Proving Your Library Matters (With Evidence People Actually Believe)

AFTER YOU ATTEND THIS COURSE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO:

• Define your library’s identity based on mission, vision, and values.
• Explore the alignment of your library’s identity with stakeholder values.
• Identify and select data that communicates specific messages about library value.
• Utilize visual tools and techniques to present data effectively.
• Create tailored narratives about your library’s impact based on identity and data.
• Explore strategies for initiating and developing collaborative partnerships.
• Plan for a new collaboration with chosen stakeholders based on your library’s identity, data, and stories.

THIS COURSE CONSISTS OF 4 ON-DEMAND MODULES:

Module 1: Defining and Refining Your Library's Identity

This module focuses on understanding your library's core identity, a crucial first step in demonstrating its impact. You’ll explore your library’s mission, vision, and values to articulate its unique purpose and character, as well as identify stakeholder values and points of alignment. By the end of this module, you’ll have a clear, cohesive understanding of what makes your library distinctive, where refinement may be needed, and how to connect that identity across diverse stakeholders to showcase your library’s essential contributions to your community.

Module 2: Communicating Impact Through Data

This module teaches you how to leverage your library’s data to highlight value and impact. You’ll learn how to identify and gather relevant data—such as program attendance, resource usage, and outcome achievements—and match that data to specific messages you want to communicate. You’ll also explore visual tools and techniques for presenting data in engaging ways, including impactful social media posts and compelling infographics.

Module 3: Crafting Compelling Library Stories

This module focuses on telling your library’s story in ways that clearly demonstrate its impact. You’ll learn how to transform data into compelling narratives and tailor your message for different audiences so your story resonates with stakeholders. By the end of this module, you’ll be equipped to articulate your library’s contributions through engaging, data-backed storytelling.

Module 4: Building Collaborative Partnerships

This final module brings together everything you’ve learned to demonstrate your library’s impact through meaningful collaborations. You’ll explore how to leverage your library’s identity, data, and stories to build partnerships, and hear from expert librarians across public, school, and academic settings who share real-world examples of successful collaboration. You’ll conclude the course by applying these strategies in a practical assignment that prepares you to initiate a new partnership with a stakeholder of your choosing.

COURSE ADVISOR

Jen Park, Library Advocacy Consultant

Jen Park is an advocacy consultant who assists libraries with advocacy, legislation, and information execution. In addition to her current role at a public library system, Jen has experience working in public libraries and as a faculty librarian at an academic library. She has presented regionally and nationally on topics ranging from grassroots advocacy to effective communication with stakeholders and has published articles on marketing and collaboration. Named a 2025 Library Journal Mover & Shaker, Jen also serves as President of her public library’s Board of Trustees.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Deborah Hakes, Director of Marketing and Communications, Georgia Public Library Service

Deborah Hakes is a communications leader with expertise in storytelling and brand-building for nonprofits and libraries. She leads marketing and communications for Georgia Public Library Service, named Library Journal’s 2020 Marketer of the Year, and serves as vice president of the national Library Marketing Communications Group board. Her career spans state, national, and globally focused nonprofits, including The Carter Center and Welcoming America, where she built communications teams from the ground up.

James Allen, Library Media Specialist

James Allen is the Statewide School Library Lead for the Kentucky Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology. Previously, he served as a public K–12 teacher librarian for sixteen years. James is a Google for Education Certified Innovator, ISTE Community Leader, member of the Future Ready Schools Librarians Advisory Team, past president of the Kentucky Association of School Librarians, and a member of the American Association of School Librarians National Conference and Professional Learning Committees.

Maria Atilano, Student Engagement Librarian, University of North Florida

Maria Atilano is the Student Engagement Librarian at the University of North Florida’s Thomas G. Carpenter Library. She began working in academic libraries in 2002 as a student employee at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and later held staff roles in public services and special collections at UNF. Maria earned her MLIS from Florida State University in 2012. Her research interests include social media, library marketing and outreach, and student programming.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is intended for librarians and library administration at public, school, and academic libraries.

THIS WILL BE A SELF-PACED, ASYNCHRONOUS COURSE.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course includes 4 modules, each designed to take approximately 4 hours to complete. You can move through the content at your own pace and on your own schedule. You'll earn 16 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You’ll have access to all course materials for 6 months from your enrollment date or from the official course launch date, whichever is later.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete the course and earn 16 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require any special accommodations, and we will make our best efforts to facilitate them.

SUPPORT

For support with online courses, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com .

DISCOUNTED RATES ARE AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

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GROUP RATES

We offer discounts for groups of 3 or more.

For larger groups of 15 or more, we offer the option to apply group rates across multiple courses to receive significant discounts. For more information, select Bulk Course Credits Packages in the form below.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

For support with group purchases, please contact groupsales@libraryjournal.com .