State By State
2026 CE Forum
Des Moines, IA
August 4-6, 2026
Name That State!
Which U.S. state is home to Lake Havasu City, where the original London Bridge was reconstructed in the late 1960s?
ARIZONA
The original London Bridge was dismantled in England and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City in the late 1960s.
A Little State Trivia
Summer Library Institute returned in 2026. This program dates back at least 30 years!
Leadership Institute planned for early September, facilitated by Sharon Morris and Jamie LaRue
School Library Summit
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Melissa Kummen, Library Services Consultant
mkummen@azlibrary.gov
Add an image of your choice!
Name That State!
ARKANSAS
One unusual, fun, or strange piece of info about your State
A Little State Trivia
BRIEFLY share CE opportunities, programs, or resources you’re proud of!
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Main CE contact �(Name, email address, phone)
Add an image of your choice!
Name That State!
COLORADO
One unusual, fun, or strange piece of info about your State
A Little State Trivia
BRIEFLY share CE opportunities, programs, or resources you’re proud of!
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Main CE contact �(Name, email address, phone)
Add an image of your choice!
Name That State!
Which U.S. state designated rescue dogs as its official State Dog in 2019?
DELAWARE
In 2019, Delaware’s State Dog became rescue dogs!
A Little State Trivia
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Jaclyn Hale�Delaware Division of Libraries �jaclyn.hale@lib.de.us
Name That State!
In which U.S. state did America’s first major gold rush take place in 1829, centered in Dahlonega and significant enough to establish a U.S. Branch Mint to coin local gold?
Gina Martin, MLIS, CPTM
Director of Continuing Education�and Training
Email:�gmartin@georgialibraries.org
Phone:�(470) 620-5131
Georgia Public Library Service�Atlanta
The Peach State
STATE OF GEORGIA
CE Highlights
school
PINNACLE Cohort
Successfully graduated 20 librarians in the 2026 cohort.
local_library
GPLS Learning Center
Refreshed experience with updated pathways and new content. Powered by Niche Academy.
Grow with Google
Offering Google Career Certificates and Google AI Professional Certificate to library cardholders.
A Little State Trivia
"The Dahlonega Gold Rush"
America's first major gold rush occurred in Dahlonega, Georgia, in 1829. It was so massive that a U.S. Branch Mint was established right in town to coin the abundance of Georgia gold.
Name That State!
In which U.S. state can you find melon gravel—rounded basalt boulders formed and deposited around 15,000 years ago by the catastrophic Lake Bonneville Flood?
IDAHO
Idaho has “melon gravel” - round basalt boulders created and placed by the Lake Bonneville Flood around 15,000 years ago.
Some boulders at Celebration Park have petroglyphs!
A Little State Trivia
We saw a 42% increase in e-course completions in the past year (15,012 total completions in FY26)
Switching our Directors Summit from a statewide event to a regional one saved lots of $!
There are now twelve courses in the LiFT (Library Foundational Training) program and they are very popular!
Series:
- Collection Management (6 courses)
- The Library Catalog (4 courses)
Standalone courses:
- Public Library Fundamentals
- The Reference Interview
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Name That State!
In which U.S. state can you find a country road that splits around the grave of Nancy Kerlin Barnett?
Unusual Landmarks�
Grave in the Road: In the middle of a country road in Franklin, IN is the grave of Nancy Kerlin Barnett. In the late 1800’s (years after her death in 1831 at the age of 39), road planners tried to move her grave. Nancy’s grandson wasn’t having it! He decided to campout by his Granny’s grave with a shotgun, and well, that took care of that. His efforts forced the county to split the road around her.
Trees in the Courthouse: In Greensburg, IN two large trees have been growing out of the roof of the Decatur County Courthouse for over a century.
A Little State Trivia
DIY: Difference Is You Conference �This is the 11th year celebrating Indiana’s library support staff at the Indiana State Library.��Indiana Young Readers Center�Is celebrating its 10th year at Indiana State Library. IYRC Librarian: Tammie Buchanan. Children’s Consultant, Beth Yates.�
Achievements�So far this year The Professional Development Office (PDO) has led 20 webinars with 3 more to come, participated/led 20 roundtables, visited over 107 library directors, and led 11 in-person trainings. We’ve been busy!
�
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
American bison once roamed Indiana in large numbers, leaving behind the historic Buffalo Trace migration route before being hunted to local extinction around 1830. They have been brought back! The Indiana Chapter of the Nature Conservancy has restored (2024) a prairie where about 90 buffalo roam and, as that herd grows, some are sent to help Native American tribes across the country restore their herds.
Name That State!
Which U.S. state is the birthplace of Mildred Wirt Benson (aka Caroline Keene, author of Nancy Drew series) and the future birthplace of James T. Kirk in 2228?
IOWA
Mildred Wirt Benson (AKA Caroline Keene) was born in Iowa
A Little State Trivia
Launched: New Endorsement track – “Community Engagement in Public Libraries”
CE Team Changes: 2 retirements, 1 new district consultant, and (hopefully) a CE Coordinator new hire.
Trustee Training: Only approved training provider to offer a fully self-paced, online course compliant with new state Open Meetings laws
Youth Services Conference: Online conference for YS librarians - to be back in-person in 2027
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
James T. Kirk due to be born in Riverside, IA on March 22, 2228
One unusual, fun, or strange piece of info about your State
A Little State Trivia
BRIEFLY share CE opportunities, programs, or resources you’re proud of!
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Brittany Whitfield
Office: (225) 342-4940
bwhitfield@library.la.gov
701 N. Fourth St.
Baton Rouge, La. 70802
Name That State!
In which U.S. state was marshmallow fluff invented, now celebrated each year with its own festival?
MARYLAND
Snowballs: Invented in Baltimore during the 1860s, this shaved ice treat is traditionally topped with egg custard syrup and marshmallow cream.
.
A Little State Trivia
Literacy Summit will be held in October 2026.
Executive Leadership Cohort (ELC) held for library directors during 2026; Leading Forward for library directors will be held in 2027; and Assistant Director Leadership Cohort will be held in 2027. More here.
Library staff teams are developing programs on our statewide Niche Academy. Leadership, Management & Supervision and AI Literacy are two big programs.
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Main CE contact �Nini Beegan, nini.beegan@maryland.gov
443-340-7853
MASSACHUSETTS
A Little State Trivia
Marshmallow fluff was created in Massachusetts. There is a festival every year to celebrate it!
CE Highlights From This Year
Our training program is now accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education & Training (IACET)
We are providing grants for library staff to take ALA’s new Library Paraprofessional & Support Staff Certification program.
We are now running all of our trainings (asynchronous and synchronous) through our Learning Hub (LMS).
CE Contact Info
Terry McQuown
Consulting & Training Services Director
Massachusetts Library System (MLS)
terry@masslibsystem.org
241-243 King Street, Suite 250
Northampton, MA 01060
(508) 357-2121 x 302
The only floating post office in the world exists in Michigan. The J.W. Westcott is a maritime post office that delivers mail to moving freighters in the Great Lakes, the methods of which have not changed for over 150 years. The tugboat has its own zip code (48222) and sidles up to the freighters in the Detroit River as they move through delivering mail, supplies, and once, a goat.
(https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/on-the-water-with-americas-only-floating-post-office)
A Little State Trivia
CE Highlights From This Year
MICHIGAN
NEBRASKA (Nebraska Library Commission)
We turned 125 years old this year!
A Little NLC Trivia
We provided free access for United for Libraries 2026 to all Nebraska libraries, friends groups, and boards.
In FY2026 NLC provided:
15 Basic Skills Classes
232 participants completed a total of 1024 Basic Skills Classes
In FY2026 NLC had 1109 active participants in our CE program, and they attended or participated in 4100 individual CE-earning events (that they submitted to us).
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Lynda Clause, CE Coordinator�lynda.clause@nebraska.gov
(402) 471-2694
Add an image of your choice!
Name That State!
Which US state hosts the largest hot air balloon fiesta in the world and is home to the Sandia Peak Tramway?
NEW MEXICO
A Little State Trivia
CE Contact Info:
CE Highlights From This Year
Sandia Peak Tramway - one of the longest in the world
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is the largest in the world
New Mexico’s 16 million+ acres of forestland cover more than twice the size of New Jersey
Name That State!
Which US state is home to the largest natural habitat zoo in the world?
NORTH CAROLINA
NC has the largest natural habitat zoo in the world!�2,800 total acres with 1,700 animals!
A Little State Trivia
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Lauren Clossey, Continuing Education Consultant,�lauren.clossey@dncr.nc.gov
Graphic on the elevator doors of the NC Museum of History
Name That State!
Which U.S. state holds Guinness World Records for the most snow angels made at once, the most s’mores made simultaneously, and the most fireworks stars launched from Roman candles?
NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota holds several Guinness World Records:
Most Snow Angels (2/17/2007), Most S’Mores Made Simultaneously (5/18/2024) and Most Fireworks Stars Launched from Roman Candles (1/1/2026).
A Little State Trivia
We hosted our second year of virtual conferences in April and coming up in September. The April conference, Today’s Skills for Tomorrow’s Services, had 265 attending 19 sessions virtually on April 29 and April 30. Continuing Education credit was available to school librarians through Valley City State University. September’s conference, Fundamental Skills for Today’s Services is in the planning phase and on track.
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Name That State!
Which U.S. state is known for having the nation’s most diverse terrain mile-for-mile, boasting more than 10 ecoregions—more than any other state?
