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 October 2025...

All learning is online unless noted otherwise.

Library Issues & Book News 

• Oct. 1, 1 p.m.
  Health Programming at your Library  (NNLM)
• Oct. 1, 1 p.m.
  Pre-Application Webinar for Round 4 of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities (ALA Programming Librarian)
• Oct. 2, 1 p.m.
  From Static to Strategic: Reframing Established Digital Archives (Choice 360)
• Oct. 2, 1 p.m.
  Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group Winter 2026 Preview Event (Booklist)
• Oct. 7, 14, 21, 11 a.m.
  Creative Aging in Action: Practical Strategies for Libraries (Infopeople)
• Oct. 7, 1 p.m.
  Fall in Love with Series Nonfiction (Booklist)
• Oct. 7,  1 p.m.
  Graphic Medicine in Public Libraries: Unique Challenges, Unique Opportunities (NNLM)
• Oct.8, 10 a.m.
  The Do's & Don'ts of D&D (Nebraska Library Commission)
• Oct. 9, noon
  Providing Mental Health Resources at Your Library (NNLM)
• Oct. 9, 1 p.m.
  Programming for Inclusion: Disability Outreach and Native Representation with Support from the Peggy Barber Tribute Grant  (ALA Programming Librarian)
• Oct. 14, 1 p.m.
  Fall and Winter Picture Books (Booklist)
• Oct. 14, 1 p.m.
  Rainbow Fish in Your Classroom! Read and Draw with Marcus Pfister (School Library Journal)
• Oct. 21, 10 a.m.
  Who Owns Our Knowledge? Power and Access in Scholarly Publishing  (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries)
• Oct. 22, noon
  "They asked you for WHAT?!" Helping Your Patrons Outsmart Scammers and Avoid Fraud (ALA)
• Oct. 29, 1 p.m.
  Figuring Out Fair Use (Niche Academy)

Cataloging

• Oct. 21, 10 a.m.
  Enhancing Discovery and Accessible Research Pathways Through Metadata (Choice 360)

Intellectual Freedom & Censorship

• Oct. 5 -10
  EveryLibrary Live! Banned Books 2025 Calendar (EveryLibrary)

Grants & Fundraising

• Oct. 14, noon
  Fundraising Alternatives for Cultural Institutions (Connecting to Collections Care)
• Oct. 16, 1 p.m.
  Future-proof your fundraising with scenario thinking (Bloomerang

Leadership and Communication 

• Oct. 1, noon
  Talking Teen Services - Understanding Teens: Intersectional Factors (part 1 of 3) (Colorado State Library)
• Oct. 1, 1 p.m.
  Critical Data Storytelling for Libraries (CARLI)
• Oct. 1, 1 p.m.
  How Social Media is Used as an Information Discovery Tool (Georgia Library Association)
• Oct. 6, 11 a.m.
  Guide to Becoming a Data-Powered Organization: Unlocking Your Organization’s Greatest Assets (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Oct. 7, 11 a.m.
  Region 7 Presents: Building Recovery through Community (NNLM)
• Oct. 7, noon
  The Art of The Possible: Building Data Strategy for Greater Mission Impact (Techsoup)
• Oct. 7, noon
  Crafting a Memorable Staff Development Day (ALA Learning Round Table)
• Oct. 8, 11 a.m.
  Navigating AI in Academic Libraries: Ethics, Policy, and Practical Implementation Strategies (Choice 360)
• Oct. 8, 1 p.m.
  Leading Through Disruption: How Public Libraries Adapt, Innovate, and Thrive (Library Journal)
• Oct. 8, 1 p.m.
  Training That Works: A Simple Guide for Nonprofits (Niche Academy)
• Oct. 9, 10 a.m.
  Innovative Teaching: Exploring Women’s Histories with Newly Digitized Primary Source Archives and Media (Choice 360)
• Oct. 13, 10 a.m.
  Recurring Revenue, Real Impact: A Strategic Blueprint for Monthly Giving Success (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Oct. 14, 1 p.m.
  Build the Board You Need (Candid.Learning)
• Oct. 14, 1 p.m.
  Toxic Talk: Identifying Harmful Workplace Communication Styles that are Destroying Morale and Trust (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries)
• Oct. 15, noon
  Talking Teen Services - Understanding Teens: Biases and Stereotypes (part 2 of 3) (Colorado State Library)
• Oct. 15, 1 p.m.
  Empowered Employees, Exceptional Service: The EX-CX Connection (Govloop)
• Oct. 20, 11 a.m.
  Getting Started with AI in Teams: 3 Things Every Nonprofit Needs to Know (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Oct. 21, 1 p.m.
  Effective, Sustainable, and Practical Library Assessment (Association of Southeastern Research Libraries)
• Oct. 22, 1 p.m.
  Data for Everyone: An Introduction to Spreadsheets (NNLM)
• Oct. 22, 1 p.m.
  Working Well with Your Team: How to Manage Your Staff (Niche Academy)
• Oct. 23, 1 p.m.
  Scalability of Community-Based Participatory Research: Older Adults and Technology (NNLM)
• Oct. 27, 10 a.m.
  Strategy-Culture Connection: How Culture Powers Strategic Change (Nonprofit Learning Lab)
• Oct. 27, 3 p.m.
  The Do’s and Don’ts of Delegation (Govloop)
• Oct. 28, 2 p.m.
  10 Things Every Library Friend or Trustee Should Know (WebJunction)
• Oct. 29, noon
  Talking Teen Services - Understanding Teens: Building Positive Relationships (part 3 of 3) (Colorado State Library)
• Oct. 29, 1 p.m.
  How to Achieve Mission Success (Govloop)
• Oct. 30, 10 a.m.
  Curriculum Shifts and Library Strategy: Insights from Emerging Higher Ed Trends (Choice 360)

Technology 

• Oct. 6, 3 p.m.
  The Future of AI and CX (Govloop)
• Oct. 14, 10 a.m.
  Guardians of Information: Preparing Academic Libraries for Cyber Threats– an SNSI Security Summit (Choice 360)
• Oct. 16, 1 p.m.
  Connecting QuickBooks Online to Your Bank and Effectively Using the Bank Feed Feature (Techsoup)
• Oct. 23, 10 a.m.
  AI in the Library: Balancing Use and Institutional Adoption of Digital Tools (Choice 360)
• Oct. 28, 10 a.m.
  Ask. Discover. Cite. How Academic AI is Redefining Discovery (Library Journal)
• Oct. 30, 1 p.m.
  The Rise of Agentic AI in Gov (Govloop)

Wellness

• Oct. 14, noon  
  Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: Navigating Anxiety, Uncertainty, and Systemic Challenges in Librarianship (Colorado State Library)
• Oct. 29, 2 p.m.
  Tarot for Well-Being (Infopeople)

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. 

• 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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