WebJunction resource roundup
WebJunction is committed to supporting library staff by offering practical learning, chances to connect with other library professionals, and resources to help inform the work you’re doing. We occasionally take a look back at some of our newer and popular content in case you didn’t have a chance to see it the first time around. Check out our yearly wrap-up article for a list of featured articles, courses, and webinar from the past year. And explore this curated collection of resources from WebJunction, partner organizations, and other libraries to enrich your knowledge and elevate your impact. From early literacy to community engagement to tackling the more serious social issues, this guide aims to help equip you with tools to help you serve your communities.
Projects and toolkits
- Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries
The opioid crisis has inflicted a devastating toll on the United States, and as community anchor institutions, public libraries are leveraging their assets in response to this crisis. To aid staff at public libraries in determining how their libraries can address opioid use disorder in their communities, WebJunction has developed the “Opioid Crisis Support Kit for Public Libraries" (doc). This resource will help strengthen libraries—and, more broadly, the communities they serve—as the nation continues to struggle with the opioid crisis. Read more about the Support Kit and be sure to sign up for our upcoming webinar to hear from library staff who helped test the Support Kit in their own libraries.
- A School Librarian's Information Shelf
School librarians are vital to the work of preparing all children for academic and economic success. This curated body of resources—recorded presentations by school librarians, topical articles, and practical toolkits—can be applied to any school library looking to become a dynamic learningcenter for their students.
- Bridgebuilding Resource Hub
The Bridgebuilding Resource Hub was created by IREX, a global development and education organization, to support libraries with bridging and other civic strengthening activities. Visit the hub for a collection of library case studies that offer examples, strategies, and lessons learned.
Articles
These articles offer background and context for a handful of resources that can enrich your library’s initiatives.
- Helping libraries to be autism-ready
Learn more about the new Autism-Ready Libraries Toolkit, created by the team at the University of Washington Information School, with early literacy training and programming materials for library staff, to increase and improve autism-inclusive early literacy services at your library.
- Time to change the “checklist”: A toolkit for reimagining school readiness
This article offers an overview of a free, online toolkit created by the Bay Area Discovery Museum, presented in an easy-to-use structure for incorporating important learning skills and practices into your library’s programming for young children. Also view the webinar recording, Tools for reimagining school readiness.
- Centering Community VOICE
This article offers an overview of Centering Community VOICE, a self-paced course that will help you apply a social justice approach to your library’s outreach efforts.
Content collections
Take a deep dive into these topical collections of articles and webinar recordings.
- Sustainable Libraries: Resources and webinars for climate action
WebJunction and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative collaborated to offer a set of resources to support libraries as they address the greatest threat to global health and the grandest challenge of our time: climate change. This series of six webinars and six articles offers insight into sustainability as a core value of the library profession; demonstrates what climate action looks like in libraries; and gives practical advice, ideas, and examples for how your library can intentionally address climate change.
- Community engagement series
We partnered with Dr. Audrey Barbakoff to create a collection of articles and webinars on how to engage with community members authentically and intentionally to turn diversity, equity, and inclusion ideals into real-world services. All articles and webinars are available on WebJunction, OCLC Next, and the Course Catalog:
- Co-create authentically with your community (OCLC Next blog post)
Explore co-creation as an effective diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy and learn three important elements of its approach.
- Easy as ABCD: Using asset-based community development as a lens for authentic relationship-building (article)
Strong relationships are the foundation for any kind of shared work. Building trust and mutual understanding through respect for each other’s strengths and gifts using an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach is a great place to start.
- Align library services with community aspirations (article)
Learn how and when to transform relationships into community partnerships.
- Co-creating library services through human-centered design (article)
Read this article to learn more about how you can apply human-centered design principles to help facilitate your next successful program or project.
- Building authentic relationships with underserved communities (webinar recording)
Learn how to develop a plan for identifying, reaching, and building relationships with underserved communities.
- Co-creating library Services for transformative impact (webinar recording)
Learn about the fundamentals of co-design and explore how to apply them in your library for wildly creative and deeply impactful programs and services.
Resource roundups
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Everyone loves a good resource roundup. We hope you’ll find some useful information and inspiration in these lists, and be sure to let us know if there’s something you’d like to see added to one of these collections.
- Hunger-free libraries: Food pantries and fridges
Libraries have been getting creative in their work to help address food insecurity in their communities, including creating community pantries, fridges, and blessing boxes. This article offers tips for building your own community food pantry or fridge, inspiration from libraries, and more reading and resources.
- Mental health resources for libraries
Many people turn to libraries in times of crisis, including mental health crises. This collection of resources can inform and support the work you’re already doing to serve your community and help support your own well-being as you continue the important work you’re doing in the process.
- Resources for supporting Veterans and military-affiliated patrons
This collection of resources can help libraries enhance their support for our military-affiliated community members, ensuring that they receive the assistance and recognition they deserve.
- Sow connection with seed libraries
Seed libraries can give new and experienced gardeners alike to expand their access to a wider variety of seeds, and traditional libraries are getting in on this growing trend. This article offers tips for starting your own seed library, plus inspiration from libraries across the country.
- Growing library garden programs
Library gardens offer an opportunity for community members to come together to learn, grow, and contribute towards a healthy, balanced environment. Read on for community partnership ideas, plus resources and tips that can help inform your library’s approach to gardening with your community.
- Libraries get moving: Fitness programs for everyone
As local hubs, libraries are a great place to promote community health initiatives, often in partnership with government-sponsored programs. From aerobics to Zumba and everything in between, we hope you’ll find a ton of ideas and inspiration to bring to your library’s fitness programming.
Thank you for participating in our community of learners here at WebJunction. While on-demand learning is a big part of our mission, we also recognize the importance of bringing library staff together to share, listen, and learn from each other, and we couldn’t do this work without you.
Be sure to sign up for Crossroads to stay informed of upcoming webinars and new resources, and visit the Course Catalog to access to nearly 400 self-paced learning opportunities to help you and your team meet your community's ever-changing needs. We always love to hear from you! If you have an idea for a resource collection, or you’d like us to feature your library’s work in one of these areas, let us know via [email protected] or find us on Facebook.
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