School Libraries 101

Foundations You Might Not Know (but should!) About Libraries

Course Details

Choose a session. Registration deadlines April 16 and August 6

2 On-Demand Course Modules

8 Credit Hours

Recommended for K-12 non-certified school library personnel, including paraprofessionals, staff, and teachers.

$249 (April) | $282 (August) | Save with early bird and group rates.

ABOUT THIS COURSE

A practical introduction to school librarianship for paraprofessionals and staff entering the field.

Self-Paced Materials:
Available on registration deadline. You will have access for 6 months.

School Libraries 101 introduces you to the core purpose, values, and everyday responsibilities that shape the modern school library. As an integral part of any school community, libraries support both students and teachers—and this course helps you see exactly how your role contributes to that mission. You’ll explore the diverse roles and responsibilities of library personnel and dive into the foundational values and ethics that guide school library professionals. By the end of this course, you’ll have a solid understanding of the professional standards and guiding principles that underpin effective, high-quality library services.

This is part 1 of a 3-course certification series, School Library Ready: 3-Course Certification for Library Workers

Disclaimer: This course does not provide the training or qualifications for staff to manage a school library independently. It is designed to help paraprofessional staff better support certified school librarians in their instructional and leadership roles.

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TRAINING A TEAM?

Group pricing starts at just 3 learners.

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What You'll Learn Course Modules Course Details Course Advisor & Instructors

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.

COURSE MODULES

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.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is designed for K–12 non-certified school library personnel, including paraprofessionals, staff, and teachers.

COURSE FORMAT

This course is part one in a series of three self-paced, asynchronous online courses.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

This course contains 2 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.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

You will have access to the full course for six months from the course start date.

SCHOOL LIBRARY CORE CERTIFICATION

For each individual course you complete in the series, you will earn 8 professional development credit hours. A certificate will be emailed to you upon completion of each course.

Upon completion of all courses in the series, you will earn your School Library Core certification from School Library Journal.

ACCESSIBILITY

All video recordings feature auto captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require any special accommodations. We will make our best efforts to support your needs.

SUPPORT

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

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.