OKLAHOMA
“Mile for mile, Oklahoma offers the nation’s most diverse terrain. It’s one of only four states with more than 10 ecoregions, and has by far, the most per mile in America according to the EPA.”
from TravelOK.com
A Little State Trivia
Public Library Certification Workshops
The in person certification classes were formally redesigned this year to work better as 2-day workshops. The spring workshops were a hit! The new fall ones will be in October.
Renovations!
The Oklahoma Department of Libraries building is undergoing a long-overdue renovation!
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Paige Harkins
CE Coordinator
paige.harkins@libraries.ok.gov
(405) 522-3321
Name That State!
Which U.S. state is home to roughly 25 percent of the nation’s llamas, with Clackamas County holding the highest concentration?
OREGON
Oregonians love llamas. It may be hard to believe, but 25 percent of the nation's llamas live in our state. Clackamas County has the most, followed by Washington, Yamhill, and Marion counties. Many of these llamas live on free-range farms for their fur, but they're also kept as pets and even for llama petting farms.�(Courtesy of Only in Oregon)��See also: Caesar the No-Drama Llama and the llamas that greet visitors at the Portland Airport.
A Little State Trivia
Changed promotional process, which increased participation in online webinars.
Provided learning resources in various formats related to AI, law enforcement in libraries, staff wellness, and intellectual freedom.
Offered scholarships for learning opportunities for under-resourced library staff.
Worked with Oregon Humanities to coordinate workshops
training libraries to facilitate community conversations
around the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence.
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Darci Hanning�darci.hanning@slo.oregon.gov
971-375-3491 �
(Picture courtesy of Only in Oregon)
Image credit: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives.�https://www.northwestdigitalheritage.org/
Name That State!
Which U.S. state has the highest pizzeria density?
RHODE ISLAND
With about 37 pizza places per 100,000 people, Rhode Island ranks first in the country for pizzeria density. You barely need to go 3 miles to find a slice!
Rhode Islanders are so serious about their pizza, they ‘created’ their own: Party Pizza! It’s either loved or hated.
A Little State Trivia
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
RI is also home to a handful of Thomas Dambo trolls, and this is Erik Rock
Name That State!
Text
SOUTH CAROLINA
One unusual, fun, or strange piece of info about your State
A Little State Trivia
3rd Annual Directors’ Summit
Inaugural nstitutional Libraries Exchange
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Add an image of your choice!
Name That State!
Which US state is this?
South Dakota
A Little State Trivia
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Scottie Bruch, SDSL Training Coordinator
TENNESSEE
One unusual, fun, or strange piece of info about your State
A Little State Trivia
BRIEFLY share CE opportunities, programs, or resources you’re proud of!
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Main CE contact �(Name, email address, phone)
Add an image of your choice!
TEXAS
Nothing little here! From border to border both north/south and east/west is about a 13 hour drive. We have around 540 libraries.
A Little State Trivia
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Katelyn Patterson
Continuing Education and Consulting Manager
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
512-463-5433
Name That State!
In which U.S. state can you visit Golden Dog Farm, a picturesque mountain-surrounded destination where visitors play with Golden Retrievers, enjoy maple syrup pancakes, attend wine tastings, and even join a Golden Retriever Painting Retreat?
VERMONT
There are many beautiful farms in Vermont, some surrounded by mountains, snow covered in winter, bright with colors in the fall.
One such farm is called Golden Dog Farm. It is perfect. And just what it sounds like: a farm that celebrates all things Golden Retriever!
People come from all over the U.S. and beyond to play with Goldens, attend wine tastings then play with Goldens, eat pancakes with maple syrup then play with Goldens, buy “Swag to Make Your Tail Wag.”
This year there will be a Golden Retriever Painting Retreat!
A Little State Trivia
Office of the Vermont Secretary of State
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Add an image of your choice!
Name That State!
Which U.S. state contains 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail—more than any other state—and is home to the trail’s most photographed viewpoint, McAfee Knob?
VIRGINIA
Virginia contains 544 miles of the Appalachian Trail, more than any other state. Virginia also boasts the most photographed spot on the AT, the picturesque view from McAfee Knob.
A Little State Trivia
PCI Summer Learning Series (Management and Difficult Patron Behaviors)
Readers Advisory Genre Training Series (recruited VA Library Staff)
Guide to AI Resources
Facilities Management Series
FY26 CE Highlights
CE Contact Info:
Name That State!
In which U.S. state can you find the infamous “human leather” cowboy boots made from outlaw Big Nose George Parrott?
WYOMING
Wyoming's famous "human leather" cowboy boots belong to the notorious outlaw
Big Nose George Parrott, whose skin was tanned into a pair of shoes by a local doctor who later wore them to an inaugural ball.
A Little State Trivia
The WY-YS Librarian Lowdown
WYSIG mini conference
School Library Summit
AI Summit at the University of Wyoming - 91 participants
PB&J Show
Plains to Peaks
CE Highlights From This Year
CE Contact Info:
Maggie Unterseher
Library Development Manager
margaret.unterseher@wyo.gov
Thanks Continuing Education Staff!