New Webinar: "Building Great Teams: Unlocking Collaboration with Agile Practices" with Crystal Trice

Building Great Teams:
Unlocking Collaboration with Agile Practices
Part of the Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security / Essential Librarian Series with Crystal Trice and hosted by Dr. Steve Albrecht

OVERVIEW: 

Strong teams are the foundation of every library’s success. This webinar introduces practical Agile practices designed to help library staff build trust and foster collaboration. You’ll learn how to create a positive team culture, empower team members, and implement practical strategies to strengthen connections and morale. With real-world examples and actionable tools, this session will equip you to cultivate teams that thrive together.

LEARNING AGENDA:

• Why Agile practices are a game-changer for library teams
• How to use rituals like daily huddles, retrospectives, and kaizen for continuous improvement
• Strategies to increase team morale and engagement by fostering trust, autonomy, and human connection
• Tips for designing meaningful team rituals that enhance work-life balance and strengthen team bonds
• Ways to apply Agile principles regardless of your role in the organization

This 60-minute overview session on is another in our “Essential Librarian Series,” designed to be shown to new staff and leaders and to provide a refresher for all who work in the library. The presentation slides will be available to all who participate.

DATE: Thursday, February 13th, 2025 at 2:00 pm US - Eastern Time

COST:

• $99/person - includes any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
• FREE for those on individual or group all-access passes for the Dr. Albrecht Safe Library Series (see below).

TO REGISTER: 

Click HERE to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.

If you need to be invoiced or to pay by check, have any trouble registering for a webinar, or have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

NOTE: please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.

SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

• Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
• The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
• Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

ALL-ACCESS PASSES:

• This program qualifies for free participation by Safe Library / Dr. Albrecht all-access pass-holders and pass-holding organizations.
• All-access annual passes include unlimited access to the recordings of all of Dr. Albrecht's previous Library 2.0 webinars, plus live and recorded access to his new webinars for one year. These are hosted either at Library 2.0 or Niche Academy (if preferred).
• For a $499 individual all-access annual pass to all of Dr. Albrecht's live webinars and recordings for one year, please click here. 
• Inquiries for all-access organizational contracts should be directed to admin@library20.com.

CRYSTAL TRICE

With over two decades of experience in libraries and education, Crystal Trice is passionate about helping people work together more effectively in transformative, but practical ways. As founder of Scissors & Glue, LLC, Crystal partners with libraries and schools to bring positive changes through interactive training and hands-on workshops. She is a Certified Scrum Master and has completed a Masters Degree in Library & Information Science, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. She is a frequent national presenter on topics ranging from project management to conflict resolution to artificial intelligence. She currently resides near Portland, Oregon, with her extraordinary husband, fuzzy cows, goofy geese, and noisy chickens. Crystal enjoys fine-tip Sharpies, multi-colored Flair pens, blue painters tape, and as many sticky notes as she can get her hands on. 

DR. STEVE ALBRECHT

Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons.

In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. His new book, The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure, was just published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment.

He has written 25 books on business, security, and leadership topics. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with six dogs and two cats.

More on The Safe Library at thesafelibrary.com. Follow on X (Twitter) at @thesafelibrary and on YouTube @thesafelibrary. Dr. Albrecht's professional website is drstevealbrecht.com.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: 

January 30, 2025

March 13, 2025

 

 

 

New Webinar: "Personal Learning and Professional Growth with AI" with Reed Hepler

Personal Learning and Professional Growth with AI
A Library 2.0  / Learning Revolution "AI Essentials" Webinar with Reed Hepler

OVERVIEW: 

This 60-minute session explores how AI tools can enhance personal learning and skills development for professional growth. The rapidly evolving landscape of AI presents an unprecedented opportunity for individuals to harness its power for creativity and intellectual development. The session addresses the transformative potential of AI tools in daily life, while also considering the ethical implications and privacy concerns of integrating AI into personal routines.

As technology reshapes our world, this workshop provides practical strategies for leveraging AI to enhance self-directed learning and career development and to empower attendees to take control of their learning journeys and unlock their full potential with these advanced tools. Participants will explore techniques for goal setting, creative learning, and acquiring new skills, guided by project-based and question-based learning frameworks.
The session aims to help participants understand that personal learning and professional productivity are interconnected. By enhancing personal well-being and fostering intellectual curiosity, individuals can achieve greater success and satisfaction in their professional lives.

