[CASL-L] January 2026 Workshops and Webinars

[Gail Hurley]

​[cid:image001.jpg at 01D81782.E22BAC90]



[cid:image003.png at 01DB5CF4.DA061950]





January 2026 Workshops and Webinars



ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION

AGING AND INCLUSION

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

BOOK CLUBS

CHILDRENS

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNICATIONS

DESIGN

LIBRARY SUPPORT

ORGANIZATION / PRODUCTIVITY

TECHNOLOGY

ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION

Making Storytime More Accessible to Children With Disabilities [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, January 7 from 2-3 | Register<https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1017599309874/WN_2gGhgeuHR22euXTqW4aOUA>
According to the CDC, 1 in 20 children have a diagnosed disability. What’s more, stigma and fear may be barriers for families with children with disabilities who may not feel welcome at the library and may not think Storytime is right for them. In this presentation, learn how storytime can act as a bridge and connector for families with children with disabilities, providing information, resources, and community…

Welcoming All: Inclusivity in Library Spaces [Niche Academy Webinar] Wednesday, January 14 from 2-3 | Register<https://www.nicheacademy.com/webinar-welcoming-all-inclusivity-in-library-spaces>
Libraries have long been known as places for everyone, but does your building really feel welcoming to all potential users? Inclusivity and equity in a library’s physical space are not just about accessibility in terms of mobility, vision, and hearing, but also for diversity related to gender and sensory abilities…

AGING AND INCLUSION

TIAL: Connection, Capacity, Resilience and Vibrancy: What’s Age Got to Do With It? [DLD Workshop with CT Age Well Collaborative] Wednesday, January 14 from 1-2 | Register<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/15409835>
When you hear words like “connected,” “capable,” “resilient,” and “vibrant”, what do you think of? Who do you imagine? Or maybe, who don’t you imagine? Every Age, Every Ability is our statewide campaign to disrupt ageism and ableism, informed by the lived experience of Connecticut residents. The campaign catalyzes conversation and inspires locally-tailored, community-driven efforts, like in the Towns of West Hartford and Newtown. Get inspired and learn how your library and community can spark its own conversations with family, friends and colleagues—or create your very own local campaign!

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI Does Books: Creating Nonfiction & Creative Works With GenAI<https://www.library20.com/ai-does-books> [Library 2.0] Tuesday, January 20 from 2-3:30 | Contact Gail.Hurley at ct.gov<mailto:Gail.Hurley at ct.gov> for registration information.
This 90-minute online session explores how generative AI tools, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), can be leveraged to create meaningful nonfiction books for learning and creative reading materials for educational and therapeutic purposes. As AI capabilities expand, the ability to generate book-length content has shifted from months-long endeavors to iterative, collaborative processes that blend human creativity with machine assistance…

BOOK CLUBS

Re-Charge Your Book Club [DLD Workshop with Becky Spratford] Monday, January 12 from 2-3:30 | Register<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/15842537>
Becky has been leading  book clubs for 25 years and has seen it all. In this program she will share her tips and tricks for success. All book groups go through their ups and downs, but re-energizing your group is not as hard as it may seem. Becky will walk you through how to confidently identify and utilize the best resources for leading a book discussion, pick books that will engender the best conversations, lead a more interactive discussion even with the most jaded of groups. Let her show you how to take control, shake things up, and rediscover why you started the group in the first place.

CHILDRENS

Making Storytime More Accessible to Children With Disabilities [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, January 7 from 2-3 | Register<https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1017599309874/WN_2gGhgeuHR22euXTqW4aOUA>
According to the CDC, 1 in 20 children have a diagnosed disability. What’s more, stigma and fear may be barriers for families with children with disabilities who may not feel welcome at the library and may not think Storytime is right for them. In this presentation, learn how storytime can act as a bridge and connector for families with children with disabilities, providing information, resources, and community…

Deep Dive: Reading [DLD Workshop with Cathy Potter] Friday, January 9 from 2-3:30 | Register<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/15451396>
It’s been almost 15 years since the release of Every Child Ready to Read 2nd Edition. This edition included the introduction of the five practices: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing. These practices have become the foundation for early literacy programming in libraries.  Join me to take a deeper look at the science behind each concept. Participants will learn more about the concept of reading, establish associations to current initiatives, and discover ways to incorporate or expand upon activities for more meaningful learning and connection through library spaces, programming, and outreach.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

