ABLE & LiFT Courses

ABLE, alternative basic library education is transitioning to LiFT, library foundational trainingABLE has been providing online education on library basics for library staff world-wide since 1998. Over 5,000 ABLE Course Completion Certificates have been issued individuals in 32 countries.

Beginning in 2024 with the support of an IMLS Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program grant (RE-256627-OLS-24), the Idaho Commission for Libraries has been partnering with OCLC’s WebJunction to create new series of courses focused on building core skills for library staff. This new series of courses is called LiFT: Library Foundational Training and new LiFT courses will replace ABLE courses as they are developed.

LiFT Courses

Stand-alone courses

Public Library Fundamentals (1 hour)

The Reference Interview (1 hour)

Collection Management Series

  1. Introduction to Library Collections (1 hour)
  2. Introduction to Collection Policies (1 hour)
  3. Selection and Acquisitions (1 hour)
  4. Organizing and Maintaining a Collection (1 hour)
  5. Collection Assessment (1 hour)
  6. Weeding the Collection (1 hour)

Library Catalog Series

  1. Introduction to the Library Catalog (1 hour)
  2. Classification and Call Numbers (1 hour)
  3. Subject Headings (1 hour)
  4. Copy Cataloging (2 hours)

ABLE Courses

Technical Services Sequence

  1. Introduction to Technical Services and Catalog Records (1.5 contact hours)
  2. Introduction to Subject Headings (3 contact hours)
  3. Introduction to Dewey Classification (2 contact hours)
  4. Introduction to MARC Cataloging (2 contact hours)

Public Services Sequence

  1. Ethics and Public Service (2.0 contact hours)

Youth Services Courses

Countdown to Coding

Countdown to Coding is an online tutorial designed to help library staff and other caregivers understand basic computer science concepts and learn to integrate these concepts into regular storytime and playtime. (1 contact hour)

Early Childhood Services

(3 contact hours)

Young Adult (YA) Services

(2 contact hours)

More Information:

  • Click here for a list of states which accept these courses for their continuing education programs.
  • For accessibility purposes, text-only versions of the audio narration for each ABLE course is available at this page.
  • Questions or comments may be directed to the Idaho Commission for Libraries’ Continuing Education Consultant at (208) 334-2150. 

A recent user commented:

Thank you for such generosity in sharing your knowledge…..I work as a library aide in two schools in Brisbane, Australia. Your courses will be invaluable to me and many others….A big thank you to all the people at the Idaho Commission for Libraries whose thoughtfulness, knowledge and hard work has contributed to this venture. 

All the best, , Helen Abbott, Teacher Aide, Brisbane, Australia