Home » Helpful Tools for Libraries

Helpful Tools for Libraries

Here is a list of tools that might be helpful to your library. This isn’t an endorsed list and there are other tools available, but these are tools that many libraries in Indiana use. Some are free and others have a cost.

Banned and Challenged Books

- - ALA Banned & Challenged Books – find helpful information and support
  - Butler Public Library Collection Development and Reconsideration Policy packet – feel free to use and tailor for your own library

Circulation and Collections

- - A Simple Book Repair Manual – a guide to repairing books, including necessary tools and instructions for ten simple repairs
  - CREW Weeding Manual – the classic weeding manual, revise in 2012

Communication

- - Discord – YouTube tutorial by Andrew Laverghetta, Eckart Public Library public service specialist – “Your place to talk” – communication tool / perpetual message board or chat room. Click here to go to Discord’s website.
  - Slack – workplace chat app

COVID information

- - Activities and resources for the COVID-19 Crisis
  - COVID-19 Webinars – Resources for Libraries

Digital items (ebooks, emagazines, videos, etc.)

- - Flipster – digital magazines through EBSCO
  - Hoopla – streaming platform for audio books, comics, e-books, movies, music & tv
  - Kanopy – streaming platform for films & documentaries
  - Overdrive/Libby – access Ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and more available for free / Indiana Digital Library – public libraries in Indiana with legal service area population under 150,000 are eligible to join the Indiana Digital Library
  - TumbleBooks – curated database of children’s e-books and more

First Amendment Audits

- - Auditing the First Amendment at Your Library – from the ALA Intellectual Freedom Blog, Deborah Caldwell-Stone, October 2, 2019
  - ISL Legal Memo – First Amendment Audits – July 22, 2021
  - Uptick in First Amendment Audits – American Libraries, Cass Balzer, January 3, 2022

Internships

- - Work & Learn Indiana – this program links employers, learners, high schools, colleges and universities – it is a searchable database, matching and reporting system that also provides resources and guidance on work-based learning opportunities

Library Basics

- - WebJunction’s Foundational ABLE and SABLE Courses – “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 … These courses are organized into 3 key topical areas, Collection Development, Technical Services, and Public Services.”

Miscellaneous

- - Doodlepoll – simple way to schedule meetings
  - Kahoot – game-based learning platform
  - Niche Academy – tool for creating online training
  - PrinterOn – print on demand from laptop, tablet or smartphone
  - Tasks for down time pdf
  - Wakelet – a free resource to capture, organize and share multi-media resources with students, teachers, and learning communities

Populations

- - Getting Started with Library Customer Service – a self-paced module for customer service
  - Libraries and Autism – video, resources and tips for working with patrons with autism
  - A Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness – an explanation of library services to homeless patrons

Presenting

- - Use a second laptop as an extended monitor with Windows 10 wireless displays

Public Relations

- - Canva – online design tool – great for library signs or images for webpage
  - Constant Contact – email marketing software
  - LibraryAware – newsletter software EBSCO product cost is determined on library population
  - Wowbrary – informs library patrons by email and/or RSS about your library’s newest items

Readers Advisory

- - Indiana Librarian Book Review Blogs

Reading Logs

Resume Builders

- - Resume Generator – made by a librarian at the Allen County Public Library

Security

- - RUN. HIDE. FIGHT – from the City of Houston, tips for surviving an active shooter event

Tech Tools

- - DigitalLearn – launched in 2013 by the Public Library Association, this is a collection of self-directed tutorials for users to increase their digital literacy
  - Favorite Tech Tools for Busy Librarians – Pam Seabolt’s (MCLS) Wakelet board

Video Conferencing

Video Creation

- - Camtasia – software for creating video tutorials – screen recorder & video editor
  - Flipgrid – record & share short videos
  - Icecream Screen Recorder – free screen recording software
  - ScreenPal – screen recorder & video editor (formerly called Screencast-O-Matic)

Website Development (this is an informational list, not an endorsement for specific companies)

- - ALA Accessibility Guidelines
  - Canva – online design tool – great for library signs or images for webpage
  - Codecademy – teaches programming skills to students of all levels
  - ConnectIN – Indiana State Library provides free high-quality and functional websites for public libraries, websites are hosted at the Indiana State Library and built through WordPress
  - Digital Hill – developed the NICCL website
  - FontAwesome – find vector images and icons for websites
  - Iconic Digital – web design firm
  - Syndetics Unbound – modern user interface for online catalogs
  - Weebly – free website builder (subscription available for advanced features)
  - Wix – free website builder (subscription available for advanced features)
  - WordPress courses – courses by WordPress
  - WordPress.com
  - – blogging platform hosted by WordPress
  - WordPress.org – software can be installed on to your computer and you find your own hosting provider
  - Wowbrary – informs library patrons by email and/or RSS about your library’s newest items

YouTube Channels

- - Angela Hursh – Library Marketing Expert

PDO updated 6-12-2023