Reference
Reference services continue to evolve with changing patron needs and with varied information resources and formats. Libraries continue to provide unparalleled reference using traditional and emerging tools, formats and resources. Explore topics such as answering health and legal questions, reaching out beyond the reference desk, and innovations in digital or virtual reference.
Self-paced courses and webinar recordings on this topic are freely available in the WebJunction Course Catalog.
Photo: Austin Kleon, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Most Recently Added
March 17, What's Format Got to Do with It? The Role Information Formats Play in Evaluating Search Results
Publish Date: News / 17 March 2021
This webinar presents research on the role information formats play in student evaluation of search results and identifies practical applications for libraries of all types.
Enroll in Facilitator Training: Civil Legal Justice Through Public Libraries
Publish Date: News / 19 January 2021
In March 2021, WebJunction will host a free, three-week learning group facilitator training program. In this online course, participants will receive training on how to guide peer learning groups through the Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice (...
Podcast: The Role Libraries Play in Closing the Justice Gap
Publish Date: News / 5 January 2021
WebJunction and the nonprofit Legal Services Corporation (LSC) have partnered to deliver national online training for public library staff to strengthen access to civil legal justice through public libraries. LSC recently launched a podcast called Ta...
Civil Legal Assistance in Natural Disasters: A Role for the Library
Publish Date: News / 11 November 2020
In the aftermath of a natural disaster, civil legal issues abound. In these stressful situations, when many people have lost so much, they are also faced with untangling legal questions that can be confusing and ever-changing. If property is damaged,...
Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice, a New Self-paced Course Series
Publish Date: News / 20 October 2020
WebJunction's new series of free, self-paced courses, Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice, will augment your ability and confidence to meet civil legal justice information needs in your community. Created in partnership with Legal Services Corpo...
Book and Library-related Podcasts
Publish Date: News / 13 October 2020
Screen fatigue – the exhaustion felt from so much time spent in front of computers and mobile devices – has many people turning to podcasts, allowing them to take a break from screen and to listen instead. In a post to the Library Think Tank group on...
Legal Language Matters: Protecting Patrons from Notario Fraud
Publish Date: News / 6 October 2020
The Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice through Public Libraries initiative continues to learn about ways to support patrons' civil legal information needs. One learning is the importance of understanding how the meaning of words can change with ...
Understanding How COVID-19 Widens the Justice Gap
Publish Date: News / 17 September 2020
The Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice through Public Libraries initiative has previously discussed the challenges facing those who fall into the justice gap—the divide between the need for civil legal aid and a person’s ability to access resour...
COVID-19 Civil Legal Resources Organized by State
Publish Date: News / 18 June 2020
A collection of links for each state related to COVID-19 civil legal information. Questions related to unemployment, debt/money issues, foreclosures and evictions, or family stressors are all on the rise due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries ...
Libraries Prepare to Answer Civil Legal Questions in Times of Crisis
Publish Date: Webinar / 11 June 2020
This webinar explores common civil legal issues associated with times of crisis and provides guidance on ways for public libraries to respond to patron questions.
