Transform your library culture and services by learning how to build and maintain a people-centered culture of belonging. 

Course Description 

Through this course, you’ll learn about the concrete actions library experts are taking to help cultivate belonging in their libraries. You will be guided through sensitivity training to help better equip you to serve your local community with cultural humility and compassion.

You will leave this two-week online course with tools and resources that will help you understand power dynamics, center people and relationships, and increase participation and belonging for everyone in your library.

The live sessions run on Tuesdays, Sept. 17 and 24, 2024 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm ET (recorded for on demand viewing) with an asynchronous workshop over 2 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Who should take this course?

This course will be relevant for all librarians generally, and will be most specifically relevant for those who are newer to concepts of belonging and inclusion. 

Learning Outcomes

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

• Understand what a culture of belonging is and how to create one at your library

• Apply practical tools to better understand people and cultivate more empathy and self-awareness

• Become aware of how your personal values, attitudes, and beliefs influence how you perceive and treat others

• Use data-driven practices to measure cultural competency and impact

• Use participatory design best practices to develop community programs and services

• Determine areas of need for your library and work within your sphere of influence to create change

Course Features 

This will be a 2-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 2-5 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 10 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 10 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: Understanding your role in creating a culture of belonging

Tuesday, September 17, 2024  

Session 1 | 1:00-2:00 ET
Creating a Culture of Belonging
What is a culture of belonging, and how can you help create it at your library? This session will discuss necessary skills for building belonging interpersonally and organizationally. You will also leave with scripts you can use in crucial conversations so that you are prepared to engage with others confidently.

Speaker:

Break | 2:00-2:15 ET

Session 2 | 2:15-3:45 ET
Sensitivity Training 
How do your personal values, attitudes, and beliefs influence how you perceive and treat others? What are some practical ways you can better understand people and cultivate more empathy and self-awareness? This sensitivity training will equip you with the foundational knowledge and skills you need to help create a culture of belonging for patrons and colleagues.

Speaker:

Workshop Q&A - 3:45-4:00 ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Week 2: Engaging your community to create a culture of belonging

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Session 1 | 1:00-1:45 ET
Data-Driven Practices: A Method for Measuring Cultural Competency
How do you know whether your library is making progress on your cultural competency initiatives? How do you measure success? This session will feature Dr. Kiara Butler’s PERM framework – a methodology to measure cultural competency. Leave this session with practical tools to demonstrate progress and growth areas for your library.

Speaker:

Session 2 | 1:45-2:30 ET
Centering Belonging through Community Participatory Design
Creating a culture of belonging for the community you serve requires a deep understanding of who your community is and what they need and want. In this session, you’ll learn the foundations of participatory design so that you can ensure you’re inviting your community’s input into the programs and services you design for them. We'll also discuss how to find allies in your community and how to map and build helpful assets for continuing this work.

Speaker:

Break | 2:30-2:45 ET

Session 3 | 2:45-3:45 ET
Cultivating Support and Making Change from Where You Are
How do you continue making progress in your library if you lack support from your colleagues, community, or state? How can you determine the areas of need for your library that are within your control, and how can you harness the power of your community assets to make meaningful change? This closing session will discuss tangible ways you can create a culture of belonging in your library on an individual level. You will also learn the tools for creating deeper conversations about change that needs to happen in your organization.

Speaker:

Workshop Q&A | 3:45-4:00 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 2+ 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.