Koha Training Resources and Courses

Whether you’re new to Koha or looking to master advanced features, comprehensive training ensures your library staff can use the system effectively. This guide covers free and paid training options, certification programs, and self-paced learning resources.

KohaSupport Training Programs

Professional Training Services

KohaSupport offers customized training for libraries of all sizes:

On-Site Training

What’s Included:

• In-person training at your library
• Customized curriculum based on your workflow
• Hands-on exercises with your Koha instance
• Training materials and job aids
• Post-training support (30 days)

Duration: 1-5 days (based on modules covered)

Pricing: Contact the provider for current rates and travel terms.

Best for: Libraries implementing Koha, staff wanting intensive hands-on training, teams needing customized workflows

Schedule: [email protected]

Virtual Live Training

What’s Included:

• Interactive video sessions (Zoom/Teams)
• Screen sharing and live demonstrations
• Q&A and troubleshooting
• Digital training materials
• Recorded sessions for reference

Duration: 2-4 hour sessions over 2-4 weeks

Pricing: Contact the provider for current rates and package options.

Best for: Remote teams, budget-conscious libraries, ongoing training needs, geographically dispersed staff

Schedule: [email protected]

Self-Paced Online Courses

KohaSupport Academy offers video-based courses:

Available Courses:

• Koha Basics for Circulation Staff (2 hours)
• Cataloging in Koha (4 hours)
• Koha Administration Fundamentals (6 hours)
• Advanced Reports and Analytics (3 hours)
• Complete Koha Certification Bundle (20+ hours)

Features:

• Lifetime access to course materials
• Video lessons with subtitles
• Downloadable exercises and checklists
• Certificate of completion
• Access to private student community

Enroll: academy.kohasupport.com

Training Curriculum by Role

Circulation Staff Training

Module 1: Basic Circulation (4 hours)

• Checking out items
• Checking in returns
• Processing holds/reserves
• Patron registration and account management
• Fine/fee calculation and payment processing
• Receipt and slip printing

Module 2: Advanced Circulation (4 hours)

• Offline circulation
• Item transfers between branches
• Claims returned and lost items
• Course reserves
• Inventory and stocktaking
• Statistical patrons and special transactions

Module 3: Circulation Troubleshooting (2 hours)

• Common error messages
• Override permissions
• Patron restrictions and blocks
• Item status problems
• System preference impacts

Cataloging Staff Training

Module 1: Cataloging Fundamentals (6 hours)

• MARC record structure and fields
• Creating bibliographic records
• Adding items to records
• Basic MARC editing
• Using cataloging frameworks
• Fast cataloging workflows

Module 2: Advanced Cataloging (8 hours)

• Z39.50 copy cataloging
• Authority control and linking
• MARC import/export
• Batch operations and bulk editing
• Analytics and series handling
• Original cataloging best practices

Module 3: Koha MARC Framework Customization (4 hours)

• Understanding framework structure
• Adding and removing fields
• Mandatory vs. optional fields
• Plugin configuration (e.g., call number builders)
• Testing framework changes

Acquisitions Staff Training

Module 1: Acquisitions Basics (6 hours)

• Creating and managing vendors
• Building acquisition baskets
• Ordering workflow
• Receiving shipments
• Processing invoices
• Budget and fund management

Module 2: Advanced Acquisitions (4 hours)

• EDI ordering and invoicing
• Suggestions management
• Claims and late orders
• Partial receipts and backorders
• Integration with cataloging

Serials Staff Training

Module 1: Serials Management (6 hours)

• Creating subscriptions
• Numbering patterns and frequencies
• Receiving issues
• Routing lists
• Claims for missing issues
• Subscription renewal

Reference and OPAC Training

Module 1: OPAC Features for Public Services (3 hours)

• Advanced search techniques
• Patron self-service features
• Placing holds and renewals
• Reading history and lists
• Article requests
• Troubleshooting patron issues

Module 2: Reference Tools in Koha (3 hours)

• Reading lists and shelves
• Tag management
• Custom OPAC pages
• Library hours and contact info
• News and announcements

Administrator Training

Module 1: System Administration Basics (8 hours)

• System preferences overview
• Patron categories and attributes
• Item types and collection codes
• Circulation and fine rules
• Library branches and groups
• Notice templates

Module 2: Advanced Administration (8 hours)

• MARC frameworks management
• Authorized values
• Classification sources
• Z39.50 server configuration
• Search configuration
• Task scheduler (cronjobs)

Module 3: Reports and Analytics (6 hours)

• Understanding Koha database structure
• SQL basics for report writing
• Using report templates
• Guided reports wizard
• Scheduling and automating reports
• Dashboard and statistics

Module 4: System Maintenance (4 hours)

• Database backup and restore
• Log file analysis
• Performance monitoring
• Upgrade preparation
• Plugin management

