Webinars

PLS Webinars  

Other Webinars of Interest 

Building Authentic Relationships with Underserved Communities

You know your library could do more to connect with and respond to the systematically excluded communities you serve. But if you're starting with little or no existing connection, how do you build authentic, trust-based relationships? How do you go beyond transactional interactions and guessing at services to effective engagement and participation? This webinar will help you develop a plan for identifying, reaching, and building relationships with communities experiencing oppression.

As a result of this webinar, you will be able to:

  • Articulate the connection between relationship-building and equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice (EDISJ) in library services
  • Create, maintain, and utilize a simple asset map to understand your community's ecosystem
  • Apply the principles of asset-based community development to your own projects

Date: January 30 
Time: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm Eastern Standard Time 
Presented by:   Dr. Audrey Barbakoff, CEO of Co/Lab Capacity, and co-author, The Twelve Steps to a Community-Led LibraryAmita Lonial, Deputy Director, Tacoma Public Library, and Mia Henry, Founder and CEO, Freedom Lifted
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Mobilizing Fear and Misinformation: Anti-SOGI and ‘Parent's Rights’ Movements
As ‘parental rights’ movements resurge within the political right and far-right, the LGBTQ2S+ community, specifically transgender youth and Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) inclusive education, are becoming their latest lightning rod issue. As a result, youth in Canada who identify as LGBTQ2S+ are being targeted by the anti-trans and anti-SOGI movements. The spread of misinformation and stoking of moral panic serve these groups in their efforts to deny queer and trans youth recognition and resources. 

This panel event will identify the harm of these campaigns for queer and trans youth. With expert speakers and a skilled moderator, we will identify the ways in which inaccurate and harmful messaging can be resisted, and showcase how prioritizing ‘parental rights’ within schools, communities, and our society, comes at the cost of the rights and well-being of queer and trans youth. 

We invite all who are curious about SOGI-inclusive education, the rising ‘parental rights movement’, and trending transphobia to attend this event with an open-mind and curiosity. The event will be broadcasted live and recorded – everyone is welcome to attend!

Date: February 7
Time: 5:00 to 6:30
Presented by: Simon Fraser University 
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Library Boards & Intellectual Freedom: How to Combat Censorship with Your Library Trustees
As book bans and challenges continue to spread across the country, many public libraries seek ways to combat censorship or proactively prepare for such situations. Your library board of trustees can be a valuable asset in this climate.

In this upcoming Niche Academy webinar, Shannon Oltmann and Shannon Crawford Barniskis will discuss forming and shaping your library board, educating them about book challenges and intellectual freedom, and fielding questions and concerns from the board.

Date: March 13 
Time: 12 to 1 pm
Presented by: Niche AcademyREGISTER NOW