Looking to develop your skills or knowledge?


Check out our list of toolkits and e-learning resources for people who work in or with libraries.


  1. Training & Events
  2. Links

Advocacy and fundraising

Libraries: Applying for Funding

DCMS

Information for libraries on applying for grants from a range of organisations and funding bodies.

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Make the Case for Art and Culture

ACE

This is the Arts Council England’s position on why arts and culture matter, outlining the evidence they have to back it up.

Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture

University of Leeds

Develop your leadership and entrepreneurial skills to help improve your chances of raising funds for arts and culture.

School Library Advocacy Kit

IFLA

How to advocate for strong school libraries using the IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto. Includes guidelines and other resources.

Frontline Advocacy Toolkit

American Library Association

Practical tools to help frontline library staff identify opportunities to advocate for the value of libraries and librarians.

Marketing Your Library

EMERALD

Twelve articles with useful tips on marketing library services to increase their use.

Fundraising for Archives

The National Archives

Various guidnace and training materials from the Fundraising for Archives project which ran between 2015 and March 2018, providing training and support to those looking to grow the funding for their archive service.

Championing archives and libraries within local planning

Arts Council England in partnership with The National Archives

Guide to help organisations working within or alongside libraries and archive services advocate for their work within the context of local authority planning.

Write a Winning Funding Bid

NCVO Knowhow

Step-by-step expert guidance to help create a successful funding bid in this difficult financial climate.

Why Art and Culture Matters

Arts Council England

Use this elevator pitch and statistics to tell the story that says art and culture matters.

Advocacy Toolkit

SLIC

Learn how to share the great things taking place in libraries and the impact of services to help influencers and decision makers make informed choices.

The Impact Toolkit

CILIP

Practical resources, information and support to help demonstrate the value of library professionals and services. CILIP members only, charges apply.

Corporate Narrative Toolkit

LGA

Ideas and practical tips that can help develop, launch and deliver a corporate narrative for organisations.

eLearning Resources

CILIP

A number of short courses across a wide range of subjects including social media awareness, safeguarding and setting objectives. For CILIP members only.

Libraries, Development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda

IFLA

How to advocate to policy makers and ensure libraries are included in development plans, contributing to the global 2030 Agenda.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Digital Communications

LGA

Everything you need to know about making the most of your digital channels.

#FutureComms: Building Local Public Services for the Future Through Modern Communications

LGA

Fresh thinking from some of the leading figures in the communications industry, and case studies highlighting the very best practice across local government.

Marvellous Marketing for Story Selling

The Spark Arts for Children

Creative ideas to generate interest in your library’s events.

Staff Toolkit

Welsh Libraries

Advice, guidance, ideas and artwork to help market local library services and join national campaigns.

Children and young people

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Open 2 Study Courses

Open Universities Australia

49 courses run over four weeks, including: Big Data for Better Performance, Early Childhood Education and Negotiation and Conflict Resolution.

Bump Booster

ASCEL

To help library staff to understand the science behind parents-to-be talking and reading to their ‘bump’ and to be confident in talking to these parents.

Rhyme Time and Seven Quality Principles Toolkit

ASCEL

Guidance on how to use the Arts Council's Seven Quality Principles to assess the impact of rhyme times on families.

Developing family audiences screencast

Family Arts Campaign & AMA in partnership with The Audience Agency

Nine films covering the family audience development process, developing insight, strategies and campaigns, and using digital channels to target, engage and enhance the family audience experience.

Family Learning in Prisons: A Resource for Prisons and Learning Providers

Learning and Work Institute

Resource to help prisons and learning providers maintain relationships between prisoners and their family. The resource discusses research, benefits, different approaches and provides a tool to measure impact.

Children's Promise Self-Assessment Toolkit

ASCEL

This tool will enable library services to measure their children’s provision against the statements in ASCEL’s Children’s Promise.

The Experiential Library: The Future of Family Learning

CoVi, ASCEL & Libraries Connected

Explores intergenerational activities that encourage participation in community life and explores how families use libraries to learn and develop.

Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library

Open University

Offers ideas and activities to engage pupils in discussing books.

Ministry of Sharing: Are you a safe sharer?

Open University

A test to help you find out whether you share too much personal information online.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Children’s Library Workforce

Libraries Connected & ASCEL

Encourages staff to be innovative and ambitious and helps you develop the skills you need to make a difference to the lives of children. For public library staff in England only.

Growing Well Health and Wellbeing Toolkit

ASCEL

Resources for library staff and others working with families to combat childhood obesity that includes good practice examples and useful tips.

OpenLearn Wales

Open University Wales

Online bilingual courses including: The importance of interpersonal skills, Supporting children's development and Wales: Culture and identity.

Running Children's Reading Clubs

The Reading Agency

A guide to running a ‘Chatterbooks’ children's reading club in libraries or schools to encourage reading for pleasure.

Fake News and Critical Literacy Resources

The National Literacy Trust

A set of resources to help teachers, parents and school librarians to equip children with the skills they need to evaluate news and information.

Literacy Resources

The National Literacy Trust

A selection of free literacy resources to help libraries, schools and parents to support children’s development.

eLearning Resources

CILIP

A number of short courses across a wide range of subjects including social media awareness, safeguarding and setting objectives. For CILIP members only.

Early Years Storytelling Toolkit

The Spark Arts for Children

Ideas for creating a storytelling framework for early years’ children and families and a series of stories created by artist Manya Benenson.

Story Making Activities

The Spark Arts for Children

A series of toolkits showing creative ways to use your library, developed by artists as part of the Imaginative Spaces project.

The Foundation Phase in Practice

Welsh Government

This toolkit supports the delivery of the Foundation Phase curriculum in museums, archives and libraries.

Community development and engagement

#FutureComms: Building Local Public Services for the Future Through Modern Communications

LGA

Fresh thinking from some of the leading figures in the communications industry, and case studies highlighting the very best practice across local government.

Community Action

LGA

Case studies and information to support councils to better engage their communities in the design and delivery of services

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Organisational Tools for Friends Groups

American Library Association

A collection of guides and resources for people setting up a new friends’ group or revitalising an existing one.

New Conversations: LGA Guide to Engagement

LGA

This is a guide for councillors and officers working to build a stronger dialogue between the council and community.

Increasing Community Involvement in Neighbourhood Planning

Test Valley

Highlights good practice with templates to support the production of a community-led plan and resources for local authorities.

Brighter Futures Together Toolkit

The Sustainable Communities North East Initiative (SCNEI)

Advice about how to improve your local community, including guides on managing volunteers, setting up a community group and much more.

Rural Community Health Toolkit

Rural Health Information Hub (USA)

Information, resources and materials to help rural communities to develop a community health programme

Transforming Healthcare Together

Institute for Voluntary Action Research, Social Enterprise UK and NCVO

Resources and support that have been developed to facilitate collaborative working and build relationships that will transform our healthcare system.

Empowering Communities: Making the Most of Local Assets

LGA

Support for officers with a set of tools to unleash creativity, innovation and growth from community asset ownership and management.

The Experiential Library: The Future of Family Learning

CoVi, ASCEL & Libraries Connected

Explores intergenerational activities that encourage participation in community life and explores how families use libraries to learn and develop.

Library Figures Podcast

Piola

A show about the marketing campaigns that are changing how libraries engage with their communities and customers in the US.

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Building cohesive communities

LGA

A useful starting point for councils in promoting cohesion and working through their own local challenges.

A Guide to Collaboration for Archives and Higher Education, 2018 Edition

The National Archives

Guidance highlighting opportunities for collaboration between the archive and HE sectors, including information on practical issues associated with the formation, development and sustainability of collaborations

Developing family audiences screencast

Family Arts Campaign & AMA in partnership with The Audience Agency

Nine films covering the family audience development process, developing insight, strategies and campaigns, and using digital channels to target, engage and enhance the family audience experience.

