There's some wonderful offerings this summer to up your game in youth services no matter how small or large your library. All registrants receive an early bird 10% discount if registering at least 2 weeks before the course.
Graphic Design for Libraries June 10- July 7 (4 weeks)
$164A key element of engaging library patrons is communicating with them effectively. While libraries often have no shortage of staff who excel at verbal communication, few have in-house expertise in visual communication—leaving the design of flyers, newsletters, web pages and other print and digital communications in the hands of “accidental” graphic designers. Attend this four-week course to begin learning the foundational principles of graphic design and elevate the quality of your library’s visual communications. A free Canva account or standard Microsoft Office software can be used for course activities. Topics Typography; Shape and Color; Composition; Design tools and resources; Software Requirements.
Instructor: Elisa Coghlan
Strategies For Supervising Part-Time Employees July 1-August 11 (6 weeks)
$275Part-time staff are often on the front line of library services. Whether you manage student employees, part-time LTEs, or permanent part-time staff – supporting and supervising part-time personnel takes extra consideration. When an employee isn’t in the office every day it can lead to unintentional communication and training gaps and sometimes even a harmful sense of exclusion. This course explores how we can be strategic as supervisors and colleagues of part-time staff to engage, motivate, and empower all employees on our team. Discover practical strategies based in structural empowerment theory to create a culture that encourages employees across all levels to be change-agents at your organization. By examining ingrained institutional rituals – everything from emails to meetings to evaluations – we can develop more inclusive practices that address the unique needs and concerns of part-time staff. Topics: Individual and structural empowerment; Inclusive communication practices; Effective training and assessment strategies; Creating opportunities for professional development and advancement; Access to formal & informal power across organizational hierarchies
Instructor: Ashley McHose
Tackling Tough Workplace Conversations July 29-Auguust 25 (4 weeks) $165Sometimes there are situations at work or with work colleagues that are frustrating, and the best way to remedy it is to have a tough conversation. But where do we start? How do we prepare? What if the conversation doesn’t solve the issue? Tough conversations with co-workers are not always comfortable, but steps can be taken to ensure they aren’t terrible. This course will cover tools and best practices to ensure that these conversations will result in a more pleasant workplace. In this course, learners will: Develop leadership skills to navigate tough conversations; Learn how to build trust with colleagues; Determine methods for staying calm; Practice active listening
Instructor: Jamie Matczak
Games are a multifaceted (and often, underutilized) way to engage with patrons of all ages at your library. In this class, we’ll discuss collection development and policy creation for video games, board games, and TTRPGs (tabletop role-playing games). We’ll also strategize the development and implementation of gaming clubs, from casual board game meet-ups, running Dungeons and Dragons campaigns, to after school video game clubs and more! You will learn how to…Design and implement a collection development strategy for games of all types and formats, for all ages; Strategize policies and best practices for game circulation and programs; Build and grow programs using the games in your collection.
Instructor: Dusty Karls
Library Advocacy and Storymaking: The Hero’s Journey from Community to PageAUgust 5 - Sept 1 (4 weeks) $165
As librarians we’re steeped in story—through our patron interactions, in our communities and programs, and, of course, on our shelves. How can we use the power of story to bring out the best in our communities and our work? How can we craft library advocacy stories with the greatest transformative effect? This course explores the impact of advocacy stories in a shifting library landscape and how to implement library advocacy through strategies that both uncover and inspire community heroes. Participants will workshop their own short library advocacy story using a storytelling model in which the library user is the central figure in the tale of how they use their library to access what they need to create the community they want. Whether you’re new or established in the field, advocating from the director’s desk or through front-line service, this course will prepare you to recognize, craft, and deliver library stories that support and strengthen your evolving community and profession. Go beyond data to create stories that can be used to bolster support for the library in your community, advocate for your library with municipal leaders, and build innovative connections with area organizations. In this course, learners will: Identify the elements of powerful library stories; Recognize ways humans are wired to engage story; Craft an advocacy story that applies to your library to take with you; Evaluate storymaking policies and procedures for your library; Identify potential audiences for your advocacy story and explore ways to share. Audience: Public, school, or academic librarians who are getting started on their advocacy journey, or those who want to learn about new techniques that enhance their current advocacy efforts. Instructor: Dawn Tevis
Makerspace Magic – Plan and Design Your Library’s MakerspaceAugust 1 - Sept 4 (4 weeks)
$165Have you ever wondered how a well-designed makerspace can inspire and connect with your library’s visitors? Maker programming provides an additional way to utilize the library’s space and resources by providing hands-on education and access to materials, tools, and technologies. This course will cover how to plan, implement, facilitate, and evaluate makerspaces and maker programming. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to establish, manage, and maximize the impact of a makerspace in their library. You will learn: To design a makerspace that addresses the needs of your library users.; To formulate makerspace policies and procedures.; Best practices for planning and facilitating maker programming.; To evaluate and refine your makerspace and maker programming. Audience: Public, school, or academic librarians interested in developing or revitalizing a makerspace in a library; those who are just getting started with makerspaces and those who have experience with makerspaces but are interested in current best practices and new innovations in the field.
Instructor: Sarah French
