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Library Development

Public libraries are a cornerstone of a democratic society. It is the mission of ODL’s Library Development Office to assist public libraries across the state to expand and improve their services. The office also assists institutional libraries.

To fulfill this mission the office provides:

  • Consultation services
  • Continuing education opportunities
  • Computer and technology classes for libraries and patrons
  • Summer reading materials and programming guidance
  • Review of state aid compliance and administration of federal grant programs
  • E-Rate assistance (USAC and OUSF)
  • Website development
  • Information to the ODL Board, the library community and the State Legislature to establish local library funding options and public library standards

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has funded many of the services that are provided by the Office of Library Development. Summer Reading, Certification, Continuing Education, Computer Lab Classes, and Edge are all services that would not be available if not for the federal funds received through IMLS.

One of the division’s most visible services is the annual Summer Reading Program. Local librarians use materials and program ideas to encourage children and youth to continue reading, bridging the gap between school and summer break.

For more information go to Library Consulting Services.


Resources for Librarians

How-Tos and Solutions

The WordPress codex has what you need to know about WordPress from using themes and plugins to troubleshooting and FAQs.

Beaver Builder Knowledge Base is a good resource for Beaver Builder plugin/theme users.

Lynda.com has useful tutorials on WordPress Essentials.

The Help link within WordPress can help you find solutions. When you are logged in and have your dashboard pulled up, look for Help in the top right hand corner of your screen.

Graphic and Image Design 

CEUs may be available for some of the following opportunities if requested before the training. Go to the certification page for more information and to download the request form. 

Costs may be involved

American Library Association

  • ALA Online Learning 
  • ALA Online Learning Offerings 
  • ALA Publishing includes: Booklist Publications (including Booklist, Book Links, and Booklist Online); ALA Editions, including ALA TechSource; ALA Digital Reference, including Guide to Reference and RDA; ALA Graphics; and American Libraries magazine and associated electronic products.
  • American Association of School Librarians (AASL) - Learning Library
  • Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS): webinars, web courses, and e-Forums are affordable and timely. They cover all of technical services and more, including acquisitions, collection management, preservation, electronic resources, and cataloging.
  • Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC): free and open live webinars, archived webinars for members only.
  • Library & Information Technology Association (LITA): learning online (cost)
  • Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA): webinars and online courses include leadership; management; buildings and equipment; fundraising and financial development; human resources management; measurement, assessment and evaluation; public relations and marketing; and systems and services. (cost)
  • Office for Diversity, Literacy & Outreach Services (OFD): continuing education online learning opportunities designed to assist diversity advocates with personal leadership and organizational planning. The Diversity Leadership Online series provides the foundation for a culture of responsible diversity leadership within the profession.
  • Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF): webinars and online learning programs provide knowledge and practical advice for librarians and members of the general public who want to learn more about Speakers provide information and resources on a variety of intellectual freedom topics including; censorship, banned books, advocacy, privacy, internet filtering and access to resources.
  • Public Library Association (PLA): on-demand webinars (free and cost)
  • Turning the Page: curriculum - Supporting Libraries, Strengthening Communities! Whether you are planning an advocacy training for your public library or library system or you are a seasoned library advocate looking for ideas and inspiration, this site offers an advocacy training curriculum and resources that can help. The training curriculum is designed for the public library community – librarians, library directors, library staff, and partners – to help effectively advocate for funding, policies, and other support that will allow libraries to continue to meet the needs of their communities. The curriculum and the other resources on this site are free to use and to share.
  • PPO's Programming Librarian: webinars - online resource center, for programming ideas, professional development and grant opportunities. Classes are free, and archived sessions may be downloaded at any time.
  • Reference & User Services Association (RUSA): webinars (cost)- Basic topics may include the reference interview and readers' advisory to name a few. For advanced topics we dive into specialty areas such as business reference and genealogy among others.
  • United for Libraries' eLearning: webinars (free, cost) a series of online courses to help Trustees and Friends Groups become exceptionally proficient in their roles on behalf of their libraries.
  • Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA): webinars (free, cost) online courses three times a year, with coursework on literature and collection development, programming, technology, management, serving special populations and reaching teens and tweens ages 12 to 18 at the library.

Library Oriented

Webjunction: (subscribe to Webjunction Crossroads newsletter for upcoming training)
Techsoup for Libraries: webinars
Infopeople: (cost may be involved)
Sirsi Dynix Institute: webinars
OCLC: webinars
School Library Journal: webcasts

Educators

edWEB.net: edWebinars (includes technology and STEM webinars)

Universal Class

Universal Class: course catalog (cost involved)

State Libraries

Ohio Library Commission: conferences, workshops, webinars (cost/membership involved)
Kansas State Library: webinars
Nebraska State Library: NCompass Live

Grants for public libraries to help build their collections. 

Weed Your Collection -- Consider following the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries.

Baker & Taylor/YALSA Collection Development Grant
To award $1,000 for collection development to YALSA members who represent a public library and who work directly with young adults ages 12 to 18. Up to two grants will be awarded annually.

First Book
First Book is a national nonprofit that has provided more than 90 million new books to children in need. In neighborhoods across the country, First Book unites leaders from all sectors of the community to identify and support community-based literacy programs reaching children living at or below the poverty line. Check out the Book Bank and receive free or low cost books.

Kids Need to Read
The Kids Need to Read Organization provides books, periodicals, and literacy resources to schools, libraries, and other organizations that administer literacy programs to disadvantaged children and adolescents. 

Library of Congress Surplus Books Program
The Library of Congress has surplus books available to educational institutions and non-profit tax-exempt organizations. As most of the books have been turned over to the Library of Congress by other Federal agencies, the collection usually contains only a small percentage of publications at the primary and secondary school levels.

Lisa Libraries
The Lisa Libraries provides new children's books to help fill bookshelves for small, grass-roots organizations that work with low-income children in underserved communities and provide books to children who may never have had books to call their own.

Literacy Empowerment Foundation
The Literacy Empowerment Foundation (LEF) is dedicated to assisting educational programs by providing inexpensive children's books. The Reading Resource Project is an ongoing LEF program that distributes free books in sets of 100 books to literacy programs.

Bookpalooza by ALSC (Association of Library Services for Children a division of the American Libraries Association)
Bookapalooza Program will offer select libraries a collection of materials that will help transform their collection and provide the opportunity for these materials to be used in their community in creative and innovative ways.

Dollar General Literacy Grants
Five grants available. The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations, schools and libraries within a 15-mile radius of Dollar General stores in the states in which they operate.

Better World Books Literacy Grants
Better World Books Literacy Grants fund literacy and educational nonprofits and libraries for specific projects - the front lines of the fight to reduce global poverty through education.

Ezra Jack Keats Mini-Grants
Public education is one of the greatest legacies of our country, one that benefits children from every walk of life. For Keats, it was at public school that he received his greatest encouragement to pursue his vocation as an artist. And the public library was a haven that introduced him to the wonders of art history.

Youth Grants

Oriental Trading
The Oriental Trading Corporate Giving program strived to enhance the enrichment of the lives of children through education, youth programming, healthcare and human services. 

Follett Grants and Funding
Site includes a downloadable list of grants (PDF), and online list of corporation grant opportunities. 

Believe in Reading
Supports the efforts of nonprofit organizations that teach, improve, or encourage reading by people of all ages from around the world. 


To contact Library Development, email Library Development Staff or see the ODL Staff Listing.

Last Modified on Mar 14, 2024