Dear colleagues,
 
The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS), a division of the American Library Association, is now accepting grant applications for the ALCTS online Fundamentals courses, for course sections beginning between February 25 and September 9, 2013. One free seat per section is available to librarians and information professionals from developing countries.

For full information about the grant, including criteria and a link to the application form, please see: http://www.ala.org/alcts/awards/grants/onlinegrant . Applications may be submitted between November 26 and December 30, 2012.
Fundamentals of Acquisitions
Session 1: March 11 – April 5 
Session 2: May 6 – May 31 
Session 3: August 19 – September 13
 
The Fundamentals of Acquisitions (FOA) web course focuses on the basics of acquiring monographs and serials:  goals and methods, financial management of library collections budgets, and relationships among acquisitions librarians, library booksellers, subscription agents, and publishers.  In this course, you will receive a broad overview of the operations involved in acquiring materials after the selection decision is made.  Note that in FOA, we distinguish between collection development, which involves the selection of materials for the library; and acquisitions, which orders, receives, and pays for those materials. 
Fundamentals of Collection Assessment
Session 1:  February 25 – April 5
Session 2:  April 29 – June 7
Session 3:  July 29 – September 6
 
This six-week online course introduces the fundamental aspects of collection assessment in libraries. The course is designed for those who are responsible for or interested in collection assessment in all types and sizes of libraries. The course will introduce key concepts in collection assessment including the definition of collection assessment, techniques and tools, assessment of print and electronic collections, and project design and management.
 
Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions
Session 1: February 25 – March 22
Session 2: April 15 – May 10
Session 3: July 29 – August 23
 
The Fundamentals of Electronic Resources Acquisitions (FERA) Web course will provide an overview of acquiring, providing access to, administering, supporting, and monitoring access to electronic resources.  It will provide a basic background in electronic resource acquisitions including product trials, licensing, purchasing methods, and pricing models and will provide an overview of the sometimes complex relationships between vendors, publishers, platform providers, and libraries.
 
This course is sponsored by Harrassowitz.
Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management
Session 1: March 4 – March 29
Session 2: April 29 – May 24
Session 3: August 5 – August 30
 
The Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management addresses the basic components of these important areas of responsibility in libraries. Components include complete definition of collection development and collection management; collections policies and budgets as part of library planning; collection development (selecting for and building collections); collection management (e.g., making decisions after materials are selected, including decisions about withdrawal, transfer, preservation); collection analysis—why and how to do it; outreach, liaison, and marketing; trends and suggestions about the future for collection development and management.
 
Fundamentals of Preservation
Session 1:  March 25 – April 19
Session 2:  May 13 – June 7
Session 3:  September 9 – October 4

The Fundamentals of Preservation introduces participants to the principles, policies and practices of preservation in libraries and archives.  The course is designed to inform all staff, across divisions and departments and at all levels of responsibility. It provides tools to begin extending the useful life of library collections.  Components include preservation as a formal library function and how it reflects and supports the institutional mission; the primary role of preventive care, including good storage conditions, emergency planning and careful handling of collections; the history and manufacture of physical formats and how this impacts preservation options; standard methods of care and repair, as well as reformatting options; and challenges in preserving digital content and what the implications are for the future of scholarship.
Thank you! We look forward to receiving your applications.
 
David Miller
Levin Library, Curry College
Milton, Massachusetts USA
Chair, ALCTS International Relations Committee