Continuing Education Newsletter | July 1, 2025

Continuing Education Information | Certification Information

New Certifications

The Montana Library Certification Program was established to promote continuing education and to recognize librarians and trustees who continue to expand their knowledge and skills to provide improved services for patrons and communities.

Visit the updated Certification webpage for more information.

Congratulations to May and June completions by:

• Cathy Brandvold – Valier Public Library
• Amanda Baugus – Great Falls Public Library
• Amanda Burkhart – Lewis and Clark Library
• Guna Chaberek – Mineral County Public Library
• Carmen Clark – Bozeman Public Library
• Abigail Dooley – North Lake County Public Library
• Brandie Gouley – Meagher County-City Library
• Treva Higgins – Great Falls Public Library
• Larry Klee – Billings Public Library
• Noreen Marullo – Billings Public Library
• Robert Mueller – Missoula Public Library
• Carrie Murnion – Garfield County Free Library
• Jessalyn Ritland – Chouteau County Library
• Emmon Rogers – Lewis and Clark Library
• Emily Sandersfeld – North Valley Public Library
• Jacque Scott – Carnegie Public Library of Big Timber
• Megan Thomas – Billings Public Library
• Rachel Wahlstrom - Meagher County-City Library
• Shannon Washburn - Meagher County-City Library

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.  LiFT—Library Foundational Training.

The first of these new courses is now available for enrollment! Use your free WebJunction account to enroll today.

Recent Webinars and New Videos

• Introduction to the Public Library Staffing & Salaries Study Dashboard and Compensation Handbook
• Patron Privacy and Practical Steps for Data Management in Montana Public Libraries
• Legal Topics: Drafting, Enforcing, and Managing Operational Policies
• Webside Chat

You can claim credits in ASPeN for each of these recordings.

Upcoming Webinars

• July 8 Legal Topics: Patron Behavior and Safety Policies
• July 15 Legal Topics: Surveillance and Video Recordings in Public Spaces
• July 22 Legal Topics: Meeting Rooms and the Library as a Public Forum
• August 12 Navigating the Roadmap to Excellence: Programming in Libraries
• August 15 Webside Chat
• August 19 Legal Topics: Children/Minors in the Library
• September 9 Navigating the Roadmap to Excellence: Increase Community Awareness
• September 23 Legal Topics: Personnel Questions and Laws
• September 30 Legal Topics: Conducting an Executive Session in a Public Meeting

Check the ASPeN Event Calendar for details!

Continuing Education and MSL Learn Badges

For those tracking credits for MSL Certification, credits are transferred to ASPeN at the end of each month for all course completions--no need to navigate between MSL Learn and ASPeN.

There are several groups of courses you can take to earn special MSL Learn badges. A digital badge is a visual symbol of your successful effort.  You can add them to a LinkedIn profile or other "digital wallets" to keep evidence of your continuing education. 

For MSL Learn, you earn badges for each course you complete and you can earn a badge for a set of courses.  

The Library Trustee Core Course badge includes these courses:

• Montana Library Law
• Next Level Montana Library Law
• Trustee Essentials: Responsibilities
• Trustee Essentials: Understanding Local Government Budgeting and Finance
• Trustee Essentials: Understanding Local Government and Its Relationship to the Library
• Connecting with Local Government Officials
• Public Library Standards
• Board Member Basics
• 9 hours of coursework and credits

New Director Course of Study badge includes these courses:

• Montana Library Law
• Next Level Montana Library Law
• Trustee Essentials: Responsibilities
• Trustee Essentials: Understanding Local Government Budgeting and Finance
• Trustee Essentials: Understanding Local Government and Its Relationship to the Library
• Connecting with Local Government Officials
• Public Library Standards
• Montana State Library: A Greater State of Knowledge
• Youth Services Overview
• Hacking ASPeN: A How-to Course for Directors, Staff, and Trustees
• MontanaLibrary2Go
• 11 hours of coursework and credits

Login to MSL Learn with your OKTA credential and start earning those badges! Continuing education credits will be added to your ASPeN account.

Looking Back

Montana State Library, 1997-08 - Big Sky Libraries, Volume 52 (1997-08). Montana History Portal, accessed 26/06/2025, https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/115448

Questions? 

Colet Bartow, MSL Continuing Education Coordinator, 406-444-3365

The MSL Continuing Education program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and  Technology Act as administered by the Montana State Library.