WebJunction Wrap-Up: 2022 Highlights and Top Picks
As another year draws to a close, we’re reflecting on our projects and accomplishments, as well as some of the courses and other resources that have been popular among the WebJunction community of learners. In this article you’ll find highlights of new content from this year, plus a selection of the most popular WebJunction content of 2022—picked by you! These resources are always freely available and will be ready for you in 2023, as well!
This year we hosted 22 webinars on a wide range of topics, including digital equity, self-care for library staff, community-led planning, and the life cycles of collections. We published more than 40 articles featuring library staff, learning opportunities, programming ideas, and other topics relevant to the challenges and opportunities faced by libraries this year. We also launched or updated new courses, toolkits, and other resources to support library staff by building knowledge and skills to meet changing community needs and support the good work you’re already doing.
News, Resources, and Toolkits
Resources on Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom
This list of resources can be used to support your library's efforts in being prepared for book challenges and upholding the principles of intellectual freedom in your library's services and collections.
Expanding Collections with a Library of Things
This article offers a recap and highlights from the Library of Things: The What, Why, and How of Lending Objects webinar.
Public Health Crisis Playbook
Libraries can get started on their institution’s public health crisis management plan with this free tool from the REopening Libraries, Archives, and Museums (REALM) project. This playbook includes a set of guiding processes, resources, and tools to help cultural heritage institutions plan for, navigate through, and recover from a significant public health emergency.
Interesting Patron Questions
The reference desk of a library is truly one of the most interesting of places. Check out this collection of interesting patrons crowdsourced from WebJunction members.
Libraries & Veterans National Forum Toolkit
Read about this Toolkit, which contains a host of practical ideas for how libraries of all types and sizes can better support their Veteran and military-affiliated patrons.
Resources for Helping Unhoused Patrons
This collection of resources can inform your work as you support community members who are experiencing housing insecurity.
Resources for Social Work and Library Collaboration
Learn how partnering with social workers can benefit library staff and the people they serve.
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Veterans, Service Members, and Their Families
The resources and information in this article can help library staff to promote mental health and well-being among Veterans, service members, military families, and their communities.
New and Popular Courses
Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters
This course series introduces learners to the civil legal issues that arise during natural disasters and how libraries can play a crucial role in connecting people with civil legal resources and information that can help. This course series builds on the Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice series, which provides the foundational knowledge and skills for recognizing general civil legal issues and directing library users to relevant, helpful information and services.
Digital Collections Stewardship Course Series
This course series is designed specifically with the needs of small cultural institutions in mind, guides users through the lifecycle of digital stewardship.
Supercharged Storytimes
You already provide great storytimes. Supercharge your practice to make them even better with this self-paced course.
Shelving with Dewey
This course provides a great introduction for any library staff, assistants or volunteer needing to learn how to shelve items by the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system.
Extreme Customer Service, Every Time
Delve into practical and actionable ideas that can help your library, whether small or large, commit to excellent customer service.
New Webinars
Suicide Prevention for Veterans, Service Members, Families and Communities
Learn how libraries can help raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention resources available to Veterans and their families with the Veterans Health Administration.
Weed 'Em and Reap: Getting Your Collection from Awful to Awesome
This webinar discusses the life cycle of a collection, including weeding techniques, collection management policies, and how to motivate reluctant weeders.
Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom: Proactive Planning for Public Libraries
This webinar covers ways for libraries to be proactive in developing and sharing policies and procedures around book challenges.
Library of Things: The What, Why, and How of Lending Objects
Explore all aspects of hosting a Library of Things, including selecting, budgeting, cataloging, displaying, sustaining, and marketing.
Taking Care of Self, Staff, and Community
In this webinar, we brainstorm ideas for expanding core self-care practices to encompass connections with work colleagues and more broadly with community members.
Let's Talk Race Toolkits
Staff from the Salt Lake City Public Library share how they built picture book-based kits, offering practical and positive ways to talk to children about race.
Engaging Adults with Low Literacy Levels
This webinar explores the characteristics of adults with low literacy levels and provides strategies for library staff to support reading literacy in adults.
Thank You for Another Year of Connection
As we celebrate these learning opportunities, we also want to recognize the partnerships and people that have made them possible. We thank you for being a part of the WebJunction community, and we hope to connect with you in the new year.
Learn with WebJunction
Courses and webinar recordings are always free through our Course Catalog. Create a free account and you'll have access to nearly 400 self-paced learning opportunities to help you and your team meet your community's ever-changing needs.