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Kristin Fontichiaro
Public libraries are becoming dynamic hubs for learning, civic engagement, and community.
Read more
Public libraries are becoming dynamic hubs for learning, civic engagement, and community.
Read more
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.
What you'll learn
● 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.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/5bgiou/identifying
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What's inside
Syllabus
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
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Develops skills that are relevant to managing public libraries, as it teaches learners how to assess the needs of diverse public library communities
Teaches learners how to gather and analyze data to make better management decisions, which is essential for effective management in the face of limited budgets
Involves real-world investigations, empowering learners with practical experience in understanding community needs
Covers a range of research methods, enabling learners to choose the most appropriate methods for their needs
Emphasizes hands-on learning, making the course highly applicable to real-world scenarios
Provides opportunities for learners to collaborate with community partners, fostering networking opportunities
Save this course
Save Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management with these
activities:
Volunteer at a local community organization
Show steps
Volunteer at a local community organization to gain firsthand experience of community needs and challenges, enhancing understanding for library programming.
Browse courses on
Community Involvement
Show steps
-
Identify a local community organization that aligns with the library's mission
-
Contact the organization to inquire about volunteer opportunities
-
Participate in volunteer activities and engage with community members
-
Reflect on volunteer experiences and identify insights for library services
Practice gathering demographic and persona data
Show steps
Practice gathering demographic and persona data to better understand the community surrounding the library and tailor services accordingly.
Show steps
-
Identify sources of demographic and persona data
-
Use online tools to collect data
-
Analyze and interpret data
Conduct an environmental scan
Show steps
Conduct an environmental scan to identify key trends and issues impacting the community, allowing the library to align its services with community needs.
Show steps
-
Identify the scope and purpose of the environmental scan
-
Gather data from multiple sources
-
Analyze and interpret data to identify trends and issues
-
Develop recommendations for how the library can address identified needs
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Design a survey to gather community input
Show steps
Create a survey to gather feedback and insights from the community, enabling the library to make data-driven decisions.
Browse courses on
Survey Design
Show steps
-
Define the purpose and objectives of the survey
-
Develop survey questions that align with objectives
-
Pilot test the survey to ensure clarity and effectiveness
-
Distribute the survey to the community using appropriate channels
-
Analyze and interpret survey results to identify key findings
Develop a plan for community engagement
Show steps
Create a comprehensive plan outlining strategies for engaging with the community and building strong relationships to support the library's mission.
Browse courses on
Community Engagement
Show steps
-
Conduct a needs assessment to identify community interests and priorities
-
Develop a variety of community engagement activities and programs
-
Establish partnerships with other organizations and agencies in the community
-
Create a marketing and outreach strategy to promote community engagement activities
-
Evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement efforts and make adjustments as needed
Participate in a peer discussion group on public library community engagement
Show steps
Engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from others working in the field of public library community engagement.
Browse courses on
Public Libraries
Show steps
-
Identify or join a peer discussion group focused on public library community engagement
-
Regularly participate in group discussions, sharing insights and experiences
-
Collaborate with peers on projects or initiatives related to community engagement
Volunteer at a local community organization
Show steps
Volunteer at a local community organization to gain firsthand experience of community needs and challenges, enhancing understanding for library programming.
Browse courses on
Community Involvement
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a local community organization that aligns with the library's mission
- Contact the organization to inquire about volunteer opportunities
- Participate in volunteer activities and engage with community members
- Reflect on volunteer experiences and identify insights for library services
Practice gathering demographic and persona data
Show steps
Practice gathering demographic and persona data to better understand the community surrounding the library and tailor services accordingly.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify sources of demographic and persona data
- Use online tools to collect data
- Analyze and interpret data
Conduct an environmental scan
Show steps
Conduct an environmental scan to identify key trends and issues impacting the community, allowing the library to align its services with community needs.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify the scope and purpose of the environmental scan
- Gather data from multiple sources
- Analyze and interpret data to identify trends and issues
- Develop recommendations for how the library can address identified needs
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Design a survey to gather community input
Show steps
Create a survey to gather feedback and insights from the community, enabling the library to make data-driven decisions.