Free Training Resources

Official Koha Documentation

Koha Manual

• URL: https://koha-community.org/manual/
• Format: Comprehensive HTML and PDF documentation
• Versions: Available for all supported Koha versions
• Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, and more

Content Includes:

• Step-by-step instructions for all modules
• Screenshots and examples
• System preference explanations
• Troubleshooting guides
• Best practices recommendations

Video Tutorials

KohaSupport YouTube Channel

• URL: youtube.com/@kohasupport (example)
• Free tutorials on common tasks
• What’s New videos for each Koha release
• Troubleshooting tips and tricks
• Webinar recordings

Popular Playlists:

• Koha Basics (10 videos, 2 hours)
• Cataloging Workflows (8 videos, 1.5 hours)
• Reports Crash Course (6 videos, 1 hour)
• Administration Tips (12 videos, 2 hours)

Community Webinars

Koha-US Conference

• When: Annual (usually April/May)
• Format: Multi-day virtual or in-person conference
• Cost: Varies by year, venue, and scholarship availability
• Content: Presentations, workshops, networking
• Registration: kohacon.org (example)

Monthly Community Calls

• When: Third Wednesday of each month
• Time: 2:00 PM UTC
• Format: 1-hour video call (BigBlueButton or Zoom)
• Topics: Feature discussions, community updates, Q&A
• Registration: Free via Koha mailing list

Koha Wiki and Knowledge Base

Community Wiki

• URL: https://wiki.koha-community.org
• Content: Tutorials, tips, customization guides
• User-contributed: Community members share solutions
• Searchable: Find answers to specific questions

KohaSupport Knowledge Base

• URL: kohasupport.com/knowledge-base/
• Articles: 100+ guides on common topics
• Categories: Getting started, cataloging, circulation, administration, troubleshooting
• Regular updates: New content added weekly

Paid Training Providers

Koha Hosting and Support Companies

Most Koha support companies offer training:

ByWater Solutions

• On-site and virtual training
• Certification programs
• Custom curriculum development
• Contact: [email protected]
• Website: bywatersolutions.com/education (example)

PTFS Europe

• UK and European training
• Multi-lingual instruction
• Integration training (e.g., EBSCO, ProQuest)
• Contact: [email protected]

Equinox Open Library Initiative

• North American training
• Migration-focused training
• Evergreen to Koha conversion
• Contact: [email protected]

Theke Solutions

• Latin American training (Spanish/Portuguese)
• Development training for programmers
• Custom plugin development
• Contact: [email protected]

Training Consultants

Independent Koha trainers for specialized needs:

Services Offered:

• One-on-one coaching
• Troubleshooting sessions
• Customization training
• Database and SQL training
• Migration assistance

Finding Trainers:

• Search Koha mailing list archives
• Ask on #koha IRC/Matrix
• LinkedIn Koha groups
• Local library consortia

Koha Certification Programs

KohaSupport Certified Professional

Certification Levels:

1. Certified Koha User (CKU)

Requirements:

• Complete Basic Training modules (12 hours)
• Pass online exam (80% required)
• Demonstrate proficiency in circulation and OPAC

Pricing: Contact the provider for current certification pricing.

Validity: 2 years (renewal via continuing education or re-exam)

Benefits:

• Official certification badge
• Listed in KohaSupport professional directory
• Priority support on community forums

2. Certified Koha Administrator (CKA)

Requirements:

• Hold CKU certification or equivalent experience
• Complete Administrator Training (24 hours)
• Pass advanced online exam (85% required)
• Submit 3 case studies of system configurations

Pricing: Contact the provider for current certification pricing.

Validity: 3 years

Benefits:

• Advanced certification badge
• Job board priority
• Discounts on consulting services
• Access to admin-only resources

3. Certified Koha Developer (CKD)

Requirements:

• Programming experience (Perl, JavaScript, SQL)
• Complete Developer Training (40 hours)
• Submit 2 code contributions to Koha community
• Pass technical exam and code review

Pricing: Contact the provider for current certification pricing.

Validity: 3 years

Benefits:

• Developer certification badge
• Access to development resources
• Invitation to developer meetings
• Paid bugfix/feature development opportunities

Enroll: [email protected]

Community Certifications

Koha-US Certification

• Administered by Koha-US committee
• Volunteer-run program
• Free or low-cost
• Info: koha-us.org/certification (example)

Training for Specific Library Types

Public Libraries

Focus Areas:

• High-volume circulation
• Patron self-service (self-checkout, OPAC)
• Community programming (meeting rooms, equipment)
• Interlibrary loan
• Patron privacy and confidentiality

Recommended Training:

• Circulation modules (8 hours)
• OPAC customization (4 hours)
• Reports for public library statistics (3 hours)

