Professional Resources

Core Webinar: Mentorship for All: Creating a Statewide Program

CHICAGOJoin Core on November 2, 2022, at 1 p.m. CT, for the webinar “Mentorship for All: Creating a Statewide Program.” This session will describe the steps taken to create a statewide mentorship program for interested and motivated library staff.

The future of digital literacy in Africa

CHICAGO — Sustainable development can only be achieved when no one is left behind. An enduring lesson from the COVID-19 crisis is how important the availability of digital infrastructure and skills for individuals and communities is for teaching, learning, employability or just being able to participate fully in society.

New from ACRL - “Designing Libraries for the 21st Century”

CHICAGO – The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) announces the publication of "Designing Libraries for the 21st Century," edited by H. Thomas Hickerson, Joan K. Lippincott, and Leonora Crema. Featuring an impressive array of authors drawn largely from the conference of the same name and packed with full color images and illustrations, this book provides guidance, principles, and a wealth of creative ideas for academic library spaces, technology, programs, and partnerships.

An updated introduction to planning a new library building

CHICAGO — Drawing on the expertise of authors Ayub Khan and Stella Thebridge from time spent on library projects around the world, the new second edition of “Better by Design: An Introduction to Planning and Designing a New Library Building,” published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, charts a readable path through everything from the planning of a new library to major refurbishment or the remodeling of a current library.

Core Webinar: Project Management Principles, Methods, and Tools

CHICAGOAnyone in the library can have great ideas to improve services and experiences for users, but it takes a village to make change happen. Using project management, libraries can accomplish strategic goals and develop employees’ leadership skills.

Libraries Build Business report highlights impact of small business programs on local communities and library field

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Library Association has released a new report that showcases the impact of the Libraries Build Business initiative on small businesses and entrepreneurs across the country, as well as the library profession.

Fostering wellness in the library workplace

CHICAGO — As part of their dedication to improving the lives of their patrons, libraries have long offered services, programs, and outreach dedicated to the health and wellness of their communities. There is a growing recognition that library workers themselves are in urgent need of such attention; low morale, and complaints of burnout and a toxic work environment, are only a few of the obvious symptoms. The good news is that by turning inward, libraries can foster wellness in their workplace and make a real difference in the day-to-day lives of their staff. Bobbi L.