Training and Continuing Education

Keeping up with trends and issues that affect your community is essential.  Consequently, taking courses and keeping up to date with trends and issues is an indispensable value for Potter Training and Consulting. 

Annual virtual conference, including sessions on the following topics.

• Beyond the Book: How Libraries Can Fundraise with Author Events
• Case Study: Engaging Volunteers, Donors and Staff to Create a Strategic Fundraising Plan
• Collaboration, Communication, and Flexibility: Working Together to Reach Campaign Goals
• Making the Most of Milestones: Golden Opportunities in Library Fundraising

Results from the 2025 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey, including key information on the public library programs, services, partnerships, and facilities geared towards meeting needs and fostering resilient communities. The results address questions about the types of age-specific programs libraries are offering, whether libraries' services and partnerships are delivered formally or informally, and the recent updates to library facilities including new builds and mobile service outlets. The powerful, actionable evidence from the Services Survey supports planning and advocacy at the local, state, and national level. Presenters share how your library can use the survey report and PLA’s data tools to understand and improve your library’s performance, demonstrate value, and increase impact in your community. 

 Explored a new, research-based outcomes framework used to strengthen libraries’ offerings by providing responsive, inclusive, maker-centered services for adults in your community 

Presented by the Nonprofit Financial Commons. This webinar provided context, frameworks, and examples for reimagining programmatic and organizational structures by questioning assumptions and aligning organizational design with impact goals.  

As libraries continue to connect more directly with issues of mental health and well-being, bibliotherapy offers a practical and thoughtful framework for this work. Defined as the guided use of reading for therapeutic purposes, bibliotherapy can help librarians support both their communities and themselves. In this session, Judit H. Ward and Nicholas A. Allred, authors of The Librarian’s Guide to Bibliotherapy, will share ideas, examples, and best practices for bibliotherapy-inspired initiatives that enable librarians to identify and make use of existing skills and resources to promote well-being. The discussion will address approaches relevant across library types and professional settings. This program is intended for librarians and information professionals interested in developing adaptable, sustainable strategies to support mental health through library services.

Libraries offer more than just books—they are vibrant community hubs that empower individuals to achieve their career goals. As economic landscapes shift, libraries play a crucial role in supporting job seekers by providing access to resources, expert guidance, and opportunities for professional development.  In this webinar, the following topics were explored. 

• Learned ways to offer one-on-one appointments for tailored job search guidance to patrons
• Understood how libraries form partnerships with businesses, employment agencies, and workforce development organizations to create direct pathways to job opportunities
• Discovered innovative ways to design and implement career-related programs, ensuring that libraries continue to serve as essential hubs for professional growth within their communities

Christina Jones and Cindy Fesemyer, co-authors of Small Public Library Management, Second Edition, discussed managing changes - large and small, fast and slow - in a library setting. Topics included facilities, staff culture, working with stakeholders, and strategic planning, providing a good overview for new library leaders and a nice refresher for more experienced professionals.

The more accessible and inclusive our libraries are designed to be, the greater their impact on communities and the greater good. Transportation, access, master planning, and interior amenities all contribute to inclusive library design. Each location must meet diverse needs and elevate engagement with safe, accessible, and welcoming spaces.

This webinar will draw upon the UK Design Council's Principles of Inclusive Design, which define inclusive design through eight principles: Responsive, Convenient, Understandable, Welcoming, Inclusive, Accommodating, Flexible, and Realistic. We will discuss the power of design, community, and staff engagement to achieve these goals in our public spaces, featuring examples from recent branch designs, facilities planning studies, staff and community engagement, and strategic planning work with library systems.

This session, led by Luann Feehan from Nonprofit Connect, was a transformative exploration of the responsibilities, opportunities, and impact of board service. Gained valuable insights into what it takes to be an effective board member, and am prepared to make informed decisions about next steps in nonprofit leadership. 

During this session, included:

• Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a board member
• Navigating nonprofit finances with confidence
• Building  strong relationships with the CEO and other board members
• Revitalizing board operations
• Leading successful fundraising initiativesIdentifyingg opportunities to make a lasting impact