Free learning resources for public libraries

OCLC’s WebJunction offers free, on-demand professional development and continuing education resources to build library staff's knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver transformational services to their communities. Find out what’s new and coming soon.

Four on-demand courses for support with crisis communications, burnout, and de-escalation

These courses respond to training needs and increased demands identified by the field, including pressures from a fast-changing environment, potential and experienced conflict, constraints to resources, and challenges in the workplace such as burnout. Each course includes perspectives and real-life approaches from people who have actively worked through similar challenges in their work.

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Digital collections stewardship training

In partnership with Washington State University’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, WebJunction developed a series of on-demand courses on the digital stewardship lifecycle, designed for staff at small public libraries and tribal archives, libraries, and museums. 

A new project is underway to create a course on diversifying digital collections and will also work with five state libraries to develop and test a facilitated peer-learning group training model for the courses.

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Opioid crisis support kit for public libraries

WebJunction has developed a support kit to help public libraries seeking to address opioid use disorder in their communities. This IMLS-funded initiative builds on a previous OCLC Research project that produced the 2020 report, Call to Action: Public Libraries and the Opioid Crisis.

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Updated and improved Supercharged Storytimes course

You already provide great storytimes. Supercharge your practice to make them even better! Supercharged Storytimes is a self-paced course on how to intentionally apply research-based practices to boost early literacy in young children attending library storytime. The course materials were recently updated to increase accessibility and provide resources on inclusive collections.

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A school librarian's information shelf

This set of learning resources provides videos, articles, and tools on a range of topics such as powerful storytelling for advocacy, designing student-centered spaces, supporting inquiry-driven learning, offering compassionate makerspaces, and implementing innovative teaching and learning practices.

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Improve access to civil legal justice

Dive into our foundational Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice course series and learn how to identify civil legal issues and help close the justice gap in your community. Sharpen your essential reference skills with WebJunction's courses and learn more about topics such as navigating civil legal issues of natural disasters, and how to set up an expungement clinic.

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WebJunction Course Catalog

Our Course Catalog offers free, library-specific self-paced courses, webinar recordings, and other great learning materials. Certificates of completion are available to help library staff meet CE and LEU credit requirements. Create a free account and start learning today.

Upcoming webinars

Join us for free webinars that allow learners to meet and learn from library leaders and practitioners.

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May 1

01 May 2025

AI and public libraries: Panel and discussion

Learn how public libraries are using AI, ways to support community members with this new technology, and the most prevalent issues and concerns—and how to navigate them. 

Time: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time, North America [UTC -4]

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Stay connected with WebJunction Crossroads

This semi-monthly newsletter covers WebJunction news and opportunities for public library professional development and learning.