July 2026 Workshops and Webinars
The Connecticut State Library, Division of Library Development is sharing the following learning opportunities for July. Remember that these are offered for FREE to ALL Connecticut
library staff! Please share with staff not signed up to the library lists!
Click on the July training topics below or scroll through to see all the offerings:
ACCESSIBILITY
Doing an Accessibility Audit of Your Library
[NNLM Webinar]
Wednesday July 22, from 2-3 |
Register for Doing and Accessibility Audit of Your Library
This session will focus on doing a basic physical accessibility audit of your library space. This session will not make you an expert but it will give you a lot of things to think
about and resources to help you to do an audit.
ADULT SERVICES
How to Teach Tech to Adults Who Sweat They’re “Bad at Technology”
[PCI Webinars] Wednesday, July 22 from 2-3 |
Register for How to Teach Tech to Adults
Many adults approach technology classes convinced they’re “just bad at tech,” making confidence, not skill, the biggest barrier to learning. This hands-on session shares simple teaching
strategies, supportive language, and practical demonstrations library staff can use immediately to reduce tech anxiety and build trust. Attendees will leave with concrete tools for helping hesitant learners gain confidence, feel successful, and keep coming
back for help.
Connecting Older Adults to Health Information [NNLM
Webinar] Wednesday, July 29 from 12-1:30 |
Register for Connecting Older Adults to Health Information
This 90-minute webinar covers websites and data sources to help you respond to requests for health information from and about older adults at your library, as well as covering programming
ideas.
PTSD Resources at Work: A Toolkit to Raise Awareness [NNLM Webinar] Wednesday, July 29 from 1-2 |
Register for PTSD Resources at Work
This webinar will cover PTSD and treatment basics, highlighting products and tools available on the NCPTSD website that are free to use and share.
ANNUAL REPORT
How to Complete the FY2026 Public Library Annual Report [DLD Workshop] Monday, July 20 from 10-11:30 |
Register for How to Complete the FY2026 Public Library Annual Report
This webinar will provide an overview of the FY2026 Public Library Annual Report including an update on new and removed questions and a review of the platform that all libraries will
use to submit their data. The FY2026 Annual Report will open the week of July 6th and is due by 4pm on Thursday October 1st.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
AI Backlash and the Bigger Picture [Library
2.0] Friday, July 10 from 2-3 | Contact
Gail.Hurley@ct.gov for registration information.
AI isn’t going away, and neither are the strong feelings about it. Library staff and leaders are navigating a complicated moment: patrons who are uneasy or openly resistant, colleagues
raising real ethical concerns, and institutions built on values like equity, privacy, and intellectual freedom trying to make sense of a fast-changing technology. Some days you may feel skeptical yourself. Other days, curious. Most of us have probably been
both…
Getting Real Results with AI: Objective-Centered Strategies for Librarians and Educators
[Library 2.0] Tuesday, July 14 from 2-3:30 | Contact
Gail.Hurley@ct.gov for registration information.
One of the biggest frustrations for librarians and educators integrating AI is the tendency to use these tools simply because they are available — resulting in wasted time, superficial
outputs, and results that don’t actually advance real professional or learning goals. This workshop teaches the discipline of objective-centered AI use: starting every interaction with a clear purpose and ensuring AI truly serves human objectives rather than
the other way around…
BOOK CHALLENGES
Emerging Best Practices for Responding to Book Challenges [Niche Academy Webinar] Wednesday, July 29 from 2-3
|
Register for Emerging Best Practices for Responding to Book Challenges
Over the past two years, members of the Mapping Information Access research group, including Emily Knox, Shannon Oltmann, and Andy Zalot, have been interviewing public library directors
to find out more about their experiences with book challenges. Several new best practices for policies and guidelines have emerged from these interviews. Join Emily Knox and Shannon M. Oltmann as they share preliminary findings from this research, including
best practices to implement in your library.