Browse courses on
Survey Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Define the purpose and objectives of the survey
- Develop survey questions that align with objectives
- Pilot test the survey to ensure clarity and effectiveness
- Distribute the survey to the community using appropriate channels
- Analyze and interpret survey results to identify key findings
Develop a plan for community engagement
Show steps
Create a comprehensive plan outlining strategies for engaging with the community and building strong relationships to support the library's mission.
Browse courses on
Community Engagement
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Conduct a needs assessment to identify community interests and priorities
- Develop a variety of community engagement activities and programs
- Establish partnerships with other organizations and agencies in the community
- Create a marketing and outreach strategy to promote community engagement activities
- Evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement efforts and make adjustments as needed
Participate in a peer discussion group on public library community engagement
Show steps
Engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas, share experiences, and learn from others working in the field of public library community engagement.
Browse courses on
Public Libraries
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify or join a peer discussion group focused on public library community engagement
- Regularly participate in group discussions, sharing insights and experiences
- Collaborate with peers on projects or initiatives related to community engagement
Career center
Learners who complete Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Community Development Manager
Community Development Manager
As a Community Development Manager, your objective is to identify and meet the needs of a community, and you do this by working with a variety of stakeholders. This course can help you gain a broader perspective of those community needs, and this includes the wants and needs of organizations within that community, whether they are within the public sphere, private sector, or non-profit sector. By learning how to conduct an environmental scan and use other data-driven methods, such as interviews and focus groups, you will be better at identifying these needs and will be better equipped to allocate funding or resources to address those needs.
Urban Planner
Urban Planner
As an Urban Planner, you design plans and policies for the development and use of land in cities and towns. A deep understanding of the needs of a community is critical, which includes having a strong knowledge of the people in the community, whether they are residents or visitors. This course can help you understand these community needs through data analysis, both from found data as well as through data you gather yourself via environmental scans, interviews, focus groups, and surveys.
Community Outreach Coordinator
Community Outreach Coordinator
As a Community Outreach Coordinator, you will assume the role of building and maintaining relationships with the community and developing strategies for community engagement. Understanding the wants and needs of the community you serve is essential to your role. This course can help you learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you better understand the demographics of the community and can help you identify gaps in services that may exist within the community.
Public relations manager
Public relations manager
As a Public Relations Manager, you can help organizations across the public sector, private sector, and non-profit sector build relationships with the public. This requires you to understand your target audience, which may be a particular community. This course can help you gain the skills necessary to identify and meet the needs of a community, including data-driven methods, such as conducting an environmental scan or focus group.
Social Worker
Social Worker
As a Social Worker, you work with individuals, families, and groups to help them address challenges and improve their well-being. This may sometimes involve working with community organizations, which requires you to understand the needs of the community. This course can help you develop those skills, including how to find demographic and persona data from online sources, how to conduct environmental scans and surveys, and how to lead focus groups and interviews.
Nonprofit Program Director
Nonprofit Program Director
As a Nonprofit Program Director, you develop and implement programs to meet the needs of a community. Understanding those needs and working with community organizations is essential for your role, which is why this course can be highly valuable to your career. This course will teach you how to gather statistical and descriptive data about the community, which can help you design and implement programs that successfully address the wants and needs of the community.
Community Organizer
Community Organizer
As a Community Organizer, you build relationships with community members, identify issues that affect the community, and develop strategies to address those issues. This requires you to have a deep understanding of the needs of the community you serve, and this course can help you develop those skills. This course will teach you how to find demographic and persona data from online sources, how to conduct environmental scans and surveys, and how to lead focus groups and interviews.
