Hello library friends, It's 2026 and I am dreaming about camping in our state parks and looking for the sun to come out. This is how I face January in Michigan. I'm also thinking about conferences, library visits, and planning for the year ahead. With PLA in Minneapolis and ALA in Chicago, I want to remind you that LM's Continuing Education Stipend<https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/libraries/ce/scholarships/library-continuing-education-stipend-program> is available to support your attendance at in-state, out-of-state, in-person, and virtual events. More information is available on our website and you can always reach out to Karren Reish at reishk@michigan.gov<mailto:reishk@michigan.gov> with any questions. Coming Up From Library of Michigan Foundations of the Science of Reading for Public Library Professionals (2-part series) Tuesdays, January 27 and February 3, 2:00 -3:00 pm, on Zoom The Reading League advances the awareness, understanding, and use of evidence-aligned reading instruction. This two-part webinar series (on January 27 and February 3) will be taking a deeper dive into the "Science of Reading" and how libraries can help support best practices for early literacy development. Register on our website for Part 1<https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=9762> and you will be automatically registered for Part 2. Gather 'Round the Table with Teens is an interactive food literacy workshop for library staff serving young adults offered at 3 locations this Spring. April 20 at Jackson District Library - Meijer Branch<https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7470> April 22 at Traverse Area District Library - Woodmere<https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7475> April 24 at Gloria Coles Flint Public Library<https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=7480> Food Education Consultant Rebecca Antill will provide in-person workshops on how to plan and deliver nutrition & cooking programs for teens, featuring how to do so with minimal kitchen access. As a former librarian, Rebecca will offer a tailored learning experience that will equip library staff to offer food programming of all levels at their libraries. Basic health and safety information, kitchen classroom management, culinary skills and community partners will all be discussed as participants cook and share time together. Bring your own apron as this cooking workshop is hands-on and very interactive! Registration is limited. Office Hours with LM Library Development Staff - Register on LM's Continuing Education Calendar<https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/libraries/ce/intro/lm-continuing-education-opportunities> to receive Zoom link * Grants Office Hours with Karren Reish - February 10, 3:00 - 4:00 pm * Digital Collections Office Hours with Biz Gallo - February 12, 10:30 - 11:30 am * Library Law Office Hours with Claire Membiela - February 19, 3:00 - 4:00 pm Webjunction<https://www.webjunction.org/home.html> Self-Paced Courses and Webinars LM's Staff Skills Niche Academy<https://my.nicheacademy.com/staffskills> United for Libraries<https://www.ala.org/united> People Connect Institute's (PCI) Weekly Webinars - Wednesdays at 2 pm - Next Up, Today!: Techniques for Uncomfortable Conversations<https://libraryofmichigan.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/libraryofmichigan/event.jsp?event=9777> For full details on all of Library of Michigan's Continuing Education opportunities including upcoming events and recorded webinars, visit our website<https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/libraries/ce/intro/lm-continuing-education-opportunities>. Library of Michigan projects are made possible in-part by grant funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the State of Michigan through the Library of Michigan. Other Continuing Education Opportunities Niche Academy is offering a webinar on Giving Effective Feedback<https://www.nicheacademy.com/webinar-giving-effective-feedback> on January 21, 2026 at 2:00 - 3:00 pm Giving effective and direct feedback to each other is essential for success, both individually and organizationally. But doing so goes against our cognitive wiring. We want to be liked, we avoid conflict, and we don't want to hurt someone's feelings. The result is that we confuse indirectness for kindness. In this webinar, best-selling author and Stanford Business School lecturer David Dodson will discuss a six-part formula for how to rewire our brains to create a positive and open culture of direct feedback. David will provide practical and actionable steps you can take the next day to break down the barriers to reaching your potential and get you on the path to success. Niche Academy offers free professional development<https://www.nicheacademy.com/upcoming-webinars> on a variety of topics regularly. DT Heritage is offering a 2nd session of Solutions to Archiving Challenging Material on January 21 at 2:00 - 3:00 pm Part 2 focuses on "Mastering Complex Film & Transmissive Digitization: Advanced Techniques for Cultural Heritage Digitization Professionals" and registration is available via