Word for Intermediates – Microsoft 365
This session is part of the Microsoft 365 for SEFLIN Libraries Series and will cover:
- Focus: Building complex documents and streamlining repetitive tasks.
- Styles and Themes: Using styles and generating a Table of Contents.
- Structural Layout: Using Section Breaks.
- Mail Merge: Creating personalized outreach communications.
- Collaboration: Track Changes and Comments.
- Practice (15 mins): Apply heading styles and insert an automatic Table of Contents.
September 1, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central Time
Preparing for April: Developing Workflows & Quick Wins with Web Accessibility
The April 2027 digital accessibility deadline is approaching quickly. If you are feeling overwhelmed by compliance requirements, you aren’t alone. This session is designed specifically for public libraries and smaller academic institutions operating with limited staff and resources. Craig Haward, UNC Chapel Hill, breaks down the daunting digital accessibility standards into clear, bite-sized action plans. You will learn how to audit your current digital footprint, establish realistic workflows, and secure early “quick wins” that make an immediate impact for your patrons.
September 2, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central Time
Training that Sticks: Improving Onboarding for Staff Online
Madeline Sims, Florida State College at Jacksonville, will examine the successes and failures of training new employees. Attendees will learn barriers to training, common mistakes to avoid, effective training strategies to implement, appropriate training timelines, and how to create a more effective training program for their library staff.
September 10, 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Storytelling with Impact: Using Data and Community Voices to Strengthen Your Library
Libraries collect meaningful data every day, but data alone rarely inspires action. Erin Huggins, North Caroline State University, explores how to combine quantitative evidence with authentic community stories to communicate your library’s impact, advocate for resources, build partnerships, and engage stakeholders. Drawing from real-world examples from libraries and community initiatives across North Carolina, participants will learn a practical framework for identifying compelling stories, incorporating publicly available and local data, and tailoring messages to different audiences – from funders and policymakers to community members and staff. Whether you’re writing a grant, presenting to a board, or sharing your library’s successes, you’ll leave with strategies for creating stories that are both evidence-based and memorable.
September 10, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central Time
Flying by the Seat of Our Pants: Assessing Early Career Librarians’ Readiness for Management Roles
As academic libraries face ongoing retirements and organizational restructuring, early career librarians are increasingly assuming supervisory or managerial responsibilities earlier in their careers. Yet questions remain about how prepared they feel for these roles and what kind of support contributes most to their confidence and effectiveness. This presentation reports the results of a national survey conducted in 2024 exploring early career academic librarians’ perceptions of their readiness for management. The survey gathered quantitative and qualitative data from over 70 respondents with fewer than ten years of professional experience across a range of academic library settings. Findings suggest that while many early career librarians find themselves in management positions, fewer feel adequately equipped to take them on. This presentation will share key data themes on how library managers did and did not feel prepared, highlight respondent narratives, and discuss possible implications for library administrators, professional associations, and LIS programs.
September 22, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Central Time
Effective communication is at the heart of every library service. Jessica Daly, AdventHealth University in Orlando, Florida, explores practical plain language strategies and introduces librarians to tools that support clear, accessible communication across programs, instruction, outreach, and resource development. Participants will learn how to transform complex information into user-friendly content, enhance the readability and visual design of library materials, and foster a culture of clear communication among staff. Through real-world examples and actionable techniques, attendees will discover how plain language promotes equity, improves user experiences, and strengthens the library’s role as a trusted community resource.
September 24, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Central Time