Professional Development Opportunities
Acquisitions/Collections
Fundamentals of Acquisitions 2023 - Session 3.0 (ALA Core)
Six-week online course that is a basic primer for library acquisitions concepts common to all library material formats. It covers:
- goals and methods of acquiring monographs and serials in all formats
- theoretical foundations and workflows of basic acquisitions functions
- financial management of library collections budgets
- relationships among acquisitions librarians, library booksellers, subscription agents, and publishers.
This course provides a broad overview of the operations involved in acquiring materials after the selection decision is made.
May 8 – June 16
$224.10 (ALA member)/$249 (Non-member)
Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management 2023 - Session 3.0 (ALA Core)
This four-week online course addresses the basic components of collection development and management (CDM) in libraries. Complete definition of collection development and collection management:
- Collections policies and budgets as part of library planning
- Collection development (selecting for and building collections)
- Collection management (evaluating and making decisions about existing collections, including decisions about withdrawal, transfer, preservation)
- Collection analysis—why and how to do it
- Outreach, liaison, and marketing
- Trends and some suggestions about the future for collection development and management
May 15 – June 9
$188.10 (ALA member)/$209 (Non-member)
Cataloging/Metadata
Fundamentals of Metadata 2023 - Session 3.0 (ALA Core)
This six-week course is an introduction to fundamental concepts of metadata, including:
- Similarities and differences between cataloging and metadata
- Descriptive, technical, and administrative metadata schema
- Content standards and controlled vocabularies
- Approaches to metadata creation and transformation
- Metadata project design
May 1 – June 9
$224.10 (ALA member)/$249 (Non-member)
Serials Cataloging (Library Juice Academy)
This course focuses on the basic principles of serials cataloging from understanding the nature and type of serials (including series and analytics), interpreting serial authority records, identifying a matching record/copy cataloging of serials, to original description of serials under RDA guidelines. This class will focus on practical description with a discussion of emerging trends in serials cataloging. Students will be immersed in serials cataloging, gaining a solid foundation in serials and serials cataloging. By the end of the course students will: Understand the terminology associated with serials and characteristics of serials and periodicals including how they differ from monographic records, with the ability to interpret series authority records and make decisions on treatment, as needed; Expand upon searching and bibliographic record analysis skills developing a critical eye towards a “good” serials record for copy cataloging with an understanding of RDA elements for serials, title changes, and when an original record is needed; Develop skills to create RDA description for serials through analyzing records and practice based exercises; Explore emerging trends in serials as impacted by the Library Reference Model (LRM) and larger trends in publication.
May 1 – May 28
$200.00
Original Descriptive Cataloging of Digital Resources Using RDA (MCLS)
Here is your chance to work with RDA (Resource Description and Access) as applied to the original cataloging of digital resources. This hands-on workshop teaches participants how to original catalog digital resources using such tools as the RDA toolkit, and the Library of Congress-Program for Cooperative Cataloging Policy Statements. The class will address original cataloging in the MARC format. Among the topics discussed will be the chief source of information, physical description, primary access point, and the choice of additional access points. Assignment of subject headings for digital resources will also be discussed.Participants will learn the appropriate MARC fixed and variable fields for digital resources, and will study the relationships among these fields. Several MARC record examples will be examined and a number of hands-on exercises will be included. The booklet for this workshop contains an RDA Workflow providing the relevant RDA rules, the Library of Congress-Program for Cooperative Cataloging Policy Statements and MARC coding information. The OCLC Bibliographic Formats and Standards will also be used. NOTE: Basic navigation in the RDA Toolkit will not be covered.
May 2, 3, and 5 10a-12p (EDT)
$100.00 (MCLS member) / $200.00 (Non-member)
Metadata and Discovery: Quality is Key (NISO)
What is the role of metadata in discovery, access, and use? Is it working? Is our metadata satisfying the requirements of the rising population of students, readers, and researchers operate? How do content and platform providers ensure that their metadata is high quality? Who is responsible for assigning it and ensuring its interoperability across multiple systems?
Metadata is critical to success but it is increasingly complicated to work with. For example, in addition to descriptive metadata, individuals may also need specific legal or administrative metadata in order to clarify appropriate rights for usage. This virtual conference will bring together experts from across the information community to discuss current behaviors, practices, and applications for metadata.
May 17 12p-4p (EDT)
$190 (NISO, LSA, NASIG members) / $255 (Non-member) / $50 (Student)
Assigning Library of Congress Subject Headings (MCLS)
This workshop provides practical experience in assigning Library of Congress Subject Headings as part of the cataloging process. Participants will learn how to perform a technical reading of an item and how to choose appropriate subject headings based on the principles of subject heading assignment put forth by the Library of Congress. Participants will also learn how to verify headings they have assigned against the Library of Congress subject headings. The structure and interpretation of online LC subject authority records in the OCLC subject authority file will be covered as well as the structure of bibliographic tools such as the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and Library of Congress Subject Cataloging Manual: Subject Headings. Participants will perform a number of exercises in assigning subject headings to bibliographic works.