Academic Libraries

Focus Areas:

• Course reserves
• Serials management
• Authority control and MARC standards
• Integration with discovery layers (VuFind, Blacklight)
• Institutional repository links

Recommended Training:

• Cataloging and authority control (12 hours)
• Acquisitions and serials (10 hours)
• Advanced reports and analytics (6 hours)
• API and integration (4 hours)

School Libraries

Focus Areas:

• Student-friendly OPAC
• Simplified cataloging
• Reading level and age-appropriate filtering
• Teacher/student account management
• Book fair and inventory

Recommended Training:

• Basic circulation and cataloging (8 hours)
• OPAC for younger patrons (2 hours)
• Inventory and book fair workflows (2 hours)

Special Libraries

Focus Areas:

• Specialized cataloging (archives, museums, law, medical)
• Controlled vocabularies and thesauri
• Digital asset management
• Research request tracking
• Limited public access

Recommended Training:

• Advanced cataloging (12 hours)
• Custom MARC frameworks (4 hours)
• Reports and analytics (6 hours)

Self-Paced Learning Paths

Path 1: New Koha User (Total: 20 hours)

Week 1: Getting Oriented (5 hours)

• Read Koha Manual introduction chapters (2 hours)
• Watch “Koha Basics” video series (2 hours)
• Try Koha demo - circulation tasks (1 hour)

Week 2: Core Functions (5 hours)

• Complete circulation module training (3 hours)
• Practice patron registration (1 hour)
• Test hold/reserve workflow (1 hour)

Week 3: OPAC and Reports (5 hours)

• Explore OPAC features (2 hours)
• Run basic reports (2 hours)
• Create custom patron list (1 hour)

Week 4: Advanced Topics (5 hours)

• Learn batch operations (2 hours)
• Practice inventory workflow (2 hours)
• Troubleshooting common issues (1 hour)

Path 2: Koha Administrator (Total: 40 hours)

Month 1: Foundations (15 hours)

• Complete New User path (20 hours from Path 1)
• Read system preferences documentation (5 hours)
• Configure test Koha instance (5 hours)
• Study circulation rules matrix (5 hours)

Month 2: Advanced Configuration (15 hours)

• MARC framework customization (6 hours)
• Notice template customization (4 hours)
• Z39.50 configuration (2 hours)
• Patron attribute setup (3 hours)

Month 3: Reporting and Maintenance (10 hours)

• SQL basics for Koha reports (4 hours)
• Create 10 custom reports (4 hours)
• Learn backup and restore (2 hours)

Path 3: Koha Developer (Total: 80+ hours)

Prerequisites:

• Perl programming experience
• Git version control
• Linux command line
• Database design (MySQL/MariaDB)

Phase 1: Koha Architecture (20 hours)

• Study Koha codebase structure (8 hours)
• Set up development environment (4 hours)
• Read developer documentation (8 hours)

Phase 2: Contributing (30 hours)

• Bug fixing workflow (10 hours)
• Submit 5 bug fixes (15 hours)
• Code review process (5 hours)

Phase 3: Feature Development (30+ hours)

• Design new feature (8 hours)
• Implement and test (20 hours)
• Community review and iteration (variable)

Training Resources by Format

Books and eBooks

“Koha Library Software: A Complete Guide” (example title)

• Comprehensive system overview
• Module-by-module tutorials
• Administration and configuration
• Available on Amazon and library vendors

“Mastering Koha Cataloging” (example title)

• MARC cataloging in Koha
• Framework customization
• Authority control
• Best practices

Interactive Courses

Platforms:

• Udemy - Search “Koha library system” (various courses)
• LinkedIn Learning - Library system management courses
• Coursera - Library and information science fundamentals
• KohaSupport Academy - Koha-specific courses

Podcasts and Audio

Koha Conversations (example podcast)

• Interviews with Koha librarians
• Tips and tricks
• New feature discussions
• Available on podcast platforms

Training Best Practices

Before Training

Preparation (2-4 weeks before):

• Identify staff roles and training needs
• Set up test/sandbox Koha instance
• Create training accounts and sample data
• Develop realistic scenarios for practice
• Prepare questions and known challenges

Communication:

• Announce training schedule to all staff
• Set expectations for participation
• Arrange coverage for circulation during training
• Prepare training space (if in-person)

During Training

Engagement Strategies:

• Hands-on exercises > passive demonstrations
• Real-world scenarios from your library
• Frequent breaks (every 90 minutes)
• Q&A opportunities throughout
• Encourage note-taking and screenshots

Documentation:

• Record sessions (with permission)
• Take screenshots of key screens
• Document customization decisions
• Create quick reference guides
• Build internal wiki or knowledge base

After Training

Reinforcement (first 30 days):

