Did you know that the Library of Michigan and the Institute of Museum and library Services (IMLS) provides access to WebJunction free of charge to Michigan library staff? See below for information on upcoming online courses and webinars.

Highlighted Content on WebJunction

• Updated Course! Weeding the Library Collection: Mention collection development and most librarians think of the selection of new materials for the library. Weeding - removing library materials from your collection - is an often forgotten, yet integral part of collection development. In this updated course you will first discover why that is true, and then learn the techniques of weeding, develop policies and avoid common pitfalls. 
• Always Be Listening: How Public Libraries are Approaching Community Engagement as a Mindset, at the recent ALA Annual conference, the panel discussion, “Community Engagement as a Mindset” featured Pam Sandlian Smith, Director, Anythink Libraries (CO); Mary Lou Carolan, Assistant Director, Newburgh Free Library (NY); and Cordelia Anderson, former Director of Marketing and Communications for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (NC). The panelist shared their thoughts on community engagement, collaborating with partners, and sharing the value of your library.

Free WebJunction Webinars for You

In addition to the webinars highlighted in the Hooray for Freedom series above, the following 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: https://learn.webjunction.org/.

Why Wikipedia Matters for Health and Medical Information

Wednesday, August 14, 2019 ♦ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ♦ 60 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/why-wikipedia-matters-for-health-and-medical-information.html

Wikipedia is a go-to resource for health and medical information, not just for the general public but for health care providers as well. Over 50% of physicians, and 94% of medical students use Wikipedia to find medical information on the internet.* It may be popular but library staff want to know how reliable it is and how to assess quality on behalf of their patrons. The National Network of Librarians of Medicine (NNLM) supports strengthening the ability of public libraries nationwide to find reliable and authoritative medical and health information online for information seekers. Hear how Liz Waltman from the NNLM connects with WikiProject Medicine, an organization of volunteers dedicated to developing, maintaining, and promoting accurate medical information on Wikipedia. Learn about the upcoming online training program Wikipedia + Libraries: Health and Medical Information that will empower you to confidently guide your patrons to reliable resources on the internet. The free four-week course will be offered in the fall of 2019.

Presented by: Betha Gutsche, WebJunction Program Manager, OCLC; and Liz Waltman, Outreach, Education and Communications Coordinator, Southeastern/Atlantic Region, National Network of Librarians of Medicine

Library Technology Planning for Today and Tomorrow

Tuesday, August 27, 2019 ♦ 3:00 pm Eastern / 12:00 pm Pacific ♦ 60 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/library-technology-planning.html

Technology changes at a dizzying pace – so how do we plan for and implement these changes in libraries? A robust technology plan can help you create an environment that truly meets the needs of the community your library serves. The prospect of technology planning can seem overwhelming and time-consuming, especially in an already short-staffed library. This webinar will help libraries create a framework for their technology planning and introduce the tools and decisions that need to be incorporated into a working plan. Join us to learn how to successfully develop and implement a practical technology plan that can help move your library and community forward.

Presented by: Diana Silveira, librarian, president of Novare Library Services, and author of Library Technology Planning for Today and Tomorrow