No library school? No problem. This course will cover the basics you need to succeed in your library.

Course Description 

This new, online course is designed to equip library staff who don’t have an MLS degree with the essential knowledge and skills needed to fully understand the ‘how and why’ of library work. We will cover foundational topics such as universal library values, including intellectual freedom, information literacy, and privacy.  We will also discuss the basics of collection development and weeding along with the fundamentals of library programs, services, and community engagement. Leave this course with a better understanding of the context, mission, values, and scope of libraries to apply to your everyday work.

This three-week course will include weekly live sessions from experts in the field as well as an opportunity to engage with and crowdsource issues asynchronously with peer cohorts from across the country. All sessions will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing.

The live sessions run on Tuesdays, Oct. 1, 8 and 15, 2024 from 2:00 to 4:30 pm (recorded for on demand viewing) with an asynchronous workshop over 3 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Who should take this course?

This course is geared toward frontline and other public-facing staff who did not go to library school.

Learning Outcomes

After you leave this course, you should have the ability to:

• Understand the core, universal values of libraries

• Understand how libraries make decisions based on their core values

• Have working context for how and why libraries operate the way they do

• Understand and articulate the role of intellectual freedom in libraries

• Increase your media literacy and ability to recognize mis- and disinformation

• Understand and articulate the role of media literacy for library patrons

• Assess who your library serves and understand the foundations of community engagement, programs, and services

• Understand the foundations of library collection development 

Course Features 

This will be a 3-week online course and will include:

• Live sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.) 

• Facilitated discussions: Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

• Interactive working sessions: Optional breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.

• Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums.

• Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace. 

• Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends. 

Course Advisor

Expected time commitment

If you attend or watch the recordings of all live sessions and participate fully in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 2-4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 15 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion. 

On-demand access

All live guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on-demand for six months following the initial broadcast as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion 

Complete the course and earn 15 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you. 

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature live captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. Please email libraryjournal@edmaker.co upon registration if you require any special accommodations and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

Support

For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.

Group Rates

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more. Groups have the option to collaborate in the same workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.

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 a group discount!

By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.

Week 1: Fundamentals of Core Library Values

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Session 1 | 2:00-3:00 pm ET
Core Values of Library Science: Neutrality, Inclusivity, Privacy
What are some of the core values that libraries share? How do libraries make decisions based on those values? This session will discuss neutrality, inclusivity, and privacy as some of the universal values of libraries. You will leave this session with a better understanding of why your library takes particular stances and creates some of its most foundational policies.

Speaker:

Break | 3:00-3:15 pm ET

Session 2 | 3:15-4:15 pm ET
Core Values of Library Science: Intellectual Freedom
What kinds of freedom do libraries believe in? What do intellectual freedom and freedom of speech look like in a library context? This session will continue the conversation about core library values, this time focusing on intellectual freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom to read.

Speaker:

Workshop Q&A | 4:15-4:30 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Week 2: Fundamentals of Information Literacy and Collection Development 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Session 1 | 2:00-3:00 pm ET
Information Literacy: Identifying Mis- and Disinformation
How can you identify mis- and disinformation in a time when AI and deep fakes are becoming more and more convincing? What is the library's role in vetting material and helping patrons understand factual information? This session will help you understand how to vet information for yourself and give you tools to help patrons with information literacy.

Speaker:

Break | 3:00-3:15 pm ET

Session 2 | 3:15-4:15 pm ET
Foundations of Community Engagement
How do libraries know what their community wants? How do you figure out who you're serving and how do you make them feel valued? This session will discuss the foundations of community engagement, relationship building, and data analysis. You will learn the basics of community data collection and analysis to help you better understand and build relationships with the people you serve.

Speaker:

Workshop Q&A | 4:15-4:30 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Week 3: Fundamentals of Library Programs, Services, and Community Engagement 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Session 1 | 2:00-3:00 pm ET
The Why and How of Library Programs and Services
Libraries are about more than just books! What kinds of programs and services do libraries offer, and why? This session will discuss the wide-reaching types of events, classes, programs, and services that libraries might offer. You will leave with a better understanding of the scope and role of the library in your community.

Speaker:

Break | 3:00-3:15 pm ET

Session 2 | 3:15-4:15 pm ET

Collection Development 101: Understanding the Basics
How and why do libraries purchase their collections? How do libraries try to ensure credibility and reflect community needs in collections? And what happens when there are challenges to collections? This session will provide a foundational overview of the how and why of collection development, including the rationale behind decision making and a high-level overview of the weeding process.

Speaker:

Workshop Q&A | 4:15-4:30 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.
 

Online Course Preview

A preview of how we build your library skills and bring inspiration to your projects with our online learning experience.

Course Format

One-Week Timeline (Course Runs 3+ Weeks)

DAYS 1-2 On-Demand	DAY 3 2 hours	DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional)
PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content	LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast -  Facilitated discussions - Recordings available for 6 months	ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based weekly assignments - Written feedback from a facilitator - Peer conversation via discussion forums

Course Features

Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace	Live Guest Speakers Sessions Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field.  Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers. Optional interactive working sessions with breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.

Recordings of guest speakers

Recordings Available On Demand Sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.

Asynchronous workshop

Online Classroom + Asynchronous Workshop The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.  Live session recordings. Project-based weekly assignments.  Written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator. Peer conversation via discussion forums.

Early Access On-Demand Resources

Early Access On-Demand Resources Bonus: Register early and get access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.  Some courses include supporting resources in the online classroom.