Due to Allen Wright Building renovations, our services are temporarily relocated to the Will Rogers Building in the Capitol complex, 2401 N. Lincoln Blvd, Room C12. Access to collections will have to be requested in advance. If you are a land surveyor seeking access to corner records or filing a new corner record, please call (405) 522-3580 for assistance.
A free training program that supports Oklahoma library staff in providing high quality library service to their communities. Completion of all 9 classes is required for initial library certification for individuals without library degrees. The classes are open to anyone who currently works or is interested in working in public libraries. Courses include:
The Oklahoma Public Library Certification Manual explains how the certification process works and details the levels of certification.
On demand, self-paced certification courses are available through ODL’s Niche Academy platform under “Initial Certification Courses.” These courses fulfill the requirements for initial certification. Only the Current Trends in Public Libraries course may be used for contact hours towards renewals.
Library staff can access a wide variety of free, self-paced continuing education classes through ODL’s Niche Academy and other trusted platforms. These classes cover topics such as customer service, technology, programming, readers' advisory, and more. Completion of these courses may count toward the contact hours required for certification renewal.
Use the Public Library Certification Dashboard to track your progress through the nine required courses for initial certification.
Actively certified library staff can use the Certification Status & Contact Hours Dashboard to view their certification level, badge, and most recent renewal date. It can also be used to keep track of contact hours towards renewal.
Use the online Request or Submit Contact Hours Form to submit your contact hours and track your credits on the Certification Dashboard.
If your training provided a certificate showing contact hours or CEUs, upload that certificate when you submit. If you did not receive a certificate, select the Request option and upload your proof of attendance instead.
If you have any questions, please email ODL.education@libraries.ok.gov.
To renew your certification, you must complete 36 contact hours. Eligible hours may include conferences, workshops, city-provided training, webinars, staff training sessions, or other professional development relevant to your library role.
Questions? Please email ODL.education@libraries.ok.gov.
April 30th & May 1st | Mabel C. Fry Public Library, 1200 Lakeshore Dr, Yukon
This 2-day workshop is open to any Oklahoma library staff who are pursuing their initial certification. It includes four classes: How to Think Like a Librarian, Interpersonal Skills, Public Library Administration, and Reference & Readers' Advisory. Individuals can select only the classes they’d like to attend and are not required to stay for the entire workshop.
The library will host an optional free networking dinner on the first evening of the workshop. Detailed workshop information and links to the course hub will be emailed after registration.
Friday, April 17th | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM, Teams Webinar
Marketing That Matters: Smart Strategies for Today’s Libraries
Many libraries—especially small and rural ones—are challenged to do more with less. With limited staff, time, and budgets, effective marketing can feel out of reach. But with the right mindset and simple tools, every library can communicate more strategically and reach more people.
Build a strong foundation for excellent library service with Public Library Certification Classes through ODL. These classes provide essential training that equips you with the knowledge and skills to provide library services and programming to your communities, select materials for your collection, run a successful library, and more.
This program is made possible by funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act.
In-person certification classes are offered in the spring and fall at various locations across the state. Registration for fall classes is typically announced in August, and spring classes are announced in February. Class schedules are posted on our website and shared in the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Newsletter.
.png)