GENERAL NEWS: e-learning at PLA

E-Learning@PLA is offering five new start dates for two of its popular online professional development courses. This is your opportunity to gain valuable skills that will impact the success of your library from the comfort of your home or work computer. The New Planning for Results and Creating Policies for Results courses will be offered on the following dates:
· September 11, 2006
· October 9, 2006
· February 5, 2007
· March 5, 2007
· April 7, 2007

Visit http://www.ala.org/platemplate.cfm?section=pla&template=/
cfapps/pla/elearn/index.cfm to register now.

New Planning for Results
Staff commitment, access to resources, adequate library services, and dedication to excellence all determine a public library’s success. But like any good business, success begins with a strategic plan that addresses the unique needs of your library and community.

The New Planning for Results e-Learning course will teach you how to create a strategic plan that meets your library’s needs. Instructor June Garcia will lead you step by step through the elements of a strategic plan, including identifying your community’s needs, determining goals, communicating results, and allocating resources. The New Planning for Results requires an average of six hours of online work and five hours of offline work over the course of six weeks to complete, and includes online chats with June, participant discussion forums, individual assignments, and self-guided interactive exercises. Registration also includes access to course materials for six months from the start date of the class.

Cost: $195 for PLA members*

“The New Planning for Results e-Learning course provides a solid foundation in strategic planning. The online course allowed me to absorb the fundamentals of the New Planning for Results at my own pace, on my own time. The bonus was that I met many interesting professionals from around the nation including colleagues in other state libraries who I might not otherwise have met.”

Rand Simmons, Ph.D.
Program Manager for Library Development
Office of the Secretary of State
Washington State Library Division

Visit http://www.ala.org/platemplate.cfm?section=pla&template=/
cfapps/pla/elearn/index.cfm to register for New Planning for Results.

Creating Policies for Results
Library policies define what a library values, which means policies must align with a library’s priorities, mission, goals, and objectives. Too often, this isn’t the case. Policies are outdated, lack staff support, or don’t exist at all, creating frustration and ongoing headaches.

In Creating Policies for Results, you will learn how to effectively evaluate your library’s existing policies, determine what additional policies are needed, develop new policies, and establish a process to implement new or revised policies. Through interactive exercises, participant discussion forums, and online chats with course instructor June Garcia, you will gain the skills necessary to manage your library’s policies. Creating Policies for Results requires an average of six hours of online work and three hours of offline work over the course of six weeks to complete. Registration also includes access to course materials for six months from the start date of the class.

Cost: $195 for PLA members*
“PLA's Creating Policies for Results online course is a great way to learn the policies process. The self?paced course, with real?life case studies and positive reinforcements through group tasks and chat, offers a true learning opportunity. You will come out with the ability to start the process in your own library*even before you complete the course.”

Karen Avenick
Assistant Director
Camden County Library

Visit http://www.ala.org/platemplate.cfm?section=pla&template=/
cfapps/pla/elearn/index.cfm to register for Creating Policies for Results.

Course instructor June Garcia has more than 30 years experience in public libraries, including as the director of the San Antonio Public Library and as the library extension services administrator at the Phoenix Public Library. She served as PLA president from 1991-92, and has been an active member of the PLA committees that developed Planning for Results, Managing for Results, and Staffing for Results. Currently, June is a managing partner with Dubberly Garcia, a consulting firm that advises on a broad range of library projects.

*The cost per e-Learning course is $195 for PLA members, $250 for ALA members, and $295 for nonmembers. Group discounts are available for state libraries, consortia, systems of regions and registrants from the library. Registration for e-Learning courses closes one week before the class start date.

For additional questions regarding e-Learning@PLA, please contact the PLA office at 800-545-2433, ext. 5PLA, or visit PLA's Web site at www.pla.org. PLA is a division of the American Library Association.