[CASL-L] May 2026 Workshops and Webinars

Gail Hurley Gail.Hurley at ct.gov
Thu Apr 30 08:42:08 PDT 2026

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MAY 2026 Workshops and Webinars

The Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development is sharing the following learning opportunities for May. We hope you'll join us for one or more!

Click on specific May training topics below or scroll through! Note: Some workshops this month may be listed in more than one category.
ACCESSIBILITY
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
CATALOGING
CHILDREN / TEENS
COLLECTIONS
COMMUNITY NEEDS
CONSTRUCTION
DATA
HEALTH / MENTAL HEALTH
INFORMATION LITERACY

ACCESSIBILITY

TIAL: Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner) with Kathy MacMillan [DLD Workshop] Next session Monday, May 4 from 1-2 | Note: Recordings of this series will be made available in the CT State Library Niche Academy<https://my.nicheacademy.com/ctstatelibrary>.

Learn how to improve your service to deaf patrons in this interactive six-part series. We'll cover basic information about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, as well as specific vocabulary for the library setting. Each session will build on those before it to reinforce your knowledge and expand your ability to communicate with members of the Deaf community, and you'll get plenty of interactive signing practice!

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

AI Policy for Libraries: A Practical Intensive for Leaders<https://www.library20.com/ai-sessions/ai-policy-for-libraries> [Library 2.0] Friday, May 1 from 12-3:30 | Note: Please contact Gail.Hurley at ct.gov<mailto:Gail.Hurley at ct.gov> for registration information.

AI is already happening in your library, whether there's a policy for it or not. Staff are using tools on their own, vendors are quietly building AI into their systems, and patrons are asking questions that don't have easy answers yet. Most library leaders know they need to establish clear direction -- and most haven't had the time or a practical place to start. This intensive is built for exactly that moment. In 3.5 focused hours, you'll move from uncertainty to clarity and from clarity to action. This isn't a theoretical overview or a list of things to worry about. It's a working session designed around the real constraints of library leadership: limited time, competing priorities, and the need for guidance that staff can actually use.

Staying Current with Generative AI<https://www.library20.com/ai-sessions/staying-current-with-generative-ai> [Library 2.0] Friday, May 8 from 2-3 Note: Please contact Gail.Hurley at ct.gov<mailto:Gail.Hurley at ct.gov> for registration information.

Developments in generative AI are happening very quickly! And it can be difficult to sort out truth from hype in media coverage. In this session, we'll look at examples of misleading news stories, statistics taken out of context, scientific studies with major errors, expert predictions that were wrong, and disagreement among experts.

We'll then look at some methods for sorting through it all for a more balanced view. You can use these methods when teaching information literacy skills to others. We'll offer tips for finding reliable sources from diverse and global viewpoints and tips for managing information overload. We'll include a list of reliable sources to follow and ideas for compiling your own list of sources.

Where is AI in 2026, and Where is it Going? [WebJunction] Thursday, May 21 from 3-4 | Register for Where is AI in 2026<https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/where-is-ai-going.html>

AI has advanced at a pace that has stunned even leading experts. These systems aren't science fiction anymore-they're reshaping work, relationships, and even crime in real time. Join us for a fast-paced, beginner-friendly overview of today's most powerful AI systems including AI's current capabilities and AI safety concepts that will help you and your library be more prepared to serve your communities.

Talking to Patrons About AI<https://www.library20.com/ai-sessions/talking-to-patrons-about-ai> [Library 2.0] Friday, May 22 from 2-3 | Note: Please contact Gail.Hurley at ct.gov<mailto:Gail.Hurley at ct.gov> for registration information.

Patrons are asking about AI at the desk, in the classroom, and in one-on-one conversations, and the questions range from curious to confused to genuinely worried. You don't need to be an AI expert to respond well, but you do need clear language, a little preparation, and some confidence in how to handle the conversation. This one-hour webinar focuses on the practical, everyday interactions where library staff most need support: explaining AI simply and accurately on the fly, responding to skepticism or anxiety with empathy, and knowing what to say when a patron's question catches you off guard. You'll leave with real language you can use, not just frameworks to think about.

