LibraryLinkNJ News

For more details about any of our projects, programs, or services, please visit the LibraryLinkNJ website!

For questions, suggestions, or help with your account, please reach out to our CE Team: ce@librarylinknj.org

It is hard to believe it is November already!

Please save the date for our virtual “Winter Meeting” on December 13, 2023. Along with staff and partner updates that start at 2:00 PM, we have invited Nick Tanzi (the-digital-librarian.com) to be our keynote speaker at 3:00 PM. He will present on Into the Unknown: Why Libraries Will Lead the Way in the Age of AI. Nick is the Assistant Director of the South Huntington Public Library, and is a nationally recognized library technology consultant and the author of the books Making the Most of Digital Collections Through Training and Outreach (2015) and the coauthor of the Best Technologies for Public Libraries: Policies, Programs, and Services (2020).

Our Fall 2023 Super Library Supervisors participants have been hard at work this month attending a series of trainings on supervision, leadership, and management techniques. For more details about SLS and this fall's attendees, check out our recap later in this newsletter!

As we reflect on the things we're grateful for this month, we'd like to extend our thanks to the NJ library community and our hardworking colleagues across the state. The LLNJ team appreciates the opportunity to support the work you do!"

Best regards,

Ralph

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The next LibraryLinkNJ Executive Board Meeting will take place on Thursday, November 16th at 2:30PM via Zoom.

All LibraryLinkNJ members are welcome to attend Executive Board meetings. Find more information on the Executive Board page on our website!

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The LibraryLinkNJ team is seeking your feedback as we work to meet your needs and exceed your expectations. Our goal is to make it as simple as possible for members to engage with our many valuable resources, and your input is an important piece of that work!

As we look ahead toward the end of the year, we'd like to ask you to take a moment to fill out our 2023 Communication Preferences Survey. Your responses will help us be sure that we're using the best possible methods to reach our membership in the new year. Responses will be accepted through November 3, 2023.Thank you in advance for your time and attention!

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SAVE THE DATE

Join us on December 13th at 2pm for our LibraryLinkNJ Winter Meeting! The meeting will feature updates from LibraryLinkNJ staff and partners, as well as a keynote presentation titled "Into the Unknown: Why Libraries Will Lead the way in the Age of AI" with presenter Nick Tanzi. In addition to his current work in libraries and published books, Nick is a past column editor for Public Library Magazine’s “The Wired Library," and his work on the intersection of libraries and technology has been featured in publications including Computers in Libraries, Library Journal, and Marketing Library Services.

More details on our website!

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A LibraryLinkNJ Member discount is now available for the upcoming Computers in Libraries Conference! Information Today, Inc. has offered LibraryLinkNJ members a group discount registration price of $399 for their 3-day Computers in Libraries 2024 Conference (early registration rate is $589) until Friday, February 9, 2024. After February 9, the group discount will change to $419 ($639 without group discount). Find discount details and links to the conference registration on our website!

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Our thanks to Katrina Hauserman from the Free Public Library of Monroe Township, who responded to our request for details of how libraries observed Banned Books Week this year. In addition to creating the Children's & Juvenile display pictured above, Katrina took the opportunity to read two challenged books for her Family Storytime during Banned Books Week.Thanks for sharing these simple but effective ideas!

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Skill-Sharing Conversations

Share your knowledge and learn from your colleagues in these attendee-driven conversations focused on specific library skills. Come ready to share experiences and ask questions!

• "Genealogy Libraries"; Online Discussion; Thursday, November 9th, 10:30AM-11:30AM; Moderated by Sarah Hull, Plainfield Public Library
• "Book Challenge Toolkits"; Online Discussion; Thursday, December 7th, 11AM-12:PM; Moderated by Linda Tripp, Somerset County Library System, and Judith Pissano, Gloucester County Library System

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Anti-Trafficking Training for Libraries

LibraryLinkNJ and the Global Center on Human Trafficking at Montclair State University are pleased to announce a free, online anti-trafficking training event designed specifically for New Jersey library staff. Learn to identify the signs of human trafficking and explore strategies for safely responding. Library staff of all types are welcome and encouraged to attend!

