News
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Programming to the Core: 7 innovative library programs
If there ever was a time when public libraries were just static repositories of books, it’s long gone. Libraries everywhere are reinventing their programs and services to remain vital through the shifting sands of cultural and technological change. W...
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Books and Beyond: Dynamic Programming for Adults
Books and Beyond | As library lovers, we know the power books possess to encourage, incite, and expose us. Audrey Barbakoff, Adult Services Manager with Kitsap Regional Library, regularly exposes members of her community to new ideas, and to each oth...
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Making Connections: Libraries and Essential Human Services
There are times when the needs of a patron goes beyond our immediate services or an individual's comfort zone. You can probably think of a recent example right now. Knowing where to refer a customer or who to call in your community can really help. W...
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Great Ideas for Innovative Community Engagement
A recent Huffington Post article tells of a Facebook experiment that spawned over 150 community-generated ideas on the future of Miami's libraries. Rebecca Fishman Lipsey and Francine Madera, in 100 Great Ideas for the Future of Libraries -- A Ne...
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Community-Centered Awareness: Impacts and Outcomes of Geek the Library
In the recent webinar Geek the Library: Impact and Outcomes, we focused on the campaign’s ability to spark natural conversation by asking the question, "What do you geek?"
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For Social Good: Libraries and the Sharing Economy
Have you ever wondered what the sharing economy is, and how libraries fit in? TechSoup's July webiner, "Kickstarter, Uber, Airbnb, Oh My! What the Sharing Economy Means for Social Good," offers a good explanation and includes specific...
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Public Libraries: A Haven to the Homeless
When skeptics question the need for public libraries in an era when digital books and materials seem to keep patrons away from the physical space of the library, they make a major assumption. They assume that public libraries are only custodians of p...
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Connecting with International and Immigrant Patrons in Their Own Languages
Many public libraries across the country offer specialized classes or programs to reach out to their non-English speaking patrons. For example, in order to help its adult patrons develop English language skills in speaking and writing, the King Count...
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The Future of Reference is Outside the Library
Over the last decade, the fortress-like walls of the library reference desk have been breached in favor of more inviting structures and roving librarians. However, that's not going far enough, according to Jamie LaRue, director of Douglas County (CO)...
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Community-Led Public Libraries
As we celebrate WebJunction's #WJ10th anniversary, we're pleased to recognize a new work by a webinar presenter alum, Kenneth Williment, co-author of Developing Community-Led Public Libraries. In Canada and the UK, libraries have been using ...