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

Happy New Year from all of us at LibraryLinkNJ!

On behalf of the entire LibraryLinkNJ team, I would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our members, the Executive Board, and the leaders of our partner organizations for your support of our work in 2025. We are looking forward to working with all of you in 2026, as we continue to connect all New Jersey libraries to each other and the resources they need to serve their communities.

At the end of December we said goodbye to our team member Stephanie Sendaula, who resigned her position as Programming and Outreach Specialist. It has been a pleasure working with Stephanie over the past three-plus years. We appreciate her many valuable contributions to our mission--especially the professionalism she displayed in coordinating the recent book vendor demos, our well-liked Summer Book Bashes, and many successful Super Library Supervisor cohorts. We wish Stephanie much success and all the best in the future.

My best wishes to all of you for a healthy and happy New Year.

Ralph

The LibraryLinkNJ team is gearing up for our annual Winter Meeting on February 10th! This virtual event will bring library staff from across the state together to highlight the amazing work happening in New Jersey’s libraries.

We're looking for presenters to share their success stories with the library community! Whether it’s a groundbreaking project, a program that made an impact, or even a creative solution to a challenge, this is your chance to showcase what’s been working in your library. No achievement is too big or small to share! If you have something you’re proud of and want to inspire others, we’d love for you to present at this year’s meeting.

Do you know how a New Jersey school library is staffed? We want to hear from you! LibraryLinkNJ is partnering with statewide library organizations to crowd-source accurate information about K–12 school library staffing across the Garden State. This anonymous data will help identify where additional library support is needed most.

If you have confirmed information about staffing at a NJ school library, please take a few minutes to share it using our short form. One form per school, and no guessing--only what you know to be true.

• Submissions accepted through February 28, 2026
• All responses are anonymous and used for informational purposes only

Please use this form to fill out any information you have about NJ school libraries!

EDI-NJ Institutional Assessment Pilot Project

The following eight libraries have joined the pilot and completed their onboarding sessions with our EDI consultant in December.

1. Burlington County Library System

2. Hunterdon County Library System

3. Jennings Library at Caldwell University

4. John P. Faber School Library

5. Moorestown Library

6. New Brunswick Free Public Library

7. Piscataway Public Library

8. University Library at Rider University

It is encouraging to see diversity in both library type and the stages of each library’s journey, and we thank them for their commitment and active participation. We will share their progress and learnings from the pilot with our members as we continue to move forward with the project.

We need your help! - EDI Resource Solicitation Form

EDI-NJ is conducting an audit of the equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) resources currently being used across New Jersey libraries. If you or your organization have participated in an EDI training, workshop, or program—or if you’ve come across a resource you believe is valuable and worth reviewing—we invite you to share it with us. Your input will directly inform this audit and help strengthen our collective EDI efforts statewide.

The information gathered through this solicitation will help us:

1. Better understand the types of EDI training and resources libraries are currently using

2. Identify gaps, strengths, and emerging needs

3. Inform future planning, recommendations, and shared resources

Thank you in advance for contributing your experience and insights. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out at edi@librarylinknj.org.

LibraryLinkNJ is excited to offer members exclusive discounted rates on Business Insider, providing unlimited digital access to trusted journalism on business, technology, innovation, markets, and more. 2025 promotional rates are available through March 2026, with other discounts available through December 2026.

To learn more, join us for a virtual overview and Q&A session on Wednesday, December 17 at 11AM.

Questions or subscription inquiries can be directed to: Group-Subscriptions@BusinessInsider.com

or SKramp@BusinessInsider.com

More Information can be found at: https://librarylinknj.org/discounts/business-insider

LibraryLinkNJ members receive special group rates for the Computers in Libraries 2026 Conference, held March 17–19 in Arlington, VA. Enjoy discounted pricing of $399 for the 3-day conference and $699 for the Gold Pass through February 13 (higher rates apply after).