Through practical examples, real-world applications, and hands-on activities, participants will leave with actionable strategies to integrate AI into their personal and professional routines effectively and ethically.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Understand the potential of AI tools to support personal and professional learning.
• Explore methods to boost creativity, productivity, and intellectual inquiry with AI.
• Address ethical considerations and privacy concerns in using AI for personal learning.
• Learn practical techniques for using AI to develop goals, acquire skills, and track progress.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completing this webinar, attendees will be able to:

• Utilize AI to enhance creativity, engagement, and problem-solving in personal and professional contexts.
• Design personalized learning plans and career development strategies with AI tools.
• Apply AI for subject-matter exploration, project-based learning, and even hobby development while critically assessing and evaluating learning outcomes.
• Set actionable goals, measure progress, and refine strategies using AI-generated insights and feedback

This 60-minute webinar is part of our Library 2.0 "AI Essentials" Series. The recording and presentation slides will be available to all who register.

DATE: Friday, February 7th, 2025, 2:00 - 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time

COST:

• $99/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.

TO REGISTER: 

Click HERE to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.

If you need to be invoiced or pay by check, if you have any trouble registering for a webinar, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

NOTE: please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.

SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

• Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
• The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
• Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Learning Revolution or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

ALL-ACCESS PASSES: This webinar is not a part of the Library 2.0 or Learning Revolution All-Access programs.

REED C. HEPLER

Reed Hepler is a digital initiatives librarian, instructional designer, artificial intelligence practitioner and consultant, and M.Ed. student at Idaho State University in the Instructional Design and Technology program. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, with emphases in Archives Management and Digital Curation, from Indiana University. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in History with minors in Anthropology and Religious Studies as well as a Museum Certificate. He has worked at nonprofits, corporations, and educational institutions encouraging information literacy and effective education. Combining all of these degrees and experiences, Reed strives to promote ethical librarianship and educational initiatives.

Currently, Reed works as a Digital Initiatives Librarian at a college in Idaho and also has his own consulting firm, heplerconsulting.com. His views and projects can be seen on his LinkedIn page or his blog, CollaborAItion, on Substack. Contact him at reed.hepler@gmail.com for more information.

 

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS: 

January 23, 2025

January 24, 2025

January 30, 2025

March 13, 2025

New Wellness Webinar: "Practical Approaches for Librarians Navigating Anxiety and Uncertainty"

Practical Approaches for Librarians Navigating Anxiety and Uncertainty
A Masterclass with Loida Garcia-Febo
The Library 2.0 Mental Health and Wellness Series

OVERVIEW

Since 2020, the world has experienced significant, unpredictable changes. Both man-made and natural crises have created high-pressure environments where librarians must balance feelings of dread and anxiety for the unknown with serving their communities, managing diverse needs, and adapting to constant change. The demands of the job, combined with external stressors like uncertainty and the fear of the unknown, can lead to emotional exhaustion and heightened feelings of anxiety.

This Masterclass equips librarians with practical tools and approaches to navigate these challenges with confidence and well-being. By learning strategies for managing high anxiety, maintaining mental balance, and embracing adaptability, librarians can better support themselves and the communities they serve.

The class introduces actionable methods historically used, worldwide, to help individuals thrive even in uncertain and high-anxiety situations. Through a focus on simple yet powerful strategies, attendees will explore tools to manage emotions, create a sense of control, foster supportive connections, and maintain a hopeful mindset. By cultivating a sense of purpose and embracing change, librarians can continue to serve their communities effectively, compassionately, and with resilience. This session aims to empower librarians to face evolving circumstances with strength, clarity, and a positive outlook, ensuring their well-being while maintaining their essential roles in the community.

Participants will create a personalized “Wellness Empowerment Toolkit” including sections on emotional management tools, purpose and focus strategies, support network building, hope and future-focused thinking, and custom AI and online resources. The kit reflects the core strategies for managing anxiety and uncertainty, and maintaining well-being including sections with practical tools that librarians can refer to in high-pressure situations to stay focused, positive, and grounded.

This 60-minute training is presented by Library 2.0 and hosted by Loida Garcia-Febo. A handout copy of the presentation slides will be available to all who participate.

