WebJunction - Crossroads Newsletter

Crossroads - March 2010

2010-03-03T20:14:09Z

Focus on marketing your library and upcoming events and programs

CROSSROADS Newsletter

March 2010

What Do Your Patrons Know About Your Library?
With libraries now serving so many new and different functions, it is important to tell your library's story clearly and effectively. Use the Guide to Marketing Resources on WebJunction to find articles and webinars that will help you understand the principles behind marketing and branding, how to apply methods from the retail world, and how to use web tools to extend and strengthen your connection to your patrons. And check out the dozen marketing-related classes offered in the WebJunction Course Catalog.

March Webinar Madness on TechAtlas
Are you looking for help with managing your library's technology inventory or maybe you need to start working on a technology plan? This month we are hosting a series of three webinars to introduce you to WebJunction's free, online technology planning and management tool called TechAtlas for Libraries. Participants in the sessions will get to see live demonstrations of the tools and also hear tips on best practices for planning and technology management.

More information and registration »

WebJunction @ PLA 2010
As you plan your PLA 2010 Conference schedule, be sure to include these WebJunction events, where you’re likely to find other WebJunction members and staff—including our Party With Competencies. If you aren’t headed to Portland to attend the conference in person, nor attending Virtual PLA, we aim to provide you with conference coverage on WebJunction and BlogJunction.

Three New LE@D Courses Added to Catalog
Have you been tasked with making a plan for the future of your library? Two new courses from University of North Texas will give you a framework for your planning process while keeping in mind that budget, time, and resources are tight: Strategic Planning: The Five Minute Introduction and Strategic Planning: Quick, Cheap and Decent. If you are considering or planning a mentorship program, Mentors and Proteges: Creating Successful Workplace Programs is also now available.

As always, if you are a member of one of our State Library Partner communities, remember to go to that Partner's catalog to enroll in order to take advantage of free or reduced-cost courses.

April Webinars: Serving Older Adults and Using Competencies
Two new webinars are announced for April. Libraries Go Boom! Library Service to Older Adults and Baby Boomers will be presented by Douglas Lord, of the Connecticut State Library, on April 6. Douglas will discuss how libraries can identify and serve the needs of older patrons. Then on April 20, WebJunction will host Competency Success Stories for Your Library. You'll hear how various libraries are using competencies in their hiring, training, and continuous education initiatives. For more information about these an other upcoming webinars, visit the Events Calendar.

Online Conference Pilot is a Success
Drawing on the talent of 16 well-prepared presenters, our years of webinar experience, and hundreds of highly engaged attendees, Technology Essentials 2010—our first-ever free online conference—was a hit. Despite the snowstorms blanketing the U.S. and unusually heavy Internet traffic, presenters managed to deliver 10 hour-long sessions over 2 days to more than 700 people. A summary of what we learned from the post-event survey has been posted to BlogJunction. We look forward to applying this feedback to the next online conference.

Read conference feedback »

Spotlight on WebJunction-Kansas and WebJunction-Maine
Both the State Library of Kansas and Maine State Library have developed WebJunction communities as "learning centers" for library staff. WebJunction-Kansas includes a central location for Kansas Continuing Education. Continuing education opportunities in Maine are available via the WebJunction-Maine course catalog and community calendar.

Visit WJ-Kansas »
Visit WJ-Maine »

	March Webinar Reminder Don't forget Library Images and Video: Engage, Inspire and Tell your Story, a webinar to be presented on March 30 (rescheduled from March 3). Register for event »

	Save Money on Training Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $20 per unit? Learn more »

	Custom Course Catalogs WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training. Learn more »

	What's Happening on WebJunction? The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

	New to WebJunction? The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself, find help, and join in the conversation. Go to Member Center »

	Have feedback on what you've read here? Post your comments on the online version of Crossroads.

About this Newsletter
Crossroads is a free publication produced by WebJunction, distributed monthly in an electronic format. To subscribe, go to webjunction.org and enter your email address.

To unsubscribe, click here.

Please feel free to pass Crossroads along to your friends; we do ask, however, that you keep the newsletter intact and forward it in its entirety.

Crossroads and WebJunction.org will not sell or otherwise make available to outside parties the information provided by Website users and newsletter subscribers. Crossroads is distributed using a third-party service provider.

© 2010 Online Computer Library Center, Inc. All rights reserved. Product and service names are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
OCLC, 6565 Kilgour Place, Dublin, OH USA 43017-3395 | ISSN 1552-36165

Crossroads February 2010

2010-02-02T15:39:02Z

Focus on e-government resources, and descriptions of upcoming live events hosted by WebJunction.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

February 2010

Patrons Seek E-Government Resources More than Ever
Public libraries are relied upon to provide access to e-government resources, and to help patrons find and use the information there. With such high demand, how do library staff keep current with federal, state, and local government agency websites? For starters, check out Government Information in the 21st Century, which provides guidance and hundreds of links to federal e-government resources. We'll be adding more content throughout the month, so stay tuned. And if you have resources to share, please let us know.

Say "Hello!" to Missouri, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina
Join us as we welcome three new state libraries to the WebJunction partner community. Each library now offers a customized WebJunction web community and discounted online courses to meet the training and communication needs of library staff in their state:

WebJunction–North Carolina provides a centralized location for communication, staff development, networking, and resource sharing for NC libraries.
WebJunction-Missouri allows members to connect with their library peers, take mini-courses to update skills and to keep up with Missouri library news—all in one central online location.
WebJunction-Pennsylvania provides a simple way to connect library staff in PA to a wide array of professional development opportunities, technology training, and to each other.

Online, Instructor-Led and Waiting for You
Available while they last. We still have open seats in upcoming sessions of the following Amigos Library Services courses:

February 16 & 18: FRBR: What is it and how it can help you prepare for RDA
March 2: Quick and Easy Open Source Software
March 17 & 18:Basic Digitization: Everyday Imaging

7 Courses for Windows 7
Now that it has been out for several months, is getting great reviews and the first service pack is on the horizon (reportedly this summer), it's time to think seriously about your library's migration to the Windows 7 Operating System.
SkillSoft, our provider of technical skills courses, has developed 7 new courses to help IT staff understand how to deploy, configure and manage Windows 7 computers in their organizations. You can find these courses in our Course Catalog filed under Windows Operating Systems. And end users will find this course, designed for them.

As always, if you are a member of one of our State Library Partner communities, remember to go to that Partner's catalog to enroll in order to take advantage of free or reduced-cost courses.

Wanted: Your Experience with Competencies
Last year, WebJunction published Competencies Index for the Library Field, a collection of competency statements to help identify skills needed to keep up in today’s libraries. Now we would like to know how libraries are using these or other competency sets. We’ll publish the results in late February, so if you have used competencies in your library, please drop us a line at info@webjunction.org. Your experience will help guide other libraries' support and development of their own staff. Deadline for the submissions is February 8.

Webinar: Maximizing Connections with "Mini" Conferences
Since 2005, the Northeast Chapter of REFORMA has joined forces with ALA ethnic caucuses to present a terrific conference where library workers network, exchange ideas and listen to quality speakers. On February 17, come hear best practices in planning, coordinating and hosting a "mini" conference from your colleagues who have had success in their regions. Presenters include Loida Garcia-Febo, REFORMA president, Tess Tobin, REFORMA's Northeast Chapter; and Haipeng Li and Janice Rice, co-chairs of the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color.

More information and registration »

March Webinar Madness on TechAtlas
Are you looking for help with managing your library's technology inventory or maybe you need to start working on a technology plan? In March, we'll be hosting a series of webinars to introduce you to WebJunction's free, online technology planning and management tool called TechAtlas for Libraries. Participants in the sessions will get to see live demonstrations of the tools and also hear tips on best practices for planning and technology management.

More information and registration »

Library Images and Video: Engage, Inspire and Tell Your Story
On March 3, come hear how two librarians teamed up to advocate more effectively, and boldly, while staying true to the personality of their staff, their libraries, and the communities they serve. You'll learn how you can use images more creatively to inspire Libraryland, engage your patrons, boost staff morale, and have fun at work. The stories and lessons in this session will be presented by Jeff Dawson (Lester Public Library, Two Rivers, Wisconsin) and Michael Porter (WebJunction).

More information and registration »

	Technology Essentials 2010 You've got just a few more days to register for WebJunction's premiere online conference on February 9–10. Remember: it's free! Conference details »

	20% Discount on Library Education from Drexel

	Save Money on Training Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $20 per unit? Learn more »

	Custom Course Catalogs WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training. Learn more »

	What's Happening on WebJunction? The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

	New to WebJunction? The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself to our community, find help, and join the conversation. Go to Member Center »

Crossroads January 2010

2010-01-06T21:26:41Z

Website Development resources, plus announcements of upcoming events this winter.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

January 2010

How to Design and Develop Your Library's Website
With the advent of "do it yourself" web tools, it no longer requires a whole IT department to create and maintain a simple website. With careful planning, even a small library can make use of free or low-cost software to establish an online home for patrons to get information about the library (e.g., WordPress). Use the Guide to Website Development as a starting place to learn the ins and outs of this important skill. And the Web Design & Development section of the course catalog has a dozens of classes for the non-professional as well as programmers.

IMLS Recognizes Work of Project Compass
Project Compass, the IMLS-funded initiative by WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina, was acknowledged in the December 11 issue of the IMLS newsletter Primary Source. Be sure to join us on January 28 for an hour-long webinar on topics related to libraries and workforce recovery. The session will cover strategies for triaging social services, new ways to create partnerships with community agencies, and tactics that can be implemented on a shoestring budget. The session will include a brief introduction to Project Compass and to Workforce Resources, a new section on WebJunction created to collect library-specific resources and responses to these tough times.

More on Project Compass »
Register for webinar »

Register Now for Free Technology Essentials 2010 Conference
On February 9–10, WebJunction is hosting a two-day online conference, and you are invited to register for this free event today. The theme is Technology Essentials, with a focus on practical and timely strategies for leveraging technology in sustaining your library. Conference sessions and presenters include:

Sandra Nelson with The Planning Puzzle: Integrating your Strategic Plan and your Technology Plan
Stephanie Gerding with Library Grants 101
Joshua Dodson and Laura Slavin with WordPress for Library 2.0 and Beyond
Pat Carterette with Learning When There's No Time (or Money) to Learn
Karen McCoy with Implementing Reliable Instant Messaging at Your Library.

