In an era of rapid technological advancements and evolving user expectations, libraries face the ongoing challenge of staying relevant and engaged with their communities. Design thinking, a human-centered approach to problem-solving, offers a powerful framework for librarians and staff to foster innovation and create exceptional user experiences. After reviewing the concept and theory behind design thinking, take a deep dive into each step of the process through discussions and exercises.

Effective communication is often what sets great leaders apart. Through listening, questioning, and refining, managers can assertively provide direction and effective feedback to staff. Learn about the importance of non-verbal communication, active listening techniques, how to influence others, and having difficult conversations with your staff.

Weeding the library’s collection is a vital piece of collection development because it provides a more accessible and attractive collection to patrons. Gain techniques for collection assessment, evaluation criteria, weeding policies, and best practices for weeding the collection. Provide effective communication about the process to staff and patrons.

Websites are accessible when all visitors — regardless of abilities or impairments — can access the presented information. The broad term web accessibility refers to a series of international standards that define website usability. Understand the fundamentals of web accessibility and the regulations, laws, and standards surrounding accessibility design. Utilize tools and technologies for better design and best practices for content development.

Effective communications are vital for the success of libraries. Since most libraries have limited staff and financial capacity for communications efforts, it is critical to deploy these resources as strategically as possible. The concepts and skills covered in this course will help libraries approach communications in a way that builds commitment to their organization’s mission, strategic initiatives and outreach activities.

Whether a conference, awards gala, or fundraising dinner, event planning can be a monumental task. However, setting goals and planning well in advance are keys to pulling off a successful event. Uncover the roles and mindset of the event planner and the planning process, everything from event management to budgeting, evaluation, and how to be prepared for when things go wrong.

Does your library have a social media policy that explains how your library uses social media, provide parameters for staff use of social media at work, and how to respond to positive and negative comments from the public? Take the first step toward a stronger, safer online presence, with this course, you will learn how to mitigate your library's social media with the development of a robust social media policy that can align social media practices with your library's mission.

Whether it is creating flyers, posters, social media graphics, or even designing the library's website, graphic design skills are essential for librarians to effectively communicate their message. Learn graphic design's fundamental principles and elements, including color theory, typography, and layout. Explore how to use Canva to produce professional-looking print and electronic designs.

Managers and leaders leverage negotiation skills in a variety of situations, from obtaining team buy-in to defending library resources and services to resolving conflicts. Build familiarity and comfort with the negotiation skills and tools managers use in day-to-day work and alleviate the anxiety associated with workplace conflict.

Librarians come in contact with copyright laws in a variety of ways in their work. Whether it is a student wanting to make copies, an instructor wanting to show a a film in class, or a small business owner wanting to use content for marketing materials, our work and our patrons present us with a myriad of copyright-related dilemmas. In this course, we will start with a brief overview of the history of American copyright law and then discuss how copyright law effects our work as information professionals.