Category Archives: Professional Development

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.

GET 20% OFF WITH COUPON CODE AUTUMN

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!!”

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Register now for Hands Up!: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff and get 20% off!

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) Wednesdays, September 9 to October 14, 2026. 12-1 PM Eastern/11 AM-12 PM Central/10-11 AM Mountain/9-10 AM Pacific | 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.

Get 20% off either series with coupon code AUTUMN

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

Wednesdays, September 9 to October 14, 2026. 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 November 15, 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.

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

Hands Up: Live ASL Practice for Library Staff (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

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 series ends)
  • Group rates available for groups of 10 or more. Contact info@storiesbyhand.com for more information.
Register now for Intermediate series

See all upcoming webinars.

Now available on demand: The Secrets of Show, Don’t Tell

eCourses and Webinars, On Writing, opportunities for writers, Professional Development, writing resources

The Secrets of Show, Don't Tell: A Webinar for Writers (On Demand) Presented by Kathy MacMillan. KathyMacMillan.com.

Recording access is now available for my most popular writing workshop, “The Secrets of Show, Don’t Tell” – and for a limited time, it’s on sale for only $30.00!

In this 3.5 hour workshop, I break down what it really means to “show, don’t tell” in relation to every aspect of your writing from character development to plot, and in every stage from manuscript to pitch. With examples across categories and genres, I share my “Showing Secrets” – actionable revision steps that you can use right away to breathe new life into your writing.

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

Let’s get showing!