OUTCOMES:

• Attendees will learn practical techniques for managing emotions in high-pressure circumstances
• Attendees will explore how to maintain a strong sense of purpose
• Attendees will learn strategies for building and strengthening support networks
• Attendees will discover how to cultivate adaptability and a positive mindset
• Attendees will explore harnessing hope and long-term focus
• Attendees will create a personalized “Wellness Empowerment Tookit” including AI for wellness resources

DATE: Thursday, January 30th, 2024, 2:00 - 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time

COST:

• $99/person - includes any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate.
• To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
• This masterclass is not included in the individual or group annual all-inclusive all-access passes for the Dr. Steve Albrecht Service, Safety, and Security webinars.

TO REGISTER: 

Click HERE to pay. You can pay by credit card (or see below for other options) and you will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee. See below for group registrations.

If you have any trouble registering for an event, if you need to be invoiced or pay by check, or if you have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within 24 hours.

SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

• Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
• The ability to show the masterclass (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
• Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

RECORDING: The masterclass will be recorded and registered participants will have non-expiring access to the recording.

LOIDA GARCIA-FEBO

Loida Garcia-Febo is a Puerto Rican American librarian and International Library Consultant with 25 years of experience as an expert in library services to diverse populations and human rights. President of the American Library Association 2018-2019. Garcia-Febo is worldwide known for her passion about diversity, communities, sustainability, innovation and digital transformation, library workers, library advocacy, wellness for library workers, and new librarians about which she has taught in 44 countries. In her job, she helps libraries, companies and organizations strategize programs, services and strategies in areas related to these topics and many others. Garcia-Febo has a Bachelors in Business Education, Masters in Library and Information Sciences.

Garcia-Febo has a long history of service with library associations. Highlights include- At IFLA: Governing Board 2013-2017, Co-Founder of IFLA New Professionals, two-term Member/Expert resource person of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee of IFLA (FAIFE), two-term member of the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section of IFLA (CPDWL). Currently: CPDWL Advisor, Information Coordinator of the Management of Library Associations Section. Currently at ALA: Chair, IRC United Nations Subcommittee, Chair Public Awareness Committee. Recently at ALA: Chair, Status of Women in Librarianship and Chair, ALA United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force developing a multi-year strategic plan for ALA. Born, raised, and educated in Puerto Rico, Garcia-Febo has advocated for libraries at the United Nations, the European Union Parliament, U.S. Congress, NY State Senate, NY City Hall, and on sidewalks and streets in various states in the U.S.

New Webinar: "Hiring Better: Tools for Finding and Selecting Staff at All Levels"

Hiring Better:
Tools for Finding and Selecting Staff at All Levels
Part of the Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security / Essential Librarian Series with Emily Weak. and hosted by Dr. Steve Albrecht

OVERVIEW: 

Whether you are hiring library workers for the first time or the 40th, this webinar will help you hire better. Presenter Emily Weak, founder of Hiring Librarians, draws on over a decade of her experience speaking to thousands of professionals about their perspectives on hiring – and being hired – in libraries and the greater LIS field.

This webinar will provide an overview of emerging (and a few established) hiring trends. Attendees will find options – small and large steps, adjustments to traditional practices, and whole new directions – they can take to improve their recruitment and selection of staff at all levels.

While she will touch on many trends, here are two key areas:

1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is an area of burgeoning focus in LIS. For example, in 2021, in one of only four revisions since its creation in 1939, the ALA added a new DEI-focused principle to its Code of Ethics. DEI is a reflective process, and libraries that have already committed to incorporating DEI will benefit from this webinar’s discussion of practices and experiences. And in many libraries, hiring processes remain stagnant and have not caught up to this change. This webinar will provide a friendly, practical, and encouraging resource to assist in improving practices.
2. The LIS field is also dealing with a post-pandemic-induced reckoning. Workers in all fields, and library workers in particular, are re-evaluating their commitment to jobs that previously seemed okay. Library workers are looking for new jobs, and they want jobs that treat them better, starting from their very first interaction: the hiring process. This webinar will explore how to meet the higher standards and expectations of today’s workforce.

Hiring Better benefits everyone; when libraries find better, more contented staff, and staff will find more fulfilling workplaces.

