Catch the ARSL TRAIN!

Upcoming TRAINs

Partner TRAINs are professional development offerings from ARSL partner organizations, free for members and nonmembers alike.

Partner TRAIN

Library Marketing Makeover Reveal

When: Thursday, August 6
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET

Join Trenton and a panel of marketing experts for an inside look at the Library Marketing Makeover, a national initiative that helps libraries strengthen outreach and community engagement. This session will showcase recommendations developed for four ARSL member libraries: Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library, Algoma Public Library, Jackson Parish Public Library, and Lake Wales Public Library.

Through real-world examples, the team will share practical ideas for improving branding, social media, program promotion, community partnerships, and overall marketing effectiveness. Attendees will gain actionable strategies that can be adapted for libraries of any size and budget.

Presented by:

• Trenton Smiley, Director of Customer Messaging, Hoopla
• Katie Rothley, Marketing & PR Librarian, Northville District Library, Northville, MI
• April Jo Harder, Communications & Marketing Supervisor, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, IL
• Peter Velikonja, Researcher, Koios

Trenton Smiley is Director of Customer Messaging at Hoopla, a service of Midwest Tape. Previously, he held marketing leadership roles at several library systems, including Capital Area District Libraries and Genesee District Library. He serves on ARSL's Marketing & Communications Committee and has earned numerous honors, including the American Library Association's John Cotton Dana Award and the Michigan Library Association Award of Excellence. A frequent speaker on library marketing, Trenton has presented for organizations including the Michigan Library Association, Indiana Library Federation, the Library Marketing & Communications Conference, and Library Journal. He has also taught marketing courses through the UW–Madison iSchool Continuing Education Department.

Katie Rothley is a Marketing & PR Librarian at the Northville District Library in Northville, Michigan with an MLIS from Wayne State University. She's been a librarian for over 12 years, starting out in Adult Services before becoming a marketer. Katie is often printing, designing, taking images or asking her colleagues to take pictures for social media, and absolutely loves Canva. Marketing research, neuroscience, and behavioral science are some of her favorite topics.

April Jo Harder is the Communications & Marketing Supervisor at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, where she leads a talented team of marketing professionals. She has more than 20 years of experience in communications and public relations, with a strong background in journalism, editing, and writing. She believes in the power of storytelling, collaborative content creation, outreach and engagement, and teamwork. She has served in her current role for more than 10 years, during which her team received the American Library Association's John Cotton Dana Award for outstanding library public relations and marketing. April is passionate about literacy and education, the arts and culture, nature and the environment, and inclusion and accessibility.

Peter Velikonja is a trained classical musician (PhD Princeton University) who worked for over twenty years in software development working on audio streaming, Big Data and online advertising. He is the Researcher at Koios, digging into data that can help libraries share publicly owned information with the public.

Register: Hoopla Marketing Makeover

ARSL TRAIN

Building and Website Accessibility

When: Thursday, August 20
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET

More information coming soon, stay tuned!

Register: Accessibility

ARSL TRAIN

Document Accessibility Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide from Word to PDF

When: Thursday, October 1
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET

Join us for a follow-along session that introduces some key fundamentals of digital accessibility and demonstrates select techniques for creating more accessible documents.

Participants will work directly with a provided Word document as we walk through hands-on remediation examples and commonly used tools. This session is not an exhaustive training on document accessibility, but rather a focused look at core concepts and workflows you can build on.

This webinar will cover:

• A brief overview on digital access and how that applies to documents
• Remediating an MS Word document step-by-step (this will be the largest part of the session) including:
  • Ensuring the document has appropriate metadata and heading structure
  • Proper use of tables
  • Alternative text
  • Converting a Word document to a PDF
  • Adobe Acrobat Overview—Checking for compliance
  • Determining when it is appropriate to use a Word file vs. a PDF file
  • Tools and resources

Presented by: John Kirchner, SHARE Member Engagement Specialist, Illinois Heartland Library System (IHLS)

John is the SHARE Member Engagement Specialist at the Illinois Heartland Library System. IHLS is a quasi-governmental agency that provides services to libraries in southern and east-central Illinois. John has worked in libraries for seven years, with a focus on digital accessibility for two. John enjoys origami, gaming, and playing with his cat Whimsy in his free time

Register: Document Accessibility Essentials 

ARSL TRAIN

Compassion Without Collapse: Boundary Setting for Library Staff Under Pressure 

When: Thursday, November 5
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET

Library staff are expected to provide exceptional service while navigating behavior that can be demanding, inappropriate, or emotionally charged. This interactive session introduces a trauma-informed approach to asserting compassionate boundaries — helping participants stay kind, clear, and courageous under pressure. Rooted in neuroscience and informed by real-world library scenarios, participants will explore how nervous system activation influences communication, why boundary testing occurs, and how to respond with grounded clarity rather than reactivity. This session empowers librarians to recognize early warning signs, and learn practical strategies for responding in ways that protect staff well-being while maintaining welcoming, inclusive spaces. Participants will:

• Understand the role of nervous system activation in difficult patron and colleague interactions
• Recognize early indicators that a boundary may be needed
• Practice mindset shifts that support confident, respectful limit-setting
• Identify strategies for upholding boundaries while maintaining welcoming library spaces

Presented by: Ariana Friedlander, MPA

Ariana Friedlander, MPA, is founder of Rosabella Consulting and a master facilitator specializing in trauma-informed leadership and the Neuroscience of Conversation®. With over 20 years of experience supporting mission-driven organizations, including libraries, she helps professionals navigate difficult interactions with compassion, clarity, and confidence. Her Trauma-Informed Assertiveness Training equips library staff to maintain exceptional service while setting healthy boundaries. Ariana lives in sunny Colorado with her family.

Registration coming soon!

Previous ARSL TRAINs

Members Only TRAIN Archive
ARSL members can unlock an exclusive archive featuring five years of TRAIN recordings — deep dives, hands-on tutorials, and expert-led sessions for small & rural libraries. Log in or join ARSL today to start exploring!

ARSL TRAIN Archive (Members Only)

Browse Our Public TRAIN Archive
View a selection of ARSL TRAIN session recordings available to all, including Partner TRAINs and COVID-19 Roundtables.

Public ARSL TRAIN Archive

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Cancellation & Late Fee Policy