Despite living in an age of unprecedented digital connectivity, people are feeling the increasing effects of loneliness and isolation. These challenges extend beyond individuals, weakening the health, resilience, and trust of entire communities. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, reveals that loneliness can harm our health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. While the impact is profound, there are clear and achievable solutions within our reach.

Eric Klinenberg, in Palaces for the People, describes libraries as essential social infrastructure—places where connections are made, trust is built, and belonging grows.... Read more

Imagine having an easy way to engage your library patrons in a conversation about the importance of your library. That’s the idea behind. Free For All: The Public Library, an exciting new documentary premiering on PBS Indie Lens this April. The film chronicles the evolution of the nation’s public libraries, tracing the battles over who can enter, what belongs there, and who makes these decisions while exploring how public spaces are defined and defended.  

Directors Dawn Logsdon and Lucie Faulknor traveled the US, discovering unsung historic and modern-day figures, often women, who contributed to the library’s integral position within democracy.... Read more

As we step into February, it’s a perfect time to refresh your skills and dive into new learning opportunities. Whether you're looking to enhance your technology know-how, explore new approaches to community engagement, or expand your leadership skills, there's something here to support your growth. The list, provided by the Maine State Library, includes over 50 webinars and an online conference, covering 19 different topic areas.

Invite new staff or volunteers to become a top-notch Dewey shelver. In the recently updated course, Shelving with Dewey, learners new to the Dewey Decimal Classification system learn the fundamentals of subject-based classification, how to read call numbers and, most importantly, how to accurately shelve books based on those call numbers. Few tasks in the library are more vital for shelf maintenance and patron access.

Not only is this course an opportunity to learn more about the Dewey classification system, it’s also designed to provide online training that will help new staff members and volunteers become productive as quickly as... Read more