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Networking Unconference

LACONI + Recharge Present: Networking Unconference

Date: November 17, 2023
Time: 9 am – 1 pm
Location: Oak Park Public Library

Feeling stuck in your role, your place, a problem, a policy? Break out of the rut in this mini unconference, co-presented by LACONI and the Recharge Committee. Keynote speaker David Seleb will open our morning with a charge to engage in a community of practice. Then, connect with other library professionals for career troubleshooting, fresh eyes on old issues, and all-around inspiration. Topics will include:

  • Career moves in (and out of!) libraries
  • Community partnerships & outreach
  • Data driven decision making
  • Leadership & coaching
  • Library unions
  • Equity based programming
  • Intellectual freedom

Come with questions, problems, and a growth mindset. Leave with practical ideas and a newfound energy for your worklife. Breakfast will be provided. Register here.

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Introduction to Gender-Inclusive Spaces

Date: Friday, July 14, 2023
Time: 10-11:30am
Location: Zoom

This session provides attendees with the opportunity to understand how to support trans and gender-expansive patrons, staff, and colleagues in your library environment. Attendees will review key terms, recognize the positive impact that their support can have, and receive an overview of best practices for spaces in our local libraries.

Presenters:

  • Hadeis Safi (They/Them), Manager – Community Programs + LGBTQ+ Liaison, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Video Recording

Creating Safe Spaces

Date: Friday, February 24, 2023
Time: 10-11:00am
Location: Zoom

Has your library struggled to find a security strategy that balances compassion for unhoused populations with the need to create a safe space for all patrons and library staff? This panel discussion will feature staff from Chicagoland libraries sharing how their institution has addressed these issues.

Presenters:

  • Robert Simmons, Director of Social Services and Public Safety, Oak Park Public Library
  • Brent Lipinski, District Chief, Chicago Public Library

Recording

Resources

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Programs

Level Up: Build Your Facilitation Skills for Effective Meetings

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2022
Time: 10-11:30am
Location: Zoom

What makes meetings not suck? Good facilitation! How do you become a good facilitator? By learning the tools and skills needed to effectively manage groups and increase engagement. In this session, we’ll discuss how to prepare for and facilitate meetings by reviewing how to develop an agenda, tools to ensure all voices are heard, and what to do when there’s conflict. You’ll leave this session feeling confident that your next meeting will rock!

Cost: FREE! Space is limited.

Resources:

Video recording, available until Dec. 5, 2022.

This is the third program in our Level Up series on recharging your career.

About our presenter, Amanda Standerfer:

Amanda Standerfer’s passion is helping libraries and nonprofit organizations advance so they can create meaningful impact in their communities. Since 2002, Amanda’s consulting practice Fast Forward Libraries has worked with libraries and nonprofits on strategic planning, fundraising, organizational development, and capacity building. Amanda has 15 years of experience at various positions in public libraries, most recently as the Director of Community Engagement for The Urbana (IL) Free Library. She also has 7 years of experience working in the philanthropy sector. She has a BA and MA in History from Eastern Illinois University and a MLIS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

This event is intended for library staff, library professionals, and library school students.

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Level Up: Demystifying the Budget Process

Date: Friday, September 16, 2022
Time: 10-11:30am
Location: Zoom

Curious how the budget gets made? Learn about budget planning and the budget process from administrators who have experience in district and local libraries in Illinois. Have burning questions about all things budget? Submit them when you register for the program!

This program will be recorded. This is the second program in our Level Up series on recharging your career.

Presenters:

  • Julie Milavec, Library Director, Downers Grove Public Library
  • Brooke Sievers, Assistant Director, Addison Public Library
  • Alexander C. Todd, Executive Director, Prospect Heights Public Library District

Cost: FREE!

Resources:

This event is intended for library staff, library professionals, and library school students.

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Level Up: Acing the Interview

Date: Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Time: 10-11am
Location: Zoom

Are you ready to take the next step in your library career? Does that new job sound like the perfect fit for you? Are you ready to explore new opportunities altogether?

In this program you will hear from job career and library professionals on what it takes to ace your next interview. You’ll learn how to prepare for the interview, build your confidence in highlighting the skills you already have and craft your interview answers to ensure that you will stand out in your next interview.

