Continuing Education - New Jersey State Library

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

This page will feature both New Jersey 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 (Department of Homeland Security)
Public Relations & Marketing Resources (American Library Association / Public Library Association)
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

Webinar Archives

Full list of webinar recordings are available on the New Jersey State Library’s YouTube page

Providing Library Cards for Youth During COVID-19

View the webinar on YouTube.
To coincide with September’s National Library Card Sign-Up month, a panel public and school librarians will share their tips for how their libraries have been making sure the diverse youth they serve are able to sign-up online to get their own library cards to help them with their remote learning needs during COVID-19. All of the speakers are from libraries that successfully partnered for the Libraries = Success statewide initiative in 2019 to get library cards into the hands of middle schoolers.

Navigating the New Normal: Lessons Learned for Building More Resilient Libraries

Virtual half-day summit co-sponsored by the New Jersey State Library, TOPCATs, and LibraryLinkNJ

Continuity of Operations Shadow of a Pandemic by Dan Wilson, Coordinator, NN/LM National Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan

View the webinar on YouTube.
Through most of 2020, COVID-19 has consumed every part of library operations all around the world. Without a playbook to fall back on, libraries have been forced to make frequent adjustments based on changing infection rates & guidelines in order to serve their communities. As a result, it is likely that regular continuity of operations planning (COOP) has been overlooked.

Staying Connected While Working Remotely, Faith McCalla, Trainer/Consultant

View the webinar on YouTube.
Working remotely is fast becoming our new norm, thanks to COVID-19. However, it has not been easy for many to adapt to this new form of working. Learn about fundamental factors that are needed to develop & maintain a cohesive & efficient remote team.

Trends and Topics in Library Security and Safety: Keeping Staff and Patrons Protected in the New Normal by Dr. Steve Albrecht, Board certified in HR, security, coaching, threat management

View the webinar on YouTube.
Learn new approaches to keep employees & patrons safe & secure in the Pandemic Era, ways to improve the library’s relationship with local law enforcement, how to get the best from on-site security guards or how to designate certain qualified employees into doing more of a security function as part of their role. Dr. Albrecht will talk about his Top Ten Most Challenging Patrons.

Library Design Strategies in the Age of Social Distancing (YouTube webinar – Only for New Jersey Libraries)

Training and resources are available from these providers:

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 Learning gives you access to the entire catalog of LYRASIS training, including all recordings of all our on-demand classes as well as unlimited live classes for an entire year.

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

LYRASIS Savings and Benefits

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 from WebJunction

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 are below:

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.

The Wyoming State Library

The Wyoming State Library provides a calendar of free training relating to libraries, their functions, and their staff. View and subscribe at http://library.wyo.gov/services/training/calendar

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.

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.