***BEFORE YOU REGISTER FOR THIS ON-DEMAND WEBINAR PLEASE REVIEW IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION BELOW***
A PLA 2026 Virtual Conference On-Demand Webinar
Building a healthy organization and achieving success with your mission and strategic priorities only happens when individuals commit to building a positive leadership culture. Learn how Skokie Public Library crafted and implemented baseline norms and expectations that prioritize positivity, humility, communication, and teamwork. Hear practical strategies for shaping values-driven leadership that strives to model accountability and dignity to all library staff.
Recorded live during the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference, April 1–3, 2026.
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of this on-demand webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify and define core leadership values that align with your organization’s goals, values, and culture;
- Develop a structure for putting your leadership norms into practice; and
- Utilize individual reflection and group collaboration to support formal and informal leaders to strengthen their leadership competencies.
Who Should Attend
This on-demand webinar is intended for any public library worker wishing to sample the educational offerings of the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference.
If you were registered for the PLA 2026 Virtual Conference, or were an in-person full-conference registrant who purchased the Virtual Conference add-on, then you already have access to this recording in the online Conference console until July 3, 2026.
Panelists
Amy Koester is the Director of Public Services at Skokie Public Library, overseeing the teams responsible for information and reference, advisory, public programs, and hands-on learning services for youth, teens, and adults. She has led presentations and workshops on leadership at the regional and national levels. Amy has served on a number of committees and boards, including as the 2022-2023 President of the Association for Library Service to Children.
Richard Kong is the Executive Director of Skokie Public Library and is responsible for the overall administration, operation, and services of the library. He is a recognized leader in the professional library community, and has completed the PLA Leadership Academy and other leadership programs. He previously served as an executive board member of both the Public Library Association and the Illinois Library Association.
Annabelle Mortensen is Director of Access Services at Skokie Public Library, where she oversees collection development, technical services, and circulation. She's written and presented on a variety of topics including RA, collection development, diversity, and UX. She serves as a trustee emerita for LibraryReads and is a certified mentor in the Moral Courage College method of communicating across divides.
Important Registration Information
Log into or create your ALA eLearning account
An ALA eLearning account is required to register. Don’t have an account? Create one for free by going to the “Log in” menu located at the top right corner of your screen. No membership is required to create the account.
Redeem your signup code to complete your registration
Once you’ve registered for this on-demand webinar, a signup code will be added to your ALA eLearning account and emailed to you. Find the signup code on your signup code page, then redeem it on your account’s dashboard to complete your enrollment in this on-demand webinar.
- Need to purchase registration on behalf of a colleague?
- Need to register a group of 3 or more?
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Review the ALA eLearning FAQ if you need more information.
Accommodations
This on-demand webinar is closed captioned in English (United States).
If you have a physical or communication need that may affect your access to this on-demand webinar, please contact us at plawebinars@ala.org or 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752) prior to registering so we can attempt to provide appropriate accommodations.
Tech Requirements
To play this on-demand webinar you should use a browser with native HTML5 support. Please use the most up-to-date version available of Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, or Edge. A fast Internet connection and computer is recommended.
Contact
This webinar is presented by the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).
If you have questions or problems accessing a recording, send a message to plawebinars@ala.org or call 800-545-2433 ext. 5PLA (5752).
