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 & resources
  2. Links

Advocacy and fundraising

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.

The Library Story: A Strategic Storytelling Toolkit for Public Libraries

Get Storied & Pennsylvania Public Library

Designed to help library staff think about how to use the power of storytelling to more effectively communicate internally and externally. The Toolkit contains exercises and examples to build your storytelling skills.

Marketing Your Library

EMERALD

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

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy

Free and charged for courses on a range of topics connected to arts fundraising and philanthropy including Effective Fundraising Strategies for Arts and Cultural Organisations and Trustees Leading Fundraising. Registration required.

Write a Winning Funding Bid

NCVO Knowhow

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

OpenLearn

Open University

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

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.

Why Art and Culture Matters

Arts Council England

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

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.

#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.

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.

Staff Toolkit

Welsh Libraries

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

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.

Corporate Narrative Toolkit

LGA

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

The Impact Toolkit

CILIP

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

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.

Public Library Skill Strategy modules

CILIP

Bite-sized e-learning modules to support different aspects of the Public Library Skills Strategy including - leadership skills, ethics and hosting events.

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.

Digital Communications

LGA

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

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.

Libraries: Applying for Funding

DCMS

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

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.

Children and young people

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.

The Foundation Phase in Practice

Welsh Government

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

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.

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.

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.

Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection in Libraries

University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing

Guidebook and source of inspiration for librarians working with early to young adult readers.

Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library

Open University

Offers ideas and activities to engage pupils in discussing books.

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.

OpenLearn Wales

Open University Wales

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

Parents' Guide for Safe YouTube and Internet Streaming for Kids

Safety Detectives

This guide for parents outlines some of the common dangers children may face online and suggests ways to help them stay safe.

Literacy Resources

The National Literacy Trust

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

Covid-19 Toolkit to Stay Connected

The Reading Agency

Resources and ideas that will help people stay connected when buildings are closed and people are working remotely.

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.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

STEAM up your library: a guide to energizing your offer

Fulbright Global Scholar

Explore ideas and resources for building upon existing library priorities and services to engage your community in interdisciplinary STEAM learning.

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.

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.

Community development and engagement

Leadership and Governence

Arts Council England

Webpage dedicated to leadership and governance –  full of research, guidance, case studies and blogs.

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.

Intergenerational Communication Issues: Management Tips for a More Effective Workplace

Rider University Online

Guide to help overcome age-related discrimination through better communication. This resource shares management tips to help establish a more effective workplace when multiple generations are involved.  

The National Archives Advice and Guidance

The National Archives

Information, guidance and standards for operating an archive including managing collections, running organisations and community engagement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Library Story: A Strategic Storytelling Toolkit for Public Libraries

Get Storied & Pennsylvania Public Library

Designed to help library staff think about how to use the power of storytelling to more effectively communicate internally and externally. The Toolkit contains exercises and examples to build your storytelling skills.

Social Prescribing

Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance

This interactive document that changes over time contains background information, case studies and useful links on the topic of Social Prescribing.

Community Business Guides

Power to Change

A series of practical guidance for community businesses covering topics from engaging with local authorities to retail, cafes and room hire.

Building cohesive communities

LGA

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

Covid-19 Toolkit to Stay Connected

The Reading Agency

Resources and ideas that will help people stay connected when buildings are closed and people are working remotely.

Engage. Respond. Innovate: The Value of Hackathons in Public Libraries

Carnegie UK Trust

This introduction to the principles of a hackathon outlines the benefits, limitations and considerations and presents different ways in which public libraries can be involved.

#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.

Working together to co-create knowledge: A unique co-creation tool

Newcastle University in partnership with Success4All, Carnegie UK Trust, Children North East, Federation of Small Businesses & Newcastle City Council

Guidance and principles to support people from different sectors to work together to create the maximum impact from research.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

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

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.

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.

Community Action

LGA

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

Museums as Spaces for Wellbeing

National Alliance for Museums, Health and Wellbeing

This course is aimed at providing advice, tools and guidance on the steps to take in order to develop, deliver and evaluate health and wellbeing work within a museum, heritage or cultural organisation. Requires registration.

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.

Rural Community Health Toolkit

Rural Health Information Hub (USA)

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

Library Figures Podcast

Piola

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

Digital

Digital Makerspace Toolkit

MakeApp Club

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

Codecademy

Codecademy

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

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.

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.

Alison Courses

Alison

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

Learn My Way

Good Things Foundation

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

Microbits Ideas

BBC

Resources, guides and advice on using BBC Microbits.

The Digital Culture Compass

Arts Council England

An online tool comprising of the Charter, a guiding set of principles for organisations to consider, and the Tracker, a self-help tool that breaks down the work of organisations into focused areas for them to assess themselves against.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

How to Manage the Digital-Related Stress of Technology

Open University

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

Choose Privacy Every Day

American Library Association

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

Making Digital Work

ACE

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

Parents' Guide for Safe YouTube and Internet Streaming for Kids

Safety Detectives

This guide for parents outlines some of the common dangers children may face online and suggests ways to help them stay safe.