You won't want to miss this valuable learning opportunity for you and your staff. Full program and speaker information is now available here.

Take Advantage of 20% Tuition Discount at Drexel Online
Read Suni Minorics' story about how she was able to pursue her interest in library and information science at Drexel's iSchool. Then take advantage of WebJunction's partnership with Drexel: simply submit your application by March 1 and enter "WEBJUNCTION" as the partner code, and you will receive a 20% tuition reduction.

More information and how to apply »

Return of the Instructor-Led Courses
Winter is a great time to take an online class—you don't have to worry about braving the elements to get to to it, or the class being canceled because of snow. So this winter we are bringing back the 3 most popular Amigos Library Services live online courses we offered last fall and adding 2 new titles we think you'll find valuable. Click on the titles to see the full descriptions and to sign up.

Core Reference Skills - January 19 & 26
MARC 101 - February 2 & 4
FRBR: What is it and how it can help you prepare for RDA - February 16 & 18
Quick and Easy Open Source Software - March 2
Basic Digitization: Everyday Imaging - March 17 & 18

Remember: If you are affiliated with a WebJunction Partner, be sure to enroll via your affiliation's course catalog to get free or discounted enrollment. The User Guide has more information about affiliations.

Library Technology Reports Special Offer
In December, WebJunction partnered with ALA TechSource to present a webinar with library systems expert Marshall Breeding. The discussion focused on the current trend toward customization and increased user control in modern library systems. Many of the 500+ attendees expressed a desire to learn more about open source software. To that end, ALA TechSource is offering a special package of three issues of Library Technology Reports. In addition to Marshall Breeding’s most recent issue, Opening up Library Systems through Web Services and SOA: Hype or Reality, the package also includes his December 2008 issue, Open Source Integrated Library Systems, and Casey Bisson’s Open Source Software for Libraries. This set is available through the ALA Store for $64.50, a savings of over 50%. If you want to gain a broad understanding of how open source software can be used in a library environment, this package may be right for you.

Spotlight on WebJunction-Iowa
WebJunction-Iowa, a service of the State Library of Iowa offers free courses and resources for library staff all across the state. Learn more about self-directed learning options available in Iowa.

Visit WJ-Iowa »

Save Money on Training
Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $20 per unit?

Learn more »

Custom Course Catalogs
WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training.

Learn more »

What's Happening on WebJunction?
The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

New to WebJunction?
The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself to our community, find help, and join the conversation.

Go to Member Center »

Partner Reception at ALA Midwinter
If you’re partnering with WebJunction to deliver your staff training or development programs and will be at ALA Midwinter Meeting in Boston, you’re invited to attend an informal partner reception with us. Meet WebJunction staff and other partners, talk with other library organizations that deliver online training, and get an update on Project Compass. RSVP to info@webjunction.org in order to attend.

Explore Library Webinar Programming
We've compiled a list of providers of free or low-cost webinars and archives that are relevant to libraries. Explore them and suggest additions.

Go to list »

Crossroads is a free publication produced by WebJunction, distributed monthly in an electronic format. Past issues are archived at webjunction.org/crossroads.

To subscribe, go to webjunction.org and enter your email address in the subscription box.

To unsubscribe, click here.

Please feel free to pass Crossroads along to your friends; we do ask, however, that you keep the newsletter intact and forward it in its entirety.

Crossroads and WebJunction.org will not sell or otherwise make available to outside parties the information provided by Website users and newsletter subscribers. Crossroads is distributed using a third-party service provider.

© 2009 Online Computer Library Center, Inc. All rights reserved. Product and service names are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
OCLC, 6565 Kilgour Place, Dublin OH USA 43017-3395 | ISSN 1552-36165

Crossroads December 2009

2009-12-02T19:39:11Z

Computer security and Winter 2010 programming events are described.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

December 2009

Computer Security Issues Loom Large
Our quick-pulse poll last month indicates that security issues are front of mind for libraries. Use WebJunction resources to find help with:

creating internet and computer use policies,
installing security for your public computers,
protecting against virus and spam, and
using tools and protocols to establish a secure network.

Network administrators may find one or more of the 17 security courses in the WebJunction catalog useful. And any staff might find the answers to their burning networking and security questions in the archive of the December live "tech talk" Q&A session (archive will be available on December 3).

Browse Computer Security resources »

January Webinar Discusses Libraries' Role in Workforce Recovery
As part of Project Compass, a grant-funded initiative by WebJunction and the State Library of North Carolina, research has been conducted to assess the type and extent of current patron needs and the response to those needs by state and local public libraries. Join us on January 28 at 2 pm EST / 11 am PST for an hour-long webinar to introduce the project and the initial research. The session will cover strategies for triaging social services, new ways to create partnerships with community agencies, and tactics that can be implemented on a shoestring budget. You will also learn about Workforce Resources, a new section on WebJunction created to collect library-specific resources and responses to these tough times.

More information and registration »

Save the Date: Technology Essentials 2010
On February 9–10, WebJunction is hosting a free two-day online conference, and you are invited to attend. The theme for this inaugural event is Technology Essentials, with a focus on practical and timely strategies for leveraging technology to help you in a wide range of library services and operations, including:

Staff training
Marketing
Outreach, funding, advocacy
Services and programming
Technology planning
Virtual libraries
Your library's web presence

You can find preliminary program and speaker information here; a full schedule, logistics, and registration information will be available in January.

Go to Technology Essentials 2010 information page »

Apply to Participate in Legal Information Conference
With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the National Center for State Courts, the Self-Represented Litigation Network, in cooperation with Legal Services Corp., is presenting a two-day conference on January 11–12, in Austin, Texas, that addresses how public libraries can improve their patrons' access to online legal information. The conference will be a unique opportunity to meet with public librarians and legal and court experts to discuss strategies for integrating access to legal information into your programs, including how to find the best content and tools, talk about the content with library patrons, form partnerships to develop content, share what you have learned, and advocate for the importance of public libraries as gateways to government information. The supporting material and information resulting from this conference will be published on WebJunction in the Legal Information section.

More information and how to apply »

Spotlight on WebJunction-Indiana
WebJunction-Indiana, a service of the Indiana State Library, offers courses, and state-specific resources for library staff. Check out the Jobs in Indiana Libraries page to post or view job opportunities available in Indiana libraries.

Visit WJ-Indiana »

	Save Money on Training Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $20 per unit? Learn more »

	Custom Course Catalogs WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training. Learn more »

	What's Happening on WebJunction? The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

	New to WebJunction? The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself to our community, find help, and join the conversation. Go to Member Center »

Crossroads November 2009

2009-11-06T16:37:38Z

Focus on computer networking, including wireless. Plus, new Windows 7 courses now available

CROSSROADS Newsletter

November 2009

Networking Your Library's Computers
The rapid pace of development makes maintaining a library computer network a highwire balancing act. So this month we're talking about setup, management, and troubleshooting of computer networks in a single library or across multiple branches. Use the Technology Systems & IT section of the Competencies to find Networking learning resources, which range from an overview of networking components and architecture, to specific tips for fixing a lost Internet connection, to setting up Wi-Fi.

Go to the WebJunction Competencies »

What Are Your Networking Issues?
We'll be hosting a live conversation on December 2 to answer your burning questions about library networking. The subject is wide ranging, so let us know what you are most interested in by taking this quick poll. Then post your specific questions to this discussion thread or as a comment on BlogJunction.

A Guide to Networking Resources
Use the pathfinders on the Networking page and the Wireless Networking page as a guide to documents, discussions, and archived presentations that cover everything from assessing your building's readiness for Wi-Fi, to using your bandwidth efficiently, to networking all the branches in your library system.

Windows 7 is Here. Are You Ready?
The latest version of Microsoft's Windows operating system was just released, and you may well have questions about what this means for you and your library. There are two new courses in the WebJunction catalog that can help answer these questions. Windows 7: First Look for End Users explains what's new and different for the user of Windows. Windows 7: First Look for IT Professionals will help you understand what it may mean to implement the operating system in your library, including everything from driver support, to security, to which W7 edition will best suit your needs.

Register for November Webinars
On November 10 Patricia Rempel, University of Alberta; and José Garcia, King County Library System, will share research on perceived use of public access computers by Spanish speakers in rural Washington. The webinar will include real-life examples of library use in these rural communities and the results of outreach efforts by the libraries studied.

More info and registration »

On November 19 learn the background of social websites, how to use these websites for advocacy, and how to advocate for services for Latinos and Spanish speakers. A panel of guest speakers include Meredith Farkas, Norwich University; Fiona Bradley, IFLA; Marci Merola, ALA; Max Macias, Portland Community College; and Loida Garcia-Febo, Queens Library.

More info and registration »

Spotlight on WebJunction-Illinois
WebJunction-Illinois, a service of the Illinois State Library, offers courses, and state-specific resources for library staff. Check out the LSTA Grant updates on BlogJunction Illinois to learn how Illinois libraries are expanding their service to patrons.

Visit WJ-Illinois »

	Save Money on Training Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $20 per unit? Learn more »

	Custom Course Catalogs WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training. Learn more »

	ILS Webinar Announced Join us on December 10 for a discussion of integrated library systems and the trend toward customizability through application programming interfaces (APIs) with library systems expert Marshall Breeding and representatives from leading vendors in the field. We'll discuss new features and capabilities available in the most modern library software, and what it really means for these tools to be "customizable." This event is presented in collaboration with ALA TechSource. Register for the event »

	What's Happening on WebJunction? The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events. And the WJ Groups page is where you can tap into member groups.

	New to WebJunction? The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself to our community, find help, and join the conversation. Go to Member Center »

	Have feedback on what you've read here? Post your comments on the online version of Crossroads.

Crossroads October 2009

2009-10-06T23:37:15Z

Focus on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

October 2009

Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery at Your Library
As we head into the seasons that bring flu, hurricanes, and cold weather, it's a good time to assess whether we are prepared for these and other emergency situations that may impact our libraries and our communities. WebJunction is gathering resources on this topic in our Disaster Planning section. Please help build the collection by posting your library's disaster plan.

