The LiFT courses are intended to address the training needs of predominantly non-degreed library staff who are new to their current position, or new to working in libraries. They were created by WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) to replace and update the Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) courses created and maintained by ICFL for over 25 years. 

These courses are designed to introduce the learner to various aspects of the practice, values, and mission of library work, with special focus on  small and medium sized public libraries. These courses do not, and cannot replace specific, detailed task and workflow training on the particular systems, policies, and procedures of individual libraries. 

We welcome you to take Introduction to Library Collections, the first of the six courses in the Collection Management series, now. The remaining five will be available in late July. Learn more about this new series by attending our webinar on July 30, 2025, 3:00 PM EDT (UTC-4). 

   

IMLS project: RE-256627-OLS-24

  

LiFT: Introduction to Library Collections

Format: Self-paced course
Developed by: WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Length: 1 hour

Overview:
In the first course of the LiFT Collection Management series, you’ll learn how library collections help support a library’s vision, mission, and values and serve its community. You’ll also learn the basics of managing a collection throughout its lifecycle and how a library’s budget and physical space may constrain its collection.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Define a library collection
  • Identify collection types at their library
  • Describe how your library's collections support its vision, mission, and values
  • Understand a library’s collection lifecycle
  • Discuss two common limitations of library collections: space and budget

LiFT: Introduction to Collection Policies

NOTE: We are just finishing and testing this course now. It will be available for use by July 28, 2025.

Format: Self-paced course
Developed by: WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Length: 1 hour

Overview:
In the second course of the LiFT Collection Management series, you’ll learn how policies support a library in achieving its vision, mission, and values. You’ll also learn how collection policies, objectives, and benchmarks guide the collection lifecycle and support staff in making decisions and managing day-to-day-operations.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Describe the importance of collection policies
  • Describe the relationships between collection policies, objectives, and benchmarks
  • Identify how a library’s collection policies support its vision, mission, and values
  • Explain your library's collection policies to a library user

LiFT: Selection and Acquisitions

NOTE: We are just finishing and testing this course now. It will be available for use by July 28, 2025.

Format: Self-paced course
Developed by: WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Length: 45 minutes

Overview:
In this course, you'll learn how libraries select and acquire materials that reflect their foundational statements and collection policies. You'll also learn how libraries consider community needs when building a collection to ensure it’s balanced and well-developed.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Recognize the qualities of a well-developed and balanced collection
  • Describe how libraries select and acquire materials for their collections
  • Explain your library’s selection criteria and acquisitions policies
  • Apply a library's selection criteria to identify items that would be a good fit for its collection

LiFT: Organizing and Maintaining a Collection

NOTE: We are just finishing and testing this course now. It will be available for use by July 28, 2025.

Format: Self-paced course
Developed by: WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Length: 1 hour

Overview:
In this course, you'll learn how libraries organize their physical and digital resources to ensure access, usability, and support wayfinding for staff and patrons. You’ll also learn more about the steps a library might take to prolong the life of items in its collection.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Understand how libraries organize materials in their collections
  • Describe what libraries do to support wayfinding for library staff and patrons
  • Describe the steps a library might take to maintain and prolong the life of items in its collection
  • Explain how shelving practices support libraries in keeping their collections organized

LiFT: Collection Assessment

NOTE: We are just finishing and testing this course now. It will be available for use by July 28, 2025.

Format: Self-paced course
Developed by: WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Length: 1 hour

Overview:
In this course, you'll learn how libraries conduct ongoing collection assessments to extract useful data for evaluating their collections. You’ll also learn about the types of community assessments libraries conduct to better serve their patrons.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Recall the types of data libraries generate to assess or evaluate their collections
  • Describe the importance of ongoing collection assessment
  • Describe the types of community assessments libraries conduct to better serve their users
  • Understand how libraries use data to make informed decisions about their collections

LiFT: Weeding the collection

NOTE: We are just finishing and testing this course now. It will be available for use by July 28, 2025.

Format: Self-paced course
Developed by: WebJunction and the Idaho Commission for Libraries
Length: 1 hour

Overview:
In this course, you'll learn why and how libraries weed their collections. You’ll also learn about the common methods and processes for weeding and how to mitigate common weeding challenges.

Learning objectives:
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 

  • Define weeding and its purpose
  • Describe common methods and processes for weeding
  • Identify potential solutions for common weeding challenges