Continuing Education

Scholarships for all IFLS-area library workers

All public library workers from IFLS-area libraries are welcome to apply for professional development scholarships from IFLS for Fall 2023-Spring 2024. Some deadlines are coming soon, so take a look and let Leah know if you have any questions!  Application and information about each opportunity is all on one information sheet this year.

Full and partial scholarships are available for the following opportunities:

Fall 2023

• Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference (September 20-23 in Witchita, KS).  Application Deadline August 10.
• LJ and SLJ Library Management Training 8-week virtual course (Tuesdays, October 17-December 5, recorded for on-demand, plus outside work).  Application Deadline August 10.
• Wisconsin Library Association Annual Conference (October 24-27 in Middleton, WI).  Application Deadline September 8.
• Library Marketing and Communications Conference (November 7-8 in Indianapolis, IN).  Application Deadline September 8.

Spring 2024  

• Power Up Youth Services Leadership Conference (March 21-22 in Madison, WI).  Application Deadline February 15.
• Public Library Association Conference (April 3-5 in Columbus, OH).  Application Deadline November 10.
• Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians Conference (May 1-3 in Stevens Point, WI).  Application Deadline March 15.

In addition, if you have another idea, please note that there is a special application that will allow you to apply for something else you have in mind for something that takes place before the June 15, 2024, including hiring someone for an all-staff inservice, or a different conference you would like to attend.

These scholarships are made possible with sponsorship from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction with funding provided by a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

back to the top

Privacy and Wisconsin Public Libraries Tutorials for Front-Line Staff and for Managers

Wisconsin public library workers now have access to a tutorial covering the basics of privacy and public libraries, with specific attention to Wisconsin laws.

• The tutorial for front-line staff includes three modules.  Each module  consists of a short (8-9 minute) video, links to additional reading, and a short comprehension quiz. The goal is to help front-line staff understand the reasons behind privacy policies and laws, as well as learning how to interact effectively with library users about privacy.
• Additionally, library directors and managers can access a short tutorial with suggestions for working with staff, creating policies, and other administrative tasks related to protecting patron privacy.
• Those who complete the tutorials will be able to print a certificate of completion.

These tutorials were created by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s iSchool, and are sponsored by Wisconsin Public Library Systems with support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Public Instruction, with funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Privacy and Wisconsin Public Libraries Tutorial for Front-Line Staff:  https://my.nicheacademy.com/iflslib-staff/course/56679

Privacy and Wisconsin Public Libraries Tutorial for Managers and Directors:  https://my.nicheacademy.com/iflslib-staff/course/56903

Please contact Leah Langby (langby@ifls.lib.wi.us) with questions, or if you have any difficulty accessing the tutorials.

back to the top

Ryan Dowd Training and Recorded Webinars

Ryan Dowd’s Homelessness and Libraries is a 3.5 hour self-paced training.  This training will be available through December 2023, thanks to a statewide subscription.  Look here for tips about empathetic rule enforcement and de-escalating challenging situations with all patrons, with some specific information and education about homelessness.  In addition, recordings of monthly hour-long webinars about a variety of relevant topics are archived in the same location.

Click here to start your training now. Sign up using your library email address.

back to the top

Statewide Continuing Education calendar from the WI DPI

Customize your view of this calendar! Click on the dropdown arrow on the top menu for day, week or list views.

back to the top

Coming up at IFLS

back to the top