We've scoured the web for some of the most useful library learning opportunities, most of them free and all of them curated for the librarians of Illinois.

Here's where you can expand your skills in January 2026...

All learning is online unless noted otherwise.

Library Issues & Book News 

• Jan. 7, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Best New Teen Reads of 2025 (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Jan. 8, 2 p.m.
  Generative AI and collection development policies: A proactive approach (WebJunction)
• Jan. 12, 3 p.m.
  Re-Charge Your Book Club - CSL, Division of Library Development (CT State Library)
• Jan. 13, Noon
  Talking Teen Services: Seeing Our Unseen Caregiving Youth (Colorado State Library)
• Jan. 14, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Navigating New Building Projects (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
  Health Programming at your Library (National Library of Medicine)
• Jan. 15, 10 a.m.
  Rethinking Youth Services Outreach: Developing Connections between Public Libraries and Parent-Teacher Associations (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 15, 2 p.m.
  Replay: Turning Library Data into Student Impact (Follett Community)
• Jan. 20, Noon
  Talking Teen Services: How Could We Serve Caregiving Youth? (Colorado State Library)
• Jan. 20, 1 p.m.
  The New Instruction Librarian Live: Real Problems, Real Solutions (ASERL)
• Jan. 21, 2 p.m.
  Health Statistics on the Web (National Library of Medicine)
• Jan. 21, 4:15 p.m.
  Shine a Light on Innovative Practices | Focus on the Spark: Creating Interactive Lessons (Colorado State Library)
• Jan. 23, 1 p.m.
  What’s It Really Like? Join the 2026 Mock Newbery LIVE! (School Library Journal)
• Jan. 29, Noon
  Info2Go! Copyright in the Age of Generative AI: Critical Updates for Librarians (Idaho Commission for Libraries)
• Jan. 29, 1 p.m.
  Open Government: Using Fed Docs to Build and Enhance Open Education Resources (Federal Depository Library Program)
• Jan. 30, 2 p.m.
  ASERL Copyright Office Hour – January 2026 (ASERL)

Cataloging

• Jan. 13, 10 a.m.
  AskQC office hours: Understanding LCSH free-floating subdivisions (OCLC)
• Jan. 21, 1 p.m.
  A fresh look at cataloging: Unlocking the full potential of WorldCat for public libraries (OCLC)
• Jan. 22, 3 p.m.
  AskQC office hours: Understanding LCSH free-floating subdivisions (OCLC)

Grants & Fundraising

• Jan. 14, Noon
  Modern Grantseeking 101: Practical Steps to Find, Match & Manage Grants (Nonprofit Hub) 

Leadership and Communication 

• Jan. 7, 1 p.m.
  Telling Your Library’s Story (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 8, 1 p.m.
  Build the Board You Need (Candid.)
• Jan. 12, 10 a.m.
  Adaptive Leadership: Creating Innovation From Chaos (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Jan. 12, Noon
  10 Reading Maxims That Matter: What We Know About Learning to Read (edWeb.net)
• Jan. 14, 1 p.m.
  Welcoming All: Inclusivity in Library Spaces (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 21, 1 p.m.
  Giving Effective Feedback (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 22, 10 a.m.
  Beyond the Dashboard: Why 73% of Data Initiatives Fail and How Leaders Build Culture That Lasts (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Jan. 26, 3 p.m.
  Gov Performance Management Basics (GovLoop)
• Jan. 27, Noon
  What Does Student Success Mean to Students? Insights for Academic Libraries (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 28, 1 p.m.
  Purpose, People and Partners: A Practical Framework for Nonprofit Leadership (Niche Academy)
• Jan. 29, 2 p.m.
  Creating a culture of trust and bridgebuilding: One library’s transformation story (WebJunction)

Technology 

• Jan. 6, 1 p.m.
  AI Aware & Patron Ready (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 12, 3 p.m.
  Understanding the Digital Experience (GovLoop)
• Jan. 13, Noon
  Designing Inclusive and Impactful Nonprofit Websites (TechSoup)
• Jan. 14, Noon
  Libraries and AI Futures (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 20, Noon
  AI Impact Hour for Nonprofits (TechSoup)
• Jan. 20, 1 p.m.
  2026 Social Media Trends to Prepare For (CivicPlus)
• Jan. 22, Noon
  AI + Accessibility: Why Keeping Humans in the Loop Matters (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 22, Noon
  Kick-Start Your Mission in the New Year with Google Ad Grants (TechSoup)
• Jan. 22, 1 p.m.
  FedIT Insights: Securing the Current Gov Attack Surface (GovLoop)
• Jan. 23, 2 p.m.
  Mobile Technology in Libraries -CSL, Division of Library Development (CT State Library)
• Jan. 27, Noon
  2026 AI Trends That Will Transform Your Organization (TechSoup)
• Jan. 27, 2 p.m.
  Countdown to DOJ Compliance: Ask the Web Accessibility Experts (CivicPlus)
• Jan. 28, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Jan. 28, 1 p.m.
  Your 2026 Preview: What’s to Come for Gov Cybersecurity (GovLoop)
• Jan. 29, 1 p.m.
  AI, Copyright, and Creative Commons (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 29, 1 p.m.
  Mission, Uninterrupted (GovLoop)
• Jan. 29, 1:30 p.m.
  CloudLibrary in action: Live app walkthrough from the patron's perspective (OCLC)

Wellness

• Jan. 29, 2 p.m.
  Embrace Your Inner Unicorn: Navigating Job Transitions and Combating Impostor Syndrome (LibraryLinkNJ)
• Jan. 28, 10 a.m.
  Cultivating the Living Room of Campus: Lessons from Tredway Library’s Wellness Initiatives (LibraryLinkNJ)

Want more learning opportunities? Visit the Training Calendar from the Maine State Library.

Upcoming Conferences 

Grab your tickets! These conferences are coming up in the next few months. 

• Feb. 19, 2026, Online
  IHLS Member Day 2026

• April 1–3, 2026, Minneapolis, Minn.
  Public Library Association Conference 2026

• April 10, 2026, O'Fallon, Ill.
  Reaching Forward South 2026

• May 22, 2026, Rosemont, Ill.
  Reaching Forward North 2026

Other Events by IHLS

Illinois Heartland Library System has an expanding variety of learning opportunities, too. View them all on our Events page.

Have suggestions, ideas, or questions about Continuing Education? Contact our Public Library Liaison at 618.474.9948. 

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