• Anti-Trafficking Training for Libraries; Virtual, Thursday, December 7th, 10AM-11:30AM.

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Planning craft events at your library for an adult population can leave you struggling to find options that are achievable, affordable, and appealing. Gather with your colleagues (and your craft supplies) to spark your creativity!

• Adult Craft Show & Share, Fall 2023; In-Person at the Voorhees Branch of the Camden County Library System, Tuesday, November 28th, 9:30AM-12:30PM.

*Online registration for this event is closed - please contact darby@librarylinknj.org if you are interested in attending!

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LibraryLinkNJ is proud to partner with Hackensack Meridian Hospital System to offer both Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid training to our members. Mental health can touch nearly any aspect of library service, and we invite staff in any position to register for this valuable training course. *Capacity for each training is limited to 25 participants!*

Additional fall and winter dates coming soon!

• Adult Mental Health First Aid Training; Virtual, Thursday, December 21st, 9AM-2:30PM.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Training; Virtual, Friday, January 12th, 9AM-1:30PM.

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MentorNJ Online Meetups

Now is the perfect time to join us for one or more of these online discussions, where library staff from around the state gather to share successes, ask questions, seek advice, or simply take some time to network with peers! Join us for one of our tried-and-true favorites, drop in to one of our brand-new Meetups, or do both! October Meetups include:

• *NEW* Wellness Wednesday: Wednesday, November 8th @ 3pm
• Adventures in Administration: Thursday, November 9th @ 10:30am
• Latino Library Staff Meetup: Tuesday, November 14th @ 10am
• *NEW* Disabled Library Staff Meetup: Tuesday, November 14th @ 2pm
• API Meetup: Friday, November 17th @ 10am
• Youth Services: Tuesday, November 28th @ 1:30pm
• Leading Lean Libraries; Tuesday, November 28th @ 2:30pm
• Juggling Parenting & Library Work: Wednesday, October 29th @ 2pm
  
• Tech!: Thursday, November 30th @ 3pm
• School Libraries; *In-Person at the NJASL Fall Conference, 12/3-12/5! Meetup date and location TBA*
  

*Find more information about all of our Meetups on the LLNJ Events Calendar

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This training series for new and novice supervisors is designed to help prepare the next generation of library mangers and leaders as they work to become exemplary supervisors. Participants from across the state joined us this October and November for four days of training sessions, tackling the following topics:

• Knowing Your Why
• Motivating & Supporting Your Staff
• HR Basics Every Supervisor Should Know
• Personnel Documentation & Evaluation
• Open & Honest Communication in the Workplace
  
• Building Relationships & Resolving Staff Conflict
• What Your Staff Aren't Telling You: Leading with Empathy
  
• Running Successful Meetings

We want to commend all of this fall's participants on their hard work and commitment, and we're happy to acknowledge the Super Library Supervisor Class of Fall 2023:

• Brenda Bilar, Ocean County Library
• Laura Bishop, Princeton Public Library
• Ginette Bracke, Scotch Plains Public Library
• Lisa Brandenburg, Camden County Library System
• Sloane Boyce, Ocean County Library
• Stella Carr, Metuchen Public Library
• Leigh Clark, New Jersey State Library
• Lauren Clemens, Woodbridge Public Library
• Maria Cunha, Roselle Park Veterans Memorial Library
• Mary Fran Daley, Bernardsville Public Library
• Nicole Dykeman, Neptune Public Library
• Sarah Dziunycz, Camden County Library System
• David Greene, Morristown & Morris Township Library
• Glitza Gutierrez, Fairview Free Public Library
• Erica Krivopal, Piscataway Public Library
• Julie Layton, Ocean County Library
• Andrea Levandowski, New Jersey State Library
• Arielle Mark, Sussex County Library System
• Theresa McArthur, West Milford Township Library
• Brendan McCarty, Cumberland County Library
• Erin McIntyre, Neptune Public Library
• Joshua Melissari, Linden Free Public Library
• Erica Moon, Cherry Hill Public Library
• Laura Myers, Neptune Public Library
• Faith Odat, Roselle Park Veterans Memorial Library
• Nicole Pelliccia, North Plainfield Memorial Library
• Adam Pober, Old Bridge Public Library
• Melody Scagnelli-Townley, Bayonne Public Library
• Susan Waltner, Sussex County, Library System

