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 updates and dialogue. Visit the BC Library Conference page for information about this annual event, including scholarships.
Current and Upcoming
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. Register today for a practical workshop with Cari Lynn Gawletz called “AI and ChatGPT Top Tips for Daily Life & Library Work” (Nov. 21).
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. This year, we are pleased to announce that Professor R. David Lankes has been selected and we hope you can join us on Thursday, December 5th at 2pm-3:15pm (or view the recording). Register today, and please find recordings of past presenters below.
Conference Virtual Reboot
Every year, attendees from the BC Library Conference recommend their favourite sessions, wishing their peers could have attended. 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. Stay tuned for the next round of workshops in 2025!
Accessible Customer Service
Untapped Accessibility is a leading BC-based accessibility consulting firm who offer customized training from a lens of lived experience. BCLA has partnered with Untapped Accessibility in the past to cultivate positive interactions with library patrons who have a disability, and we are pleased to announce a new training opportunity on Wednesday, January 22nd 2025 called “Accessibility in the Employee Life Cycle.” Registration is now open!
Read Local BC Book Blast!
In collaboration with Read Local BC, the “BC Book Blast!” series features the very best of BC published books, with support from the Association of BC Book Publishers. The CataList and recording from our last session in October 2024, featuring new and pre-pub BC books for the fall season is now available below along with the suite of presentations.
Recordings
Anti-Racism Training
The Indigenous Allyship and Anti-Racism training was offered on April 4, 2024 by Len Pierre, a Coast Salish educator from Katzie First Nation who was a keynote speaker from the 2023 BC Library Conference. BCLA hosted the session free-of-charge as part of our commitment to anti-racism, and Len gave permission to have the training recorded, available below.
- Vimeo recording from April 4, 2024 with Len Pierre
- PowerPoint slides
- Territory Acknowledgment Guide
EDI Strategies in Recruitment Toolkit training
The Equity Diversity Inclusion Strategies in Recruitment Toolkit was built by the contributions of Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) and project leader, Jessica Whu Lee. This presentation on March 7th, 2024 provided an overview for anyone involved or interested in recruitment in libraries, seeking to get introduced or refreshed on the EDI Toolkit.
- Vimeo recording from March 7th, 2024 with Jessica Whu
- PowerPoint slides
How to Write a Successful Conference Session Proposal
Crafting a successful conference session proposal takes skill! Check out the recording of our information session below:
Privacy Guidelines and Management
In 2023, the Northwest Library Federation recorded a 3-part webinar series based on The Privacy Guidelines for BC Public Libraries with SFU Privacy Lawyer, Ericka Brimacombe, and Kaitlyn Vecchio has kindly given permission to feature the information here.
Webinar One: For all library staff, covering personal liability, collection / use / disclosure / consent of information, and briefly touches on Privacy Impact Assessments, complaints and breaches.
Webinar Two: Intended for Library Directors and Privacy Officers with close attention to FOI, complaints, breaches, and Privacy Management Program.
Webinar Three: Q&A session including insightful questions, templates, and examples of Records Retention Schedules, etc.
Another great resource is OIPC – Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner for BC who have a free suite of PrivacyRight Webinars and host a free, informative session on “Data Privacy Day” on January 30th, as well as customized webinars and training. A helpful video called “The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA): Essentials for your organization” (Feb. 21, 2024) is freely available. Note: this is the organization where you would report a privacy breach.
AI Exploration Series (2024-present)
This on-going series is made possible with the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
- Best Practises for Hosting AI Workshops at the Public Library (October 2024): Presentation slides and Recording
BC Book Blast! Series (2023-present)
In collaboration with Read Local BC and the Association of BC Book Publishers events featuring the latest BC books on a variety of themes and genres will be offered 4-5 times a year.
- New Fall books Edition (Oct. 2024): Full book list and Program Recording
- Kids’ Summer Edition (June 2024): Full book list and Program Recording
- “Community: building, living and connecting in BC” (May 2024): Full book list and Program Recording
- Youth & Adult titles for Freedom to Read Week or Black History Month (February 2024): Full book list and Program Recording
- Adult Non-Fiction (December 2023): Full book list and Program Recording
Libraries in the Global Arena Series (2021)
The Libraries in the Global Arena Series focused on the role of libraries in effectively addressing the climate crisis, featuring Seth Klein and Rachel Malena-Chan.
Year-End Keynote Speaker Series (2023-present)
Our annual Year-End Keynote Speaker Series features a presenter who has come recommended as someone who will inspire and challenge library workers as they prepare for a new year.
Karina Hagelin (December 14, 2023):
Communities of Care: accessible libraries through trauma-informed frameworks and radical empathy