Championing archives and libraries within local planning

Arts Council England in partnership with The National Archives

Guide to help organisations working within or alongside libraries and archive services advocate for their work within the context of local authority planning.

Digital

Libraries and Makerspaces

DCMS

Information about makerspaces in libraries.

Making in The Library Toolkit

American Library Association

Resources for professional development, outreach, collections and programs to integrate the Maker mindset into library programs and services.

Draft - Public Access in Libraries Toolkit

IFLA

A toolkit covering all policy questions about public access to the internet in libraries.

Libraries for Privacy Toolkit

Scottish PEN

Guidance to help libraries staff and users learn more about threats to digital security and privacy and how to protect themselves.

eLearning Resources

CILIP

A number of short courses across a wide range of subjects including social media awareness, safeguarding and setting objectives. For CILIP members only.

Essential It Skills level 1

Vision2Learn

An introduction to the basic computer skills used in the workplace. Course length is 10 weeks, 10 hrs per week.

Ministry of Sharing: Are you a safe sharer?

Open University

A test to help you find out whether you share too much personal information online.

Introduction to Cyber Security Online

Open University

Learn how to recognise the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that they will happen to you.

How to Manage the Digital-Related Stress of Technology

Open University

Top tips to help you manage your wellbeing in the digital age.

BBC Webwise

BBC

A beginners' guide to using computers and the internet with courses, videos and articles.

Digital Garage

Google

One-stop shop for mastering digital marketing that include a short course on Increased Productivity at Work and Intro to Code.

Data Privacy Project

Brooklyn Public Library [et al.]

Learn more about the building blocks of privacy protection and digital security.

Library Makers

Artefacto, Cybercitizens & Makercart

Recipes, tutorials and resources for current and future library makers.

Makerspaces in The Library

Designing Libraries

A starter guide to library makerspaces.

Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit

GSMA

A toolkit for those who want to provide training to improve people’s basic knowledge and understanding of the mobile internet.

Information Literacy

CILIP

Website focusing on information and digital literacy with news, case studies, examples of best practice and toolkits.

Taking A Stand for Privacy

Newcastle Libraries

Materials needed to deliver a 'Taking a stand for privacy' workshop to library and information colleagues.

Digital Information Skills

Libraries Connected

A programme designed to develop skills to help library staff to find their way around national and local government information sites. For public library staff in England only.

Build a Makerspace for Young People

Raspberry Pi Foundation

Advice on how to create and run a makerspace for young people and insight into the pedagogy and approaches behind digital making.

Technology, innovation and management

Open University

Introduction to concepts and ideas around innovation with the view that gaining value is a vital in any innovation process.

Making Library Makers

Artefacto

A practical introduction for those interested in providing a makerspace, maker events or active learning spaces in a library.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Data Literacy Lessons

Library Carpentry

Teach people working in library and information roles about data literacy including how to cut through jargon, apply concepts and more.

Security Education Companion

Electronic Frontier Foundation

A resource to help people teaching digital security to their customers, friends and neighbours.

Me and My Shadow

Tactical Technology Collective

Session outlines for people looking to teach others about data and privacy.

Essential It Skills level 2

Vision2Learn

Build on existing IT knowledge and learn how to make the most of widespread IT software. Course length is 14 weeks, 10 hrs per week.

Choose Privacy Every Day

American Library Association

Resources for library staff on how libraries can protect the privacy of online users

Leading the Way – A Guide to Privacy for Public Library Staff

Carnegie UK Trust

To help library staff consider the data collated, held and shared about services users and how ‘privacy friendly’ their systems and resources are.

Libraries Lead with Digital

Ten libraries in UK and Ireland supported by PL2020 and Google

Guides to run activities in libraries around digital skills, online safety and computer science developed by libraries in UK and Ireland.

Microbits Ideas

BBC

Resources, guides and advice on using BBC Microbits.

Coding Courses

Solo Learn inc.

Coding courses covering a variety of different coding languages.

Codecademy

Codecademy

Courses for people who are trying to level up their career, build a side project or simply play around with programming.

