InfoPeople is offering the following FREE webinars:

Balancing Books and Social Issues: Homelessness and Trauma
Date:  Wednesday February 6, 2019
Presented by Elissa Hardy
With numerous budget cuts to social services programs, public libraries are encountering more individuals experiencing homelessness, and poverty. For many, a library may be the only place of refuge from the weather, or noise from a downtown cityscape. The increasing volume of need arising in many communities may leave library workers feeling ill-equipped or overwhelmed.

Because of this, libraries are asking the questions: Why are there so many people experiencing homelessness in our libraries? How do we better serve our vulnerable customers? How do we educate and support our library staff? During this webinar presenter and social worker Elissa Hardy will address these questions and explore some solutions.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:

• Learn how libraries can be protective factors at the forefront of societal issues
• Understand ways that libraries can be a part of the solution to addressing poverty, homelessness, and more
• Learn the importance of self-care while doing this work including the awareness of the effects of trauma and building resiliency

This webinar will be of interest to: Anyone working in a public library setting.
REGISTER NOW

 

Using Social Media as a Tool to Advocate Diversity and Inclusion  
Date: Thursday February 21, 2019
Presented by Kimberly Crowder
Wondering how to engage larger audiences on social media? Would you like to learn how social media can help reach audiences that you haven’t tapped into yet? Social media is a great way to start dialogue and conversations about a variety of topics and to meet customers where they are. This webinar will demonstrate how to use humor, pop culture, children’s materials, and more, to advocate for diverse communities, and to speak up when necessary.

Join presenter Kim Crowder for a powerful, yet easy-to-apply strategy on including diversity and inclusion into your social media strategy!

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:

• Learn how to engage individuals from different backgrounds.
• Get quick tips and tricks to sneaking diversity and inclusion into your everyday social media posts.
• Become a gatekeeper for messaging on social media regarding diversity.
• Avoid common mistakes when speaking to or about diverse audiences.

This webinar will be of interest to: Library staff who work with diverse audiences, specifically those that use social media to promote library services.
For a complete description and to REGISTER 

What’s New in Children’s Literature – 2019
Date: Wednesday February 27, 2019
Presented by Penny Peck
Join the annual review of what’s new in children’s literature, both new authors and old favorites, that you can recommend to a child – especially when you are busy! This webinar can help you discover new books that you can offer to children who use your library, including books that reflect the diversity of the children we serve. Hear about books published in late 2018 and Spring 2019, that will be popular with children ages 0-12. These include board books, picture books, easy readers, transitional fiction, genre fiction for middle grades, graphic novels, poetry, nonfiction, and more! Hear about books that will be popular with a wide audience of children, including recent award-winners. Also, find out about books that fit the 2019 summer reading themes of music and travel.

At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will:

• Learn about new children’s and tween books for various age ranges and reading levels.
• Find new books perfect for storytime and to offer parents as read-alouds.
• Celebrate new multicultural books to meet the needs of all children – diversity matters!
• Hear about new nonfiction and informational books, both for homework and for fun.
• Discover books that will grab the attention of reluctant readers, including the newest graphic novels for kids, popular series, and books that relate to the 2019 summer learning themes.
• Take away a list of helpful websites to use when doing readers’ advisory, and sites that will help you keep up-to-date on the latest children’s books.

This webinar will be of interest to: any library staff member or volunteer who serves children ages 0-12, in either public or school libraries.
REGISTER

—-Webinars are free of charge, you can pre-register by clicking on the Register Now button on the announcement page. If you pre-registered you will receive an email with login link and a reminder email the day before the event.

If you are unable to attend the live event, you can access the archived version the day following the webinar.  Check the archive listing at:  http://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar/archived