Highlighted Content

• Sustainable Libraries: Resources and Webinars for Climate Action: WebJunction and the Sustainable Libraries Initiative are collaborating 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 collection of resources and webinars are designed to help library practitioners by providing real-world examples of libraries successfully engaging in sustainable thinking in ways that align our profession’s core values with decisions around services, programs, governance, operations, and partnerships.
• Partner with Indie Authors to Share Diverse Stories: Despite efforts to increase representation in publishing, the industry remains predominantly white. Authors of color often face a range of challenges, including difficulty finding literary agents, limited access to publishing opportunities, and insufficient marketing and promotion. Richard E. Ashby, Jr. aims to change this through his work with Literacy Nation, which advocates for diversity and inclusion in books and digital resources in libraries.

• Introducing a School Librarian's Information Shelf: School librarians and staff help prepare all students for success. A shifting educational landscape presents new opportunities and challenges, requiring fresh approaches to the important work of empowering students. A School Librarian’s Information Shelf offers curated resources with actionable advice, including recorded presentations, topical articles, and practical toolkits.

WebJunction Webinars for You

These upcoming webinars are open for registration. If you can’t attend a live session, all WebJunction webinars are recorded and available for free in the Course Catalog.

Library Safety and Security: A Holistic Approach

Wednesday, May 18, 2023 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ◆ 90 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/library-safety-and-security.html

Creating a safe environment for the public, staff, and collections is a top concern for libraries. As a public space, this sometimes means that library staff are faced with behavior or events that may feel unsafe, uncomfortable, or illegal. Although we can’t predict or control every situation, we can be prepared to effectively respond to a range of scenarios. This session will present a holistic approach for creating safe environments, through strong community relationships, inclusive policies, and empowered staff. Using a trauma-informed, human-centered lens we will explore strategies to create a library where staff possess the skills, and feel prepared, to manage what comes through the doors.

School Librarians Lead Learning and Transformation

Tuesday, May 23, 2023 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ◆ 60 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/school-librarians-lead-learning-and-transformation.html

School libraries play a vital role in preparing students for educational and economic success in our rapidly changing, technologically driven, and globally connected world. School librarians are leading the way by reimagining and redesigning their libraries to support new models of learning, engagement, and partnerships for success. The new School Librarian’s Information Shelf provides videos, articles and tools that offer recommendations and strategies related to creating powerful storytelling for advocacy, designing student-centered spaces, supporting inquiry-driven learning, offering compassionate makerspaces, and implementing innovative virtual teaching and learning practices. Join this webinar for an introduction to the School Librarian’s Information Shelf and to learn more from practitioners who have applied transformative practices to their school libraries.

Promoting Voter and Civic Engagement at Your Library

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ◆ 60 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/promoting-voter-engagement.html

National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) is a nonpartisan civic holiday aimed at creating awareness of voter registration opportunities for those who may not otherwise register. Libraries can play a crucial role in promoting voter engagement and education by providing registration forms, hosting candidate events, and offering resources such as voter guides and sample ballots. Libraries can also serve as community hubs for voter engagement activities, bringing together local organizations and elected officials to promote voter participation. Join this webinar to learn about the types of resources and services your library can provide to support voter registration and civic engagement. By participating in NVRD, libraries of all sizes and types can help ensure that all citizens have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote and participate fully in our democracy.

This program is supported in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Thank you,

Cathy Lancaster

Youth Services Coordinator

Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St.
Lansing, MI 48915
My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org to learn more.

LancasterC5@michigan.gov | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan
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Join the MiYouth Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services.