LLNJ Updates & Recaps

The LibraryLinkNJ team is pleased to offer a new way for our membership to connect with us! Based on your feedback in our recent Communication Preferences Survey, several members of our staff will begin offering virtual, drop-in Office Hours starting this month!

On a bright day, the New Jersey library community gathered at the Piscataway Public Library to celebrate the rich tapestry of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) cultures. This gathering marked the launch of Culture Connection, a new statewide Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) project, initiated by EDI-NJ. Aimed at connecting library staff from diverse backgrounds, Culture Connection offers a platform for cultural exchange, education, and celebration, aligning with the EDI Framework for NJ Libraries supported by LibraryLinkNJ, the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA), and the New Jersey State Library (NJSL). The event was funded by the Hasbrouck Heights Public Library, Hoboken Public Library, and LibraryLinkNJ, and co-sponsored by NJLA and MentorNJ.

Our newest Learning Pathway is designed to empower library directors with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complex landscape of public library management.

I hope your year is off to a great start like ours. Thank you for your interest and participation in our programs and services. We are pleased that you are taking advantage of all that we have to offer, and we look forward to continuing to serve our member libraries throughout the coming year.

LibraryLinkNJ's most recent recent grant program - the Level Up Your Library mini-grant - wrapped up in December 2023. Recipients of the grant received up to $5,000 to improve, expand, or revamp an existing project, program, or initiative in their libraries. We're thrilled to be able to share some of the successful grant-funded projects below. Read on to see how libraries around the state "leveled up" last year!

We've enhanced our DEI curriculum with new courses focused on implicit bias, inclusive practices, and equitable workplace management, aiming to create a more accessible and inclusive environment for staff and patrons.