PLA offers serving diverse populations workshop for public librarians
Contact: Louisa Worthington
PLA, Marketing Manager
312-280-5024
NEWS
For Immediate Release
March 3, 2009
CHICAGO - The demographics of communities are changing, and public librarians are called upon to reach new populations with the programs and services they need. To help public librarians learn how to effectively serve diverse populations, the Public Library Association (PLA) is offering an intensive two-day workshop designed to teach these practical skills.
The Serving Diverse Populations workshop is being offered in Spokane, Wash., April 14-15, 2009, as a preconference during the Washington Library Association Conference. The workshop will be held at the Spokane Public Library.
Course instructor Yolanda Cuesta is a consultant with more than 25 years of experience, specializing in helping libraries serve ethnic and culturally diverse communities. Participants in the Serving Diverse Populations workshop will learn how to identify the challenges of these groups and assess the library’s readiness to work with them, develop a culturally responsive library services plan that addresses specific community needs and develop marketing messages that connect with these populations.
The two-day workshop is sponsored by PLA in conjunction with the Washington Library Association. Registration rates are $250 for PLA members and employees of the Arizona State Library Archives & Public Records, $300 for ALA members and $400 for non-members. For the full course description, instructor biography and registration information, visit
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/.
Serving Diverse Populations is a Certified Public Library Administrator (CPLA) course, and completion of this course can be used as credit toward the CPLA program. This voluntary program is designed for post-MLS public librarians with at least three years of supervisory experience and includes a series of courses, each focused on one aspect of library management. However, you do not need to be enrolled in the CPLA certification program to attend this workshop.
For more information on CPLA courses offered by PLA, as well as the full 2009 schedule of courses, contact the PLA office at (800) 545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA’s website at
www.pla.org. For more information on becoming a Certified Public Library Administrator, visit the ALA-APA website,
www.ala-apa.org.Â
PLA is a division of the American Library Association. PLA’s core purpose is to strengthen public libraries and their contribution to the communities they serve. Its mission is to enhance the development and effectiveness of public library staff and public library services.
