The Library of Michigan has released the new online, self-paced version of the New Directors Workshop that was regularly an in-person event offered annually in Lansing each September. This required training has now been converted to a fully online experience titled, “Pathway for New Directors in Michigan Public Libraries” and is available in the Library of Michigan’s Niche Staff Skills Academy. 

You can access, or refer any other staff member to, any individual course that’s a part of the Pathway in the LM-Produced category within the LM Niche Staff Skills Academy. Any of the courses you take that are part of any Niche pathway will be counted towards completion of a pathway. So if you are curious and only take one of two now but decide later you would like to complete the entire pathway your work will count towards that certificate. You can find a full list of the current course below. The pathway consists of 20 short courses and provides new library directors with an introduction to the information necessary to administer a public library in Michigan. 

If you have questions about the new content, please email us at LM-LibTraining@michigan.gov.

• Introduction to the Library of Michigan
• Staff Certification
• Annual Report/State Aid Application
• State Aid for Libraries
• MeL: The Michigan eLibrary
• Institute of Museum and Library Services/Library Services and Technology Act
• E-rate for Libraries
• Use of Public Funds
• Penal Fines
• Personal Property Tax
• Public Library Establishment
• Libraries as Public Entities
• Library Service Contracts
• Library Policies
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Library Privacy
• Basic Library Accounting
• Budgeting Basics
• Budgeting Process
• Internal Controls

Sonya Schryer Norris

Library of Michigan, MDE

517-335-1498

A major element of excellent service is empowering library staff to learn and implement new skills and best practices. The Library Continuing Education Stipend program helps by providing financial support for library staff continuing education.

Are you interested in the full suite of continuing education provided through the Library of Michigan? Visit Michigan.gov/LibraryCE for all of our training opportunities, including WebJunction, United for Libraries, the LM CE calendar, and the Niche Staff Skills Academy.

Funding is provided in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan