​Below are the headlines from the July 23, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Consumer Reports Asks Libraries to Help Promote Broadband Affordability Project
• WLA Welcomes New Executive Director
• Small Library Strategic Planning Cohorts: 2019 Results, 2020 Recap, & 2021 Spots Available
• BadgerLink Newspapers Community Survey
• Continuing Education Highlights
  • BadgerLink Training Options
  • HELP!: The Correct Way for Staff to Provide Backup in Crisis
  • Library Search Strategies: Thinking Inside and Outside the Box

Below are the headlines from the July 16, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Welcome, Kim!
• ARSL Summer Newsletter Submissions Open
• Deadline for WLA Conference Program Proposal Submissions Extended to August 12
• WLTC Engaged Leadership Academy: Applications Open Now
• Registration Open for Play Make Learn August 5-6, 2021

Below are the headlines from the July 9, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Brown County Library’s Offer to Purchase Building for Future East Branch Library Accepted
• Covering Wisconsin: Providing Assistance in Applying for Health Insurance
• Nominate Yourself or Another Deserving Candidate for a WLA Award This Year
• Register for Trustee Training Week 2021
• Tech Days Webinar Series: September 15-16
• ARSL Conference Early Bird Registration Open July 7th

Registration is now open for Wisconsin Trustee Training Week 2021, which will be held August 23-27.

There will be one webinar each day from noon to 1 p.m. on a topic that’s relevant to public library boards, friends, and trustees. Webinars are available free of charge and are open to anyone.

Sessions include:

• Monday, Aug. 23--Wisconsin Library Ecosystem
• Tuesday, Aug. 24--Departures & Arrivals: Transitions and Succession Planning
• Wednesday, Aug. 25--Self-awareness for Social Justice Ally-ship
• Thursday, Aug. 26--Library Ethics 101: What Would You Do?
• Friday, Aug. 27--Trustee Leadership: Bringing it All Together

​You must register for each webinar individually at www.wistrusteetraining.com. More information is also available at that link, and you can also access recordings from the 2015-20 webinars.

Please check the NEWI list of free webinars to find online continuing education opportunities you may attend from where you are. Most sessions are 60 minutes long, and are provided – at no charge to you – by associations, agencies, companies, and library systems.

There’s a lot to choose from, so here’s a sample of topics that may be of interest to you.

Managing stress & building resilience, click title to register:

• Coping with Stress Through Journaling - 10:30am on Thursday, July 8
• Mental Health Matters! Finding Support in Challenging Times – 10am on Wednesday, July 14
• The Art of Saying No: Setting Boundaries & Making Space for What Matters - 11:45am on Thursday, July 15

Equity, diversity and inclusion, click title to register:

• On Implicit Bias and Communication - 2pm on Thursday, July 8
• Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Collection Analysis and Development - 4pm on Wednesday, July 21
• Using Courage to Confront Bias - 1pm on Thursday, July 22 [no registration required]
• Accessibility Features in Microsoft - Noon on Tuesday, July 27

Google tools, click title to register:

• Google Forms Basics - 11am on Thursday, July 8
• 10 Chrome Extensions You Can't Live Without - 12pm on Thursday, July 8
• Getting Started with Google Drawings - 3pm on Thursday, July 8
• Choose Your Own Adventure with Google Slides - 4pm on Thursday, July 8

A sample of webinars on other topics; click title to register:

• Youth Perceptions of Online Harassment, Cyberbullying, and “Just Drama”: Avenues for Support and Guidance [no registration required] - 10am on Wednesday, July 14
• Beanstack Reports Bootcamp - 1pm on Wednesday, July 14
• Introduction to Library Ethics - 1:30pm on Monday, July 19
• Supporting STEM Education in Rural Communities - 2pm on Monday, July 19
• Canva: Design Basics for Your Small Business - 5pm on Tuesday, July 27
• Canva: Advanced Design Skills for Small Business Owner/Marketer - 5pm on Thursday, July 29

Below are the headlines from the July 2, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Big Library Read
• Library Director Position Open at Marinette County Consolidated Library System
• Grant Opportunity ALA LTC: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries
• Libraries & Veterans National Forum: September 13 - 24, 2021
• Fundamentals of Creating and Managing Digital Collections

Here are links to county-specific sheets created by Covering Wisconsin that provide your patrons with the contact information they need to obtain health insurance and other services.

