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MichiganX: Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management

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Learn how to conduct research, surveys, and interviews as well as how to analyze data to better assess the local needs and wants of a public library community.

Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management
4 weeks
4–5 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

6,467 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 28
Ends Aug 31

About this course

Skip About this course

Public libraries are becoming dynamic hubs for learning, civic engagement, and community.

This course will discuss strategies for gathering statistical and descriptive data about public library communities. Learners will identify local partners in education, social services, government agencies, and more.

While conducting real-world investigations, learners will gain deeper insight into the wants and needs of community organizations. This will empower learners to make better management decisions to address those needs, even in libraries with limited budgets.

At a glance

  • Institution: MichiganX
  • Subject: Humanities
  • Level: Introductory
  • Prerequisites:

    Access to a public library community

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Research, Library Management, Management, Social Work, Civic Engagement, Investigation

What you'll learn

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● How to find demographic and persona data from online sources;

● To conduct environmental scans;

● How to lead focus groups and interviews;

● How to analyze data to find patterns, overlaps, and gaps in available community services;

● To synthesize your findings in a report.

Lesson 1: Why Study Community Needs?
Lesson 2: Environmental Scanning
Lesson 3: Found Data
Lesson 4: Surveys
Lesson 5: Reviewing Survey Data
Lesson 6: Interviews
Lesson 7: Synthesis

This course is part of Public Library Management Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
8 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
8 months
2 - 3 hours per week

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