May 23-25 10a-12p (EDT)
$100.00 (MCLS member) / $200.00 (Non-member)
Fundamentals of Cataloging 2023 - Session 4.0 (ALA Core)
The Fundamentals of Cataloging (FOC) is a six-week online course that provides an introduction to the principles, policies and practices of cataloging in libraries. It is designed for librarians and library support staff new to cataloging; librarians and library support staff from other units who want to know more about cataloging; LSSC candidates pursuing certification in the Cataloging and Classification competency set; and experienced cataloging librarians and support staff seeking continuing education and networking opportunities.
- Introduction to catalogs and cataloging, including an exploration into the principles behind the development and evolution of cataloging codes and rules
- Introduction to descriptive cataloging, including bibliographic description and descriptive access points with AACR2 and RDA
- Introduction to subject analysis and classification, with a focus on Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
- Introduction to reading and understanding MARC 21 formats for bibliographic and authority data
- Exploration of the history of cooperative cataloging, current trends and some suggestions about the future for cataloging and bibliographic management
July 10 – August 18
$224.10 (ALA member)/$249 (Non-member)
LRM: A New Foundation for RDA & the RDA Toolkit (Library Juice Academy)
This course focuses on learning the new Library Reference Model (LRM) which is the foundation for the R3 (RDA Toolkit revision) and BIBFRAME 2.0. The LRM is an evolving model that merges the RDA foundational frameworks of RDA, FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records), FRAD (Functional Requirements for Authority Data), and FRSAD (Functional Requirements of Subject Authority Data). The LRM focuses on aligning terminologies with larger data communities of practice, refining the FRBR User Tasks, eliminating inconsistencies between the three models, and embracing linked data practices. This new model brings significant changes in how we think about data, to the RDA Toolkit, and to BIBFRAME.
August 7 – September 3
$200.00
Authority Control (Library Juice Academy)
Authority control is a process that ensures all access points in a record are consistent across a library’s database, but it is a process that many librarians find mysterious. In this course we will demystify authority control and explore the value it adds to library catalogs through a comprehensive overview of authority control work.
August 7 – September 3
$200.00
Digital Collections
Fundamentals of Digital Library Projects 2023 - Session 3.0 (ALA Core)
This six-week online course introduces students to the breadth of considerations, standards and skills needed to successfully launch and manage a digital library program. The course will provide opportunity for hands-on activities to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills within the context of a digital library.
Participants of this course will:
- Gain an understanding of the types of expertise and skills needed to successfully manage a digital library: such as digitization and types of digital objects, metadata, indexing/search/retrieval/, storage/architecture, user interface & interaction, preservation.
- Learn about the common platforms used by libraries to manage digital objects and make them discoverable.
- Discover the role of planning, documentation, and assessment.
May 1 – June 9
$224.10 (ALA member)/$249 (Non-member)
Electronic Resource Management
Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions 2023 - Session 3.0 (ALA Core)
This four-week online course provides an overview of acquiring, providing access to, administering, supporting, and monitoring access to electronic resources. The course offers a basic background in electronic resource acquisitions including:
- Product trials
- Licensing
- Purchasing methods
- Pricing models
An overview of the sometimes complex relationships between vendors, publishers, platform providers, and libraries is also provided.
May 8 – June 10
$188.10 (ALA member)/$209 (Non-member)
Leadership/Management
Coaching as a Leadership Skill (Library Juice Academy)
Coaching is a valuable leadership skill that can help you focus on employee / team development to improve performance and morale. For those in management positions, coaching facilitates your ability to get to know your employees’ skills and interests and work together to develop strategies to help them reach their professional development goals. For those in other types of leadership positions, such as chairing committees, using a coaching approach can help to build more effective collaboration.
May 1 – May 28
$200.00
Supervisor Series: Learning to Manage for New Managers (MCLS)
Making the transition from doing work yourself to managing others can feel overwhelming. No doubt, taking on a managerial role for the first time can be hard. You may be supervising former colleagues or getting to know an entirely new organization and set of employees. You’ll feel pressure from below and above. So how do you set yourself up for success? It can be helpful to think about effective and ineffective managers you have encountered in your career.
This workshop is designed to help minimize the stress and walk you through the process of management by targeting five specific areas. You’ll learn to successfully handle staff, projects, performance, conflict, and even yourself as you evaluate and continuously improve your effectiveness as a manager.
May 18 10a-12p (EDT)
$80.00 (member) / $160.00 (Non-member)
Fundamentals of Management 2023 - Session 4.0 (ALA Core)
The Fundamentals of Management course is designed for new managers to build the skill set they need to successfully lead their department or organization, as well as support existing managers looking to improve their skills.
