I hope some of you are looking forward to the Big Talk from Small Libraries conference next Friday. And if this conference hadn’t already crossed your path, I hope you’ll check it out. Sponsored by the Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) and the Nebraska Library Commission, this free conference features speakers from libraries who serve no more than 10,000 patrons. I’m really looking forward to it!

I’m also looking forward to checking out the new ARSL training series called TRAIN (Training, Roundtables, and Informational Networking).These opportunities are free, offered monthly, open to members and non-members, and planned by ARSL’s Continuing Education Committee. Upcoming topics include Early Literacy Through Decodables, Financial Literacy Programming, Neurodiversity in Libraries, and Customer Service in the Age of Burnout. Meetings will be recorded and recording provided to all who register.

Coming Up from Library of Michigan

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

April 22 at Traverse Area District Library - Woodmere

April 24 at Gloria Coles Flint Public Library

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 to receive Zoom link

Grants Office Hours with Karren Reish – March 10, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Digital Collections Office Hours with Biz Gallo – March 12, 10:30 – 11:30 am
Library Law Office Hours with Claire Membiela – March 19, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

Webjunction Self-Paced Courses and Webinars

LM’s Staff Skills Niche Academy

United for Libraries

People Connect Institute’s (PCI) Weekly Webinars – Wednesdays at 2 pm – Next Up: Picture Book Powerhouse: Top Titles of 2025

MeL Resource Trainings – Next Up on March 17: Discover the America250 Gale eBook Collection from the Library of Michigan

For full details on all of Library of Michigan’s Continuing Education opportunities including upcoming events and recorded webinars, visit our website. 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

Navigating Misinformation in One-on-One Patron Interactions – March 19, 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET at Webjunction

A librarian from Dallas Public Library and a researcher from the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public (CIP) will present a brief overview of why people believe misinformation and approaches library staff can use during interactions with patrons. Presented by: Stacey Wedlake, Faculty Affiliate, University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public; Kristen Calvert, Programs and Partnerships Manager, Dallas Public Library Researcher;

Winning Library Grants: Turning Community Needs into Funded Projects – April 7, 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET at Webjunction

If grant writing feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Libraries everywhere are balancing limited time, big ideas, and shifting community needs. This session offers a friendly, encouraging walk through a clear approach that makes the whole process more manageable and more successful.

Together, we’ll explore how to identify genuine community needs, shape them into grant project ideas, align with funders, and create a project structure that reviewers will trust. We’ll look at common pitfalls, share simple ways to stay focused, and build confidence at each stage of the grant cycle. Find out how a vague idea becomes a strong, fundable project. You’ll also see where AI tools can lend a helpful hand. You’ll leave with a grounded, repeatable process you can rely on, plus renewed confidence in your ability to find and apply for funding that strengthens your community.

Presented by: Stephanie Gerding , Founder & Principal Consultant, 4Libraries, author of Winning Grants, 3rd edition

SEI

The Summer Educational Institute (SEI) is offered live and remotely over Zoom. The SEI is focused on instructing individuals in the stewardship of visual materials within digital collections. It offers extensive insights and foundational practices related to digital curation and preservation in the context of galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM institutions). Dates for the 2026 SEI opportunity are June 15 – June 24, 2026 and this year’s institute includes sessions on Ethical Digital Stewardship, Digitization, “Ownership” and Copyright Issues, Digital Accessibility and Inclusion, Project Management for Digital Projects, and more. This is a great opportunity for folks working on, leading, or planning for digital collection projects. There are scholarships available from the Kress Foundation and the application opened February 9 and closes March 9. Registration for the institute opens April 14.

Have a great weekend!

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

Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote.