We've crawled 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 July 2025...

All learning is online unless noted otherwise.

Library Issues & Book News 

• July 10, 1 p.m.
  DPLA’s Midyear Check In (Digital Public Library of America)
• July 17, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  Picture Book Palooza! (School Library Journal)
• July 17, 1 p.m.
  Celebrate Stories Across Generations (Booklist)
• July 23, 11 a.m.
  Connecting Older Adults to Health Information (NNLM)
• July 23, 1 p.m.
  Getting to Know Graphic Novels (Booklist)
• July 24, 2 p.m.
  Summer Book Bash: Dazzling Debuts with J.B. Hwang, Lucas Schaefer & Penny Zang (LibraryLinkNJ)
• July 25, 1 p.m.
  The American Revolution: Transatlantic Resources in the Library of Congress Collections (Federal Depository Library Program)
• July 29, noon
  Contained Curiosities Managing of Solids and Liquids in Collections (Connecting to Collections Care)
• July 30, 1 p.m.
  DK's Fall 2025 Librarian Preview (Booklist)
• July 31, 1 p.m.
  An Introduction to the Journal of the House of Representatives: Everything That (Hasn’t) Changed in 250 Years (Federal Depository Library Program)
• July 31, 1 p.m.
  Summer Book Bash: Book Buzz with Chronicle, Levine Querido & W. W. Norton (LibraryLinkNJ)

Cataloging

• July 16, 1 p.m.
  Digitization Projects Showcase 1 (LibraryLinkNJ  & CARLI)
• July 23, 1 p.m.
  Artificial Intelligence for Transcription and Metadata in Special Collections: Three Projects (ASERL)
• July 23, 1 p.m.
  Digitization Projects Showcase 2 (LibraryLinkNJ & CARLI)

Advocacy

• July 1, 11 a.m.
  Get Your Voice Heard Where Decisions are Made: Grow your Advocacy Skills (Nonprofit Learning Lab)

Grants & Fundraising

• July 1, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Project Budgets (Candid. Learning)
• July 8, 11 a.m.
  How to Raise More Online (Bloomerang)
• July 8, noon
  Engage, Grow, and Fundraise: Online Tools for Nonprofits (Techsoup)
• July 10, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Fundraising Planning (Candid. Learning)
• July 16, multiple sessions
  Join the Future of Ad Creative: Creating Ads That Connect and Convert (Canva)
• July 22, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Measuring Your Impact (Candid Learning)
• July 28, 11 a.m.
  Up Your Numbers Game: How to Gather and Use Data to Drive Fundraising, Programming, and Strategic Planning Efforts (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• July 29, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Finding Grants (Candid. Learning)

Leadership and Communication

• Multiple Sessions
  Setting up Canva for Your School System (Canva)
• July 2, 1 p.m.
  Reel Change: Nonprofit Video Storytelling for Social Impact (Bloomerang)
• July 8, 1 p.m.
  Approaches to “AI 101” in ASERL Libraries (ASERL)
• July 9, 1 p.m.
  Fortifying Your Library: Protecting Your Library and Staff Through Policy (Niche Academy)
• July 16, 1 p.m.
  More Than a Building: Creating Welcoming Academic Libraries (ASERL)
• July 17, 2 p.m.
  Teaching AI with Confidence: Empowering Your Educators This School Year (edWeb.net)
• July 21, 11 a.m.
  Using Data and Evaluation to Strengthen Resilience, Navigate Change, and Build Power (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• July 23, 1 p.m.
  Meetings that Matter: Seven Steps to Running an Effective Meeting (Niche Academy)
• July 28, 3 p.m.
  Navigating Workplace Dynamics at Your Agency (Govloop)
• July 30, 2 p.m.
  Elevating core skills with new Library Foundational Training (LiFT) courses  (WebJunction)

Technology

• July 9, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Printing, Scanning, and Faxing at the Library (Nebraska Library Commission)
• July 9, noon
  Identifying and Managing Cyber Risk (Techsoup)
• July 15, noon
  Digital Security: Safety Is Not Optional, with Héc Maldonado-Reis (Techsoup)
• July 28, 11 a.m.
  AI Literacy: A Toolkit for Family Engagement (edWeb.net)
• July 30, 10 a.m.
  NCompass Live: Pretty Sweet Tech (Nebraska Library Commission)

Wellness

• July 22, 1 p.m.
  Getting Over Imposter Syndrome: Once and for All (Govloop)

Additional Resources 

For more free training events, visit these additional calendars:

Looking for more? Check out the webinar calendar by the Maine State Library.

Upcoming Conferences 

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

• Aug. 1, 2025, Online
  2025 Special Libraries Association Midwest Symposium 

• Oct. 5–7, 2025, in Champaign, Ill.
  AISLE Annual Conference 2025

• Oct. 14–16, 2025, in Rosemont, Ill.
  ILA Annual Conference 2025

• Nov. 11–13, 2025, Online, & Nov. 14, 2025, in Champaign, Ill.
  Health Science Librarians of Illinois 2025 Annual Conference

• Nov. 12–13, 2025, in St. Louis, Mo.
  Library Marketing Communications Conference 2025

• Feb. 19, 2026, Online
  IHLS Member Day 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 Continuing Education Coordinator at 618.474.9948. 

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