Category Archives: eCourses and Webinars

Hands-on Practice to Help You Serve Deaf Patrons at Your Library

American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, webinars
Text appears against a background of colorful hands: Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff. Interactive webinar series presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. Beginner (6 week series): Wednesdays, January 21 to March 4, 2026 (no class February 11), 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific. Includes recording access. StoriesByHand.com/webinars.

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

Wednesdays, January 21 to March 4, 2026 (no class February 11) 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 April 5, 2026.

Learn how to improve your service to deaf patrons in this interactive series. We’ll cover basic information about American Sign Language and Deaf Culture, as well as specific vocabulary for the library setting. Each session will build on those before it to reinforce your knowledge and expand your ability to communicate with members of the Deaf community, and you’ll get plenty of interactive signing practice! Certificate of completion available with successful completion of post-test.

Pricing:

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

Past participants say:

“Hands Up! was one of the most enjoyable and practical continuing ed courses I have taken in a long time. I found the ASL lessons extremely valuable as well as the introduction to Deaf culture. I have already had opportunities to put these new skills into practice at my library.” – Sarah Matthews, Wadsworth Library 

“I’ve been wanting to build on my ASL skills for a while, but I knew most of the classes I took in the community or independent study I did online wouldn’t cover the vocabulary I needed for my job. This class was perfect for learning library-specific vocabulary!” – Anonymous 

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

“Thanks for another outstanding learning experience! I’ve loved taking what I learned back to my colleagues and customers.” – Anonymous

“Thank you! You are obviously knowledgeable about ASL and a great teacher. I expected to learn just ASL signs, but the background, history and info about Deaf culture that you shared was even more valuable to me.” – Holly CP, Tigard Public Library 

Register now!

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Add some ASL to your winter storytime toolbox!

American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, webinars
Two snowpeople smile at the viewer. Text reads: Little Hands Signing in Storytime: Winter Signs. Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific. Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, MLS. Register at StoriesByHand.com/webinars

Little Hands Signing in Storytime: Winter Signs

Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific

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

Learn basic American Sign Language and extension activities to use in winter storytimes! Learn how to incorporate ASL into storytime songs, rhymes, and stories in a respectful and effective way.

Certificate of completion available 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.
Register now!

All upcoming webinars and series

Feedback from Workshop and Webinar Participants

Find out more about booking a private webinar for your group

FAQ: eCourses and Webinars

Purchase recording access to past webinars

Register now for Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library

American Sign Language, eCourses and Webinars, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, Upcoming events, webinars

On the left, an illustration shows a white, blonde woman signing THANK-YOU in American Sign Language. On the right, a photo shows a white woman with glasses and light brown hair smiles into the camera. Text reads: Workshop: Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library with Kathy MacMillan. ALA Editions 2-part Webinar. Mon, Jan 26 & Wed Jan 28, 2026, 1:30-3 PM Central time. Register at tinyurl.com/servingdeaf

Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library

A two-part webinar series from ALA eLearning taking place on Monday, January 26 and Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 2:30pm Eastern/1:30pm Central/12:30pm Mountain/11:30am Pacific.

Library services are for everyone, and that includes the Deaf community. In this workshop, Kathy MacMillan, librarian and certified American Sign Language interpreter, guides you in making your library a more welcoming place for patrons who are deaf or hard of hearing. You will gain an understanding of Deaf culture, learn library-related signs, and become prepared to confidently work with interpreters for your programs.

Find out more and register!

Webinar Recordings Available for Purchase

American Sign Language, Critiques, eCourses and Webinars, On Publishing, On Writing, Professional Development, Resources for Teachers and Librarians, webinars

Learn on your own schedule with these recorded webinars, available now!

You will receive recording access information by email within 24 hours of order. You will have access to the recording for 30 days.

For Writers

Text reads: So You Want to Publish a Book | A Webinar for Writers (On demand) | Presented by Kathy MacMillan, KathyMacMillan.com. A photo of a smiling white women with glasses and shoulder length brown hair appears next to the text. Images of an open notebook and someone writing on a laptop are in the background.Sale! $35.00  $20.00

You’ve got the idea, you’ve got the drive, and you’ve got the willingness to work to get your book in print. But where do you start? Kathy MacMillan, Compton Crook Award finalist and author of more than two dozen traditionally published fiction and nonfiction books for children, breaks down the bewildering world of publishing, from writing and revision to submission and publication and the realities of life after publication.

 

Storybuilding | An Online Workshop for Writers with Compton Crook Award Finalist Kathy MacMillan. Words appear against a green painted background next to a photo of a smiling white woman with glasses and shoulder length brown hair, surrounded by her book covers: The Runaway Shirt (picture book), Nita’s First Signs and Nita’s Day (board books), She Spoke (children’s nonfiction), Sword and Verse and Dagger and Coin (young adult fiction).

Sale! $35.00  $20.00

No matter your genre, a rich palette of details brings the world of your story to life. Compton Crook Award Finalist and author of fiction and nonfiction for children, teens, and adults Kathy MacMillan shows how to focus on the specifics you need at each stage of the writing process to build your characters’ world without ever losing sight of the story at its heart.

 

Manuscript critiques and coaching calls also available!

 

For Librarians and Educators

Learn basic American Sign Language vocabulary and how to use it in storytime with these lively sessions that teach themed vocabulary while demonstrating storytime activities and best practices for signing with young children. Each webinar focuses on a vocabulary theme and follows a demo storytime with language and culture notes to help you present American Sign Language to hearing audiences in context. $35.00 per recording.

Colorful handprints line the top and bottom of the graphic. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Autumn Signs (On demand) Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | storiesbyhand.com    Colorful handprints line the top of the graphic. Under that is a photo of a White woman with light brown hair and glasses. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Winter Signs (On demand) Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | storiesbyhand.com    Colorful handprints line the top of the graphic. Under that is a photo of a White woman with light brown hair and glasses. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Spring Signs (On demand) Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | storiesbyhand.com    Colorful handprints line the top of the graphic. Under that is a photo of a White woman with light brown hair and glasses. Text reads: Little Hands Signing Professional Development Webinar: Summer Signs (On demand) Presented by Kathy MacMillan, NIC, M.L.S. | storiesbyhand.com

One-on-one coaching calls also available.

 

Upcoming live webinars open for registration.