Use these general categories to choose topics to focus on in your self-development plan.
Library Competencies
- Competency Index for the Library Field. WebJunction, 2014
- Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills, IMLS, 2009 (still useful)
- Framework for 21st Century Learning, Partnership for 21st Century Learning – targeted at schools but generally useful
- Competencies developed by other libraries, organizations, regions, fields, specialties
- Competencies developed by your library, organization, region, or field/specialty
- Library-focused training resources:
National / International Trends
- ALA & its divisions, websites & publications
- State or regional associations
- Library Journal / School Library Journal and other professional journals
- ALA Libraries Transform
- OCLC reports
- At a Tipping Point: Education, Learning, and Libraries. OCLC. Fall 2014
- Pew Research Center, especially the Internet & Life project
- Libraries at the Crossroads. Pew, Fall 2015
- Institute of Museums & Libraries (IMLS)
- Strengthening Networks, Sparking Change: Museums and Libraries as Community Catalysts. IMLS. January 2017
- Talking Points – brief overviews of topics affecting libraries like technology and services to immigrants/new Americans
- Financial Literacy Education in Libraries: Guidelines and Best Practices for Service. (PDF) RUSA, BRASS, IMLS. Fall 2014.
- US Department of Labor (USDOL), especially about the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)
- US Office of Career, Technical & Adult Education (DOE)
- Making Skills Everyone’s Business: A Call to Transform Adult Learning in the United States. US DOE, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education. February 2015
- US Citizenship & Immigration Services (US CIS)
- Library Services for Immigrants: A Report on Current Practices. USCIS, 2007 (but still useful)
- Digital Inclusion Survey report. Information Policy & Access Center (iPAC) at UMaryland. Fall 2015.
- Networks for Integrating New Americans Project report. World Education, Fall 2015
Patron Needs in Your Area of Expertise
- Surveys
- Reference & circulation help records
- “Gadget counting”
- Informal conversations with patrons
- Conversations with non-users
- Library resources – tell you what topics people are interested in learning about and give you resources to learn yourself
- Lynda.com
- Mango Languages
- Gale Courses
News & Culture
- Major news sources
- The New York Times
- The Washington Post
- The Huffington Post
- The Atlantic
- The Economist, especially the Tech Quarterly
- Oprah, The View, and other daytime shows
- Any popular magazine you already read
- Pop culture sites like Buzzfeed
- Gaming, film, romance, science, or other topic-specific resources
Technology
See all my recommended technology resources for a full list.
- Explore these tech topics:
- Library technology trends & standards
- Core Staff Technology Competencies, Denver Public Library, available via WebJunction
- Competency Index for the Library Field. WebJunction, March 2015 – has extensive technology competency descriptions
- Supporting library services on users’ own devices & on library devices
- Technical troubleshooting skills
- Emerging technologies
- Privacy & security
- Library technology trends & standards
- Library Tech Conferences/Events:
- Local association tech conferences, like MSLA Day of Learning and the NELA Information Technology Section Spring Conference
- The Digital Shift (online conference by Library Journal)
- ACRL Virtual Conference (online version of ACRL annual)
- Computers in Libraries / Internet Librarian
- Library Information & Technology Association (LITA) Forum
- Library Technology Conference (LibTechConf)
- THATCamp – The Humanities and Technology Camps
- Brick & Click – 1-day conference on cutting edge technologies in academic libraries
- LOEX – annual conference on library instruction & technology
- Library 2.0 miniconferences on specific topics
- Nonprofit Technology Conference – not library-specific, but definitely related
- Technology Learning Resources:
- Hands-on training
- In-house library trainings
- Vendor trainings
- Training at Best Buy, Apple Store, Microsoft Store, or mobile retailers
- City training opportunities
- Local companies willing to offer pro bono trainings?
- Library-focused training:
- OCLC Webjunction
- Techsoup for Libraries
- Infopeople
- Library Journal professional development
- ALA and division online learning resources
- General tech training:
- Lynda.com – available through local libraries & by subscription
- Gale Courses – available through local libraries, more information from Gale
- Floqq – Spanish-language resources (also in English)
- GCF Global (formerly GCF LearnFree)
- edX
- Coursera
- Udemy – $
- Khan Academy – $$
- General Assembly – $$
- New Horizons – $$, often works with organizations/municipalities to offer training to employees
- Tips for online learning:
- Tips for Online Learning Success from North Hennepin Community College
- What Makes a Successful Online Learner? from Minnesota State
- Hands-on training
Soft Skills
- What
- Customer service
- Public speaking, presenting & training
- Troubleshooting & problem-solving
- Time management
- Communication skills
- Learning skills
- Where
- MindTools.com – (some free, some $$)
- Training Magazine – industry journal for professional development
- Lynda.com
- Gale Courses
- Online databases and resources from libraries:
- Career Transitions
- Vocations & Career Collections from Gale
- Career Guides from nearly any public library, university, college, or high school
- Organization, city department, university, school, etc. professional development offerings