Continuing Education | New Jersey State Library

The NJ State Library (NJSL) offers a variety of Continuing Education (CE) Training opportunities for New Jersey librarians, library support staff, and trustees.

This page will feature both NJ State Library-created and licensed content on a broad range of topics designed to help you fulfill your responsibilities and to grow professionally. Our top priority is to help you grow, develop, and never stop learning.

Active Shooter Resources (DHS)
Public Relations & Marketing Resources (ALA / PLA)
Marketing Strategies (ALA)
Keys to Engaging Older Adults (ALA)
Library Support Staff Certification (ALA)
Digital Learn – Provides materials for teaching classes on computer and job related topics

Available Training and Resources

LYRASIS

LYRASIS and the New Jersey State Library are teaming up to bring New Jersey libraries opportunities for professional development. Choose from a wide variety of class titles and sessions. Save on LYRASIS classes and events: use code NJSL19-20 to register.

LYRASIS offers live webinars, free information sessions, and demonstrations of software and services. Use the link to access their webinars, information sessions, and more!

WebJunction

WebJunction‘s free, online course catalog has over 40 self-paced, online courses on library topics, as well as over 250 curated webinar archives ready and available when you are. Take courses when your time permits, and earn completion certificates as you finish each class. All learners will need to create a new account.

Highlighted Content

Did you know that the WebJunction Course Catalog has almost 400 webinar recordings and self-paced courses available whenever you need them? With topics ranging from customer service to marketing and from managing staff development to managing your own growth and development, you’ll find a range of options to help strengthen your skills. Through the Course Catalog, you can learn something new and get inspiration from colleagues around the country. Sign-up for your free account and get started!

Upcoming webinars are open for registration. If you can’t attend a live session, all WebJunction webinars are recorded and available for free in the Course Catalog.

Some key training courses

WebJunction Launches First Courses in Series on Digital Collections Stewardship
In partnership with Washington State University’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, WebJunction has launched the first two in a series of free online courses developed for staff at small public libraries and tribal archives, libraries, museums on digital stewardship and community-centered curation of digital collections. These on-demand courses, adapted from the Tribal Digital Stewardship Cohort Program developed at Washington State University, are now available.

New Justice Gap Study Confirms Problem Exists
The Legal Services Corporation released a far-reaching new report on the crisis in civil legal aid, The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans, in April 2022. Learn about the depth and impact of the justice gap in our communities, and how free WebJunction courses and resources can help.

Interesting Patron Questions
The reference desk of a library is truly one of the most interesting of places. In a recent poll, we asked WebJunction members to share the most interesting patron questions they had received, and the response was amazing. While there are definitely many humorous submissions, we also know that every day, library staff answer important patron questions that help in so many ways. From completing homework to applications for college, to supporting job-seekers and those looking to better understand nutrition or a disease – libraries help people find the information that they need to live informed and productive lives. And some days, it’s just really entertaining.

Health Happens in Libraries: Health Information Resources for Library Staff
Public libraries provide a variety of health reference services and public programs to support community health literacy. Health literacy has been described by the Institute of Medicine as “the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.” The National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) provides comprehensive health information resources and services to libraries across eight regions nationwide.

Join this WebJunction webinar to learn more about the health information resources available through the National Library of Medicine and the NN/LM. Representatives of the NN/LM Pacific Southwest Regional Medical Library will discuss their collaborative efforts with public libraries regarding the Affordable Care Act and other popular health information topics. They will be joined by a representative from Santa Ana Public Library, and together share strategies for strengthening your own library’s health information services, to improve the health literacy of your community.

Health Happens in Libraries: Pathways to Guide Health Education at Your Library
Access to reliable consumer health information is an essential component of individual and community well-being. Because of their unique role and reputation for being open and available to all, public libraries bring valuable assets to supporting local community health efforts. In this WebJunction webinar, participants will explore essential pathways for libraries to address meaningful health information and services.

Participants will be introduced to foundational considerations for ensuring ethics and privacy in patron interactions, maintaining health collections at the public library, addressing community health literacy, and supporting healthy communities through partnerships. Participants will also be introduced to resources to advance these topics in their community, and leave the session prepared to join the strong network of public libraries advancing health education nationwide.

Public Health and Public Libraries: Librarians as Health Literacy First Responders
Misinformation about health abounds in today’s info-glutted environment. What is the role of public libraries in addressing issues of accurate health information? Public libraries are uniquely positioned to contribute to healthy communities by providing informed access to reliable health information. This panel presentation provides an overview of the field of public health, highlighting innovative health promotion initiatives at public libraries, and covering training and funding resources for health-related library outreach and programming. Join the conversation about building your community’s health literacy.

Library 2.0

The future of libraries in the digital age. Library 2.0 Contains archives of previous conferences and access to paid webinars.

Connecting to Collections Care (C2S Care)

The Connecting to Collections Care Community helps smaller cultural institutions to provide well-informed care for valuable collections. Search this website for preservation and conservation information, links to resources, access to recorded webinars, and online discussions.

Documents and Websites

Videos

Paradoxes of Preservation: A Personal and Strategic Perspective

Webinars

Collection Care Basics

National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM)

The National Network of Libraries of Medicine is pleased to offer many professional development resources and opportunities for librarians, health professionals, public health workers, and consumers.

Infopeople

Infopeople provides quality continuing educations opportunities to library staff that are tailored to library needs and developed by experienced library professionals. Training formats include 2-6 week asynchronous online courses as well as free one-hour webinars.

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Technology and Health 2.0
In the past several years, two major phenomena have dramatically changed the way people find and share information: mobile devices and social media. It is no secret that patrons are using smart phones and mobile devices for much more than making phone calls. For health information, these devices have become pocket medical encyclopedias, fitness coaches, nutrition calculators, medication reminders, and much more. At the end of this one-hour webinar, participants will: be aware of the landscape of mobile devices and understand the differences between apps and mobile sites, be able to evaluate and guide patrons to quality health-related content for mobile devices, be familiar with the benefits and caveats of social networking for health information, and be able to incorporate knowledge of technology and electronic resources into services for patrons.

Special Groups

From Baby to Preschooler: Early Childhood Health Resources
Parents and caregivers need current, relevant information to help with early childhood matters such as handling illnesses and injuries, developing healthy habits such as potty training, and providing a safe and nurturing environment for babies to grow into toddlers and beyond. Popular books, websites, and other resources offering opinions and advice are a dime a dozen, but which are accurate and authoritative? Knowing the answer to that question will make the library a trusted resource for help and accurate information.

Operation Health: Resources for Veterans and Their Families
Injured war veterans have always been a part of U.S. history, but the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in a significant increase of debilitating injuries. Returning veterans face many health issues, from physical injuries to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance abuse and suicide. Women returning from deployment face additional issues, while spouses and family members have unique needs of their own. This webinar will provide an overview of the most pressing issues faced by returning veterans and their loved ones and what libraries can do to help.