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G2S Project Code: 2020-IA-85659
State: Iowa
Fiscal Year: 2020

Grantee
State Library of Iowa

Project Director
Director Name: Nancy Medema
Director Phone: 515-281-4328
Director Email: Nancy.Medema@iowa.gov

General Information
Title: Continuing Education and Certification
State Project Code: 2.1.1
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract: The State Library of Iowa offered a continuing education program for Iowa library staff and trustees to keep our librarians informed on current and/or relevant topics.
We provided separate director and staff certification programs to encourage learning. The director of a public library in Iowa must be certified in order for the library to be accredited.

This project ties our goal to the IMLS Measuring Success goal of Institutional Capacity by improving the library workforce by improving the knowledge of library staff and boards so that Iowa libraries are providing excellent services to their communities.
State Goal: Institutional Capacity

Budget Information

LSTA

MATCH-State

MATCH-Other

Total

$46,322.61

$232,092.15

$0.00

$278,414.76

Intent(s)
Improve the library workforce.
Continuing Education and Staff Development
Library Skills

Activities
Activity Details
Title: Continuing Education
Narrative: The State Library staff developed and provided continuing education courses in a variety of formats to Iowa library staff and to library trustees. We adhered to a high standard of learning principles so each of our classes had stated learning objectives, activities that were used to make sure those objectives were met, an evaluation process, and a knowledgeable instructor or consultant to conduct the training.

Topics covered this past year included but were not limited to collection development, Big Idea Book Discussions, financial literacy, supporting media literacy, winter programming, trustee issues. and a series of webinars provided by the Iowa Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Those were all offered as webinars. No person training was provided this past year due to the ongoing pandemic. We've developed over 70 self-paced courses that can be accessed at any time. The self-paced courses are from recorded webinars that have quiz questions included to ensure active learning.

The State Library unveiled Kernels, a new series of quick training modules for librarians that are pre-recorded by practicing librarians talking about what they've experienced, discovered, and put into practice. Each Kernel is worth 0.5 CE credits. Topics include book bundles, eSports, online trivia for adults programs, story time in a bag, subscription boxes, take home escape rooms, and ukulele story times.

State Library staff also produced a one-day online conference focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion. (the theme for training for the year) that had 915 attendees. Three keynotes were included, along with 6 session options. There was an evening keynote that was geared toward trustees not just library staff.

The State Library rolled out a new CE Catalog and training software called IA Learns, which includes all live, recorded, and archived training offered to Iowa librarians and trustees. All online live CE sessions were provided via Zoom.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Presentation/performance
Format: Combined in-person & virtual

Quantity
Presentation/performance length (minutes): 60
Number of presentations/performances administered: 163
Average number in attendance per session: 44

Partner Information

Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No

Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No

Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: Yes
For a targeted group or for the general population: General

Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types

Public Libraries: 543
Academic Libraries: 72
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 47
School Libraries: 60
Other: 29

Activity Details
Title: Director and Staff Endorsement Programs
Narrative: The State Library reviewed and updated the Certification program, changing the name to Endorsement. The Endorsement Program was designed to improve library service in Iowa by developing the skills of library staff and directors and provide recognition for public librarians.

The Endorsement Academy was designed to take the place of Public Library Management courses 1 and 2, be asynchronous to make it easier for library directors to take the required courses, and to provide different tracks for directors, staff, and youth services at this point. A group of four core modules are required for anyone going through the Endorsement program which include Library Foundations, Introduction to Public Services, We're All Tech Librarians, and Library Law. A librarian would then chose to take the Director, Staff, or Youth Services Endorsement track. All courses are available in the CE Catalog, IA Learns.

Requirements for director endorsement included successful completion of the Director Endorsement Academy or an ALA-accredited Masters degree in Library and Information Science. The certification is valid for 3 years and requires 45 continuing education credits to be re-certified. Staff are required to take either the Staff Endorsement or Youth Services Endorsement Academy to become certified, which lasts for 3 years, and 30 continuing education credits to be re-certified.

Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Combined in-person & virtual
Other: requirement of 45 continuing educations credits for Directors and 30 CE credits for Staff

Quantity

Partner Information

Public Libraries: 543
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0

Activity Details
Title: Staff Development and Training
Narrative: The State Library of Iowa provided opportunities for staff development training this past year. We purchased virtual group access to the Iowa Library Association Conference which allowed more staff to learn from the various sessions. We also purchased virtual group access to the Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference. We allowed interested staff to attend the virtual Public Library Association Conference which a few took advantage of.
We purchased access to the Ryan Dowd Homelessness Training which many of the consultants like because it gives them information to share with the librarians in their districts, and because it gives good customer service advice.

Staff also learned from attending various webinars on topics related to their jobs, as well as attending webinars put on by other State Library staff to stay informed on programs of the State Library.

The State Library also paid for membership in several organizations including Lyrasis, Western Council, OCLC, COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies), Iowa Museum Association and AIME (Assoc. for Information Media and Equipment) to allow for training opportunities and information gathering.
Intent: Improve the library workforce.

Activity: Instruction
Mode: Other
Format: Combined in-person & virtual
Other: Staff attending conferences and memberships purchased.

Quantity

Partner Information

Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
State Library staff rolled out a new learning management system, called IA Learns in September, as well as a revised certification program called Endorsement in March of this past year. IA Learns provides access to library staff and trustees to all offerings of CE, keeps track of credits earned, and tracks certification status. In addition, a total of 91 instances of live webinars were provided with 5,081 attendees and no instances of in person training this past year due to the pandemic. There were also 94 of self-paced courses attended by 1,921 library staff. The Endorsement program provides asynchronous training for the directors and staff, allowing them to take courses when it is convenient for them. A librarian can become endorsed within six months potentially by successfully passing each module required, as well as participating in 4 online discussions for the required courses.. A survey was conducted on the Endorsement Program and included comments such as, "I will be looking at reviewing and updating the policy book for the library. I now have a better understanding on the budget and financing with the library", and "I really felt that I learned a lot that I did not know. As a new director I felt like I had so much to learn", and "I enjoyed the Endorsement Program. There were some courses that I knew about, but the majority of them I did not. After completing I feel like I can pass along what I have learned to better run the library and meet the needs of the community." There were a total of 774 certified library directors (and possibly some staff) and 396 library staff who became certified or renewed their certification in FY21. There were 64 librarians who took advantage of the new Youth Services Endorsement. With the new program, a person potentially could hold more than one Endorsement. State Library staff attended many conferences virtually which provided many opportunities to learn new trends and techniques to share with Iowa Libraries. Staff were also able to attend many webinars due to most things being offered virtually.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Webinars were still the main way library staff and trustees obtained continuing education this past year. State Library staff developed all of the asynchronous courses in the Endorsement Program this past year. If someone couldn't attend the live webinar offering, in most instances, they could watch the self-paced version of it that was made available via IA Learns. The high attendance in CE courses this past year indicates the flexibility of online and self-paced courses in library staff schedules, and less of a reliance on in-person training.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:
The variety of training needs within the Iowa library community ranges from the most basic training to the most advanced. The State Library needs to continue to provide a wide variety of classes and individualized training and support by the consultants in order to provide library staff what they need most. The new learning management system, IA Learns, and the new Endorsement program working together have allowed more staff to become certified without the need to travel to Des Moines for a day of training, then attending regular online training at specific times. When it used to required a minimum of one year, and usually longer.
Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:
We will continue to develop and provide more self-paced courses. We will also work to provide ADA accessible recordings of our webinars. We are also working on developing more tutorials for programs like the Annual Survey, adding items to the Locator, and accessing and providing access to online resources. We will be rolling out the revised certification program in this next year, along with the new CE Catalog.
Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
Yes
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:

Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative

Project Tags: CE, Certification