Go to Disaster Planning »

Hurricane Readiness Webinar
On October 21 join guest presenter Joe Ryan, project manager of a new Florida-based initiative to make better use of public libraries for hurricane and disaster preparation and recovery. The project helps libraries address the needs of the broader community through partnerships with fellow emergency responders and to become a safe haven, a recovery center, information hub and evacuee resource. From this webinar you will learn how your library can play an important role in community preparedness and recovery.

Become a Master of Disaster
In addition to the related webinar and articles, you can also take an online course by LibraryU, Master of Disaster: Developing a Disaster Plan. This approximately one-hour self-paced course covers the three main areas of disaster preparedness that are critical to your library's ability to respond to, and even prevent major and minor disasters: identify potential hazards, devise a course of action, and document your plan.

Read course details or enroll »

Upcoming FRBR and Digitization Classes
We still have a few open seats in the October 13 and 15 session of FRBR: How it can help you prepare for RDA. The new RDA standard is coming early next year, and this class is a great opportunity to come up to speed (or get refreshed) on FRBR and discuss the ongoing development of RDA.

And coming up on November 11 and 12 will be Basic Digitization: Everyday Imaging. This class is a great introduction to all the details involved with using scanners and cameras to digitize materials in your library.

Both classes are provided through WebJunction's partnership with Amigos Library Services, and consist of two 2-hour live online sessions that allow for interaction among the participants and instructor, plus a dedicated page on WebJunction for ongoing discussions and support materials.

Learn How to Create a Technology Plan
Join us on October 29 as we explore the technology planning features in WebJunction's free resource, TechAtlas for Libraries. The TechAtlas tools guides your library through building a technology plan, starting with defining your mission and vision, creating goals and objectives, and leading through the budgeting of your expenses. We'll share important tips for those of you who are applying for E-rate funds and creating a technology plan as a requirement for that program. You will also see a live demonstration of TechAtlas and hear best practices about technology planning and how to help lead your library into the future through effective planning.

Learn more about TechAtlas »

New Project Launched to Support Libraries' Outreach to the Struggling Workforce
The demands on library services have increased in these economic tough times, with libraries everywhere trying to respond to the needs of the unemployed and financially strained members of their community. Through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the State Library of North Carolina and WebJunction are embarking on a project to assist state library agencies as they help to increase the effectiveness of their libraries’ activities, services, and outreach to struggling patrons. We'll be keeping you in touch with this project and the resulting resources throughout the year, so stay tuned to BlogJunction and this newsletter for updates.

Crossroads September 2009

2009-09-01T22:16:07Z

Focus on digital reference and digital libraries.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

September 2009

Digital Branches and Virtual Reference Expand Library Service
A digital branch or reference service brings human interaction to the computer environment, so that patrons can get information and answers from library staff via digital communication tools such as email, chat, IM, and live online events. Visit the Virtual Reference section on WebJunction to read foundational research on this trend. And to learn more about digital branches, read this chapter by David Lee King.

Register for September Webinars
We are offering two live events this month about digital libraries and reference services:

Sept. 15: Building the Digital Branch for the 21st Century—David Lee King explores and expands on the process his web team used at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library to transform their outdated website into a dynamic digital branch.

Sept. 30: Digital Reference Summit: Be Where Your Users Are—Hear the latest implications, trends and tips in digital reference with a panel of special guests including: Stephen Francoeur, Baruch College (NY); Susan McGlamery, 24/7 Reference; and Alison Miller, Internet Public Library.

Get Instructor-Led This Fall
With fall approaching and kids heading back to school, why not join in and take a class yourself? With our new instructor-led courses, you can have a classroom learning experience without leaving your desk. These courses are run by the library training experts at Amigos specifically for our members. You can see the complete list in the Amigos section of the Course Catalog, or get details about these currently scheduled sessions:

September 17 & 24: Tools for the Reference Desk
September 28: Tech Topics: Library 2.0
October 13 & 15: FRBR - What it is and how it can help you prepare for RDA
November 11 & 12: Basic Digitization: Everyday Imaging

Exciting Changes Coming to TechAtlas
WebJunction brings libraries free access to the TechAtlas for Libraries tools which help with technology planning and the management of technology resources. Currently, the TechAtlas tools are accessed through a separate website, but in early October we're going to be moving these tools so that our users can access them directly through WebJunction. Users will just need one member account for both resources, and will find all of the valuable WebJunction resources in one place. More details will be sent via email messages to our TechAtlas users and will be posted to WebJunction in the next few weeks.

Spotlight on WebJunction-Idaho
WebJunction-Idaho, a service of the Idaho Commission for Libraries, offers continuing education courses and resources for public library staff in Idaho. You can also read spotlight articles about individual libraries located in Idaho.

Visit WJ-Idaho »

Save Money on Training
Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $25 per unit?

Learn more »

Custom Course Catalogs
WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training.

Learn more »

2009 Best Small Library in America
Join us October 7 for a webinar with Nancy Rosenwald, library director of Union County Carnegie Library (SC), this year's Best Small Library in America. The library was recognized for its transformation into an "inclusive, modern, service-oriented, community center". You've got until November 2 to nominate your favorite U.S. small library for 2010!

What's Happening on WebJunction?
The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events. And the WJ Groups page is where you can tap into member groups.

New to WebJunction?
The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself to our community, find help, and join the conversation.

Go to Member Center »

Crossroads August 2009

2009-08-04T21:58:57Z

Focus on technology policies

CROSSROADS Newsletter

August 2009

Policies to Guide Technology Use in Your Library
We'll be discussing computer and internet policies this month—and invite you to join the conversation. To kick things off, take this brief survey to let us know how your library has approached these issues.

Then, be sure to sign up for our August 26 webinar, in which Rob Zschernitz, North Suburban Library System (IL), and Lecia Eubanks, Cherokee Regional Library (GA), will discuss over the nuts and bolts of creating and updating technology policies.

Explore Technology Policies resources »

TechAtlas Quick Tips
TechAtlas for Libraries is a set of online tools that help libraries with both technology planning and technology inventory management. TechAtlas accounts are free to all libraries and thousands of libraries are already using these resources.

In the TechAtlas technology planning section, you'll find a section called Policies where you can upload or link to your existing technology policies, so that anyone who is contributing to the planning process can quickly reference your library's policies. It essentially creates an easy way for you to connect all the relevant documents that serve as pieces of the planning puzzle.

Learn more about TechAtlas »

Drexel Online Offers 20% Tuition Reduction
Drexel University Online offers an ALA-accredited MS in Library and Information Science, ranked by U.S.News & World Report among the top ten library science programs in the nation. Drexel's MSLIS offers the flexibility of online learning from a top-100 institution. Visit www.drexel.com/wj to learn more about Webjunction member benefits and the iSchool's new concentration in Archival Studies. Apply now for Drexel's Library & Information Science programs—the fall admissions deadline is September 1. Use the partner code "WEBJUNCTION" when applying to ensure your 20% tuition reduction.

Improving Access to the Discussions on WebJunction
Part of what you told us on the 2009 member survey was that the discussion boards are not easy to find. "Like trying to read a subway map," was how one member put it. So, as a first step, we've created a directory page that gives you one-click access to the discussion board of your choice. You can either browse the topical listing, or use the A-Z keyword index. We've also streamlined the boards themselves, collapsing topics so that there are now about 60 forums rather than the 100+ that we previously set up. Let us know if you find the directory and weeding helpful—post your comments to the Feedback forum.

Go to Discussion Board Directory »

Toolbar Gives You Quick Links to Popular Pages on WebJunction
Did you know that you can add a custom toolbar to your Internet browser that allows you to (1) perform a Google search for WebJunction content, (2) get to key WJ pages in a single click, (3) get news and information from our Twitter feed? Simply go to http://webjunction.mylibrarytoolbar.com/, and you can download and install the toolbar in a single click. The toolbar works on IE, Firefox, and Safari browsers. If you have comments about the toolbar, please let us know in the Feedback forum.

More about the WebJunction toolbar »

Spotlight on WebJunction-Georgia
WebJunction-Georgia offers continuing education courses and events for public library staff in Georgia. Staff can apply for a WebJunction Scholarship to take courses at no cost and count these courses towards Georgia MLS re-certification requirements. WebJunction-Georgia is also a great resource for Georgia Public Library Policies.

Visit WJ-Georgia »

	Save Money on Training Did you know that you can purchase WebJunction courses in bulk, for as low as $25 per unit? Learn more »

	Custom Course Catalogs WebJunction can help your organization create its own course catalog that provides a central location to host, promote and track staff training. Learn more »

	Solutions for Your Library Sign up to attend "WJ for Organizations" on September 2, where you'll learn how we provide cost-effective customized services to libraries that help prepare staff for the challenges of running a 21st century organization. Register for the event »

	What's Happening on WebJunction? The Hot Topics page highlights new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events. And the WJ Groups page is where you can tap into member groups.

	September Live Events Mark your calendars now for next month's webinars: Sept. 15: Build a Digital Branch for the 21st Century Sept. 30: Digital Reference Summit



	New to WebJunction? The Member Center will help you get started, introduce yourself to our community, find help, and join the conversation. Go to Member Center »

Crossroads July 2009

2009-06-29T18:25:21Z

Announcing the new Competencies Index, and featuring resources to support children's librarians, a new LibraryU course and more news.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

July 2009

Competencies Index for the Library Field Now Available

This new publication is a carefully synthesized and reviewed compilation of competency statements for library practice. The Index can be used by libraries of all sizes and types to help identify and develop the staff skills and knowledge that will meet the needs of today's patrons. Please feel free to download the PDF version of the Index from WebJunction, and distribute, remix, or repurpose as you see fit.

Competencies are always a work-in-progress. Please tell us what you think by adding your comments to the Index's webpage.

More about the Competencies »

A Support Community for Children's Librarians
There are hundreds of WebJunction members whose primary role is children's librarianship or youth services, a number of whom have helped build a section for Services to Children. You'll find dozen of documents and a discussion board for exchange of news and ideas, and you are welcome to add your own resources to this knowledge base. Also, the Course Catalog offers seven courses that focus on children's services. Plus, this month we're hosting two free webinars on specific examples of successful library programs for children:

July 7: Crouching Tigers, Reading Dragons: Creating a Reading Challenge Program
July 29: Bilingual Storytimes: Building Early Literacy and Community

Going to ALA? Let's Meet up!
If you're heading to Chicago for the ALA Annual Conference, we would love to see you. A handful of WebJunction staff will be onsite, presenting at a number of sessions and events. You are also welcome to stop by the exhibit hall Booth #3923 and speak with staff there. We've posted our daily schedule and locations to the WebJunction Conferences page. If you plan to follow the conference from home, staff will be blogging about ALA2009 on BlogJunction each day.