BOOK REPAIR
Basic Book Repair: Tools & Techniques [In-Person Workshop at ECSU] Friday, July 17, from 10-1 |
Register for Basic Book Repair
Would you like to save money by getting more uses per book? Would you like to keep that out-of-print book in circulation to meet your library patron's needs? Would you like to quickly repair
simple problems rather than purchasing a replacement? Many repairs that can extend the life of your library collection are fast and simple, and can be done with easy-to-obtain, inexpensive materials. This hands-on workshop is appropriate for a library staff
member or volunteer who will be doing book repair. Emphasis will be on simple repairs for the everyday public or school library collection, rather than on archival or long-term preservation techniques.
Note: There is also the
Advanced Book Repair: Hardcover Techniques class in-person at ECSU on Friday, August 7 |
Register for Advanced Book Repair
COMMUNICATIONS
Getting on the Same Page: Communication Strategies to Build Team Cohesion, Collaboration, and Trust
[PCI Webinars] Wedmesday, July 29 from 2-3 |
Register for Getting on the Same Page
Team cohesion doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built through intentional communication. In this program, participants learn practical tools and approaches to reduce communication breakdowns,
strengthen trust, and create more open, effective collaboration in their day-to-day work.
DATA
Return on Investment (ROI): Beyond What Your Library is Worth [Niche Academy Webinar] Wednesday, July 15 from
2-3 |
Register for Return on Investment
A library should never be looked at solely in terms of numbers, but adding numbers to your library’s narrative can deepen understanding of your library’s value to its community. Because
libraries receive taxpayer dollars to provide services to their communities, comparing the value of those services to the taxpayer investment can be a powerful tool in telling your library’s story. Broadcasting your library’s return on investment can help
budget decision-makers understand how far a library can stretch a taxpayer dollar and demonstrate that their library is a worthy investment in their community…
MANAGEMENT
Success(ion) Planning: Increasing Impact Through Talent Development [Niche Academy Webinar] Wednesday, July
22 from 2-3 |
Register for Success(ion) Planning
Your people are your program. Growing and retaining talented program staff is easier—and less expensive—than you think. In this webinar, Elizabeth Kurtz will help you learn practical
tools to keep your staff engaged, prevent burnout, and reduce turnover. Discover practical, easy-to-use (and often free) tools to keep staff engaged, prevent burnout, and create clear pathways for growth, even without a formal HR structure…
MEDIA & INFORMATION LITERACY
Games and Play-Based Experiences for Media and Information Literacy
[WebJunction] Thursday, July 23 from 3-4 |
Register for Games and Play-Based Experiences
Games and play-based experiences offer fun and accessible ways to engage your patrons of all ages about media and information literacy. In this session, researchers will share why
games can be an effective method to teach about the information environment and will introduce a ready-to-use set of resources covering media literacy basics, AI-generated images, and how information flows online.
NEURODIVERGENT SUPPORT
It’s About Time: Supporting Neurodivergent Employees with Time Management in the Workplace
[PCI Webinars] Wednesday, July 15 from 2-3 |
Register for It’s About Time
The term “neurodiversity” refers to the infinite variation in brain functioning that leads to differences in thinking, attention, memory, and communication. Some neurodivergent individuals
have differences in executive functioning skills like time management, and as a result, need different support and accommodations in the workplace. In this presentation, learn about time management from a neurodivergent lens.
READERS ADVISORY
Looking for Clues: Readers Advisory for Mystery Lovers
[PCI Webinars] Wednesday, July 8 from 2-3 |
Register for Looking for Clues
Join Readers’ Advisory expert Lila Denning for an hour of how you can develop your readers advisory skills to help readers looking for mysteries. You will learn what is a mystery
and how it is different than other kinds of crime fiction. She will show how to help your patrons find their next great read by focusing on what appeals most to them including subgenre, theme, and other appeal factors.
RURAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Rural Health Resources
[NNLM webinar] Wednesday, July 8 from 1-2 |
Register for Rural Health Resources
This webinar will describe hallmarks of rural America, identify access challenges of living in rural communities, and equip participants with tools to service the health information
needs of those living in rural communities.
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For other 2026 events, please visit the
Continuing Education Calendar
For any questions, please contact Gail Hurley at
Gail.Hurley@ct.gov
or
860-704-2223
CT State Library is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
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