Library Management Training

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Course Details

October 1-November 26, 2025
8-Week Online Course + Workshop
32 Credit Hours
Recommended for new and aspiring library managers.

About This Course

Learn what they didn’t teach you in library school: how to be a library manager.

Live sessions via Zoom:
Wednesdays, October 1 to November 19, 2025
from 2:00 to 4:00 pm ET
(recordings available for 6 months)
Asynchronous Workshop:
Project-based assignments with expert feedback over 8 weeks

This course will set you up for success in your future or existing management position by training you on the fundamentals of staff relationships and management, managing difficult conversations and staff feedback, crisis and incident management, and more. Built specifically for new managers (or those on a future management track), this interactive course will give you the opportunity to role play challenging scenarios and get feedback from experts and peers. You will have ample time to ask questions and work through specific situations you’ve encountered.

This 8-week intensive, online course is created to prepare library managers for the specific challenges you will face but were not trained for. Each live-session week will include training from an expert guest speaker, a facilitated discussion, and an optional interactive working session to practice new skills with peers. In the week between each live session meeting, you will have the opportunity to work on asynchronous prompts in peer cohort groups that will lead to a culminating portfolio of management resources. You will leave this course with a new cohort of peers and a Library Journal Management Training Certificate.

The live sessions run on Wednesdays, October 1 through November 19, 2025 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm ET (recorded for on demand viewing) with an asynchronous workshop over 8 weeks. Don’t miss this opportunity!



 

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After you attend this course, you’ll be able to:

  • Understand different management styles and what kind of manager you want to be.

  • Use cultural competency in your management techniques.

  • Build a culture of trust and belonging with your staff.

  • Run an efficient and effective meeting.

  • Gain communication skills to lead your team through change.

  • Give difficult and constructive feedback.

  • Manage conflicts and difficult conversations with confidence.

  • Identify causes of burnout for yourself and staff.

  • Advocate for your team within your sphere of influence.

  • Manage your team through crises.

  • Create career goals for yourself and advocate for your own professional development.

  • Use data literacy skills to make informed decisions.

Week 1: Foundations of People Management
Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Course & Workshop Introduction | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to the weekly assignments, an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course, and a chance to complete the course pre-assessment.

Session 1 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
Foundations of People Management: Becoming a Leader
What kind of manager do you want to be? How do you gain the self-awareness to ensure you can manage yourself as well as your team? And how can you show up authentically without putting on a costume of power? This introduction to the course will showcase different management styles, detail qualities of good leaders, share the foundations of managing a team, and teach you how to foster a culture of relationship building between your staff and yourself.


Speaker:
Krista Beljan
Krista Beljan, Leadership Consultant at Dame Leadership


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 2: Foundations of Equity-Centered Leadership
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 2 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
Foundations of Equity-Centered Leadership
How can your leadership style better serve and support marginalized, minoritized, or racialized staff? What is cultural competence, and what does this mean for staff management, recruitment, and workplace culture? Learn how to create a library culture that invites all employees to feel respected and included. You will learn how to build your approaches and capacities as a leader to support staff equitably. Leave this session with a toolkit for engaging with staff and establishing policies in ways that center intersectionality, vulnerability, and relationships.


Speaker:
Christina Fuller-Gregory
Christina Fuller-Gregory, (she, her) Assistant Director of Libraries at the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 3: How to Manage People: Team Meetings, Check-ins, Reviews, and Change
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 3 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
How to Manage People: Team Meetings, Check-ins, and Change
How do you run an effective and efficient team meeting? How often should you have staff meetings and one-on-one check ins, and how should you structure them? And how do you communicate clearly, transparently, and directly with staff, especially regarding changes or challenging situations that might impact their work lives? This week will focus on these questions and provide tangible strategies and templates for streamlining your processes and making the most out of time and communications with your team.


Speaker:
Kate Hall
Kate Hall, Executive Director, Northbrook Public Library


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 4: How to Manage People: Difficult Conversations, Feedback, Conflict, and Resistance
Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 4 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
How to Manage People: Difficult Conversations, Feedback, Conflict, and Resistance
How do you give negative feedback to staff? How do you know when to escalate to writing a disciplinary report, and how do you write one? How do you manage interpersonal conflicts on your team, especially in cross-generational teams? And how do you manage and create buy-in with resistant staff? This week will teach you practical skills for managing difficult conversations, diffusing tension on your team, and redirecting, coaching, and building relationships with resistant staff. We’ll also discuss how to create and enforce “people first” policies to help set and manage staff behavior expectations.


