Perceptions of Digital Reference
This paper describes the perceptions of librarians and patrons concerning virtual reference services, paying particular attention to chat reference services.
View ArticleWidget What? Implementing Reliable Instant Messaging Reference
Want to implement instant messaging reference but don't know where to start? This presentation can help you compare and assess different IM and chat platforms so you can choose the one that best suits...
View ArticleSubject Librarians in Digital Reference
A major change in reference services, especially a shift to providing digital reference to online users, has led many people to question the role of the librarian, including subject specific reference...
View ArticleHealth Information Rx: Reference Tools for Health Questions
This curriculum on health reference tools covers both online and print resources for public library staff, as well as guidelines for working with library patrons and providing referrals.
View ArticleMy Experience as a Law Librarian
A former academic and public librarian offers some tips for legal research and suggests some favorite online legal resources.
View ArticleTackling Patrons' Legal Questions
Dealing with library patrons' legal questions can be challenging. Here are some tips and resources for helping you, and your patrons.
View ArticleThe Future of Reference is Outside the Library
Over the last decade, the fortress-like walls of the library reference desk have been breached in favor of more inviting structures and roving librarians. However, that's not going far enough,...
View ArticleBeyond the Desk: Resources for Innovative Reference Services
Library services often begin with a question. Do you have this book? Can you help me find information for my report? Which country is the largest producer of coffee beans? As we grow up and learn, we...
View ArticleThe Reference Interaction
Each reference interaction between a librarian and patron is an opportunity for mutual learning within a shared space. The patron communicates their information needs while the librarian, using probing...
View ArticleFinancial Education Tools for Libraries from CFPB
We've been learning about a variety of approaches to financial education, and also wanted to be sure libraries are aware of all the fantastic resources made available free from the Consumer Financial...
View ArticleMaking Connections: Libraries and Essential Human Services
There are times when the needs of a patron goes beyond our immediate services or an individual's comfort zone. You can probably think of a recent example right now. Knowing where to refer a customer or...
View ArticleLibrarians Leave "Fort Ref" and Reach Out with Reference
The role of reference is changing, and librarians at Douglas County Libraries in Colorado, United States, took an active approach to examining what reference could look like for their community....
View ArticleCrowdsourcing Alternatives to "There Are No Stupid Questions"
Libraries are a place for finding answers, but first come the questions. Whether working at the reference desk or teaching a class, you've likely had more than a handful of patrons approach you to say,...
View ArticleOnline Reference Basic: Updated Self-Paced Course
Picture this: answering a question for a patron from the comfort of their kitchen table or while one waits to pick up their kids from school. The opportunity and flexibility that online reference...
View ArticleIt's a Wrap! Wikipedia + Libraries: Health and Medical Information Course
When Finger Lakes Library System librarian, Jenny Shonk, recently faced a personal health issue, she found herself turning to the convenience of Wikipedia for research. Shonk, who is the continuing...
View ArticleLegal Reference at the Library—Building Skill Through Practice
For many library staff, the most intimidating questions posed by patrons are those that involve legal issues—an area in which librarians often have little or no expertise. Yet there are valuable ways...
View ArticleLegal Reference at the Library—Financial Information to Empower Patron...
We continue with Part II in a series of stories that share the legal reference experiences of library practitioners. In this edition of "Legal Reference at the Library," we again hear from Luis...
View ArticleLibraries and the Coronavirus: Evolving Information and Resources
The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak is having a global impact, and affecting local communities. Staff in libraries of all types, geographic locations, and sizes are learning the facts about this public...
View ArticleRural Libraries Connect Communities to Legal Aid
Many rural and frontier communities are facing a shortage of attorneys. Legal aid organizations are increasingly partnering with public libraries in these areas to help people in rural communities...
View ArticleLegal Information vs Legal Advice
Sara Pic, Head of Public Services for the Law Library of Louisiana describes the critical distinction between library staff offering patrons legal information and crossing the legal and ethical line...
View ArticleCOVID-19 Civil Legal Resources Organized by State
A collection of links for each state related to COVID-19 civil legal information. Questions related to unemployment, debt/money issues, foreclosures and evictions, or family stressors are all on the...
View ArticleUnderstanding How COVID-19 Widens the Justice Gap
The Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice through Public Libraries initiative has previously discussed the challenges facing those who fall into the justice gap—the divide between the need for civil...
View ArticleLegal Language Matters: Protecting Patrons from Notario Fraud
The Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice through Public Libraries initiative continues to learn about ways to support patrons' civil legal information needs. One learning is the importance of...
