eLearning with the ALA

This month, the ALA launched its e-learning catalog with easy browsing features. Designed to be a tool for all past, current, and prospective librarians, these courses cover a wide range of topics. Some are free, and some are paid. Professional development for librarians is now much easier to find.

I like free things. Who doesn’t? When I searched the “free events,” the two pages of results had many opportunities to choose from. You can search by topic square or format on the main page, making it much simpler to quickly locate whatever you want to brush up on. If you click on the “Browse Catalog” button, you’re taken to 13 pages of results.

Even though there are multiple divisions within ALA, this catalog is comprehensive. The site states, “Designed to meet your evolving learning needs, ALA eLearning brings together content from every office and division of ALA in one place.” Powered by modern technology called  CourseStage from Web Courseworks Ltd., a company utilized by numerous organizations. The ALA likely chose them because other similar organizations have successfully done so as well. Their company site states, “CME providers, allied health organizations, trade associations, and professional associations: we have focused on you. Our CourseStage LMS is purpose-built to serve an external learning audience. Our software and services exist to power lifelong learning businesses.” With this powerful partnership, the ALA is actively fostering countless librarians’ professional development and education.

The ALA homepage showcases the latest courses added (just scroll down a little bit), and the link directs you to the new interface. Look at what they offer, and tell us what interesting things you learned.

By Gretchen Hendrick Gardella, MLIS

Gretchen Hendrick Gardella is a Librarian with administrative, research, and vast technical skills. Ms. Gardella brings over 16 years of experience working in academic and public libraries to the discussion.