WebJunction–British Columbia joins online learning community for library staff

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA, 22 April 2009—WebJunction, the leader in online learning for library staff, is working with the British Columbia Library Association (BCLA), British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association, and the British Columbia Library Trustees Association to launch WebJunction–British Columbia, the first WebJunction learning community created for libraries outside the United States. Members of the three associations and public library staff and volunteers in British Columbia will have access to courses, articles, discussions and a professional network that will keep their skills up-to-date and help their libraries stay relevant to current user needs.

As part of the online learning community, WebJunction–British Columbia members will connect with people from across the library community using social and professional networking tools; create and publish their own content; participate in discussions and form interest groups of interest; take courses on a wide range of business, technology and library skill subjects; and engage in an online community experience that makes learning fun.

According to Alane Wilson, Executive Director of BCLA, WebJunction-British Columbia will be a work in progress, evolving as the partners and library staffs learn about the features and capabilities of the rich WebJunction environment. Ms.Wilson said, "My counterparts—Erin Morrison at BCLTA and Heather Daly at BCTLA—and I are committed to finding ways to extend learning opportunities to library staff, trustees and teacher-librarians so we are very pleased to offer courses at the point of need that don't require travel or time away from work. In a big province and during tough economic times, this is really important."

Launched in 2003 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, OCLC and partners from across the library community, WebJunction now reaches 65,000 library staff monthly through its courses, content and professional networks.

WebJunction–British Columbia joins 18 library organizations that offer custom communities for libraries and staff: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Connecticut State Library; Georgia Public Library Service; the Idaho Commission for Libraries; Illinois State Library; Indiana State Library; State Library of Iowa; State Library of Kansas; Maine State Library; WebJunction–Minnesota, a statewide partnership between Metronet, MINITEX and Minnesota State Library Services; New Hampshire State Library; OCLC Global Council; OCLC Research; the State Library of Ohio; Resource Sharing; Rhode Island Office of Library & Information Services; Vermont Department of Libraries; and the Washington State Library.

To see a complete list of links to WebJunction partner communities, visit www.webjunction.org/partners.

About WebJunction
WebJunction serves to bridge the barriers to learning by providing open, affordable, online learning communities. Members take courses, attend events, share knowledge, and network with others, all in an environment that fosters collaboration and mutual support. The WebJunction vision is to be the place where the entire library profession gathers to build the knowledge, skills and support needed to power relevant, vibrant libraries.
Founded in 2003 and based in Seattle, Washington, and Dublin, Ohio, WebJunction is supported in part by OCLC, grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Institute for Museum and Library Services, partners in state library agencies and other library systems and organizations, and the library community.

About OCLC
Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, OCLC is a nonprofit library service and research organization that has provided computer-based cataloging, reference, resource sharing, eContent, preservation, library management and Web services to 71,000 libraries in 112 countries and territories. OCLC and its member libraries worldwide have created and maintain WorldCat, the world’s richest online resource for finding library materials. Search WorldCat.org on the Web at www.worldcat.org.  For more information, visit www.oclc.org.

Find out more about OCLC

OCLC, WorldCat, WorldCat.org and WebJunction are trademarks/service marks of OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. Third-party product, service and business names are trademarks/service marks of their respective owners.