Register using the LLNJ discount link or enter code 26LLNJ at checkout.
More details can be found at: https://computersinlibraries.infotoday.com/2026/default.aspx

LibraryLinkNJ member Libraries can receive special member pricing.

Welcome to Library Chef! Your go-to platform for live online cooking, wellness, and nutrition classes for all ages! Accessible with your library card, Library Chef provides fun, interactive learning experiences for kids, teens, and adults, all designed to engage your community and support your library’s mission.

• Wellness & Nutrition Corner: Live sessions with professional nutritionists covering healthy living, wellness, and mindful eating.
• Cookbook Authors: Learn directly from cookbook authors in special interactive classes.
• Summer Camps for Kids & Teens (Online Live): Fun, hands-on cooking and wellness activities, included at no additional cost.
• Spice Club: A unique program designed to boost engagement and increase library card sign-ups and foot traffic.

Find more details at: https://librarylinknj.org/discounts/library-chef

LibraryLinkNJ members receive 15% off ASLDeafined annual licenses.

ASLdeafined is a comprehensive, easy to use online video based digital resource program for learning American Sign Language. Learning is organized with over 400 themed lessons with retention exercises, Illustration support to make learning easy. All signing instructions by Deaf individuals - including our one-of-a- kind ASL dictionary with 18,000+ signed video words! Please consider joining our mission to make your community a more accessible place for the Deaf community!

Find more details at: https://librarylinknj.org/discounts/asldeafined

Find more discount offers, including those from Newsreel and Library Journal, at https://librarylinknj.org/discounts!

The LibraryLinkNJ LearningSpace offers a range of on-demand resources designed to meet the changing needs of library staff. From emerging technologies to critical thinking and inclusive service approaches, you’ll find opportunities to strengthen your skills and broaden your perspective. All highlighted courses are open to everyone—no login required—and are crafted to support continued growth for staff in every area of library work.

Courses on the LearningSpace are specifically designed to support the professional development of library staff. Please note that these courses are not intended for use or access by the public.

Signing Basics—"Customer Service Signs for Librarians: Part 1"

LibraryLinkNJ is proud to partner with Signing Basics to offer "Customer Service Signs for Librarians: Part 1," a series of workshops which will teach library staff how to better communicate with members of their community who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.

"Customer Service Signs for Librarians: Part 1" consists of three 45-minute trainings taught by an experienced ASL instructor. LibraryLinkNJ is pleased to sponsor this training four times throughout 2026.

• Signing Basics—"Customer Service Signs for Librarians: Part 1"; Virtual; Thursday, January 8, 15, and 22, 10am-10:45am.
• By registering, you are making a commitment to attend all three courses in each training. Sessions will not be recorded.

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Libraries and AI Futures

The rise of AI and its subsequent adoption by the public have raised many questions for information professionals since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3 years ago. With a focus on the four AI future scenarios developed by the ARL/CNI Task Force for AI and Machine Learning Futures, this program will help library professionals gain a better perspective on the rapidly developing AI technology and a set of issues related to AI and libraries. Through this program, attendees will become familiar with what may be some leading factors and potential dynamics that can shape the future of AI adoption in our society and what the various combinations of those factors and dynamics may mean to the future of the libraries and their services. This, in turn, will allow them to design better AI strategies so that their libraries can more thoughtfully engage with library patrons and meet their new AI-related needs while helping them achieve a higher level of information literacy at the same time.

• Libraries and AI Futures; Virtual; Wednesday, January 14, 1pm-2pm.
• This webinar is hosted by L-TAG.

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Rethinking Youth Services Outreach: Developing Connections between Public Libraries and Parent-Teacher Associations

Public libraries are rethinking outreach strategies. In this workshop geared toward staff and professionals in Youth Services, we’ll share how public libraries can develop and sustain connections with their community through parent-teacher organizations.

