Professional Development

Tech devices such as computers, cell phones, headphones, chargers, as well as cups of coffee on a table indicating that people are meeting and learning about technology

Staff Training Sessions

  • This session provides an accessible introduction to artificial intelligence and its growing role in everyday life and library services. Participants explore what today’s AI tools can and cannot do, consider common risks and limitations, and discuss how library staff can approach AI-generated information and patron questions thoughtfully.

  • What do digital equity and digital inclusion mean in practice? This session introduces common barriers to technology access and use, explores how those barriers affect different community members, and helps participants consider the role libraries and other community organizations can play in supporting digital inclusion.

  • Library staff don’t need to know the answer to every technology question. This interactive session explores practical ways to approach unfamiliar technology, troubleshoot alongside patrons, and respond confidently when the answer isn’t immediately clear.

  • Digital resilience is the ability to adapt when technologies, interfaces, and digital tasks change. In this session, participants explore strategies such as recognizing familiar patterns, experimenting safely, managing frustration and uncertainty, and applying existing knowledge to unfamiliar technology.

  • Effective technology instruction doesn’t always require a dedicated computer lab. This session explores approaches for teaching technology in settings with limited devices, varied learner needs, or other logistical constraints, with an emphasis on practical and adaptable instructional strategies.

  • Helping someone with technology involves more than knowing which buttons to click. This session introduces practical strategies for one-on-one technology support, including identifying what a learner already knows, deciding when to teach versus provide direct task support, breaking complex processes into manageable steps, and helping learners build confidence and independence.

  • Technology changes too quickly for staff to master every tool they may encounter. This session explores how teams and people managers can create an environment where asking questions, experimenting, sharing knowledge, and learning from one another are normal parts of the work. Participants consider practical ways to support ongoing technology learning without expecting everyone to become a technology expert.