On-Demand Webinars

Literacy

On-demand webinars are archived recordings of previous PLA webinars available 24/7 for viewing at your convenience.

Click to view all webinars—both live and on-demand—currently available in the ALA eLearning catalog.

Please note: As PLA transitions its webinar content to the new, centralized ALA eLearning site, some older on-demand webinars may be temporarily unavailable for purchase. If you’d like to purchase access to an older on-demand webinar, please contact PLA at plawebinars@ala.org and we will follow up with you when these products are available on the new eLearning site. However, many of PLA’s on-demand webinars are free, each denoted with a green “Free!” icon below the title.

 

On-DemandWebinarFree!
Every day community members who lack basic computer knowledge and skills access their local public libraries hoping to complete life tasks many of us take for granted. The Public Library Association (PLA) is proud to partner with AT&T to expand upon its work helping libraries and their communities close the digital divide through new and improved DigitalLearn.org courses and training materials.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
Fresh Start @ Your Library began locally at the Long Branch (NJ) Public Library, providing community reentry support to individuals returning to communities after serving time in prison or jail. In the fall of 2019, the New Jersey State Library, with grant funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and in partnership with the New Jersey State Parole Board, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Long Branch Public Library, and Free Library of Philadelphia (PA), embarked on a project to scale up Fresh Start @ Your Library.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
The Census is an essential source for discovering and reconstructing local and family history. Rich data about communities, neighborhoods, and families document local demographics, immigration and naturalization information, ancestral family names, relationships, birth years, and birthplaces. Although the U.S. government has conducted a Census every ten years since 1790, the categories of data collected and the details provided in the Census records vary. Learn how categories for race, ethnicity, and other demographics have changed over time and how that impacts research.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
What are the unique needs and opportunities for youth in the current workforce landscape and how can libraries help? The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the workforce readiness track and educational path for today’s young adults. In the past, many young people have pursued part-time employment and the development of skills and interests in anticipation of college or career readiness.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
Data literacy is increasingly an essential skill set for navigating everyday life. Learn how public libraries can increase awareness and understanding among youth of the pervasive role of data in their lives. The rich resources of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools are a valuable tool to advance data literacy, and many libraries are using Census data to foster civic education and community engagement among children and teens. The webinar speakers discuss approaches to data literacy that reach diverse populations and address real-world issues of interest to youth.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
Best known for his groundbreaking picture book, The Snowy Day (1962), Ezra Jack Keats created an imaginative, encouraging, and multi-ethnic community within his books. Drawing from Ezra’s legacy, the Ezra Jack Keats (EJK) Award, first awarded in 1986, nurtures and honors our country’s multicultural population, boosting the careers of authors and illustrators whose outstanding books reflect our diverse population and in turn the lives of countless children and families.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
This free on-demand webinar empowers all federal student loan borrowers with an overview of online tools and resources for managing personal student loans during the uncertain times of COVID-19. Learn about options made available under the CARES Act and strategies for lowering monthly federal student loan payments after COVID-19 stimulus assistance ends. Electronic tools for helping patrons enroll to lower payments and helping public service workers maintain eligibility for student loan forgiveness programs are discussed.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
Houston and Queens Public Libraries offer the innovative financial wellbeing program Ready, Set, Bank℠, in partnership with Capital One, to meet the significant demand for senior digital skill development and financial wellbeing classes. This free on-demand webinar shows you how this program helps patrons navigate the world of online banking by providing hands-on demonstrations, video tutorials, and answers to questions about safeguarding personal information online, along with step-by-step guidance on how to manage a bank account on a computer or mobile device.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
In 2017, the Public Library Association (PLA) launched a new initiative, Fostering Creative Community Connections, with Public Libraries and the Short Story Dispenser. With funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, PLA worked with the French company Short Édition to bring their Short Story Dispenser and digital content creation platform to a pilot group of select U.S. public libraries. The aim of the project was to strengthen a culture of literacy and reading, while increasing public awareness and use of library programs and services.
On-DemandWebinarFree!
Public libraries have long been leaders in bringing people into the digital world, providing programs and services that help patrons get jobs, gain knowledge, increase productivity, and engage with others online. Leveraging and strengthening existing library and community resources can help reduce staff burden and increase the library’s impact on digital literacy. In this on-demand webinar, a panel of digital literacy experts share tools, resources, and partnership strategies to help you enhance digital skill development among patrons and library staff.