PLA announces new start dates for e-Learning courses

Contact: Angela Thullen

PLA, Marketing Specialist

312-280-5026

For Immediate Release

July 25, 2006

PLA announces new start dates for e-Learning courses

CHICAGO- "E-Learning @ PLA," the online education program of the Public Library Association (PLA), will offer five new start dates for two of its popular courses.
"New Planning for Results" and "Creating Policies for Results" will each be offered on the following dates:

* September 11, 2006

* October 9, 2006

* February 5, 2007

* March 5, 2007

* April 7, 2007

In "
New Planning for Results," participants will learn how to develop a strategic plan for their library through interactive exercises, collaborative work, threaded discussions and online chats with June Garcia, the course instructor. The course can be completed in an average of six hours of online work and 5 hours of offline work (assignments, chats, etc.) over four to six weeks.
Participants will have access to the course materials for six months from the start date of the class.
This course is based on the best-selling ALA publication, "The New Planning for Results," by Sandra Nelson, who also designed the course.

In "
Creating Policies for Results," participants will learn to evaluate their library's existing policies, determine what additional policies are needed, revise and develop policies, and establish a process to implement the new or revised policies. The self-paced curriculum has been revised and streamlined based on the input of dozens of people who have taken the course in the past. The streamlined course can be completed in an average of six hours of online work and three to six hours of offline work (optional assignments, chats, etc.) over six weeks.
Participants also will be able to access the course for six months from the class start date.
This course is based on the popular ALA Publication, "Creating Policies for Results: From Chaos to Clarity."

To register for any of PLA's e-Learning online courses, visit
www.pla.org.
Registration closes one week before the class start date.
The cost for each of these courses is $195 for PLA members, $250 for ALA members, and $295 for nonmembers. Group discounts are available for state libraries, consortia, systems of regions and registrants from the library.

For more information on this and other continuing education programs sponsored by PLA, contact the PLA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA's web site at
www.pla.org.
PLA is a division of the American Library Association.