Suffolk County Library Association upcoming events

2026 Professional Development Series: Strategic Teen Services for Middle Schoolers (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
Strategic Teen Services for Middle Schoolers

Thursday, September 24 10:00AM-11:00 AM

Middle school is a time of “in-betweenness,” and the transition from childhood to adolescence can be tumultuous for even the most well-adjusted kid. The same can be true of middle schoolers in the library, unsure of where they fit in the dichotomous world of children’s and teen services. However, we can create an intentional space in the library for middle schoolers through strategic collection development practices, civic engagement, and targeted outreach. This presentation will focus on building relationships with middle schools, writing collection criteria for middle school materials, and unlocking the potential in your middle school library population. Because there is less pressure on their time than their high school counterparts, middle schoolers can be (and often are) an untapped, enthusiastic resource in our communities, and strategic shifts can help make the most out of your public library services for middle schoolers.

Sponsored by YASD (Young Adult Service Division) of NCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: Queering The Collection (Wednesday, September 16, 2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
Queering The Collection

Wednesday, September 16 2:00-3:00 PM

Join the Long Island Library Pride Alliance to learn practical strategies for developing and maintaining an inclusive and diverse LGBTQ+ collection for readers of all ages. Participants will learn how to evaluate their collections for representation and identify gaps. This webinar will identify best practices to help create a collection that is welcoming and responsive to the needs and interests of your library's community.

Sponsored by the Long Island Library Pride Alliance, a committee of SCLA and NCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: Family Programming Made Fun (Thursday, September 17, 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
Family Programming Made Fun

Thursday, September 17 11:00AM-12:30 PM

Fun, interactive programs designed to bring families together through games, activities, creativity, and shared experiences. This discussion is dedicated to providing creative and engaging ideas for family programs that can be adapted to both low and high-budget settings. The featured programs have received excellent feedback from patrons and have proven to be ongoing favorites within the community. From simple, budget-friendly activities to larger, more elaborate experiences, these ideas are designed to be geared toward current trends, family fun and a bit of competition!

Sponsored by CLASC (Children’s Librarians Association of Suffolk County). Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: So You Want to Be a Librarian (Friday, September 18, 2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
So You Want to Be a Librarian: Moving from a Support Role to Librarian

Friday, September 18 2:00PM-3:00 PM

Considering going to library school? Join us as we discuss where to get started as you make the jump from support staff to librarian, including schools to consider, scholarship opportunities, and where to get information about civil service and job openings. We'll also discuss skills you can work on in your current role that can be beneficial in a librarian career.

Sponsored by LEOC (Library Employees of Color Committee) & SSD (Support Staff Division) of SCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: The People Advantage: Communicate, Connect, and Lead Better (Monday, September 21, 2026)

Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
The People Advantage: Communicate, Connect, and Lead Better

Monday, September 21 2:00PM-3:30 PM

Explore how different personality styles affect communication, relationships, teamwork, customer service and leadership. Using DISC personality styles and principles from John Maxwell’s 5 Levels of Leadership, participants will learn practical ways to understand others, adapt their communication, build stronger relationships and increase their positive influence—regardless of their role or title.

Sponsored by SCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: Practical Partnerships: Programming for Growth with your School Libraries (Tuesday, September 22, 2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
Practical Partnerships: Programming for Growth with your School Libraries

Tuesday, September 22 11:00AM-12:30 PM

Explore the benefits of programming with your local school libraries, and how it fortifies the goals of each institution. Presentation will include strategies for beginning and maintaining partnerships, examples of successes, approximate cost breakdown, troubleshooting such as for frequency, scale, and time management, and most importantly - keeping it all fun!

Sponsored by CLASC (Children’s Librarians Association of Suffolk County). Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: How to Turn Your Podcast Idea into a Reality (Monday, September 28, 2026)

Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
How to Turn Your Podcast Idea into a Reality

Monday, September 28 2:00PM-3:00 PM

Have you been thinking about starting a podcast but aren't sure where to begin? Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring experienced podcasters who will share practical tips and secrets for creating a successful podcast. We will cover how to choose the focus of your podcast, what equipment you will need to purchase, how to edit and publish your episodes, how to grow your audience, and what common mistakes beginning podcasters make.

Sponsored by MSD (Media Services Division) of NCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: Canva Revisited (Tuesday, September 29, 2026)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
Canva Revisited: What's New, What's Underused

Tuesday, September 29 2:00PM-3:00 PM

Most of us use Canva the same way we did the day we signed up — flyers, social posts, maybe a bookmark or two. Meanwhile, Canva has quietly grown into a whiteboard tool, a video editor, an email and website builder, and a suite of AI-assisted design features. This session is a guided tour of what's changed and what you may have scrolled right past- come see what's possible!

Sponsored by CATS (Computer and Technical Services) Division of SCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.

2026 Professional Development Series: 10 Reasons to Start a Solo Travelers Club at Your Library (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

2026 Professional Development Series Presents:
10 Reasons to Start a Solo Travelers Club at Your Library

Wednesday, September 30 10:00AM-11:00AM

Did you know solo travel is booming in the United States? More than 2 million #solotravel videos can be found on TikTok; Research and Markets reports that U.S. solo travel market is forecast to exceed $190 billion by 2030, and Skift Research cites 82% of travel decisions are influenced by women. These stats surface an opportunity for public libraries to meet a new demand—forming a community for solo travelers eager to connect with each other, discuss their ideas and experiences, and find resources to serve their interests. Join us for a presentation on 10 Reasons to Start a Solo Travelers Club at Your Library. Your presenter is librarian trainee and avid solo traveler Rose Spaziani, who has 22 years of experience as an editor, marketing manager, and counselor. She recently launched a solo travelers club at the Long Beach Public Library and will share what she has learned so far and how you can adapt her tips to serve your library community. Content will include data-informed practices for club planning; how to assess your collection for resources in print, audio, and online; and retention strategies for growing the club, among other information.

Sponsored by NCLA. Part of the Professional Development Series, Sponsored by CLASC, NCLA, and SCLA.