Market Research Analyst
Market Research Analyst
As a Market Research Analyst, you conduct research to help organizations understand their target audiences and make better decisions. This often involves conducting surveys and analyzing data, skills which can be learned in this course. This course may be particularly helpful for those who intend to work for consultancies or in the public sector, who may need to conduct research for clients or for use in developing and implementing public policy.
Political Campaign Manager
Political Campaign Manager
As a Political Campaign Manager, you plan and execute political campaigns for candidates running for office. To be successful, you need to understand the needs and wants of your target audiences, which may be a particular community. This course can help you learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you better understand the demographics of the community and can help you identify gaps in services that may exist within the community.
Journalist
Journalist
As a Journalist, you can help build a more informed citizenry. One way to do that is to understand the wants and needs of the community you serve. By taking this course, you can learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you craft compelling stories that will resonate with your audience.
Teacher
Teacher
As a Teacher, you inspire and educate students in a variety of settings. This course may be useful for those who work in schools, particularly in lower income areas, where understanding your students' community is vital to your effectiveness as a teacher.
Police Officer
Police Officer
As a Police Officer, you protect and serve communities. This requires developing a deep understanding of the unique needs of the community you serve. This course may be useful, as it will allow you to learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you understand the community's demographics and can help you identify gaps in services that may exist within the community.
EMT
EMT
As an EMT, you provide emergency medical care to patients. This requires developing a deep understanding of the unique needs of the community you serve. This course may be useful, as it will allow you to learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you understand the community's demographics and can help you identify gaps in services that may exist within the community.
Firefighter
Firefighter
As a Firefighter, you protect and serve communities. This requires developing a deep understanding of the unique needs of the community you serve. This course may be useful, as it will allow you to learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you understand the community's demographics and can help you identify gaps in services that may exist within the community.
Paramedic
Paramedic
As a Paramedic, you provide emergency medical care to patients. This requires developing a deep understanding of the unique needs of the community you serve. This course may be useful, as it will allow you to learn how to gather statistical and descriptive data about a community, which can help you understand the community's demographics and can help you identify gaps in services that may exist within the community.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5bgiou/identifying
Reading list
We've selected eight books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management.
Provides an introduction to social research methods, with a focus on how to collect, analyze, and interpret data.
Provides a guide to conducting mixed methods research, which combines quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.
Save
Provides a fascinating look at the art of gathering. It explores the different ways that people come together, and it offers tips on how to create more meaningful gatherings.
Provides a practical guide to community engagement for librarians. It offers tips on how to build relationships with community members, and it provides case studies of successful library-led community engagement initiatives.
Save
Provides a step-by-step guide to conducting social research, with a focus on how to design and conduct research projects.
Provides a guide to survey methods, with a focus on how to design and conduct surveys.
Collection of essays that explore the history, role, and future of public libraries. It provides a broad overview of the field, and it offers insights into the challenges and opportunities that libraries face.
Provides a guide to writing survey questionnaires, with a focus on how to write questions that are clear, concise, and unbiased.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/5bgiou/identifying
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Effort
4 to 5 hours per week for 4 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
The University of Michigan
Instructor
Kristin Fontichiaro
Language
English
Transcript
English
This course belongs to a
collection
called
Public Library Management. It's comprised of eight courses:
- Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries
- Public Library Marketing and Public Relations
- Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management (viewing)
- Managing a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace for Public Libraries
- Strategic Planning for Public Libraries
- Personnel Management for Public Libraries
- Infrastructure Management for Public Libraries
- Budgeting and Finance for Public Libraries
Good to know
Develops skills that are relevant to managing public libraries, as it teaches learners how to assess the needs of diverse public library communities
Teaches learners how to gather and analyze data to make better management decisions, which is essential for effective management in the face of limited budgets
Involves real-world investigations, empowering learners with practical experience in understanding community needs
Covers a range of research methods, enabling learners to choose the most appropriate methods for their needs
Emphasizes hands-on learning, making the course highly applicable to real-world scenarios
Provides opportunities for learners to collaborate with community partners, fostering networking opportunities
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