Kids aren’t the only ones engaged in distance learning these days. In an effort to provide ongoing enrichment for librarians, educators, and booksellers, the Children’s Book Council is introducing a roster of monthly online educational events. Known as CBC Ed Talks, the series expands upon past programming from the organization’s CBC Forum and Early Career Committee and is free of charge for staffers at member publishers.

“The How to Speak Designer event [held last October] was so fun and informative that we wanted to roll it out to other departments,” explained Shaina Birkhead, CBC associate executive director. “There will still be ECC events and other virtual get-togethers run by committees, but CBC Ed Talks will let everyone set aside time in [their] busy schedules for these ongoing dialogues.”

CBC members will be invited to the monthly Zoom events via email, beginning on January 15. For those unable to attend, each program will be recorded and uploaded for viewing at a later date. The talks last approximately one hour, with a q&a to follow.

“We wanted to have these on the calendar as professional development for publishing staff across all departments and coast to coast,” said Carl Lennertz, CBC executive director. “We know everyone is on Zoom overload, but we hope children’s publishing professionals will see these monthly events as something to be enjoyed over lunch or coffee.”

Kicking off on January 28 at 12 p.m. EST, the first event, entitled “How to Speak Publicist,” will be moderated by Shifa Kapadwala, global brand publicity manager at Scholastic. Panelists include Faye Bi, publicity director at Bloomsbury’s Children; Geena El-Haj, publicity & marketing coordinator at Mango Publishing; Morgan Kane, assistant director of publicity at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group; and Jackson Ingram, marketing specialist at Andrews McMeel.

Details for subsequent panels are being finalized, including a graphic novel committee-sponsored program, “How to Speak Sales,” and a YA-focused program. CBC Ed Talks will also include the CBC annual meeting in late September and the Diversity Outstanding Achievement awards held in mid-November.

Suggestions for future panels can be submitted to Shaina Birkhead.