Engaging directly at PTA meetings and programs connects librarians directly with parents and caregivers. This approach allows librarians to promote materials, digital resources, and programs to families in their community. In turn, parents and caregivers can engage in dialogue about community needs and preferences. This also eases the burden of busy educators by directly collaborating with families.

• Rethinking Youth Services Outreach; Virtual; Thursday, January 15, 11am-12pm.

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Adult Mental Health First Aid Training

Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a nationally recognized program that offers Mental Health First Aid training courses designed to help participants react confidently, competently, and appropriately when they encounter an individual suffering from a mental health crisis. From identifying risk factors and warning signs to outlining strategies for assisting someone in the midst of a crisis, a Mental Health First Aid training course prepares participants to enact an action plan and utilize appropriate interventions when they encounter a mental health emergency.

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 emergencies can touch nearly any aspect of library service, and we invite staff in any position from any library type to register for this valuable training course.

• Adult Mental Health First Aid Training; Virtual; Friday, January 16, 9am-2:30pm.

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AI + Accessibility: Why Keeping Humans in the Loop Matters

In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping communication, access, and our daily lives, it’s crucial that we don’t lose sight of the people at the center. This talk explores the intersection of AI and accessibility - and why human judgment, empathy, and oversight are more important than ever.

Whether you’re a designer, developer, educator, policy advocate, or simply curious about the future of technology, you’ll come away with insight and actionable ideas for building more inclusive AI-powered systems.

• AI + Accessibility: Why Keeping Humans in the Loop Matters; Virtual; Thursday, January 22, 1pm-2pm.
• This event is hosted by Minitex and brought to you by the Professional Development Alliance of Library Consortia (PDA)
• All event registration and attendee communication will be handled via Minitex

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What Does Student Success Mean to Students? Insights for Academic Libraries

What does “student success” really mean, and who gets to define it? Although student success has become a prominent focus across higher education, including academic libraries, the term is often left undefined and ambiguous, frequently overlooking the most important voices: the students themselves. This webinar shares findings from a qualitative study in which undergraduate students were interviewed about their own definitions and perceptions of success.

Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how students conceptualize success and explore strategies for creating more equitable, inclusive library environments that support those student-defined goals.

• What Does Student Success Mean to Students? Insights for Academic Libraries; Virtual; Tuesday, January 27, 1pm-2pm.
• This event is hosted by Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC) and brought to you via the Professional Development Alliance of Library Consortia.
• FLVC will handle all registration and and attendee communication.

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Cultivating the Living Room of Campus: Lessons from Tredway Library’s Wellness Initiatives

Tredway librarians prioritized the development of targeted wellness-related collections and programming centered on giving students resources and spaces to simply be, rather than be in an act of becoming, in response to expressed gaps in student support. These projects, ranging from the expansion of a leisure collection to include self-care materials to curating lego sets for passive community programming and even to the present reimagining of a defunct computer lab into a wellness lounge, have each invited and engaged students throughout the development and realization processes. This presentation will overview Tredway Library’s path to developing our wellness initiatives with this active student buy-in, along with some pros, cons, and advice regarding each of the projects we have undertaken so far.

• Cultivating the Living Room of Campus: Lessons from Tredway Library’s Wellness Initiatives; Virtual; Wednesday, January 28, 11am-12pm.
• This event is hosted by the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI), and brought to you via the Professional Development Alliance of Library Consortia (PDA)
• All registration and attendee communication will be handled by CARLI

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AI, Copyright, and Creative Commons

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms how knowledge is created, shared, and reused, leaders and members of the open movement are at a crossroad that will define the future of access to knowledge and shared creativity. The application of copyright law to AI training is complex. Around the world, there are exceptions and limitations to copyright that give latitude to AI training, but laws vary significantly. Since CC licenses are copyright licenses, it follows that the application of CC licenses to AI training is similarly complicated. Hear the latest thoughts about the relationship between AI, copyright, and the existing CC licenses and legal tools. Then, learn about the latest developments on a project we are currently calling CC signals: a proposed framework to help content stewards express how they want their works used in AI training—emphasizing reciprocity, recognition, and sustainability in machine reuse. We plan to allow time for discussion and Q&A.

