Creating rich learning opportunities on a shoestring budget

Who is already doing this work?

Think broadly: is your library interested in creating accessible spaces? Is there a population that you’re not seeing at the library? Are there issues in your community that you’d like to be more knowledgeable about? Start with the things you’d like to learn and find local groups already doing the work. Forging these connections has the added bonus of creating a local network. I arranged for visits from the county’s Office of LGBTQ+ Affairs that touched on the scope of their work, upcoming events, and resources available to community members. Participants, all librarians from the county, were able to exchange email addresses and establish open lines of communication. NJ4S, a group that provides preventative and mental health services to students and their families, shared information about the services that they offer and outreach available to libraries. Both groups were excited to share their time and expertise at no cost. 

Partner up!

One way to gain access to expensive professional development is to seek out community partners who may be willing to split the cost. I was interested in hosting an Accessibility Training at my library led by the New Jersey Theater Alliance, a group that assists theaters and other cultural institutions in ensuring that programming and facilities are accessible to seniors and people with disabilities, but the training costs more than my library’s professional development budget could support. I sought out local partners and, with financial support from the Libraries of Union County Consortium (LUCC), my library hosted an accessibility training that was presented at no cost to librarians from around the state. Who in your community has a shared mission? What resources can be pooled? Who else might benefit from this training?

What are you an expert on? 

Anne Baillie makes an excellent case for presenting in her post on getting started with professional development, and I’d like to reiterate the value of seeing your own expertise! Some of my favorite educational opportunities have been presented by other librarians. My brilliant colleague, Brianne Mintz, spoke on Supporting Dyslexic and Neurodivergent Patrons in Youth Services Departments. LibraryLinkNJ, a nonprofit that offers some incredible learning opportunities at no cost to its members, hosts skill sharing conversations. Could you host something like this in your state? In your library? 

Get out of the library! 

Who doesn’t love a field trip? I’ve toured the New York Public Library, Cotsen Children’s Library (host of the delightful Pop Goes the Page blog), Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literacy Center, and more. These tours were free and the only barrier to entry was a group of ten people and the energy to do a bit of planning. Stepping away from the library can be a challenge, but I find these trips rewarding enough to warrant the trouble! 

Today’s blog post was written by Lauren Antolino, Principal Librarian at the Cranford Public Library on behalf of the ALSC Managing Children’s Services Committee. 

This blog relates to ALSC Core Competencies of VI. Administrative and Management skills and VII. Professionalism and Professional Development.