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

Join the LibraryLinkNJ Technology Advisory Group (L-TAG) at the inaugural Futures Conference! We are currently seeking proposals for our upcoming one-day conference. We welcome submissions from librarians, informationists, technologists, and library supporters across all sectors. This year, we are focusing on two distinct tracks. Your proposal should address the broader theme of libraries and librarianship through one of these lenses:

• Track 1: AI & The Future of Work: Navigating emerging technology, automation, advantages, disadvantages, VR/AR, robotics, and how artificial intelligence is reshaping library workflows and professional roles.
  
• Track 2: Community & Connection: Evolving social service trends, creating welcoming spaces, fostering a sense of belonging, and balancing high-tech with "unplugged"/analog community experiences (like makerspaces and physical media integration).

Learn more about this event and access our proposal form and evaluation rubric on our website!

This series of training workshops in supervisory skills has been serving the New Jersey library community for more than 20 years! New and novice supervisors in New Jersey libraries are invited to join us for this 4-part, in-person series designed to help build supervisory skills and navigate the tasks library management must tackle. Sessions will be held on the following dates in the conference room at the New Jersey State Library Talking Book and Braille Center in Ewing:

Tue, Oct 27, 2026, 10am - 3pm

Tue, Nov 10, 2026, 10am - 3pm

Tue, Nov 17, 2026, 10am - 3pm

Tue, Dec 8, 2026, 10am - 3pm

• Space is limited to 35 participants.
• Registration closes on Monday, September 14, 2026.
• If the registration numbers exceed capacity, 35 participants will be chosen via a lottery system.
• Cost: $375, inclusive of all available course materials.

Click here for more information and registration link!

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.Early Literacy

Last chance!

• 5% discount on the Junior Chef Kitchen Passport for LLNJ members ends September 7th!
  
  

Find additional discount details, including the vendor contact information, at:

https://librarylinknj.org/discounts/library-chef

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Find more discount offers at https://librarylinknj.org/discounts!

Discover a wide range of on-demand resources designed to meet the changing needs of library staff. From inclusive service approaches to staff management, 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

• Chat GPT for Beginners
• Conferences 101: Writing Conference Proposals
• Developing a Volunteer Recruitment Plan
• Robert's Rules of Order Tips for Library Boards

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.

Preparing For April: Developing Workflows & Quick Wins with Web Accessibility

The April 2027 digital accessibility deadline is approaching quickly. If you are feeling overwhelmed by compliance requirements, you aren't alone. The secret to meeting accessibility standards without burning out your staff is shifting from a mindset of panic to one of sustainable progress. Web accessibility isn't a one-and-done project; it is an ongoing process built on small, manageable habits.

• Preparing for April: Developing Workflows & Quick Wins with Web Accessibility; Virtual; Wednesday, September 2, 2pm-3pm.

Integrating Audio Descriptions into Live Video

With the new accessibility requirements quickly approaching, learning how to properly make live video and recordings of those videos accessible is more important than ever. In this session, Daniel DuPont (Delgado) and Rob Stephens (LOUIS Team) will discuss how they integrate audio description into live videos to make webinars and presentations more accessible!

• Integrating Audio Descriptions into Live Video; Virtual; Thursday, September 3, 2pm-3pm.

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Enhancing Accessibility: How the George A. Smathers Libraries at UF are Creating Accessible Environments

This presentation will demonstrate how the library system at an R1 public university is striving to ensure that physical and digital spaces are accessible for all users. Librarians across branches of the George A. Smathers Libraries at UF will discuss their experiences and projects related to accessibility, so that participants can evaluate the applicability of UF’s endeavors to their own institutions and scale the projects to serve the needs of their patrons.

• Enhancing Accessibility: How the George A. Smathers Libraries at UF are Creating Accessible Environments; Virtual; Tuesday, September 8, 1pm-2pm.

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Training that Sticks: Improving Onboarding for Staff Online

This program will examine the successes and failures of training new employees. Attendees will learn barriers to training, common mistakes to avoid, effective training strategies to implement, appropriate training timelines, and how to create a more effective training program for their library staff.

• Training that Sticks: Improving Onboarding for Staff Online; Virtual; Thursday, September 10, 1pm-2pm.

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Storytelling with Impact: Using Data and Community Voices to Strengthen Your Library

Libraries collect meaningful data every day, but data alone rarely inspires action. This webinar explores how to combine quantitative evidence with authentic community stories to communicate your library's impact, advocate for resources, build partnerships, and engage stakeholders.

