Basic Skills for Nebraska Librarians Courses
One of the requirements for
Public Librarian Certification is
having training in the basic skills of librarianship. This requirement may
be fulfilled by completion of formal education in an institution of higher
learning, or completion of approved continuing education or certification
courses, including the Nebraska Library Basic Skills Training Courses.
The Basic Skills courses are presented as online asynchronous learning modules.
Basic Skills participants are required to complete at least thirteen modules--6
requisite modules and 7 electives during their provisional (first)
three-year certification period.
The learning modules are:
|
Requisite
|
|
Collection Management |
A library may offer more than its collection, but without the collection,
is it a library? |
|
The Community and The Library |
Knowing and understanding the community is key to being able to
provide the library collections and library services that the community
wants and needs. |
|
Communication |
Communications has been named the most important skill for library directors.
In this class, we will cover general communications skills as well as some
specialized forms of communications such as community relations, advocacy
and marketing. |
|
Customer Service |
Customer Service is a library's product. This course will cover
some of the principles of customer service, and introduce practice of customer
service through various means. Participants will read materials, discuss
issues, and complete exercises. |
|
Intellectual Freedom and the Core Values of Librarianship |
The values of librarianship not only reflect cherished beliefs, they
help to determine the daily workings of libraries. |
|
Organization of Materials |
When you've completed this course, you should be able to determine
how a library collection is organized and why it is organized that way.
You should be able to assign appropriate subject headings to an item from
the Sears List of Subject Headings, and you should be able to construct
a classification number for an item. You should understand what a
MARC record is and how MARC records are used in your library's catalog.
You should understand what a library automation system does. And finally
you should have a general knowledge of developments in cataloging. |
|
Elective
|
|
Leadership |
What is involved in leadership? How does a library director lead?
How do I personally lead? In this course, the class will explore these
questions, and begin to assemble the tools necessary to become a library
(and community) leader. |
|
Library Finance |
In this course we'll cover the library budget, capital expenditures,
library foundations, fundraising, and purchasing. |
|
Library Governance |
In this course we will explore how libraries are governed, how library
boards work, and what sort of rules--within and without the library--help
keep the library running smoothly. |
|
Library Policy |
Policies let everyone--staff, administration, and users--know what to
expect and what is expected of them. They guide decision-making and they
insure equal and fair treatment for all. |
| Library Services to Children and Youth |
Discover and share ideas that will bring families, children and
teens… and learn about why such services are important to your library and your community. |
|
Management & Supervision |
The most important asset in a library is the staff. In this course,
we'll cover how a library director manages and supervises. |
|
Programming and Outreach |
Libraries can encourage reading and library use, as well as offering
information and entertainment to customers, through programming. Sometimes
libraries need to take programs outside the walls of the library building
in order to reach customers. |
|
Readers Advisory |
Hooking up a reader and a good book--the right book--is both art and
science. Sharing books with readers is a satisfying process for
the librarian and one that readers deeply appreciate. |
|
Reference |
Participants will develop skills in assisting library users to find
information, in searching, and in assessing and using information resources,
both print and online. |
For each module successfully completed, a participant will earn 2 Continuing
Education credits. These count toward the 45 C.E. credits every Nebraska
Librarian Certification participant must earn every certification (3-year)
period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Schedule of Basic Skills courses, or see the Nebraska Library Commission
Training and Events Calendar
Basic Skills Planner--for program participants to keep track of their
progress
Transition
For further information, contact Laura Johnson, Continuing Education
Coordinator by e-mail,
or by phone, at 402-471-2694, or 800-307-2665.