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

Welcome to our May 2026 newsletter! This month brings important updates on our ongoing school librarian survey initiative, details about our upcoming annual Membership Meeting, and highlights from recent professional development programs including a recap of our recent Project Management Fundamentals + AI Integration Bootcamp.

We are particularly grateful for the strong response we have received to the Counting on School Librarians survey, which will help us better understand and identify where in the Garden State communities need additional library support. We are especially hoping to hear from underrepresented counties including Salem, Passaic, and Cumberland to ensure our data truly reflects the complete picture of school library services throughout the state. The Counting on School Librarians campaign is a project of LibraryLinkNJ, with the support of our statewide library partners: New Jersey Association of School Librarians, New Jersey Library Association, and New Jersey Library Trustee Association.

Mark your calendars for our 2026 Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 19 at 2:30 PM via Zoom. This spring gathering will include important business items for member voting with registration for voting representatives now open. The virtual format makes it easy to participate from anywhere, and we look forward to connecting with members across our LibraryLinkNJ community.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions about our services or —especially— with suggestions for new services and partnerships. I can be reached at ralph@librarylinknj.org.

Have a great month!

Ralph

We’ve had a fantastic response to the COSL survey so far. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to fill it out and share it with others. We’re so grateful for the support.

That said, we’re still collecting responses to make sure our data truly reflects school libraries across all of New Jersey. Every additional response helps strengthen the accuracy and impact of this work. We’re especially hoping to hear from folks in counties that are currently underrepresented, including Salem, Passaic, and Cumberland. If you’re from one of these areas, or if you know library staff, parents, or community members who are, please consider sharing the survey with them. Click here to fill out the survey!

There’s still important information to gather, and your voice makes a difference!

Save the Date! LibraryLinkNJ will host its 2026 Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 18 at 2:30 PM via Zoom. This spring meeting will include a brief business session, with agenda items open for member voting. Registration for the membership meeting is currently open to voting representatives. As indicated on the membership meeting information page, you must be logged in to access the registration link. General registration opens on May 18th.

• Open to members across the LibraryLinkNJ community
• Virtual format makes it easy to attend from anywhere!

More details and registration information will be shared soon!

Infobase, backed by over 80 years of expertise, delivers secure, efficient access to expertly curated, citable content—empowering information literacy and supporting research, instruction, and lifelong learning to help individuals confidently navigate information and make informed decisions.

Infobase is offering two special discounts for our member K–12 libraries. Click each offer link for full details:

• Streaming Video Resources:

• Subscription pricing is per building based on enrollment
• 10% off any single subscription, 15% off choice of two, 20% off choice of three or more
• eBook Collections:
• Subscription pricing is per building based on enrollment.
• 10% off any single subscription, 15% off when subscribing to both
• Infobase provides trial access upon request. Reach out to Lara Kraft at lkraft@infobase.com. You can also request a demo using her calendar.

These offers are valid through August 31, 2026.

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.

The Juice is offering 70% off of The Juice’s retail price for LibraryLinkNJ participants.

• Schedule a demo here: https://calendly.com/cris-at-the-juice/30min
• Free Trial Info: https://www.thejuicelearning.com/llnj
• Select either “public” or “school”

For more information about this discount offer, visit the offer page on our website: https://librarylinknj.org/discounts/juice

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.

Just Added

We’re back with a new round of LearningSpace tutorials and webinars designed to help you strengthen your professional skills, manage change, and serve your community with confidence. This month’s lineup covers cybersecurity, project management, communication, and organizational well-being — all with practical strategies you can apply right away. Access new material here: https://librarylinknj.org/about-us/news/recently-added-learningspace-0

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.

Youth Craft Show and Share 2026

Programming library staff who serve youth patrons are invited to join us for a Show & Share event! Show off your successful kids and teen crafting ideas, get inspired by your colleagues from around the state, and even share or swap your leftover craft materials!

Planning craft events at your library can leave you struggling to find options that are achievable, affordable, and appealing. Join us to show off what has worked for you (or to warn us about what hasn’t) and refresh your own program plans with ideas from others. Plus, bring your leftover craft supplies and unused materials to share in our Swap Shop; you’ll give your old materials new life and maybe even head back to your own library with some new-to-you supplies to put to good use!

• Youth Craft Show & Share 2026; In-Person; Monday, May 11, 10am-1pm.
• Location: SCLSNJ Montgomery Brach, 100 Community Drive, Skillman, NJ 08558

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NAMI NJ 101: Learning More About NAMI New Jersey

Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness New Jersey (NAMI NJ) for an informative presentation! We will cover all of the supportive and free programming NAMI NJ has to offer local communities, including our adult programming, youth programming, and multicultural programming. Attendees will also learn about how they can leverage NAMI NJ as a resource for information and partnerships. Explore what NAMI NJ can bring to your library!

• NAMI NJ 101: Learning More About NAMI New Jersey; Virtual; Wednesday, May 20, 11am-12pm.

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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, May 20, 2:30pm-3:30pm.

More Ways to Get Involved with EDI-NJ:

1. 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.

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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 "Reference."

• ¿Cómo Se Dice? Spanish Basics for Library Staff; Virtual; Thursday, May 28, 11am-12pm.
• Attendees should complete the Reference on-demand module (coming soon) prior to attending the conversation practice event!

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 - May 5, 2pm

• Indigenous American Library Staff - May 7, 10am: With special guest Teri Hislop - Clanmother of the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, Keeper of Traditional Craft.

• Maker Meetup - May 7, 3pm

• Latino Library Staff - May 12, 10am: With special guest Ana Paola Pazmino - Resistencia En Acción NJ.

• LGBTQUIA+ Library Staff - May 13, 11am

• Adventures in Administration - May 14, 10:30am

• AI in Libraries - May 14, 2pm
• Tech - May 14, 2pm
• K-Culture - May 19, 1:30pm
• School Libraries - May 20, 4:30pm

• Leading Lean Libraries - May 26, 1pm

• Adventures in Administration - May 28, 10:30am

• API - May 28, 2pm

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

Thank you to everyone who joined us for PM Fundamentals + AI Integration Bootcamp: Managing Projects at the Speed of AI. This was a three-day, in-person workshop held at the Monroe Township Library, and 23 library professionals participated this year.

Led by Sam Sena, PMP, the program combined core project management principles with practical applications of Generative AI. Participants learned how to use AI tools to develop project charters, work breakdown structures, and risk registers, while also exploring ethical considerations and real-world use cases. A highlight of the series was the “Moonbase Escape Project” group activity, where participants worked in teams to develop a project charter for a fictional lunar emergency scenario—bringing creativity and hands-on learning together in a memorable way.

• View the recap webpage for more details, including the series photo album: https://librarylinknj.org/about-us/news/pm-fundamentals-ai-integration-bootcamp-managing-projects-speed-ai

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.

Access the training videos here!

There will be no statewide delivery service and the LibraryLinkNJ office will be closed on Monday, May 25th, 2026, in observance of Memorial 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.

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/

LibraryLinkNJ's Executive Board will hold their next meeting on Thursday, May 21st 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