Administration & secretarial · Short course
Library Services Management
Organising library resources, services and access for users.
The programme
Programme overview
Expanded indicative outline. The subject areas are described below; proposed activities and final delivery requirements are confirmed with Ratomac before booking.
Organising library resources, services and access for users.
The programme brings together collection planning, resource organisation, user services and service review. The expanded outline below shows how these areas can be explored through explanation, discussion and the preparation of relevant work products.
A proposed workshop runs through the programme: A library needs to align its collection and user services with changing information needs. Participants would examine the situation in stages, use the information provided and explain the basis of their decisions. The workshop is fictional and can be adapted when the final training plan is agreed.
Who should attend
Is this programme for you?
This outline is relevant to the following roles. Suitability and any formal entry requirements should be checked for the selected programme.
- Library staff, information-service coordinators and managers.
- Individuals preparing to take on responsibilities in this area.
- Teams seeking a shared approach to the work described in the programme.
Purpose of the learning
Intended learning outcomes
- Review user needs and identify collection priorities.
- Design a resource-description and discovery improvement.
- Plan a user-support activity for a specific audience.
- Prepare a service review using usage information and feedback.
- Combine the module outputs into a reasoned response to the programme’s workplace scenario.
5 learning blocks
Detailed programme outline
01Collection planning
This part of the programme examines collection planning, with attention to user needs and resource selection. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- User needs.
- Resource selection.
- Applied work: review user needs and identify collection priorities.
Illustrative practical exercise
Review user needs and identify collection priorities. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
02Resource organisation
This part of the programme examines resource organisation, with attention to cataloguing and discoverability. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Cataloguing.
- Discoverability.
- Applied work: design a resource-description and discovery improvement.
Illustrative practical exercise
Design a resource-description and discovery improvement. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
03User services
This part of the programme examines user services, with attention to access, guidance and participation. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Access.
- Guidance.
- Participation.
- Applied work: plan a user-support activity for a specific audience.
Illustrative practical exercise
Plan a user-support activity for a specific audience. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
04Service review
This part of the programme examines service review, with attention to usage information and improvement priorities. The practical task connects the subject to the programme’s workplace scenario and gives participants a specific output to discuss.
Topics to explore
- Usage information.
- Improvement priorities.
- Applied work: prepare a service review using usage information and feedback.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a service review using usage information and feedback. Explain the information used, identify any assumptions and take part in a review of the proposed approach.
05Integrated workplace workshop
A library needs to align its collection and user services with changing information needs. The final workshop connects the earlier work rather than treating each topic as an isolated activity.
Topics to explore
- Bring together the outputs from the earlier modules into one coherent response to the scenario.
- Check that the recommendation addresses the original problem and is supported by the information available.
- Identify responsibilities, dependencies and matters that require specialist input or further evidence.
- Present the proposed response and revise it after questions from the facilitator and other participants.
Illustrative practical exercise
Prepare a concise presentation for the fictional organisation. Include the proposed response, the evidence supporting it and the decisions still required. Finish with a reflection on which aspects could be relevant to your own work.
From discussion to application
How the programme could be delivered
The proposed learning approach combines facilitator-led explanation, discussion of the subject areas and guided work on the fictional scenario. Each module produces a practical output that can be reviewed and improved.
Participants can work individually or in small groups to compare interpretations, explain their decisions and identify missing information. Feedback focuses on the connection between the task, the evidence used and the proposed response.
The final workshop brings the module outputs together. Ratomac will confirm the delivery format, learning resources, entry requirements and any formal assessment or certification arrangements for the selected programme.
Discuss your requirements
Dates, duration & arrangements
Contact Ratomac to agree the final programme, duration and delivery format. Include your preferred timing, location and whether the enquiry is for yourself or a team.
Discuss this programme ↗Indicative outline for discussion. The final syllabus is agreed with Ratomac before booking. The expanded learning activities and workplace scenario are original proposals for discussion with Ratomac.