LibraryLinkNJ News
September 2021
LibraryLinkNJ The New Jersey Library Cooperative
Executive Director Update
The dog days of summer are winding down and the start of the new academic year is officially upon us. For many of our members who are school and academic library staff, this September marks a full-time return to their libraries for the first time since March of 2020. Some are approaching this milestone invigorated and excited for the chance to return to their libraries and classrooms. Others are, understandably, hesitant and cautious about what a return-to-school means in these uncertain times. And others still have not yet gotten the go-ahead to return to business as usual - meaning they will once again be asked to prove their flexibility and resiliency in the face of constantly shifting expectations.
One thing that remains consistent across the board, however, is that LibraryLinkNJ is here to help! Whether it’s the chance to attend a MentorNJ virtual meetup or Skill-Sharing Conversation and connect with colleagues who are in your shoes, the opportunity to attend a webinar that will help you grow your day-to-day skills, or the possibility of receiving a grant award to fund preparations for this year’s challenges, our goal this fall is to help connect our members with everything they need to thrive.
With that, I want to take this opportunity on behalf of myself and our whole team to wish all of our members - whether you’re working as school staff or faculty, supporting the students and educators in your community, or sending a loved-one back to the classroom - a safe, healthy, and happy school year! We look forward to celebrating its successes and tackling its challenges right by your side.
Please feel free to contact me at ralph@librarylinknj.org.
Best regards,
Ralph
LibraryLinkNJ Executive Board Meeting
Programs & Training Updates
Information Equity Conference
Join us for a free, virtual collaborative conference on the topic of Information Equity. This program will consist of a keynote, lightning talks, and moderated discussions. Participants will gain skills to start developing an action plan to address information equity for their library communities. Discussion groups will be formed as a result of this event so the conversations can continue.
October 25th, 10am-4:00pm
Online via Zoom
Registration
Keynote: Creating an Actionable Plan for Information Equity
Libraries have the power to increase information equity in the communities that they serve. Creating a comprehensive action plan is vital to successfully enacting initiatives and programs that reduce barriers to information access. This keynote presentation will focus on the various aspects involved in creating an effective information equity-based action plan. Armed with this knowledge, you will be better prepared to create an action plan for your library.
Speakers:
- Rosy Wagner, Lifelong Learning Librarian, Burlington County Library System, She/Her/Hers
- Ranjna Das, Director, Burlington County Library System, She/Her/Hers
- Ashley Mitchell, Principal Library Assistant and MSLIS Candidate, Camden County Library System, She/Her/Hers
Please visit our website to register and to view a full program description.
MentorNJ Meetups
What Are They? Online Meet-ups via Zoom
This is the time and place to discuss your concerns, share your ideas, and “hang out” with your colleagues. We can discuss a particular topic or just chat about what this crazy life is like for library staff serving their customers during this pandemic era. Read More
New! School Library Meetups: School librarians and school library staff are invited to join us for discussions focused on the unique challenges, opportunities, and needs of K-12 school libraries. Join your colleagues from around the state in these virtual meetups where you decide on the topic of conversation. Whether you’re alone in your school or district and just looking for a chance to connect with colleagues, new to school libraries and seeking guidance for your program, or a veteran hoping to share your knowledge and see what’s new, our School Library Meetups are for you! Read More
Free Webinars
Lights! Camera! Action!: Video Production Tips & Tricks for Virtual Programming
COVID-19 has forced many of us to become accidental videographers, and online programming looks like it might be here to stay. In this webinar, you will learn video production tips from a Youth Services department head who conducts virtual story times, an Adult Programming Librarian who produces online adult programs and podcasts, and an Adult/YA department head who will be sharing the in and outs of using OBS, free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.
Monday, September 27, 2021, 10:00am-11:00am
Read More
In, Out, or In-Between: Supporting & Representing LGBTQ+ Teens in Libraries
While there has been growing awareness of the LGBTQIA+ community and their needs, queer youth are still largely underserved. ALA encourages awareness and recognition through equitable policies and many libraries are working hard to put policy into practice. This work has proven especially difficult this year due to library closures and remote access. This session aims to share strategies to support LGBTQIA+ inclusion and representation through young adult collections, virtual teen resources, virtual programming, and staff professional development.
Tuesday, October 12, 10am-11am
Read More
Skill-Sharing Conversations
Skill-Sharing Conversations are one-hour, virtual conversations on relevant library topics. Each conversation will follow an agenda and will be moderated by one of our talented colleagues, providing a great opportunity for the NJ Library community to learn and grow together. All LibraryLinkNJ members are welcome to attend.
