Colorado. She specializes in bookmobile services, teen services, and accessibility services. Lynde received a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Library Science from Emporia State University. She loves comic books, Rock ‘n Roll, and is a Slytherin.

Jamie is MOVE’s Virtual Library Supervisor at High Plains Library District. He’s worked nearly every job in libraryland starting as a work-study book shelver at the University of Hawai’i. Jamie earned his M.L.I.S from the University of Denver.

Outreach Series: Session Five - Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
2021-10-05 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
This is the fifth in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about event services, community conversations, and feedback loops that allow you to not only serve your patrons, but also interact with them, engage them, and collect their valuable feedback. This is the fifth session in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship. W
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Rick Medrano is the Patron Services Supervisor for the Erie Community Library Branch of the High Plains Library District. Rick started in libraries in 2010 at the Salida Regional Library before moving to Greeley. At HPLD, he has served in a variety of positions including paging, working in the Virtual Library and Mobile Services department, and as an Outreach Librarian. As an Outreach Librarian, Rick focused on connecting transitional and reentry populations with library services and in formalizing data collection and analysis processes with the MOVE Department. He has passion for serving underrepresented populations, library advocacy, and service evaluation. Rick holds BAs in Sociology and History from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA in Sociology (Applied Emphasis) from the University of Northern Colorado, and an MLS from Emporia State University.
Elena Rosenfeld serves as the Community Engagement & Strategies Manager for the High Plains Library District. When looking at partnership opportunities, she pulls from past work experiences as a Children’s Librarian, Department Head, Library Manager, and Associate Director in various library environments. When not at work and not at home playing computer games, you might find Elena hiking around the state or in other countries where there are nifty views and animals to be seen.

Carolyn Valencia (she/her/ella) is an Outreach Librarian for the High Plains Library District (HPLD) specializing in early literacy. She identifies as Spanish and Native American. Earning her MLIS in 2019 from Emporia State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University in 1998, Carolyn shares her passion for the arts and multiliteracies (primarily physical and self-literacy) with her diverse community members in Greeley, Colorado. With this life-long passion for physical literacy, Carolyn pursued careers in dance and Bikram Yoga before libraryland. In 2014, she created HPLD’s first yoga storytime and has implemented these at the Colorado Early Education Network Head Starts in Weld County and the Little Learner’s Preschool at the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado. In 2019, she became a certified Stories, Songs, and Stretches!® Facilitator. She strives to provide diverse and inclusive programming to her community as a co-facilitator of Rainbow Storytimes and Let’s Talk About Race Storytimes. Currently, she is working on a 3-month series family book club called Widening the Window. Carolyn celebrates with her tribe and loves rodeos and fire ceremonies.
Brittany Raines is the MOVE Manager at High Plains Library District. She started as a Page in 2013 and then held multiple positions in the Outreach Department. In 2020, she became the Outreach Manager, and, in the summer of 2020, the Events and Experience team was added to the department and the department officially became MOVE (Mobile, Outreach, Virtual and Events/Experiences). Brittany has a B.A. in Sociology and an MLS from Emporia State. She enjoys building data systems to assist in the evaluation of MOVE’s library services. Brittany loves to garden in her free time.