- Recognize the key differences between management and individual contributor roles
- Define your own leadership style
- Effectively build relationships in the workplace
- Identify strategic practices for managing employees and their work
- Understand HR fundamentals and how to implement them in the workplace
June 5 – June 30
$188.10 (ALA member)/$209 (Non-member)
Technology/Coding
Python for Librarians (Library Juice Academy)
We often are told ‘learn to code’ but not given a clear purpose or direction to realize this goal. This is especially true for workers in the Library field. This course will attempt to address this challenge by providing a great introduction to data science aimed at all learners. Participants will be introduced to the Python programming language and how it can be used to analyize data. This includes organizing and writing code in Jupyter Notebooks, manipulating data with the Pandas, visualizing data with the Matplotlib, and making predictions with data using the scikit-learn library. No previous programming experience is required or expected. Exercises will be drawn from topics that resonate with the daily work of Librarians and those in related fields. For example, participants will learn how to analyze a quantity of Sci Hub usage data, and will examine DOI data harvested from the Crossref API. No software installation will be required to participate in this class; all programming work will be done using the online Google Colab environment.
May 1 – May 28
$200.00
RDF, RDFa and Structured Data Vocabularies (Library Juice Academy)
This course will provide a deep dive into RDFa and applying vocabularies to resource description. Using RDFa we will explore how to mark up existing human-readable Web page content to express machine-readable data (RDF triples) that can be utilized by search engines, metadata systems, and content management systems.
May 1 – May 28
$200.00
Basic SQL (Amigos)
Structured Query Language, or SQL (sometimes pronounced “sequel”), is a powerful language used to query and manipulate data held in relational databases. Many librarians go through mediated queries to find needed information e.g. conducting a search via a library catalogue. With SQL, you can directly construct your database queries without the constraints (e.g. field name or search limitations) imposed by a mediated search interface. This course is an introduction to the basics of SQL including terminology, design, working with databases, and working with the PHP scripting language.
May 15, 17, and 19 10a-12p (CST)
$270.00 (Amigos Member) / $540.00 (Non-member)
JSON-LD Fundamentals (Library Juice Academy)
In JSON-LD Fundamentals we will study JSON-LD (JavaScript Object Notation for Linking Data), a lightweight Linked Data format designed to provide unambiguous semantic meaning to data and designed to make it easy to transform JSON data into Linked Data.
This course is a follow-up to Introduction to JSON and Structured Data. Both courses are follow-ups to our Certificate in XML and RDF-Based Systems.
June 5 – July 2
$200.00
Miscellaneous
Wellness Initiatives in Libraries (ALA Core)
According to ALA-APA (n.d.), wellness is an active and lifelong process that involves positive decision-making and the ability to find balance between many priorities. It is tied to awareness and to making choices that lead to being happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. Because libraries are valued institutions in their communities and on their campuses, they have an opportunity to provide health and wellness programs that would not only benefit their respective communities, but that could also benefit their employees. During this e-forum session, we will discuss health and wellness initiatives that have been successful, as well as programs that have had fruitful collaborations with wellness-focused organizations in their communities. We will also discuss the best ways to serve patrons who are seeking consumer health or research-based information.
April 25 – April 26
Free
Everyday Statistics for Librarians (Library Juice Academy)
The course will describe the purpose of simple statistical functions and demonstrate how to apply these easily to survey or other data. Participants will learn to use spreadsheet software to execute basic equations and conduct simple statistical tests This course provides ample opportunity for practice and feedback every step of the way. Microsoft Excel will be used for examples, practice, and assignments.
May 1 – June 11
$300.00
Fundamentals of Preservation 2023 - Session 3.0 (ALA Core)
The Fundamentals of Preservation (FOP) web course is an introduction to the principles, policies and practices of preservation in libraries and archives. It is designed to inform all staff, across divisions and departments and at all levels of responsibility. Provides tools to begin extending the useful life of library collections.
- Preservation as a formal library function, and how it reflects and supports the institutional mission
- The primary role of preventive care, including good storage conditions, emergency planning, and careful handling of collections
- The history and manufacture of physical formats and how this impacts on preservation options
- Standard methods of care and repair, as well as reformatting options
- Challenges in preserving digital content and what the implications are for the future of scholarship
May 15 – June 9
$188.10 (ALA member)/$209 (Non-member)
Controlled Digital Lending (NISO)
How do we establish an appropriate understanding of controlled digital lending? While it supports the robust use of published scholarship in a library environment, at the same time it also tests the traditional bounds of lending practices. Recognizing that no single library collection can possibly contain every publication required by its patrons, shouldn’t the various affected stakeholders be working towards a collaborative solution —a set of best practices? The speakers in this webinar will explore the need for controlled digital lending, as well as the sensitivities associated with it, in a world that increasingly reads electronically.
June 14 11a-12:30p (EDT)
$100 (SSP member) / $135 (Non-member) / $30 (Student)