Upskilling for library workers

CHICAGO — Many of today’s libraries and their workers are facing a skills crisis. By some estimates, an employee’s current skills are only relevant for a maximum of five years, but other estimates put the longevity of current skills at only 18 months. Though it’s crucial that library workers continuously upskill and reskill to keep up with technological changes, including those brought about by AI, libraries have limited time, budgets, and resources to devote to helping staff keep up.

Ann Medaille’s new ALA Editions book “Upskilling for Library Workers: A Guide for Future-Ready Professionals” demonstrates that it's still possible to adopt an inspiring, forward-thinking approach to upskilling, one that positions staff to succeed both now and in the future. Through the book’s lessons, drawn from the author's three-year research project, library administrators, managers, trainers, program leaders, branch heads, and staff members who work in public or academic libraries and are involved in skills learning, training or strategy will discover: 

• why upskilling and reskilling are urgently needed by library workers to navigate information in the context of ever-changing technologies, and which skills are the most important; 
• key concepts related to learning and instructional design; 
• the four E's of upskilling (education, experiences, exposures, and environment) and where they fit into library workplace training and development; 
• lessons that libraries can learn from the innovative approaches to workplace upskilling that are taking place in the corporate learning and development space; 
• an incisive overview and analysis of learning initiatives currently underway at academic and public libraries in the United States and Canada; 
• research-based guidance on facing such challenges as how to get started, knowing what skills to plan for in the future, deciding upon appropriate learning initiatives, motivating staff to continually learn, evaluating skill development initiatives, and confronting issues related to cost, time, and organizational culture; and
• hands-on strategies for the integration of upskilling into library work across a broad range of skill types and library applications, including suggested activities, reflection points, examples, and tips throughout the book. 

Medaille is the director of research and instructional services at the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries, where she heads the liaison librarian program, conducts assessments, and implements initiatives designed to help library workers develop their skills. The former editor-in-chief of the journal Evidence Based Library and Information Practice and a current faculty member of the Medical Library Association’s Research Training Institute, she is also the author of “The Librarian’s Guide to Learning Theory” and a coauthor of “Visual Literacy for Libraries: A Practical, Standards-Based Guide.” She holds a PhD in education and an MS in library science. 

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness and accreditation programs for library and information professionals worldwide. ALA Editions publishes resources used by library and information professionals, scholars, students, and educators to improve programs and services, build on best practices, enhance pedagogy, share research, develop leadership, and promote advocacy. ALA authors and developers are leaders in their fields, and their content is published in a variety of print and electronic formats. Contact ALA Editions at editionsmarketing@ala.org.