How to Build Connections, Collaborations, and Partnerships for Librarians - Webinar (02/28/24)

They say many hands make light work, but how do you make professional connections and start fruitful collaborations? Who should you reach out to and where do you start? Networking and building professional relationships are critical for school and public librarians, plus they can make your life so much easier, and fun!

Public librarian Alexandra Barr and former school librarian Kate Tompkins will share how they formed their partnership, as well as ideas on other connections you can make in and outside of your building.

Virtual Trainers: Kate Tompkins & Alexandra Barr

Kate Tompkins Head Shot Kate Tompkins worked in libraries across Northeast Florida starting at age 15 for the Alachua County Library District. From there, she went on to work for the St. Johns County School District for 13 years, and worked part-time for Florida State College of Jacksonville. She was active in the Florida Association of Media in Education (FAME), serving on different committees and boards. She also served on the NEFLIN Continuing Education Committee and was active in the School Library Interest Group. Kate is now a librarian in North Carolina, and although she misses her Florida library colleagues dearly, she doesn’t miss the heat and hurricanes.

Alexandra Barr is the new Community Outreach Manager for the St. Johns County Public Library System. In her former life, she was a Youth Services Librarian for almost ten years. Her very favorite things were programming and outreach, which she loves to share with the library world! She’s previously presented at NEFLIN conferences, FLA, ALA, schools, and professional development workshops.

Alex is a native Floridian that currently lives in St. Augustine with her three wild boys.

This is an online class. Access information will be emailed one week ahead.

Cost: NEFLIN classes are free of charge for Florida library staff. Registration is required for all classes and NEFLIN members get priority.

This project was funded either under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services or the Library Cooperative Grant program. Florida’s LSTA and LCG programs are administered by the Department of State’s Division of Library and Information Services.

For FY2023-24, the total state and federal budgets for NEFLIN's programs are $694,693. 42% of the total costs ($294,693) are supported by federal funds, and 58% of this program ($400,000) is supported by state funds.