- Curating Library-Created Videos: Tuesday, September 14th, 10am-11am Read More
- How to Pivot After a "Fail": Tuesday, September 28th, 10am-11am Read More
- Personal Organization Tools & Tips, Tuesday, October 5th, 10am-11am Read More
- Promoting Your Online Subscriptions, Tuesday, November 9th, 10am-11am Details coming soon!
- Free/Inexpensive Marketing Tools, Tuesday, November 23rd, 10am-11am Read More
Share Your Reads
Grab your beverage of choice, and be prepared to share details about your latest reads with Library colleagues from around New Jersey. Conversation topics could include books, audiobooks, magazine or journal articles, and more. Attending one or more of these events is a great way to meet new people, as well as learn about resources for reader’s advisory, professional development, and personal use.
All LibraryLinkNJ members are welcome to attend. These discussions are free and will take place virtually via Zoom.
Share Your Reads: Adults & YA Crossover Reads
Tuesday, September 21, 3pm-4pm
Wednesday, September 22, 7pm-8pm
Read More
Share Your Reads: Children’s & YA Reads
Young Adult: Wednesday, September 8, 2021, 11:00AM - Noon
Nonfiction: Wednesday, September 29, 2021, 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Visit our website for more information or to register
Read More
New Jersey Libraries: Ready for Anything Resiliency Mini-Grants for NJ Libraries
Tough, forward-thinking, and good in a crisis - New Jersey's libraries have proven time and again just how agile they can be when it comes to helping their communities react to the unexpected. Now, LibraryLinkNJ is pleased to offer a grant opportunity that will allow our member institutions to prepare for their next great challenge. A generous donation from EBSCO Information Services will fund this FY22 mini-grant program, designed to help libraries plan for even the most difficult of circumstances. Harness your library's ingenuity, creativity, and strength as we work together to get ready for anything.
Application materials are now available on our website. Proposals are due no later than September 30, 2021. Please reach out to Darby Malvey, darby@librarylinknj, with any questions.
Skill-Sharing Conversations: Instagram for Libraries
Skill-Sharing Conversation - Creating E-Newsletters
Moderator: Kathleen Digiulio, Development Librarian, Piscataway Public Library
Recording
Slides
Featured Member Institution
Rowan College at Burlington County Library
Web address: https://rcbc.edu/library
Brief description:
Rowan College at Burlington County’s Library is housed in the college’s modern, state-of-the-art Student Success Center on their Mount Laurel Campus. Partially surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the college quad, the RCBC Library is bright, welcoming and conducive to both independent researchers and collaborative study groups. Serving researchers from across the Burlington County area, it maintains a partnership with the Burlington County Library System, so patrons can use services from both the college and county libraries. Holdings include books, journals and electronic resources. State-of-the-art technology provides on-site and remote access to databases, digitized collections, sound recordings, musical scores, films and more. Students may borrow computers, take advantage of free WiFi, book a study room and use the printer/copier at their convenience. RCBC’s Library also offers a Text-a-Librarian service, where students can readily access a librarian for quick questions.
Fun fact:
The RCBC Library is going green this Fall 2021! Instead of the paper barcode registration forms, students can now scan a QR code on one of our posters, or visit the library website to register their barcode.
An Easy Tool for Beautiful Presentations
If you’re tired of the same old PowerPoint or Slides themes, visit slidesgo.com for access to beautiful, downloadable slide presentations that are easy to customize and free to use.
Delivery for eligible school libraries resumes on September 13, 2021. If you have any questions, please call the office - 732-752-7720.
Professional Development Opportunites from Other Organizations
About LibraryLinkNJ
LibraryLinkNJ: Moving Forward Together
LibraryLinkNJ (formerly known as INFOLINK) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Its members are multi-type libraries and library-related agencies located in the twenty-one counties of New Jersey. This area includes 8.79 million people. The population of the state is highly diverse and includes some of the largest communities of Spanish speaking and Asian Indian persons in the U.S.
LibraryLinkNJ – The New Jersey Library Cooperative has over 1100 voting representatives from over 2,500 public and private school, public, academic, institutional, corporate, health sciences and special libraries and library-related agencies. A member-elected Executive Board meets regularly to oversee the programs and services of the organization.
LibraryLinkNJ and its services are funded by the New Jersey State Library, which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the New Jersey Library Network. Members join at no charge and pay no dues.
