ALCTS technical services fundamentals Web courses return for 2013–14 academic year

CHICAGO — Registration is now open for the 2013-14 sessions of the popular “Fundamentals” Web courses, offered by the Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), including the newly redesigned and updated Fundamentals of Acquisitions. Each session is limited to 20 students, and sessions fill up quickly. ALCTS Web courses offer great value at only $109 for ALCTS members and $139 for nonmembers. Register online or by mail and be sure to indicate which course you’d like to attend.

Fundamentals of Acquisitions

Redesigned and updated for 2013-14, the Fundamentals of Acquisitions (FOA) Web course focuses on the basics of library acquisitions, including goals and methods of acquiring monographs and serials; financial management of library collections budgets; and relationships among acquisitions librarians, library booksellers, subscription agents and publishers. This course provides a broad overview of the operations involved in acquiring materials after the selection decision is made.

In FOA, we distinguish between collection development, which involves the selection of materials for the library, and acquisitions, which orders, receives and pays for those materials. In many libraries, selecting and acquiring materials may be done in the same department—in the smallest libraries perhaps even by the same person. In larger libraries, selection may be done by a collection development department and/or designated subject specialists, while a separate department acquires the selected materials. Acquisitions, in essence, is the business side of bringing materials into the library or licensing access to library resources.

Upcoming Sessions include Oct. 7 – Nov. 1 and Nov. 18 – Dec. 13. See the FOA webpage for the complete schedule

This course is approved for the Collection Management elective of the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP) .

Fundamentals of Preservation

The Fundamentals of Preservation (FOP) Web course introduces participants to the principles, policies and practices of preservation in libraries and archives. The course is designed to inform all staff, across divisions and departments and at all levels of responsibility. It provides tools to begin extending the useful life of library collections. Components include preservation as a formal library function and how it reflects and supports the institutional mission; the primary role of preventive care, including good storage conditions, emergency planning and careful handling of collections; the history and manufacture of physical formats and how this impacts preservation options; standard methods of care and repair, as well as reformatting options; and challenges in preserving digital content and what the implications are for the future of scholarship.

Upcoming sessions include Sept. 9 – Oct. 4 and Oct. 28 – Nov. 22. See the FOP webpage for the complete schedule.

This course is approved for the Collection Management elective of the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP).

Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions

The Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions (FERA) Web course will provide an overview of acquiring, providing access to, administering, supporting and monitoring access to electronic resources.  It will provide a basic background in electronic resource acquisitions, including product trials, licensing, purchasing methods and pricing models and will provide an overview of the sometimes complex relationships between vendors, publishers, platform providers and libraries.

Upcoming session is Nov. 11 – Dec. 6. See the FERA webpage for the complete schedule.

This course is sponsored by Harrassowitz.

Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management

The Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management (FCDM) Web course addresses the basic components of these important areas of responsibility in libraries. Components include complete definition of collection development and collection management; collections policies and budgets as part of library planning; collection development (selecting for and building collections); collection management (e.g., making decisions after materials are selected, including decisions about withdrawal, transfer, preservation); collection analysis—why and how to do it; outreach, liaison and marketing; and some suggestions about the future for collection development and management.

Upcoming sessions include Sept. 30 – Oct. 25 and Nov. 18 – Dec. 13. See the FCDM webpage for the complete schedule.

This course is approved for the Collection Management elective of the Library Support Staff Certification Program (LSSCP).

Fundamentals of Collection Assessment

The Fundamentals of Collection Assessment (FCA) Web course is designed for those who are responsible for or interested in collection assessment in all types and sizes of libraries. The course will introduce key concepts in collection assessment, including the definition of collection assessment, techniques and tools, assessment of print and electronic collections and project design and management.

Upcoming Session is Oct. 21 – Nov. 29 . See the FCA webpage for the complete schedule.

About ALCTS Web Courses

Participants access the course content online and complete the work at their own pace, during the four-week or six-week session. Course instructors provide guidance and lead weekly online chat sessions. Register for only one session per course. Sessions are limited to 20 participants. Registration for sessions that have not sold out will close one week before the session begins.

For questions related to registration, contact ALA Registration by calling 1 (800) 545-2433 and press 5 or email registration@ala.org. For all other questions, contact Julie Reese, ALCTS Continuing Education Manager at 1 (800) 545-2433, ext. 5034 or jreese@ala.org, or see our website at www.ala.org/alcts.

ALCTS is a division of the American Library Association.