Bots, Books and Bedtime Stories: Spotting AI-Generated Books in Children's Collections [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, May 27 from 2-3 | Register for Bots, Books and Bedtime Stories<https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1117728212677/WN_2e3AqnGbSrWlPRNSOWEr3A>

Children's librarians are on the front lines of a rapidly shifting landscape, as generative AI enters children's publishing and AI-generated books increasingly appear on Amazon, self-publishing platforms, and from library vendors. These titles can be difficult to identify, often mimicking traditional authorship, illustration styles, and series branding while lacking transparency about their creation. This trend raises concerns about the veracity of library collections...

CATALOGING

Cataloging for Non-Catalogers [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, May 20 from 2-3 | Register for Cataloging for Non-Catalogers<https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4217728204090/WN_4VB4rHZJTVeDzL-FANW_gw>

Wherever you work in the library, knowledge of some basic cataloging will enhance and improve your skills in library work. This will serve as a brief introduction to cataloging for non-catalogers and will help you to understand cataloging's purpose, its goals, and some of its terminology, especially the changes you may have been seeing with the implementation of RDA recently.

Strengthen Cataloging Skills with New LiFT Course Series [WebJunction] View On-Demand Cataloging Course Series<https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/lift-catalog-series.html>

WebJunction is excited to announce the publication of three new LiFT (Library Foundational Training) courses to complete the new Library Catalog series<https://learn.webjunction.org/course/index.php?categoryid=133>.
* Introduction to the Library Catalog
* Classification and Call Numbers
* Subject Headings
* Copy Cataloging

CHILDREN / TEENS

Navigating Behavioral Health Resources for Children in CT: An Information Session [DLD Workshop] Wednesday, May 6 from 11-12:30 | Register for Navigating Health Resources for Children in CT<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/16778568>

This informational session will provide an overview of the Children's Behavioral Health Supports and Services throughout Connecticut, with a focus on understanding and navigating the system of care. It will begin by outlining the ' role and mandate of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, then explore what defines a behavioral health crisis and review the key services such as 988, mobile crisis teams, and urgent crisis centers. >From there we will look at how the broader behavioral health system in CT is structured, including the types of care and key entry points. The session will also introduce practical tools for finding and accessing resources, and highlights opportunities for family support, training, and involvement.

How to Use Media and Information Literacy Events to Engage Teens and Communities [WebJunction] Tuesday, May 12 from 2-4 | Register for How to Use Media and Information Literacy Events<https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/info-literacy-teens.html>

Organizing and hosting events focused on media and information literacy topics can bring together teens and the larger community. Presenters will share two models, A Day for an Informed Public and Media Mentorship, that attendees can use in their own communities.

COLLECTIONS

Weeding Popular Materials Collections [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, May 6 from 12:30-1:30 | Register for Weeding Popular Materials Collections<https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/1417728194166/WN_98BLVVXcQp60XkczvQa4YA>

When it comes to books, we all like to buy! However, selecting materials is only half of the collection development process. Book hoarding does not create a useful collection. Weeding, or deselecting materials, must receive equal and continuous attention as selection to have a truly patron driven collection that serves its community...

COMMUNITY NEEDS

Leading From the Future: Mapping Community Needs with Foresight, Empathy and Data [DLD in-person workshop at the Middletown Library Service Center] Thursday, May 21 from 10-11:30 | Register for Mapping Community Needs<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/16403748>

Join DLD staff in person at the Middletown Library Service Center, and participate in exercises designed for a powerful community needs assessment. Integrating foresight into this process helps organizations and stakeholders better understand what resources, services, or programs are lacking, as well as what empathy-focused challenges and opportunities are most important to address. The session is designed to empower grant-seeking library staff to effectively understand the specific community and target audience that they will work with to co-create programs, services, or projects. Participants will learn exercises built from EXCITE Transformation for Libraries workshops including how to do empathy mapping and how to facilitate community conversations to reveal the true needs and wants of the group. The goal is for participants to leave better prepared to describe the community needs within a grant application. All library staff involved in writing grant applications are encouraged to attend.