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Digital Makerspace Toolkit

MakeApp Club

Toolkit aimed at helping enthusiasts, teachers, youth workers and volunteers to run small clubs, makerspaces and workshops. 

Making Digital Work

ACE

A toolkit for arts and culture organisations who wish to develop digital products and services.

Digital Communications

LGA

Everything you need to know about making the most of your digital channels.

Alison Courses

Alison

A range of courses available covering Technology, Language, Science, Health, Humanities, Business, Maths, Marketing, Lifestyle.

In the Library Series

Routledge - Taylor & Francis Group

Resources created for librarians to help them discover and engage with key areas of interest, including: social media, metadata practices, user experience, digital ethnography, and digital resources  

23 Things

The University of Edinburgh

Introduces digital tools for your personal and professional development as a researcher, academic or student. Course length is 12 weeks.

Responsible for Information

Civil Service Learning

Information on government security classifications, how to keep information safe, recognising online threats, fraud and the role of the information asset owner. For Civil Servants only - registration required.

Learn My Way

Good Things Foundation

Free courses on using a computer, browsing the web, sending an email and finding work online.

Event management and evaluation

Developing family audiences screencast

Family Arts Campaign & AMA in partnership with The Audience Agency

Nine films covering the family audience development process, developing insight, strategies and campaigns, and using digital channels to target, engage and enhance the family audience experience.

eLearning Resources

CILIP

A number of short courses across a wide range of subjects including social media awareness, safeguarding and setting objectives. For CILIP members only.

The Economic Value Toolkit

SLIC and Alliance of Museums and Archives UK

Aimed at public libraries, this guidance on measuring economic value includes survey templates and two economic value calculators.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Reading Outcomes Framework Toolkit

The Reading Agency

A framework to measure the outcomes of reading for pleasure, including survey questions and evidence of how reading relates to various outcomes.

Story Making Activities

The Spark Arts for Children

A series of toolkits showing creative ways to use your library, developed by artists as part of the Imaginative Spaces project.

Value and Impact Toolkit

Health Education England

Guide to demonstrating value or impact, including measuring materials, a generic questionnaire and case study templates.

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Marvellous Marketing for Story Selling

The Spark Arts for Children

Creative ideas to generate interest in your library’s events.

Organising Events

Cornwall Council

Documents and guidance to help you host small and large scale events in Cornwall that contain useful resources for other local areas.

A Best Practice Guide to Event Planning

Hull Event Safety Advisory Group (ESAG)

Guide to planning events in Hull that combines general advice and good practice guidance with a handy checklist that are useful for other local areas.

How to Evaluate Arts and Health Projects

Creative & Credible

Support to engage with evaluation creatively, improve practice, make well-informed spending decisions and strengthen the evidence base around the benefits and impacts of arts and health projects

Staff Toolkit

Welsh Libraries

Advice, guidance, ideas and artwork to help market local library services and join national campaigns.

The Experiential Library: The Future of Family Learning

CoVi, ASCEL & Libraries Connected

Explores intergenerational activities that encourage participation in community life and explores how families use libraries to learn and develop.

ACRL Framework for Information Literacy Toolkit

American Library Association

Resources that can be used for individual professional development, to develop opportunities in libraries or planning events and conferences.

Understanding and Assessing Impact

NCVO Knowhow

Learn to measure impact by collecting evidence, identifying outcomes and outputs, and setting performance indicators.

Family Learning in Prisons: A Resource for Prisons and Learning Providers

Learning and Work Institute

Resource to help prisons and learning providers maintain relationships between prisoners and their family. The resource discusses research, benefits, different approaches and provides a tool to measure impact.

Museum Wellbeing Measures Toolkit

UCL

To help people involved in running in-house or outreach museum projects, evaluate the impact of this work on the psychological wellbeing of their audiences.

Digital Makerspace Toolkit

MakeApp Club

Toolkit aimed at helping enthusiasts, teachers, youth workers and volunteers to run small clubs, makerspaces and workshops. 