Our thanks to the Montgomery Branch of Somerset County Library System for providing the space this fall's trainings!

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On Thursday, October 12th, LibraryLinkNJ and the Global Center on Human Trafficking at Montclair State University partnered to offer our first Anti-Trafficking Training for Libraries webinar, a 90-minute informational training for library staff designed to help them be able to identify human trafficking victims in their communities and learn how to appropriately respond.

If you missed the webinar, you'll have a second chance to join us for this valuable training in December! Register today:

• Anti-Trafficking Training for Libraries; Virtual, Thursday, December 7th, 10AM-11:30AM.

Our session presenters shared many valuable resources library staff can use to better acquaint themselves with the issue of Human Trafficking, shared below for your information:

Recommended Films:

A survivor-vetted list of films - both scripted and documentary - that explore the issue of human trafficking:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CpP8cfdExeZ1WTcadAmGiaM53GcwjiFrzCK1BeXFnJY/edit

VICE article on The Sound of Freedom film:

An article highlighting the impact of the 2023 film The Sound of Freedom on trafficking survivors:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/epvbyz/trafficking-survivors-and-advocates-are-being-harassed-by-sound-of-freedom-fans

Local News, NJ Trafficking Allegations:

A CBS News report about allegations of human trafficking at a Robbinsville construction project:

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/robbinsville-baps-hindu-temple-lawsuit-manual-labor-human-trafficking/

Global Center on Human Trafficking Resource Directory

A comprehensive resource directory curated by the Global Center on Human Trafficking:

https://www.montclair.edu/human-trafficking/new-jersey-anti-human-trafficking-resource-directory/

At-the-moment support:

The National Human Trafficking Hotline offers support and a place to safely report a tip

On the Web: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en

Phone: 1-888-373-7888

Text: 233733

Book Recommendations

A book to share with children:

Finding Sierra by Derrica Wilson

For historical context:

The Historical Roots of Human Trafficking editors Makini Chisolm-Straker and Katherine Chon

Survivor Stories:

Lived Through This by Anne K Ream
Half the Sky by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn
Nobody’s Girl by Barbara Amaya
Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd

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The MentorNJ Task Force is hard at work planning our next annual MentorNJ Mega Meetup! This free in-person event, scheduled for Tuesday, March 5th at the Monroe Township Public Library, is an opportunity for library staff from around the state to gather together for networking and professional growth.

Save the date now and keep an eye out for registration when it opens in the new year!

Want to help support the Mega Meetup? Take a moment right now to fill out our super quick survey and let the MentorNJ Task Force know what topics and activities you want to see at this event! Your feedback will help us make sure the Mega Meetup meets your needs.

MentorNJ Mega Meetup 2024 Event Suggestions Survey

Thank you in advance for your input; we look forward to seeing you at the Mega Meetup!

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This March will mark the 10th anniversary of New Jersey Makers Day!! Make sure you are ready to celebrate in style with our 10 year anniversary t-shirt, featuring an exclusive logo you can only get during this Custom Ink Fundraiser!!! The link for the fundraiser can be found here.

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Feedback Survey: Statewide Digital Marketing Campaign

Has your library been using the Life Happens @ Your Library marketing campaign materials? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please take our feedback survey!