Outreach Series: Session Six - Community Partnerships
2021-10-12 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Workbook for prioritizing partnerships (xls)
Instructions for using workbook (PDF)
This is the sixth in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about the importance of community partnerships in Outreach. Learn how to create community partnerships, how to grow them, how to assess them, and how to end them when necessary.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Elena Rosenfeld serves as the Community Engagement & Strategies Manager for the High Plains Library District. When looking at partnership opportunities, she pulls from past work experiences as a Children’s Librarian, Department Head, Library Manager, and Associate Director in various library environments. When not at work and not at home playing computer games, you might find Elena hiking around the state or in other countries where there are nifty views and animals to be seen.
Carolyn Valencia (she/her/ella) is an Outreach Librarian for the High Plains Library District (HPLD) specializing in early literacy. She identifies as Spanish and Native American. Earning her MLIS in 2019 from Emporia State University and a Bachelor of Arts from Santa Clara University in 1998, Carolyn shares her passion for the arts and multiliteracies (primarily physical and self-literacy) with her diverse community members in Greeley, Colorado. With this life-long passion for physical literacy, Carolyn pursued careers in dance and Bikram Yoga before libraryland. In 2014, she created HPLD’s first yoga storytime and has implemented these at the Colorado Early Education Network Head Starts in Weld County and the Little Learner’s Preschool at the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado. In 2019, she became a certified Stories, Songs, and Stretches!® Facilitator. She strives to provide diverse and inclusive programming to her community as a co-facilitator of Rainbow Storytimes and Let’s Talk About Race Storytimes. Currently, she is working on a 3-month series family book club called Widening the Window. Carolyn celebrates with her tribe and loves rodeos and fire ceremonies.
Rosa M. Granado is an Associate Director of MOVE for the High Plains Library District (HPLD) located in northeastern Colorado. She believes that although Outreach is one of the most misunderstood facets of public library services, it is also one of the most rewarding and impactful ways we can serve the community. Rosa started in public libraries as a Page, working her way up to an Outreach Librarian. She served as the HPLD Outreach Manager for three years before moving into her new position. Rosa holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts in School Library Instructional Leadership from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a Master of Management and Library Information Sciences from the University of Southern California.

Outreach Series: Session Seven - Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
2021-10-19 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
This is the seventh in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about the different types of library data collection and use. Learn how to integrate data reports to make understanding and viewing data easy. Learn about how we use data sources to perform community assessments.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters:
Brittany Raines is the MOVE Manager at High Plains Library District. She started as a Page in 2013 and then held multiple positions in the Outreach Department. In 2020, she became the Outreach Manager, and, in the summer of 2020, the Events and Experience team was added to the department and the department officially became MOVE (Mobile, Outreach, Virtual and Events/Experiences). Brittany has a B.A. in Sociology and an MLS from Emporia State. She enjoys building data systems to assist in the evaluation of MOVE’s library services. Brittany loves to garden in her free time.
Rick Medrano is the Patron Services Supervisor for the Erie Community Library Branch of the High Plains Library District. Rick started in libraries in 2010 at the Salida Regional Library before moving to Greeley. At HPLD, he has served in a variety of positions including paging, working in the Virtual Library and Mobile Services department, and as an Outreach Librarian. As an Outreach Librarian, Rick focused on connecting transitional and reentry populations with library services and in formalizing data collection and analysis processes with the MOVE Department. He has passion for serving underrepresented populations, library advocacy, and service evaluation. Rick holds BAs in Sociology and History from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA in Sociology (Applied Emphasis) from the University of Northern Colorado, and an MLS from Emporia State University.
Megan Lowery is the Mobile Services Supervisor in the MOVE department of HPLD. Megan started her library career as a Library Associate substitute in 2015 at the Lincoln Park branch. She quickly worked her way through various positions, including Library Associate at the Riverside Branch and Outreach Librarian. Megan has a B.S. in Rangeland Ecology with a concentration in Restoration Ecology, a M.S. in Rangeland Ecosystem Science, and an MLIS from Texas Women’s University. Libraryland is a second career for Megan, and she has truly found her calling! In her rare spare moment, you will find Megan with a book in her hands or even listening to an audiobook while doing other chores.

Outreach Series: Session Eight - Outreach Advocacy
2021-10-26 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Introducing MOVE Video
This is the last in a series of eight sessions all dedicated to Outreach Librarianship.
Learn about advocacy in Outreach Librarianship, its importance, different types of advocacy, and some easy ways to do it.
While this session can stand on its own, if you are new to Outreach, please consider viewing all eight sessions.