• Storytelling with Impact: Using Data and Community Voices to Strengthen Your Library; Virtual; Thursday, September 10, 2pm-3pm.

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AI & the Literacy Crisis

This session will discuss how Artificial Intelligence (particularly generative AI) and the misuse of such tools are contributing to what many are calling a “Literacy Crisis.” While AI can be a useful tool for those who are well-informed on how to use it, the average consumer is unlikely to take the necessary steps to learn how to use it correctly. This results in the “misuse” of the tool and snowballs into a general decline in cognitive function over time.

• AI & the Literacy Crisis; Virtual; Thursday, September 10, 3pm-4pm.

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Adult Mental Health First Aid Training - Registration closes Friday, 9/4!

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.

• Adult Mental Health First Aid; Virtual; Wednesday, September 16, 9am - 2:30pm.

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AI and Algorithmic Discrimination

Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly being used to make decisions that affect key aspects of our lives. These technologies carry potential benefits for the public. But they can also perpetuate longstanding biases in our society, leading to unfair outcomes for protected groups. This training outlines how the NJ Law Against Discrimination provides protections in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation when the use of AI leads to unfair outcomes, as well as strategies that individuals and companies can deploy to ensure that automated systems are fair, equitable, and minimize bias and discrimination.

• AI and Algorithmic Discrimination; Virtual; Wednesday, September 16, 10am-12pm. Brought to you in partnership with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights.

ADA Preparedness & Deaf Accessibility System - Registration closes Wednesday, 9/9!

Join LibraryLinkNJ for this valuable 3-hour Signing Basics course designed to strengthen institutional response protocols and reduce communication breakdown during emergency and public-facing interactions.

Participants will gain expert insight into ADA awareness, Deaf culture, and emergency communication strategies, including evacuation, shelter-in-place, medical response, and security scenarios.

• ADA Preparedness & Deaf Accessibility System; Virtual; Friday, September 18, 10am-1pm.

Introduction to MarcEdit

Metadata is the invisible architecture connecting our collections to our community, but inconsistent or "dirty" catalog data can leave vital resources hidden from your patrons. Join us for an approachable, jargon-light introduction to MarcEdit - the completely free, powerful software suite that acts as a digital sandbox for your library records before you upload them to your catalog.

• Introduction to MarcEdit; Virtual; Tuesday, September 22, 2pm-3pm.

Equalis Group Information Session

With decades of Public Sector procurement experience, Equalis Group helps members save time and money while remaining fully compliant.

They leverage members’ combined buying power to command better pricing and favorable contract terms from suppliers.

If you are not already a member, you can join Equalis Group in just minutes and immediately access our portfolio of cooperative purchasing programs!

Join us this fall to learn more about Equalis Group and how LibraryLinkNJ member institutions can benefit from involvement.

• Equalis Group Information Session; Virtual; Wednesday, September 23, 2pm-3pm.

Conferences 101: Giving Great Presentations

If you don’t give presentations often the idea of speaking in front of a group can feel intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be! Communications expert Kathy Dempsey has given hundreds of presentations throughout her career both in person and online. In this session Kathy will share practical tips to help you feel more confident, speak effectively, and keep your audience engaged.

• Conferences 101: Giving Great Presentations; Virtual; Thursday, September 24, 10am-11am.

Checking Out Conflict: Tried & True Techniques to Tackle Tense Times

Tina Stevens, Director of Franklin County Library, will move beyond rigid rules to explore empathetic, effective strategies for managing sticky situations and navigating high-stakes conversations. Script, scenarios, and field-tested takeaways will show you how to turn intimidating encounters into positive outcomes - all while protecting staff well-being.

• Checking Out Conflict: Tried & True Techniques to Tackle Tense Times; Virtual; Thursday, September 24, 11am-12pm.

Plain Language Toolkit for Librarians: Practical Tools to Improve Understanding, Engagement, and Trust

Effective communication is at the heart of every library service. This webinar explores practical plain language strategies and introduces librarians to tools that support clear, accessible communication across programs, instruction, outreach, and resource development.

• Plain Language Toolkit for Librarians; Virtual; Thursday, September 24, 1pm-2pm.

LLNJ New Member Information Session

Join members of our LibraryLinkNJ team for a New Member Information Session designed to welcome you to the New Jersey Library Cooperative! We'll help new members understand what LibraryLinkNJ, who is part of our team, what LLNJ can offer, how staff can get involved, and more!

