Announcing the 2026 Core Fundamentals Web Course Schedule

CHICAGO–Core is pleased to announce the release of the 2026 Core Fundamentals Web Course schedule. This series of related online courses covers basic topics that enhance skills in various areas of library work.

The Fundamentals Web Courses focus on the following areas: fundamentals of acquisitions, cataloging, metadata, collection assessment, collection development and management, digital library projects, electronic resources acquisitions, preservation, management, universal design for learning, and institutional repositories.

Courses are 4 to 6 weeks in length and are repeated throughout the year. Students have 24/7 access to the course material. Instructors moderate live weekly chat discussions and provide instruction. Seats are limited and sessions often sell out in advance. Reserve your spot now.

2026 Core Fundamentals Web Courses
Course sessions are repeated throughout the year. You only need to take one session of a given course, since the course content is the same across sessions. Click on the course titles to learn more. Register online for the session you'd like to participate in.

Fundamentals of Acquisitions (FOA)

• Session 1: March 16 – April 24
• Session 2: May 4– June 12
• Session 3: July 27 – September 4
• Session 4: September 28 – November 6

Fundamentals of Cataloging (FOC)

• Session 1: January 26 – March 6
• Session 1.1: January 26 – March 6
• Session 2: February 23 – April 3
• Session 2.1: February 23 – April 3
• Session 3: April 20 – May 29
• Session 3.1: April 20 – May 29
• Session 4: July 6 – August 14
• Session 4.1: July 6 – August 14
• Session 5: August 24 – October 2
• Session 5.1: August 24 – October 2
• Session 6: October 19 – December 4
• Session 6.1: October 19 – December 4

Fundamentals of Collection Assessment (FCA)

• Session 1: March 23 – May 1
• Session 2: May 18 – June 26
• Session 3: August 3 - September 11
• Session 4: October 5 - November 13

Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management (FCDM)

• Session 1: March 16 – April 10
• Session 2: May 11 – June 5
• Session 3: August 3 – August 28
• Session 4: October 12 – November 6

Fundamentals of Digital Library Projects (FDLP)

• Session 1: March 9 – April 17
• Session 2: April 27 – June 5
• Session 3: July 20 – August 28
• Session 4: October 5 - November 13

Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions (FERA)

• Session 1: March 2 – March 27
• Session 2: May 4 – May 29
• Session 3: July 27 – August 21
• Session 4: October 12 – November 6

Fundamentals of Institutional Repositories (FIR)

• Session 1: February 9 - March 20
• Session 2: June 15 - July 24
• Session 3: October 5 - November 13

Fundamentals of Management (FM)

• Session 1: March 2 - March 27
• Session 2: April 20 - May 15
• Session 3: July 20 – August 14
• Session 4: September 21 – October 30

Fundamentals of Metadata (FOM)

• Session 1: March 9 – April 24
• Session 2: April 27 – June 5
• Session 3: July 20 – August 28
• Session 4: September 21 – October 30

Fundamentals of Preservation (FOP)

• Session 1: March 23 – April 17
• Session 2: May 11 – June 5
• Session 3: October 5 – October 30

Fundamentals of Universal Design for Learning (FUDL)

• Session 1: March 9 – April 17
• Session 2: September 21 – October 30

Registration Fees 

4-Week Courses:
$148.85 - Core members
$206.10 - ALA members

$114.50 – Student members
$229.00 - Non-members

6-Week Courses:
$224.10- Core members
$278.10 - ALA members

$154.50 – Student members
$309.00 – Non-members

How to Register

Register online or by phone at 1-800-545-2433 (press 1 to reach our customer service representatives). Course sessions are limited to 25 students, and many sell out weeks in advance.

Please contact registration@ala.org to request an invoice or course registration form.

Registration is limited and sessions often sell out quickly. Reserve your spot now.

Questions

For registration related questions, call 1-800-545-2433 and press 1 to speak to our customer service representatives.

For general questions related to Core continuing education events, please contact corece@ala.org.

About Core

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning. Core is a division of the American Library Association. Follow us on our Blog, Instagram and LinkedIn.