Libraries serve as essential hubs for knowledge, information access, and community engagement, playing a crucial role in supporting literacy, learning, and cultural development. For Library Support Staff, understanding the mission, values, and ethical foundations of library services is key to effectively assisting users and maintaining an organized, accessible, and welcoming environment. The role of library support staff has evolved to include skills in customer service, technology integration, and resource management, ensuring that users have access to the information and resources they need.
The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Training Course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of library operations and the critical skills needed to support library functions across various departments. Through this five-day course, participants will gain expertise in access services, customer service for diverse users, adult and youth readers’ advisory, and technology use within library settings. The program emphasizes practical applications, enabling participants to handle user inquiries, assist with collections, and promote library programs, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.
At the end of the Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) training course, participants will:
- Understand the mission, roles, and community functions of libraries and the responsibilities of library support staff.
- Identify libraries’ core values, ethics, and governance principles, and recognize the impact of support staff in diverse library settings.
- Communicate effectively with library users, colleagues, and other stakeholders across varied contexts.
- Develop strategies to provide high-quality customer service for diverse library users, from youth to adults.
- Integrate technology into library operations, assist users with access, and train them in its use for information retrieval.
- Understand the basics of access services, including resource circulation and on-site usage.
- Provide adult readers’ advisory services, helping users select materials to read, view, or listen to based on preferences.
- Offer youth services by curating collections, providing advisory and reference support, and promoting youth-centred library programs.
This Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) course is ideal for professionals seeking to enhance their skills and credentials in library support, including:
- Library Technicians
- Library Assistants
- Circulation Specialists
- Access Services Coordinator
- Resource Sharing Specialists
- Interlibrary Loan Technicians
- User Service Associates
- Collections Maintenance Technicians
- Document Delivery Specialists