This is the first program in a new series developed by the Recharge Committee on Leveling Up your career.

Presenters:

  • Brittany Coleman, Info Services Librarian at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library
  • Members of the Recharge Committee

Cost: FREE!

Resources

This event is intended for library staff, library professionals, and library school students.

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Handling the Hierarchy: Success from Both Sides of Supervision

Date: Thursday, October 28, 2021
Time: 10-11:30 am
Location: Zoom

Do you sometimes feel like you have to manage your manager? This program will explore the ups and downs of working relationships, whether in one-on-one supervision or a multilayered bureaucracy. Presenters will share the lessons they’ve learned from both sides of management, including how to accommodate conflicting communication styles, navigate generational differences, adjust to role changes, and make your work time better no matter who is in charge. Bring your own questions and wisdom to share. (Due to the nature of the discussion, this program will NOT be recorded.)

Presenters:

  • Kelly Durov, Assistant Director, Northbrook Library
  • Becca Ruidl, Branch Manager, Chicago Public Library
  • Alejandra Santana, Adult Librarian, Chicago Public Library

Cost: Free!

This event is intended for library staff, library professionals, and library school students.

Resources:

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Show Us Your Stuff! Show Off Your Library!

Date: Friday, August 19, 2021
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Zoom

11 libraries will show off their stuff for our first ever virtual field trip. Libraries will highlight a special service, space, program, collection, staff member position or a combination of all of the above. Following the video presentations, all libraries will be present to answer your questions about their cool stuff. This program will be recorded and posted on YouTube.

Cost: FREE

Watch the program recording on YouTube

For presenters:

What is unique about how your library meets community needs? What are you especially proud of? Showcase a special service, space, program, collection, staff member position or a combination of all of the above at your library through a 5-minute video. Videos should be informative and inspiring. No professional video editing necessary, nor are there specific format requirements. Be creative!

Attendance at the live program on August 19 is not required, but highly encouraged. Our goal is to have at least one person from each library submitting a video available to answer questions. If you cannot attend live, we ask you allow us to provide your email address to attendees so they can contact you with any questions.

This event is intended for library staff, library professionals, and library school students.

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Emotional Labor in Library Work

Date: Friday, May 28, 2021
Time: 10-11:30 am
Location: Zoom

Feeling exhausted and burnt out? Emotional labor, or the internal work required to regulate one’s emotions when dealing with patrons and co-workers, may be partially to blame. In this Zoom presentation, a panel of library professionals will share strategies staff can utilize to combat the negative effects of emotional labor in a library setting. Learn from your peers, and come ready for discussion!

Presenters:

  • Britta Krabill, Head of Adult Services, DeKalb Public Library
  • Yvette Garcia, Branch Manager, Lozano Branch, Chicago Public Library
  • Jackie Moreno, Info Service Supervisor, Arlington Heights Memorial Library

Cost: FREE

Watch the recording on YouTube

Resources:

Jackie Moreno Presentation – Emotional Labor and Stress Management
Britta Krabill Recharge Presentation – Compassion Fatigue in Library Staff
Yvette Garcia Recharge Presentation – Serving the Public & Self Care
15 Self-Care Strategies for Work-Life Balance
Personal Toolbox Worksheet
Managing the Hidden Stress of Emotional Labor
Emotional Labor – Team Management Training from MindTools.com
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Programs

Organizational Tools & Apps We Love

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021
Time: 10 am – 12 pm
Location: Zoom

As library employees, we all love organization; it is the root of our profession! Want to hear about apps and processes to help you stay even more organized? Hear a series of short “spark talks” on apps and productivity processes that help keep our work and libraries organized.

We are asking for fellow library workers (YOU!) to submit to present on your favorite apps and processes too. Examples include Microsoft Planner, Bullet Journaling, WorkFlowy, and more. If you’re interested in speaking for a few minutes on tool you love, fill out this brief form and stay tuned to see if your proposal is accepted.

Cost: FREE

Watch the recording of this program

This event is intended for library staff, library professionals, and library school students.