BCLA supports the ongoing acquisition of skills and knowledge for personal and professional development and for career advancement. Please review the Professional Development priority, which highlights the full range of opportunities that we support and follow the BCLA Professional Development Forum for workshop updates and news. Visit the BC Library Conference page for information about our annual in-person event, including scholarships.
Current and Upcoming
| Date | Time * | Title / Registration Link | Presenter | Series / Priority |
| Wed. Feb. 11 | 2pm-3pm | Hitting the Limit: Trauma and Library Workers | Mark Reinelt | Conference Virtual Reboot |
| Thurs. Feb. 19 | 10am-11:15am | Using AI Tools in Library Marketing | David Lee King | AI Exploration Series |
| Thurs. Feb. 26 | 2pm-3pm | Sensing the Possibilities: Creating inclusive library spaces for all | Jenne Amell | Beyond Hope Reboot |
| Wed. Mar. 4 | 10am-11am | Search is Evolving — Are the Searchers? | Marydee Ojala | AI Exploration Series |
| Thurs. Mar. 12 | 10am-11am | From Barriers to Belonging: Designing a Community Hub | McKelle Hansen | Conference Virtual Reboot |
| Wed. Mar. 25 | 10am-11am | Navigating Toward Better Accessibility in Audiobooks | Simon Jaeger; Ioana Grandrabur | Conference Virtual Reboot |
| Tues. April 14 | 10am-11am | The Co-op Gaming Experience: cross-generational inclusion | Christopher Knapp | Beyond Hope Reboot |
*These events are all Pacific Standard / Daylight Time hosted online via Zoom, which includes closed captioning. If you have any accessibility needs to attend these sessions, please contact Natalie Porter, BCLA Professional Development Coordinator in advance and BCLA will do our best to support you.
BCLA expects anyone attending to honour the Online Community Guidelines, to help create a positive environment that values accountability, respect, and a willingness to learn from each other.
Conference Virtual Reboot
Every year, attendees from the BC Library Conference recommend their favourite sessions. In the “Conference Virtual Reboot” series, BCLA is inviting a selection of presenters to replicate or reimagine their conference session as a webinar, staggering these events throughout the coming year. Our next session is called “Hitting the Limit: Trauma and Library Workers” with Mark Reinelt of ORL on Wed. February 11th at 2pm – 3pm.
AI Exploration Series
The AI Exploration Series has begun with the intention of enabling library workers to better understand, build confidence, and utilize Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, and ChatGPT in their daily work and in their support of library patrons. We will aim to provide practical, hands-on tutorials as well as keynote speakers on a range of issues, and discussion-based workshops that openly consider the pros and cons of this constantly evolving technology. Our next event is Using AI Tools in Library Marketing with David Lee King on Thursday, February 19th at 10am – 11:15am. Register today.
Accessibility
Accessibility in libraries is a leading priority for BCLA, and we are looking forward to 2026 with more workshops to come featuring experts with lived experience and tools for making our libraries more accessible and welcoming to all. Our next workshop is Navigating Toward Better Accessibility in Audiobooks on Wednesday, March 25th at 10am – 11am PST on Zoom.
Growth & Leadership Series
The Growth & Leadership Series focuses on training opportunities with experts in the field who will present on topics related to management, leadership, team-building, library challenges, work-life balance, work culture, and personal development. All library staff are welcome to attend. Next session TBA
BCLA Annual Year-End Keynote
A Year-End Keynote speaker will present on a topic intended to inspire library workers in preparation of a new year. Thank you for attending our 2025 presentation featuring Nick Tanzi – the digital librarian. Presenters from previous years can be enjoyed on our Recordings page.
For past events, please visit the Recordings webpage or explore BCLA’s Vimeo account.