Check It Out (No, Really)

Building a Reading Culture That Drives Circulation

Course Details

Registration deadline December 3, 2026

3 Self-Paced Course Modules

10 Credit Hours

Recommended for school and public library staff.

$282 | Save with early bird and group rates.

Great collections do not circulate themselves. This course helps you build the kind of reading culture that gets books into people’s hands and keeps them coming back for more.

Ways to connect patrons and students with books they’ll actually want to read
Practical strategies for readers’ advisory, displays, and reading engagement
A stronger approach to building a reading culture that supports circulation over time

IS YOUR COLLECTION SITTING ON THE SHELVES WHEN IT SHOULD BE IN PATRONS' HANDS?

You have great books, but convincing patrons and students of that sometimes feels impossible.
Circulation is flat, reading engagement is inconsistent, and you’re not alwayswhat's standing between your patron and a book they'd actually love.
You’re competing with screens, overscheduled lives, and people who have decided they’re “not readers” even though you know they just haven't found their book yet.

You’ll leave with more practical ways to connect people with books they’ll genuinely enjoy and build a reading culture that actually sticks.

Enroll in FALL SESSION

Early bird rate is $232 through November 3, 2026. Standard rate is $282 through December 3, 2026.

Need flexibility? Once materials are released, you can start any time during your 6-month access period and move through the course at your own pace.

Invoice or PO options: Orders of $600 or greater can choose invoice at checkout. For orders under $600, please do not check out online. Submit this form, and we will process your order manually.

Need approval? Email this course to your supervisor.

TRAINING A TEAM?

When staff share the same approach to readers’ advisory, displays, and engagement, it becomes much easier to build the kind of reading culture that keeps people checking books out.

Multi-seat discounts are automatically calculated in the cart.

Buying for a larger group? Explore all purchasing options

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What You'll Learn Who This is For All the Details

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

Recognize the real barriers that keep patrons from engaging with your collection, including time constraints, reading identity, and competing distractions
Identify what individual readers are actually looking for and connect them with books that match their interests and habits
Use readers’ advisory techniques to recommend titles that readers are more likely to stick with and enjoy
Design displays, programs, and experiences that spark genuine excitement about reading
Reach reluctant or inconsistent readers with strategies that work across different ages and communities
Use your knowledge of the collection and outreach opportunities to strengthen a lasting culture of reading

Together, these outcomes equip participants with practical approaches for connecting patrons with books they will enjoy and fostering a lasting culture of reading.

This course is especially helpful for:

Public and school library staff working directly with readers of any age
Librarians responsible for readers’ advisory, programming, or displays
Staff trying to increase circulation and engagement with existing collections
Anyone looking for more effective ways to connect patrons with books they’ll actually enjoy

If that sounds like your role, you will probably see yourself in this course.

This course will feel especially relevant if you:

Have great books on the shelves but struggle to get them into patrons’ hands
See flat or inconsistent circulation and are not sure what is driving it
Regularly hear “I’m not a reader” and know that is not the full story
Want better ways to match readers with books they’ll actually finish and enjoy
Need practical strategies that go beyond displays and passive promotion

This course was built for libraries that want to turn interest in reading into actual engagement.

Getting a book into someone’s hands is one thing. Getting them the right book—the one that makes them forget they ever said they didn’t like reading—is something else entirely. This course focuses on how to make those connections happen more consistently.

You’ll build a practical approach to creating a reading culture in your library. That includes strengthening your readers’ advisory skills, designing experiences that make books more appealing, and addressing the real challenges that get in the way, from time constraints to reading identity to competing distractions. The goal is not a quick spike in circulation, but a more sustainable pattern of engagement.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

Course materials become available on December 3, 2026. You will have access for six months from the materials unlock date.

Rate + deadline	Fall Session
Early bird deadline	November 3, 2026
Early bird price	$232
Standard deadline	December 3, 2026
Standard price	$282
Materials unlock	December 3, 2026

COURSE FORMAT

This is a fully self-paced online course with 3 modules. You can move through the material on your own schedule during the 6-month access period.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course is designed to take approximately 10 hours to complete. Because it is self-paced, you can move as quickly or gradually as your schedule allows.

COURSE ACCESS

You will have access to all course materials for six months from the materials unlock date.

CREDIT & CERTIFICATE

Complete all course requirements to earn 10 professional development credit hours and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com.

SUPPORT

For support, contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.

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