Education & Careers
Continuing Education for Library Professionals
Visit ALA eLearning to browse or search the comprehensive catalog of continuing education opportunities from across ALA's divisions.
Here you'll find all online courses, live and recorded webinars, discussions, panels, workshops, and more, for library and information workers in all types of libraries and related organizations.
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Upcoming eLearning Events
eLearning
This 6-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices. It covers: principles underlying cataloging practice; examples illustrating the principles in practice; tools used in
eLearning
This 6-week online course is a basic primer for library cataloging concepts and practices. It covers: principles underlying cataloging practice; examples illustrating the principles in practice; tools used in
eLearning
This 4 week course Fundamentals of Management is designed for new managers to build the skill set they need to successfully lead their department or organization, as well as support existing managers looking to
eLearning
Webinar
ALA and Sustainable Libraries Initiative provide guidance and tools to help expedite climate action work in libraries.
eLearning
TThis 6-week online course introduces students to the breadth of considerations, standards, and skills needed to successfully launch and manage a digital library program. The course will provide opportunity for
eLearning
Reference Interview is a comprehensive six-week asynchronous course focusing on the methods of evaluating reference services, behaviorial aspects of reference service.
eLearning
This six-week course is an introduction to fundamental concepts of metadata.
eLearning
Teach, but don't celebrate is the theme of religious literacy in our libraries. We will discuss how kids want to see themselves in our storytimes and give tips for including holidays in our programs without
eLearning
Webinar
Learn how to implement a climate action plan at your library that will have the biggest impact locally and globally.
eLearning
This 4-week online course provides an overview of acquiring, providing access to, administering, supporting, and monitoring access to electronic resources. The course offers a basic background in electronic
Job Search Resources
JobList Placement and Career Development Center is ALA's online job board and career center for positions in library and information science and technology.
Here, job seekers can search hundreds of current library job openings, confidentially upload resumes for consideration, research employers, and find career advice. Employers can post jobs, search for potential candidates in the resume bank, and save promising candidates. Search by organization type, job type, location, and more.
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Career Development
Career Development Resource Guide
ALA's Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) publishes this comprehensive Career Development Resources Guide, covering such topics as job search strategies, library workplace types and positions, self-marketing, resume and cover letter tips, interviewing, salary negotiation, and much more. The Guide is a rich source of information and advice for both established library professionals and recent graduates.
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Mentoring Resources
Mentoring benefits both the new librarian and the experienced professional as each learns from the insights and perspectives of the other. Divisions, Sections and Round Tables all run mentoring programs. Learn how you can be involved!
Quick Links
- ALSC Mentoring Program seeks to match individuals with an interest in library service to children.
- YALSA’s virtual mentoring program pairs an experienced librarian with a new librarian or graduate student in a Library Science program.
- LLAMA Mentoring Committee plans, implements, and oversees an ongoing LLAMA mentoring program.
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table Buddy Program pairs an active member of the round table with a new or perspective GLBTRT member, as well as any member becoming active for the first time or after a long absence.
ALA Emerging Leaders Program
Emerging Leaders enables newer library workers from across the country to participate in problem-solving work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity. It puts participants on the fast track to ALA committee volunteerism as well as other professional library-related organizations.
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Volunteer!
ALA is an incredibly rich and varied organization and offers something for everyone, whether you want to get involved with colleagues who work in the same kind of library, network with members who share your interests, find a forum to discuss key issues, or work on specific projects. ALA carries out its work through committees and subcommittees, Divisions, Round Tables, and several other types of volunteer groups. Find out which ones are right for you!
Become a Librarian
What is your passion? Are you fascinated by art, biology, business, technology? Combine your passion with a desire to help others and become a librarian!
Learn about different types of libraries, trends in library positions, education requirements, salaries, and more.
Shop Career Resources
If the proverbial career ladder feels more like a treadmill, it’s time for a different approach.
It can feel like everything gets harder, more political, and further under-resourced with each passing year. Thriving as a Mid-Career Librarian offers strategies of community, support, and advocacy that can help make it possible for us to thrive.
New school librarians as well as those already in the profession can set the tone for rewarding career with this one-stop, hands-on guide.
Academia is governed by traditions that can be opaque to those that have never worked within its unique corridors. The academic job search is a very specific process that only superficially resembles a job search in other fields.
ALA Scholarships
ALA and its units provide more than $300,000 annually for studies toward master's degrees in library and information science.
ALA Accredited Programs
Accreditation assures quality, innovation, and value in library and information studies education. Find out more about . . .
- our accreditation process, including resources for reviewers and administrators
- schools that offer accredited Master's degrees programs in library and information science
- guidelines for choosing a school and program