Library and customer service skills

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Information Literacy

CILIP

Website focusing on information and digital literacy with news, case studies, examples of best practice and toolkits.

OpenLearn Wales

Open University Wales

Online bilingual courses including: The importance of interpersonal skills, Supporting children's development and Wales: Culture and identity.

Information Literacy Resources for Librarians and Their Library Users

Library Connect

Links to information literacy resources that support training on topics ranging from literature searching to the publishing process.

Reference Interviews

American Library Association

Guidelines on how to help library users find the information they are searching for.

Customer Service level 2

Vision2Learn

This intensive course helps staff to develop their customer service skills. Course length is 9-11 weeks, 10 hrs per week.

eLearning Resources

CILIP

A number of short courses across a wide range of subjects including social media awareness, safeguarding and setting objectives. For CILIP members only.

ACRL Framework for Information Literacy Toolkit

American Library Association

Resources that can be used for individual professional development, to develop opportunities in libraries or planning events and conferences.

Engaging with readers

Opening The Book

Develop the personal skills and confidence to start great conversations about books across fiction, non-fiction, different ages and tastes. Charges apply.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Professional Registration

CILIP

Apply for an accredited qualification from CILIP with three levels covering all career stages. For CILIP members only, charges apply.

Managing First Impressions

Opening The Book

Helps staff to develop skills in analysing the library’s most important spaces with practical steps to improve the customer experience. Charges apply.

Playing your part in the library welcome

Opening The Book

Develop practical library specific customer care skills and the confidence to take responsibility for customer engagement. Charges apply.

Collection Care

British Library & RLUK

Provides an overview of how to care for the books and documents in library collections and why this is important. 

Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library

Open University

Offers ideas and activities to engage pupils in discussing books.

Alison Courses

Alison

A range of courses available covering Technology, Language, Science, Health, Humanities, Business, Maths, Marketing, Lifestyle.

Making the Most of Your Library

Libraries Connected

Professional guidance for volunteers working in community managed libraries on how to make the most of their library.

Talking with Readers

Libraries Connected

Build skills and confidence to talk to the public about reading and books. Includes ideas to develop conversational skills and enrich the library offer. For public library staff in England only.

Management skills

Managing and Managing People

Open University

Learn how to identify management roles and those factors which influence you so you can improve your effectiveness as a manager.

Managing a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace for Public Libraries

EdX/University of Michigan

Learn the management skills to support workplace diversity and inclusion in a public library setting.

Culture Change Toolkit

ACE

A toolkit with guidance on best practice in recruitment and how to develop a diverse workforce and leadership.

eLearning Resources

CILIP

A number of short courses across a wide range of subjects including social media awareness, safeguarding and setting objectives. For CILIP members only.

Challenges in Advanced Management Accounting

Open University

Develop an understanding of some strategic approaches that contribute to the successful navigation of mid- to long-term challenges to create sustainable organisations - requires prior understanding of basic management accounting.

Financial Accounting and Reporting

Open University

Introduction to financial accounting, the basic terminology, purpose and different types of accounting.

Transformation

LGA

A range of resources to assist councils who are planning, undertaking or evaluating transformative approaches in their services or across the whole council.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Leveraging The Library

Routledge - Taylor & Francis Group

A series of free books created for academic librarians covering - Budget, Data Discovery and Partnership Opportunities. 

Mental Health for Employers Toolkit

Business in the Community

Toolkit to help employers take positive actions to build a culture that champions good mental health and provides a greater understanding of how to help those who need more support.

Introducing Corporate Finance

Open University

Study the theories and concepts of corporate finance that are relevant to today’s business managers, whether in the for-profit sector, public sector or not-for-profit sector.

Equality Frameworks

LGA

Information and case studies for equality frameworks in Local Government

Community Managed Libraries: Good Practice Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

Good practice guide for people who are running, or considering establishing, a community library.

Leadership Development for Public Service Mutuals

University of Exeter

A practical guide to developing a culture of mutual leadership in public service mutuals.

