UPLIFT - Utah Public Library Institute for Training

Goal: To meet the need of Utah's library staff and public library trustees for ongoing training so they may provide dynamic professional library service.

Program Description

Through the Utah Public Library Institute for Training (UPLIFT), the Utah State Library (USL) offers a variety of training opportunities for Utah library staff and trustees. Training includes basic training for non-MLS library staff, advanced training for the full library community, and training for library trustees, through special institutes, mini-workshops, teleconferences, grants to individuals and grants to library organizations.

UPLIFT Basic Certification Training

The Utah State Library offers the popular core courses required to meet the personnel standard required for public library certification under Standards for Utah Public Libraries.

Library directors and key personnel who do not have formal training in library science may participate in basic certification training which includes introductory coursework in core areas:

Library Administration covers the fundamentals of public library administration, the need to integrate planning, budgeting, the basics of personnel management and policy development.

Cataloging/Acquisitions/Technical Services explains how to create accurate bibliographic records and standard resources used in catalog work: Dewey Decimal Schedules, AACR2 Rules, and MARC Records; also basic acquisitions and technical services functions.

Youth Services explores the elements of running a successful program for children and teens including presenting library programs for children and young adults, developing children's and young adult materials collections, and using the stages of childhood and adolescent development to guide your programs.

Collection Development teaches the principles of selection of library materials and standard practices involved in building and promoting collections.

Technology includes things the librarian needs to know to keep computer services up and running. It includes computer security, wireless access issues and solutions, technical support that the librarian can do, and when to call an IT person for help.

Reference brings the skills needed to be an effective provider of reference and information services. Emphasis is on reference services, the reference interview, online searching strategies including Pioneer, and sources of information.

UPLIFT Advanced Training

The Utah State Library provides advanced training opportunities for public library directors and key staff who have completed basic certification. Advanced classes include but are not limited to:

Technology/Computers in Libraries: planning, development, application, and integration of technology within libraries.

Leadership: leadership styles, risk taking, creating a culture of commitment, and working with groups and teams.

Multicultural Populations: explore, understand, and develop library resources and services for multicultural, diverse, and other special populations.

Library Administration Beyond the Basics: library funding, taxation, personnel, and labor laws, management and policy issues.

Collection Development II: building a collection in an electronic environment, marketing, and reader advisory.
Budgeting and Planning: how to manage a budget, plan for short-term and long-term projects, and understand the political process of budgeting and planning.

UPLIFT-T (Training - Trustees)

The Utah State Library provides trustee orientation upon request of the library board and biennial trustee training on vital library issues. Basic orientation includes: roles and responsibilities, library policies and procedures, funding and budget issues, library law and the legislative process, personnel issues including hiring and removing the library director, how to run a meeting. Statewide biennial training may include but is not limited to: advocacy and libraries, planning for libraries, government and the library, friends and foundations, fundraising.

Customized Training

The Utah State Library provides Utah's librarians (academic, public, school and special) with the means to satisfy their ongoing need for information on a myriad of topics. These customized training events include:

Special institutes on vital library issues including but not limited to technology, marketing, libraries and the law, library services to the Spanish Speaking, and library building planning.

Mini-workshops taught regionally at the request of library directors by members of the State Library staff covering but not limited to topics like public relations, advocacy, technology, and grant writing.

Teleconferences applicable to statewide library development needs.

Exchange/clearinghouse: the State Library will continue to host listservs for specific library groups, video-based training, and links to online training in core courses offered by other state library agencies.

Grants to Individuals, Libraries, and Library Organizations

The Utah State Library offers training grants to individuals, libraries, and library organizations. The future of these continuing education grants depends on federal funding, demand, and assessed impact.

UPLIFT Professional Excellence Grant: This grant has been canceled as of FY 2009. We hope to institute it in the future as the budget returns. It was available in the past to persons employed in Utah libraries for advancing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of individual library employees to better serve their patrons.

UPLIFT Organization Resource Grant: This grant is available to libraries, groups of libraries, and formal library organizations for specialized training outside their regular annual conferences. It allows libraries and library organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate training efforts that upgrade the skills of library staff, trustees, and their supporters by addressing local needs.

For more information or assistance contact:

Colleen Eggett
Training Coordinator
(800) 662-9150 x776 (Utah toll-free) or (801) 715-6776
ceggett@utah.gov

Utah State Library