LEARNING AGENDA:

• An overview of library hiring trends. Stories, examples, and perspectives from other practitioners will allow participants to benchmark their own experiences.
• Hiring is often an isolated process. The norms of a single institution are often taken as norms for all institutions, and people are unable to see alternatives. Library leaders who hire will benefit from seeing where their organization is situated in the larger spectrum of possibilities.
• At the end of the session, participants will be able to list three practical, achievable steps their library organizations can take to improve their hiring processes.

This 60-minute overview session on is another in our “Essential Librarian Series,” designed to be shown to new staff and leaders and to provide a refresher for all who work in the library. The presentation slides will be available to all who participate.

DATE: Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, at 2:00 pm US - Eastern Time

COST:

• $99/person - includes any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
• FREE for those on individual or group all-access passes for the Dr. Albrecht Safe Library Series (see below).

TO REGISTER: 

Click HERE to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.

If you need to be invoiced or to pay by check, have any trouble registering for a webinar, or have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

NOTE: please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.

SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

• Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
• The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
• Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

ALL-ACCESS PASSES:

• This program qualifies for free participation by Safe Library / Dr. Albrecht all-access pass-holders and pass-holding organizations.
• All-access annual passes include unlimited access to the recordings of all of Dr. Albrecht's previous Library 2.0 webinars, plus live and recorded access to his new webinars for one year. These are hosted either at Library 2.0 or Niche Academy (if preferred).
• For a $499 individual all-access annual pass to all of Dr. Albrecht's live webinars and recordings for one year, please click here. 
• Inquiries for all-access organizational contracts should be directed to admin@library20.com.

EMILY WEAK

As the founder of the long-running Hiring Librarians project, Emily has surveyed more than 2000 workers on both sides of the hiring table, in the wide field of Library and Information services. She has also worked with researchers and authors, curated crowd-sourced resources for interview preparation and resume/CV review, and even started a podcast. She is proud of her work as an Equity Advisor with the Pacific Library Partnership, in outreach and engagement at public libraries in Oakland, CA and Mountain View, CA, and being on the board of the California Library Association (2018-2021). She has written two book chapters and been published in Library Leadership & Management; Public Libraries Magazine; and Reference & User Services Quarterly, among other titles. 

Prior to becoming a librarian, she was variously: a circus student, a cheesemonger, and a grocery store manager. She is online at www.EmilyWeak.com and www.HiringLibrarians.com.

DR. STEVE ALBRECHT

Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons.

In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. His new book, The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure, was just published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment.

He has written 25 books on business, security, and leadership topics. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with six dogs and two cats.

More on The Safe Library at thesafelibrary.com. Follow on X (Twitter) at @thesafelibrary and on YouTube @thesafelibrary. Dr. Albrecht's professional website is drstevealbrecht.com.

 

New Masterclass (Special Format): "The Skeptical Guide to AI: Exploring the Big Questions" with Crystal Trice

The Skeptical Guide to AI: Exploring the Big Questions
A 2-hour In-depth Masterclass with Crystal Trice
+ 4 Follow-up Deeper-dive Sessions
Live and Recorded

Are you skeptical of all the AI hype? Do you find yourself questioning the promises of what AI can really do? Are you concerned that the excitement around AI might overshadow its limitations and risks? Do you want to ensure you understand AI's implications for both personal and professional decision-making?

This two-hour Masterclass invites library and education professionals to explore the most pressing ethical and philosophical questions about artificial intelligence, grounded in the critical thinking and thoughtful engagement that define our professions. For four weeks following the initial session, there will be weekly one-hour live conversation sessions for those who want to dive deeper or ask questions (optional, of course, and recorded for independent listening).

TOPICS:

• Why are we scared of AI? Exploring fears about AI’s impact on society and our professions.
• How intelligent is it? Breaking down what AI can and cannot do.
• Why isn’t it factual? Examining the limitations of AI in truth-telling and reliability.
• Is it cheating? Grappling with the ethical use of AI in intellectual and creative work.
• Should I treat AI like a person? Discussing the risks and ethics of anthropomorphizing AI.
• Will it take over the world? Exploring concerns about control, power, and existential risks.
• Who owns AI creativity? Discussing questions of originality, authorship, and creative ownership in AI-generated work.
• Is AI worth the effort? Evaluating the return on investment for libraries using AI, balancing time, costs, and benefits.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

Those who are interested in exploring the ethical and philosophical dimensions of AI in their work. Participants will also gain discussion questions and insights that they can take back to their organization, sparking inspiration for sharing knowledge and fostering broader conversations within their teams. The series provides a space to reflect, question, and engage deeply with AI’s implications for the profession. By the end of the series, participants will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of AI while staying true to organizational values.

