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.

Discover Hyku: Empowering Libraries with Open-Source Repository Solutions

This informative introduction to Hyku, the powerful open-source repository solution tailored for small- to medium-sized libraries, will demonstrate its uses as both an institutional repository and a digital repository for cultural heritage items, open educational resources, and theses and dissertations. Hyku offers intuitive upload processes and robust bulk import/export capabilities. Its shared search functionality across multiple Hyku libraries can enhance discoverability and collaboration.

Intermediate Cataloging: Subject Analysis

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

Serving the Neurodiverse Library User

Neurodiversity recognizes that people experience and interact with the world in many ways. While there are many dimensions to neurodiversity, it is often used in the context of the autism spectrum as well as other neurological or developmental conditions. By developing a better understanding of neurodiversity, library staff can create more inclusive library environments through interactions, spaces, services, and programs that welcome and respect neurodiverse patrons.

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.

Introduction to Reference Services 4: Legal and Ethical Issues in Reference Services

While offering expert guidance and support across complex information landscapes, library staff also navigate their own legal and ethical responsibilities in the provision of reference services. Detailing the most pressing legal and ethical considerations for reference services - digital literacy, equity of access, patron confidentiality, intellectual freedom, and copyright - library staff can balance their professional responsibilities at the reference desk.