In our February 2016 WebJunction Crossroads poll, we explored the ways in which public libraries support civic engagement. This concept has been applied in a number of different ways, ranging from services and programs for newcomers, resources for voters in a representative democracy, or supporting the civil and civic rights of an engaged and informed citizenry. We're just beginning to learn more about these terms and approaches, and recognize that some of them may be new to libraries too.

We asked readers to reflect on and respond to the questions below to help us understand how libraries are approaching this... Read more

With this edition of the Social Library, we're shifting to a bimonthly series but continuing to highlight the outstanding work of libraries we follow on Facebook. This edition showcases libraries and organizations who are doing great work supporting early literacy efforts in their communities. Community partnerships are key to the success of many of the examples highlighted, with programs, tools, and resources sure to inspire all who serve young learners and their families. If you'd like to see your library featured in the Social Library series, please let us know via social@webjunction.org, or find us on Facebook.

Bluffton Public... Read more

What's at the top of your learning list? We encourage you to focus an hour or two during the month of March on your learning need. Tackling those skills or knowledge gaps with one of these free webinars is a great way to make learning a priority. This list, provided by Jamie Markus at the Wyoming State Library, comes out every month and is regularly updated on the Free Training page, where you can also view the offerings by topic. This month's list covers 62 different online events in 18 different topic areas, from assessment and planning to privacy in... Read more

Public library staff expedite impact in their communities. They are supreme connectors and agents of collaboration, for users and the numerous other local organizations that serve them. We have enthusiastically featured many examples of public libraries building strong partnerships and programs with local health organizations to support community health outreach and engagement. This includes the work of five pioneering public libraries serving communities of 6,000 to over 900,000. Their efforts to build creative and relevant programs—whether a women’s health fair, food for fines drive or cooking competition—were all grounded in a goal to leverage existing community resources in service of... Read more