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.

These short, on-demand trainings provide insight into more ways to connect with local needs and uplift your community.

• Niche Academy Webinar: Building Community Through Book Clubs (1 hour) 
• Community Mapping for Public Libraries (1 hour) 
• Niche Academy Webinar: Community Homelessness and What Libraries Can Do (1 hour)

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

Use our dashboards to track certification and contact hours:

• Public Library Certification Dashboard (initial certification)

• Library Continuing Education Dashboard (renewal and CEUs)

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

We’re here to support your professional development.
Contact us at: ODL.education@libraries.ok.gov.