OCLC awarded IMLS grant to develop free online continuing education program for public library staff
OCLC's WebJunction to partner with the Idaho Commission for Libraries on project
DUBLIN, Ohio, 29 August 2024—OCLC has been awarded a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to partner with the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) to develop a free online continuing education program for public library staff.
The project will replace an outdated series and result in a new set of courses for library staff on core library services such as collection development, collection maintenance, cataloging, and delivery of programming and services that are responsive to community needs.
"We're excited to partner with the ICfL to reimagine and refresh this tremendously important, foundational program," said Andrew Harbison, Director, OCLC's WebJunction. "We will create new, modern, sustainable training and education opportunities for public library staff so that the communities they serve will benefit for many years to come. We're grateful to IMLS for their support of this project."
This three-year, $319,920 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program-funded implementation will replace an outdated continuing education course series that the Idaho Commission for Libraries introduced in the 1990s called the Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) program. The new program will enable OCLC's WebJunction team and ICfL staff to engage advisors and subject matter experts from the field to revitalize the ABLE program to reflect changes in services, technology, standards, and practices.
"We are grateful to IMLS for this grant and the opportunity to partner with OCLC in the creation of a contemporary professional development training program that will strengthen the skillsets of librarians, who provide a wide range of services and support to their community members," said Idaho State Librarian Stephanie Bailey-White.
The primary beneficiaries for this program are public library staff, with an emphasis on staff at small and rural libraries. By the end of the project, 3,000 library staff nationally will have enrolled in one or more courses to build and strengthen their expertise.
This program will be accessible through WebJunction's free online course catalog and the Idaho Commission for Libraries' website, and it will remain freely available and hosted sustainably at these websites beyond the end date of the project.
More about this project is on the IMLS website.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. IMLS advances, supports, and empowers America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.
About the Idaho Commission for Libraries
The Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) builds the capacity of the more than 850 public, school, academic, and special libraries in Idaho to best serve their communities through: statewide programming and resources; consulting; continuing education; partnerships; and aid to underserved populations. For more information, visit: https://libraries.idaho.gov.
About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library organization that provides shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.
OCLC, WebJunction, WorldCat, and WorldShare are trademarks and/or service marks of OCLC, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners.
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