How to Frame a Business Case

Open University

Learn strategies to help to frame a business case and how to use key concepts to analyse a business situation.

Assets and Services Toolkit

Welsh Government

Information, support and resources to help those taking on community services and assets that covers feasibility through to maintaining assets.

Alison Courses

Alison

A range of courses available covering Technology, Language, Science, Health, Humanities, Business, Maths, Marketing, Lifestyle.

Strategy Made Easy

NCVO Knowhow

Learn how to turn plans into actions that will maximise your impact.

Risk Assessment Toolkit

NCVO Knowhow

This toolkit will help identify potential risks for organisations, highlighting areas of possible weaknesses and providing practical advice.

Love Libraries Love Volunteering: Managing Volunteers Toolkit

Team London

Information for library staff on how to recruit, involve and retain volunteers that includes advice, helpful tips, good practice and templates.

Managing Your Library

EMERALD

Online resource that highlights current management thinking and research, in a format that is easily adapted to meet a busy librarian’s needs.

How to Manage Your Charity's Volunteers

The Charity Commission

Guide for charities on recruiting and managing volunteers that includes the vetting process, expenses, role descriptions and insurance.

Disaster Preparation and Planning

American Library Association

Guides and templates to help with disaster preparations and planning.

Open 2 Study Courses

Open Universities Australia

49 courses run over four weeks, including: Big Data for Better Performance, Early Childhood Education and Negotiation and Conflict Resolution.

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Lean Organisation Management Techniques level 2

Open University

Learn to be a more effective team player and discover how to implement business improvements. Course length is 9 weeks, 10hrs per week.

Introducing a Framework for Strategy

Open University

Gain an understanding of frameworks and strategy and develop the ability to use them imaginatively to help your organisation.

Understanding and Assessing Impact

NCVO Knowhow

Learn to measure impact by collecting evidence, identifying outcomes and outputs, and setting performance indicators.

Write a Winning Funding Bid

NCVO Knowhow

Step-by-step expert guidance to help create a successful funding bid in this difficult financial climate.

Effective Fundraising and Leadership in Arts and Culture

University of Leeds

Develop your leadership and entrepreneurial skills to help improve your chances of raising funds for arts and culture.

Responsible for Information

Civil Service Learning

Information on government security classifications, how to keep information safe, recognising online threats, fraud and the role of the information asset owner. For Civil Servants only - registration required.

What is strategy?

Open University

Learn about the application of major theoretical advances in professional life, definitions of strategy and Mintzberg's five Ps framework.

Planning a project

Open University

Gain an appreciation of the range of planning techniques available and when best to use them.

Reader development

Merchandising the bookshelves

Opening The Book

Learn about merchandising and how to adapt retail techniques to boost performance and help readers to make fresh discoveries. Charges apply.

Making the Most of Your Library

Libraries Connected

Professional guidance for volunteers working in community managed libraries on how to make the most of their library.

Running Children's Reading Clubs

The Reading Agency

A guide to running a ‘Chatterbooks’ children's reading club in libraries or schools to encourage reading for pleasure.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

The Reader-Centred Professional

Opening The Book

Five modules of wide-ranging, strategic work which introduce, develop and embed customer-centred practice in the library workplace. Charges apply.

Talking with Readers

Libraries Connected

Build skills and confidence to talk to the public about reading and books. Includes ideas to develop conversational skills and enrich the library offer. For public library staff in England only.

Playing your part in the library welcome

Opening The Book

Develop practical library specific customer care skills and the confidence to take responsibility for customer engagement. Charges apply.

Understanding book appeal

Opening The Book

Learn how to analyse the marketing messages of book covers to being able to offer readers exciting choices and relevant recommendations. Charges apply.

Engaging with readers

Opening The Book

Develop the personal skills and confidence to start great conversations about books across fiction, non-fiction, different ages and tastes. Charges apply.

Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library

Open University

Offers ideas and activities to engage pupils in discussing books.

Reading Outcomes Framework Toolkit

The Reading Agency

A framework to measure the outcomes of reading for pleasure, including survey questions and evidence of how reading relates to various outcomes.

