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EXCEL: A certificate program in
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EXCEL Program
In the basic EXCEL program, there are seventeen courses currently offered in English and sixteen in French. Two of the courses, #16 (Professional development) and #17 (Electronic Information Sources) are offered as online courses. A complete list of the core and elective courses is posted below. Not all courses are offered every semester, so be sure to check the course cycle list for details.
Candidates pursuing a Certificate in managing a small public library must complete at least ten EXCEL courses, including six of the core courses, within five years. In special circumstances, students may be allowed to extend this five-year limit. Permission to do so must be requested (in writing) from the EXCEL Course Director. The student must clearly state the reason for the request. Individuals not interested in pursuing the certificate, may take courses of interest to them.
Core Courses
1. Introduction to Public Libraries
Explains the purpose and format of EXCEL, including use of the course materials, basic study skills and preparing for exams. This orientation course provides an introduction to the purpose and function of libraries, and provides an overview of the governance, organization, collections, staffing and services of public libraries. Specialized vocabulary will be introduced and an understanding of the history of recorded information and current library issues such as copyright and censorship will be acquired.. This course may be taken concurrently with one other course in a student’s initial term. It is a requirement for the certificate. (6 modules)
2. Basic Library Management
Designed for chief executive officers, this course reviews the governance structure of public libraries, the implications of being a corporation, and the need for a constitution and by-laws. Discusses the roles and responsibilities of trustees, the chief executive officer, secretary and treasurer. Covers the management of library services, finance and personnel. Certificate candidates must take either this course or Supervision, but they may not take both.
3. Supervision
Designed for subordinate staff, and, in particular, branch heads, this course reviews the governance structure of public libraries with emphasis on county libraries and focuses on personnel issues. Following a discussion of roles and responsibilities of the chief executive officer and the branch head, the focus of the course switches to the supervision of personnel. Certificate candidates must take either this course or Basic library management, but they may not take both.
4. Information Services
Discusses selecting a basic reference collection, developing a search strategy for using that collection, types of reference service, how to answer typical questions, identifying outside resources, and developing effective reference interview techniques. This course does not cover sources of electronic information (see EXCEL course #17).
5. Library Marketing
Discusses planning in relation to marketing, including determining the target audience, developing appropriate programmes and services, choosing the correct marketing mix, and designing promotional materials. Covers resources available to assist in library marketing. This course is a requirement for the certificate programme.
6. Basic Collection Development
Discusses needs assessment, collection development policies, collection assessment, short- and long-term collection, planning, and buying plans. This course is a requirement for the certificate and a pre-/co-requisite for courses 7, 8 & 9.
7. Collection Development for Children
Reviews in detail books for young children (picture, Mother Goose, alphabet, counting, concept, beginning-to-read, wordless, paper-engineered), traditional literature for all ages (folktales, fables, myths, epics and legends), fiction (realistic fiction, mystery and detective, adventure, animal, ghost, historical, fantasy, science fiction), poetry, non-fiction, magazines, and touches on audiovisual material. Discusses selecting and evaluating these materials, and providing programmes and library services for children. Contains several bibliographies. Certificate candidates must take one of the three courses (7, 8 and 9) as a core course. If you wish, you may take the remaining two of 7, 8, and 9 as elective courses. (Offered in the Winter semester; one of these three courses is offered in the Summer semesters.)
8. Collection Development for Young Adults
Reviews, in detail, genre fiction (realistic fiction, romance, science fiction, fantasy, adventure, mystery, horror, and humour), non-fiction, magazines, and touches on audiovisual materials. Discusses selecting and evaluating these materials, and providing programmes and library services for young adults. Contains several bibliographies. Certificate candidates must take one of the three courses (7, 8 and 9) as a core course. If you wish, you may take the remaining two of 7, 8, and 9 as elective courses. (Offered in the Winter semester; one of these three courses is offered in the Summer semesters.)
9. Collection Development for Adults and Special Groups
Discusses selecting and evaluating fiction and non-fiction materials, including non-book materials, for adults and special groups, maintaining awareness of current trends and issues involving adult materials, and providing programmes and library services for adults and special groups. Certificate candidates must take one of the three courses (7, 8 and 9) as a core course. If you wish, you may take the remaining two of 7, 8, and 9 as elective courses.
10. Acquisitions and Serials -- (NO LONGER OFFERED)
Elective Courses
Students must complete up to six assignments and write a final examination. The assignments are based on practical applications to give students an opportunity to test the principles in their own work situations. Each course takes approximately fourteen weeks to complete.
11. Communication Skills
Covers basic writing skills and skills for specialized types of writing including reports, terms of reference, procedures, requests for proposals, annual reports and business letters. Covers oral presentation skills including preparing the presentation, using visual aids and delivering different types of talks.
12. Collection Organization
Covers principles of collection organization, use of Dewey Decimal Classification system, Library of Congress Subject Headings, CIP data, and ALA Filing Rules. Covers purchasing cataloguing from commercial vendors and describes the process of creating computerized bibliographic records using the IMPACT cataloguing software and the MARC coding system.
13. Circulation
Covers policies and procedures and files for circulation systems. Explores advantages and disadvantages of computerized circulation systems, but does not describe individual software packages in any detail.
14. Non-book Materials
This course is intended to broaden your understanding of non-book materials. It includes a discussion of the development of a non-book collection, and looks specifically at video recordings, audio recordings and CD-ROM materials.
15. Microcomputer Applications for Small Libraries -- (Under revision - not currently being offered)
16. Professional Development
Discusses objectives for attending a conference or workshop, using reporting techniques as follow-up to workshops and conferences and relating the workshop/conference to the individual library situation. Requires attendance at 12 hours of professional development events over a period of approximately 12 months.
17. Electronic Information Sources
Discusses the impact of electronic information technology on aspects of reference service such as the reference interview. Examines new options in the development of a reference collection and focuses on CD-ROM products and the Internet. Requires access to the Internet, and it is recommended that students taking this course have access to e-mail.
18. Planning for library service (Under revision)
Aimed at the CEO and other staff who are involved in the planning process for public libraries, this course discusses planning in detail, including needs assessment, surveys, goals and objectives, implementation, monitoring, evaluating and review.
19. Readers' Advisory Services
Readers’ advisory is the process of matching readers with books and books to readers. It is answering questions that have more to do with the patron’s leisure reading than their informational needs. Readers’ advisory deals with both fiction and non-fiction titles and a specific request may require both kinds of materials to meet a need. This course covers the techniques of working in the area of readers’ advisory work, but also provides suggestions for the range of options available in this type of service.
Those who have recently taken EXCEL #4 Information services will find some duplication, as some of the materials have been moved out of EXCEL #4 and into this new course, but be assured that the topic has been greatly expanded from the single section on readers’ advisory work that was found in EXCEL #4.
20. Programming
Public libraries have a rich tradition of programming with children, young adults and adults, as a way of providing additional opportunities for information, learning and entertainment. This course will cover various aspects around programming in the public library including development, planning, presentation and evaluation of programs for all ages. There is a section covering partnerships with other community agencies, organizations, educational and cultural institutions, or individuals, to develop and present co-sponsored public programs. Policy issues such as fees, permissions and liabilities will also be discussed in this course.