The Connecticut State Library will discontinue its partnership with OCLC/WebJunction and the Division of Library Development’s blog, BlogJunction Connecticut, will no longer be available starting July 1, 2013.  All the web content currently on WebJunction Connecticut as well as the Division’s new blog will be available at the Connecticut State Library.  Please visit the Division of Library Development Blog to find out the latest news from the Division.

The Connecticard Program began 40 years ago when the State Legislature approved the creation of this program on June 11, 1973. This program where Connecticut residents may borrow from any public library in Connecticut, received funding in 1975.  There were less than 500 thousand loans that year.  Currently Connecticard loans are averaging close to 5 million per year.  This program, which includes reimbursements by the State Library, is the only one of its kind in the United States and is the cornerstone for our state’s efforts to provide equity of access to library materials for all Connecticut citizens.

*Do you want to find a way to provide public library services needed and wanted by diverse community sectors—without adding projects or increasing budget?
*Do you believe the library can play and important role in community members’ civic engagement?
*How do you determine what staff should be doing in order to offer the best library services for your community?

Community-led service development has a long history in British public libraries and a nearly decade-long track record in Canada. Instead of adding projects or tasks to library staff in an effort to promote library services, the community-led approach establishes the library staff as trained listeners and brokers of awareness to provide service development for both marginalized and comfortable community sectors.

The community-led approach helps the library to identify which traditional library roles are now redundant, and thus of little worth to the community, allowing both professional library staff and support staff to concentrate on those services that are meaningful to the public. Community-led service development allows both the community and its library staff to grow, become engaged in the civic sphere they share and find the best venues for individuals to pursue their aspirations for their primary needs of health and welfare, as well as life-long learning and the support of personal values.

At the end of this webinar, participants will:
*Be able to identify the key aspects of community-led service development that differentiate it from traditional outreach and/or customer service approaches.
*Be prepared to identify and research model community-led public library service providers that match your library’s size and staffing levels.
*Be able to determine whether community-led library service development can improve your local library’s potential as a civic service agency.
*Understand and be able to communicate to public library stakeholders the major issues associated with the community-led service development approach – including training, tax support, and mission realization.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Online

This webinar will be of interest to public library directors, managers, trustees and commissioners, as well as library educators.

For additional details and registration information visit:  InfoPeople: Community Led Library Service Development

The Division of Library Development is announcing today that the Connecticut State Library will no longer be a community partner with WebJunction as of July 1, 2013.  Connecticut library staff should be aware that:

1. Connecticut-specific content on the services and programs of the Division of Library Development will disappear from WebJunction.org as of July 1.  All of the Division’s content will be moved to the State Library website before July 1.
2. WebJunction Connecticut learners may continue to enroll in free online, self-paced courses through June 30, but will need to complete all courses by that date.  After June 30 there will be no access by CT library staff to WebJunction’s online courses.
3. Connecticut library staff are encouraged to attend the excellent, free online courses available on WebJunction.org and to visit the WebJuntion.org website for articles on new developments in libraries.
4. Division of Library Development staff will continue to identify and make available access to alternative online learning opportunities via our Evanced Continuing Education Calendar as well as links through DLD’s Facebook page and the DLD page on the State Library Website.

We hope our partnership with the WebJunction project has been helpful to Connecticut libraries over the past nine years.  Though we regret that limited resources have made further participation in WebJunction impossible, the State Library will continue to explore new ways of providing continuing education opportunities for Connecticut library staff in the future.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

A webinar on technology training for communities. Learn how OASIS Connections classes are helping communities build skills and confidence using computers, the Internet and today’s technology.

More Americans than ever are coming to their libraries to access the Internet and get help connecting with their families, the job market and online services. Many library visitors lack basic computer skills, or need to learn the essential technology skills to apply for and land a job. With continual technology change, libraries are challenged to provide quality, up-to-date curriculum for their communities.