Below are the headlines from the June 25, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Nominations open June 23 for the I Love My Librarian Award
• Final Call: Take the BadgerLink Training Survey by July 2
• Virtual Digital Readiness Fair w/ Appleton Public Library June 29
• WiLSWorld Shorts: Unpacking New Diversity Titles
• Digital Readiness Fair (free & virtual)
• Mental Health First Aid Training

Below are the headlines from the June 18, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• The Future of the DPI Youth Services Consultant Position
• WLA Legislative Newsletter: Biennial Budget Update, JFC Public Hearings, and More
• Shawano County Library Seeks Children's Library Assistant
• IMLS American Rescue Plan Grant: Applications Due June 28th
• Still Time to Register: ALA Annual Conference (Virtual) is June 23-29
• PLA 2022 Program Proposals Due Monday
• WebJunction Satisfaction Survey

Below are the headlines from the June 11, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Be Part of a Study on Storytime
• BadgerLink Training Survey
• 3 NFLS Member Libraries Win Read Africa Grant Competition
• ARSL Conference Early Bird Registration is Open

Below are the headlines from the June 4, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• What’s News
  • Changes to Claiming WI Unemployment Insurance
  • WLA Calls for Volunteers
  • WLA 2021 Conference Call for Program Proposals
• Grant & Scholarship Opportunities
  • Scholarships Available through WLA
  • $15 Million in IMLS American Rescue Plan Act Grants Available for Museum and Library Services
  • WHRAB Professional Development Scholarships
• Programming Resources
  • CSLP Newsletter
  • Summer Reading Activities with BadgerLink
• Webinars in June (Collected by NEWI)

Please check the NEWI list of free webinars to find online continuing education opportunities you may attend from where you are. Most sessions are 60 minutes long, and are provided – at no charge to you – by associations, agencies, companies, and library systems. There’s a lot to choose from, so here’s a sample of topics that may be of interest to you.

Managing stress & building resilience, click title to register:

• Enhancing Personal Wellbeing at Work and at Home - 11am on Tuesday, June 8
• Mental Maintenance - 10am on Wednesday, June 9
• In the Chaos, Stick with Emotional Intelligence and Accountability - 1pm on Friday, June 11
• How to Practice Empathy at Work - 1pm on Tuesday, June 15

Equity, diversity and inclusion, click title to register:

• The Power of Our Shared Stories: Early Childhood First Nations Webinar - 8:30am on Tuesday, June 8
• Where to Start with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? - Noon on Tuesday, June 8
• Overcoming Pitfalls in Diversity: Making the Workplace Better for All Employees - 1pm on Wednesday, June 9
• Eliminating Library Fines: Improving Community Access, Equity and Usage - 2pm on Tuesday, June 15
• Defining Library Accessibility: Services, Programs, & Technology - 1pm on Monday, June 21
• LGBTQ+ Programming and Outreach with Youth - Noon on Tuesday, June 29

A sample of webinars on other topics; click title to register:

• Building Connections with Community Assets - 2pm on Thursday, June 3
• Giving Storytime a Tune-Up: Embedding Music Activities to Support Texts and Engage Participants - Noon on Tuesday, June 8
• Designing Libraries to Meet Evolving Community Needs - 1pm on Tuesday, June 8
• Bedbugs in the Library?! - 10am on Wednesday, June 9
• Ten Tips for Managing Conflict With Co-Workers and Patrons - 2pm on Wednesday, June 9
• Reinventing Libraries for a Post-COVID World - 2pm on Thursday, June 17
• Fights: How to Prevent and Stop Them (Safely!) - 1pm on Thursday, June 24
• Hire Right the First Time - 1pm on Thursday, June 24

Below are the headlines from the May 28, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Door County Library: A Digital Readiness Case Study
• Apply Now: NASA@ My Library
• Wisconsin DNR Explorer Program
• Dismantling Racism in Collaborative Collections
• Digital Readiness Fairs
• Build a Better Library Website Boot Camp

Below are the headlines from the May 21, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Portable Sound System Recommendations
• WiLS Receives NEH Grant for Curating Indigenous Digital Collections
• Beanstack New Features Tour
• CEA Wisconsin Presents Live Webinar on Post-Incarceration Perspectives
• OCLC Cataloging Community Virtual Meeting
• Trustee 301 Set for July 7

Website design presents many challenges and considerations. From thinking about the user experience to accessibility to navigation, websites are a true extension of the library's services. Thanks to the New Jersey State Library, a new course is available in the WebJunction Course Catalog (for free) to help library staff improve their websites to better serve the community. The Build a Better Library Website Boot Camp is an online course made possible in part by a 2020 award from the Catalyst Fund at LYRASIS.

The training is designed to help libraries improve the overall look and function of their websites. Through the boot camp, learners have the self-guided instruction, tools, and support to improve the user experience and design of their websites.

Source: Crossroads newsletter from WebJunction

Below are the headlines from the May 14, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Take the Marketing Toolkit Survey: Libraries Activating Workforce Development Skills
• Submit a PLA 2022 Program Proposal
• Grant Opportunities & News
  • Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Registration Open May 12, EBB Registration Webinar on May 19
  • National Preservation Program: Preservation Needs Assessment and Preservation Plan
  • Brown County Library Recipient of Grant to Fund Materials about East Asia
• Continuing Education Highlights
  • Registration Open for May 27th SSCS Conference
  • Customers Without Masks (by Ryan Dowd) - Free 1-Hour Webinar May 20th
  • Talking about the COVID Vaccine In Your Community

Below are the headlines from the May 7, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• 2021 Rural Libraries Summit: May 25-26
• Submit PLA Webinar Proposals through May 31
• ADANN 30th Anniversary Spotlight on ADA Resource Portals
• Grant Opportunities
  • WiLS 2021 Ideas to Action Fund Application Period Is Open
  • ARSL Conference Scholarship Applications Now Accepted
• Programming Resources
  • ARSL Program-Palooza Round Table: May 20th
  • CSLP Newsletter: April 2021
  • Stealing Away: Stories (by Wisconsin author Kevin Revolinski)
• The “Marketing Funnel” Approach to Customer Engagement
• Don’t Forget: Encourage Your Library Patrons to Share their Stories

Please check the NEWI list of free webinars to find online continuing education opportunities you may attend from where you are. Most sessions are 60 minutes long, and are provided – at no charge to you – by associations, agencies, companies, and library systems.

There’s a lot to choose from, so here’s a sample of topics that may be of interest to you.

Managing stress & building resilience webinars, click title to register:

• A Holistic Approach to Managing Anxiety - Noon on Wednesday, May 5
• Cultivating the Power of Resilience - 2pm on Wednesday, May 5
• Prioritizing and Promoting Self-Care to Avoid Burnout - 2pm on Tuesday, May 18
• From A to Z: An Amazing Array of Awesome Antidotes for Zoom Fatigue - 11am on Thursday, May 20

Equity, diversity and inclusion webinars, click title to register:

• Understanding the Present and Future of Diverse Children’s Literature - 1:30pm on Tuesday, May 4
• Tribal Nations at Your Library: Discussion and Reflection - 10am on Thursday, May 13
• Accessibility Features of Apple iOS Devices - Noon on Tuesday, May 18
• Spanish Language Collection Development - 2pm on Thursday, May 20
• Creating Accessible Virtual Programs for Children with Disabilities and their Families - Noon on Friday, May 21
• Indigenous Voices: Authentic Children's Literature in the Classroom and Library - 2pm on Tuesday & Wednesday, May 25 & 26
• Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA)'s Best of the Best Booklist: Ensuring Equity and Diversity in Public and School Libraries - 2pm on Thursday, May 27

A sample of webinars on other topics; click title to register:

• The Economic Power of Libraries: Introducing a Tool to Drive Meaningful Funding Conversations - Noon on Wednesday, May 5
• Police: How to Reduce Police Calls and Keep Everyone Safe in Your Organization - 1pm on Thursday, May 6
• Building a WOW Recognition Culture to Keep Employees Engaged & Motivated - 11:30am on Wednesday, May 12
• Managing Difficult Conversations at Work - Noon on Wednesday, May 12
• Designing for the Future: The Post-Pandemic Library - 9am on Thursday, May 13
• Be More Productive, Powerful & Persuasive with Board, Staff & Donors - 1pm on Thursday, May 20