Creating powerful promotions

Opening The Book

Develop the skills to target audiences and understand reader motivations to support successful promotions which engage more deeply. Charges apply.

Service improvement and delivery

Managing First Impressions

Opening The Book

Helps staff to develop skills in analysing the library’s most important spaces with practical steps to improve the customer experience. Charges apply.

Developing family audiences screencast

Family Arts Campaign & AMA in partnership with The Audience Agency

Nine films covering the family audience development process, developing insight, strategies and campaigns, and using digital channels to target, engage and enhance the family audience experience.

In the Library Series

Routledge - Taylor & Francis Group

Resources created for librarians to help them discover and engage with key areas of interest, including: social media, metadata practices, user experience, digital ethnography, and digital resources  

Championing archives and libraries within local planning

Arts Council England in partnership with The National Archives

Guide to help organisations working within or alongside libraries and archive services advocate for their work within the context of local authority planning.

The Economic Value Toolkit

SLIC and Alliance of Museums and Archives UK

Aimed at public libraries, this guidance on measuring economic value includes survey templates and two economic value calculators.

Six Steps Promise

Libraries Connected & Share the Vision

Suggests ways library staff can help people who live with sight loss to enjoy their reading and make the most of their library service. For public library staff in the UK only.

A Guide to Collaboration for Archives and Higher Education, 2018 Edition

The National Archives

Guidance highlighting opportunities for collaboration between the archive and HE sectors, including information on practical issues associated with the formation, development and sustainability of collaborations

Transforming Healthcare Together

Institute for Voluntary Action Research, Social Enterprise UK and NCVO

Resources and support that have been developed to facilitate collaborative working and build relationships that will transform our healthcare system.

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Leveraging The Library

Routledge - Taylor & Francis Group

A series of free books created for academic librarians covering - Budget, Data Discovery and Partnership Opportunities. 

Family Learning in Prisons: A Resource for Prisons and Learning Providers

Learning and Work Institute

Resource to help prisons and learning providers maintain relationships between prisoners and their family. The resource discusses research, benefits, different approaches and provides a tool to measure impact.

Building Access: A good practice guide for arts and culture organisations

Arts Council England

Best practice to support organisations in identifying and removing the barriers that may exist in their physical environment.

Digital Makerspace Toolkit

MakeApp Club

Toolkit aimed at helping enthusiasts, teachers, youth workers and volunteers to run small clubs, makerspaces and workshops. 

Equality Frameworks

LGA

Information and case studies for equality frameworks in Local Government

Making the Most of Your Library

Libraries Connected

Professional guidance for volunteers working in community managed libraries on how to make the most of their library.

Community Managed Libraries: Good Practice Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

Good practice guide for people who are running, or considering establishing, a community library.

Libraries: Alternative Delivery Models Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

Toolkit and case studies to support those looking at alternative delivery models for library services.

Managing a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace for Public Libraries

EdX/University of Michigan

Learn the management skills to support workplace diversity and inclusion in a public library setting.

Assets and Services Toolkit

Welsh Government

Information, support and resources to help those taking on community services and assets that covers feasibility through to maintaining assets.

Libraries Shaping the Future: Good Practice Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

Highlights how libraries contribute to priorities with information on alternative governance models and ideas for smarter ways of working.

Arts-Based Methods for Transformative Engagement

Wageningen University - SUSPLACE

Collection of examples, workshop outlines, tips for facilitation and relevant academic sources to support new ways of thinking and doing.

Assessing Environmental Impact: Guidance

DEFRA

Guidance for policy officials in government to identify and assess the wider environmental impacts of their policy options.

Resource Directory

Designing Libraries

Directory of links and information on libraries, library organisations, library buildings, library design, technology and innovation.

Staff Toolkit

Welsh Libraries

Advice, guidance, ideas and artwork to help market local library services and join national campaigns.

How Good Is Our Public Library Service?

SLIC

Guidance on how to implement a quality improvement plan.