Speaker:
Catherine B Soehner
Catherine B Soehner, Associate Dean and Executive Director, Eccles Health Sciences Library


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 5: Managing through Burnout and Advocating for Staff
Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 5 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
Managing through Burnout and Advocating for Staff
Staff burnout is at an all-time high, and many systemic and stackable issues contribute to staff burnout. How do you support your staff even and especially when the cause of their burnout is out of your direct control? How can you identify what’s causing burnout and advocate for the resources your team needs to help build resilience? And what are ways you can create positive impact within your sphere of influence? This week will focus on these questions and discuss ways to advocate for your staff, including how to “manage up” when needed. We will also cover ways to reduce burnout and create resilience by ensuring your management practices are equitable and inclusive.


Speaker:
Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS
Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, MSLS, Researcher, Leader, Consultant and Coach


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 6: Crisis Management and Communications: Showing Up for Your Team and Yourself
Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 6 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
Crisis Management and Communications: Showing Up for Your Team and Yourself
Safety and security are top of mind for librarians across the country. How do you manage your team through crises? And how do you communicate clearly and effectively about crises, both internally with your staff and externally with your community and the media? This week will focus on creating safer libraries by ensuring your emergency policies and procedures are up to date and work for you. We will discuss strategies for iterating on and implementing your crisis plans; how to mandate and respond to incident reports; and how to debrief with your team after an event in a trauma-informed way. We will also discuss how to achieve effective internal and external crisis communication.


Speaker:
Michelle Hamiel
Michelle Hamiel, Director of Racial Equity and Community Impact at Urban Libraries Council (ULC)


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 7: Embracing Data for Effective Library Management
Wednesday, November 12, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 7 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
Embracing Data for Effective Library Management
How should library managers utilize data to make informed decisions that enhance services and community impact? What tools and techniques can be used for data analysis to streamline operations and optimize services? This session will focus on data fluency for library leaders, exploring how to align your branch or department with community goals. You will learn practical strategies to identify gaps in your data, enhance collection methods, and empower both you and your team to become more data literate, ultimately leading to more informed decision making that benefits your team and community.


Speaker:
Lisa Fraser
Lisa Fraser (she,her) Organizational Strategy Manager, King County Library System


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.



Week 8: Promoting Career Development in Your Staff and Yourself
Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Workshop Explanation | 2:00-2:15 pm ET
An introduction to this week’s assignment and an overview of what to expect from the online workshop in this course.

Session 8 | 2:15-3:15 pm ET
Promoting Career Development in Your Staff and Yourself
Studies show that career development is one of the key indicators for staff retention. So how do you promote career development in your staff? And how do you advocate for your own goals and trajectory? This week, we will discuss how to mentor and coach your teams to help them build the skills and self-sufficiency they need to move forward in their careers. We will also discuss how to find mentors of your own, as well as career path opportunities for managers and strategies for stretching into a new role whenever you’re ready.


Speaker:
Sonia Alcantara-Antoine
Sonia Alcantara-Antoine, CEO, Baltimore County Public Library


Facilitated Q&A and Discussion | 3:15-3:30 pm ET
This dedicated Q&A session and facilitated discussion will give you the opportunity to ask questions you didn’t get to ask in the session. If there are topics discussed earlier that you still don’t fully understand, this is a chance for speakers to unpack or clarify anything.


Break | 3:30-3:35 pm ET

Optional Interactive Working Session | 3:35-4:00 pm ET
This live, interactive working session will give you an immediate opportunity to process and apply the skills you’ve learned this week. You will be divided into smaller working groups and presented with a prompt, role play, or activity related to this week’s sessions.

Please note: This session is completely optional, and it’s meant to be interactive, so if you can’t or don’t want to be in breakout rooms, you’re welcome to log off. If you stay, we ask that you please join on camera and audio to discuss ideas, ask questions, and hear from other participants in class.

Who should take this course

This course is geared toward new and aspiring managers, or managers who feel they did not receive adequate training.


This will be an 8-week intensive online course and will include:

  • Live sessions: Guest speaker presentations by leaders in their field. (All sessions are recorded for on demand access for six months after the course ends.)
  • Facilitated discussions: Audience participation in Q&A and discussion with guest speakers.