View ArticleBook and Library-related Podcasts
Screen fatigue – the exhaustion felt from so much time spent in front of computers and mobile devices – has many people turning to podcasts, allowing them to take a break from screen and to listen...
View ArticleCreating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice, a Self-Paced Course Series
WebJunction's series of free, self-paced courses, Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice, will augment your ability and confidence to meet civil legal justice information needs in your community....
View ArticleCivil Legal Assistance in Natural Disasters: A Role for the Library
In the aftermath of a natural disaster, civil legal issues abound. In these stressful situations, when many people have lost so much, they are also faced with untangling legal questions that can be...
View ArticlePodcast: The Role Libraries Play in Closing the Justice Gap
WebJunction and the nonprofit Legal Services Corporation (LSC) partnered to deliver national online training for public library staff to strengthen access to civil legal justice through public...
View ArticleBridging the Gap Between Public Libraries & Law Libraries to Improve Access...
The struggles low-income people face in accessing justice are well documented. These struggles have inspired advocates to search for innovative ways to effect meaningful change. One of the more...
View ArticleLearning Groups for Creating Pathways for Civil Legal Justice Courses
While the four Creating Pathways to Civil Legal Justice courses are designed for the individual, self-directed learner, they also can be used as the core learning content for a group learning...
View ArticleTaking Civil Legal Programming to the People
While many libraries have had to limit in-person services during the pandemic, the importance and demand for civil legal information related to unemployment or eviction continues to be a pressing...
View ArticleMobile Library Law Center Launches
As the Lawyer in the Library program continued its expansion throughout Maryland, it received a big boost in August 2021 when Baltimore County Public Library debuted its Mobile Library Law Center. "We...
View ArticleLibraries as Legal Aid Connectors in Eviction Crisis
As part of the Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice initiative, OCLC’s WebJunction will deliver resources that focus on strengthening library staff’s ability to respond to eviction questions with...
View ArticleLibraries Learn from Eviction Focus
As a continuation of the Improving Access to Civil Legal Justice initiative, WebJunction focused on the eviction crisis, developing resources that strengthen library staff’s ability to respond to...
View ArticleInteresting Patron Questions
The reference desk of a library is truly one of the most interesting of places. Through an initial poll in 2015, we asked WebJunction members to share the most interesting patron questions they had...
View ArticleNew Justice Gap Study Confirms Problem Persists
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) released a far-reaching new report on the crisis in civil legal aid, The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans, in April 2022. This is...
View ArticleThe Euphorigen Investigation: Backgrounder
Are there patrons at your library who seem to be influenced by misinformation? Have you tried to provide them with trustworthy information, or offered tips on how to better search? Have you provided...
View ArticleMental Health and Suicide Prevention for Veterans, Service Members, and...
WebJunction is collaborating with the Veterans Health Administration and Legal Services Corporation to promote free and reliable services, information, and resources on suicide prevention. Suicide is a...
View ArticleNew Orleans Information Literacy Collective and 2022 Forum
Last year, the New Orleans Information Literacy Collective (nolaILC) celebrated the tenth anniversary of its annual Information Literacy Forum. We are back with our 2022 Forum from August 1-4 featuring...
View ArticleLocalizing the Misinformation Escape Room
Even before the official launch of Loki’s Loop in June 2022, the research team at the University of Washington Information School received numerous requests for collaboration from across the world. The...
View ArticleNavigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters, a Self-Paced Course Series
Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and are no longer confined to predictable seasons or specific geographic regions. In the wake of a natural disaster, civil legal issues surface quickly as...
View ArticleConnecting Libraries and People through the New WorldCat.org
Libraries have always been trusted spaces in our communities, and the events of the past several years have brought more attention to the important work they’re doing. News stories highlighted the...
View ArticleLibraries & Veterans National Forum Toolkit
Veterans, military service members, and their families are among users of virtually every library across the country. Indeed, libraries play a significant role in supporting veterans and...
View ArticleLearning Groups for Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters Courses
The three-course series Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters is well-suited to be the core learning content for a group learning experience with peers. Since civil law is complex and...
View Article5 Things You Didn’t Know About the Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters
Civil legal issues can be confusing to all of us, and the emergent nature of a natural disaster means things are happening quickly, and people are in crisis. This article seeks to point out a few of...
View ArticleMedia and Information Literacy: Resources that Address Misinformation
At a time when the concept of truth is frequently being challenged, media and information literacy enables people to question critically what they have read, heard, and learned. Media and information...
View ArticleEmpowering informed communities
Public libraries are uniquely positioned to support communities facing current information-related challenges. To do this, library workers need research-based resources and tools on information...
View Article