Library Management Training
Learn what they didn’t teach you in library school:
how to be a library manager.
Want to have a say in the content of this course? We'd love your input!
Please take this brief survey to help us prioritize which subjects we delve into during this course.
Course Description
Guest speaker sessions via Zoom:
Tuesdays, Oct. 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28, and Dec. 5, from 2:00 to 4:00* pm ET (recordings available)
*Tues., Oct. 17 will run from 2:00-5:00pm ET.
Workshop:
Asynchronous, facilitator-led workshop over 8 weeks
This course will set you up for success in your future or existing management position by training you on the fundamentals of staff relationships and management, managing difficult conversations and staff feedback, crisis and incident management, budget management, and more. Built specifically for managers (or those on a future management track), this interactive course will give you the opportunity to role play challenging scenarios and get feedback from experts and peers. You will have ample time to ask questions and work through specific situations you’ve encountered.
This 8-week intensive, virtual training is created to prepare library managers for the specific challenges you will face but were not trained for. Each live-session week will include training from an expert guest speaker, a facilitated discussion, and an interactive session to workshop new skills with peers. In the week between each live session meeting, you will have the opportunity to work on asynchronous prompts in peer cohort groups that will lead to a culminating portfolio of management resources. You will leave this course with a new cohort of peers and a Library Journal Management Training Certificate.
Please note: This training is more than a webinar; it is designed to simulate an in-person experience as much as possible. We know that online learning happens best with full engagement, so please come ready to interact and participate!
You’ll have the option to enrich your learning by participating in an asynchronous workshop after the live sessions each week. The workshop will occur in an interactive online classroom environment with personal coaching from an expert in the field. In addition, you’ll have access to our foundational bonus content—rich supporting materials you can explore at your own pace, including a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors, readings, activities, and videos.
Our transformational online courses have given thousands of librarians the tools and vision for meaningful change. The live sessions run on Tuesdays, October 17 to December 5, 2023 from 2:00-4:00* pm ET (recorded for on-demand viewing) with an ongoing facilitator-led workshop over 8 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!
*Note: Live sessions for Week 1 will run from 2:00-5:00pm ET to ensure we establish the foundations for the rest of the course. Weeks 2-8 will run from 2:00-4:00pm ET.
When you sign up early, you’ll have immediate access to our Early Access On Demand Resources—a series of webinars from Library Journal and School Library Journal contributors along with rich, supporting materials in the form of readings, activities, and videos—to explore at your own pace.
Who should take this course
This course is intended for aspiring and new library managers, or those who feel their training did not adequately prepare them for their library management position.
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 3-4 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 32 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion.
Live sessions are also available on demand for six months
Can’t make a live session? All guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on demand for six months following the initial broadcast. Asynchronous workshops allow you to complete assignments and receive feedback from experts.
Certificate of completion provided
32 professional development credits are available
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co
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.
Group Rates
Have a team attend and increase your impact!
Discounted registration fees are available for groups of 3 or more. When you register your team for our online courses, they will be placed in the same small workshop group, where discussions and project-based assignments receive feedback from an experienced librarian.
Send us a request for a quote.
If your group prefers to work separately, just let us know.
Course Curriculum Advisors
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Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, CEO, Baltimore County Public Library |
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Lauren Comito, (she, her) Neighborhood Library Supervisor at the Leonard Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and Board Chair of Urban Librarians Unite |
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Michelle Hamiel, Director of Racial Equity and Community Impact at Urban Libraries Council (ULC) |
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Melanie Huggins, Executive Director, Richland Library in Columbia, SC |
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Nay Keppler, Library Manager at Baltimore County Public Library - Woodlawn Library (MD) |
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By registering for this event you confirm that you have read and agree to our Code of Conduct.
For support with online courses, please contact libraryjournal@edmaker.co.
Week 1: Foundations of People Management and Equity-Centered Leadership
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Session 1 | 2:00-2:45 pm ET
Foundations of People Management: Becoming a Leader
What kind of manager do you want to be? How do you gain the self-awareness to ensure you can manage yourself as well as your team? And how can you show up authentically without putting on a costume of power? This introduction to the course will showcase different management styles, detail qualities of good leaders, share the foundations of managing a team, and teach you how to foster a culture of relationship building between your staff and yourself.
