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Budget and Finance

Course Structure/Delivery:

This two-day program will provide working librarians with the skills and knowledge they need to effectively manage all aspects of the library budget process. The program is interactive and it includes a variety of group exercises based on a case study about a medium-sized county library with multiple branches. Using the same case study throughout the training will give participants an opportunity to apply what they are learning in a practical way in the “real” library – and to see the effects of the decisions they make throughout the two-day program.

At the end of the training program, participants will be able to assign budget responsibilities, describe the typical sources of library funding, identify typical budget categories, compare and contrast four types of budgets, prepare a program budget from a line-item budget, link the budget process to the library’s strategic planning priorities, develop performance measures and operations indicators for specific library services, complete a cost-benefit analysis, establish fiscal controls and manage their cash flow, evaluate sources of funding for a capital campaign, and develop an effective budget presentation.

Full course description (PDF, 40 KB)

Course Fee:

$250 for PLA members and partners
$300 for ALA members
$400 for non-members

Fee will include all training materials, breaks, and lunch on both days of the workshop.

Course Schedule:

This is a two-day workshop that will be presented in various sites around the country. The training program schedule for the two days will be:

Day 1: 10 am – 12 pm; 1 pm – 5 pm
Day 2: 8:30 am – 12 pm; 1 pm – 4:30 pm

In addition, all CPLA candidates will complete two projects.

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Contact: If you have questions regarding the content of this class, please get in touch with the instructor Sandra Nelson (sandra-nelson@comcast.net).