In this webinar, Angela Hursh, founder of the popular website SuperLibraryMarketing, will give you the basics of library marketing and share tips to promote your branch, events, and collection without having to go back to school to get a marketing degree. This presentation was recorded on March 10, 2020, and runs approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

Ileana C. Serrano, Data Dissemination Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau, helps participants navigate the census.gov website and demonstrates how to access a variety of census data. Among the topics that are covered during this 90-minute webinar include: Accessing data by geography(service area) Comparing American Community Survey survey vs. Decennial Survey Overview of economic data for use with business plans Census Bureau QuickFacts Census Business Builder This webinar was held on December 8, 2021 and is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

A crisis is any situation that threatens the integrity or reputation of your organization. This could include funding reductions, safety or security events, or health issues at your library. In this webinar, you will learn how to create a Crisis Communications Plan so you can be prepared and know how you will communicate in the event of a crisis. This includes who will communicate, what they will say, what audiences need to hear the message, and how you will reach them. You will also learn the distinction between a Crisis Communications Plan and a Crisis Response Plan. This presentation was recorded on September 13, 2022, and runs just under one hour. The presentation slides can be accessed here.  

If you don't tell your story, someone else will tell it for you. At a time where libraries are constantly facing budget cuts, it is imperative that librarians effectively communicate the value and benefits of libraries in the community. This 90-min workshop will walk you through the steps to make marketing and sharing your message attainable and sustainable. Topics: -Storytelling: what it is, what it is not, and where libraries fit in -Social media: the do's, the dont's, templates, and strategic plans -Developing a SWOT analysis of your library -How, when, and where to network and make it count -The power of language in marketing materials, newsletters, flyers, and websites Desired Outcomes: -Tell library's story pitch and tailor it to specific stakeholders and community leaders -Create and implement an actionable and effective social media and marketing plan that gets attention -Understand how to use technology in a way that is effective and not burdensome -Identify the library's strengths and weaknesses and create a strategy to close gaps -Access templates and fill-in-the-blank resources provided in the webinar -Know when and where to network in a way that makes the library memorable -Access templates and fill-in-the-blank resources provided in the handout   This webinar was recorded on October 9th and is approximately 90 mins long.     

The 2020 Census begins soon, and libraries have been called upon to facilitate a complete and correct count. This webinar aims to answer remaining questions and give your staff the confidence they need to assist the public.   Qs beyond the FAQ We have 101 questions about the 9-question 2020 Census form, and suspect you do, too. Erika H. Becker-Medina, Chief of Communications for the Decennial Census helps clear the fog.   Legal considerations What laws surround the Census? Am I legally required to respond? What laws protect personal Census data? Do libraries or staff face any risks by assisting? Attorney Britton Isaly from Ancel Glink provides assurance from a legal perspective. Recommended reading Make the most of this webinar by familiarizing yourself with the paper and online forms ahead of time.     1. Sample copy of the paper questionnaire     2. Video walkthrough of the online form   Panelists Catherine Savage, Head of Communications, Vernon Area Public Library Britton Isaly, Partner, Ancel Glink Erika H. Becker-Medina, Chief of Communications for the Decennial Census   This webinar was recorded on February 18, 2020, and runs approximately one hour and 20 minutes.

Human behavior is shifting towards online and digital as we social distance and slowly open our economies, carefully, to slow the spread of COVID-19. People are staying inside, working remotely, and as a result, the in-person events, gatherings, and other celebrations that so many of us have counted on to build our communities are changing. In this webinar social media expert Julia Campbell will  help you to create a crisis-proof social media strategy to guide your organization in the years to come. This presentation was recorded on July 16, 2020, and runs approximately one hour.

There are 12,741,080 reasons for Illinois public libraries to make Census 2020 a priority. The results of the 2020 count will determine your community’s political representation and share of federal funding for a decade or more. Each uncounted person will equal a loss of $15,350 in funding toward medical assistance, local schools and higher education, social services, infrastructure investment and more over the course of 10 years.  Learn how to get your library involved with the 2020 Census.  Speakers will include:  • Denise Raleigh, Division Chief of Public Relations & Communications at Gail Borden Public Library  • Anita Banerji, Director of Democracy Initiative, Forefront  • Representative Theresa Mah, Illinois General Assembly, 2nd District Topics include: • How Census data will be used in your community: redistricting, financial implications of under-count • Challenges and opportunities for libraries surrounding a digital decennial census (including privacy, digital literacy, internet access) • How to identify and reach the Hard-To-Count people in your community (outreach, programming, Complete Count Commissions) Leave with ideas to build a scalable committee framework for your community, information on grant opportunities through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in the coming weeks, and resource sharing to help your front-line and professional staff become comfortable in assisting the public when filling out their form online in our spaces.