  • Interactive working sessions: Optional breakout groups during live sessions to practice skills with peers.
  • Asynchronous workshop: Project-based weekly assignments to connect what you’re learning to your professional life. Includes written feedback from an expert in the field who functions as the workshop facilitator, as well as peer conversation via discussion forums. Workshop available for all multi-week courses plus half-day courses where indicated.

  • Early access on-demand resources: Access to a series of past live session archives from Library Journal and School Library Journal courses to explore at your own pace.

  • Online Classroom: The virtual learning platform that holds all course content and is accessible for six months after the course ends.

*Note: You do not have to complete the asynchronous work during these eight weeks; it will be open to you for six months. However, the feedback from facilitators will only be available from October 1-November 26. 

Expected time commitment

If you attend or watch the recordings of all sessions and participate fully in the asynchronous workshop, you'll spend approximately 6-8 hours per week on this course. You'll earn 32 hours of PD credit and a Library Journal certificate of completion.

On-demand access

All live guest speaker sessions are recorded and available on-demand for six months following the initial broadcast as a part of your purchase.

Certificate of completion

Complete the course and earn 10 professional development credit hours. We provide a certificate that is emailed to you.

Accessibility

All guest speaker sessions feature auto captioning and are made available on demand after the initial broadcast. 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.

From Fall 2024 Participants:


"I learned many things from the webinar that was not taught in library school. I like the fact that many of the speaker provide their live experiences as examples for the topics."


"This course extensively covered eight important aspects of Library Management, providing me with clarity in the process of potentially transitioning from my current job to a management position."

--Isabelle F., Youth Services Coordinator

"I think that this program is not only engaging; but also needed. It is providing information in a different (and I would even say better) than an MLIS. I feel this way because this course focused on only on providing services to patrons, but also on how to provide services to enhance and protect your staff and yourself as a manager. Self-care, recognizing bias, etc. It was great!"


"During the eight weeks of this course I found myself unexpectedly taking on a new leadership role at the library where I have worked for the past 20+ years. I had signed up for the course to learn more for the position I was already in, but soon found myself applying everything I learned each week to my new role. The practical advice I gained from the work we did helped me to step into my new role with confidence and the connections I made with others taking the course were wonderfully supportive."

--Amanda P., Branch Manager


"I really enjoyed the different topics that were talked about in this course! You get to learn a lot from some of the webinars, and from others it's like a refresher that was needed. I liked hearing the Q&A at the end too because people will ask stuff that I didn't think about but the answer would benefit me too."


"Taking the Library Management Training Course was a truly transformative experience! The content was comprehensive, covering everything from personal management style and goals to dealing with crises and staff burnout. The instructors were knowledgeable and provided practical insights that I could apply immediately in my role and the format of the modules and the guest speakers made the learning engaging and relevant. The format of the assignments allowed me to create a sort of portfolio of my goals both for myself as a manager and for my library moving forward that I will be able to revisit in the future to not only see how far my team has come, but also to reassess and reevaluate myself as necessary. I feel more confident managing my team, improving user services, and navigating the ever evolving landscape of library services. Highly recommended for anyone looking to advance their career in library management!"

--Liz G., Assistant Manager and Program Director


"I loved the whole course and the way it was presented. I enjoyed the breakout rooms and being able to share and discuss in the smaller groups."


"Excellent content! It laid great foundations and then built upon them week after week. The guest speakers were well versed in their material and seemed genuinely excited to teach us."


"This is an amazing program especially if you are new to any leadership role. It will boost your confidence and it addresses very important areas of leadership. You will definitely have enough to put in your leadership tool box."

--Abby A., Assistant Manager


"This class was very helpful in highlighting the areas of library management that are not taught regularly through regular management training. It was great at shedding light on some of the more nuanced parts of library management that are easy to forget while you are trying to do all other tasks. They talk about best practices to check in with others, looking out for burnout, how to be equity centered, and many other important parts of management."

--Karon W., Head Librarian


"This course is a low-stress way to take some initiative in considering and implementing practical ways to improve your work environment."

--Shari M., Library Assistant II


"I really enjoyed this training. It helped me realize where I need to focus as a director to be successful."

--Kristin H., Library Director

Discounted rates are available for a limited time only. Secure your tickets now to lock in the best price.



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August 13, 2025

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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.

 

click here to enroll*


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