WebJunction

10/08/2026

Want to host a successful job fair at your library? Don't miss our next Tuesday, October 13, with Cat Purcell, Career Services Librarian at the Champaign Public Library.

Drawing on real-world experience, Cat will share practical strategies for engaging community partners, attracting employers, and creating a welcoming, inclusive environment for jobseekers of all backgrounds.

⬇️ Learn more and register here.

Public libraries are uniquely positioned to support workforce development and connect job seekers with meaningful employment opportunities. This session will guide attendees through the process of planning, promoting, and executing a successful job fair at their library.

10/01/2026

Communities rely on their libraries to offer dynamic spaces that can meet their needs. But in a small library, space can be at a premium. Smart library spaces are designed to meet the needs and desires of diverse communities. It's where discovery and community intersect to foster social connection among people of all ages and provide active learning that encourages exploration and play.

⬇️ Check out these best practices and resources to learn how to think smart in transforming your library's small spaces.

Smart library spaces are designed to meet the needs and desires of diverse communities. Smart spaces are where discovery and community intersect, fostering social connection among people of all ages by providing active learning that encourages exploration and play.

09/21/2026

A new survey shows big increases in use and trust of librarian recommendation. How do Gen Z use public libraries? Learn why libraries fit into Gen Z book discovery behaviors, and what prompts Gen Z to identify as readers—or not.

09/19/2026

Learning with peers who understand your work can help motivate you to apply what you are learning, provide structure, shape team culture, improve staff morale, and increase a team's ability to meet their community's needs. Think you need to be an expert to facilitate a learning group? Think again. Our short, self-paced course will walk you through the practical steps for planning a learning group and provide a facilitation guide to get you started.

⬇️ Learn more and enroll here.

Learning with peers who understand your work is a great approach that can motivate you to apply what you are learning. Learning groups are a great approach that can provide structure, help shape team culture, improve staff morale, and increase a team’s ability to meet their community’s needs. A ...

09/18/2026

Join us for a presentation on the role public libraries can play in ensuring communities nationwide can decide for themselves what a good AI future looks like.

09/09/2026

Join us tomorrow, September 10, to learn how public libraries can play an important role in helping communities understand a world with generative AI. We'll be joined by panelists from the University of Washington Information School and UW Biology.

➡️ Register here: webjunction.org/events/webjunction/potential-peril-ai.html

Generative AI continues to integrate into our daily lives, and public libraries can play an important role in helping their communities understand these technologies.

09/03/2026

"Stepping into a leadership role can feel daunting, whether it's your first management position or you are an experienced leader entering a new environment."

Andrew Harbison, Director of OCLC's WebJunction, shares his tips and experiences for new public library directors and managers, including how focusing on listening, learning, growing relationships, and bringing that unique piece of you to your leadership style can start you off strong in the role.

⬇️ Read more in our latest article.

This article provides tips for new public library directors and managers. It is part of a WebJunction series offering practical guidance for library staff who are new to their roles. Looking for more support? Explore WebJunction's course catalog and specifically the LiFT courses for foundational tra...

08/11/2026

Join us this Thursday, August 13, to learn how making a mess can benefit your patrons. 🧸🎨🫟 We'll be joined by staff at Kenosha Public Library who will explain why they embrace it and how they manage it, as well as provide fun programming ideas that range from slightly untidy to totally catastrophic. ⬇️ Register here.

Splatter painting indoors and a sand table out on the floor for an entire month!? These things really happen in the Youth & Family Services department at the Kenosha Public Library! Learn how making a mess can benefit your patrons, why to embrace it, and how others have managed it.

08/04/2026

The Association for Rural & Small Libraries (ARSL) national research project on solo librarians is nearly complete — and the final piece is hearing from you. Every response helps build a stronger, more supported future for solo library workers nationwide, plus participants will be entered to win a $100 gift card.

If you work in a public library in a solo or solo-ish capacity, take this 20-minute survey on barriers to professional development, leadership, and community connection. The deadline for responses is August 9.

➡️ Take the survey: webjunction.org/news/webjunction/solo-library-survey.html

07/30/2026

Librarians can be a trusted source of support for teens as they navigate adolescence, but where do you start? The key is building trust.

⬇️ If you are new to teen librarianship or looking to expand your skills, discover eight tips and additional resources to build confidence and begin to establish the foundation for success.

This article provides starting points for new teen librarians. It's part of a WebJunction series offering practical guidance for library staff who are new to their roles. Looking for more support? Explore WebJunction's course catalog and specifically the LiFT courses for foundational training and pr...