2025-26 Continuing Education

Use the hard work you put into collecting your statistics and completing the State Annual Report to show your community why your library is a good investment! This course will cover visual reports available in the new software used for the State Annual Report, benchmarking your library against comparable libraries in the state, comparing and contrasting your library's statistics over the years, and the stories these numbers can tell.

Trainer: Kelly LaRocca, Library Development

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Date/Time: Thursday, March 26, 2026, 9:00am – 10:30am

Explore how Gale LegalForms from the State Library of Louisiana supports patrons with essential legal documents in this focused Power of Attorney and Health Directives training. Explore the most commonly requested forms, learn best practices for helping patrons understand and complete them accurately, and gain tips for navigating legal requirements. Build confidence in guiding users through these important life‑planning documents and empowering them to take informed action. Register today to strengthen your legal reference skills and help your community access the tools they need!

Trainer: Tammi Burke, Cengage/Gale

Cost: Free of charge

Session A: March 26, 2026, 10:00am – 11:15am

Session B: March 26, 2026, 1:00pm – 2:15pm

Explore the career pathways, job readiness tools, certification prep, and technical skill-building resources already included in your HomeworkLA service and learn how to help patrons make the most of them.

Trainer: Ashlenn Wellbrock, tutor.com

Cost: Free

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 9:00am – 10:00am

This session showcases Udemy, a powerful platform offering thousands of video-based courses in business, technology, personal development, and more. Learn how to navigate the interface, search for relevant content, and support patrons in accessing high-quality, self-paced content specific to your user’s language learning needs.

Trainer: Tammi Burke, Cengage/ Gale

Cost: Free of charge

Dates/Times: Exact Date TBA

Session A: April 2026, 10:00am - 11:15am

Session B: April 2026, 1:00pm - 2:15pm

This event allows the opportunity to participate in a variety of trainings reflective of current library trends while also giving staff the chance to network, share, and learn with peers from across the state. Agenda to be released in early March. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Cost: $45.00 per participant

Location:

State Library of Louisiana

701 N 4th St

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

This event allows the opportunity to participate in a variety of trainings reflective of current library trends while also giving staff the chance to network, share, and learn with peers from across the state. Agenda to be released in early March. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Cost: $45.00 per participant

Location:

Lincoln Parish Library- Events Center

910 N. Trenton St.

Ruston, LA 71270

This session will help you assist your patrons with routine legal inquiries. Some of the  

       topics covered in this session include the following:

                  - Researching LA Revised Statute

                  - Obtaining and amending vital records

                  - Child Custody & Grandparents’ Rights

                  - Heirs’ Property

                  - Labor & Employment Rights

           Trainer: Kirsten Campbell, Louisiana Collection

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 9:00am – 10:00am

Even the most savvy of internet users can find it difficult to sort through the noise and find accurate information today. This session will focus on popular methods for evaluating sources, questions to help identify bias, and fact-checking resources in the time of fake news and A.I. reporting.

Trainer: Addyson Smith, Reference

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 22, 2026, 9:00am – 10:30am

Guest Presenter: Angela Greer, Children's Services Coordinator, Ouachita Parish Public Library

Cost: Free

While customer service is often the name of the game, we also need to know when policies and procedures play an important role in our daily interactions. Join us as we talk about best practices for keeping your patrons smiling but also recognizing when an interaction has escalated and next steps need to be followed. 

Trainer: Brittany Whitfield, Library Development

Cost: $15.00 per participant

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, 9:00am – 10:00am

The new year of Tech Fest is here! Tech Fests past have featured keynote speakers on malware, phishing, security issues, securing networks, networking, hardware, software, and the adoption of new technologies for public libraries. Discussions include consultations with experts in the field, as well as the experiences of library IT staff. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Cost: $45.00 per participant

Dates/Time: Friday, May 1, 2026 – 9:30am – 3:30pm – State Library (Baton Rouge)