Generative AI and Collection Development Policies: A Proactive Approach [WebJunction] Thursday, January 8 from 3-4 |Register<https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/generative-ai-collection-policies.html>
As materials created by AI continue to flood the marketplace, it is inevitable that acquisitions librarians will encounter materials generated wholly or partially by AI. Libraries can prepare for this reality with selection guidelines and collection development policies that intentionally address AI generated materials…

Identifying AI Generated Books in Your Library [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, January 21 from 2-3 | Register<https://zoom.us/webinar/register/7017599318942/WN_9dm5g6EIQSOqqci79KL6eA>
Have AI-generated books snuck on to your library’s shelves? Books generated using AI Large Language Models without such “authorship” being disclosed have become pervasive across nearly all subject areas on sites such as Amazon, and are even being sold by some library jobbers… Join cataloger and AI book hunter Althea Christensen to find out where these books are coming from, learn about identifying AI-generated books both in-hand and in online retail listings…

COMMUNICATIONS

Giving Effective Feedback [Niche Academy Webinars] Wednesday, January 21 from 2-3 | Register <https://www.nicheacademy.com/webinar-giving-effective-feedback>
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…

Techniques for Uncomfortable Conversations [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, January 14 from 2-3 | Register<https://zoom.us/webinar/register/9317599315661/WN_UbVVQ_xpT9KuakJs3xzeow>
Through this workshop, we examine some important strategies for navigating challenging conversations with confidence and empathy. You'll learn how to maintain composure, foster understanding, and communicate effectively even in difficult situations. We’ll also consider how to create safe and supportive communication spaces…

DESIGN

Intro to Canva [DLD Workshop with Caitlin Augusta] Tuesday, January 20 from 10-12 | Register<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/15842347>
Learn how to make logos, social media images, and flyers using the online design site Canva. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn about the Canva environment,  design elements, and some of its newest features. Participants will work on their own designs during the workshop and will finish the class with projects they can use at their library…

LIBRARY SUPPORT

Telling Your Library’s Story [Niche Academy Webinars] Wednesday, January 7 from 2-3 | Register<https://www.nicheacademy.com/webinar-telling-your-librarys-story>
Join Jamie LaRue to learn how to break through confirmation bias and tell an emotionally powerful story about your library. OCLC's From Awareness to Funding studies exposed a disturbing truth: use has nothing to do with library support. Moreover, public support for libraries is falling. Yet those of us working in libraries know how powerful and even transformational our services can be both for individuals and communities…

ORGANIZATION / PRODUCTIVITY

Get Things Done: Set Yourself Up for Success [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, January 28 from 2-3 | Register<https://zoom.us/webinar/register/5117599322121/WN_Ufy71y3iRtanTIpNeC4y5w>
Completing projects, tasks, and goals doesn’t have to be a battle. There are many ways we impede our own success, several of which start in our mind. With an eye toward neuroscience and research, we’ll explore strategies for creating new habits, replenishing willpower, boosting motivation, and harnessing our mindset.

TECHNOLOGY

Mobile Technology in Libraries [ DLD Workshop with David Lee King] Friday, January 23 from 3-4 | Register <https://cslib.libcal.com/event/15843123>
Most of your library customers own a smartphone and want to use their smartphones in and around the library. This presentation explores current trends in mobile technology, the needs of customers using mobile devices inside and outside the library, the digital divide, and staff use of mobile technology.

~


For other 2026 events, please Visit: https://cslib.libcal.com/



For any questions, please contact Gail Hurley at Gail.Hurley at ct.gov<http://Gail.Hurley@ct.gov/> or

860-704-2223



CT State Library is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

© 2016 CT State Library. All rights reserved.



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/casl-l/attachments/20251230/7ad5a2c3/attachment-0001.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 23281 bytes
Desc: image001.jpg
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/casl-l/attachments/20251230/7ad5a2c3/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.png
Type: image/png
Size: 384873 bytes
Desc: image003.png
URL: <https://mylist.net/archives/casl-l/attachments/20251230/7ad5a2c3/attachment-0001.png>