New eCourse: Business Outreach for the Public Librarian

For Immediate Release
Mon, 12/18/2017

Contact:

Colton Ursiny

Administrative Assistant

ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions

cursiny@ala.org

Chicago—ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions announces a new facilitated eCourse, Business Outreach for the Public Librarian. Barbara Alvarez will serve as the instructor for a 4-week facilitated eCourse starting on Monday, February 12, 2018.

Building connections with your local business community can be a boon to your library. By working with local stores and other businesses on library programs and services, you can gain additional marketing, content, and even revenue without additional staff or expenses.

Not sure where to start? This four-week eCourse equips you with a step-by-step action plan that can help you effectively take your business connections to the next level through embedded networking and tailored library services. Through guided instruction, you’ll get started with embedded librarianship in your business community and learn how to establish sustainable, long-term partnerships. You’ll also gain tips for how to reach job seekers, small business owners, and professionals to share the relevant resources and services you offer.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Identify the need and importance of providing embedded librarianship to the business community and how it paves the way to sustainable, meaningful relationships
  • Develop new networks with the business community using a guided action plan
  • Determine how library space, programs, and services can better serve the business community

eCourse Outline

  • Week One: Learn the core concepts of being an embedded librarian and why it's significant to building sustainable relationships in your community.
  • Week Two: Start developing new connections with professionals, job seekers, and small business owners in your library’s community that make a lasting impression and pave the way for long-term partnerships.
  • Week Three: Identify areas in the library that can be improved in order to create a welcoming environment that caters to the needs of the business community.
  • Week Four: Using your new role, learn how to leverage library programming and events to create educational opportunities for the business community in and outside of the library.

About the Instructor

Barbara Alvarez has partnered with numerous library professionals, local businesses, and organizations to share digital stories through podcasts, videos, and broadcasting. She is the co-founder of The Library OnConference, a free virtual conference completely held on Google Hangouts that has garnered nearly 500 participants. Additionally, she received the 2015 Public Librarian Support Award for innovation and creativity in the library’s community. She is the author of the book Embedded Business Librarianship for the Public Librarian with ALA Editions. Barbara received a Master in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. She is Head of Adult Services at North Shore Library in Glendale, WI.

Registration for this ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions facilitated eCourse, which begins on February 12, 2018, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

ALA Publishing eLearning Solutions (ELS) produces high-quality professional development events and materials for the library profession. ELS events cover modern issues on a wide variety of topics in formats that include live workshops, asynchronous eCourses, and print publications. We help ensure that today’s library employees have access to the professional development opportunities they need, whether they are brushing up on the basics or expanding their horizons with cutting-edge tools. Contact us at elsmarketing@ala.org.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.