Free weekly webinars hosted by UW iSchool alumni!
Every year, the UW-Madison iSchool offers a monthslong series of free webinars hosted by UW alumni, diving into topics related to libraries, archives, museums, or any other relevant information fields. Join us Thursdays in July 2026 for our next series! These are open to the public; anyone is welcome to sign-up.
Check out our upcoming offerings and register below. Registration closes at 3PM the day before each webinar. You will receive a link to watch the webinar the week before it airs.
Mastering the Library Job Interview for New Professionals
July 9, 2026 | 12-1 PM CDT
Tammy Pineda, Youth Services Manager, Madison Public Library
For many LIS students and recent graduates, the transition from the classroom to the professional landscape is defined by a single, nerve-racking hurdle: the library job interview.
This session demystifies the hiring process for anyone new to the field. We’ll cut through the formalities and talk about what hiring managers actually want to see. Participants will learn how to really prepare before the interview, how to successfully present yourself during the interview, and strategies to close the interview on a memorable note. After hearing real-life examples and gaining some actionable strategies, you’ll move past the anxiety and leave this workshop with the confidence (and a cheat sheet) to nail your next interview.
Design for Everyone! Teaching Canva in the Public Library
July 16, 2026 | 12-1 PM CDT
Phillip Windsor, Business and Careers Librarian, Richland Library Main, Columbia, SC
Canva is a free tool for an array of design artifacts. At Richland Library, we have seen enthusiastic customer response to the development of Canva program offerings, from introductory classes to deep-dive workshops. This webinar will examine the origins of this program, its growth and development in response to customer need, and possible applications for others seeking to develop similar programs. We’ll explore ways to use Canva as a tool for digital literacy, creativity, and community engagement in your library setting, as well as compare program structures and content to determine the best fit for your library audience.
Curriculum Analysis for Instruction Librarians
July 23, 2026 | 12-1 PM CDT
Sarah Ralston, Director, Associate Professor/Instruction Librarian, Eastern Oregon University
Information literacy instruction produces better learning outcomes when it is intentional, targeted, and relevant. It is not unusual for instruction librarians to be limited to one-shots in first year composition courses. Short-staffed libraries may find it challenging to offer timely, relevant instruction at the point of highest need.
How do we address these challenges? Curriculum analysis can help! Curriculum mapping and syllabus analysis may be used for strategic planning, scaffolding, and to identify gaps and redundancies in programming and instructional services. Most importantly, it can illuminate pathways to meeting students with relevant instruction at their point of need.
In this session I’ll share a framework for curriculum analysis and describe how this work can be used to open conversations with teaching faculty. Participants will take away ideas for implementing this practice at their own institutions and evaluate the benefits and challenges of this type of work.
“Bigger Than the Day’s Work”: Building Libraries and Creating Librarians at the Wisconsin Library School, 1906-1938
July 30, 2026 | 12-1 PM CDT
Bronwen Masemann, Project Manager/Collections Project Coordinator, iSchool Laboratory Library
This talk and Q and A will tell the stories of early Wisconsin Library School faculty and students who played a crucial role in the founding of libraries throughout the state, country, and internationally, featuring recently cataloged materials from the iSchool Library and other special collections.
Looking for past spring webinar recordings? Previous recordings and slides are available here.