School Libraries 101

LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

• Describe the roles and responsibilities of different school library personnel and explain how each role contributes to the library’s overall mission.
• Identify relevant professional standards and explain how these standards relate to the functions of the school library.
• Discuss key values of librarianship in the context of your library and school community.

This course consists of 2 on-demand modules:

Module 1: School Library Mission and Roles

School libraries are an integral part of the educational ecosystem. This module explores the core purpose of school libraries and how they support both students and teachers. You will examine the diverse roles and responsibilities of library employees and supervisors, gaining insight into the many hats worn by library personnel. By the end of this module, you’ll understand how your role contributes to the library’s overall mission.

Module 2: Values of School Librarianship

This module focuses on the foundational values and ethics that guide the work of school library professionals. You will explore key principles such as intellectual freedom, equitable access, and reading promotion, all of which are essential to high-quality library services. By the end of this module, you’ll have a solid understanding of the professional standards that underpin your daily work.

COURSE ADVISOR

Maura Madigan, NBCT
School Librarian

Maura Madigan, NBCT is the author of Learning Centers for School Libraries, Project-Based Learning for Elementary Grades, and The School Librarian’s Guide to (Almost) Everything (ALA Store). She has been a school librarian for ten years and has worked in education for twenty-eight years as a teacher, college instructor, and educational advisor in the United States, South Korea, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. Maura lives and works in Fairfax County, Virginia.

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock
Library and Resource Coordinator

Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock is a seasoned education professional with more than 20 years of experience, specializing in school librarianship and educational leadership across diverse age groups. She currently serves as Library and Resource Coordinator for Alexandria City Public Schools in Virginia, overseeing the strategic adoption of high-quality instructional materials across all content areas. A licensed school administrator and former principal, Kaycie has delivered advanced professional learning at national conferences including AASL and ALA. She holds dual master’s degrees in Educational Media & Librarianship and Curriculum & Instruction from Portland State University, along with an administrator’s license from the University of Portland.

Ashley J. Cooksey
Assistant Professor and Program Director, Instructional Technology – Library Media Specialist Program, Arkansas Tech University

Ashley J. Cooksey (she | her) is an Assistant Professor and advocate for school library media, student agency, technology-enhanced learning, and Universal Design for Learning. She is a Change Leadership for Equity and Inclusion Ph.D. candidate whose research focuses on school librarians as leaders in their learning communities. Ashley is also a 200-hour registered yoga teacher.

If you’re new to school libraries, it can feel like you’re expected to already understand how everything works. There’s a lot happening behind the scenes, from supporting instruction to managing collections to navigating expectations from teachers and administrators. Most of that context isn’t explained, it’s just assumed.

School Libraries 101 is designed to give you that missing foundation. You’ll start by looking at the role of the school library within the broader school environment and how it supports both student learning and teaching. From there, you’ll explore what library staff actually do day to day, including the responsibilities, priorities, and decision-making that shape the work.

The course also walks through the professional values and ethics that guide school librarianship, helping you understand not just what to do, but why it matters. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of how your role fits into the larger picture and what strong, effective library service looks like in practice.

SESSIONS AND PRICING

Early bird pricing ends one month before the session deadline. Course materials unlock on the session deadline date.

GROUP OPTIONS

Training a team? Choose the setup that matches how you want to plan and pay :

Group course enrollment: Enroll 3+ staff in this course and save.

Bulk course credits: Prepay once, get the highest per-seat discount on every course, and assign seats later.

Unlimited annual licensing: System-wide access for a year with no per-course approvals.

Request Discounted Group Pricing

Questions? Email groupsales@libraryjournal.com.

COURSE FORMAT

This is a fully self-paced, asynchronous online course consisting of multiple modules. Each module includes video instruction, slides, readings, and reflection activities designed to connect directly to your work in a school library.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

The course is designed to take approximately 8 hours to complete. You may move through the material at your own pace and on your own schedule.

COURSE ACCESS

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

CREDIT & CERTIFICATE

Complete both modules to earn 8 professional development credit hours and a School Library Journal certificate of completion.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto-captioning. If you require accommodations, please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration and we will make our best efforts to support your needs.

SUPPORT

For technical or course-related support, please contact course-support@libraryjournal.com.