CONSTRUCTION

Location! Location! Location!: Determining Site Suitability for a Library Relocation, Expansion, or New Construction Project [NESCALF Webinar] Tuesday, May 5 from 2-3:30 | Register for Location! Location! Location!<https://mblc.libcal.com/calendar/main/sitesuitability>

The Northeast Summit for Climate Adaptation for Library Facilities (NESCALF) invites you to join us as we shift focus to the suitability of the site, as it profoundly affects the design, resilience, and user experience of a resulting library project. Considerations are wide-ranging in nature and impact, as Architect Kristen Uitto will explain in a general discussion that includes potential issues. Panelists from the Jamestown Philomenian Library (RI) and the Johnson Public Library (VT) will detail two disparate circumstances, with Jamestown's navigation of archaeological concerns during a library expansion and Johnson Public Library's creative use of grant funding to implement an innovative, community-engaged response to repeated flooding of the library that resulted in a dramatic but celebratory middle-of-the-night relocation of the library building. While the webinar features larger projects, the information presented can be scalable, keeping the core management of communication, planning, design, and implementation of projects in mind.

Construction Grant Information Session [DLD Workshop] Monday, May 11 from 10-11:30 | Register for Construction Grant Information Session<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/16146606>

Through its Construction Grant Program, the CT State Library (CSL) empowers libraries to develop library projects for Probable, Plausible, and Possible futures. Libraries are not just about collections; they are the fiber of communities. Libraries applying for Construction Grants through CSL are encouraged to pursue designs that are adaptable, resilient, and transformative to create user-centered experiences. If your library is thinking of applying for a construction grant from the CT State Library, this webinar will walk you through the process. You'll learn what you need to do before applying as well as what's required after you receive the grant. Don't get tripped up -- just plan ahead and be prepared. We'll cover funding categories, application process, grant application evaluation, timeline, grant contract, starting and managing the project, state requirements, and advice.

DATA

Measuring Trust: How to Collect Meaningful and Actionable Data [WebJunction] Thursday, May 28 from 3-4 | Register for Measuring Trust<https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/measuring-trust.html>

Trust is such an important part of library's work. Join us to hear IREX and several libraries discuss experiments they ran with trust-building programs and leave with some tips and tools for measuring trust in your library.

HEALTH / MENTAL HEALTH

You're Not a Social Worker, But... [PCI Webinars] Wednesday, May 13 from 2-3 | Register for You're Not a Social Worker, But...<https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4617728197420/WN_jQnlm2PUSUiTueYVP1eJyQ>

While library staff are not trained social workers, they are often placed in situations that require empathy, de-escalation, and informed referrals due to the growing complex behavioral, and social-emotional needs within their branch communities. This webinar is designed to provide practical, realistic tools that library professionals can use within their role and scope, without expecting them to replace trained clinicians or social service providers.

How to Stop Burnout and Re-Energize Your Work for Your Best Year Ever [DLD Workshop] Tuesday, May 19 from 10-12 | Register for How to Stop Burnout<https://cslib.libcal.com/event/15856878>

Burnout is real and affects all industries and employees at every level from CEO's to administrative assistants. In some professions, like medicine, it's rampant and has serious consequences. Learn what burnout is and isn't as we consider strategies and tools for addressing it. In this interactive Zoom workshop, you'll explore seven tasks that will not only help you safeguard yourself from burnout, but also energize you for your best year ever. Many issues are covered including what to do if you're being micromanaged, and strategies for coping when the demands of your job exceed your capabilities. For example, if you're a children's librarian, it takes months to prepare for summer programs, and if you're new, it's easy to be overwhelmed. With experience you learn to break a huge task like this into small, manageable pieces and avoid burnout. This could be the most important class you take all year. Join us and create your own seven-step plan to stop burnout.

Effective Health Communication and Health Literacy: Understanding the Connection [NNLM] Wednesday, May 27 from 1-2 | Register for Effective Health Communication and Health Literacy<https://www.nnlm.gov/training/class/effective-health-communication-and-health-literacy-understanding-connection-4>

How are health communication and health literacy connected? How can you be more effective in providing health information to consumers, patients, clients, library patrons and your community? This 1 hour webinar introduces the concepts of health literacy and health communication, outlines components of clear health communication, and identifies online resources from NLM, government agencies and other recognized resources for health literacy and health communication.

INFORMATION LITERACY

For other 2026 events, please visit the Continuing Education Calendar <https://cslib.libcal.com/>

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

860-704-2223

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

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