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MLS Member Webinars

Information and submission form for MLS Member Webinars.

What Makes a Good Webinar? 

 

While “good” can be subjective, at MLS we prioritize certain elements that make a webinar appealing and that enhance learning.

 

View or download these elements in a Word document (opens in a new window) or as a video.   

 

Topic:  

  • A good webinar topic appeals to a variety of library types and professional roles.  

For example, a webinar about providing storytimes could appeal to both public and school libraries. A webinar about teaching information literacy could appeal to all library types. 

  • A good webinar topic is current and relevant to the diverse needs and interests of library workers and the issues and tasks they deal with regularly.  

 

Interactive elements: 

  • A good webinar provides opportunities for attendees to interact with you, one another, and the webinar content.  

This might look like inviting attendees to use the Zoom chat or Zoom reactions, to unmute and speak, to complete a poll, or other ways to engage in active learning. 

  • It’s OK if you’re not sure how to do this! MLS Consultant Jane Stimpson will work with you on how you might add relevant interactive elements to your webinar. 

 

Presentation: 

  • A good webinar is one where the presenter is prepared, comfortable with the technology of the webinar platform, and skillful at delivering content and inviting interaction in an engaging manner and at a steady pace. 

  • It’s OK if you’ve never presented a webinar before! MLS Consultant Jane Stimpson will work with you on presentation and facilitation skills, so you feel prepared and confident. 

 

Visuals: 

  • A good webinar uses engaging visual elements that enhance the learning experience without being distracting.   

  • The presenter describes all images or other visual elements and tags them with alt text for accessibility. 

  • It’s OK if you’re not sure how to do this! MLS Consultant Jane Stimpson will work with you on your presentation materials to ensure visuals are engaging, effective, and accessible. 

 

Accessibility and DEI: 

  • A good webinar is accessible and follows best practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 

  • For more guidance on this element: 

 

Incorporating these elements into your webinar will help ensure your webinar is impactful, inclusive, and engaging for all participants. MLS is here to support you every step of the way.