BBC Webwise

BBC

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

Taking A Stand for Privacy

Newcastle Libraries

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

Librarian.Support: Supporting Librarians Supporting Communities

PL2030 & The University of South Carolina

A compilation of free staff development resources for librarians.

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.

Draft - Public Access in Libraries Toolkit

IFLA

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

Digital Garage

Google

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

Me and My Shadow

Tactical Technology Collective

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

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.

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.

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.

Engage. Respond. Innovate: The Value of Hackathons in Public Libraries

Carnegie UK Trust

This introduction to the principles of a hackathon outlines the benefits, limitations and considerations and presents different ways in which public libraries can be involved.

Information Literacy

CILIP

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

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.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Security Education Companion

Electronic Frontier Foundation

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

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.

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.

Libraries and Makerspaces

DCMS

Information about makerspaces in libraries.

Improving the accessibility of your website

Supercool

This guide shows that you don’t need big budgets and huge resources to make significant improvements to the accessibility of your website.

Data Privacy Project

Brooklyn Public Library [et al.]

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

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.

Public Library Skill Strategy modules

CILIP

Bite-sized e-learning modules to support different aspects of the Public Library Skills Strategy including - leadership skills, ethics and hosting events.

STEAM up your library: a guide to energizing your offer

Fulbright Global Scholar

Explore ideas and resources for building upon existing library priorities and services to engage your community in interdisciplinary STEAM learning.

Making Library Makers

Artefacto

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

Library Makers

Artefacto, Cybercitizens & Makercart

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

Libraryskills.io

Artefacto

A curated collection of free learning resources to help library and information staff learn new skills and find good, self-paced online learning.

Digital Communications

LGA

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

Coding Courses

Solo Learn inc.

Coding courses covering a variety of different coding languages.

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  

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.

Makerspaces in The Library

Designing Libraries

A starter guide to library makerspaces.

Event management and evaluation

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.

Digital Makerspace Toolkit

MakeApp Club

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

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.

Understanding and Assessing Impact

NCVO Knowhow

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Policy tools: wellbeing impacts and cost effectiveness

What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Video-based course comprising of theory and practical exercises shows how to measure the direct relationship between a policy or programme and its impact on people's wellbeing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

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.

Public Library Skill Strategy modules

CILIP

Bite-sized e-learning modules to support different aspects of the Public Library Skills Strategy including - leadership skills, ethics and hosting events.

Museums as Spaces for Wellbeing

National Alliance for Museums, Health and Wellbeing

This course is aimed at providing advice, tools and guidance on the steps to take in order to develop, deliver and evaluate health and wellbeing work within a museum, heritage or cultural organisation. Requires registration.

Library and customer service skills

Public Library Skill Strategy modules

CILIP

Bite-sized e-learning modules to support different aspects of the Public Library Skills Strategy including - leadership skills, ethics and hosting events.

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.

Alison Courses

Alison

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

The National Archives Advice and Guidance

The National Archives

Information, guidance and standards for operating an archive including managing collections, running organisations and community engagement.

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.

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.

Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library

Open University

Offers ideas and activities to engage pupils in discussing books.

Copyright & Related Rights

The National Archives

Guidelines giving a basic overview of copyright and related rights in the UK.

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 Wales

Open University Wales

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

Reference Interviews

American Library Association

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

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. 

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.

Librarian.Support: Supporting Librarians Supporting Communities

PL2030 & The University of South Carolina

A compilation of free staff development resources for librarians.

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.

Copyright, licensing and data protection help

Naomi Korn Associates

Free and openly licensed resources suitable for staff working in cultural heritage, educational and publishing contexts.

Information Literacy

CILIP

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

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.

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.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

Professional Registration

CILIP

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

Libraryskills.io

Artefacto

A curated collection of free learning resources to help library and information staff learn new skills and find good, self-paced online learning.

Management skills

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

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.

Leadership Development for Public Service Mutuals

University of Exeter

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

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.

Leadership and Governence

Arts Council England

Webpage dedicated to leadership and governance –  full of research, guidance, case studies and blogs.

Planning a project

Open University

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

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.

Leveraging The Library

Routledge - Taylor & Francis Group

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

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.

Culture Change Toolkit

ACE

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

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.

Equality Frameworks

LGA

Information and case studies for equality frameworks in Local Government

Recruitment and Workforce Development Toolkit

Arts Council England & The Clear Company

Best practice downloadable resources, templates and guidance, such as: advertising a job and job descriptions, managing employee, conducting board skills audits and more. Requires registration.

Financial Accounting and Reporting

Open University

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

Alison Courses

Alison

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

Community Managed Libraries: Good Practice Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

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

Understanding and Assessing Impact

NCVO Knowhow

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

The National Archives Advice and Guidance

The National Archives

Information, guidance and standards for operating an archive including managing collections, running organisations and community engagement.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Write a Winning Funding Bid

NCVO Knowhow

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

Strategy Made Easy

NCVO Knowhow

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

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.

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.