Foundations of Outreach
Mobile Services
Outreach Services
Virtual Services
Event Services, Community Conversations, and Feedback Loop
Community Partnerships
Collecting Data in Outreach and Community Assessment
Outreach Advocacy

About the presenters
Rick Medrano is the Patron Services Supervisor for the Erie Community Library Branch of the High Plains Library District. Rick started in libraries in 2010 at the Salida Regional Library before moving to Greeley. At HPLD, he has served in a variety of positions including paging, working in the Virtual Library and Mobile Services department, and as an Outreach Librarian. As an Outreach Librarian, Rick focused on connecting transitional and reentry populations with library services and in formalizing data collection and analysis processes with the MOVE Department. He has passion for serving underrepresented populations, library advocacy, and service evaluation. Rick holds BAs in Sociology and History from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA in Sociology (Applied Emphasis) from the University of Northern Colorado, and an MLS from Emporia State University.
Rosa M. Granado is an Associate Director of MOVE for the High Plains Library District (HPLD) located in northeastern Colorado. She believes that although Outreach is one of the most misunderstood facets of public library services, it is also one of the most rewarding and impactful ways we can serve the community. Rosa started in public libraries as a Page, working her way up to an Outreach Librarian. She served as the HPLD Outreach Manager for three years before moving into her new position. Rosa holds a Bachelor of Science in English from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Arts in School Library Instructional Leadership from the University of Colorado, Denver, and a Master of Management and Library Information Sciences from the University of Southern California.
Dr. Matthew Hortt is currently Executive Director of the High Plains Library District and has been the City Librarian for the City of Santa Clarita Public Libraries and the Director of the Simi Valley Public Library. He has nearly twenty years of progressive experience in public libraries working at all levels in Colorado, Nevada, California. He holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Affairs from The University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Hortt has experience in library safety/security, policy writing, strategic planning and construction project management. He has a passion for library advocacy and focuses on fundraising, working closely with Library Friends and Foundation groups to diversify fundraising activities.

Creating Online Escape Games with Google Forms
2021-11-09 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive
Session Slides (PDF)
Demo Escape Room
Demo Back End
Escape games are an awesome way to interact with patrons, whether libraries use them for programs or for orienting users to the library. In this session, participants will learn how to map out an escape game and how to implement it online using Google Forms and Zoom. Participants will receive resources for both creating a game and converting a face to face escape game to an online format.
About the Presenter:

Courtney Drysdale joined the Regis University library faculty in 2016 as a Research and Instruction Librarian. A former high school math teacher and elementary school teacher librarian, she enjoys teaching information literacy classes and working with students and faculty on research individually. She is the liaison to Education, Math, and Chemistry and coordinates the library’s virtual reference service.

Quick Bites: Reflective Practice for Early Literacy Staff
2021-11-30 12:00 - 12:20
Session archive
With full calendars and very full plates, sometimes it can be challenging to find time to set goals, evaluate progress, reflect on our own learning, and refine our vision. But integrating time for reflective practice into your work has many potential benefits for you, your staff, and the community you serve. Join Kate for a quick look at some simple strategies for leveraging reflective practice as early literacy library staff.

Why Teams Fail (and How to Foster Success)
2021-12-16 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Resources (DOC)
Playbook
Collaboration and teamwork are inherent to most work environments. Libraries are no exception. What has been your experience working with or leading teams? Did that team operate in harmony and crank out results? Maybe you’ve had the opposite experience or a mixed bag. In this interactive session, we will explore drivers of team success and failure and how to put that knowledge to use. We will cover:

Common causes of team dysfunction
Strategies to address counterproductive behavior
Establishing boundaries and setting goals

Learners will walk away with knowledge that can be applied immediately and resources to digest at their own pace.

Tiffanie (she/her) has worked in Colorado libraries for 15 years. She is the Associate Director of Library Services and the Electronic Resources & Serials Librarian for Western Colorado University. Tiffanie enjoys the variety and challenge of her profession and finds working with post-secondary students to be some of the most rewarding moments of her day. An avid tabletop gamer, Tiffanie is the advisor to the student gaming club and hosts a weekly board game night in the library.

