The Massachusetts Library System is pleased to announce that we have contracted with ALA to provide our members with access to their live webinars.  These webinars are free to MLS members who register through our calendar.  Please do not register directly with ALA. Members who register directly with ALA are responsible for paying their registration fee. 

Please help us keep MLS sponsored training free for all members. If you are unable to attend the live webinar, please cancel your registration. A cancellation link can be found in your confirmation email, or you may contact Sarah Donnelly at sdonnelly@masslibsystem.org to cancel. 

Description

***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***

Are you caught in the whirlwind of AI hype? Are you and your library patrons feeling overwhelmed? Is your library looking for new ways to approach AI and make the most of your staff’s skills and talents to serve internal and external customers? In this webinar, experts in community engagement, advocacy, and professional development will share practical tips and techniques to help you understand and embrace this rapidly evolving technology with a common-sense approach.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify at least two ways for enhancing their common-sense approach in using technologies;
• Name at least two resources to recommend to patrons for further learning about AI and evolving technologies; and
• Cite at least three resources that can help further hone their skills in developing common-sense tech strategies.

Who Should Attend

This webinar is intended for all public library staff.

Presenters

Dorothy Stoltz is a professional librarian, author, and trainer. The majority of her forty-year library career was at Carroll County Public Library in Maryland, where she retired as director for community engagement. Dorothy started in libraries in Pennsylvania, where she grew up, and also worked at the Queens Library in New York City for five years. She’s written numerous articles as well as seven books, six of them for ALA Editions, including Inspired Thinking: Big Ideas to Enrich Yourself and Your Community. Dorothy offers workshops through Stoltz Creative Consulting, and is owner of Waldo Publishers, a small publishing house inspired by the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Kymberly Konty (she/her) is the early literacy outreach associate for Brooklyn Public Library's youth and family services. She offers workshops, educational activities, and programs to parents and families with an emphasis on digital media, technology learning, and balancing screen time.

Krista Respass works as a managing director of early childhood education services at Maryland Public Television (MPT). MPT is leading the way with the 2024 opening of its Maryland Center for Media Literacy and Education and enjoys a rich history of collaborating and partnering with Maryland public libraries. MPT is a public television network that broadcasts throughout the entire state of Maryland and the District of Columbia and into parts of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Carrie Sanders (she/her) is the youth services coordinator for the Maryland State Library Agency, providing consultation and training to library staff regarding early literacy, STEM programming, teen services, media mentorship, and family engagement. Previous experience includes a decade of service as a school librarian and fifteen years as a public children’s librarian. She is passionate about helping library staff develop skills and strategies to create engaging, relevant programs and services for all ages and populations of youth. Carrie received the 2025 Library Journal Mover and Shaker Educator Award.

Paul Signorelli, a trainer and facilitator, is the author of Change the World Using Social Media (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021) and the library advocacy training project manager for the California Library Association

Accessibility Information

If you have questions or requests regarding accessibility, contact ce@ala.org or at 312-280-5100.