All posts by kathymacmillan

Level up your library’s service to Deaf patrons with Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Intermediate)

American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, Upcoming events, webinars
Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff | Interactive webinar series presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | Hands Up! Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner) . Intermediate: Wednesdays, October 21 to November 25, 2026, 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific StoriesByHand.com/webinars | Words appear over a drawing of upraised hands in bright pastel colors against a white background.

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Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Intermediate)

Wednesdays, October 21 to November 25, 2026 from 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific

Online sessions via Zoom (6 weeks, 1 hour per week). Includes recording access for all sessions through December 26, 2026.

Build your American Sign Language skills for library settings in this interactive series. This series is appropriate for those who have taken Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (Beginner), or the ASL for Library Staff eCourses through the American Library Association, or anyone who already knows some library vocabulary in ASL and wishes to polish their skills. Join us to reinforce your library signing skills and increase your confidence in your ability to communicate with members of the Deaf community. Certificate of completion available with successful completion of post-test.

  • Individual: 270.00 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
  • Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.

Part Participants say:

“I loved this workshop, it was a great introduction to library vocab in ASL!”

“I liked the focus on grammar, like topic-comment and indexing, because this is stuff that would be harder to study on my own.”

Register now for Intermediate series

See all upcoming webinars.

Roar into storytime!

American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, webinars
Two babies, one dressed as a tiger, and one dressed as a monkey, with the text: Little Hands Signing in Storytime: Animal Signs. Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific. Includes recording access. Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. StoriesByHand.com/webinars

Little Hands Signing in Storytime: Animal Signs 

Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 2-3 PM Eastern/1-2 PM Central/12-1 PM Mountain/11 AM-12 PM Pacific

Online session via Zoom (1 hour webinar). Includes recording access for 30 days.

Add some American Sign Language to your storytime toolbox! In this interactive session, we’ll focus on basic ASL vocabulary for animals. Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.

Certificate of completion available upon request with successful completion of post-test.

Pricing:

  • Individual: 45.00 (includes live webinar and recording access for 30 days after the live event)
  • Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
  • Optional Add-on: Individualized video feedback: 25.00. Submit a video (up to 10 min) demonstrating your planned signing activities for storytime and receive individualized feedback on sign choices, production, and more from Kathy MacMillan via return video within 14  days. Must be used within 6 months of purchase.

About the Instructor: Kathy MacMillan is a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, and storyteller. She is the author of the Sign the Seasons and Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press, Little Hands and Big Hands: Children and Adults Signing Together (Huron Street Press) as well as many other books for children, teens, librarians, and educators.

Past attendees say:

“This was my first time attending a workshop like this, and it was fantastic! The instructor was friendly, knowledgeable and did a great job explaining the signs.”

“The presenter did a fantastic job. It was especially helpful to be able to practice the signs during the webinar.”

“This was really fantastic and super engaging. Thank you so much!!”

REGISTER NOW

Feedback from Workshop and Webinar Participants

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Check out the Deaf Creator Collective!

American Sign Language, Resources for Teachers and Librarians

Screen shot of the Deaf Creators Collective homepage at https://www.marylanddcdl.org/deaf-content-creators-2/

The Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library has just introduced a fantastic resource for libraries, schools, camps, and businesses! The Deaf Creator Collective is a searchable database of Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, hard of hearing, late-deafened, and CODA creators for events, projects, programs, and partnerships. The database includes artists, educators, performers, advocates, entrepreneurs, STEMists, and other creative professionals, and it’s easy to search by industry or location.

Browse or search the Deaf Creator Collective database.

Deaf creators can apply here.

Find more great resources from the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library here.