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Category: Professional Development

November 5, 2025
prisonlibraries
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New! MLA offers Peer-to-Peer Mentorship program

Posted in Membership, Professional Development, and Uncategorized

The Manitoba Library Association is happy to present you their Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Pilot Program.
Our goal is to offer connections and facilitate communication between our members to help them succeed in their library work and grow in their career.

Who can apply?
The program is open to all individual members of the Manitoba Library Association. If you are not already an individual member, you can register at this address:  mla.mb.ca/membership/

All types of library workers are welcome to participate: librarians, library technicians, managers, library assistants, directors, etc. All types of libraries are welcome: rural, academic, public, solo and more!

Each pair will establish how often they will communicate, meeting at least once a month, and how they prefer to communicate.

How does it work?
We want to match individuals who think they have experience to share and also want to learn new ways of doing. We are proposing a Peer-to-Peer programming, where we want to connect library members with similar career experiences. You can exchange ideas and find support in your field.

Maybe you mainly work with programming but want to learn more about managing and vice-versa. Or you work solo and need to learn more about running a library. Or you just need to some creative sparks and would like to learn more about generating new ideas.

We will try our best to match with the best person.
The Pilot Program will run from mid-January to mid-June, 2026.

How do I apply?
The deadline to apply is December 10th, 2025.
Please register here via this Google Form:
https://forms.gle/VoDJmHBYTpP7JmS59

An information session for those interested but who might have questions was held and recorded on November 19th, 2025.  If you have questions and are interested in the recording, please email: Elise.A@mla.mb.ca  for the Zoom link.

February 14, 2025
prisonlibraries
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MLC 2025 – Registration Open! Keynotes Announced!

Posted in Academic Libraries, Board, Conference, Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Trustees

Manitoba Libraries Conference 2025 has opened registration for librarians, library workers, library board members and trustees, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators and students – anyone who is passionate about books, libraries, and eager to learn and shape the future of this incredible profession and service.

It’s our first in-person conference in years and we are excited to reconnect, revisit, and reinspire. We can’t wait to see you!

Early bird registration is now open!

  • Are you an institutional member? Your institution will need to register for you in bulk. For bulk registration by institutions or for invoicing please contact us.
  • Are you interested in attending but have barriers?
    Check out information about our Conference Bursary. You can apply for a bursary here: here.

Keynotes have been announced!

  • We are thrilled to have award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, Niigaan Sinclair as our opening keynote on Tuesday, May 6 at 1:00 pm
  • Fresh from being named Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Chimwemwe Undi will join us at our Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 7 at 12:00 pm
  • And how lucky are we? We will be entertained by Anne-Marie Williott and Ian Cherry as our wandering minstrels during our Wine & Cheese event in our Exhibitor Hall on Tuesday, May 6 at 4:30 pm

Stay tuned for more updates about the programming, special events, and our popular Exhibit Hall!
Our conference website is updated regularly: conference.mla.mb.ca/

November 26, 2024
prisonlibraries
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Manitoba Libraries Conference – Call for Program Proposals!

Posted in Academic Libraries, Conference, Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Trustees

What Have You Been Up To? Let’s Reconnect! 

The Manitoba  Libraries Conference will take place May 6-7, 2025 at the RBC Convention Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

We are inviting a Call For Proposals until December 20, 2024

We are excited for our first in-person conference in 6 years and we want to invite you to join us as we reconnect, revisit, and reinspire. 

We are all responding to rapid technological changes (Hello AI), and social challenges. This is our opportunity to share our experiences, thoughts, knowledge, and (sometimes hard-earned) wisdom with colleagues.

Please consider putting forward a proposal using this Google Form. 

We have many colleagues in a variety of professional settings throughout our province and they’d love to see you and hear from you. We encourage you to submit session proposals in the public, academic and special library stream. We need everyone represented.

In challenging times, we are better together.

_______________________________________________________________________

Proposals can include: Lightning Talks (7-8 minutes); Presentations, Panels and Workshops; (20, 50 or 110 minutes)

Still can’t decide? A little unsure about what (and how) to present? 

Here are some tips from the BCLA: 

Conference Presentation: Better Practices

(Note the PDF slides in the first video are super helpful.

Submit your proposal today! 

Questions? Please reach out to Kirsten Wurmann, MLA Program Coordinator: kirsten.w@mla.mb.ca 

August 16, 2024
prisonlibraries
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Artificial Intelligence in the Library: a roadmap to understanding and implementation

Posted in Academic Libraries, Professional Development, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Trustees

Please join us September 9 from 9:30-11:00am as we host public library administrator, technology consultant, and author Nick Tanzi, for a virtual talk about artificial intelligence and its implications for libraries.
We’re told the age of A.I. is upon us, but what does that mean for our libraries? This webinar will help demystify artificial intelligence and explain how it will change the library landscape. Attendees will be offered specific actions they can take to proactively adapt services, policy, and programming that address this new technological environment.

