WELCOME TO THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OFFICE HOMEPAGE.

This learning page is a great place to find information about training, learning portfolios, and get helpful tips on customer service, managing employees, or other library issues. We'll also be posting post-conference reflections and ideas discovered by staff members at programs they attended.

Subscribe to the blog to get updates when ideas are posted.

Monday, November 10, 2025

Manager Resource Evaluation Project

Manager Resource Evaluation Project

The Short Version

We’re evaluating management and leadership books by reading and reviewing their usefulness and beneficial aspects (or not).  Pick a book from the list, read it, submit an evaluation, and you’ll help create an annotated resource list for all interested staff members. 

 There are over 25 books on the current reading list, and more waiting to be added. Here are a few from the list:

 

8 paradoxes of leadership agility : how to lead and inspire in the real world by Chuen Yeo

Arrive and thrive : 7 impactful practices for women navigating leadership by Susan Brady, Janet Foutty, and Lynn Perry Wooten 

First Time Manager by Loren Belkner, Tim McCormick, and Gary Topchik

Twice as good : leadership and power for women of color by Mary J Wardell

The antiracist business book : an equity-centered approach to work, wealth, and leadership by Trudi Lebron

Building trust : exceptional leadership in an uncertain world by Darryl Stickel

The Culture Question – How to Create a Workplace Where People Like to Work by Randy Grieser et.al.

How to Be an Inclusive Leader by Jennifer Brown 

 

 You can view the full list on the shared drive 

or stop by the office to see what grabs your attention. 

 

If you have a suggestion that isn’t on the list we can discuss adding it to the project.

This project will run to the end of the year, and can be extended as needed.



Monday, November 3, 2025

Link to IMLS grant funded activities survey

 If you received funding for a learning activity that was charged to our IMLS learning grant, you must complete the survey below so that we can provide accurate information on the grant report.  Thanks.


https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IMLS2026


Monday, October 27, 2025

PLA Conference Information and Deadlines

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Registration for the PLA 2026 conference is now open.  The conference will be in Minneapolis from April 1-3, 2026.  Please note that these dates overlap with both Good Friday and Passover.  

https://www.placonference.org/registration

The application deadlines are 

      PLA members January 2, 2026.

      ALA members and non-members  February 6, 2026.

Staff interested in attending the virtual PLA events should apply by February 13, 2026.


If you have any questions, please contact SD&T for assistance.  

Monday, October 20, 2025

The LMS is currently unavailable due to the AWS issue.

The LMS was affected by the AWS outage today, so you may not be able to log in to the program.


From Docebo's website:

Our upstream provider, AWS, is currently experiencing an outage affecting multiple services in all the regions, which is causing a broader impact on Docebo's system — specifically on intra-service authentication.

Customers located in US East 1 are experiencing long load times or errors when attempting to access or navigate their sites due to ongoing issues with AWS recovery. We are actively reviewing our possible mitigation paths and will update when additional information is available.  

We'll update you if we hear anything.

Monday, September 29, 2025

25 Signs You’re Not Tough Enough to Live in Baltimore - We're #4


25 Signs You’re Not Tough Enough to Live in Baltimore

By Ankita Rawoorker

September 19, 2025

Maryland, Real Estate


4. You treat the Enoch Pratt like a rainy-day plan


It’s a civic cathedral—free internet, job help, story time, and history you can hold in your hands. The library is where futures quietly change, and where the city gathers in ways no app can replace. If you’re not a cardholder, you’re skipping Baltimore’s most generous open door.


https://www.homestratosphere.com/signs-youre-not-tough-enough-to-live-in-baltimore/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Sep+22+-+Signs+Not+Tough+Enough+for+BALTIMORE+-+/signs-youre-not-tough-enough-to-live-in-baltimore/&fbclid=IwZnRzaANAHzBleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqyebnqM0iwEe5ciOT2vB1QzQDrOclU4Dw6bsc22Nwqgvgz7tBgXSQU5QGnaShUuYMqDr-VY_aem_8pxLbxMYxxG0psOAP4gOJQ&utm_id=120233357410870203&utm_content=120233357436260203&utm_term=120233357410960203

Friday, August 29, 2025

Call for Proposals for ALA Annual in Chicago

 

ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition Chicago June 25-29, 2026. For our
 libraries. For 150 years more.

 

Present a PLA Program at ALA 2026 Annual

The Public Library Association (PLA) invites you to submit an education program proposal relevant to public libraries for the ALA 2026 Annual Conference, which takes place June 25–29 in Chicago.

 

The conference explores key challenges and opportunities facing libraries, with professional development rooted in timely research, innovation, and best practices. It will also celebrate the American Library Association's (ALA) 150th anniversary! Proposals from a broad variety of perspectives that celebrate, commemorate, or educate about the impact that ALA and our affiliate partners have made on the profession and on libraries nationally and internationally over the last 150 years are encouraged.

 

PLA program proposals are due by September 22.

 

Learn More & Start a Proposal

 

 

Public Library Association

www.pla.org • (800) 545-2433 x5PLA

 

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