SCHEDULE: 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24th, 2025, 12:00 - 2:00 PM US-EASTERN TIME
The primary masterclass can be (but does not have to be) attended as a 2-hour live event. The recording, with the slide deck and chat log, will be released immediately to registrants for unlimited post-event viewing and review at a pace that is best for you.

FOLLOWING FRIDAYS: JANUARY 31st, FEBRUARY 7th, 14th, & 21st, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 PM US-EASTERN TIME
You are welcome to join and participate in specific topic drill-downs as much or as little as you are able. These sessions will be recorded and available to registered participants.

COST: 

Cost includes live attendance, any-time access to the recordings and the presentation slides, and receipt of a participation certificate. (Please note that this masterclass is not a part of Library 2.0's Service, Safety, and Security series, and is therefore not included in the all-access program for Dr. Albrecht's webinars.)

• $199/person single participant
• $169/person for 2 - 3 participants from the same organization
• $699 Institutional License I (up to 10 staff)
• $849 Institutional License II (up to 25 staff)
• $999 Institutional License III (up to 50 staff)
• Institutional License IV - more than 50 staff (by quotation)

REGISTRATION:

CLICK HERE

All registrations have access to view the recordings. Please allow 24 hours for registration confirmation. Check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day. Emails come from library20email@gmail.com or admin@library20.com and the mention of AI seems to be triggering spam filtering in many cases. For any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

CRYSTAL TRICE

With over two decades of experience in libraries and education, Crystal Trice is passionate about helping people work together more effectively in transformative, but practical ways. As founder of Scissors & Glue, LLC, Crystal partners with libraries and schools to bring positive changes through interactive training and hands-on workshops. She is a Certified Scrum Master and has completed a Masters Degree in Library & Information Science, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. She is a frequent national presenter on topics ranging from project management to conflict resolution to artificial intelligence. She currently resides near Portland, Oregon, with her extraordinary husband, fuzzy cows, goofy geese, and noisy chickens. Crystal enjoys fine-tip Sharpies, multi-colored Flair pens, blue painters tape, and as many sticky notes as she can get her hands on.

TESTIMONIALS:

PRAISE FOR CRYSTAL: "Great information about AI. The instructor was very informative and professional." • "Crystal did a great job of keeping everyone engaged!" • "Well done. Made AI more accessible to me and less scary – Enjoyable and time well spent. Thanks!" • "Very interactive and great material!" • "Crystal was knowledgeable and paced the information really well. I am eager to share this information about AI with my colleagues." • "Wonderful presenter. New information for me and it was presented in an easy to follow format. Crystal encouraged participation in an engaging manner." • "I have created a whole list of ideas that I want/need to try. I have been very apprehensive about using AI. Now I am excited to try some new things." • "Crystal was an amazing instructor with so many practical and easy to implement ideas and strategies!"