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NJLA Youth Services Forum 2023 - Workshop XXXI: 12 Things We Love About YOUth Services will be on Tuesday, December 12 from 8:45am to 3:30pm at Monroe Township Library located at 4 Municipal Plaza, Monroe Township, NJ 08831. Cost to attend for NJLA members is $35. It's $17.50 for students, and $52.50 for non-members. There will be no on-site registrations. The deadline to register is December 4th or until we reach capacity. Tickets will go fast, so register soon!

This event includes breakfast and lunch, snazzy swag, and oodles of raffles. The NJLA Store will be there, so come prepared to shop! By the end of the day, you’ll have way more than 12 things you love about youth services!

The 2023 NJLA Youth Services Forum is sponsored by LibraryLink NJ, NJ State Library, and NJ Association of School Librarians.

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LibraryLinkNJ's long-time partner in education, Hackensack Meridian Health, is pleased to announce a new, monthly webinar open to all - including library staff and the public!

Dr. Jacqueline Bienenstock will lead a free, 1 hour Google Meet webinar exploring the Grief & Recovery process and how grief and recovery go together.

• Monthly, on the 1st Monday
• 7pm via Google Meet
• Anyone wishing to attend can contact stephanie.perez@hmhn.org for details and registration

Feel free to share this information widely, including with patrons and students. All are encouraged to attend!

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We are excited to bring you a new newsletter section from our friends and partners at the NJLA Professional Development Committee! Join NJLA PD here in the LLNJ Newsletter each month for interesting articles and valuable updates!

. . .brought to you by NJLA Professional Development Committee member Matheson Westlake!

Looking for Professional Development opportunities online? They abound! Registration is often required. Live events come and go. If you haven’t tapped into the LibraryLinkNJ LearningSpace, you might not realize just how many relevant, recently-recorded webinars you can access there on-demand. Bookmark the LLNJ LearningSpace page, and you can easily enrich an hour of your work day.

I’d like to shine a spotlight on an October 6, 2023 webinar you can locate within the Niche Academy tutorials & trainings on the LLNJ LearningSpace. I was looking to spark inspiration for program ideas while preparing for a job interview, and this one did the trick.

Webinar Title: Beyond Books: Adult Library Programs That Work!

The Presenter: Jenn Carson, MSLIS-credentialed Library Director in New Brunswick, Canada. She is known for publishing writings on physical literacy for ALA, as the creator of the blog, Yoga in the Library, and you can learn more about her at jenncarson.com.

Find Programs On: Food & Drink, Arts & Crafts, Tech & Media, Books & Writing

Library Audience: Jenn gears her presentation toward Adult Services Librarians, but Teen Services Librarians will find plenty of inspiration, too. The presenter emphases inclusion, and takes the time to tease apart the many diverse communities with specific needs within the adult population.

Main Ideas: Great programs foster a sense of community. People might show up for an activity, and make a friend in the process. What could be better ? Cultivate a resourceful, collaborative mindset, and program ideas can come from anywhere. If someone in your community offers their expertise for free or donates materials to the library, you’re halfway there. There are lots of eco-friendly ideas included.

My Review: Jenn gives a well-organized presentation full of concrete examples, i.e. “programs that worked” at her library over the last 8 years. Friendly and generous, her personality adds good vibes to her consideration of a topic that could prove useful to you today.

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• NJLA Events Calendar

• NJLA Diversity & Outreach Section's Professional Development Opportunities Calendar: Both free and paid continuing education offerings in New Jersey (or online) that focus on the topics of diversity, outreach, equity, inclusion, LGBTQIAAP+, and access.

• Webinars and Other Training Events: Upcoming and Archived

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Please email suggestionbox@librarylinknj.org with feedback about our services and programs. Suggestions for new services and programs are welcome, too.

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.

Email: info@librarylinknj.org
Website: www.librarylinknj.org
Location: 2300 Stuyvesant Avenue, Ewing Township, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-752-7720
Facebook: facebook.com/librarylinknj
Twitter: @librarylinknj