LibraryLinkNJ News
July 2026
LibraryLinkNJ The New Jersey Library Cooperative
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
Call for Proposals: LLNJ Fall Conference
LibraryLinkNJ is pleased to announce our 6th annual one-day virtual conference! Join us on Thursday, October 22nd for The Collections Conference, a free, full day opportunity to focus your energy on a core aspect of libraries everywhere!
What do you have to share about library collections? Whether it's a how-to on starting a successful library-of-things, a deep-dive into the world of e-material budgets, or a presentation of your research into inclusive print collections - there just may be a spot for you as a presenter at our fall virtual conference! We're seeking presentations on all types of collections from all types of organizations; LLNJ membership is not required.
Fill out and submit the call for proposals form no later than Tuesday, August 18th to be considered!
LibraryChef Junior Chef Kitchen Passport
Library Chef introduces a new family engagement program tied to America’s 250th Anniversary called the Junior Chef Kitchen Passport. This is a fully done-for-you program for ages 5+ where kids pick up a collector’s edition passport at the library, complete fun challenges at home, then return for sticker stamps, prizes, and certificates.
Order by June 8th and kits arrive by June 20th. The program runs until September 7th, so there is still time even if summer programming is already planned.
- For more information, visit the LibraryLinkNJ Discounts page; contact the vendor directly for specific details about this offer.
- Library Chef offers an exclusive 5% discount for LibraryLinkNJ member libraries that are new to Library Chef. Existing Library Chef members already receive preferred member pricing on the Junior Chef Kitchen Passport program.
Work Wise Labs
New Self-Paced Course: Giving and Receiving Feedback
Strengthen your communication and leadership skills with this self-paced online course from Work Wise Labs. Designed for current and aspiring leaders, the course provides practical strategies for giving direct, effective feedback, receiving feedback with confidence, and building a workplace culture where honest communication supports growth.
- LibraryLinkNJ members receive 25% off the Giving and Receiving Feedback self-paced course, bringing the cost to $35.25 per person and including lifetime access to the course. Use promo code LLNJ25 when registering
- For more information or to register, visit the LibraryLinkNJ Discounts page
- For group purchases or invoice requests, contact info@workwiselabs.com
Foreign Affairs
Give your patrons access to over 100 years of expert analysis on international politics, economics, security, and diplomacy with Foreign Affairs. Designed for academic and public libraries, group subscriptions include flexible access options, a searchable digital archive, mobile app access, and exclusive content not available through aggregator databases.
- LibraryLinkNJ members receive discounted group subscription rates through December 31, 2026
- For more information, visit the LibraryLinkNJ Discounts page
- To place an order or request pricing information, contact groupsubs@foreignaffairs.com.
The Juice
Every weekday, The Juice delivers five short, engaging nonfiction articles written by an in-house team of educators and journalists. Articles span world news, STEM, economics, culture, sports, and more. Each article is leveled at four reading levels, available in 70+ languages, and includes read-aloud support, embedded vocabulary, a comprehension question, and an infographic.
We are offering 70% off of The Juice’s retail price for LibraryLinkNJ participants
For more information, visit the LibraryLinkNJ Discounts page
Recently Added to the Learning Space
Discover a wide range of on-demand resources designed to meet the changing needs of library staff. From conflict resolution to inclusive service approaches, you’ll find opportunities to strengthen your skills and broaden your perspective. Courses on the LibraryLinkNJ LearningSpace can be accessed with or without a login, but creating one to track your progress takes less than one minute!
Just Added
- Cómo Se Dice: Spanish Basics for Library Staff
- Data Literacy for Libraries and Nonprofit Organizations
- Designing Accessible Slide Decks
- Refusal as Instruction: Breaking Up with Big Tech
- Politely Declining Suggestions or Demands
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.
Digital Possibilities Series Session 4: Digital Realities and Possibilities for a Sousa Archives Researcher
Many archives and museums’ music collections frequently remain silent, dead, and forgotten. The music and instrument’s voices no longer speak for themselves because they are either carefully exhibited behind glass or preserved in specialized storage cabinets as music paperweights until discovered and explored by specialized music scholars.
Today’s technologies hold much promise for archives and museum’s music collections because these digital resources and tools now make it possible for scholarly researchers and the public to actively engage with these unique historical collections both on-site and online from anywhere in the world. In this presentation, Scott Schwartz will highlight how the Sousa Archives approaches on-site and online public engagement to its music collections using some of today’s digital technologies.
- Digital Possibilities Series; Virtual; Wednesday, July 8, 2pm-3pm.
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Digital Possibilities Series Session 5: Meet the Chicago Collections Consortium and Revs Institute
The Chicago Collections Consortium (CCC) is a membership organization of 60+ institutions composed of public and private universities, public libraries, special libraries, museums, and other repositories with collections that chronicle the rich history of Chicago. Its portal, EXPLORE Chicago Collections, is its flagship initiative, providing "one stop shopping": a site for researchers, teachers, students, and the public to find digital images and locate archival holdings on Chicago topics without searching individual institutions' online catalogs one at a time
Revs Institute will share how they are embracing emerging technologies and digital dissemination to expand access, enhance discovery, and preserve specialized knowledge. Arthur Carlson, Director of Archives and Research Center - Revs Institute, will highlight current projects at Revs Institute including a machine learning metadata generation project, the development of a specialized large language learning model to support research, and efforts to document and share specialized at-risk knowledge and share that with the world.
- Digital Possibilities Series; Virtual; Wednesday, July 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.
- Adult Mental Health First Aid Training; Virtual; Friday, July 17, 9am-2:30pm.
- Online registration for this session has closed; reach out to darby@librarylinknj.org to find out if registration is still possible.