PRAISE FOR LIBRARY 2.0 AI EVENTS: "This was excellent! I'm at the very beginning of my knowledge of ChatGPT, and I came away with much good information, and more questions (as this tech is evolving), as well as thoughts about how we can put this to use, safely. At no point did I feel this was overly simplified, yet it was still accessible for my (lack of) knowledge level. I will attend more. Thank you!!" • "This has been a terrific set of sessions. The chat has been amazing as well." • "This was informative, especially since I am new to AI and LLMs. Thank you so much!" • "Thank you! This has been helpful and I appreciate the complementary practical ai tutorials series." • "Thank you. This was informative and gave me much to think about beyond going to ChatGPT and just dabbling with questions or prompts." • "Fantastic events!" • "Very Informative!" • “The feedback from the first session has been wonderful. Personally, I really knew zero about ChatGPT and now I am intrigued and a little scared (because it looks addictive).” • “Thank you, and thank you so much for this boot camp!!! ” • “Many thanks Steve – and special thanks for this series – so helpful in our work we do with schools.” • “I wanted to express my gratitude for the first course and I am excited for the upcoming one on Friday. It's been an excellent learning opportunity, and I'm looking forward to diving deeper into AI language models.” • “Thank you!! Such a good presentation.” • “Best session I've attended in a very long time!” • “Thank you! This was great!!” • “Very helpful! Thanks” • “Thank you,this was great!” • “Fantastic, thank you - can't wait for the next sessions :)” • “Fascinating! Thank you” • “Thanks for this, very informative and thought provoking” • “Thank you for a very informative session!” • “This was great. Thank you.” • “This was a thought-provoking session! Happy to hear a recording will be available. I need to refer back to it to review/reflect on these nuggets of info! Looking fwd to the next one!” • “This is fascinating. I can't wait for the next two courses.” • “Really well done, thanks!” • “Thank you!!!! So very excited!” • “Thought provoking. Thank you.” • “Thank you! So informative and helpful.” • “Thank you for making ChatGPT so much more approachable, less intimidating” • “This was a thought-provoking session!” • “I am learning so much from your ChatGPT Bootcamp and am loving the sessions: thank you!” • “Thank you so much for such great presentations.” • “Thanks for this! Super interesting.” • “Thank you so much.. very informative and eye opening” • “Thank you for this valuable information!” • “Thank you so much. Sessions are extremely valuable.” • “Thanks! This boot camp has been a big hit so far :) ” • “This has been fantastic!” • “I cannot thank you enough for this extremely timely and informative series. You do an excellent job of organizing your information, engaging with your audience, and giving us practical takeaways.” • “This is a fantastic series and I am so grateful that you are doing this!” • “Thanks so much for these wonderful Bootcamp sessions on ChatGPT.” • “Thank you for your very thoughtful approach to the bootcamp! ” • “A note of gratitude for providing these webinars for the world! My Library colleagues and I attended your Bootcamp for Librarians and were so impressed with your content and delivery that we wanted our teachers to learn from you too!” • “Lots of useful information. Looking forward to having access to slide decks and resources to make use of in my job.” • “Thank you!” • “This was great. Lots to learn.” • “Thank you it was so beneficial.” • “It's was great. ChatGPT is new to me, so now I want to dig deeper, learn how to use it well and help my students to do so.”

"AI and Libraries: Literacy, Ethics, and Responsible Use" - Mini-Conference Keynote Panel Announced

OVERVIEW:

Our first Library 2.025 mini-conference (and our third mini-conference on AI and Libraries), "AI and Libraries: Literacy, Ethics, and Responsible Use," will be held online (and for free) on Thursday, March 13th, 2025, from 12:00 - 3:00 pm US-Pacific Time.

We invite librarians, educators, technologists, and thought leaders to explore the critical role that libraries can play in addressing both the opportunities and ethical challenges of AI. From encouraging digital literacy and ethical awareness to guiding the responsible use of AI, libraries are potentially at the forefront showing how emerging AI technologies can be used equitably and responsibly in their communities.

We will explore actionable insights to help navigate the complex ethical questions relating to AI and the unique role of libraries and librarians in addressing them. We will discuss practical strategies for integrating AI tools into library and education settings using ethical best practices while empowering users with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world. And we’ll focus on how libraries can not only adapt to this rapidly changing landscape but can also act as catalysts for knowledge diffusion, shaping a more informed, and innovative future for all of our users.

Our special conference chair is Chad Mairn, an Information Services Librarian, Assistant Professor, and founder of the Innovation Lab at St. Petersburg College.

We look forward to gathering online with you for this event!

REGISTRATION:

This is a free event, being held live online and also recorded.

REGISTER HERE
to attend live and/or to receive the recording links afterward.
Please also join the Library 2.0 community to be kept updated on this and future events. 

Everyone is invited to participate in our Library 2.0 conference events, which are designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among information professionals worldwide. Each three-hour event consists of a keynote panel, 10-15 crowd-sourced thirty-minute presentations, and a closing keynote. 

Participants are encouraged to use #library2025 and #aiandlibraries on their social media posts about the event.

CONFERENCE CHAIR:

Chad Mairn
Professor and founder of the Innovation Lab at St. Petersburg College
OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL & SPECIAL ORGANIZER

Chad Mairn is a Professor, and founder of the Innovation Lab at St. Petersburg College. While an undergraduate studying Humanities at the University of South Florida (USF), Chad was awarded a Library of Congress Fellowship helping archive personal papers and other items in the Leonard Bernstein Collection. During his Library and Information Science graduate work, also at USF, Chad became a technology liaison between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Florida public libraries. Chad is also a faculty member in the School of Information at San José State University. Here is a link to Chad's SJSU faculty page.