OASIS Connections, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting successful aging through lifelong learning, healthy living and social engagement, has partnered with urban and rural libraries across the country to provide a cost-effective training solution that helps adults of all ages develop technology skills and confidence. Learn how different library systems have adopted the program to serve varying local needs.

Presented by:
•Amy VanDeVelde, National Program Manager OASIS Connections
•Mary Bush, Librarian Public Technology Training, Multnomah County Library
•Hayley St. John-Ayre, Administrative Coordinator 2, Broward County Library

Tuesday, June 4, 2013
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Online

For additional details and registration information visit: OCLC: Amp Up Your Technology Train

*Is your library website open, user friendly and accessible to people with disabilities? or
*Does an invisible door close when they try to use your site?

Libraries strive to be welcoming, friendly places for users of all types, including those with disabilities. From wheelchair ramps and handicapped parking to simple offerings such as large print books and good signage – these are some of the things that make a library’s physical space accessible. But what about the library’s online presence?

This webinar will shed light on some of the common barriers faced by certain users and will provide techniques for identifying and fixing the problems.

By the end of the webinar, participants will:
*Be aware of accessibility issues that people with disabilities encounter when accessing online content on websites
*Be able to utilize tools for checking websites, Word documents and PowerPoint slide presentations for accessibility problems
*Be able to name at least three techniques for creating accessible content

Thursday, June 6, 2013
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Online

This webinar will be of interest to all library staff who need an understanding of web content accessibility issues by users with disabilities, including administrators, managers, librarians, IT personnel and web developers.

For additional details and registration information visit:  InfoPeople: The Accessible Website: If You Build It, Everyone Can Come

*Looking for an inexpensive way to distribute digital materials to non-library locations and enhance your traditional library services?
*Have someone on your staff or a volunteer who likes to tinker with gadgets?

LibraryBox is an open source project designed to allow for the distribution of digital materials (books, music, movies, datasets) in the absence of reliable Internet connectivity. The hardware that LibraryBox uses is very inexpensive ($35) and the code is freely available, making it an attractive option for outreach and service to underserved areas for libraries.

LibraryBox is a key that can unlock many possibilities for your services. This webinar will discuss how you can build your own LibraryBox, use-cases (systems to accomplish a particular goal), the development of the project from its beginnings, and where it’s headed in the future.

At the end of this webinar, participants will:
*Understand the scope of the LibraryBox Project and why it is beneficial to libraries and their customers.
*Understand “use cases” and how they apply for LibraryBox for different types of libraries.
*Know how to build a basic LibraryBox of their own.

This webinar will be of interest to any library or librarian who is interested in digital distribution of materials to non-library locations.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Online

For additional details and registration information visit:  InfoPeople: LibraryBox: Portable Private Digital Distribution

A webinar with the creators of the Broadband Adoption Toolkit discussing how to implement strategies for building digitally inclusive communities.

Increasing access and use of information technologies is essential for communities and individuals. Libraries, local government, community-based organizations and businesses are creating a variety of solutions. Building a digitally inclusive community requires multiple strategies, collaborations and creativity. Some digital inclusion strategies are referred to as “broadband adoption” which includes technology training, broadband awareness, low cost internet service and low cost home computers. NTIA is expected to release a Broadband Adoption Toolkit in March 2013. Join us for a conversation with the creators of the Broadband Adoption Toolkit to discuss what they learned and how the broadband adoption pieces fit together.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Online

For additional details and registration information visit: OCLC: Broadband Adoption Toolkit

For a different look at what statistics do and don’t tell us about Connecticut public libraries, check out this “10 Myths…” article on page 18 of the April 2013 issue of the CONNector, the newsletter of the Connecticut State Library.

Information on the Public Library Statistical Report for 2013 is now available for those curious about the questions being asked in the survey made available to Connecticut public libraries in July.  Changes are only minor from last year.  Beginning this year the survey takers will need to verify that the library director has seen and approved the figures provided in the report, but no printed and signed certification form need be sent this year.