Registration
This year, instead of a day-long conference, we are offering a variety of programs in a virtual format on different days/times. Please select from the programs listed to learn more and register using your library work email address.
Building Your Network (February 12, 2025) with Keynote Speaker Michelle Hamiel
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 1 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Michelle Hamiel
Title: Building Your Network
Mentoring can be informal and formal. No matter the type of mentoring that is encouraged, time and commitment are imperative for both the mentor and the mentee. A robust mentoring program begins with a healthy and safe workplace that values all staff and encourages building strong trusted relationships.
This presentation will help you understand how to design a healthy program, and the benefits individuals and organizations will receive by participating in an effective mentoring program. The presentation will discuss both a formal and informal program.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
The Building Blocks of a Mentoring Program (February 19, 2025)
Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Title: The Building Blocks of a Mentoring Program
Presenters: Christine Kreger and Bailey Wallace
Join us to learn about building a mentorship program in your library or organization. During this two-part session we will spend time talking about the foundations of mentorship, explore different mentoring options, and take a deep dive into traditional mentoring and group and peer mentoring. After this session you will have the ability to explain the benefits of starting a mentoring program and create a plan of action to implement a mentoring program.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 2.5 hours
Mentoring in Action - AACPL’s Inaugural Mentoring Program: GROW at Anne Arundel County Public Library (February 20, 2025)
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Title: Mentoring in Action - AACPL’s Inaugural Mentoring Program: GROW at Anne Arundel County Public Library
Presenters: Bethany Lambert
AACPL kicked off its first formal mentoring program this fall. We’ll talk about how we jumped in and got started. We’ll discuss our first steps, our next steps and how’s it going. Join us for a presentation and discussion of things to consider and some practical information on how you can get started in your system.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
Panel Program: Mentoring vs. Coaching: Key Differences, Benefits, and Examples
(March 6, 2025)
Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025 - 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Panel Program: Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between Mentoring and Coaching
Presenters: Nini Beegan (Facilitator), Liz Gabbitas, Becky Hass, Chaundra Johnson, Christine Kreger
In this insightful panel session, we will explore the nuances between mentoring and coaching—two powerful developmental tools that play a critical role in personal and professional growth. Though often used interchangeably, mentoring and coaching have distinct purposes, structures, and outcomes.
Our panelists will define both mentoring and coaching, highlighting their unique features.
Through real-world examples and expert insights, we will discuss:
Key differences and similarities between mentoring and coaching and the various types of each.
Benefits and challenges of each approach.
How to determine which one to use in different contexts, such as leadership development, team dynamics, and career progression.
How to balance and integrate both methods for maximum impact.
Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of when to apply mentoring or coaching based on the needs of the individual and organizational goals, and how each method can foster growth and success in a variety of settings.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
How Life and Engagement Coaching Can Impact Libraries (March 11, 2025)
Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Program: How Life and Engagement Coaching Can Impact Libraries
Presenter: Becky Hass
Life and Engagement Coaching offers non-judgemental, curious conversations that support change management while remaining grounded in your values. When we practice showing up more "coach-like" for ourselves and each other, we foster creativity, sustainability, and library joy.
Learning Objectives:
Discern between coaching, mentoring, therapy, and counseling.
Demonstrate essential coach-like skills such as active listening and powerful questions.
Apply coaching tools and activities, such as value mining, to increase awareness.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
Coaching in Action - Coaching within a Performance Development Framework at Cecil County Public Library (March 27, 2025)
Date: Thursday, March 27, 2025
Program: Coaching in Action - Coaching within a Performance Development Framework at Cecil County Public Library
Presenter: Amber Schooley
Immediately following the pandemic, Cecil County Public Library developed Grow. Perform. Succeed., A GPS for Performance Development. With a focus on SMART goal setting and regular opportunities for feedback, supervisors apply effective coaching principles resulting in a culture of collaboration. Join CCPL staff to learn how coaching within a performance development framework benefits staff, supervisors, and the entire organization.
Learning Objectives:
List components of CCPL's performance development framework that support a culture of collaboration.
Apply effective coaching behaviors when working within a performance development framework.
Identify opportunities for informal and formal coaching when working with staff.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
Coaching for Growth (March 31, 2025)
Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 - 1pm to 2pm
Program: Coaching for Growth
Presenters: Liz Gabbitas and Chaundra Johnson
Coaching plays a vital role in developing agile teams and effective leaders. Organizations who can build these relationships into their professional development plans keep their people engaged, boost their confidence, and encourage personal and professional growth. This session will explore coaching principles and applications from two different lenses: technical coaching and adaptive coaching. We’ll discuss the opportunities and challenges of these often time-intensive relationships, as well as tools to ensure everyone involved has appropriate expectations and a shared definition of success. Finally, we’ll brainstorm together to imagine productive coaching relationships across library career paths.
Learning Objectives:
Identify adaptive and technical coaching they have experienced throughout their professional and personal life so far.
Name the skills of a good coach.
Identify potential coaches and opportunities to be a coach in your own workplace.
Set criteria for success in coaching by defining expectations and goals.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
Leadership Coaching Circles (April 9, 2025)
Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025 - 1pm to 2pm
Program: Leadership Coaching Circles
Presenter: Nini Beegan
Coaching Circles® are a trusting environment for a small group of peers to coach each other in exploring the challenges and complexities of their roles and in designing effective and authentic ways to achieve what matters most to them. During Fall 2024/Winter 2025, a small group of library leadership facilitators engaged in a Leadership Coaching Circle to develop their coaching skills and support each other’s growth and development. This program explains the benefits of leadership coaching and introduces you to Leadership Coaching Circles as a potential model for engaging in peer coaching.
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) = 1 hour
Contact Hours (Maryland public libraries) will be based on live attendance.
Zoom captioning and transcript are available for this program. For ASL interpreter requests, please contact Carlotta Davis, carlotta.davis@maryland.gov as soon as possible and no later than three weeks before the program