Learn how to respond effectively when challenges arise ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ View in browser<https://jylpyg.clicks.mlsend.com/ty/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjQ3ODk1OCxcImxcIjoxNjcwOTE3MjMxMjA0MTE3MjcsXCJyXCI6MTY3MDkxNzM1Nzc0NjI2OTM1fSIsInMiOiIwYmMxNmYxNGQxMWFkYzBlIn0> [De-escalation Strategies in the Library: Creating Safe and Positive Interactions - an Infopeople course. October 14 to November 10, 2025. Instructor: Becky Russell. Fee: $200. An image of a person pushing back against a group of negative interactions.]<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1149> De-escalation Strategies in the Library: Creating Safe and Positive Interactions<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1149> Have you experienced challenging interactions with library customers, colleagues, or community members? Do you ever find yourself unsure how to respond when a situation in the library begins to escalate? Working in libraries today means navigating a wide range of human experiences — from everyday conversations to more complex or tense encounters. This 4-week course offers a supportive space to strengthen your communication skills, explore ways to create a welcoming environment, and prepare for difficult interactions. Whether you're new to de-escalation techniques or looking to refresh your approach, you'll gain practical strategies you can use right away — both to enhance everyday customer service and to respond effectively when challenges arise. By the end of the course, learners will be able to: * Practice methods to help defuse tension, such as asking effective open-ended questions, and using active listening techniques, to ensure our interactions are meeting the unique needs of each customer and staff member we interact with. * Analyze and gain a deeper understanding of our personal biases and library spaces to ensure that we provide empathetic interactions and accommodating and welcoming spaces for all. * Examine and apply library policies, procedures and guidelines, which are essential foundational components in protecting the safety of library staff and customers. * Develop ‘Situational Awareness’ and ‘Tactical Disengagement’ strategies for personal, staff and customer safety, should situations escalate and the library environment becomes unsafe. [Learn More] Time Required: 2½ hours per week, with options for further study and application. Participants can work on each module at their own pace, at any hour of the day or night. However, it is recommended that participants complete each week's assignments within that week to stay in sync with other learners. Live Sessions: Please make every effort to ensure that you are able to attend these two meetings before enrolling in the course. If this is not possible, archived recordings will be made available. * Wednesday, October 22, at 10am to 11:15am PT * Wednesday, November 12, at 10am to 11am PT Instructor: Becky Russell<https://infopeople.org/people/becky-russell> Fee: $200 Learn More and Register Today<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1149> No-Cost Seats [California Libraries Learn]<https://callacademy.org/> Due to the uncertainty of any federal funding for 2025-26, California Libraries Learn (CALL)<https://callacademy.org/> can not offer financial support for Infopeople course seats at this time. If this changes we will let you know. For questions, please contact Lisa Barnhart at lbarnhart@cla-net.org<mailto:lbarnhart@cla-net.org>. Small, Rural and/or Tribal Libraries Do you work in a rural or tribal library? If so, you may be able to sign up for a no-cost seat in this course. Each course has up to five no-cost seats available to rural or tribal libraries. Fill out your fee waiver request<https://tally.so/r/3jePo4>, and if a no-cost seat is available you will be notified. Other Upcoming Courses<https://infopeople.org/training> [A magnifying glass hovers over a social media post with different metrics hovering around.]<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1154> Social Media Strategy for Libraries: AI, Analytics, and Authenticity<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1154> [A man and a woman holding office supplies interact while speech bubbles are above their heads.]<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1147> Communication Is More Than Words<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=11470> [A woman, holding a clipboard, is rating and reviewing an employee.]<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1146> Library Supervision and Management<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1146> Upcoming Webinars<https://infopeople.org/training/view/webinar> [Stack of tarot cards with wheel of fortune on top]<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1150&reset=1> Tarot for Well-Being<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1150&reset=1> October 29, 2025 This session will be fun, interactive, engaging, and show attendees several ways and resources to use the tarot to find focus, calm, and purpose in a frenetic workplace. This webinar will be of interest to: Library staff looking for alternative mindfulness practices. [Elderly woman in a wheelchair painting a watercolor. Infopeople, Lifetime Arts, and Institute of Museum and Library Services logos.]<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1156> Creative Aging in Action: Practical Strategies for Libraries<https://infopeople.org/civicrm/event/info?id=1156> October 7, 14, and 21, 2025 Attendees will walk away from these three sessions with practical tools to design, sustain, and expand creative aging programs that support lifelong learning, social connection, and improve the health and well-being of older adults. Don't Like Deadlines? [A person relaxing at home on their laptop with their dog next to them above the words]<https://infopeople.teachable.com/> Infopeople On-Demand Infopeople On-Demand<https://infopeople.teachable.com/> means learning whenever, wherever. Jump into a topic and move at your own pace. Courses are always there when you need them. No rushing. No deadlines. Just you and the learning. [Find Your Next Course] Creating Fantastic Library Displays<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/creating-fantastic-library-displays> This course will provide you with tips, techniques, and inspiration that will help you to create library displays that delight. [People floating with a bunch of digital graphic programs surrounding them]<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/creating-fantastic-library-displays> [A woman holding two masks: happy and unhappy. Behind her people are gathered with their arms raised like they are upset.]<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/change-management> Change Management in Uncertain Times<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/change-management> This course covers the fundamentals of good change and transition management practices, paying special attention to using tools and strategies under less-than-ideal conditions. Normalizing Discussions of Race with Children<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/normalizing-discussions-of-race-with-children> Become more confident discussing racial identity and racial injustices with children and caregivers in the library and incorporating anti-racist practices in your library services. [A man kneeling down to explain something to a child.]<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/normalizing-discussions-of-race-with-children> [Libraries as Second Responders. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.]<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/libraries-as-second-responders> No-cost, IMLS-funded Libraries as Second Responders Series<https://infopeople.teachable.com/p/libraries-as-second-responders> This series will prepare public library staff to effectively respond to the public health issues that are in their communities today, and to be ready in case another emergency appears. [Discover] [Califa + Infopeople, helping libraries think differently.]<https://infopeople.org/> Califa Group 330 Townsend Street, Suite 133, San Francisco, CA 94107 United States of America [website]<https://califa.org/0>