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An Open Conversation: Building Accessibility into Vendor Relationships Under ADA Title II
In this virtual, open conversation on building accessibility into vendor relationships under ADA Title II, discuss with library and consortial colleagues what the recent deadline extension means for you, share your experience setting content priorities, compliance workflows, and adding accessibility clauses into contracts, and consider how we can work together in these efforts.
- Building Accessibility into Vendor Relationships; Virtual; Wednesday, July 22, 2pm-3pm.
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Digital Possibilities Series Session 6: Strategic Approaches to Transcription
Liz Bloodworth, Illinois Wesleyan University, will discuss the use of AI tools for transcription of both oral history interviews and handwritten text documents. Then, Chris Levesque will discuss digital engagement in the University of West Florida’s Citizen Archivist Projects. During Library Week 2025 and 2026, the UWF University Libraries hosted participatory transcription events of letters and ship logs from their Digital Archives. This effort built on the well-known National Archives' Citizen Archivist model to engage students, faculty, and the larger UWF community. This talk will discuss selection of materials, implementation of the project, and lessons learned.
- Digital Possibilities Series; Virtual; Wednesday, July 29, 2pm-3pm
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¿Cómo Se Dice? Spanish Basics for Library Staff
Learning Spanish with our on-demand ¿Cómo Se Dice? series? Join us for live Spanish language practice! Luisa and Yesenia will join us on the final Thursday of each month at 11am for a one-hour Zoom where attendees can ask questions, practice pronunciation, engage in sample conversations, and improve their Spanish skills! This month, the topic will be "Technology."
- ¿Cómo Se Dice? Spanish Basics for Library Staff; Virtual; Thursday, July 30, 11am-12pm.
- Attendees should complete the Technology on-demand module prior to attending the conversation practice event!
Pride Photos
Our thanks to all the member libraries that responded to our call for Pride photos! From outreach events and academic lectures to craft programs and book displays, New Jersey libraries all over the state helped educate their communities and celebrate their patrons.
Click the link below to open a slideshow of photos and descriptions from libraries of all types - and download the PDF to help inspire your own Pride programming next June or all year long!
EDI-NJ Strategic Roadmap Project Status Update
The Strategic Roadmap project continues to make steady progress. Eight libraries participated in the EDI Institutional Assessment Pilot Project, and all completed the institutional assessment, assessment debrief sessions, and strategic planning workshops. Most of the participating libraries have now completed their final strategic planning sessions and are working to finalize and implement their EDI action plans. The project has also entered the evaluation phase, with a formal pilot project report expected later this summer.
We also wanted to provide an update on the individual assessment component of the project. While we made some initial progress in developing that tool and engaged in some great discussions during our March & April meetings, capacity constraints have required us to prioritize the institutional assessment pilot during this phase of the work. As a result, development of the individual assessment has been paused for now while we focus on supporting pilot libraries in creating and implementing their EDI work plans and completing this phase of the project.
In addition, work continues on building a future EDI Resource Hub. We encourage members to share relevant articles, tools, guides, training materials, and other resources through the project's resource collection form.
EDI-NJ Project Presented at ALA Annual Conference 2026
On June 30, Ozy Aloziem, our EDI consultant, presented the program "Lessons Learned from New Jersey's Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Roadmap Project" at the ALA Annual Conference, held at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The presentation highlighted the Strategic Roadmap for the EDI Framework for NJ Libraries and shared lessons learned from this statewide collaborative initiative. [Presentation Slides in PDF]
The presentation explored how the project has brought together library organizations across New Jersey to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion through assessment, leadership development, and statewide collaboration. Attendees learned about the project's accomplishments, challenges, and practical strategies for developing sustainable, assessment-driven EDI initiatives in their own libraries and communities.
Although the session was scheduled during the final afternoon of the conference, attendees remained engaged throughout the presentation and participated in a lively discussion. Their engagement reinforced the continued interest among library professionals in practical, collaborative approaches to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in library workplaces and the communities they serve.
NJ Statewide EDI Initiative Group (EDI-NJ) Meeting
Join us in this coalition of NJ's library organizations to tackle EDI issues in our state's libraries.
NJ Statewide EDI Initiative Group (EDI-NJ) Meeting; Virtual; Wednesday, August 19, 2:30pm-3:30pm. (Please note that there will be no meeting in July. We will resume our regular schedule in August.)
More Ways to Get Involved with EDI-NJ:
Providing feedback on created project tools/assessments or participating in one of the project groups (sign up here!)
If you’re interested or would like more information, please reach out to us at edi@librarylinknj.org. We’d love to have you join us in building a more equitable and inclusive future for New Jersey libraries.
AI Training Videos Now Available
PLAID (Public Libraries & AI Development) is a practical framework that helps libraries test, evaluate, and roll out AI tools in ways that fit their policies, staff capacity, and community needs. Explore these concise guides to better understand where AI technology is today, how it’s already showing up in public libraries, and where it’s likely headed next for your community.
Delivery Service to School Libraries on Summer Break
Delivery service to school libraries is halted during the summer months.
- Delivery Service to schools will resume the week of Monday, September 14, 2026.
- School materials in the system after June 12 will be shipped out in September.
Do you have any blue bins?
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.
NJ250 Digital Exhibit: State History through Three Constitutions
The New Jersey State Library, in partnership with the New Jersey State Archives, has launched NJ250: Living Documents, Evolving Rights, a new digital exhibition exploring the evolution of New Jersey’s three state constitutions. Created in anticipation of the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the exhibit highlights how ideas of rights, representation, and governance have changed over time.
- Interactive content traces key themes like individual rights and landmark court interpretations
- Offers access to primary sources and historical materials for deeper exploration
Interested? Be sure to check out the exhibit at https://www.njstatelib.org/exhibits/nj250/
About LibraryLinkNJ
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