Katie Crawford has been the Head of Access Services at the Leslie J Savage Library for the last two years. When she is not nerding out about all things library, you can find her trying to professionally develop her student team

Grow Your Own Library Staff: Creating Professional Development Paths for Non-Degreed Librarians
2022-01-25 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Session Handouts

Environmental Scan Worksheet (Word)
Outline for Modules (PDF)
Example: History and Foundations (PDF)
Example: Reader’s and Reference Advisory (PDF)
Example: Collections (PDF)
Training topics brainstormed during the session (PDF)

What is your professional development plan?
Does your organization have one?
Is it ad hoc, whatever is available and needed for the day?

Join us for this session to identify or evaluate what your organization can realistically provide for staff learning opportunities.
For small or rural communities with limited budgets, positions may not draw someone with an MLS, MIS, or MLIS, but that doesn’t mean your community isn’t expecting that knowledge. The program is divided into four sections:

Identifying priorities
Environmental scan
Developing an online knowledge base
Implementation and review

For each section, attendees will lay the groundwork for their own organizations and then see a case study of how the Grand County Library District did the same.

Anna Szczepanski, MLIS, is CLiC’s Western Regional Consultant. She has over 20 years of experience working in public and school libraries in Colorado and Guatemala. She loves seeing what is over the next hill, be it a mountain vista or an innovative library trend.

Polly Gallagher, executive director of Grand County Library District, joined the library world in 2018. Committed to education and community, the library provided a balance as she stepped out of a career in public education and human resources.

Quick Bites: Executive Function: Learning How to Learn
2022-04-12 12:00 - 12:20
Session Archive
Helping caregivers understand why executive function is important in early childhood and how they can support executive function skill development for the children in their care is a powerful service library staff can provide their communities through their collections, spaces, and programs for young children. Join Kate for a brief introduction to executive function skill-building in the library, a few simple ideas to help you expand or get started on including these skills in your work right away and select resources for learning more about the impact of executive function on lifelong learning.

Learn how a Continuity of Operations Plan Creates a Roadmap to Meet Community Needs No Matter What
2022-04-14 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Session Handouts (PDF’s)
Hazards

Hazards Example
Hazards Worksheet

Essential Functions

Essential Functions Example
Essential Functions Worksheet

Identify Roles

Identify Roles Example
Identify Roles Worksheet

Did you wish you could have had a roadmap for your library? A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) plan can be that for you. While generally used for natural disasters they can also be implemented for anything that disrupts library.
In this session you will learn how a COOP can help not only with fires, pandemics, or cyber-attacks, but also in planning to provide uninterrupted services at any time. This will be an interactive session; participants will leave with a framework for providing services.
Julianne Rist is a library leader with a broad range of experience, passion and commitment to transforming communities, and a vision to keep libraries relevant in the 21st century. As Director of Public Services for Jefferson County she has piloted new services and redesigned four library buildings. She served as the pandemic chief for the library’s Covid19 pandemic response and was in charge of the gradual return for in person services.

Padma Polepeddi as the Assistant Director of Library Experience at Jefferson County Public Library, oversees offsite services such as the bookmobile and library locations. She is also responsible for strategies for services geared towards diversity and inclusion, serving children, families, teens, adults, seniors, and underserved populations. Padma has a doctorate degree from Emporia State University and her dissertation is on library hesitancy and information seeking behavior of English speaking immigrants using public libraries.

Lizzie Gall is an Assistant Director of Library Experience at Jefferson County Public Library where she oversees physical and digital customer touch points, materials handling, and daily operations for JCPL’s 10 locations. Prior to this role she led Youth Services at Grand Rapids Public Library in Michigan and worked in Collection Development and Adult and Reference Services. When she’s not at the library, Lizzie enjoys skiing, backpacking, and other outdoor adventures.

Quick Bites: Serving Spanish Speaking Caregivers
2022-04-19 12:00 - 12:20
Session archive
Join Claudeth Castellanos from the Loveland Public Library and explore best practices for supporting Spanish speaking parents and Family, Friend, and Neighbor caregivers. All children can develop early language and literacy skills in a culturally responsive library environment focused on caregiver support.
We will showcase successful approaches to bilingual storytime, books, and outreach, as well as the new Play, Learn, and Grow video, now available in Spanish.

Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Become an Emotion Scientist
2022-08-03 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Playbook and Resources (Word)
Did you know that emotions drive nearly every aspect of our work and personal lives From decision making, to performance, to our relationships with others, our emotions can have a profound impact. Join us as we discuss the science behind our emotions, the importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, and how we can all learn to harness the power of our emotions as leadership tools.

Quick Bites: Growing Readers with a Growth Mindset
2022-08-23 12:00 - 12:20
Session archive
When we have a growth mindset, we believe that intelligence and skill is tied to hard work rather than talent. Our mindset has lifelong impacts on how we learn and face challenges, from the challenge of learning to read to adapting to a changing work environment. The way adults talk to children about ability and failure influences their mindset, and even as adults our mindset can shift and change. This session will review growth mindset research and introduce strategies to grow a growth mindset.

Quick Bites: Books for Beginning and Struggling Readers
2022-08-30 12:00 - 12:20
Session archive
References (Word)
Bookmark (Intended for download)
Books for Beginning Independent Reading
Parent Resources

Special guest Laura Lay
With the start of a new school year and new learning, students in the early stages of reading are working hard to apply what they’ve learned. We will talk about the reading stages that children progress through, reading vs. guessing habits, the joy of successful reading, and books to support different reading stages and different skills. Join special guest Laura Lay, Senior Literacy Consultant for the Preschool through 3rd Grade Office of the Colorado Department of Education as we explore strategies to support beginning readers at the library.

Media Mentorship in the Age of COVID: How libraries can help families navigate the challenging world of screen time.
2022-09-15 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session slides (PPT)
Resources
For years, librarians have been assisting families in making reading choices. How can we transfer those advisory skills to digital media – and feel confident in doing so? With screens now an ubiquitous part of our lives, librarians can and should help patrons navigate the digital and online space.
Learn the current research around screen time and young children, and how librarians can advocate for thoughtful use of media while respecting the challenges our families are facing. We will also talk about early learning media evaluation tools, review sites, and the new ALSC Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media Award.
You are a Reader’s Advisor, and you CAN be a Media Mentor too!
About the presenter
Mary Kuehner is the Early Literacy Outreach Librarian at Arapahoe Library District where she facilitates the Stories and More program. She has over 23 years’ experience working with young children and their caregivers and is a founding member of Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy.

Customer service: From transactions to transformations
2022-10-06 12:00 - 13:00
Session archive
Session Slides (PPT)
Transform Playbook (DOC)
Libraries and library staff have had to continuously adapt over the last two plus years while continuing to provide the services their customers needed. In this session, we will discuss all of the different ways we interact with our patrons, learn about a transformation model and how it applies to customer service, and brainstorm what we intentionally want to carry forward.

Planting Seeds for Success-FULL Focus Groups
2022-11-09 12:00 - 13:00
Session Archive
Session Slides (PDF)
Resources (PDF)
There are countless reasons why you might want to hear from your library’s community members but organizing a time for people to share their thoughts in a safe, structured environment can feel challenging. In many cases, conducting a focus group may be a great place to start. The goal of this webinar is to make designing and facilitating focus groups feel more accessible by discussing the following:

What focus groups are and how they can help your library engage community members
Tools and tips for designing focus groups and gathering participants
Skills for conducting inclusive, trauma-informed focus groups

We are looking forward to leading an engaging discussion on focus groups, by sharing what we have learned and listening to the audience’s experience and perspectives.
No registration is required for this webinar. We will be using Adobe Connect, and you can access the webinar on November 9 at noon MT via the URL listed below.

About the Presenter:
Sara Wicen is the Research Assistant for the Library Research Service of the Colorado State Library. She collaborates on a variety of research projects for CSL and Colorado libraries and writes informative blog posts on all aspects of evaluation. She loves to spend her free time outdoors running, biking, snowboarding or reading.