KEYNOTE PANEL:

Nicole Hennig
ELearning developer & AI Education Specialist
OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL

Nicole Hennig is an expert in user experience and emerging technologies. She is currently an e-learning developer at the University of Arizona Libraries. Previously, she worked for the MIT Libraries as head of the user experience department. In her 14 years of experience at MIT, she won awards for innovation and worked to keep academics up to date with the best mobile technologies. In 2013 she started her own business helping librarians stay current with new technologies. She is the author of several books, including Keeping Up with Emerging Technologies, and Apps for Librarians. See a list of her published articles on Google Scholar. She now serves as an AI education specialist for librarians and library workers. To stay current with the latest in generative AI, sign up for her email newsletter, Generative AI News, and follow her on social media: Bluesky, Mastodon, or LinkedIn.

Reed C. Hepler
Digital Initiatives Librarian and Archivist for the College of Southern Idaho
OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL

Reed Hepler is the Digital Initiatives Librarian, Copyright Agent, and Archivist for the College of Southern Idaho. He obtained a Bachelor's Degree in History from Utah State University and a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from Indiana University. Currently, he is enrolled in the Master's Program in Instructional Design and Technology at Idaho State University. He has used his experiences in instructional technology, digital curation, copyright, records management, public communication, and database research to develop best practice guidelines for Generative AI use. He also applies these guidelines in his separate consulting company, heplerconsulting.com. In his corporate and educational work, Reed promotes ethical, equitable, and open technology and information access. He also advises on data privacy and confidentiality measures that should be at the forefront of generative AI interactions. His views and projects can be seen on his LinkedIn page or his blog, CollaborAItion, on Substack. Contact him at reed.hepler@gmail.com for more information.

Heather Sardis
Associate Director of Technology and Strategic Planning, MIT Libraries
OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL

Heather Sardis is the Associate Director for Technology and Strategic Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Libraries.  Prior to assuming her role at MIT, Heather directed the library of the California Academy of Sciences.  Her work in the nonprofit, humanitarian, and technical sectors is united by a focus on the social responsibilities of computing, and the role of information in technical and cultural transformation.  During her time at MIT, Heather has been an invited participant in the U.S. Library of Congress Machine Learning and Libraries Summit, a core member of the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing Task Force, and a member of the MIT Committee on Research Computing.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS:

Proposals for 30-minute concurrent presentations are now being accepted. Proposals will be evaluated and accepted in the order received. The link to submit proposals is HERE.

We encourage conference session submissions that: 

• Provide a foundational understanding of literacy, ethics, and the responsible use of AI in libraries and beyond.
• Apply strategies to foster AI literacy among library staff, patrons, and students, empowering them to critically assess and effectively use a variety of AI tools.
• Communicate ethical issues surrounding AI, including privacy, bias, and transparency, and understand the libraries' role in addressing these challenges.
• Share ways for libraries to serve as hubs for public discourse on AI, facilitating inclusive and informed community conversations, while maximizing the benefits of AI for their community.
• Demonstrate how to build partnerships with educators, thought leaders, technologists, and community organizations to address literacy, ethics, and responsible use issues in your community.
• Provide examples of how to create and advocate for policies that guide ethical and equitable AI use in libraries and other educational settings.
• Promote the unique opportunity libraries have right now to lead in our AI-driven world by fostering critical thinking, ethical awareness, and equitable access to technology.

To see the currently submitted proposals, you can go here.

SPONSORS:

The School of Information at San José State University is the founding conference sponsor. Please register as a member of the Library 2.0 network to be kept informed of future events. Recordings from previous years are available under the Archives tab at Library 2.0 and at the Library 2.0 YouTube channel.

 

Also sponsored by:

New Year, New You, New Webinar: "Empowering Women in the Library Workspace

Empowering Women in the Library Workspace:

Unlock Your Inner Strength with Resilience Training
Part of the Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security / Essential Librarian Series with Dr. Mary Beth Janke, Psy.D. and hosted by Dr. Steve Albrecht

OVERVIEW: 

Unlock your inner strength with Dr. Mary Beth Janke's Resilience Training. Designed by a former US Secret Service Agent and current Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, this transformative webinar program empowers women in the library work environment to face professional and personal challenges head-on.