Inspiring Learning for All

ACE & MLA

A performance improvement framework, examples of good practice and advice on how to assess and evidence the impact of activities.

Library Strategy Template

Libraries Connected

Template to help write a library strategy, pulling together common themes and elements we identified in our review of library strategies.

Tools and Insights for Governments

NESTA

Summary of Nesta's freely available insights for anyone trying to make government and public services more imaginative and effective.

DIY Toolkit

NESTA

How to invent, adopt or adapt ideas to deliver better results with 30 practical social innovation tools that are quick and simple to use.

Designing for Public Services: A Practical Guide

NESTA

Guide to using design tools in the public sector, includes practical tools and methods for using design in public services.

Design Thinking for Libraries Toolkit

The Public Libraries in Aarhus & Chicago (funded by Gates Foundation)

An introduction to Design Thinking. Discover what communities want and create services, programmes and processes to meet their changing needs.

Culture and Sport Improvement Toolkit

LGA

Advice to help improve performance based on self-assessment and external challenge through validation and peer supported improvement.

Strategic Planning of Library Services: longer-term, evidence-based sustainable planning toolkit

LGA on behalf of the Libraries Taskforce

Help developing a robust, objective and evidence-based analysis of local need and strategy to deliver a library service that will meet the needs of local communities.

Creativity and Innovation

Open University

An introduction to the factors important to creativity and innovation at work, with ideas about the cause of creativity and approaches to innovation.

OpenLearn

Open University

Over 1000 free courses from The Open University covering a topics including management, finance, technology, art and much more.

Arts and Cultural Commissioning Toolkit

Royal Opera House Bridge, Artswork & Kent County Council

This toolkit will help you understand and engage with commissioning. 

Transformation

LGA

A range of resources to assist councils who are planning, undertaking or evaluating transformative approaches in their services or across the whole council.

Value and Impact Toolkit

Health Education England

Guide to demonstrating value or impact, including measuring materials, a generic questionnaire and case study templates.

Setting Up Local Health Partnerships

The Reading Agency

A collection of document templates to help build local health partnerships.

Autism Friendly Library Resources

ASCEL

Resources to help make libraries more friendly places for people with autism.

Benchmarking Framework for Library Services

DCMS

Benchmarking framework designed by the sector to help improve library services.

Other

Data and Transparency

LGA

Find out about a range of programmes to promote the understanding of open data, develop a policy towards local transparency and identify and share good practice of open data use.

Equality Frameworks

LGA

Information and case studies for equality frameworks in Local Government

Crisis Communications- Cyber Attack

LGA

Guidance on what do you do when online systems are unavailable and how to respond to an emergency when digital channels are down.

Reading Well Books on Prescription

Libraries Connected & The Reading Agency

Supports public library champions of the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme to establish quality standards for local delivery. For public library staff in England only.

Internal Communications

LGA

Support for councils to impove internal communications including assistance with developing an internal communication strategy and advice on engaging hard-to-reach or senior stakeholders.

How to Work with Artists

The Artists Information Company

Explore the nuts and bolts of working with artists collaboratively and effectively. 

Future Learn Courses

Various

A wide range of online courses covering topics including finance, funding, marketing, data analysis and technologies.

Universal Credit Guides

Department for Work and Pensions

A collection of guides with detailed information about Universal Credit.

Alison Courses

Alison

A range of courses available covering Technology, Language, Science, Health, Humanities, Business, Maths, Marketing, Lifestyle.

Guides for Local and Family History Research

National Archives

Research guides covering topics such as family history, land and maps and how to read old documents for library users.

IP Equip

UK Intellectual Property Office

Free online intellectual property (IP) course.

If you have any suggestions for resources we could add or if you find something on the list that you think shouldn’t be, please let us know.





Libraries Connected,
3rd Floor, Islington Central Library,

 2 Fieldway Crescent, Highbury East,
London N5 1PF

info@librariesconnected.org.uk


Company Registration Number: 07559747
Registered Charity Number: 1176482

Subscribe to our newsletter!



Copyright Libraries Connected 2018