PLA to host three webinars in May

CHICAGO — Today, the Public Library Association (PLA) announced its webinar offerings for the month of May. All three webinars are offered free of charge, but registration is required and space is limited. Please click the webinar titles below for more information or to register.

Improving the Quality of Youth Programs
Thurs., May 2; 1-2 p.m. Central Time

Improve the quality of out-of-school time or after-school programs at the point of service—the place where the youth and staff come together. Through a series of trainings and assessment tools from the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, Houston (TX) Public Library made changes to create engaging programs where youth want to be instead of have to be. Houston Public Library will address how the library's first-year participation in the Youth Program Quality Intervention Program has shown distinct improvements in the program using assessments. The Weikart Center will provide an overview of the quality practices measured by the Youth PQA and how the assessment supports making meaningful program changes through participation in a continuous quality improvement process known as the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI). Learn more and register.

Libraries Connecting You to Coverage: Health Literacy
Tues., May 7; 1-2 p.m. Central Time

As part of its ongoing work to support the public library’s role in creating healthy communities, PLA is taking steps to increase consumer education around health insurance and information. How can your library help? This free webinar will help public library staff better understand the importance of health literacy, how to promote accurate health information and resources, and how to develop community partnerships to broaden the scope of a healthy community. PLA's health insurance education initiative, Libraries Connecting You to Coverage, is part of a national partnership made possible by funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Community Catalyst. Learn more and register.

Measuring the Success of Health Programs and Services
Wed., May 29; 1-2 p.m. Central Time

Public libraries are critical to their community’s health, serving as a go-to resource for individuals to access current and reliable health information. Public library staff have a deep understanding of the unique needs of their communities and the value of serving their patrons’ health needs. Now all they need is the data to prove just how valuable those services are. In this webinar, participants will learn how Project Outcome’s new health survey will help public libraries measure the success of health programs and services. Participants will also discover helpful resources and training tools to enhance their health services. The Project Outcome health survey was developed in partnership with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM), dedicated to advancing the progress of medicine and improving public health. Learn more and register.

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About the Public Library Association
The Public Library Association (PLA) is the largest association dedicated to supporting the unique and evolving needs of public library professionals. Founded in 1944, PLA serves nearly 10,000 members in public libraries large and small in communities across the United States and Canada, with a growing presence around the world. PLA strives to help its members shape the essential institution of public libraries by serving as an indispensable ally for public library leaders. For more information about PLA, contact the PLA office at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext.5PLA, or pla@ala.org.