MSL Learn
-
If you experience any technical issues, please submit a Help Ticket.
Course categories
Skip available courses
Available courses
- Course Open Date: September 30, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: May 20, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: August 19, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: September 30, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: June 17, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: July 22, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: July 8, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: September 23, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: July 15, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Learn about Montana’s open meeting law
- Learn about the laws that cover conflict of interest and trustee liability
- Learn about library board authority and the library records confidentiality act
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 6, 2023
- Raise awareness of attorney general opinions and case law and their impact on board authority.
- Increase understanding of board and local government authority in the following areas
- Personnel – management, salaries, and hiring/termination
- Property – ownership, remodeling, maintenance, and contracts
- Budget – setting, spending money, management
- Board – appointments and removals
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: December 6, 2024
The contents of the course are from webinars and the Connecting with Local Government Officials handbook.
Participants will learn about
- How to develop better relationships with local government officials
- How to talk about the value of libraries
- Estimated Course Length: 1 hour
- Course open date: September 6, 2024.
Participants will learn what it means to be an effective and ethical board member from the experts!
- Tracy Cook, Montana State Library Consulting Librarian
- Dan Clark, MSU Extension Local Government Center Director
- Ashley Kent, MSU Extension Local Government Center Associate Director
- Estimated Course Length: 2 hours
- Course Open Date: April 21, 2025
- Learn about different forms of local government and about how the form of government impacts the library
- Learn about the work of key local government officials and how the library interacts with those officials
- Be able to better understand some of the sources of tension between local government and library boards and why they exist
- Learn about techniques for managing areas of tension
Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Learn about Montana’s public library standards
- Learn about what the public library standards look like in practice
- Learn about resources to help plan and evaluate how your library can meet the standards
- Estimated course length: 1 hour
- Course Open Date: January 16, 2026
Managing data effectively is essential for protecting patron privacy and meeting legal obligations in today’s libraries. This one-hour presentation is designed for public library directors and staff seeking practical guidance on data management practices that safeguard sensitive information.
- Course Open Date: August 15, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: June 11, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: January 28 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: January 27, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: April 24, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: April 23, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1.5 hours
This webinar, presented by Robbie Culver and Clint Smith of Stahly Engineering and Associates, provides a practical framework for library staff responsible for managing public library facilities—many of whom step into this role without formal background in building maintenance. The session emphasizes three main themes: facility assessment, project planning, and funding strategies.
- Course Open Date: June 4, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: January 2024
- Estimated course length: 1 hour
Public library building and renovation projects are often once-in-a-generation events. Staff and leaders may never have done a similar project and may never do one again, making it imperative for libraries to learn from one another. Newton Public Library opened the doors to its new building on April 1, 2024, after raising more than $3.3 million to help fund construction.
After a brief overview of design goals and features of the new library, this webinar will focus on lessons learned through a successful fundraising campaign and practical suggestions for how to manage input and expectations during the building process.
Presenter: Jake Sandau, Former Safety Compliance Manager, Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI)
Purpose: To explain how safety inspections work for public libraries in Montana, what inspectors look for, and how libraries can comply with the Montana Safety Culture Act and DLI requirements.
- Course Open Date: June 4, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: April 2025
- Estimated course length: 1 hour
What do libraries need to know about changes to property tax laws? Watch the webinar recording and access resources to find out.
MSL staff discuss changes to mill levy laws with Montana Association of Counties (MACo) staff members - Jason Rittal, Deputy Director, and Nancy Everson, Governmental Finances Director. Recorded on August 5, 2025.
- Course Open Date: August 15, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
Participants will learn
- Learn about basic principles of local government accounting in Montana
- Learn about the role of local government officials versus the library board authority when it comes to library funds
- Learn about financial reports, revenue sources, and key expenditures found in libraries
- Learn about best practices for building a library budget
Estimated Course Length: 1 hour
- Course Open Date: October 8, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: October 29, 2024
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
This course provides a detailed overview of technical services and catalog records.
