Live Online

The Essentials: Conducting the Reference Interview

The reference interview is a critical component of effective library service. Whether conducted in person, over the phone, or online, a well-executed reference interview helps ensure that library users receive the information they truly need. This session introduces the essential elements of the reference interview, including communication techniques, question clarification, and strategies for navigating challenging interactions.

The Essentials: Customer Service

Customer service expectations across industries are changing rapidly – and that trickles into libraries at the very same moment many are contending with reduced staffing and funding levels. But good service equates to more than just smooth transactions and satisfied customers. It helps build support and advances the relationship between the library and the community it serves.

Beyond Accessibility Basics

For libraries already on their accessibility journey, identifying that next step can be difficult. Any library can become a more welcoming and functional space for all users by revising existing content to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards and empowering staff to develop quality content. Learn best practices for creating and maintaining a usable web presence and identify ways to design materials for a wide variety of users. Session content builds on a foundation of accessibility knowledge and is intended primarily for content creators.

Creative Survey Design: Crafting Survey Instruments to Meet Your Library's Research and Evaluation Needs

Surveys are an essential way to collect data about library services, programming, and community needs. But many libraries struggle to fully realize their surveys’ potential to collect high quality data. Good survey design is an artform that can be developed through practice. With a focus on design and development principles and hands-on exercises creating surveys for various library needs, new and seasoned survey designers will walk away more confident and capable to field their next survey.

Grant Writing Essentials

The library has its idea for a project or service – and even has a funder in mind. But writing the grant proposal, tracking all the required forms and documents, and aligning to the funder’s priorities can be a daunting task. Get started on the right path with guidance for planning and organizing the elements of the proposal; analyzing and embedding funder priorities across the application; designing the plan with successful management built in from the start. The best practices shared reflect experience administering grant programs, serving as a grant reviewer, and winning competitive grants.

Intermediate Cataloging: Subject Analysis

Gain the knowledge and skills needed to effectively categorize and organize resources for library catalogs or information systems. Explore the principles and techniques of subject analysis, including the application of standardized subject headings and thesauri. Learn how to accurately describe the content of resources with accurate and consistent subject vocabularies, improving the discoverability of materials for library users. Attendees need to have an introductory understanding of classification and experience with cataloging materials.

Collection Management: Selection and Acquisition

A vibrant and relevant library collection doesn’t just happen – there are strategies and techniques behind this work. Taking in the evolving landscape of digital acquisitions, open-access materials, and subscription models, this course will review the principles and methods for collection acquisition and selection with careful consideration of resource allocation and budgets. Balancing the information needs of library users with the diversity of formats and acquisition models, libraries can build collections that work for their communities.
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