More Conference information »

New LibraryU Course on NLM Shelving Added to Catalog
Proper shelving technique is vital for shelf maintenance and patron access. A new course from LibraryU explains the classification system used by the National Library of Medicine. After completing this training, staff will be able to accurately read shelves and properly file materials according to NLM standards.

Get course details »

What Do WebJunction Courses Look Like?
Have you been curious about the online training offered by WebJunction but would like to know more about what a self-paced course looks like? Watch this demonstration video, which takes you on a tour of the three major types of courses you'll find in our catalog, including those created by LibraryU, LE@D, and SkillSoft.

Watch the video »

Webinar: Living Libraries, Understanding Diversity
On July 22 join us for a free one-hour webinar, Living Library Project: Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover. The Living Library is a unique event that brings together people who have special interests, beliefs or experiences to share their personal story with members of the community. In this innovative program, participants can "check out" Living Books for a personal conversation. Join project leads Rebecca Judd from Kitsap Regional Library System (WA), and Julie MacDonald and Rachel Foyt from Santa Monica Public Library (CA). Hear how they planned and implemented the project in their libraries, and find out how you can create a Living Library in your community. For more project information, read this BlogJunction post from last fall.

How May We Help You?
Since 2003, WebJunction has helped more than 40,000 library staff build their job skills by partnering with library organizations to deliver cost-effective staff training and development programs. If you would like to learn more about the various services that WebJunction provides to libraries and library systems of all sizes and types, we invite you to join us on August 5 for "WebJunction for Organizations," a free one-hour online presentation. You'll receive an overview of our tools and how they can be used, learn about our pricing and service options, and participate in an open Q&A.

Staff Training Needs in the Coming Year
We are keenly aware of the tough economic situation and its potentially devastating impact on library budgets. In service to our mission to provide library staff access to the knowledge, skills and support we need to power relevant, vibrant libraries, we are reaching out to libraries to learn about their staff training needs for the coming year—and the challenges they face in meeting those needs. This information will help us focus our efforts to deliver the most relevant content and services for today's libraries, and to develop partnerships with organizations to provide staff with essential training. If your library would like to discuss how WebJunction can help you meet your staff training goals even in tough times, please contact us at info@webjunction, and we'll give you a call.

Member Center Reorganization Is Underway
As a follow-on to the results of our most recent member survey, we are making improvements to the organization of content and pages on WebJunction.org. Last month, we streamlined the Social Networking & Web Tools section. This month we have been working on the Member Center, to make it a place for new users to get acquainted with WebJunction and the member community, and to get quick answers to technical questions about the site. You can take a look at what we've done so far, and please feel free to provide suggestions for further improvements.

Visit the Member Center »

Spotlight on WebJunction-Connecticut
WebJunction-Connecticut provides a wealth of services to library staff like CE workshops, grant funding opportunities, and employment opportunities in CT. The new Treasures of Connecticut Libraries project helps CT libraries digitize their historical collections with the help of a statewide license for ContentDM digital rights management software.

Visit WJ-Connecticut »

Apply Now for Drexel University Online Fall Term
Earn a top-10 ranked MS LIS degree at Drexel University Online. Receive a 20% tuition reduction whe you use the "WEBJUNCTION" partner code when applying. A concentration in Archival Studies is now available. Submit your application package now and get started this fall. The deadline to apply for Drexel’s Library & Information Science programs is September 1.

About the Drexel-WebJunction partnership »

Missed an Issue of Crossroads?
You can read past issues on WebJunction. Recent issues will direct you to key content, courses, people, and programming around hot topics such as:

Basic Computer Skills,

Library Management,

Customer Service,

Technology Planning,

Staff Training & Development, and

Social Networking & Web Tools.

Go to Crossroads archives »

Crossroads June 2009

2009-06-02T20:45:47Z

Focusing on social networking and web-based tools

CROSSROADS Newsletter

June 2009

How Do You Use the Web?
The World Wide Web has grown from a read-only environ- ment into a vast online community where people meet, exchange information, collaborate, and communicate. It is essential for today's libraries to be part of that community. Patrons expect librarians to be savvy at using web tools; and many libraries now use social networking to strengthen and widen their outreach efforts.

If you do not think you are using the Web to its fullest potential, we have many free resources to help you learn and use web tools and social networking in and for your library.

Go to Social Networking & Web Tools »

The Secret to Online Communities
The secret to a successful online community is participation. Sharing even a little of yourself online goes a long way toward strengthening your and your organization's relationships. Start in the safe, supportive environment of WebJunction, where members are colleagues in your profession who would like to meet and learn with you. Add a picture ("avatar") to your profile so we can better know you. Tell us about yourself in the personal information section of your profile. And adjust your privacy settings to your own comfort level. The User Guide and this helpful video will help you get started.

Already a Fan of Web 2.0?
Are you in love with LinkedIn? Yearning for YouTube? Tickled by Twitter? What social network or web-based tool do you love, and why? Simply post your one-sentence answer in the Social Networks & Web Tools discussion forum. Or, you could make use of a different web tool, like some WebJunction staff did when they videoed their responses, posted them to Flickr, and then embedded them into a WebJunction document.

Join the discussion »

2009 Member Survey: The Community Speaks
Read the summary report from the March 2009 WebJunction Member Survey, to learn how our community uses WebJunction.org, what they do and don't do while there, what they value, what they'd like to see change. Feel free to post comments to the report page—your feedback is always appreciated.

Colleagues at the Heart of Solving Problems
In the 2009 WJ Member Survey we asked, "When you need to tackle a problem at work, what tool or method do you like to use to solve it?" When we analyzed your responses, we discovered that your top "tool" is other people: coworkers, professional network, staff, etc. Also tops in your toolkit is your state or regional library system, but you also make heavy use of the Internet, with listservs, Google, and WebJunction getting honorable mentions. We also created this tag cloud to show the top 50 words in your responses.

It is clear from all of your survey responses how much you value your colleagues and professional network to help you find solutions, new ideas, or to act as a sounding board. We hope that you will continue to foster that mutual support and exchange on WebJunction: your community needs you.

Survey Shows Your Use of Online Tools
As part of the 2009 WJ Member Survey, we wanted to assess how much our members use online tools, especially "web 2.0" tools that have developed in recent years. This gives us a sense of what experience and what expectations our community has around web tools, and helps to put WebJunction.org's tools into that context. We found the results quite interesting; our community falls across a very wide continuum. Go to this article to view the full results.

Webinar: Social Learning in Libraries
For the past six years, library staff have been using tools at WebJunction.org to connect with each other and build new skills for their work in libraries. Meanwhile, the dramatic growth of web-based technology has changed patron expectations of libraries, which means library staff have new needs as well. Join Chrystie Hill, community director at WebJunction, on June 16 as she describes how WebJunction.org has evolved alongside these trends. Chrystie will also present broader trends in learning and training, demonstrate how our members are using online tools to support their staff or their own professional development, and discuss with you how to shape the future of staff training and library services.

Webinar: Bringing Web 2.0 into Academic Libraries
As students, staff and faculty move their lives online, university libraries must choose whether to move with them or get left behind. But where is the value in an academic library when Google is the new ready reference desk and the libraries' resources are increasingly digitized? How does a library remain relevant in a socially networked academic world? Amanda Clay Powers (Mississippi State Univ. Libraries) and Ellen Hampton (Baylor Univ. Libraries) will discuss on June 30 how libraries can readjust and move their most important resources online—their people. By using social networks and other web-based technologies, libraries can become a value-added member of their community—both online and in person.

Spotlight on WJ-Arizona
WebJunction-Arizona encourages their members to get comfortable learning online with Quick Tips and Videos for Getting Started and Guidelines for Taking Courses. Members increase their skills by accessing the free courses, certification opportunities, and the continuing education program—all available at WJ-Arizona's Courses.

Visit WJ-Arizona »

	A New Service to Library Organizations WebJunction now offers a Custom Course Catalog, which provides a central location for organizations to host, promote and track staff training. More information »

	Save Time and Money on Staff Training Deliver effective, relevant training right now with WebJunction’s online courses. Save money by purchasing in bulk. Select from more than 600 online courses relevant to your library, for as low as $25 per unit. Learn more »

	We Have a Solution For Your Library Sign up for an upcoming "WebJunction for Organizations" presentation, where you'll learn how we provide cost-effective customized solutions to libraries to ensure that staff are well prepared to meet the challenges of today. Register for July event »

	Keep Current on WJ Content and Groups We update the Hot Topics page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events. And the WJ Groups page is where you will get updates about activity happening in member groups.

	Quick Link to Events To see what live events are happening this month, visit our Events Calendar. To attend a webinar, simply complete the brief registration and we'll send you the login information.

	Reminder: June 10 Event Join online community expert Nancy White as she discusses how to be an effective technology steward at your library. You'll get practical advice on how to assess the technology needs of your patrons, and to select, configure, and support the online technologies they use. Register for the event »

	Mark Your Calendars for July 7 Webinar Guest presenters from Seattle and British Columbia will discuss the Global Reading Challenge/Reading Link Challenge, a program that encourages team building, reading for retention, and cooperation between school and public libraries. More information »

Crossroads May 2009

2009-05-08T23:32:53Z

This issue focuses on staff training and becoming a learning organization.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

May 2009

Is Your Library a Learning Organization?
A learning organization...

creates a culture that encourages and supports continuous learning, critical and innovative thinking;
allows mistakes and values employee contributions;
learns from experience and experiment; and
disseminates new knowledge throughout the organization for incorporation into day-to-day activities.

On May 26, a free webinar co-sponsored by CLENERT will feature libraries at different stages of becoming a learning organization. Join panelists Sandra Smith, Denver (CO) Public Library; Michele Leininger and Elizabeth Iaukea, Pierce County (WA) Library; and Julia Lanham, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC), as they share challenges, strategies, and successes about the benefits of a learning culture, building the environment, being a learning champion, and achieving sustainability. Learn how to incorporate technology to create a positive performance environment. Even if your library is not yet moving in this direction, you will take away ideas that you can use immediately with individuals or the entire team.

Use Competencies to Plan Staff Training
A staff training program includes creating the learn- ing environment, careful planning, applying learning strategies, and evaluating the results. Use the Staff Training & Development section of the Library Management Competencies to review the specific skills, knowledge, abilities that are recommended for successful training management. In addition, there are 17 courses in the WebJunction Catalog that will help you fill any identified gaps.

If you are affiliated with a WebJunction Partner, be sure to enroll in courses via your affiliation's course catalog to take full advantage of many free and reduced-priced courses. The User Guide has more information about affiliations.

Training & Development Resources
We have been remodeling the Training & Development section of the website so that you can more easily find resources and discussions around online learning, creating and delivering training, managing training, and being an effective learner. We've also added some new pages to host resources on certification and CE requirements and building a learning organization. As we complete this work, we hope you will find this content useful and be inspired to share your own knowledge. For instance, we are looking to fill out the CE requirements for all 50 U.S. states and any other non-U.S. regions that apply. Add your information to this document that was initiated by the Montana State Library. You are also welcome to publish to this section your region's strategy for meeting continuing education requirements.

Go to Training & Development »

A Note from Our Executive Director
Since we launched the new WebJunction platform in August 2008, we've grown to more than 40,000 members and added four new partner sites, including our first outside the U.S. This spring we introduced our new competencies and a Custom Course Catalog that gives library organizations new opportunities to manage staff learning. As our learning community grows and evolves, WebJunction’s mission and vision needs to keep apace. So, we've made some updates.

Our new mission is: "WebJunction bridges the barriers to learning by providing open, affordable, online learning communities. Our members take courses, attend events, share knowledge, and network with others – all in an environment that fosters collaboration and mutual support."

And our vision: "WebJunction will be the place where the worldwide library profession gathers to build the knowledge, skills, and support we need to power relevant, vibrant libraries."

Comments? Send them to me at woodc@oclc.org

Montana Libraries: Spanish Language Outreach Success Stories
Join three Montana librarians on May 13 for a free webinar on real-world examples of successful Spanish Language Outreach. Amy Ling (North Valley Public Library), Marie Habener (Dillon Public Library) and Molly Ledermann (Missoula Public Library) will describe how they haved sustained the momentum of WebJunction's Spanish Language Outreach project, and discuss how they assess community needs, make their libraries welcoming, develop programming, and foster connections with Spanish-speaking communities.

A Note About the Competencies Evaluation
Wow! Many hundreds of you completed the Library Management and the Technology Competencies assessments that we have been broadcasting over the past month. Thank you very much for your participation and for providing us with feedback about the evaluation process. Betha Gutsche summed up some the early learning we got out of this initiative in a post to BlogJunction. There is helpful information for those who took the assessment and who are considering doing so, so we hope you will take a moment to read it.

Go to BlogJunction post »

Spotlight on WJ-Washington
WebJunction-Washington uses technology to help library staff during hard economic times. WJ-Washington staff are connected to resources for staff to help patrons during hard times, and take advantage of professional development opportunities with discounted courses and First Tuesday web presentations.

Visit WJ-Washington »

	A New Service to Library Organizations Debuts WebJunction now offers a Custom Course Catalog, which provides a central location for organizations to host, promote and track staff training. More information »

	Save on Training Costs with Bulk Purchase Select from nearly 700 online courses across dozens of subjects relevant to your library, for as low as $25 per unit. Learn more »

	How May We Help You? Sign up for an upcoming "First Wednesday" presentation, where you'll learn how we provide cost-effective customized solutions to libraries to ensure that staff are well prepared to meet the challenges of today. Register for June event »

	Keep Current on WJ Content and Groups We update the Hot Topics page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events. And our new WJ Groups page is where you will get some updates about activity happening in member groups.

	Tech Tips Winner Ross Riker of Goshen (IN) Public Library posted numerous Tech Success Tips last month and is the winner of a new WebJunction thumb drive. Thank you, Ross, for your many contributions to the WebJunction community.

	Quick Link to Events To see what live events are happening this month, visit our Events Calendar. To attend a webinar, simply complete the brief registration and we'll send you the login information.

Crossroads April 2009

2009-04-01T15:28:00Z

Focus on technology planning and TechAtlas

CROSSROADS Newsletter

April 2009

Do You Know What TechAtlas Is?
TechAtlas for Libraries is a set of free online planning and management tools that guide your library through the essential act of creating and maintaining a technology plan. Use TechAtlas resources to inventory your equipment, plan computer maintenance and upgrades, assess staff tech skills, set near- and long-term goals, and make a budget.

More about TechAtlas »

On April 16 during a free one-hour webinar, we'll show how to use the TechAtlas Event Tracker to track computer problems and solutions. You’ll see the software in action and have a chance to ask questions about using the tools.

Technology Planning in Tough Times
Making a technology plan isn't fun, but it is essential: it shows where you're going and what you need to get there. And in today's economy, having a plan in place will help you effectively manage limited resources. To get you started, WebJunction has a whole section on technology planning, with articles such as this one on writing technology goals and objectives. There are also resources for libraries participating in the E-Rate program.

Explore Technology Planning »

Featured Course: Personal Computer Components
You know that thingy with the doohickey—is it important? And which of these dozen cords do I plug into which of these dozen holes—and why? Our featured course for April gives you a tour of computers from the inside out, so that you will feel more comfortable with the basics of setup and maintenance. Plus, if you sign up before April 30, you can take advantage of the 50% course discount.

More about the course »

If you are affiliated with a WebJunction Partner, be sure to enroll in courses via your affiliation's course catalog to take full advantage of many free and reduced-priced courses. The User Guide has more information about affiliations.

101 Technology Success Tips in 30 Days
Along with rapidly changing technologies, the public's use of library computers puts extra demands on the setup and maintenance of hardware, software, networks, and security. Part of technology planning is staying on top of those tasks. Help build a list of 101 tips for managing public access computers by posting your own tech success tip. In other words, 1 tip gets you 100 in return. Oh, and there will be prizes awarded for "best" and "most" tips posted. Note: You must be signed in as as a member to post.

Go to 101 Tech Success Tips discussion »

Technology Competencies Now Available
WebJunction has just released competencies for Core Technology and Systems & IT. The Core competencies address skills that all staff need for today's "wired" work environment. Systems & IT competencies address the various complex technology systems that drive your library operations. As with the Library Management competencies, these technology sets include dynamic links to related courses and resources on WebJunction that will build your knowledge and skills and increase on-the-job effectiveness. On the Courses page on WebJunction, click the Competencies tab to explore.

Go to the Competencies »

Join us on April 29 for a free webinar, where we'll hear from libraries that are at different stages of implementing competency programs, so that you can learn from their experiences and plan on the smoothest path for creating a program at your library.

Assess Your Management Skills
Evaluate your skill level in three key areas of library management, and help us understand the effectiveness of the WebJunction competencies. We’re taking the pulse of where the field is now in terms of these competencies so we have a baseline for measuring progress later. This assessment will take 10-15 minutes out of your day, and you do not need to know anything about the competencies to participate.

Take the assessment »

MaintainIT Cookbook Virtual Celebration
Come celebrate on April 22 the thousands of librarians who made TechSoup’s MaintainIT Project a reality—from the 400+ librarians and tech support personnel who spent their valuable time sharing stories, to the countless contributors and volunteers who used the content, contributed to the events, and created a community of librarians learning from each other. At this virtual event you'll get the top technology tips from library technology experts, hear what MaintainIT Project staff learned from their many conversations and library travels around the country, and learn how you can make the Cookbook content and community thrive on WebJunction.

Spotlight on WJ-Vermont
WebJunction-Vermont offers a wealth of continuing education opportunites for library staff across the "Red Clover" state. WJ-Vermont members can enroll in discounted courses, participate in ongoing local workshops and stay informed of happenings in Vermont libraries through BlogJunction-Vermont.

Visit WJ-Vermont »

	Save on Training Costs with Bulk Purchase Select from nearly 700 online courses across dozens of subjects relevant to your library, for as low as $25 per unit. Learn more »

	May We Help You? We partner with library organizations to provide cost-effective customized solutions to ensure that staff are well prepared to meet the challenges of today's libraries. Learn more »

	Keep Current on WJ Content We update the Hot Topics page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

	Try Out Wimba for Free Take this virtual classroom and online meeting space for a free 30-day spin. Get details or sign up »

	Upcoming Drexel Webinar In honor of National Library Week, Drexel U. is hosting a webinar on April 15 at 12–1 pm EST, Archival Education: Where Are We Now? Where Are We Going? Join Dr. Susan Davis, associate teaching professor at the iSchool, who will discuss Drexel's new archival courses that were designed to meet the field's changing needs. Get all the information you need in one hour-long session right from the comfort of your own home or office. Register for the webinar »

	LoC Webinar in May Join Library of Congress’ Chief of Conservation, Diane Vogt-O’Connor, for a special live web event on May 5. Diane will discuss a special project from the Library of Congress and Foundation Center that provides guidance for applying for your share of nearly 2,000 grants of $5,000 or more. More about the event »

	Quick Link to Events For information about all the live events happening this month, visit the WebJunction Events Calendar. By regis- tering for an event, you will receive a helpful email reminder.

	Thank You for Your Input We received about 1200 responses to our member survey last month. We will share the results with you in the May issue of Crossroads.

	Have feedback on what you've read here? Post your comments on the online version of Crossroads.

Crossroads March 2009

2009-03-02T22:38:52Z

Overview of content and programming around the topic of customer service and interpersonal skills--and an invitation to take the 2009 WJ member experience survey.

CROSSROADS Newsletter

March 2009

Your Feedback Makes WebJunction Better
The 2009 Member Experience Survey is one way for WebJunction members and visitors to significantly influence the direction of WebJunction. This short survey asks about your use of the site, what you find of most and least value, and what you would like to see on WebJunction in the future. We will use the collected feedback to bring you the content, tools, and programming that are most useful to you. Please schedule a few minutes of your time to provide this powerful input.

Take the survey »

Focusing on Interpersonal Skills and Customer Service
A library is most likely to succeed when colleagues are working harmoniously to deliver effective service to patrons. If you would like to boost your people skills, our Course Catalog has more than 40 courses that cover the essentials of customer service, dealing with difficult situations and people, and working well with colleagues. You'll also find related articles and resources in the Customer Service & Interpersonal Skills topic area under Library Management. Use the discussion space there to post your thorny questions or share your favorite customer success story.

Browse the catalog »

Let's Take a Course Together
Have you ever been frustrated with the loneliness of online, self-paced courses? Join us for our pilot project in social learning on WebJunction. We’ve formed a group around this month’s featured course, The Customer's Voice. As we learn about customer expectations and how to align services with them, we’ll share our discoveries and insights with each other. To get started, join the group and enroll in the course. We’ll kick off and wrap up the project with live, online meet-ups.

Learn more »

Course of the Month: The Customer's Voice
Learn how to recognize and ultimately anticipate your patrons' expectations, even when they are always changing. The course teaches the five dimensions of customer expectations, and gives you the tools to identify and anticipate the expectations of the patrons you serve. You will learn how to collect their input and then match your services to meet their needs. Enroll during the month of March and receive a 50% discount.

Course and enrollment details »

The Customer Focused Library: Lessons From Retail
What happens when you look at your library through the eyes of your customers? Three public libraries and one academic library from the Chicago area did just that. A retail-space consulting firm conducted a study of patron behavior, touch points, and interactions at the four libraries. The results led to the libraries adjusting staff behavior, space layout, signage, and marketing tactics. During a one-hour webinar on March 17, Gretel Stock-Kupperman, Jamie Bukovac, and Detlev Pansch will share the details of the study and the best practices they have adopted from the retail world. Go to the Events Calendar to register (it's free).

Join the Cookbook Users Group
MaintainIT and WebJunction have launched a group on WebJunction to update and add to the MaintainIT "Joy of Computing" Cookbooks. The cookbooks are full of practical tips and techniques for maintaining public computers, all based on the real-life experiences and successes of librarians across the country. You can add comments to specific articles to suggest edits, links, or additional information to add to that specific article. You can also start discussions related to the topics. Please help keep this valuable resource alive and relevant for all libraries.

Spotlight on WJ-Rhode Island
WebJunction-Rhode Island offers unique services for Rhode Island librarians under RI Services. WJ-RI members can join a number of dynamic working groups including the Young Adult Round Table, RI Adult Programming and RI Children's Services, as well as keep up with the latest news from the Rhode Island's Office of Library & Information Services.

Visit WJ-Rhode Island »

	Try Out Wimba For Free Take this virtual classroom and online meeting space for a free 30-day spin. Get details or sign up »

	Save on Training Costs with Bulk Purchase Select from nearly 700 online courses across dozens of subjects relevant to your library, for as low as $25 per unit. Learn more »

	Keep Current on WJ Content We update the Hot Topics page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

	May We Help You? We partner with library organizations to provide cost-effective customized solutions to ensure that staff are well prepared to meet the challenges of today's libraries. Learn more »

	Submit Your Drexel Application by April 14 and Win an iPod Touch In honor of National Library Week, Drexel University Online will be giving away iPod Touches to four lucky people who submit a complete application package for one of Drexel's iSchool programs anytime before April 14. Visit www.drexel.com/libraryweek for full details and eligibility. (Winners will be announced during the Library Week Webinar on April 15.)

	Quick Link to Events For information about all the live events happening this month, visit the WebJunction Events Calendar. By registering for an event, you will receive a helpful email reminder.

	Have feedback on what you've read here? Post your comments on the online version of Crossroads.

Spanish Language Outreach Update - August 2007

2009-02-08T20:39:48Z

The August SLO 2007 Update includes information about ALA 2007, our August webinar, and the Trejo Foster Foundation Institute.

Spanish Language Outreach Update
August 2007

ALA Conference in Review
The SLO program was involved in several different events at ALA Annual Conference including a workshop follow-up session and the REFORMA Piñata de Recursos. The follow-up session was well-attended despite competing with other exciting REFORMA events. Yolanda Cuesta spoke about marketing to the ethnic media, and participants shared great stories and ideas on outreach from their libraries. If you weren't there, you can still listen to the audio of the session and see pictures from the REFORMA fundraiser (http://www.flickr.com/photos/webjunction/sets/72157600886593844/) and the SLO Follow-Up session (http://www.flickr.com/photos/webjunction/sets/72157600887346893/). This summer we will be digitizing the library marketing resources in Spanish shared during the Piñata de Recursos, so bookmark this page!

August Webinar - Finding and Evaluating Online Health Information for Spanish Speakers

Join Gail Kouame of the <a href="http://nnlm.gov/">National Network of Libraries of Medicine</a> as she explains how to find and evaluate online health resources for Spanish speakers, even if you only speak English. She will cover basic vocabulary, how to evaluate resources, and point people to where they can find more resources on the National Network of Libraries of Medicine website.

¡Salud se puede! Trejo Foster Foundation Institute

The SLO program helped sponsor this year's Trejo Foster Foundation Institute (http://sir.arizona.edu/trejo/), which focused on Hispanic health information and issues. Public librarians and library staff, public health officials, clinicians, a Pima County Supervisor, promotoras, community advocates, bilingual community members, and librarians from the National Library of Medicine shared ideas and resources to take back to their work supporting healthy Latino communities. We learned about new resources to add our ever-growing collection of health resources (http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15334) for Spanish speakers, which also include resources from Oklahoma's Siga Adelante program (http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=17092). You can read more about the conference at BlogJunction (http://blog.webjunctionworks.org/?p=419).

Visit WebJunction for archived editions of Spanish Language Outreach Updates (http://webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=13924).

To unsubscribe to the Spanish Language Outreach monthly updates, please send an email to SpanishOutreach@webjunction.org and include "unsubscribe" in the subject line. Thank you.

Crossroads February 2009

2009-02-03T17:12:49Z

Library Management Competencies launched, new LibraryU courses, upcoming Town Halls, and spotlight on WJ-Ohio

CROSSROADS Newsletter

February 2009

New Library Management Competencies help you plan your training
When you next visit the course catalog, you will see a new tab that reads Competencies. WebJunction has been compiling an index of the full spectrum of library practice and service competencies, starting with library management. Click on the tab and you will be led to courses and content that address knowledge, skills and abilities associated with the key aspects of managing a library, such as budgeting and funding, strategic planning, and project management.
In the coming months, we will continue to roll out additional sections of the index, including Technology, Library Services, and more.

Read how to use the competencies.

Understand and apply the laws that are relevant to your library
Well-written policies and procedures, based on sound legal footings, help all levels of staff be consistent in their relationships with patrons, colleagues and other stake-holders. Use the Law, Policies & Procedures competencies to find courses and related content that will help you (1) understand, apply and explain applicable laws; (2) develop policies and procedures; and (3) create policies and practices to ensure safety and security.

New Courses and a New Discount
The WebJunction Course Catalog now offers 14 new courses from Library U, including this month's featured course, Director's ASK (that stands for "Administrator's Secret Knowledge"). This course will help you understand the documentation crucial to effectively carrying out your responsibilities as a library administrator, including working with your board, budget, and staff. Enroll in Director's ASK by February 28 and you'll receive a 50% discount.

If you are affiliated with a WebJunction Partner, be sure to access this course via your affiliation's course catalog to take full advantage of many free and reduced-priced courses. The User Guide has more information about affiliations.

Prepare your LSTA grant proposal
Interested in learning how to train rural library staff to apply for LSTA grants without spending huge training dollars? On February 24, join guest presenters Malavika Muralidharan [right] and Laura Stone from the Arizona State Library in a one-hour webinar as they present how their team did it. Get additional tips from Dale Savage, director of Parker Public Library, and Rose Bebris, director of Florence Public Library, both of whom participated in the Excelling Grant-writers Group (aka EGGsters). Go to the Events Calendar to register (it's free).

SLO Webinar: Outreach During Tough Times
On February 10, join our virtual Town Hall on outreach to Spanish speakers during tough economic times. This new format is designed to encourage all attendees to ask questions, share stories, brainstorm solutions, and offer practical advice. Bring your challenges, questions and ideas to this forum, and we'll tackle them together. Register for the event today (it's free).

Join the Online 23 Things Summit
"23 Things" is a revolutionary staff development learning concept centered on social collaboration tools, originated by Helene Blowers and adopted by thousands of libraries. On March 3, a two-hour summit will bring together organizers from several successful programs to share best practices and lessons learned. You will be able to ask questions and seek advice on implementing a similar program in your library. WebJunction, MaintainIT, the State Library of Kansas, and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library are collaborating on this event. More information and registration.

Learning Group exchanges training resources Staff training is a hot topic in Libraryland. We had a lively online Town Hall on the subject last month, and members have created a Learning Group, as a place to share ideas and raise awareness of learning opportunities. In addition, we've posted a bunch of helpful articles to that group's page. If you are interested in learning or providing learning to your staff, we invite you to join the group so that you can participate in the ongoing discussion and knowledge exchange.

	Try Out Wimba For Free Take this virtual classroom and online meeting space for a free 30-day spin. Get details or sign up »

	Save Costs—Buy in Volume Select from nearly 700 online courses across dozens of subjects relevant to your library, for as low as $25 per unit. Learn more »

	Keep Current on WJ Content We update the Hot Topics page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, discussions, groups and events.

	May We Help You? We partner with library organizations to provide cost-effective customized solutions to ensure that staff are well prepared to meet the challenges of today's libraries. Learn more »

	Drexel University Spring Deadline Approaches Apply for online degree programs for free at www.drexel.com/wj and receive a 20% tuition reduction by entering "WEBJUNCTION" as your partner code. The application deadline is March 2.

	Spotlight on WJ-Ohio WebJunction-Ohio offers local resources for Ohio library staff in their Ohio Center. Members of WJ-Ohio will find information about Choose to Read Ohio and the 2009 Ohio Summer Reading program, as well as helpful resources for Ohio job seekers. Visit WJ-Ohio »

	Quick Link to Events For information about all the live events happening this month, visit the WebJunction Events Calendar. By registering for an event, you will receive a helpful email reminder.

Crossroads January 2009

2009-01-22T18:03:27Z

Basic computing topic focus, webinars, new MaintainIT Cookbook on WebJunction, WJ @ Midwinter meeting, and more.

CROSSROADS

January 7, 2009

Getting Back to Basics
An increasing number of patrons are using library computers for job searching and other critical tasks during this economic crisis. Make sure you are equipped with the knowledge needed to help by getting up to speed on the fundamentals of using computers and the Internet. Take a course or read an article about Basic Computer Skills and Basic Computer Support.

While you are there, use new WebJunction tools to rate, recommend or comment to help assess and build resources. Rating helps surface content that you find valuable—or not so valuable. Use the comments field to highlight outdated information or links, to suggest additional related resources, or to provide feedback to the contributing member. Use the recommendation feature to spread the word about documents and courses that have helped you in your work.

New MaintainIT Cookbook on WJ
WebJunction is pleased to host the third cookbook from TechSoup's MaintainIT Project, Planning for Success. This free online resource brings together the most current ideas and best practices for planning, building, and managing your library's computer technology. Librarians from around the country have contributed their experience and knowledge on over 50 topics ranging from security solutions and strategic maintenance practices to community building experiences involving Web 2.0 tools and vital partnerships. Add your valued comments as you browse the topics online or download the complete cookbook and accompanying toolkit—all for free!

Build Your Skills with Discounted Courses
Register by January 31 to take advantage of the 60% discount on the following courses.

If you are affiliated with a WebJunction Partner, be sure to access these courses via your affiliation's course catalog to take full advantage of many free and reduced-priced courses. For more information on affiliations, see the User Guide.

Featured Member: Laura Staley
Laura Staley, the project coordinator of the Spanish Language Outreach Program is leaving WebJunction after 4 years, moving on to new adventures. Join us in thanking her on her WebJunction profile for the work that she's done and wish her good luck in her new job.

SLO Program Delivers Final Report
To learn more about the outcomes and impact of the Spanish Language Outreach (SLO) Program, read the final report. WebJunction has received an 18-month, no-cost grant extension to continue part-time staffing to continue building the SLO community of practice and deliver our bi-monthly webinar series. Help enrich SLO efforts by sharing your knowledge and resources about library services to Spanish speakers.

Featured Group: Tough Times
A group for library staff to gather and share stories, challenges, strategies, and solutions for libraries dealing with economic tough times. Join the group, browse the Tough Times pathfinder, or listen to an archived virtual town hall.

WJ-NH Supports Libraries
WJ-NH features local resources for New Hampshire libraries including local professional associations, labor posters, and New Hampshire library laws.

WebJunction Heads to Denver
A few WebJunction staff will be attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Denver, CO at the end of January. While no formal events are planned, staff will be available for meetups. Contact us if you are interesting in a meeting.

	In this issue WebJunction Spotlights Discounted Courses Featured Member and Group January Webinars

	Upcoming Webinars Times listed in U.S. Eastern Standard Time Internet in Prison: Pros and Cons January 7, 2-3 pm EST Shelf Read Your Personal Information January 14, 2-3 pm EST A Need for Speed: Measuring and Managing Bandwidth (MaintainIT) January 20, 2-2:30 pm EST Virtual Town Hall: Focus on Staff Training January 28, 2-3 pm EST Unleashing the Learning Power of Your Customer Communities January 27, 2-3 pm EST Technology Planning in TechAtlas January 29, 1-2 pm EST

	Try Wimba for 30 Days Your library may be eligible to try our Wimba Classroom for free for 30 days. Read more details at webjunction.org/trywimba.

	Volume Course Purchase Purchase course units for your staff at a discounted rate, selecting from hundreds of courses on general, technical and library skills. Learn more at webjunction.org/volume.

	What's Hot on WJ The place to find hot topics on WebJunction is www.webjunction.org/hot. We update the page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, presentations, discussions, groups and webinar archives.

	Our Services WebJunction provides helpful online learning, portal and community services to a wide variety of library organizations. Learn more about our services at webjunction.org/services.

	Drexel University Spring Deadline Approaching Apply for online degree programs for free at www.drexel.com/wj and receive your 20% tuition reduction by entering "WEBJUNCTION" as your partner code. The spring application deadline is March 2, 2009.

	Want to join the Crossroads conversation? You can post a comment on this issue of Crossroads at webjunction.org/crossroads.

A free publication produced by WebJunction, Crossroads is distributed monthly in an electronic format. You can find current and past issues of Crossroads at webjunction.org/crossroads.

To subscribe, go to webjunction.org and enter your email address in the subscription box.

To unsubscribe, click here.

Please feel free to pass Crossroads along to your friends; we do ask, however, that you keep the newsletter intact and forward it in its entirety.

Crossroads and WebJunction.org will not sell or otherwise make available to outside parties the information provided by Website users and newsletter subscribers. Crossroads is distributed using a third-party service provider.

© 2008 Online Computer Library Center, Inc. All rights reserved. Product and service names are trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.
OCLC, 6565 Kilgour Place, Dublin OH USA 43017-3395 | ISSN 1552-36165

Crossroads December 2008

2008-12-03T02:25:35Z

Special winter offer, virtual town halls, featured member and group, new courses, webinars, and more.

CROSSROADS

December 3, 2008

Meet the Challenge of Today's Economy
Budgets tight? Discover the free and low-cost resources on WebJunction to help your library meet the challenge of today's economy.

Participate in free virtual town hall meetings with other library staff to discuss tough economic times

Until January 31, take Problem Solving: Generating Alternatives and The Fundamentals of Exceptional Customer Service online courses for just $15 each, a 60% discount.

Receive consultation on selecting WebJunction online courses at a discount from over 500 courses to ensure your staff training dollars are used effectively.

Find resources to help you manage your library and staff in a tough economy here.

Visit our Winter Offer page for more information.

Virtual Town Hall Meetings This month, WebJunction will be facilitating a series of three virtual town halls focusing on topics related to libraries in tough economic times. Join us in this new format designed to engage all attendees with questions, brainstorms, stories, and to collect practical strategies. To register or suggest topics for focus, visit our Events page.

Harness Your Intellectual Capital
Check out the latest additions to the WebJunction course catalog.

Knowledge as Capital

Generating Creative and Innovative Ideas

Making Decisions Dynamically

Featured Member: Carol Kubala
Readers Advisory is always a hot topic with longtime moderator Carol Kubala, but you'll find her contributing documents and discussions throughout WebJunction. She's sharing great suggestions in the discussion bargains to stretch your library's dollar. Visit her profile and become her friend today!

Champions of Learning: CLENE and WJ Celebrate Employee Learning Week
Is your library a champion of learning? ASTD's Employee Learning Week features champions who successfully connect staff learning with achieving results. WebJunction and CLENE celebrate the week by exploring our own development as learning professionals. Join us for a webinar that looks at strategies and resources to propel ourselves and our libraries toward championship.

Featured Group: WordPress4Libraries
Member Laura Crossett has created group on WebJunction for anyone using WordPress for publishing or blogging at their library. Visit the group's page to share your experiences working with WordPress.

WJ-MN Supports Minnesota Libraries
WJ-Minnesota offers support for History Day @ your library with helpful resources for Minnesota libraries. The WJ-Minnesota team also attended the Minnesota Library Association Conference in November where WJ-Central staffer Michael Porter gave a presentation on features of the new WebJunction.org.

Libraries and the Bilingual Child
How can librarians honor and respect parents' efforts to keep the home language alive while their child acquires a second language, and why does this matter? Join us for an informative webinar on this topic presented by Latino Children's Literacy Consultant, Oralia Garza de Cortes.

Winter Deadlines Approaching for Drexel's Online Programs
As a WebJunction member you qualify for 10-25% off tuition with Drexel when you take courses online. To start taking classes online this January, your completed application and all supplemental materials are due in the next few weeks. Exact deadlines vary from program to program so please check your individual program of interest's deadline date. If you have any further questions, or need help completing your application package, please contact Valerie Malinowski.

	In this issue WebJunction Spotlights Special Winter Offer Town Halls in December Featured Member and Group

	Upcoming Webinars Times listed in U.S. Central Standard Time Bite-size Digital History December 3, 10-10:30 pm CST Town Hall: Focus on Tough Economic Times December 4, 12-1 pm CST Libraries and the Bilingual Child: Understanding Issues of Language Acquisition December 9, 12-1 pm CST Laptop Labs: Creating, Maintaining, and Using Them (MaintainIT) December 9, 2-3 pm CST Top 10 Tips for Effective Application Training in the Virtual Classroom December 10, 2-3 pm CST Learning for Learning Professionals: Competencies, Strategies and Resources (CLENE) December 11, 1-2 pm CST Town Hall: Focus on Tough Economic Times December 12, 1-2 pm CST Town Hall: Focus on Tough Economic Times December 18, 2-3 pm CST

	Try Wimba for 30 Days Your library may be eligible to try our Wimba Classroom for free for 30 days. Read more details at webjunction.org/trywimba.

	Volume Course Purchase Purchase course units for your staff at a discounted rate, selecting from hundreds of courses on general, technical and library skills. Learn more at webjunction.org/volume.

	What's Hot on WJ The new place to find hot topics on WebJunction is www.webjunction.org/hot. We'll update the page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, presentations, discussions, groups and webinar archives.

	Our Services WebJunction provides helpful online learning, portal and community services to a wide variety of library organizations. Learn more about our services at webjunction.org/services.

	Want to join the Crossroads conversation? You can post a comment on this issue of Crossroads at webjunction.org/crossroads.

Crossroads November 2008

2008-11-05T17:15:34Z

Fall conference season, November webinars, webjunction.org/hot, new courses, town halls, reflecting on winter needs.

CROSSROADS

November 5, 2008

Libraries on the Conference Agenda
As surely as the leaves change color each autumn, Libraryland counts on another exciting fall conference season.

WebJunction has been on the road, presenting sessions on a wide range of subjects such as online learning, "unmarketing", community engagement, ubiquitous computing, library futures, and even science fiction. We've posted these presentations on the new Conference Presentations page, where you too can upload and share any presentations that you have given to a library audience.

Latinos and Public Library Perceptions
In partnership with TRPI, WebJunction surveyed more than 2,860 Latinos about their library use and perceptions of libraries. The results indicate that 54% percent of the Latino population visited libraries in the past year, and that Latinos hold positive perceptions of libraries. Read the findings, download the survey tool, or register for the November 18 webinar with the authors of the report.

Why Libraries Close
Kicking off our December focus on libraries in tough economic times, Christie Koontz will present a webinar about the first systematic nationwide study she co-authored on the impact of public library closures and facility location. Attendees will hear recommendations for libraries to prevent closure, how closure impacts patrons, and where new library facilities should be opened.