Eventbrite<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/solutions-to-challenging-material-pt-ii-film-transmissive-workflows-tickets-1977391745942>. Part 1 is available as a recording here<https://heritage-digitaltransitions.com/film-scanning-in-practice-building-accurate-scalable-workflows-for-transmissive-materials/>. Digitizing film, glass plates, and other transmissive materials can be straightforward-until it isn't. In this advanced webinar, Digital Transitions Technical Services Manager Ben Cort takes you beyond the standard workflows and deep into the real-world digitization challenges faced by libraries, archives, museums, and heritage collections across the globe. Whether you're working with warped film, brittle emulsions, broken glass plates, or oversized panoramic negatives, this session will give you the tools, strategies, and confidence to approach complex materials with accuracy and care. This webinar is tailored for professionals involved in high-resolution digitization of collection materials and delivers immediately applicable knowledge. The Northeast Summit on Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities<https://nhsl.libguides.com/NortheastSummitonClimateAdaptionResources> will be offering a webinar called Creative Resilience: Climate Action through Arts Programming<https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6uOQ00QiQfacw43YY22u0A#/registration> on January 27 from 2:00-3:30pm. The New York State Library is a founding member of this organization, which is a collaboration of state library agencies from Maine to Maryland. The webinar offers an inspiring session showcasing how libraries can lead climate action through the arts. This event will feature presentations on arts activism, mending and repair programming, and community craft swaps that spark creativity, build resilience, and engage patrons in sustainable practices. Discover practical ideas you can bring back to your library to empower your community and make climate action both meaningful and accessible. This event was planned by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Massachusetts Library System, Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services, and the Vermont Department of Libraries. For more information, visit the Sustainable Libraries Initiative.<https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/news/save-date-creative-resilience-climate-action-through-arts-programming> The University of Wisconsin-Madison is offering a online, synchronous 6-week course on Library Security: Training for Worst Case Scenarios and Everyday Conflicts<https://ischool.wisc.edu/continuing-education/library-security/> February 16 - March 29, 2026 - Cost is $275 Library managers and staff need to be prepared for 'worst case scenarios' like active shooter events, as well as having practical, effective responses to everyday behaviors. Can we really prevent argumentative behavior? How can you get those wild kids to settle down? What do you say to the client with overpowering body odor? How ready are you for a tornado, fire, earthquake or other disasters? Starting with a groundwork of common sense and consistent responses, we will then discuss policies, procedures, internal communications and ways of gaining community support to prepare your library for all types of security issues. This course will be valuable to all library staff, from directors to those serving on the frontline. Intergen at the Library: Programming and Engagement Across Ages<https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/intergen-programming.html> on February 26, 2026 at 3:00 - 4:00 pm Through intergenerational programming, libraries foster design opportunities for people to interact with, learn from, and share with people of different ages, interests, and cultural backgrounds. In this session, participants will explore generational labels, discover the benefits of and barriers to intergenerational relationship building, and find resources for designing their own intergenerational programs. Generational divides are some of the steepest, defined not just by age, but by differences in experiences, cultures, and perspectives. Through intergenerational programming, libraries foster design opportunities for people to interact with, learn from, and share with people of different ages, interests, and cultural backgrounds. In this session, participants will distinguish between "intergenerational" and "multigenerational," explore generational labels, discover the benefits of and barriers to intergenerational relationship building, and find resources from and beyond the library landscape for designing their own intergenerational programs. May your 2026 be filled with curiosity and learning! Andrea Andrea Vernola Continuing Education Coordinator | Library Development Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo St, P.O. Box 30007, Lansing, MI 48909 vernolaA@michigan.gov | 517-335-0123 https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan [Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan] <https://www.michigan.gov/mde/resources/michigans-top-10-strategic-education-plan> [Michigan.gov/Vote logo Description automatically generated]<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/> Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/>.
