Join us at ALA Annual 2023
For more than 20 years, WebJunction has helped library staff build knowledge, skills, and confidence through on-demand courses, webinars, and more. If you’re attending ALA this year, we hope you’ll stop by our booth to meet the team and learn more about our learning resources and to celebrate WebJunction's 20th anniversary.
This year, along with our OCLC Research colleagues, we’re hosting a discussion about resources to help libraries respond to substance misuse, a panel on how libraries are adapting and evolving to post-pandemic changes, and a research update featuring a variety of tools and projects that can help support libraries.
Browse the session descriptions here and add them to your conference scheduler so you don’t miss us. You can also explore the full OCLC schedule and learn more at OCLC @ ALA 2023.
Join a Session
Substance misuse: Programming to support healthy communities
Saturday, June 24, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
McCormick, W193
The opioid crisis continues to rage unabated in our communities and even worsened in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries have a critical opportunity to support the information needs of patrons dealing with and impacted by substance misuse. Related programming and services are deeply connected to addressing health equity, and they help libraries to link community members to critical information that can improve their lives and the lives of loved ones. The stigma of substance misuse plays a particularly challenging role in providing supportive services and information, but it can be overcome through educational opportunities. Through a new online support kit from WebJunction, library staff have access to free resources to walk through initiating or expanding opioid-related programming and services. This discussion will provide details about the kit, how to use it, and how it is being used by libraries.
From pandemic to endemic: Global experiences and perspectives on an OCLC New Model Library framework
Sunday, June 25, 1:00-2:30 pm
McCormick, W193
IRRT Chair Safi Safiullah’s program theme "The New Normal for Local and International Libraries" is addressed in this program. The framework in the New Model Library: Pandemic Effects and Library Directions, published by OCLC, sets the context for the program. The pandemic impacted libraries of all types globally, requiring libraries to respond to rapidly shifting community and institutional needs. The OCLC model provides a framework for these new directions. Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Ixchel M. Faniel from OCLC will introduce the model, followed by a panel of three international library professionals who will speak to regional experiences based on the model. Finally, panelists and program participants will engage in Q&A and discussion.
The panelists will describe library actions in different regions of the world (Africa, Arabian Gulf, Asia, and Latin America), based on their experiences and expertise that address the facets of an OCLC New Model Library framework: agility, collaboration, virtualization, and space. The framework, along with the actions described by the panelists, can help you and your library find common ground with global peers and identify new ideas and directions for your strategic planning.
News you can use—OCLC Research update: Partner with purpose for greater impact
Monday, June 26, 9:00-10:00 am
McCormick, W180
Collaboration and partnerships are used frequently by library staff from all library types when trying to extend resources to respond to community needs. Whether your community includes a campus, municipality, library network, or other connected stakeholders, successful partnerships require investment of resources and careful planning and maintenance to reach their full potential.
OCLC Research and WebJunction will share learning tools, strategic frameworks, and updates on ongoing and planned research that can help library staff collaborate with their community, partners, and networks with purpose. Topics covered will include digital collections stewardship training, strategic collaboration planning models, reimagining descriptive workflows, prospective research and learning opportunities addressing public library initiatives, areas of concern, and more.
Join this session to learn about recent and planned activities from OCLC Research and WebJunction supporting libraries as they seek to increase their reach and impact.
Connect at WebJunction Office Hours at the OCLC Booth
Stop by OCLC booth (#4011) for a cup of coffee and conversation with the team and get the inside scoop about our current and upcoming projects.
- Saturday, June 24, 11:00 am–12:30 pm
- Saturday, June 24, 3:30–5:00 pm
- Sunday, June 25, 10:00 am–12:00 pm
- Sunday, June 25, 3:30–5:00 pm
- Monday, June 26, 12:30-2:00 pm