New Courses for Library, Archive, and Museum Staff
Tools and Strategies for Crisis Communications, Burnout, and De-escalation
Library, archive, and museum staff face similar challenges when it comes to responding to a crisis, de-escalating conflict, and addressing burnout. Four new on-demand courses provide staff in cultural heritage institutions with information and tools to learn about how to prepare for and handle these situations.
These courses respond to training needs and increased demands identified by the field, including pressures from a fast-changing environment, potential and experienced conflict, constraints to resources, and challenges in the workplace such as burnout. Each course includes perspectives and real-life approaches from people who have actively worked through similar challenges .
Self-paced courses offer support for everyone
These courses offer support and strategies for everyone, including frontline staff, management, and leadership. Learners will find both practical takeaways that can be implemented immediately as well as guidance to inform longer term strategic planning for leaders and management.
From Burnout to Balance, De-escalation Strategies, and Introduction to Crisis Communications include information to help staff at all levels, while Crisis Communications Planning addresses a leadership audience.
Explore the courses
Introduction to Crisis Communications for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
This course will guide you through the fundamentals of crisis communications, helping to understand the different types of crises and how to define them. With real-life examples and expert insights, you’ll sharpen your knowledge and evaluate your organization’s crisis preparedness.
Crisis Communications Planning for Libraries, Archives, and Museums
When a crisis strikes, clear communication and strong leadership are key. From identifying stakeholders to building a dedicated crisis communications team, you’ll learn practical strategies to handle any situation. Our customizable template will empower you to craft a Crisis Communications Plan that suits your organization’s unique needs.
From Burnout to Balance
Identify burnout causes, manage stress, and boost emotional resilience with this course. There’s something for everyone here, but managers at libraries, archives, or museums will develop skills to promote teamwork, communication, and mutual support in the workplace.
De-escalation Strategies for Libraries, Archives, and Museum Staff
Learn how to intervene in conflict effectively, enforce policies proactively, and promote an environment where everyone feels secure and valued.
Click on each course title to enroll in the WebJunction Course Catalog. Certificates of completion are available to help library staff meet CE and LEU credit requirements. Create your free account and start learning today.
Courses are also available without an account or certificate at oc.lc/cultural-heritage-courses.
Featured course resources
Each course includes supplementary resources to help you implement the learning and work with your team to create solutions that work for your institution. Resources include:
- Crisis Communications Plan Template
- Burnout to Balance: Personal Resilience Plan, Self-Care Playbook, and Journal with Self-Reflection Questions
- De-escalation Strategies: Scenarios for De-escalation Practice and Quick Guide
- Group Activities Guides for each course
Learn together
You may find this learning helpful on your own or consider learning together as a group. Each course includes a group activities guide that teams can use to work through the content together and adapt to their needs. The general Learning Group Facilitation Guide offers additional resources to help plan and lead a successful learning group.
Is it really free?
Yes. Through the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (project number ODIS-246644-ODIS-20), these courses are freely available to support staff at cultural heritage institutions everywhere.To learn more about the project, visit REALM Project on-demand courses.