• AI, Copyright, and Creative Commons; Virtual; Thursday, January 29, 2pm-3pm.

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Embrace Your Inner Unicorn: Navigating Job Transitions and Combating Impostor Syndrome

Have you made a career change on your path to academic librarianship? Do you deal with feelings of impostor syndrome, uncertainty, or otherness as someone newer to academia?

Join this session, presented by three librarians who successfully transitioned from youth services to academic and medical librarianship by embracing their “inner unicorn,” the unique skills developed in their previous roles. We will discuss how academic librarians can use prior work experiences to their advantage in new positions, embracing an abundance mindset and battling back against impostor syndrome.

Topics will include successes, challenges, and strategies for navigating job transitions and finding support with time for open discussion at the end.

• Embrace Your Inner Unicorn: Navigating Job Transitions and Combating Impostor Syndrome; Virtual; Thursday, January 29, 3pm-4pm.

Join us for any or all of our MentorNJ Meet-ups this month. No registration required!

Zoom links go out to our entire email list each Monday morning for the Meet-ups to be held that week.

• Disabled & Neurodivergent Library Staff - January 6, 2pm
• Wellness Wednesday - January 7, 3pm

• Adventures in Administration - January 8, 10:30am

• AI in Libraries - January 8, 2pm
• Maker Meetup - January 8, 3pm

• Juggling Parenting & Library Work - January 9, 10am

• API - January 12, 3pm

• Latino Library Staff - January 13, 10am

• LGBTQUIA+ Library Staff - January 14, 11am
• Tech - January 15, 3pm
• School Libraries - January 21, 4:30pm

• Adventures in Administration - January 22, 10:30pm

Want to know more about a meet-up? Check out our calendar!

There will be no statewide delivery service and the LibraryLinkNJ office will be closed on January 19th, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

If you are holding any extra Blue Bins that your library is not utilizing please leave them for your TForce Driver and they will take them. TForce is running low on LLNJ bins that we supply to libraries.

If you are no longer enrolled in the statewide delivery service and you are holding any LLNJ delivery supplies (Blue Bins, Plastic Bags), please contact Jennifer Bruno at jennifer@librarylinknj.org and we will arrange pickup of the supplies.

Registration is now open for New Jersey Makers Day 2026! Please register your sites here. New Jersey Makers Day 2026 will take place March 20-22nd. As always, we strongly encourage sites to pick dates that work best for your community.

While our mini-grant program is not available this year, we highly encourage you to check out the STEM Month Mini-Grants program from New Jersey STEM Pathways Network! This fantastic opportunity is open now through January 9th, 2026.

Interested in hosting a lion dance presentation at your library? South Jersey Lion Dance is offering presentations, available for booking Saturday mornings and afternoons starting March 21st to the end of the calendar year.

See the flyer below for more information. For questions, email SJLionDance@VACEC.org,

Schedule a Meeting with the Rapid Response Team!

The NJASL/NJLA Rapid Response Team is here to help! Serving libraries of all types state-wide, RRT can provide guidance, support, and response tactics to staff and institutions facing book challenges, censorship issues, and similar concerns. Whether you're dealing with a loud and formal challenge, trying to be prepared for a rumored event, or just aren't sure if what you're dealing with is acceptable, RRT can help. And now, you can quickly and easily schedule an appointment to chat, using the Rapid Response Team Calendly link below!

https://calendly.com/njrrt

LibraryLinkNJ's Executive Board will hold their next meeting on Thursday, January 15th at 3pm via Zoom.

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

We want to hear what you've got to say.

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

LibraryLinkNJ: Every New Jersey Library - Connected and Thriving

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
Instagram: @librarylinknj