• Daily practice with new skills
• Weekly check-ins with trainer/supervisor
• Peer support and knowledge sharing
• Address questions as they arise
• Review recorded sessions

Ongoing Learning:

• Subscribe to Koha mailing lists
• Join monthly community calls
• Attend annual conferences
• Follow Koha blog and release notes
• Participate in user groups

Custom Training Development

Creating Internal Training Programs

Building a Train-the-Trainer System:

1. Identify Super Users
   • Select 2-3 staff members per module
   • Provide advanced training
   • Designate as go-to resources
2. Develop Training Materials
   • Customize for your workflows
   • Include screenshots from your system
   • Create video walkthroughs
   • Build quiz and assessment tools
3. Schedule Regular Training
   • Monthly “Koha Tips” sessions (30 min)
   • Quarterly new feature training (1 hour)
   • Annual comprehensive review (half day)
   • New hire onboarding program (2-4 hours)
4. Measure Effectiveness
   • Pre and post-training quizzes
   • Track error rates and support tickets
   • Staff satisfaction surveys
   • Performance metrics (speed, accuracy)

Requesting Custom Training from KohaSupport

Custom Curriculum Development:

Process:

1. Needs Assessment (1-hour call)
   • Discuss your library’s workflows
   • Identify pain points and goals
   • Review staff skill levels
2. Curriculum Proposal (1 week turnaround)
   • Recommended modules and duration
   • Learning objectives
   • Training format (live, recorded, hybrid)
   • Pricing and timeline
3. Content Development (2-4 weeks)
   • Create custom exercises
   • Record video demonstrations (if applicable)
   • Develop job aids and checklists
   • Build assessment tools
4. Delivery and Iteration (based on schedule)
   • Conduct training sessions
   • Gather feedback after each session
   • Adjust content as needed
   • Provide recorded sessions and materials

Commercial terms:

• Needs assessment and scoping vary by provider
• Curriculum development depends on complexity
• Delivery and material terms depend on the engagement structure

Contact: [email protected]

Training ROI and Impact

Measuring Training Success

Key Metrics:

• Time to proficiency - How quickly new staff become productive
• Error reduction - Fewer mistakes in cataloging, circulation, etc.
• Support ticket volume - Decrease in basic questions
• User satisfaction - Staff confidence and patron service quality
• Feature adoption - Use of advanced features (reports, batch ops, etc.)

Typical Results:

• 40% reduction in onboarding time (with structured training)
• 60% fewer circulation errors (after targeted training)
• 50% increase in report usage (after SQL training)
• 80% staff satisfaction improvement (comprehensive programs)

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Investment areas to evaluate:

• Provider training fees and delivery model
• Staff time: 20-40 hours per employee
• Materials and supporting resources

Returns:

• Faster patron service (15-30% efficiency gain)
• Reduced errors (fewer lost items, billing mistakes)
• Better resource utilization (features actually used)
• Lower support costs (self-sufficient staff)
• Higher job satisfaction (reduced turnover)

Payback Period: Typically 6-12 months for comprehensive training programs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need programming skills to use Koha?

No. Basic library staff need zero programming knowledge. Administration requires no coding but benefits from understanding concepts like Boolean logic and regular expressions. Only developers modifying Koha code need programming skills.

How long does it take to learn Koha?

Basic proficiency: 8-12 hours for circulation staff Cataloging competency: 20-30 hours including MARC knowledge System administration: 40-60 hours for comprehensive knowledge Developer level: 100+ hours plus programming prerequisites

Is training included with KohaSupport hosting?

Basic orientation (2-4 hours) is included with implementation. Comprehensive training is additional but discounted for hosting clients.

Can I get training in languages other than English?

KohaSupport offers training in English and Spanish. Other Koha support providers offer French, German, Portuguese, and many other languages.

What if I need training after migration?

Post-migration training is standard. Most providers include 20-40 hours of training in migration projects. Additional training is available as needed.

How do I train staff who are resistant to change?

Start with the benefits (easier workflows, better patron service). Provide extra support and one-on-one coaching. Celebrate small wins. Consider peer training where enthusiastic staff help others.

Can training be tailored for part-time staff?

Yes. We offer condensed training focused on specific tasks (e.g., “circulation only” for part-time desk staff). Modules can be 2-4 hours instead of comprehensive programs.

Do you offer refresher training?

Yes. We recommend annual refresher sessions, especially after major Koha version upgrades. These focus on new features and workflow improvements.

Get Started with Koha Training Today

Free Resources:

• Browse Koha Manual →
• Watch Tutorial Videos → (example)
• Try Koha Demo →
• Read Knowledge Base Articles →

Professional Training:

• Schedule On-Site Training →
• Book Virtual Training Sessions →
• Enroll in Online Courses →
• Get Certification Info →

Questions? Contact our training team: [email protected]

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