Through proven strategies and actionable tools, you'll build mental toughness, emotional balance, and the confidence to thrive in any workplace situation. Whether you're seeking personal growth or professional development, Dr. Janke's unique blend of expertise, empowerment tools, and motivations will help you cultivate resilience and take control of your professional future.

Start your journey to a stronger, more empowered you today!

LEARNING AGENDA:

• Learn career success tips on how to navigate the library workspace, improve your interactions with bosses and colleagues, and handle conflicts.
• Enhance your opportunities to promote or expand our work roles to maximize your current and future strengths.
• Assess problematic bosses and co-workers and work around some of the typical issues that make work hard: gossip, sabotage, unreasonable demands, and creating better boundaries.
• Get help on better tools for male patrons who are obnoxious, problematic, or rude.

This 60-minute overview session on is another in our “Essential Librarian Series,” designed to be shown to new staff and leaders and to provide a refresher for all who work in the library. The presentation slides will be available to all who participate.

DATE: Thursday, January 16th, 2025, at 2:00 pm US - Eastern Time

COST:

• $99/person - includes any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate. To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
• FREE for those on individual or group all-access passes for the Dr. Albrecht Safe Library Series (see below).

TO REGISTER: 

Email address of attendee:

Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.

If you need to be invoiced or to pay by check, have any trouble registering for a webinar, or have any questions, please email admin@library20.com.

NOTE: please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.

SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):

• Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
• The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
• Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.

ALL-ACCESS PASSES:

• This program qualifies for free participation by Safe Library / Dr. Albrecht all-access pass-holders and pass-holding organizations.
• All-access annual passes include unlimited access to the recordings of all of Dr. Albrecht's previous Library 2.0 webinars, plus live and recorded access to his new webinars for one year. These are hosted either at Library 2.0 or Niche Academy (if preferred).
• For a $499 individual all-access annual pass to all of Dr. Albrecht's live webinars and recordings for one year, please click here. 
• Inquiries for all-access organizational contracts should be directed to admin@library20.com.

DR. MARY BETH JANKE

Steve Albrecht has known Dr. Mary Beth Janke as a friend and colleague for over 20 years.

As a dynamic speaker, writer, college professor, clinical and forensic psychologist, and coach, Dr. Mary Beth has long supported the efforts of women to achieve personal and professional success. She is the author of The Protector: A Woman’s Journey from the Secret Service to Protecting VIPs in the World’s Most Dangerous Places and her 2022 TedX talk, “How to Be a Badass at Any Age” has been widely viewed.

As she puts it:

“I always say: 'Tell me I can’t, I shouldn’t, or I’ll never, and I will rise up and show you that I can, I should, and I will always overcome.' Helping women overcome the fear of not being 'good' enough and not having what it takes to achieve their full potential in their careers and in life is a big part of the work I do today. As one of a small minority of women to become a Special Agent in the United States Secret Service and, then, as the only woman to ever officially protect a foreign president outside of the U.S., I know what it is to succeed in a world that was never designed for me to make it. I know what it’s like to feel like the world is against you… like all eyes are on you, just waiting for you to screw up. You see, women who are high-functioning, powerful, and full of potential often feel very alone. This emotional isolation means they spend a lot of time in their heads, worrying, thinking, and over-analyzing their decisions, their choices, and their lives. They have a burning desire to achieve; yet, they often lack a reliable or trustworthy source of support to help reach their goals. It’s my mission to become that source of support. So, if you are looking for answers, guidance, or a roadmap for achieving your life and career goals, you’re in the right place.”

DR. STEVE ALBRECHT

Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, and security. His programs are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace with all types of patrons.

In 2015, the ALA published his book, Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities. His new book, The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure, was just published by Rowman & Littlefield.

Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.A. in English, and a B.S. in Psychology. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment.

He has written 25 books on business, security, and leadership topics. He lives in Springfield, Missouri, with six dogs and two cats.

More on The Safe Library at thesafelibrary.com. Follow on X (Twitter) at @thesafelibrary and on YouTube @thesafelibrary. Dr. Albrecht's professional website is drstevealbrecht.com.