 Catch the ARSL TRAIN!
Join us for ARSL's TRAIN (Training, Roundtables, and Informational Networking) series! Each month, we offer an online workshop, roundtable, or networking event designed to support and connect library professionals.
All registrants receive access to the TRAIN recording after the session. TRAIN programming is planned by ARSL's Continuing Education Committee.
Member Benefit: We have an archive with all past TRAIN recordings. Check it out below under "TRAIN Archive!" If you're not yet a member, consider joining to take full advantage of this library of knowledge.
  Upcoming ARSL TRAIN
February TRAIN: Advocacy for Small Libraries
Small and rural libraries face unique legal challenges—often without access to legal counsel. Join ARSL's Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs and Dan Novack from Penguin Random House for a national overview of the current legislative and court landscape. We'll examine key cases like Llano v. Little, discuss how legal developments in one state impact libraries nationwide, and provide encouragement and practical advocacy strategies for small library workers. While we cannot provide specific legal advice, this session will help you better understand and navigate today's complex legal environment.
When: Thursday, February 19, 2026
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
Presented by: Sara Koehn & Drew Wichterman, Advocacy Committee Co-Chairs
In Collaboration with: Dan Novack, VP, Associate General Counsel, Penguin Random House
 Mark Your Calendar!
March TRAIN: Financial Literacy Programming in the Library
When: Thursday, March 19, 2026
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
 Upcoming Partner TRAIN
Partner TRAINs are new TRAIN offerings from ARSL partner organizations! These are also focused on continuing education, and are free for all ARSL members and nonmembers.
February Partner TRAIN: Passive Programming
Paula Willey is a Senior Manager in charge of Collection & Project Development at First Book. Her job is to read, review, and purchase the very best in children's and teen literature, so that First Book's members can pass brand-new books along to the children they serve. Formerly a public librarian in Baltimore, she is co-author of The Passive Programming Playbook: 101 Ways to Get Library Customers off the Sidelines, a horror enthusiast, and a lifetime Spanish language learner.
Join Paula for a webinar on passive programming inspired by her book!
When: Thursday, February 12, 2026
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
Presented by: Paula Willey, Senior Manager, Collection & Project Development, First Book
Mark Your Calendar!
March Partner TRAIN: Early Literacy Through Decodables
The Road to Reading is a comprehensive early literacy initiative designed specifically for libraries to support emerging readers through structured, skill-based instruction grounded in the Science of Reading. This presentation will introduce participants to the design, purpose, and practical application of the Road to Reading program within public and school library settings.
During the session, Herbie Thorpe, Road to Reading Project Coordinator for Cherry Lake Publishing Group, will be joined by a professional librarian currently using the Road to Reading in their library. The librarian will share first-hand experiences and practical insights into how the program has been implemented, received by families, and incorporated into early literacy services. Together, they will walk through how the program’s decodable texts are organized by phonics skill progression and how libraries can use them to support children, caregivers, and programming. Attendees will also learn how short instructional videos, accessed through QR codes, reinforce each skill and help caregivers support reading development at home. This session combines program overview with real-world library experience.
When: Thursday, March 5, 2026
11:00 am PT / 12:00 pm MT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
Presented by: Herbie Thorpe, Road to Reading Project Coordinator, Cherry Lake Publishing Group
Herbie Thorpe is the Road to Reading Project Coordinator for Cherry Lake Publishing Group and has more than 25 years of experience working in the library market. Based in Madisonville, Louisiana, Herbie has represented publishing companies serving both public and school libraries throughout his career. His work centers on helping libraries implement The Road to Reading, a structured early literacy initiative aligned with the Science of Reading. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience with librarians and administrators, Herbie focuses on practical, library-friendly solutions that support early readers, caregivers, and community-wide literacy efforts.
Registration Coming Soon!
 Previous ARSL TRAINs
Members Only TRAIN Archive
If you’d like full access to our workshop library, ARSL members can unlock an exclusive archive featuring five years’ worth of additional TRAIN recordings — including deep dives, hands-on tutorials, and expert-led sessions specifically tailored with small & rural libraries in mind. With dozens of extra recordings, this growing resource is the perfect way to continue learning at your own pace. Log in or join ARSL today to start exploring!
Browse Our Public TRAIN Archive
View a selection of ARSL TRAIN session recordings available to all, including Partner TRAINs and COVID-19 Roundtables. These sessions were open to both members and non-members.
Cancellation Policies & Fees
Please review our Cancellation & Late Fee Policy to understand our event guidelines.
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