Free learning resources for public libraries

OCLC’s WebJunction offers free, on-demand professional development and continuing education resources to build library staff's knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver transformational services to their communities. Find out what’s new and coming soon.

digital stewardship training

Digital collections stewardship training

In partnership with Washington State University’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, WebJunction developed a series of on-demand courses on the digital stewardship lifecycle, designed for staff at small public libraries and tribal archives, libraries, and museums. 

A new project is underway to develop a course on diversifying digital collections and will provide group learning resources developed in partnership with five state libraries. 

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Improve access to civil legal justice

This on-demand course series prepares library staff for Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters. This series builds on the foundational Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice courses that help learners identify civil legal issues and direct community members to relevant information and services. Additional resources and real-world examples, including eviction resources for libraries, support the courses.

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Improve access to civil legal justice
Transforming school library practice

A school librarian's information shelf

WebJunction developed a set of resources specific to school library staff needs based on the IMLS Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries initiative. The resources cover a variety of topics relevant to transforming school library practice, including presentations by experienced professionals, related handouts, and curated lists of online information.

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Public Health Crisis Management Playbook for Archives, Libraries, and Museums

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.

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Public Health Crisis Management Playbook
supercharged stoyrtimes

Supercharge your storytimes

One of our most popular on-demand courses, Supercharged Storytimes, supports the intentional development of early literacy skills in children during storytime and fosters caregiver and parent engagement with the program. Additional resources include a learning group facilitation guide and toolkit for trainers.  

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Coming soon: Four on-demand courses

Four on-demand courses are coming in October 2023 that will empower library, archive, and museum staff and leaders to respond to crises effectively, address burnout and find work-life balance, and de-escalate difficult situations. 

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Opiod crisis support
Opiod crisis support

Coming soon: Opioid crisis support

WebJunction is developing support kits to help public libraries seeking to address opioid use disorder in their communities. This IMLS-funded initiative builds on a previous OCLC Research project that produced the 2020 report, Call to Action: Public Libraries and the Opioid Crisis.  

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WebJunction Course Catalog

WebJunction online course

Our Course Catalog offers free, library-specific self-paced courses, webinar recordings, and other great learning materials. Certificates of completion are available to help library staff meet CE and LEU credit requirements. Create a free account and start learning today.

Upcoming webinars

Join us for free webinars that allow learners to meet and learn from library leaders and practitioners.

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Dec 5

05 December 2023

Tools for Reimagining School Readiness

The Reimagining School Readiness Toolkit provides free, online, research-based resources, created specifically for library staff, to help families prepare children ages 0 to 8 for success in school and in life.

  • Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, North America [UTC -5]

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Crossroads

Stay connected with WebJunction Crossroads

This semi-monthly newsletter covers WebJunction news and opportunities for public library professional development and learning.

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