2026 Early Literacy Calendar available now

Available in English and Spanish, these calendars provide daily early literacy tips for parents and caregivers, based on Every Child Ready to Read practices.

Download each month through Niche Academy: Early Literacy Calendar Module

CSLP Slogan & Theme Survey

Have you ever thought about where summer library slogan

and theme come from? Who thinks them up? How we select

each year’s slogan? Well, the answer is YOU!

Each year CSLP seeks feedback from library staff

for future summer slogan and theme suggestions. Libraries

from across the nation contribute, and together, we

come to consensus.

Now is your time to to be heard! Please complete this brief survey - https://forms.gle/QDG5YLR7wb7m14AD8 - to suggest a slogan for the 2029 theme of Nature and an all new theme

for 2030. Suggestions are due by February 2, 2026.

The Collaborative Summer Library Program is excited to launch a third national cohort of Building Community-Based Summers (BCBS) in Spring 2026! 

BCBS is designed to help member libraries identify the “whys” behind their summer services, build strategies to engage community voices, and create and provide inclusive summer services for all members of their communities. The spring 2026 cohort will gather for online learning sessions once weekly for 6 consecutive weeks in March-April 2026. 

BCBS is open to applicants from CSLP member libraries. All public libraries in New Mexico are eligible. There is no charge to participate. Applications will be open from Monday, January 5 through Monday, January 26.

The application link is live - HERE

New Series from NMSL - Learn @ Lunch!

How to Work with Library Volunteers

January 21, 2026 @ 12noon

A majority of the New Mexico public libraries rely on volunteer assistance to some degree - let's talk about successful volunteer programs in New Mexico - including working with teen/youth volunteers for summer reading programs! New Mexico library staff presenters!

Full details and registration here.

View all upcoming NMSL trainings on the

NMSL Training Calendar.

Inviting emerging adults into the library: Lessons from El Paso’s Centre Future

February 9, 2026 @ 1:00pm MT

Libraries often struggle to engage emerging adults (ages 16-26) in ways that meaningfully support their career and life decision-making, identity exploration, changing relationships and the search for autonomy. Centre Future, a program of the El Paso Public Library, blends mentorship, technology, and community in ways that traditional classrooms and job centers often cannot. Centre Future tailors services to emerging adults who are re-skilling, upskilling, and finding their footing. Learn how Centre Future’s youth fellows created this meaningful space and continue to revise as they grow. Take away new ideas for how libraries can position themselves as an important part of emerging adults’ lives. 

More details and registration HERE

Intergen at the Library:

Programming and Engagement Across Ages

February 26, 2026 @ 1:00pm MT

Generational divides are some of the steepest, defined not just by age, but by differences in experiences, cultures, and perspectives. Through intergenerational programming, libraries foster design opportunities for people to interact with, learn from, and share with people of different ages, interests, and cultural backgrounds. In this session, participants will distinguish between “intergenerational” and “multigenerational,” explore generational labels, discover the benefits of and barriers to intergenerational relationship building, and find resources from and beyond the library landscape for designing their own intergenerational programs.

More details and registration HERE

Big Talk from Small Libraries

Free, Online Conference

February 27, 2026

This free one-day online conference is tailored for staff from small libraries – the smaller the better! All of our presenters are from libraries serving fewer than 10,000 people, or are directly partnered with a small library and co-presenting with the library.

Sponsored by ARSL and the Nebraska Library Commission

Details and Registration - HERE

Library Juice Academy

Youth Services Courses for 2026

Library Juice Academy offers 4-week online library instruction by professionals in a wide variety of topics - including early literacy and youth services topics like:

• Foundations of Early Literacy
• Storytime 101
• Creating Inclusive Storytime Programs

See the full schedule of Youth Services courses for 2026 here - Library Juice Academy

NMOST Spring into Summer Conference

March 3, 2026

Albuquerque, NM

The New Mexico Out-of-School Time Network (NMOST) invites you to attend our IN-PERSON 16th Annual Conference: Spring into Summer 2026! This is our first in-person conference since 2019 and we can't wait to see you there! It will be held at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque on March 3rd. 

Registration Opens January 7.

Watch https://nmost.org/ for details and registration.

Explora Workshops for Librarians and Teachers

Free Virtual and In-Person workshops to assist with STEAM related programming for patrons.

Upcoming:

January 20: Flipbooks and Stopmotion Animation

January 29: STEM in Fairy Tales

February 10: Color-licious

View the full Spring 2026 Schedule with registration links - HERE

Looking Ahead: Professional Conferences

There are many general and specialized conferences for library staff. Plan ahead to attend! Remember: LSTA funds can be used to send library staff to professional conferences. Click on the name to go to the conference website.

Big Talk from Small Libraries - February 27, 2026 (Online)

Power Up: Leadership for Youth Services - Mar 26, 2026 - Madison, WI (Online)

Public Library Association (PLA) - April 1-3, 2026, Minneapolis, MN

ALA National Conference - June 25-30, 2026, Chicago, IL

ARSL National Conference - Sept 16-19, 2026, Montgomery, AL

ATALM 2026 - Sept 21-24, 2026, Spokane, WA

ALSC Institute (Assoc for Library Service to Children) - Oct 1-3, 2026, Buffalo, NY

Joint Council of Librarians of Color - Oct 7-11, 2026, Spokane, WA