2025-26 Continuing Education

This course introduces the basics of interpersonal relations, communication, and teamwork. Emphasis is on providing excellence in customer service and effective communication in real life library situations. The course will consist of 9 weekly webinars with homework assignments, readings, a team project, and a final exam on week 10. This meets the requirements for LSSCP certification and is a core course.

Trainer: Michele Jones and Brittany Whitfield, Library Development

Cost: $200.00 per participant for Louisiana public library staff | $300.00 for others

Learn all the ins and outs of the Louisiana Readers’ Choice Awards Program and how you can get free promotional materials to best implement this program at your library or school.

Trainer: Jamie Hebert, Center for the Book

Cost: Free of charge

Date/Times:

Session A: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.

Session B: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Session C: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

These are webinars to demonstrate the many features of HomeworkLA, and anyone (educators, librarians, parents, councilors, etc.) may attend. The sessions will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be emailed to anyone who registers. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Trainer: Ashlenn Wellbrock, Tutor.com

Cost: Free of charge

Dates/Times: Wednesday, August 19, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

The New Directors’ Boot Camp will be an intense, two-day workshop valuable to new directors and those needing a refresher course. Topics include library laws and governance, policies and procedures, planning, media basics, human resources and staffing, and facilities/building maintenance.

Trainer: Angela Greer, Children’s Service Coordinator, Ouachita Parish Public

Library

Cost: Free of charge

Dates/Times: Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

This course will focus on supervision and management themes, including personnel employment laws, staff development planning, policies and procedures, short and long-range planning, managing interpersonal relationships, staff evaluation, basic marketing concepts, budgeting, and team building. There will be assignments and opportunities for interaction. This course may be taken in conjunction with LSSC or as a standalone.

Trainer: Kelly LaRocca, Associate State Librarian, and Giovanni Tairov, Deputy State Librarian

Cost: $200.00 per participant for Louisiana public library staff | $300.00 for others

Does your library have a millage that will be before the voters soon? Not sure where to start? Get an overview of millage elections in Louisiana, how to equip your team for the campaign, the do’s and don’ts of messaging, and tips for reaching as many voters as possible.

Trainer:, Kelly LaRocca, Associate State Librarian

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Dates/Times: Thursday, August, 27, 2026. 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Join library staff for a roundtable focused on this year’s youth summer reading program. For this meeting, we'll go over all things 2026 Summer Reading, sharing highs and lows, and looking ahead as we transition to the new summer reading theme for 2027, “Reading Expands Our Universe.”

Trainer: Addyson Smith, Library Development

Cost: Free of charge

Dates/Times: Thursday, August 27, 2026, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Join us for a look at what’s to come for the 22nd Louisiana Book Festival. Both sessions will include general information, tips to plan your day, and ways to become more involved. The adult session will highlight the Louisiana Writer Award recipient, the State Poet Laureate program, cooking demonstrations, and a sneak peek at our featured authors. The youth session will cover the Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award ceremony, planned activities for the Young Readers Pavillion and Teen HQ, costume characters, and a sneak peek at our featured children’s, middle grade, and YA authors.

Trainer:, Jamie Hebert, Center for the Book

Cost: Free of charge

Dates/Times:

Adult Session: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 9:00 - 10:00am

Youth Session: Thursday, September 3, 2026, 9:00 - 10:00am

Trainer:, Brittany Whitfield, Library Development

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Dates/Times: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

This session will help you assist your patrons with ensuring their academic success.

Some of the topics covered in this session are the following:

Trainer:, Kirsten Campbell, Louisiana Collection

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Dates/Times: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Improve your aim in targeting the needs of your library’s patrons. This session offers step-by-step guidance to help you conduct a good reference interview.

Trainer: Reference Department

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Dates/Times: Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.