• LLNJ New Member Information Session; Virtual; Friday, September 25, 11am-12pm.

Building an Immersive Learning Program in the Academic Library: From Vision to Implementation

Academic libraries are increasingly exploring virtual reality, podcasting, AI, and other emerging technologies to enrich teaching and learning. Building a successful immersive learning program, however, requires much more than purchasing equipment. It takes strategic planning, faculty partnerships, instructional design, sustainable workflows, and a commitment to meaningful student engagement.

• Building an Immersive Learning Program in the Academic Library; Virtual; Tuesday, September 29, 3pm-4pm.

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- September 1, 2pm
• Indigenous American Library Staff - September 3, 10am
• Maker Meet-up - September 3, 3pm
• Latino Library Staff - September 8, 10am

• LGBTQIA+ - September 9, 2pm *New Time

• API - September 10, 9:30am *New Time

• Adventures in Administration - September 10, 10:30am

• AI in Libraries - September 10, 2pm

• K-Culture - September 15, 1:30pm

• Tech! - September 17, 3pm
• Leading Lean Libraries - September 22, 1pm

• Adventures in Administration - September 24, 10:30am

We are pleased to share two newly published reports highlighting the outcomes and lessons learned from the EDI-NJ Strategic Roadmap for the EDI Framework for New Jersey Libraries Project:

• Strategic Roadmap Project: End of Phase 3 Report in PDF
• EDI Institutional Assessment Pilot Evaluation Report in PDF

These reports document the progress and accomplishments of the project and share insights from the Institutional EDI Assessment Pilot, including lessons learned from participating libraries and opportunities for future development.

As we conclude this phase of the Strategic Roadmap Project, EDI-NJ is looking ahead to how we can build on this work and continue supporting New Jersey libraries in integrating EDI into their everyday practices, services, and organizational goals.

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Want to stay involved? Please join our NJ Statewide EDI Initiative Group (EDI-NJ) meetings, held on the third Wednesday of each month from 2:30–3:30 PM.

• Please note: Due to a scheduling conflict, we have rescheduled our next meeting from Wednesday, September 16, 2:30pm to Tuesday, September 22, 2:30pm.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the project, especially our project leaders, pilot participants, and EDI-NJ members. We look forward to continuing this work together as we shape the next chapter of EDI-NJ.

LibraryLinkNJ is thrilled to announce that New Jersey Makers Day is now officially part of the LLNJ project roster!

After more than a decade serving the New Jersey community as an independent nonprofit, NJMD will continue to bring maker-focused PD, mini-grants, and the New Jersey Makers Day event itself to libraries and other institutions across the state as a project of LibraryLinkNJ. We are so excited that NJMD's former Executive Board is working closely with our Continuing Education team to serve as the NJMD Advisory Group, and we want to extend our sincere thanks to all members of the former Executive Board for their years of dedication and hard work!

While there's much work to be done, we're happy to bring you a few updates about what's next:

• Save the Date: The next New Jersey Makers' Day will officially be held the 3rd weekend in March, 2027! Mark your calendar for March 20 & 21 and keep an eye out for announcements about site registration, mini-grants, and more!
• NJMD x LLNJ PD: Join us for our first Professional Development opportunity! Rooted Knowledge: Tactile Ecology in the Library Makerspace will be held Wednesday, 10/28. Registration is now open!

Delivery service to school libraries resumes this month!

• Delivery Service to schools will resume the week of Monday, September 14, 2026.
• School materials that were still in the system after June 1​2 will be shipped out when service resumes.

• All member libraries that currently receive delivery service through LLNJ should have received their cost share invoice.
• School libraries will see invoices come though in August.
• Questions regarding invoices and all billing inquiries should be directed to our Administrative Operations Manager, Jennifer Bruno (jennifer@librarylinknj.org)

If any member library is not currently receiving delivery service through LLNJ and would like to find out more information, please reach out to Jennifer Bruno!

The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is looking to partner with several new public libraries for our Prime Time Family Reading program in 2027.

Host sites receive training on this award-winning national program as well as funding from NJCH. Applications are open now for all 2027 programs. A second application round will open in February for fall 2027 programs only.

Register for a virtual information session on September 22 to learn more about the program and application process. Application deadline: October 29.

LibraryLinkNJ's Executive Board will hold their next meeting on Thursday, September 17 via Zoom.

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

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