WebJunction is available at www.webjunction.org and is where public library staff gather to build the knowledge, skills and support they need to power relevant, vibrant libraries. Access to WebJunction is free for library staff.

Highlighted Content

Eviction Resources for Libraries: Housing insecurity is widespread, in part due to unemployment and related financial issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries are well positioned to provide access to legal information that is particularly helpful during the early phases of the eviction process. By leveraging their reference skills and partnering with law libraries and legal aid services, library staff can help patrons understand their options and navigate legal services.
Pandemic Challenges and Learning Outcomes from the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS): Monica Harris is the Associate Executive Director of RAILS, which serves approximately 1,300 academic, public, school, and special library agencies in northern and west-central Illinois. We caught up with Monica to ask her about her experience during the pandemic.
Public Health is Part of Library Outreach: Outreach efforts in the public library increasingly center around building, sustaining, and leveraging community partnerships, including with public health partners. That fact was evident at the 2021 Association of Bookmobile & Outreach Services’ (ABOS) Virtual Conference, held October 11-15. The conference featured at least six sessions focused on outreach librarians working with public health partners.

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.

Libraries and Eviction: Further Questions and Answers

Wednesday, January 12, 2021 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern ◆ 60 minutes

Registration: https://www.webjunction.org/events/webjunction/eviction-further-questions.html

WebJunction is offering another special session to provide you with the opportunity to share questions and experiences about how your library is assisting patrons facing eviction. We covered the basics in the webinar Understanding Eviction and How Libraries Can Help, and addressed some of your questions in the follow-up session, Libraries and Eviction: Continuing the Conversation but we know there’s more to talk about as the eviction situation continues to evolve. Whether you’re just beginning this work or have been answering eviction questions, you are absolutely welcome! We will begin with a short presentation about the partnership between Richland County Library (SC) and the NAACP, where library staff serve as housing navigators, playing a triage role in the housing instability crisis in their area. Following the presentation, experts from law libraries and legal aid will answer your eviction questions. We encourage you to submit your questions in the registration form or bring them to this informative and interactive session. Please join us as we continue to understand this complex topic.

Promote Community Engagement and Challenge Prejudice with a Human Library

Thursday, January 20, 2021 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern ◆ 60 minutes

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

The idea of circulating ‘human books’ first emerged in 2000, in Copenhagen, Denmark, as a way to help grow community understanding of the diversity of the human experience, locally and on a global level. The Human Library® model seeks to create safe spaces for dialogue where topics are discussed openly between human books and their readers. Join us to gain insights from a public and academic library using this innovative and impactful model to create meaningful community dialogue. The Anne Arundel County Public Library’s Human Library provides an opportunity for people to connect one-on-one with those they might otherwise never have a chance to talk – people who may have life experiences, stories, or beliefs different from their own. At the DiMenna-Nyselius Library at Fairfield University ‘human books’ are students, faculty, staff, or community members who have volunteered to share their life experiences and answer questions that address stereotypes, prejudices, stigmas, or taboo topics. The session will include discussion on how these organizations were able to plan and implement a Human Library program, how the ‘books’ were prepared and how the program was offered successfully online.

Library Signage: Effective Crisis Communications

Thursday, January 27, 2021 ◆ 3:00 pm Eastern ◆ 60 minutes

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

Good signage in the library helps to create clarity and build awareness, while bad signage can lead to frustration and confusion. Has your library had to implement COVID-related signage? Has there been a review of other temporary and permanent signage? This session will look at recommended types of library signs and address aspects of library signage within crisis communications. We will also address how to conduct a signage audit, the importance of library branding and using templates, and internal communications as they relate to signage. Online resources will be shared and there will be opportunities for Q&A and discussion.

This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Shannon White
Library Development Manager
Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48909
Whites29@michigan.gov 517-335-1507 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan