construction of a new web platform in 2008
A year later we piloted a "WebJunction Community Partner Program" with the state libraries of Colorado, Connecticut, New Mexico, Iowa and Washington. The idea was to provide a shared Web content and learning management system that could be used by state libraries to deliver library staff training. At that time, Web content and learning management was young and barely accessible, and authoring Web sites was still tightly controlled by IT departments. Online training was neither accessible nor affordable to libraries or their staff. But within one year, the Gates Foundation's investment had already made it possible to connect tens of thousands of library staff with learning resources. These five state libraries joined in our belief that providing enhanced levels of continuing education services to library staff in partnership with state libraries could ensure WebJunction's sustainability. Again, we were onto something.
And we turned that learning into community transformation and individual empowerment: we led projects to sustain rural libraries, reach out to Spanish speakers, enroll the uninsured, assist the unemployed, and build a sense of place in local communities. Our various grant-funded programs have touched every U.S. state and involved thousands of library participants.
via Hugger Industries on Flickr cc-by-nc-sa-2.0
With continued support of OCLC, the Gates Foundation, and state library agencies, we are thrilled to share an important shift in the WebJunction service. As of July 2014, all library staff can access and receive certificates for learning content hosted at WebJunction.org. Over the next year, we'll continue to expand learning opportunities for library staff, with new live and archived webinars, self-paced courses, and related Web resources. We'll continue to publish Crossroads, our monthly e-newsletter, and stay in touch with you on our website and through social media. We'll expand our network of continuing education partners to include libraries, archives, and museums, and we'll take new steps in ensuring that all our efforts ultimately benefit the communities we all serve.
Our thanks go to our extraordinary colleagues at the Gates Foundation for having the vision that got us started, and for their continued support along the way. And, to the team at WebJunction for leading continuing education research with state libraries and bringing these changes into reality. And, to our partners and members that contribute to this giant resource of library leadership and innovation. Together, we'll learn and grow into this next phase of WebJunction.