Nick has authored Making the Most of Digital Collections Through Training and Outreach (2016) and Best Technologies for Public Libraries: Policies, Programs, and Services (2020). He is also a past column editor for Public Library Magazine’s “The Wired Library”, and has been published in Computers in Libraries, Library Journal, American Libraries, and Marketing Library Services. His work also includes professional development workshops, keynote presentations, and talks in the U.S. and abroad, for a variety of library organizations. Nick is the assistant director of the South Huntington Public Library in New York, and has worked in public libraries for 25 years. The focus of Nick’s work is the intersection of libraries and technology, and his speaking approach is one that is light and conversational, and avoids unnecessary jargon.

This webinar is free for MLA members,  who will also have access to the recording and a PDF of slides following the presentation.

The event is $40.00 for non-members.
To become a MLA member, use this link. To attend as a non-member, donate 40$ via MLA’s  PayPal account (left hand menu on our website – direct donation to: “A.I. Event”).

The instructions for attending the webinar will be sent out to confirmed registrants the week of September 2.

We’re excited to bring you this thought provoking and timely event!

Register here for the event: https://buff.ly/3zmLay5

August 13, 2024
prisonlibraries
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Public Library Safety & Security Toolkit – Recording posted to MLA YouTube channel

Posted in Professional Development, Public Libraries, and Safety

On April 22, the Manitoba Library Association alongside the Canadian Urban Libraries Council/Conseil des bibliothèques urbaines du Canada presented to our membership the Public Library Safety and Security Toolkit.

This presentation was recorded and is now available to be shared with anyone who missed the day, or would like to share it with staff.

Please visit out Manitoba Library Association YouTube channel for the 45 minute video presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgMqzZSj81c&t=3s
Transcripts are also available.

For all virtual presentations, check out our website here: https://mla.mb.ca/professional-development/webinars/

January 22, 2024
prisonlibraries
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Manitoba Libraries: Supporting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training Workshop Series

Posted in Board, Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, and Trustees

Attention members! Another great training opportunity for you!

These workshop sessions will be presented by Laurelle Harris, Equitable Solutions

March 4, 2024 (10 am – 12 pm via Zoom) Introduction to +Anti-racism and Equity

March 18, 2024 (10 am – 12 pm via Zoom) The Library as a Site for Social Justice – Putting It All Together: Supporting Equity

Training is FREE for MLA members – there is an option to sign up for membership to get the training for free – otherwise it is $20 per person/per session.

Attendance at both sessions is *strongly* encouraged.
Register here: https://forms.gle/Z9tGaetXKVo5QnH78

*Financially Supported by:

December 19, 2023
prisonlibraries
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Accessible Information & Communication Legislation Information Workshop and Q&A

Posted in Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, and Trustees

This upcoming workshop and Q&A will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 (10:30-11:30am)

The session is free of charge and will be presented/recorded on Zoom

As we get closer to the Accessible Information & Communication Deadline for Libraries, are you slowly freaking out? Need some helpful guidance and tips to let you know it’s all going to be alright? Need someone to answer your questions like, right now?

You’re in luck!
Join Monika Bonsor (Manitoba Accessibility Compliance Secretariat), Meagan Richards (Public Library Services), and Clint Curle (South Interlake Regional Library) for an informative session to help you and your library be compliant and ready come May 1, 2024.

This will be a useful session for library staff, library board members, and library trustees.

Please submit questions ahead of time when you sign up using this Google Form.

Contact Kirsten Wurmann, Program Coordinator, Manitoba Library Association (kirsten.w@mla.mb.ca) for more information.

June 5, 2023
prisonlibraries
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Better, Faster, Stronger: Making Your Library Practices More Efficient Through the Lean Approach

Posted in Membership, and Professional Development

Join the Education Institute (EI) for a conversation about Lean methodology and how it applies in every size library for any audience.

At its core, Lean is about leveraging the knowledge of staff to break down current practices and processes, and replace them with simpler, more efficient changes that require less effort. Best of all, adopting a Lean approach can lead to large time and even money-saving results. Discover how to benefit from the ‘less work, higher impact’ model!

Date & Time:
This is a two-part virtual workshop.
Part One – Monday, June 19 @ 2PM – 4PM ET
Part Two – Monday, June 26 @ 2PM – 4PM ET
Learning Objectives:
  • Gain a high-level understanding of Lean Methodology;
  • Learn how foundational lean principles, such as continuous improvement and huddles, can be applied in your library;
  • Identify library-specific areas and processes that have streamlining potential and see practical examples and applications.

Format
Webinar + Online Breakout Sessions (Please note: space is limited to 60 spots.)

Facilitators
Amanda French, Manager, Social Development (TPL); Lean Green Belt; ProSci Certified Change Management Specialist
Kenneth Leung, Lean Program Manager; Lean Master Black Belt, Professional Engineer, ProSci Change Management Certified

As a member of the Manitoba Library Association, you qualify for the EI membership rates.
Register today!

January 17, 2023
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Call for Members – Intellectual Freedom Committee

Posted in Advocacy, and Professional Development

Canadian Federation of Library Associations Logo

CFLA/FCAB’s Intellectual Freedom Committee is searching for THREE new members.  We welcome nominations from CFLA/FCAB member associations and self-nominations from members of CFLA/FCAB member associations. Once appointed to the Committee, the responsibility of members is to the Committee, not to the nominating body.

Read moreCall for Members – Intellectual Freedom Committee