Speaker:
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Brianna Campbell, Strengths Coach, Speaker, Workshop Facilitator |
Session 1 Facilitated Discussion | 2:45-3:00 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:00-3:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Session 1.2 | 3:15-4:00 pm ET
Foundations of Equity-Centered Leadership
How can your leadership style better serve and support BIPOC, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and neurodivergent staff? What is cultural competence, and what does this mean for staff management, recruitment, and reaching diverse communities? Learn how to create a workplace culture that invites all employees to feel respected and included. You will learn the characteristics of white supremacist and hetero-patriarchal work cultures and tangible ways to avoid them in your management practices. Leave this session with a toolkit for engaging with staff, establishing policies, and reaching diverse communities in ways that center intersectionality, vulnerability, and relationships.
Speaker:
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Ozy Aloziem, (she, her) Founder & Principal Advisor of HEAL INC LLC |
Session 1.2 Facilitated Discussion | 4:00-4:15 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break | 4:15-4:25 pm ET
Week 1 Live Workshop | 4:25-5:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Week 2: How to Manage People: Team Meetings, Check-ins, Reviews, and Change
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Session 2 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
How to Manage People: Team Meetings, Check-ins, Reviews, and Change
How do you run an effective and efficient team meeting? What should - and should not - go into your annual reviews? How often should you have staff meetings and one-on-one check ins, and how should you structure them? And how do you communicate clearly, transparently, and directly with staff, especially regarding changes or challenging situations that might impact their work lives? This week will focus on these questions and provide tangible strategies and templates for streamlining your processes and making the most out of time and communications with your team.
Speakers:
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Elaina Norlin, Professional Development, Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL) author of The Six-Step Guide to Library Worker Engagement (ALA Store) |
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Douglas Crane, Library Director, Palm Beach County Library System |
Session 2 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 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 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Week 3: How to Manage People: Difficult Conversations, Feedback, Conflict, and Resistance
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Session 3 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
How to Manage People: Difficult Conversations, Feedback, Conflict, and Resistance
How do you give negative feedback to staff? How do you know when to escalate to writing a disciplinary report, and how do you write one? How do you manage interpersonal conflicts on your team, especially in cross-generational teams? And how do you manage and create buy-in with resistant staff? This week will teach you practical skills for managing difficult conversations, diffusing tension on your team, and redirecting, coaching, and building relationships with resistant staff. We’ll also discuss how to create and enforce “people first” policies to help set and manage staff behavior expectations.
Speaker:
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RICHARD J. MONIZ, MA, MLIS, EdD, (he,him,his) Director of Library Services, Horry-Georgetown Technical College/Professor of Information, Library, and Research Sciences, University of North Carolina at Greensboro |
Session 3 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 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 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Week 4: Managing through Burnout and Advocating for Staff
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Session 4 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
Managing through Burnout and Advocating for Staff
Staff burnout is at an all-time high, and many systemic and stackable issues contribute to staff burnout. How do you support your staff even and especially when the cause of their burnout is out of your direct control? How can you identify what’s causing burnout and advocate for the resources your team needs to help build resilience? And what are ways you can create positive impact within your sphere of influence? This week will focus on these questions and discuss ways to advocate for your staff, including how to “manage up” when needed. We will also cover ways to reduce burnout and create resilience by ensuring your management practices are equitable and inclusive.
Speaker:
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Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS, Researcher, Leader, Consultant and Coach |
Session 4 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Week 4 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. YYou are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Sponsored Session: Harnessing Modern Workflows to Accelerate Community Outcomes | 4:00-4:30 pm ET
Each day, librarians face new and unexpected challenges as they meet the changing needs of their communities. Now, perhaps more than ever, frontline staff are asked to take on extra tasks, acquire additional skills, and serve customers in new ways. In order to support staff as they meet these new demands, library managers need options to save time behind the scenes. By improving workflow efficiency and streamlining routine tasks, you can maximize the time you and your team has to serve customers directly. Join us for a sponsored session from Baker & Taylor to discuss workflow efficiency strategies including:
- Selection: Enhancing Community-Driven Purchasing Decisions
- Collection Management: Maximizing Resources to Make Budgets Go Further
- Technical Services: Save Time and Improve Accuracy with Modern Technology
Speakers:
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Anna Curtis, Customer Success Manager |
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Jamie Wright, collectionHQ, Director of Customer Experience |
Week 5: Crisis Management and Communications: Showing Up for Your Team and Yourself
Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Session 5 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
Crisis Management and Communications: Showing Up for Your Team and Yourself
Safety and security are top of mind for librarians across the country. How do you manage your team through crises? And how do you communicate clearly and effectively about crises, both internally with your staff and externally with your community and the media? This week will focus on creating safer libraries by ensuring your emergency policies and procedures are up to date and work for you. We will discuss strategies for iterating on and implementing your crisis plans; how to mandate and respond to incident reports; and how to debrief with your team after an event in a trauma-informed way. We will also discuss how to achieve effective internal and external crisis communication.
