This is the first of two full days of five 1-hour webinars; attend what you want.

Register for the Thursday sessions here.

9 am:
YOU Are the Media: How to Use Web Tools to Publish, Broadcast and Tell Your Library's Story
Publicity in traditional media is great if you can get it. But you no longer have to beg and grovel in front of journalists. You can create your library's own TV channel on YouTube. Or your own radio station via a podcast. Or your own short messages on Twitter. Publicity expert Joan Stewart, aka The Publicity Hound, will explain what libraries throughout Wisconsin and the U.S. are doing with their own media empires to tell their stories, build a following and share creative content that keeps patrons and readers coming back for more. Joan will also share a variety of fun, free graphics tools that will let you create eye-popping images, even if you're techie-challenged.   

10:30 am — choose one of these concurrent sessions:
• Hospitality in the Library (Super Services Track)
Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of kindness. Learn how to infuse hospitality standards from the greatest in hotel management, dining, and on-demand services. This webinar presents easy, fun changes you can make in services for patrons, library signage, and interactions with co-workers to ensure everyone receives top-level customer service.
• Punch Up Your Teen Programming: Knockout Ideas Under $30 (Youth Services Track)
It's the old bob and weave! Teens are a moving target, and by the time we've planned a program for them, they're often in a different place all together. This session will address the program qualities that teens respond to and how to employ those qualities in low-cost, high-interest events. Heather will draw on personal experience, share winning ideas from the field, and address promotion and marketing tools.

1 pm — choose one of these concurrent sessions:
• And Now for Something Completely Different: Creating a "Culture of Yes"  ​(Super Services Track)
Discover at least three ways to go from good enough to unexpectedly amazing. Look at the value of “Yes, and…” as it applies to policies and services at your library.  Share and learn techniques for shifting your library culture to invigorate the relationship between your staff and your community.
• Press Play! Injecting Play into Library Programs for Kids (Youth Services Track)
Play is one of the five early literacy practices but it is often overlooked and undervalued in children’s programming. In this webinar, we’ll explore practical program examples that infuse children’s programs with playfulness and creativity. We’ll feature programs and literacy messages for ages birth - 12. Discover new programming resources and learn how youth services staff are putting this new trend into practice.
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2:30 pm — choose one of these concurrent sessions:
• Transforming Tech Training Services (Super Services Track)
Take your technology training program to another level at your library. This session helps you rejuvenate all aspects of your program, including hiring and training of staff, designing and building new computer labs, curriculum design, partnering with community organizations, having an online and social media presence, and marketing and building relationships with key people. Learn all about how the NYPL TechConnect program doubled its tech attendance to 80,000 in just under two years, by taking a blended learning approach, applying traditional strategies, and tapping into the tech trends to create innovative practices and services.
​• Road Maps and Sign Posts: Planning Ahead for a Successful Storytime (Youth Services Track)
Our storytimes are packed full of enjoyable early learning experiences, and adding some basic organizational strategies before, in-between, and during our books, songs, and activities can help children have even more successful storytime sessions. Craft a message about behavior expectations that will address your community's needs and help everyone stay focused in storytime. Develop verbal transitions to maintain a smooth pace and direct children's attention between storytime elements. Consider intentional ways to turn standard storytime practices--including songs, rhymes, and flannels--into even richer opportunities for dialog and engagement.

4 pm:
NEW: Trigger Decks
The conference will conclude with combining last year's "Trigger Talks" concept with a "Battle Decks" twist !
Six mini-presentations on a variety of topics will occur by 6 different people. These short, six-minute spiels should "trigger" ideas for the audience members. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. The presenters will be at the mercy of a moderator who might, or might not, add in bonus slides, take away slides and create star wipe transitions.
But what will these random slides be? Where will they appear? How will the presenter incorporate these sudden changes into their talk?  We'll find out.  Audience members will then vote for the Trigger Decks Champion! ​​If you are interested in applying to be a "Trigger Decks" presenter, fill out the application form by December 21st.

This is a state-wide virtual conference developed by the Nicolet Federated Library System and co-sponsored by Eastern Shores, Indianhead, Lakeshores, Manitowoc-Calumet, Mid-Wisconsin, Northern Waters, Outagamie Waupaca, South Central, Southwest, Waukesha County, Winding Rivers, Winnefox, and Wisconsin Valley library systems.