Risk Assessment Toolkit

NCVO Knowhow

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

Diversity and inclusion, why are we still talking about it?

Creative & Cultural Skills

Designed to help employers reflect on how they approach recruitment with simple steps that could help a business reach beyond the norm.

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.

Disaster Preparation and Planning

American Library Association

Guides and templates to help with disaster preparations and planning.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reader development

Libraryskills.io

Artefacto

A curated collection of free learning resources to help library and information staff learn new skills and find good, self-paced online learning.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

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.

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.

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.

Writing Boxes: The Reading/Writing Connection in Libraries

University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing

Guidebook and source of inspiration for librarians working with early to young adult readers.

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.

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.

Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library

Open University

Offers ideas and activities to engage pupils in discussing books.

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.

Covid-19 Toolkit to Stay Connected

The Reading Agency

Resources and ideas that will help people stay connected when buildings are closed and people are working remotely.

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.

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.

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.

Service improvement and delivery

Culture and Sport Improvement Toolkit

LGA

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

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.

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.

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  

Assessing Environmental Impact: Guidance

DEFRA

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

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.

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.

Museums as Spaces for Wellbeing

National Alliance for Museums, Health and Wellbeing

This course is aimed at providing advice, tools and guidance on the steps to take in order to develop, deliver and evaluate health and wellbeing work within a museum, heritage or cultural organisation. Requires registration.

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.

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.

Intergenerational Communication Issues: Management Tips for a More Effective Workplace

Rider University Online

Guide to help overcome age-related discrimination through better communication. This resource shares management tips to help establish a more effective workplace when multiple generations are involved.  

Setting Up Local Health Partnerships

The Reading Agency

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

Digital Makerspace Toolkit

MakeApp Club

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

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.

Leadership and Governence

Arts Council England

Webpage dedicated to leadership and governance –  full of research, guidance, case studies and blogs.

OpenLearn

Open University

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

Future Learn Courses

Various

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

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.

Autism Friendly Library Resources

ASCEL

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

The Digital Culture Compass

Arts Council England

An online tool comprising of the Charter, a guiding set of principles for organisations to consider, and the Tracker, a self-help tool that breaks down the work of organisations into focused areas for them to assess themselves against.

Leveraging The Library

Routledge - Taylor & Francis Group

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

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.

Equality Frameworks

LGA

Information and case studies for equality frameworks in Local Government

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.

Community Managed Libraries: Good Practice Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

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

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.

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.

Value and Impact Toolkit

Health Education England

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

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.

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.

Arts and Cultural Commissioning Toolkit

Royal Opera House Bridge, Artswork & Kent County Council

This toolkit will help you understand and engage with commissioning. 

Social Prescribing

Culture Health & Wellbeing Alliance

This interactive document that changes over time contains background information, case studies and useful links on the topic of Social Prescribing.

Libraries: Alternative Delivery Models Toolkit

Libraries Taskforce

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

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.

Enhancing arts and culture in the criminal justice system

The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance

Assists the development of high-quality arts and cultural practice, emphasising the practical, creative and ethical considerations.

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.

Community Business Guides

Power to Change

A series of practical guidance for community businesses covering topics from engaging with local authorities to retail, cafes and room hire.

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.

Policy tools: wellbeing impacts and cost effectiveness

What Works Centre for Wellbeing

Video-based course comprising of theory and practical exercises shows how to measure the direct relationship between a policy or programme and its impact on people's wellbeing.

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.

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.

Working together to co-create knowledge: A unique co-creation tool

Newcastle University in partnership with Success4All, Carnegie UK Trust, Children North East, Federation of Small Businesses & Newcastle City Council

Guidance and principles to support people from different sectors to work together to create the maximum impact from research.

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

Staff Toolkit

Welsh Libraries

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

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.

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.

How Good Is Our Public Library Service?

SLIC

Guidance on how to implement a quality improvement plan.

Resource Directory

Designing Libraries

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

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.

Improving the accessibility of your website

Supercool

This guide shows that you don’t need big budgets and huge resources to make significant improvements to the accessibility of your website.

Benchmarking Framework for Library Services

DCMS

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

STEAM up your library: a guide to energizing your offer

Fulbright Global Scholar

Explore ideas and resources for building upon existing library priorities and services to engage your community in interdisciplinary STEAM learning.

Other

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.

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.

Socio-Economic Diversity and Inclusion in The Arts a Toolkit For Employers

Jerwood Arts & the Bridge Group

A practical tool, including top tips, case studies and extensive practical appendixes of what to measure, where to advertise and further reading for employers interested in socio-economic diversity and social equality.

How to Work with Artists

The Artists Information Company

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

Alison Courses

Alison

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

Equality Frameworks

LGA

Information and case studies for equality frameworks in Local Government

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.

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.

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.

IP Equip

UK Intellectual Property Office

Free online intellectual property (IP) course.

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.

Copyright, licensing and data protection help

Naomi Korn Associates

Free and openly licensed resources suitable for staff working in cultural heritage, educational and publishing contexts.

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.





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