Speaker:
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Michelle Hamiel, Director of Racial Equity and Community Impact at Urban Libraries Council (ULC) |
Session 5 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Week 5 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Week 6: Foundations of Budget and Project Management
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Session 6 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
Foundations of Budget and Project Management
How do you juggle multiple projects in your library at once? How do you engage your staff and ensure you stay on budget? What are the larger, organizational budget processes and constraints, and how does this impact how you allocate resources and manage projects? This week will focus on how to manage projects and your branch or departments’ budget in a way that is aligned with your strategic plan. You will learn practical tips from a library perspective and leave with templates to streamline this part of your job.
Speaker:
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Scott Jarzombek, Town Librarian of Fairfield, Connecticut |
Session 6 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Week 6 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Week 7: How to Align with Your Strategic Plan and Use Data to Make Decisions
Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Session 7 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
How to Align with Your Strategic Plan and Use Data to Make Decisions
So you’ve been given a strategic plan from your library’s top leadership, but how do you align with it and apply it to your everyday work life? How do you use your strategic plan to decide where and how to allocate money, your time, and your staff’s time? And how can you collect and analyze data to make informed decisions and learn your community? This week will focus on data fluency and how to use your strategic plan to create branch and/or department plans to establish a vision and workflow for your team.
Speaker:
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Emily Gamertsfelder, (she, her) Planning, Projects and Data Manager, Administrative Offices at Baltimore Public Library |
Session 7 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Week 7 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
Week 8: Promoting Career Development in Your Staff and Yourself
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Session 8 | 2:00-2:50 pm ET
Promoting Career Development in Your Staff and Yourself
Studies show that career development is one of the key indicators for staff retention. So how do you promote career development in your staff? And how do you advocate for your own goals and trajectory? In this final week, we will discuss how to mentor and coach your teams to help them build the skills and self-sufficiency they need to move forward in their careers. We will also discuss how to find mentors of your own, as well as career path opportunities for managers and strategies for stretching into a new role whenever you’re ready.
Speaker:
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Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, CEO, Baltimore County Public Library |
Session 8 Facilitated Discussion | 2:50-3:10 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.
Break and Workshop Q&A | 3:10-3:25 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course
Week 8 Live Workshop | 3:25-4:00 pm ET
This live, moderated working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s session. You are encouraged to join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.
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 8+ Weeks)
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DAYS 1-2 On Demand |
DAY 3 2.5 hours |
DAYS 4-7 1-2 hours (optional) |
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PRE-LIVE SESSION - Resources - Discussions - Bonus Content |
LIVE SESSIONS - Guest speakers via webcast - Q&A via chat - Recordings available on demand |
8-WEEK ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP - Project-based homework, applied to your job - Personalized feedback from a facilitator - Group discussion in an asynchronous workshop setting via discussion forum |
Inspiring Live Guest Speakers + Facilitated Group Workshop for Project-Based Learning
Live session with Andrea Blackman and Tasneem Ansariyah Grace |
Live Guest Speakers Each Week
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Online Course Features
Recordings of guest speakers |
Recordings Available After The Live Session
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Facilitator-led workshop |
Online Classroom Organizes All Materials
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Early Access On Demand Resources |
Resources To Support Learning
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Thank you to our sponsor, Baker & Taylor
Baker & Taylor has been in business for over 190 years, offering an extensive selection of products and services for academic and public libraries. It is the only partner that can truly offer a one-stop shopping experience for all formats, including print, movies and music, and digital downloadable ebooks and audio content. Learn more.
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