Grow your skills. Advance your career. Better serve your community.
The Oklahoma Department of Libraries offers a range of professional development opportunities designed to support public library staff at every stage—from new hires to seasoned professionals. Whether you are pursuing certification, fulfilling your contact hours, or expanding your professional capabilities, we offer training and support that enrich your work and strengthen the services you provide.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
May Training Spotlight
Engaging New Voices in Advocacy: Youth, Trustees, and Everyday Patrons
May 20, 10-11 a.m. | Nebraska Library Commission
Register for this session that will showcase ways to build trust and visibility locally by engaging community members as partners in library advocacy.
Effective Health Communication and Health Literacy
May 27, 12-1 p.m. | NNLM
Explore the key components of sharing health information and leave this training with health literacy tools from a variety of trusted sources.
Measuring Trust: How to Collect Meaningful and Actionable Data
May 28, 2-3 p.m. | WebJunction
Register for this webinar to discover research-backed tips and resources that support staff as they promote trust in library communities.
Libraries and Friends of the Library: How to Stay Friends
May 28, 10-11 a.m. | Nebraska Library Commission
This session will explore strategies for building, and even repairing, relationships between libraries and the Friends groups that support them.
Supporting Community Mental Health in Libraries
June 4, 12-1 p.m. | NNLM
As libraries continue to serve as vital community health hubs, find out how mental health support is being reimagined in the Libraries for Health pilot.
Niche Academy Spotlight
These short, on-demand trainings provide insight into more ways to connect with local needs and uplift your community.
Public Library Certification
A free, semester-based training program that supports staff working toward initial library certification. Courses include:
How to Think Like a Librarian
Reference & Readers' Advisory
Computers & Electronic Resources
Interpersonal Skills
Library Legislation
Programming & Outreach
Collection Development
Library Administration
Track Your Progress
Use our dashboards to track certification and contact hours:
Online Learning Opportunities
Access on-demand training, certification programs, and webinars through platforms like:
Niche Academy (includes Online Certification classes and Ryan Dowd’s Homeless De-escalation Training)
WebJunction
Public Library Association
Booklist, Infopeople, EdWeb, and more
Have Questions?
We’re here to support your professional development.
Contact us at: ODL.education@libraries.ok.gov.
.png)