WebJunction

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...

07/27/2026

promote information literacy. ℹ️ Empowering Informed Communities is a project from the Center for an Informed Public at UW, in partnership with OCLC’s WebJunction and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, that develops opportunities designed to help library staff support information literacy through fun and games.

➡️ Learn more and find resources from the project: https://oc.lc/4fzrxUY

07/10/2026

Ready to grow something special for your community? Join us next Tuesday, July 14, for all the foundational pieces you need to launch and manage a seed library.

We'll be joined by Rebecca Newburn, Founder of Seed Libraries, who will explore simple strategies for organizing collections, engaging volunteers, and offering meaningful programs that keep patrons connected to seeds, gardening, and local food systems.

⬇️ Register below.

Whether you are just getting started or have an established seed library, this session offers practical tools to support your next steps. We will cover the foundational pieces of launching and managing a seed library—along with fresh ideas to help existing programs stay vibrant and responsive to c...

07/08/2026

📢 Reminder: Solo librarians, your voice is needed — and time is running out.

The deadline to complete ARSL's professional development survey is August 9. If you're a solo or solo-ish library worker, this is your chance to share what accessing professional development really looks like for you.

The survey takes 20-30 minutes, and everyone who completes it is entered to win a $100 gift card from Libro.fm, Bookshop or South Carolina Chic.

👉 Take the survey: https://www.arsl.org/overcoming-obstacles-survey

This project was made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services [RE-259035-OLS-25].

06/05/2026

Want to feel more confident helping readers cross the fiction–nonfiction divide? Join us next Thursday, June 11, for an introduction to practical nonfiction reader’s advisory skills. We will be joined by Jessica Curtis from Westerville Public Library who will discuss how to translate fiction reader preferences into engaging nonfiction suggestions.

⬇️ Register below.

This webinar introduces practical nonfiction reader’s advisory skills, including how to conduct an effective readers' advisory interview. Ideal for staff who want to feel more confident helping readers cross the fiction–nonfiction divide.

06/03/2026

Constance Malpas, an integral part of the OCLC Research team since 2006, has been promoted to Vice President, Research.

05/27/2026

build content that connects. 🧑‍💻 Whether you love social media or have a more complicated relationship with it, it can be a powerful tool to connect with your community and tell the library’s story. It can even be fun! In this article from OCLC’s WebJunction, you'll find practical tips for using social media to promote your library, engage your community, stay creative—and maybe even find some joy along the way.

➡️ Read the article: https://oc.lc/4tWKyFT