Developed by staff of the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the free, online Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) Program provides basic library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science.
ABLE has been providing library basics for library staff world-wide since 1998. Over 5,000 ABLE Course Completion Certificates have been printed and distributed to individuals in 32 countries.
This course provides a detailed introduction to subject headings for novice and intermediate catalogers.
Developed by staff of the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the free, online Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) Program provides basic library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science.
ABLE has been providing library basics for library staff world-wide since 1998. Over 5,000 ABLE Course Completion Certificates have been printed and distributed to individuals in 32 countries.
This course provides an in-depth introduction to the Dewey Classification system for novice and intermediate catalogers.
Developed by staff of the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the free, online Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) Program provides basic library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science.
ABLE has been providing library basics for library staff world-wide since 1998. Over 5,000 ABLE Course Completion Certificates have been printed and distributed to individuals in 32 countries.
This course provides an in-depth understanding of the MARC cataloging system.
Developed by staff of the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the free, online Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) Program provides basic library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science.
ABLE has been providing library basics for library staff world-wide since 1998. Over 5,000 ABLE Course Completion Certificates have been printed and distributed to individuals in 32 countries.
- Course Open Date: March 11, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: March 10, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: January 14, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: January 13, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: February 24, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: February 24, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: February 10, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: February 10, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: March 24, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: March 24, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
The adoption and advancement of AI technologies has been swift, extensive, and...overwhelming. After assessing community interests and needs around AI in a recent poll, WebJunction is bringing together a group of library leaders and technologists with AI expertise to discuss some of the main themes identified in the poll results, and their professional perspectives on the questions and opportunities that AI presents.
Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of AI and its applications in public libraries, and strategies for addressing AI with the public.
- Course Open Date: October 8, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: September 24, 2024
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
In this course, you will learn what a library catalog is, the purpose of a catalog, and how a library’s catalog is essential for providing core library services, such as reliable access to collections. You’ll also be introduced to basic terminology related to a library’s catalog and learn about the most important elements in a bibliographic record.
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.
In this course you'll explore the differences between various types of libraries, the fundamental principles of public libraries, and the core functions of a public library in its community. You’ll also learn about some of the key activities that take place in a public library and the code of ethics that guides the library profession.
In the fourth course of the LiFT Collection Management series, 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.
The Montana History Portal encourages cultural institutions to digitize historic and contemporary resources reflecting Montana's rich cultural heritage and to make them freely available for lifelong learning.
Participants will get a basic overview of the Montana History Portal including:
- Navigation
- Searching
- Creating an account
- Saving
- Tagging
- Recollections
- Permissions
- Reproductions
Estimated Course Length: 1.5 hours
Course Open Date: December 7, 2023
Learn what happens in the MSC system as items are cataloged, when they go missing from the shelf, or are lost or damaged by patrons, and what to do in terms of catalog clean-up.
Over the course of this session learners should be able to:
- Identify where an item record is in the life cycle, e.g., missing, assumed lost, lost but paid for, processed lost, etc.
- Discuss how best to handle “problem” items to promote catalog clean-up.
- Review your library’s current system settings for automated catalog clean-up.
- Course Open Date: May 1, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: April 30, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: May 1, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: January 22, 2026
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: October 1, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: September 9, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: August 29, 2025
- Webinar Recording Date: August 12, 2025
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
Invite new staff or volunteers to become a top-notch Dewey shelver. In the recently updated course, Shelving with Dewey, learners new to the Dewey Decimal Classification system learn the fundamentals of subject-based classification, how to read call numbers and, most importantly, how to accurately shelve books based on those call numbers. Few tasks in the library are more vital for shelf maintenance and patron access.
Developed by staff of the Idaho Commission for Libraries, the free, online Alternative Basic Library Education (ABLE) Program provides basic library knowledge and skills for staff members who have no formal education in library science.
ABLE has been providing library basics for library staff world-wide since 1998. Over 5,000 ABLE Course Completion Certificates have been printed and distributed to individuals in 32 countries.
- Understand the major physical, emotional, and mental developmental milestones of children from birth to age six and reflect on how that might influence library services, space, and policy;
- Learn about library services for young children and consider how your library’s services best support their needs;
- Learn about different kinds of library programming for young children.
Estimated Course Length: 1 hour
Course Open Date: July 25, 2023
- Understand why library services focusing on youth are important
- Learn about the basics of collection development and resources they can use to help with collection development.
- Explore different approaches to library programming and program development
- Consider different methods of library outreach and how to apply it in their specific context.
Estimated Course Length: 1 hour
Course Open Date: June 14, 2023
- Understand why library services focusing on youth are important
- Understand why library services focusing on youth are important
- Understand the major physical, emotional, and mental developmental milestones of school-age children and reflect on how that might influence library services, space, and policy
- Learn about different kinds of library programming for school-age children
- Learn about library services for school-age children and consider how your library’s services best support their needs
Estimated Course Length: 1 hour
Course Open Date: September 1, 2023
- Understand the major physical, emotional, and mental developmental milestones of teens and tweens and reflect on how that might influence library services, space, and policy;
- Learn about library services for tweens and teens and consider how your library’s services best support their needs;
- Learn about different kinds of library programming for teens and tweens.
- Estimated Course Length: 1 hour
- Course Open Date: October 23, 2023
Join us for this extended workshop on performance management with Cindy Carpenter SHRM-SCP, SPHR. Performance management is: The ongoing process in which managers and employees regularly communicate to assess and review job responsibilities, expectations, performance and development strategies.
- Course Open Date: March 27, 2026
- Webinar Recording Date: March 18, 2026
- Estimated course length: 2-hours
Participants will learn about how to create a written strategic plan that will help library leadership effectively prioritize and take action on the decisions that will help the library be successful for many years to come.
- Estimated course length: 1-hour
- Course Open Date: April 21, 2025
This course will provide an overview for policy development processes and resources. Policies that are consistent with laws and fair for library staff and patrons help libraries in their mission to provide information and safe spaces for their communities.
Course content is based on the MSL Policy Development Handbook and content from a webinar series with legal expert Kris Goss.
- Course Open Date: October 15, 2025
- Estimated course length: 2-hours
In-person workshop/training by MSL Consultants. This course is available face-to-face or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (tcook2@mt.gov), Cara Orban (corban@mt.gov) or Corey Sloan (cosloan@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by the Consultant.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
- Teacher: Cara Orban
- Teacher: Corey Sloan
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
1-hour version.
It is available face-to-face or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (TCook2@mt.gov), Cara Orban (corban@mt.gov), or Corey Sloan (cosloan@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
- Teacher: Cara Orban
- Teacher: Corey Sloan
2-hour version.
It is available face-to-face or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (TCook2@mt.gov), Cara Orban (corban@mt.gov), or Corey Sloan (cosloan@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
- Teacher: Cara Orban
- Teacher: Corey Sloan
It is available face-to-face or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (TCook2@mt.gov), Cara Orban (corban@mt.gov), or Corey Sloan (cosloan@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
- Teacher: Cara Orban
- Teacher: Corey Sloan
This course is available face-to-face or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (TCook2@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
This hands-on session covers why libraries weed, criteria for weeding, special considerations, and gives students practice.
- This workshop is available onsite only.
- Please contact Tracy Cook (TCook2@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
This session is available face-to-face or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (tcook2@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
This session is available in person or virtually. Please contact Tracy Cook (TCook2@mt.gov), Cara Orban (corban@mt.gov), or Corey Sloan (cosloan@mt.gov) to schedule.
Participants will be enrolled in the course by MSL Staff.
Credit is issued upon completion of the course evaluation.
- Teacher: Tracy Cook
- Teacher: Cara Orban
- Teacher: Corey Sloan
