How the Massachusetts Library System Upgraded Statewide Training Hub from an outdated LMS
“We highly recommend Titus for their exceptional work and outstanding support. Their commitment to quality and responsiveness has made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. We look forward to continuing our partnership and are grateful for the positive impact their theme has had on our platform”
Hillary Washburn, Learning Experience Program Manager at the Massachusetts Library System
Result
Over 1,500 Massachusetts library staff now access consistent, engaging training
Number of Learners
1500+
Use Case
Titus Theme
CPD plugin
System
Moodle LMS
See how our systems can help you
The Massachusetts Library System (MLS) is a state-supported nonprofit organisation that serves over 1,500 libraries across Massachusetts, including public, academic, school, and special libraries. MLS is dedicated to providing innovative services, resources, and professional development opportunities that empower library staff to better serve their local communities.
By fostering collaboration, offering practical training, and supporting technology adoption, MLS helps libraries enhance access to information, improve service delivery, and strengthen their role as vital community hubs throughout the state.
The Challenge: Modernising Statewide Learning
“Our goal was to create the best statewide learning hub that could offer um really high quality training to meet the needs of our busy library staff, so we were looking for the right team to make our all of our learning management system dreams come true.”
The Massachusetts Library System’s (MLS) Learning Experience Program Manager aimed to create an effective and engaging learning platform for library staff across Massachusetts. While MLS had been using a Moodle LMS, several challenges limited the platform’s effectiveness and user experience:
- Outdated Experience: The existing LMS had an interface and navigation that felt dated and unintuitive. Library staff often struggled to locate courses or learning materials efficiently, which reduced engagement and slowed adoption of the platform. MLS recognised the need for a more streamlined, user-friendly interface that would make learning accessible to all staff, regardless of their technical background.
- Accessibility and Engagement: MLS wanted a platform that met the highest accessibility standards, ensuring all library staff, including those with disabilities, could participate fully in learning programs. At the same time, they needed tools and features that would increase learner engagement, such as interactive modules, clear progress tracking, and easy-to-access achievements.
- Custom Development Needs: The organisation envisioned a platform with a specific look, feel, and functionality that existing providers could not deliver. MLS wanted a custom theme, enhanced reporting, and interactive features that aligned with their broader professional development goals, requiring a development partner capable of translating their vision into a practical, scalable solution.
The Solution: A Complete LMS Revamp
MLS partnered with Titus to transform their Moodle LMS into a modern, user-friendly statewide learning hub. The solution included:
- Titus Custom Theme: Overhauled the user interface to improve navigation, responsiveness, and overall design, aligning with MLS’s vision.
- Custom Transcript Plugin: Developed to allow learners to track and share achievements easily, supporting performance reviews and development tracking.
- Enhanced Multimedia Support: Ongoing integration of simple, accessible Moodle/H5P content for engaging, interactive learning.
- Role-Based Administration: Enabled MLS staff to manage content, track engagement, and deliver high-quality learning to library staff statewide.
"The Custom Transcript Plugin that Titus made for us is incredibly easy to use and our learners are able to quickly share their accomplishments which has been incredibly valuable to them."
"These developments are going to allow us to bring our whole training calendar fully into our LMS the learning hub and give members a fully streamlined experience from sign up through completion and sharing their achievements."
Key Strategic Focus
- LMS Adoption: MLS is building internal engagement and planning a marketing push to highlight the Transcript Plugin’s value.
- Upcoming Developments: Launching Learning Pathways and the Sessions Plugin suite to expand course offerings, improve registration UX, and add dynamic search functionality.
- Reporting & Analytics: Exploring Power BI and Moodle dashboards for executive- and manager-level insights.
- Future Projects: Plans include a revamped registration process and an eLearning Portfolio/CPD showcase to help users track and share their learning achievements.
Results: A Modern, Engaging, and Empowering Platform
"I would say since we've implemented the Titus theme the improvements have been absolutely dramatic um our users have reported navigation is seamless the design feels modern learners are very easily finding what they need across the platform."
Since launching the Titus solution, MLS reports dramatic improvements across the board:
- Seamless User Experience: Navigation is intuitive, design is modern, and learners can quickly find relevant courses.
- Enhanced Learner Value: The Transcript Plugin simplifies tracking and sharing of achievements, supporting professional growth.
- Empowered Administration: MLS staff now have the tools to realise their broader training goals and deliver impactful learning experiences statewide.
- Increased Engagement: MLS is seeing early signs of adoption success and is positioning the platform as the statewide destination for professional learning.
"It feels to me as the training lead like we're finally able to realise our broader training goals because we now have the platform that we always envision it's one that lets us deliver the high quality training that we provide to our members so that they can do their best work in their libraries."
The Future: : Building the Learning Hub of the Future
The partnership continues to evolve, with exciting upcoming developments:
- Learning Pathways & Sessions Plugin: Streamlined management of multiple events and courses within the LMS.
- Dynamic Registration & Search: Enhancing UX to make course access easier.
- Professional Learning Destination: MLS aims to make the Learning Hub the go-to platform for statewide library staff training.
- Portfolio & CPD Tracking: Future tools will allow staff to track, showcase, and share professional development achievements.
MLS now has a modern, scalable, and engaging LMS that empowers staff, enhances learning, and positions the Learning Hub as the premier statewide destination for professional development.
"The process working with Titus was so collaborative, they was so responsive and took the time to really understand our goals and worked really closely with me to refine the design, over different iterations and really quickly translated my feedback into actual solutions, working with Titus was so fantastic because they really understood and cared about our priorities."
“We highly recommend Titus for their exceptional work and outstanding support. Their commitment to quality and responsiveness has made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. We look forward to continuing our partnership and are grateful for the positive impact their theme has had on our platform”
Hillary Washburn, Learning Experience Program Manager @MLS
See how Titus can help improve your digital learning
We build Learning Management Systems that work. Simple.
