FAQ

How does this differ from library school?

We offer continuing education in practical skills. While academic programs focus on conceptual understanding of foundations, we focus on the kinds of skills that library schools generally expect librarians to learn on-the-job, but which usually turn out to require additional study. Library institutions generally expect their staff to stay current, and they support professional development activities to that end. Some librarians go to conferences, and some take classes like the ones we offer. (And some do both.) We plan our courses based on what librarians are saying they need to learn as their jobs evolve.

How does it work?

Our courses use an online course management system. We use Moodle, an easy-to-use open source platform with few technical requirements beyond an internet connection and standard browser interface. Courses are taught asynchronously (meaning that you don’t have to be online at any particular time) and involve reading assignments, offline activities, and class participation. Our strong emphasis is on interaction between the students and the instructors, and this is where the value of our courses lies. A four week course involves about fifteen hours of work (3.75 hours per week). Our instructors are knowledgeable professionals actively engaged in the learning process and are there to support you.

Do you offer webinars?

We occasionally offer free webinars that promote our classes and cover various topics at a basic level. Our actual classes are not taught using a webinar platform, but are strictly asynchronous, allowing to do the work on your own schedule.

Who are your instructors?

Most of our instructors are librarians at academic and research institutions, some are library consultants, and some are library and information science faculty. They teach for us because they have developed significant specialized knowledge in an area of practical application in our field. Some are innovators, some scholars, and some are simply technical experts with teaching abilities. If you would like to propose teaching a class for us, we would be interested in hearing about your idea.

Are your classes open to non-librarians?

Although we design our classes with primarily librarians in mind, there are no restrictions on who can enroll. If the topic interests you and you’re ready for the content, you are most welcome to register and participate in the class.

If I take your classes, can I earn a qualification to be a librarian?

Our classes do not substitute for an academic degree, such as a masters degree in library and information science. Most of our students hold such degrees already. Degrees like this are normally what qualifies a person to be a librarian. If you want to work as a librarian at a library that doesn’t require you to have such a degree, you might be interested in earning the Library Support Staff Certification from the ALA-APA. We have classes that satisfy their requirements.

How do I enroll?

To enroll yourself or other participants in a class, use the “Register” button that follows the description of each course. If the “Register” button does not show up, try loading the page in a different web browser. Contact us if you have technical difficulties using our shopping cart system or would like to pay for an enrollment using another method. On the payment page in the shopping cart system, there is a place to add notes, such as the names and email addresses of participants you wish to enroll. We will contact you to request this information in response to your processed payment if you do not include it in the “notes” field. Prior to the start of the workshop, we will send participants their login instructions.

The class starts on Monday and I haven’t received my login information. What do I do?

Just be patient. Our normal procedure is to create new accounts and send out login information the afternoon before the start of a class, which normally means Sunday afternoon. If it’s Monday and you still haven’t received the information you need, please contact us.

Do you give accredited CEUs (Continuing Education Units) or PDHs?

A four-week course through Library Juice Academy earns 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs (15 hours of work); however, our CEUs and PDHs are not accredited by IATEC or other organizations. If your institution expects you to earn CEUs or PDHs, you should inquire as to accreditation requirements. We have some comments regarding CE program accreditation and why we have not sought it thus far, if you are interested.

Are your classes synchronous or asynchronous?

Our courses are asynchronous rather than synchronous, by which we mean that participants are not required to be online for class meetings at any particular time, but can participate at their own convenience. Classes take place within a fixed time-frame however, and are typically divided into one-week segments. You will have assignments that are due at the end of each week, but you don’t have to be online at any particular time during that week in order to complete them. Some instructors will set up an optional chat session that is technically a synchronous component to their courses, but those chat sessions are strictly optional.

How much work is involved?

Our intention is for participants to do fifteen hours of work in a four-week course, or 3.75 hours per week. Six-week courses require 22.5 hours of work. Courses are designed accordingly.

To earn a certificate, can I take the classes over a few years?

Yes.

Do I get some kind of documentation when I complete a course?

Yes, you get a “Certificate of Completion.” About five weeks after the end of a course, assuming you have passed it, you will get an email with a link to the PDF. This email will come from a third-party service called Certifier. You may need to check your spam folder for it. We also offer printed certificates suitable for framing, both for individual courses and our longer certificate programs, free of charge. If you have any questions about certificates of completion, please contact us.

How long will I have access to the materials?

You will have access to your course materials and grades as long as we’re in business. Courses taken prior to August 2017 may not have continued access, depending on a number of factors.

Can I register late?

You can enroll up until the end of the first week of instruction, provided that the class is not already full.

Do you accept credit cards?

Yes, we accept major credit cards – VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.

Do you accept PayPal?

Yes, we accept Paypal. This may be convenient for you if you want to register for an entire certificate program using Paypal’s Bill Me Later service, for example.

Can you issue our institution a quote, an invoice, or a billing statement?

Yes. We can accommodate your institutions procurement process, whatever it may be. We can send a quote, prepare an invoice based on a purchase order, or whatever you need. Just contact us to make arrangements.

Do you accept other forms of payment?

Contact us to arrange an alternative form of payment.

Can we pay for multiple workshops or multiple participants with a single transaction?

Yes.

Do you give discounts?

We give discounts on purchases of bundles of registrations. Five registrations (in four-week classes) come at a 10% discount; 15 at a 15% discount, and 25 registrations come at a 20% discount. You can purchase these bundles here, or you can contact us to create a customized bundle for you with a specific number of seats. Bundled registrations can be used to register multiple people for individual classes, or can be used to register individuals in several classes over time. Registration credits must be used within a year from purchase.

What currency are your prices in?

Our prices are in US dollars.

Can I enroll from another country than the USA?

You can participate in a workshop from anywhere you can find internet access (with the exception of countries that are under US embargo, like Cuba, Iran and North Korea).

What happens if a class is canceled?

If we cancel a course for low enrollment or any other reason, you have the option of a refund or credit for a registration in another course.

What are your policies on dropped classes? Can we get a refund?

Participants may cancel their enrollment through the first week of class. Dropping will incur a $25 administrative fee to cover transaction costs. No refunds are possible after the first week, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

Participants may also transfer a registration to a different session or an alternate course prior to the start date without any fee.

What are the technical requirements of the course platform?

Our course platform, Moodle, has no specific technical requirements in terms of browsers, operating systems, java versions, etc. Technical requirements should not be an issue if you are using a reasonably up-to-date browser.

Do you offer technical support?

As with any any online service, participants encounter the occasional technical difficulty. We have technical support available, so contact us if you have any issues.

I seem to remember hearing a jingle advertising Library Juice Academy. Was that my imagination?

It was not your imagination. There is a song, and you can hear it here.