Implement an Online Help Desk
TechAtlas for Libraries offers a free online help desk tool for reporting and tracking technology issues and creating a customized knowledge base for your library. Attend this one-hour webinar to learn how to use this tool.

New Courses in the WebJunction Catalog
Check out the latest additions to the WebJunction course catalog. If you are affiliated with a WebJunction Partner, be sure to access these courses via your affiliation's course catalog to take full advantage of many free and reduced-priced courses. For more information on affiliations, see the User Guide.

Access 2007: Getting Started with Access 2007

Access 2007: Database Administration

Access 2007: Advanced Data Management

The Potential of Self-directed Learning

Influence: Even When You Don't Have Power or Authority

Coming in December: Town Hall Series
Next month, WebJunction will be facilitating a series of three webinar discussions on the topic of libraries in tough economic times. Join us in a new "Town Hall" format designed to engage all attendees with questions, brainstorms, stories, and to collect practical strategies. To register or to suggest topics for focus, visit our Events page.

Maine Demonstrates Library's Value
WebJunction-Maine is featuring a Library Use Calculator, a handy tool in these economically troubled times. They also recently wrapped up a presentation at the Maine Libraries Conference and are sharing resources on library automation.

Winter Needs and Giving Back
For many, the prospect of high gas and oil prices, dipping temperatures, and shrinking budgets makes the winter holidays a not-so-jolly time of year. Last winter we started a discussion on this very topic. Contribute your own ideas and answers to the following questions. How do the winter months and winter holiday seasons affect your capacity or personal drive to serve your patrons? What are you doing that works? What are the challenges that you're facing?

	In this issue WebJunction Spotlights WJ @ Conferences Town Halls in December New Hot Topics Page

	Upcoming Webinars Times listed in U.S. Central Standard Time Branding Libraries and Their Services November 7, 1-2 pm CST Go Team! Quick Tips to Help You Build a Technology Team in Your Library (Maintain IT Cookbook Webinar) November 11, 1-1:30 pm CST 24/7 Librarianship: Reaching Patrons With Digital Tutorials November 12, 1-2 pm CST Rural Webinar on Your Library's Role in Your Community November 13, 1-2 pm CST Why Public Libraries Close November 13, 2-3 pm CST Latinos and Public Library Perceptions November 18, 12-1 pm CST

	Try Wimba for 30 Days Your library may be eligible to try our Wimba Classroom for free for 30 days. Read more details at webjunction.org/trywimba.

	Volume Course Purchase Purchase course units for your staff at a discounted rate, selecting from hundreds of courses on general, technical and library skills. Learn more at webjunction.org/volume.

	What's Hot on WJ The new place to find hot topics on WebJunction is www.webjunction.org/hot. We'll update the page monthly to highlight new and popular courses, documents, presentations, discussions, groups and webinar archives.

	Our Services WebJunction provides helpful online learning, portal and community services to a wide variety of library organizations. Learn more about our services at webjunction.org/services.

	Want to join the Crossroads conversation? You can post a comment on this issue of Crossroads at webjunction.org/crossroads.

Crossroads October 2008

2008-10-01T16:03:48Z

New WebJunction toolbar, RNC III and ARSL conference presentations, new InSync schedule, Latino Perceptions of Libraries report, upcoming webinars, and more.

CROSSROADS

October 1, 2008

Cyclists and libraries connect underground
Libraries were on the agenda at the 2008 Pro-Walk/Pro-Bike Symposium held recently in Seattle.

As part of a presentation on "The Underground Railroad Bicycle Route," library advocate and WJ staffer Betha Gutsche recounted the many ways in which this innovative partnership between Adventure Cycling and libraries enriched the lives of participants. Read more and join the group.

WebJunction toolbar ready to download
WebJunction now offers a browser toolbar you can download. By adding it to your favorite Internet browser, you'll get Google search capability and 1-click access to popular pages on WebJunction.

Latinos and Public Library Perceptions Report now available
In partnership with TRPI, WebJunction surveyed more than 2,860 Latinos about their library use and perceptions of libraries.

The results indicate that 54% percent of the Latino population visited libraries in the past year, and that Latinos hold positive perceptions of libraries. Read the findings, download the survey tool, or register for the October 14 webinar with the authors of the report.

New schedule for InSync courses
The course schedule for InSync's Synchronous Learning Expert (SLE) courses has been updated. Join us for the next free Learn How to Learn Online course is scheduled for Wednesday October 8th at 1 PM CST. Please see the course catalog for more information about the SLE courses.

ARSL conference warms up Sacramento
A rich menu of programs and keynotes, a group library cheer, a reception at the State Library of California, pirate talk, and 280 participants from 38 states. This all describes the recent ARSL conference in Sacramento.

"The most productive, warmest conference I have ever been to," proclaimed WISLR's (Wisconsin Small Libraries Roundtable) Norma Jean Le Moine. Peruse the handouts and presentations, and find out how to join this vital organization.

Bridging the gap: juntos @ the border
WebJunction staff Laura Staley and Emily Inlow-Hood delivered presentations, one about online community and another on the digital divide, at the Reforma National Conference III in El Paso, TX. You can find their presentations at webjunction.org/conferences.

Kansas takes their show on the road
Members in Kansas enjoy custom content on and offline. WebJunction-Kansas is using their online events calendar to promote the State Library Traveling Road Show, BlogJunction-Kansas to share up-to-date information, and provide navigation tips each month to help their members explore their new site.

WALT cultivates a culture of learning
Washington Library Trainers (WALT) found a creative way to incorporate a WebJunction webinar into their group's staff development. We want to hear your story. Tell us how you or your organization is using WebJunction webinars.

	In this issue WebJunction Spotlights WJ @ Conferences New InSync Course Schedule Upcoming Webinars

	Upcoming Webinars Times listed in U.S. Central Visual Design: Theory & Best Practices for Library Websites October 7, 1-2 PM CST Rural In Focus on Goals and Strategic Plans October 9, 1-2 PM CST Latinos and Public Library Perceptions October 14, 12-1 PM CST Conflict in a Peaceful Library October 15, 1-2 PM CST Get Your Game On (Maintain IT Cookbook Webinar) October 16, 1-1:30 PM CST Refugees 101 October 23, 1-2 PM CST

	Try Wimba for 30 Days Your library may be eligible to try our Wimba Classroom for free for 30 days. Read more details at webjunction.org/trywimba.

	Volume Course Purchase Purchase course units for your staff at a discounted rate, selecting from hundreds of courses on general, technical and library skills. Learn more at webjunction.org/volume.

	Our Services WebJunction provides helpful online learning, portal and community services to a wide variety of library organizations. Learn more about our services at webjunction.org/services.

	Want to join the Crossroads conversation? You can post a comment on this issue of Crossroads at webjunction.org/crossroads.

Crossroads September 2008

2008-09-03T16:04:27Z

WebJunction spotlights, new tools and look for TechAtlas, new site features and featured content and members.

CROSSROADS

September 3, 2008

Shine a Spotlight
Now it's even easier to spotlight libraries, colleagues, patrons, trustees, friends, or even great content—anyone or anything making a difference for libraries.

New Tools for TechAtlas
TechAtlas for Libraries has released an exciting redesign of the technology planning tools offered in the software. These tools include easier to manage workflows for creating your library's mission, vision, goals, objectives and budget. Join us for a webinar on September 23 to explore these free resources.

Keep Up-to-Date on New Site Features
We'll be sharing status updates on new features, functionality, and user experience enhancements in the Site Feature Updates area of Help & Support. Read what we're doing to improve user experience, or share your ideas in the Site Feature Requests Group.

Silver Surfers Online
Each issue we'll feature a WebJunction member or group and something they've contributed to the site. This month's featured member is Pamm Clements of Fort Collins Regional Library (CO).

Read about the Silver Surfers, a set of Internet skills classes she developed especially for seniors. You can rate, comment, or share a similar story from your own work.

Improve Your Online Training with InSync
Starting in September, WebJunction will offer courses by InSync to help staff become successful online trainers.

These courses include Learn How to Learn Online and the Synchronous Learning Expert curriculum which consists of the Synchronous Facilitation Certificate, the Synchronous Design Certificate, and the Capstone Certificate.

Rural and Small Libraries Update
It's September, and that means it's time for the annual Association for Rural and Small Library conference. Visit ARSL to register for the conference and review this year's program. And if you can't join us in Sacramento (September 19-21), visit us daily for highlights from the big show.

It's also time to think about tooting your own horn and submitting an application for The Best Small Library in America Award. Nomination guidelines are available in the rural resources area of the site. Applications are due November 3.

REFORMA National Conference III
WebJunction is proud to help sponsor and present at the third REFORMA National Conference in El Paso, Texas, from September 18–21. Laura Staley and Emily Inlow-Hood are presenting sessions about the forthcoming Latinos and Public Library Perceptions Research Report, the digital divide, and online tools for community building.

Meet WebJunction's Newest Partners
Help us welcome the newest additions to the WebJunction community. Georgia, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Idaho now have their very own versions of WebJunction. More partners means more choices for you to subscribe to customized content from library service organizations.

	In this issue WebJunction Spotlights News from TechAtlas, SLO, and ARSL New InSync Courses Upcoming Webinars

	Upcoming Webinars Conflict in a Peaceful Library September 16, 11 AM CST Public Computers and 2.0 Tools September 17, 1 PM CST Visual Design: Theory & Best Practices for Library Websites October 7, 1 PM CST

	Try Wimba for 30 Days Your library may be eligible to try our Wimba Classroom for free for 30 days. See our offer page for more details.

	20% Tuition Reduction for WebJunction Members through Drexel Online Drexel will be holding two online information sessions on September 17 for those interested in learning more about Drexel's online degrees. These short, one-hour sessions will focus on the application process, your partnership program tuition benefits, and navigating through the online environment. Session One September 17, 11 AM CST Click here to register Session Two September 17, 2 PM CST Click here to register To complete your free online application, visit www.drexel.com/wj.

	Our Services WebJunction provides helpful online learning, portal and community services to a wide variety of library organizations. Learn more about our services at webjunction.org/services.

	Want to join the Crossroads conversation? You can post a comment on this issue of Crossroads at www.webjunction/crossroads.