July 17, 2025

Keep Learning All Summer Long
From library programming and presentation skills to strategic planning, Amigos has a variety of engaging Know & Go sessions still to come this summer! These one-hour webinars, held on Monday afternoons from 1:30–2:30 p.m. CT, are led by experts from across the field and designed to help you sharpen your skills and explore new topics.

Best of all, they're always free for Amigos members. Check out the upcoming Know & Go sessions and other live online courses and keep growing all summer long!

KLA Partners with Amigos for Association Management
The Kansas Library Association (KLA) has partnered with Amigos for professional association management services beginning with the 2026 fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). This transition follows the retirement of longtime Executive Secretary Dawn Krause. Amigos will provide support in key areas, including membership, administration, financial management, and event coordination.

Kristin Evans, Association Management Services Manager at Amigos, said, "We look forward to our new partnership with the Kansas Library Association. Our history and understanding of managing associations will be a positive force in helping KLA move forward and continue to provide quality services and programs for its members."

For questions or membership inquiries, contact kla@amigos.org.

Education and Events

September Conference Call for Proposals Now Open
Amigos welcomes proposals from staff at member libraries and the wider library community, individual or panel sessions for its September 10th online topical conference, Libraries Cultivating Community. The library occupies a unique role, whether in a city, town, or on an academic campus. Within this third space, library staff have an opportunity to recognize and meet needs in a way that few other organizations can. Whether connecting users to local services, providing space to nurture grassroots initiatives, or encouraging student wellness, libraries position themselves at the center of human connection.  

If you are interested in sharing your knowledge and experiences, submit your proposal by August 6th, 2025.

Registration Closing July 23 for Upcoming Community Conversation

Amigos invites members to join an exclusive Community Conversation on July 24 exploring the evolving challenges and opportunities surrounding research data management. Don't miss this timely and collaborative discussion with leaders shaping the future of data services in academic libraries. Free and exclusively for Amigos members! 

Panelists include Jamene Brooks-Kieffer (University of Kansas), Cynthia Hudson Vitale (Johns Hopkins University), and Jennifer Moore (Washington University in St. Louis). Together, they’ll share actionable insights and fresh strategies to help libraries lead confidently in the complex world of research data.

Amigos Online Learning - Free for Members

Review the Continuing Education Schedule for the latest additions and updates:

• Know & Go: Unlocking the Benefits of Membership in Amigos Library Services
• Introduction to MarcEdit
• Navigating the Research Data Management Conundrum - An Amigos Community Conversation
• Know & Go: Slide Decks for Non-Designers
• Website Accessibility for Everyone
• Know & Go: Welcoming Adult Learners to Your Library with Bilingual Programming
• Introduction to Programming with Python and PyMARC
• Know & Go: Making Meetings More Effective
• The Essentials: Customer Service
• Discover Hyku: Empowering Libraries with Open-Source Repository Solutions
• Know & Go: Tips for Cover Letters, Resumes, and Interviews
• Serving the Neurodiverse Library User
• The Hive: Tips and Tricks for Using Generative AI
• Building a Practice of Plain Language in Your Library
• Know & Go: Identifying When Interactions Cross the Line

Explore the Global Impact of Social Media
The rise of social media has transformed the way individuals interact with each other and the world around them, and its impacts are felt across every aspect of society. Social Media in Society and Culture Intersection Collection is now available as part of the new Oxford Intersections series.

Learn About Research Tools and Ethical AI in Free Webinar
Join LexisNexis July 31 for "The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research Tools and Responsible AI," a webinar where they will explore AI's impact on literacy, the transformative power of combining reliable data with ethical AI practices, and how to best prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experts and be part of the discussions that shape the future of research and AI.