Polished & Prepared: Core Professional Skills for Library Staff - Companion Course: Workplace Success and ADHD

Polished & Prepared Companion Course: Workplace Success & ADHD
June 11, 2026 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM EST

Build sustainable workplace strategies that support focus, productivity, and success.

This companion crash course centers neurodivergent experiences in the workplace, with a focus on ADHD and library work. Participants will explore practical strategies for organization, time management, communication, and self-advocacy that support success in fast-paced library environments. The course also offers insights for supervisors and colleagues seeking to create more inclusive and supportive workplaces.

You will leave this 2-hour crash course with concrete tools to reduce overwhelm, increase productivity, and build systems that support long-term workplace success.

COURSE SPEAKER

Kate Thompson, MLIS
Owner, Kate Thompson Consulting, LLC

Kate Thompson is an advocate for neurodiversity and a seasoned speaker and coach who empowers workplaces to better support neurodivergent individuals by embracing their strengths and navigating challenges. As a member of the Iowa Olmstead Consumer Task Force, she supported the full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of community life. Through the Iowa Family Leadership Training Institute, she advocated for policy change at the state and local level. Kate has assisted libraries in launching Accessibility Teams and surveying users to create more inclusive services and environments.

Kate has taught courses and delivered presentations on neurodiversity to a wide range of audiences, including the Public Library Association and the University of Wisconsin Information School’s continuing education department. She was a contributor to the ALA Editions book Library Programming for Autistic Children and Teens and has written for the blogs of American Libraries and the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom.

Through her firsthand experiences as a parent and her professional work with autistic individuals, Kate has gained deep insight into the strengths and challenges faced by neurodivergent employees. Living with ADHD has further shaped her understanding of cognitive diversity and the importance of embracing different ways of thinking. In her consulting work, Kate helps organizations unlock the full potential of neurodivergent employees by designing inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and workplace practices that foster belonging.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is recommended for new library workers, regardless of library type.

THIS WILL BE A LIVE WEBINAR

This course will be delivered as a live webinar. You will have access to the recorded webinar and all course materials for six months after the conclusion of the webinar.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course includes 2 hours of live, online instruction. The session will be recorded and made available to you afterward. You will earn 2 hours of professional development credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You will have access to all course materials for six months after the course start date.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete the course and earn 2 professional development credit hours. A certificate will be emailed to you upon completion.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require any special accommodations. We will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

SUPPORT

For support with online courses, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com .

DISCOUNTED RATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Secure your tickets now to lock in the best price!

GROUP RATES

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select “Bulk Course Credits Packages” in the form below.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

For support with group purchases, please contact groupsales@libraryjournal.com .