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 November 2025...

All learning is online unless noted otherwise.

Library Issues & Book News 

• Nov. 3, 1 p.m.
  Celebrate Native American and Indigenous Voices! (Booklist)
• Nov. 4, Noon
   Hands-On History: Bringing History Alive with Historical Artifacts (Programming Librarian)
• Nov. 4, 1 p.m.
  What’s News in Debuts? (Booklist)
• Nov. 4, 4 p.m.
  Fact Check the Chatbot: Spotting Misinformation in the Age of AI  (edWeb.net)
• Nov. 5, 10 a.m.
  From Rotary to the Local Bar: Unexpected Allies in Library Outreach (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Nov. 5, 10 a.m.
  Skill-Sharing Conversation: D&D Programs for All Ages (Library Link NJ)
• Nov. 5, 1 p.m.
  Being there for Asylum Seekers and People Experiencing Homelessness and Poverty: How Can Libraries Help? (Georgia Library Association)
• Nov. 5, 6 p.m.
  Confronting the Crisis of Reading Among Children (ALA)
• Nov. 6, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  LibraryCon Live! 2025 (School Library Journal)
• Nov. 11, 1 p.m.
  Adult Faves (Booklist)
• Nov. 11, 2 p.m.
  Empowering Digital Citizens: A Classroom Initiative for Responsible Online Engagement (edWeb.net)
• Nov. 12, 10 a.m.
  There’s Always Something Happening at the Library: Becoming a Daily Destination for Your Community (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Nov. 12, Noon
  Unsung Heroes of Academic Research: Magazine Archives as Primary Sources (Library Journal)
• Nov. 12, 6 p.m.
  Confronting the Crisis of Reading Among Teens (ALA)
• Nov. 13, 10 a.m.
  The IFLA ENSULIB Webinar Series: Sustaining a Seed Library (IFLA)
• Nov. 13, Noon
  Publisher Collections: Exploring a Sustainable, Community-Driven Model for Scholarly Ebooks (Library Journal)
• Nov. 13, Noon
  Wikipedia Edit-a-thons: Minimum Lift for Maximum Reward (Digital Public Library of America)
• Nov. 13, 1 p.m.
  DK Spring 2026 Season Preview (Booklist)
• Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
  The Research Data Services Landscape: How Do You Start and Where Does Your Library Fit In? (NNLM)
• Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
  Wellness, Self-Care, Balance (Booklist)
• Nov. 18, 2 p.m.
  Big Impact Small Budget Afterschool (WebJunction)
• Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
  Summer Reading Program 2026: Unearth a Story (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Nov. 19, 2 p.m.
  Nourishing Minds: A Free Toolkit for Teen Mental Health Programming in Libraries (ALA)

Cataloging

• Coming Soon!

Intellectual Freedom & Censorship

• Nov. 12, 1 p.m.
  Telling Your Library's Story (Niche Academy)

Grants & Fundraising

• Nov. 4, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Fundraising Planning (Candid.)
• Nov. 6, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Measuring Your Impact (Candid.)
• Nov. 6, 1 p.m.
  Where strategic planning and fundraising meet (Bloomerang)
• Nov. 13, 1 p.m.
  Introduction to Proposal Writing (Candid.) 

Leadership and Communication 

• Nov. 3, 10 a.m.
  Evaluation Basics and Emerging Trends (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Nov. 3, 3 p.m.
  How Plain Language Can Help Improve Your CX  (Govloop)
• Nov. 5, 1 p.m.
  Creating Thriving Workplaces: Mental Health & Well-being (Niche Academy)
• Nov. 5, 1 p.m.
  Data Tools, Strategies and Skills for Non-Experts (Govloop)
• Nov. 5, 1 p.m.
  What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There: Building the Next Generation of Thriving Libraries (Library Journal)
• Nov. 10, Noon
  Upskilling Your Staff (ALA)
• Nov 11, 4 p.m.
  Unbreakable Brand: Create on-brand high-impact visuals with Canva’s Brand Tools! (Canva)
• Nov. 13, 1 p.m.
  How Good Gov CX Can Drive Big Economic Outputs (Govloop)
• Nov. 17, 3 p.m.
  Communicating With Confidence (Govloop)
• Nov. 18, 11 a.m.
  The Canva Carousel Workshop (Canva)
• Nov. 18, 1 p.m.
  Stuck No More: Unlocking Hidden Solutions with Paradox Awareness (Niche Academy)
• Nov. 20, 11 a.m.
  Create Branded Content with Canva (Canva)

Technology 

• Nov. 4, 6 p.m.
  Empower Your Students With Interactive Learning (Canva)
• Nov. 5, Noon
  Welcome to TechSoup: New Member Orientation and Q & A (Techsoup)
• Nov. 5, 1 p.m.
  What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There: Building the Next Generation of Thriving Libraries  (Library Journal)
• Nov. 10, 11 a.m.
  You May Be Small But You Can Be Mighty: Empowering Nonprofits with AI-Powered Advocacy (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m.
  Unleashing AI Creativity with Canva (Canva)
• Nov. 13, 8 a.m. & 11 a.m.  
  You're Invited: Gale Academic Virtual Open House (Library Journal)
• Nov. 17, Noon
  Kids' Online Safety: What Are “Privacy Doors” and Why It Matters (edWeb.net)
• Nov. 18, 1p.m.
  AI Meets Evidence: Practical Applications for Librarians in the Review Workflow (Choice 360)
• Nov. 19, 10 a.m.
  Stay Relevant in a Digital World! Easy-to-Implement Guidance to Maintain Your Digital Presence (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Nov. 19, 11 a.m.
  Cybersecurity at Scale: Empowering Government to Defend and Transform (Govloop)
• Nov. 20, Noon
  The Art of The Possible: Building Data Strategy for Greater Mission Impact (Techsoup)
• Nov. 26, 10 a.m.
  Pretty Sweet Tech: Internet Librarian 2025 Highlights (Nebraska Library Commission)

Wellness

• Nov. 20, 1 p.m.
  Rural Health Resources (NNLM)

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. 

• 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

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