Conferences & Continuing Education

PLA Microsite Nav
- About PLA
- Advocacy, Legislation & Issues
- Conferences & Continuing Education
- Data-Driven Librarianship
-
Initiatives & Projects
- Digital Literacy
- Early Literacy
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice
- Family Engagement
- Global Libraries Legacy Partnership
- Health
- Inclusive Internship Initiative
- Information Literacy
- Workforce Development
-
Past Initiatives & Projects
-
Awards & Grants
- Allie Beth Martin Award
- Baker & Taylor Entertainment Audio Music/Video Product Award
- Charlie Robinson Award
- EBSCO Excellence in Rural Library Service Award
- Gordon M. Conable Award
- John Iliff Award
- New Leaders Travel Grant
- PLA Library Innovation Award
- Romance Writers of America Library Grant
- The Singer Group Helping Communities Come Together Award
- Past Awards
- DigitalLead: Rural Libraries Creating New Possibilities
- Fostering Creative Community Connections
- Libraries Connecting You to Coverage
- Libraries Lead with Digital Skills
- Public WiFi Access Micro Grant Program
- Skilling for Employment Post COVID-19
-
Awards & Grants
- Leadership Development
- Member Center
-
Publications & Resources
- Professional Tools
- Publications & Products
We know that as the role of public libraries keeps expanding, staff must constantly adapt and absorb new responsibilities. How will they keep up? At PLA, we help keep public library professionals a step ahead through in-person and online continuing education opportunities. Our conference doesn’t just convene public library people, it welcomes them into meaningful partnership. And our continuing education opportunities don’t just improve public library services, they build public library leaders.
Conferences and Preconferences
Learn about PLA preconferences, educational programs, and special events at ALA Annual Conference and our biennial PLA Conference. Stay informed of upcoming conference and training opportunities by signing up for notifications.
Online Learning
Learn online with PLA's live webinars, on-demand webinars, and other virtual offerings. Stay informed of upcoming webinar and online training opportunities by signing up for notifications.
- Webinar Proposal Form
If you have an idea for a webinar you'd like PLA to present, we encourage you to submit a proposal. PLA opens a call for webinar proposals twice per year, with deadlines of April 30 and October 31 of each year. Please contact plawebinars@ala.org with any questions or concerns about the webinar proposal process.
Professional Development Theory of Change
Professional development is at the heart of what we do at PLA. The Theory of Change rethinks how the public library field can approach—and PLA can support—professional development. We’re excited to introduce this new way of thinking about professional development later this year.