School Library Cataloging Basics

Findable, Usable, Student-Friendly

Course Details

Registration deadline August 24, 2027.

4 Self-Paced Course Modules

12 Credit Hours

Recommended for school library workers.

$299 | Save with group rates.

A book students can't find is a book they can't use. This course helps you turn cataloging into a practical tool for getting more of your collection into their hands.

Cataloging basics that make sense in a school library
Ways to organize special collections and materials that don't fit standard categories
A more student-friendly catalog that helps readers find what they need

CAN YOUR STUDENTS ACTUALLY FIND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR?

Your catalog makes sense to you, but students still struggle to find materials
You want to genrefy or reorganize, but aren't sure where to start
Some items don't fit neatly into standard categories

PART OF A PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION SERIES

School Library Cataloging Basics is one course in the School Library Essentials certification series. Take this course on its own, or complete all three courses for the full certification.

View full certification details

ENROLL FOR SUMMER 2027

Need an invoice or PO? 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?

Give staff a shared approach to organizing materials so students can find and use them.

Multi-seat discounts are automatically calculated in the cart.

Buying for a larger group? Explore all purchasing options

Return to Full Course Catalog

What You'll Learn What to Expect

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

Apply foundational cataloging methods tailored to the school library context.
Organize a collection to be genuinely student-friendly, including approaches like genrefication.
Handle special collections and materials that don't fit neatly into standard categories.
Build confidence in cataloging decisions, turning technical know-how into a collection students can actually use.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE

This course is designed for school library workers.

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 4 modules. Each module includes video instruction, slides, readings, and reflective exercises designed to connect concepts directly to your daily work.

EXPECTED TIME COMMITMENT

Each module is designed to take approximately 3 hours to complete, for a total of 12 professional development hours. You may move through the course at your own pace and on your own schedule.

ALL THE DETAILS

Good cataloging is what turns a collection into a resource students can actually use. In this course, you'll learn cataloging basics tailored to the school library context, including how to make your collection genuinely student-friendly, how to handle special collections and materials that don't fit standard categories, and how to apply practical cataloging methods that work in the real world of a busy school library. You'll leave with the skills and confidence to organize your collection in ways that get books into students' hands.

ON-DEMAND ACCESS

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

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION

Complete all modules to earn 12 professional development credit hours and a School Library Journal certificate of completion. Certificates are emailed upon 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.

Return to Catalog