Polished and Prepared: Core Professional Skills for Library Staff

*Due to limited funding all library workers are limited to 2 course enrollments through CALL annually.

Important Notes:

• Four-part Online Course Series
• Live sessions on: March 12, April 8, May 19, and June 11 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Time Commitment: 8 hours

This four-part crash course series is designed to help library staff at all levels build confidence, clarity, and professionalism in their day-to-day work. From communication and workplace conduct to decision-making and neurodivergent success strategies, each session offers immediately usable tools grounded in real library scenarios. 

Course Outline:

• Polished & Prepared Part 1: Communicating Like a Pro
  Date: March 12
  Communicate clearly, confidently, and professionally in every library interaction.

  Strong communication is at the heart of excellent library service and professional success. This 2-hour, online crash course will help you strengthen your professional communication skills across a variety of workplace situations, including interactions with patrons, colleagues, and supervisors. You will learn strategies for active listening, clear written and verbal communication, receiving feedback, and choosing the right tone and medium for your message.

  You will leave this 2-hour crash course with practical tools to communicate more effectively, reduce misunderstandings, and build stronger working relationships throughout your library.

• Polished & Prepared Part 2: Behaving Like a Pro
  Date: April 8

  Navigate workplace expectations with confidence, professionalism, and care.

  Professional conduct often feels like an unspoken rulebook, especially in public-facing library environments. This crash course demystifies workplace expectations by examining professional behavior through a library-specific lens. You will explore real-world scenarios related to boundaries, accountability, collaboration, and workplace etiquette, with attention to equity and organizational culture.

  You will leave this 2-hour crash course with greater clarity around professional norms and the confidence to navigate workplace challenges while maintaining respect for yourself, your colleagues, and your community.

• Polished & Prepared Part 3: Thinking Like a Pro
  Date: May 19

  Strengthen your professional judgment and decision-making skills on the job.

  Libraries require staff to make thoughtful decisions every day, often with limited information and competing priorities. This crash course focuses on developing professional thinking skills such as problem-solving, prioritization, adaptability, and critical reflection. You will explore how to approach challenges proactively and align daily decisions with your library’s mission and values.

  You will leave this 2-hour crash course with strategies to think more strategically, respond confidently to change, and approach your work with greater intention and impact.

• Polished & Prepared Companion Course: Workplace Success and ADHD
  Date: June 11

  Learn sustainable practices to help employees with ADHD achieve their goals and maximize their potential.

  Employees with ADHD have many unique strengths to leverage in the library. This 2-hour, online crash course is a companion to the Core Professional Skills series and centers neurodivergent experiences in the workplace, with a focus on ADHD and library work. Participants will learn the unique skills that neurodivergent employees bring and how to harness the power of divergent thinking. We will explore practical strategies for organization, time management, communication, and self-advocacy that can support success in fast-paced library environments while honoring your boundaries and capacity. The course also offers insights for neutrotypical supervisors and colleagues seeking to understand and support their neurodivergent colleagues.

  You will leave this 2-hour crash course with concrete tools to reduce overwhelm, increase productivity, and create systems that support long-term workplace success.

Accessibility:

All video recordings feature auto captioning. Please email course-support@libraryjournal.com upon registration if you require accommodations. We will make our best effort to support your needs.

CALL Training Partner for this Event: Library Journal

Track: Professional Growth

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