Below are the headlines from the April 30, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• Welcome Shannon Nichola Stoner, Gillett Public Library Director
• Everyone Has a Story to Tell: Library Stories Toolkit
• Employment Opportunities
  • Shawano County Library is Hiring Library Assistants
  • NWTC Searches for Library Circulation Technician
  • Executive Director/CEO, Wisconsin Library Association
• Continuing Education Highlights:
  • Present at the WLA SSCS Conference
  • Passive Programming That Pulls Them In: Provocative Passive Programming Ideas
  • U.S. Census Bureau Data Summit for Librarians
  • REMINDER: WAPL Conference is May 4-7

Below are the headlines from the April 23, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• COVID-19 Poster Project
• WiLS Community Chronicle: April 2021 Edition
• A Virtual Book Talk with Walter Echo Hawk
• WiLS Ideas to Action Fund: Save the Date
• Read Africa Grants Deadline Approaches: Apply by May 1
• U.S. Census Bureau Data Summit for Librarians

Below are the headlines from the April 16, 2021 - 📢 Nic News Weekly:

• ALSC Intellectual Freedom Programming Toolkit
• Trustee 101 & 201 Online Workshops in May & June
• Present at the WLA Support Staff and Circulation Services (SSCS) Conference
• Preservation Week - Save your stuff and pass it on!

If you missed any of Ryan Dowd’s customer service training webinars, you can watch the archived recordings when you log in to your "Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness" account at https://my.nicheacademy.com/dpi-wi-staff. If you don’t have an account yet, just email Joy Schwarz (NEWI) and she'll get you enrolled!

Here are the newest webinars added this year:

• Prejudice: Responding to Prejudicial Comments From Customers
• Resolving Liberal vs. Conservative Conflict in the Workplace
• Service Animals: Your Obligations Under the Americans with Disabilities Act
• Unattended Children: How to Talk to Parents About Their Children's Behavior

Here are all the other archived webinars you can watch there:

1. Advanced Body Language
2. Body Odor: The Dreaded Conversation
3. Burnout and Stress (Updated): Just in Case 2021 is as Bad as 2020
4. Burnout, Vicarious Trauma, and Compassion Fatigue
5. COVID: How to Deal with Problem Behaviors Related to COVID-19
6. Dementia and Alzheimer's: Compassionately and Effectively Working with People With Dementia
7. Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault
8. Getting Hit on by Customers: Women (and Men) Share Their Tools for Stopping Unwanted Attention
9. Homeless Q&A with Ryan, Part 1
10. Homeless Q&A with Ryan, Part 2
11. Homelessness 201: A Deeper Understanding
12. Jerks with Homes: How to Deal with Members of the Public Who are Being Jerks About Homeless Folks
13. Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness (core training)
14. Ornery Teenagers: Compassionately and Effectively Managing Their Problem Behaviors
15. Supervisor Training: Tips for Managers
16. Traumatic Brain Injury: Invisible Cause of Homelessness

If you don’t see all these trainings when you log in to your account, click the green graduation cap icon in the top right-hand corner.

When you finish a course, you can download a pdf of your Certificate of Completion by clicking the green "Download Certificate" button. When you complete a course, you may count it as a continuing education (CE) activity. The number of tutorials increases each month – the courses now include the 3½ hour Core Training + 19 one-hour archived webinars.

The ALSC Intellectual Freedom committee writes: "Inside the toolkit, you will find practical, easy-to-implement tips for incorporating intellectual freedom and Information literacy into library cornerstone programs and services. Sample programs include storytimes, book clubs, outreach, and STEAM activities. They include both virtual and in-person activities, so you can serve your community flexibly, regardless of your current service model. An annotated list of additional resources rounds out the toolkit, making it easy for busy practitioners to find more tips and support.

We’re living in a climate of misinformation and heightened mistrust in news media and other information sources. Raising awareness of information literacy and intellectual freedom issues with our families has never been more important. Developing these crucial skills helps keep kids informed, safe, and prepared to support their communities."

• Read the ALSC Blog Introductory Post
• View the ALSC Intellectual Freedom Programming Toolkit​