While attending a recent professional learning network meetup, Director Gordon of Gotham Public Library—a fictional, small, rural library in Texas—heard a cautionary tale about a neighboring library’s lack of a personnel policy. Recognizing the potential risks, she resolved to review her own library’s policies. The Smallville Library employed 25 staff members and operated for years…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Core Connections: Building Sustainable Support Through Funding July 14, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners’ (MBLC) Lyndsay Forbes, Project Manager and Grants Specialist, will lead a discussion on how to leverage grants, funding opportunities,…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference Professional Development Award June 15, 2026 The Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Training Office and NNLM Region 1 are requesting Professional Development Award applications to attend the…
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year was slop, as in AI slop, and it’s easy to see why. Increasingly, AI has seeped into everything, our phones, our work, our entertainment, and it’s not all good. Merriam-Webster defines AI slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial…
As we consider the role of meeting room access in public libraries, the following scenario illustrates how well-intentioned efforts to support community engagement can reveal the risks that arise when a clear meeting room policy is not in place. Without consistent guidelines, libraries may face inconsistent decision-making, interpersonal conflict, and perceptions of unfair or unequal…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Internship May 11, 2026 Do you know any current undergraduate or graduate students—or recent college graduates (within six months)—preparing for employment or further studies in education, library science, history or museum studies? Would…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. In-Person Amigos Library Services Courses at Austin Public Library Join us for two exclusive in-person workshops hosted at the Austin Public Library. Each workshop requires a separate registration. Please note that these in-person workshops are only available to…
As we turn our attention to library boards, consider how an unexpected leadership vacancy can quickly expose the risks of operating without current bylaws. In moments of transition—especially during high-stakes decisions—the absence of clear governance guidelines can prevent a board from acting confidently and transparently, undermine public trust, and stall strategic initiatives due to procedural…
Merriam-Webster’s 2025 word of the year was slop, as in AI slop, and it’s easy to see why. Increasingly, AI has seeped into everything, our phones, our work, our entertainment, and it’s not all good. Merriam-Webster defines AI slop as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial…
Upcoming Opportunities These opportunities are available for free unless otherwise noted. Descriptions are provided by host organizations. American Folklife Center Resources: Texas February 12, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. (Central) American Folklife Center collections from Texas display the depth of diversity found within the Lone Star State and span over a century. Beginning with the John…