Library Director ResourcesBelow are a wide variety of resources for library directors and library trustees.
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Questions? |
Lifecycle of a Book
WLA created a handout explaining the lifecycle of a library book and what happens when a book is challenged.

WLA Lifecycle of a Book.pdf |
Mental Health Resources for Libraries
WebJunction provides resources to help you support staff and patrons.
Mental Health First Aid
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Nicolet Lending Library
Nicolet has recently purchased a variety of resources specifically to assist library directors in their roles. Contact Hannah Good Zima to borrow one of the items.

Nicolet Lending Library |
WI Library Building & Space Project
The new Wisconsin Library Buildings & Spaces Project is live! A resource for Wisconsin public library directors, staff and trustees about library building and renovation projects. Find on-demand webinars and resources from professionals across the state, as well as a list of recently completed projects from Wisconsin libraries. Topics include renovation, space reconfiguration, new building projects, and more.
K-12 Wisconsin First Nations booklist by Grade Level
From the Tribal Library, Archives, & Museums course series at UW-Madison, Robin Amado, Katelyn Martens, & Jenny McBurney developed these lists to use for Indigenous book purchasing of K-12 books by age group & made a tiered purchasing plan for libraries & classrooms.
K-12 Wisconsin First Nations booklists by grade level:
https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/tiered-purchasing-plan-supporting-wisconsin-act-31-classroom-library/
Tiered Purchasing Plan for libraries & classrooms in support of Act 31:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IemGoLBVNHIxdMycGI7C_pZUWd1dvNsJe9HZ-uxlA80/edit
Also there is a Facebook Group called “Wisconsin Librarians and Teachers Supporting Act 31” that Robin keeps updated & continues communications in this realm.
K-12 Wisconsin First Nations booklists by grade level:
https://wisconsinfirstnations.org/tiered-purchasing-plan-supporting-wisconsin-act-31-classroom-library/
- Grades K-2 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jaM4_0civqlQFBlyJxLhSWVJ2EAeTHbichmzYUMxZ4o/edit
- Grades 3-5 https://docs.google.com/document/d/11U34a6or18ieCwD1O3Kpx8k5yJmAY5Suwv34zwH9NkM/edit
- Grades 6-8 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a0bM9uG2GkO0qigr78IxTQ9CWUS2ZWw7LF5Bbw0taaI/edit
- Grades 9-12 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TljbimvRIeCIBUwx8cXl69CrLJeCnuyJ8FnHoV05HCA/edit
Tiered Purchasing Plan for libraries & classrooms in support of Act 31:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IemGoLBVNHIxdMycGI7C_pZUWd1dvNsJe9HZ-uxlA80/edit
Also there is a Facebook Group called “Wisconsin Librarians and Teachers Supporting Act 31” that Robin keeps updated & continues communications in this realm.
Digital Literacy Courses
- Online digital literacy courses, created by PLA in collaboration with AT&T, are freely available to anyone through DigitalLearn.org. The DigitalLearn courses and training materials were developed with and for library staff and their patrons; are available in English and Spanish; and cover basic technology skills such as internet use, video conferencing, cybersecurity, mobile device basics, and ACP basics. More information can be found here.
- Free, short digital literacy courses developed through the INTERFACE project. https://www.wisc-online.com/courses/computerskills
The Librarian's Guide to Homelessness
DPI has provided all libraries in Wisconsin with free access to Ryan Dowd's Homelessness Training for Librarians. Training modules also include topics such as Avoiding Burnout, De-escalation, Mental Illness, Policing in Libraries, responding to Prejudicial Comments, Service Animals, Sexual Harassment, and more.
Register for an account at https://my.nimy.nicheacademy.com/dpi-wi-staff. If you have trouble registering for an account, please contact Angela Schneider.
If you'd like to be added to Dowd's system to receive the webinar links directly to your inbox, sign up using this link: http://bit.ly/MonthlyWebinarSignup.
Register for an account at https://my.nimy.nicheacademy.com/dpi-wi-staff. If you have trouble registering for an account, please contact Angela Schneider.
If you'd like to be added to Dowd's system to receive the webinar links directly to your inbox, sign up using this link: http://bit.ly/MonthlyWebinarSignup.
Privacy and WI Public Libraries (Niche Academy)
Library directors and staff can get the following CE credit for completing the Privacy trainings:
The videos can be accessed here:
- Qualify for 1.0 contact hours of CE in Category B if all 4 modules are completed. You must submit 2 completion certificates with the CE Activity Report to get credit. (Credit will not be given for less than all 4 components, per certification rules.)
The videos can be accessed here:
City Library Collective Presents: The Library Resilience Toolkit
In 2021, eleven mid-size Wisconsin public libraries formed the City Library Collective (CLC) to address common issues and use collective knowledge and experience to improve their organizations and services to their communities. The group was awarded an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant in order to collaboratively explore the concept of Libraries as Centers for Community Resiliency. The grant project combined highly collaborative activities with individual library pilot projects to develop shared processes for community data gathering and analysis, staff training, and the implementation of incubator projects that position the library as a community resiliency partner. These processes also serve as models for other CLC partners and libraries statewide. The goal is to help libraries and the communities they serve anticipate, withstand, adapt to, and recover from adversity — to be resilient. Leaning heavily on concepts and techniques of Whole Person Librarianship, the CLC focused on skilling-up librarians to address the psychosocial needs of their community patrons.
One of the main outcomes of the work is the development of a Library Resilience Toolkit. Available to all, this Toolkit provides an overview of social work concepts in the library, data and assessment strategies for evaluating impact, and practical resources, including job descriptions, press releases, and communication templates. Additionally, the toolkit shares resources and lessons learned from the various local projects implemented at several of the CLC libraries.
One of the main outcomes of the work is the development of a Library Resilience Toolkit. Available to all, this Toolkit provides an overview of social work concepts in the library, data and assessment strategies for evaluating impact, and practical resources, including job descriptions, press releases, and communication templates. Additionally, the toolkit shares resources and lessons learned from the various local projects implemented at several of the CLC libraries.
Library Director's Playbook
Creating a Playbook for Management & Transitions in Your Library
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Staff Onboarding
Creating a Plan for New Employee Success
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Libraries Build Business Communications Toolkit
To help library workers communicate the value of and grow their small business services, the American Library Association’s Public Policy & Advocacy office (PPA), in partnership with Audrey Barbakoff from Co/lab Capacity, has created the Libraries Build Business Communications Toolkit. The toolkit offers advice and materials for library workers to promote their small business support services, engage with policymakers and government officials, and form and strengthen ties with local businesses and existing entrepreneur support structures.
Policy Development with the Library Board
The document provides library directors with the steps involved in identifying, drafting and adopting new policies. Sample policy templates are also included.

Sample Library Policies |
Library Security Webinar
Al Hughes, Security Officer with Brown County Library, discusses a wide-variety of library safety issues involving patrons, staff and facilities.
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Attending Library Legislative Day
Connie Meyers gives an introduction to attending Library Legislative Day. Connie discusses what to expect, shares tips, and conducts a mock conversation with a legislator.