Clinical Associate Professor
Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management
What You'll Learn
- How to find demographic and persona data from online sources
- To conduct environmental scans
- How to analyze data to find patterns, overlaps, and gaps in available community services
- To synthesize your findings in a report
7 Modules
28 Hours
4 hrs per module (approx.)
About Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management
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.
Skills You'll Gain
- Investigation
- Library Management
- Research
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Identifying Community Needs for Public Library Management introduces strategies for understanding library patrons and communities through data analysis, surveys, interviews, and observation. As the first course in the Public Library Management series, learners build practical skills to assess community needs and translate findings into informed library services and decision-making.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: Introduction
- Navigating the edX Platform
- Welcome to the Course
- Syllabus
- Introduction
- Why Does This Matter?
- Discussion: About Yourself
- Quiz (3 Questions)
- Help us learn more about you!
Module 2: Environmental Scans
- Introduction
- Environmental Scan, Part 1
- Discussion: Environmental Scan
- Environmental Scan, Part 2
- Assessment (1 Question)
Module 3: Finding Data
- Introduction
- Discussion: Brainstorming Based on ESRI Tapestry
- Quiz (1 Question)
- Business Decision
- Discussion: Business Decisions
- Census Data
- School Data
- Discussion: Share Your Sticky Notes on Found Data
- Quiz (2 Questions)
Module 4: Surveys
- Introduction
- Question Types
- What Should You Ask?
- Strategic Survey Design
- Previewing a Sample Survey
- Quick & Dirty Feedback
- Discussion: Surveys
- Quiz (2 Questions)
Module 5: Reviewing Survey Data
- Introduction
- Visual Analysis
- Coding Open Responses
- Quiz (3 Questions)
- Optional Activity: Conduct a Survey
Module 6: Interviews and Focus Groups
- Introduction
- Developing Questions
- Discussion: Interviews
- Quiz (2 Questions)
- Extra Nuts and Bolts
- Notetaking
- Improvisational Interviewing
- Active Listening
- The Interview Itself
- Focus Groups
- Activity: Conduct Two Interviews
- Quiz (1 Questions)
Module 7: Synthesis
- Introduction
- Finding Critical Moments
- Assignment: Photograph Your Interview Sticky Notes!
- Introduction to Affinity Walls
- Starting an Affinity Wall
- Labeling Patterns
- Walking the Wall
- Discussion: Upload Photos of Your Affinity Wall
- Quiz (2 Questions)
- Writing the Report
- Peer-Reviewed Report (1 Question)
Module 8: Conclusion
- Conclusion
- Course Feedback
Grading Policy
Learners must earn at least 80% overall to pass. The course grade is based on seven quizzes (25%), Environmental Scan (25%), Photograph Your Interview Sticky Notes (10%), and Final Report (40%).
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
Access to a public library community
