‘Tis the season for online learning, especially in the library field!  December’s calendar is brimming with exciting and free learning opportunities for librarians looking for professional development.  Check out this list of 35 gratis webinars, just in time for the holidays!

1. Wednesday, Dec 4
   1:00 – 2:00 pm (Eastern)
   Serving the DIY Patron: Library Instruction at the Point of Need (Florida Library)
   What DIY patrons want most isn’t traditional person-to-person reference services, but rather web- and mobile device-based resources so they can serve themselves through the library. In this workshop, Farkas will explore the DIYmindset and ways to embed online instruction and live virtual reference help at patrons’ points of need, whether online, in the library, or out in the world.
2. Wednesday, Dec 4
   2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
   The Future is Now: Rural Library as Innovation Incubator (WebJunction)
   With the technology landscape constantly shape-shifting, libraries must respond as futurists to changing patron needs. Learn how to remain relevant, if not core, to your community’s needs by providing the means and support for patrons to create and innovate. Rural and small libraries with limited resources can become community innovation incubators, by providing patrons access to transformative technologies and by providing space for new ideas to be explored. Beyond makerspaces to editing suites and digital learning labs, libraries are empowering and impacting their communities, now and in the future. Bring your own story of library as innovation incubator and learn from others!
3. Wednesday, Dec 4
   2:00 – 3:30 pm (Eastern)
   Managing Changes to Reference Services: Keeping Reference Services (and Reference Librarians) Alive in a Turbulent Environment (Reference and User Services Association)
   Being a librarian isn’t what it used to be, but how do you deal with and manage this shift? Libraries and the services they provide are adapting to meet the ever-changing needs of their communities. How can reference librarians embrace and lead change to keep their services relevant, while staying sane and healthy? This webinar, featuring Gail Griffith, will discuss change and transition as it relates to reference librarians and departments. Using online discussion and activities, Griffith will not only ask participants to define current reference trends and models, she will discuss how reference librarians and professionals can manage change on a personal and professional level.
4. Wednesday, Dec 4
   3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
   Financial Education Webinar for Libraries (Institute of Museum and Library Services)
   The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) are partnering to develop financial education tools and share best practices with the public library field. The goal of our partnership is to provide tools and materials to help libraries provide free, unbiased financial information and referrals in their communities, build local partnerships and promote libraries as community resources The webinar will feature representatives from the CFPB, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), American Library Association and two of our local public library partners.
5. Wednesday, Dec 4
   3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
   Life After Desk: Implementing the New Service Models (Infopeople)
   We’ve all heard how progressive libraries are experimenting with new ways to deliver service. Recent years have brought news of shrinking circ desks, roving reference, virtual branches, after-hours lockers, unattended kiosks, information neighborhoods, zone staffing, imbedded librarians, and other service innovations. In this timely webinar, library consultant and futurist Joan Frye Williams will bring us up to date on how new service models are performing in a variety of settings.
6. Wednesday, Dec 4
   3:00 – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
   What Is a Data-Driven Academic Library? [DDAL Pt.1] (Library Journal)
   This is the first in a series of three webcasts. This webcast will give an overview of how academic libraries are using data to drive decisions. The presentation will touch on the terminology, tools, services, and data available to libraries and provide real world examples of how academic libraries have used data to enhance services, improve online tools, and develop collections. Sarah Tudesco will also touch on how to communicate data to various stakeholders. Attendees will depart with a number of resources to learn more including the best books, blogs, journals, Twitter handles and more to continue learning as well as maintain a solid command of the progress and practices of the data-driven academic library.
7. Thursday Dec 5
   1:00 – 2:00 pm (Eastern)
   Achieving Thresholds for Discovery: Addressing Issues with EAD to Increase Discovery and Access Webinar (OCLC)
   The recent Code4Lib Journal article “Thresholds for Discovery” reported results from an OCLC Research analysis of 120,000 Encoded Archival Description (EAD) encoded finding aids; the article also highlighted issues with current encoding practices that would inhibit access and discovery. In 2012, Princeton University’s Archival Description Working Group undertook an ambitious project to upgrade their finding aids delivery system, addressing many of the issues identified in the “Thresholds” article. Join us for a joint presentation of the OCLC Research and Princeton work, and discussion on steps that institutions can take both individually and collaboratively to improve their own thresholds for discovery.
8. Thursday Dec 5
   2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
   Developing Communities of Learning (Florida Library)
   We often are inspired by what we learn, but far less often find ways to apply newly-gained skills and knowledge once we leave our physical and virtual learning spaces. Communities of learning—including those we create and nurture within libraries—can help assure that learning accompanies learners out of the classroom and back into those settings where it can produce positive results.
9. This one-hour interactive webinar includes reviews of and discussions about resources that help us establish and maintain effective communities of learning; helps us see how approaching learning as a process rather than as an event increases the impact of any learning opportunity; and encourages you to apply these discussions and resources to your own libraries to create communities of learning that produce positive, measurable results for all involved.
10. Thursday Dec 5
    2:00 – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
    Developing a Strategic Plan for Volunteer Engagement (VolunteerMatch)
    Are you engaging volunteers with an eye to the future? Do you know what your volunteer program should look like in 3 or 5 years? Join us as we talk about the fundamentals for creating a strategic plan for volunteer engagement for your organizations. This webinar will include components that should be included as well as ideas for working with organization leaders to include strategic goals for volunteer engagement in your organization’s overall strategic plan.

 

Check out the full post 35 Free Live Webinars for Librarians in December here on OEDB.org.