To help WebJunction members stay better connected around topics of shared interest, we’ve just rolled out some improvements to how Groups function. Those of you who are members or creators of groups on WebJunction should have received an email explaining some of these updates, but here’s the scoop for all.

Email notifications. For any group you join or currently belong to, you can now elect to receive an email alert when

• new members join the group
• new documents are added
• new discussion threads are started.

You can choose to receive these alerts hourly, daily, weekly–or not at all.

Group administration: If you have created a group, you have now been designated as Group Admin. This role gives you the power to

• edit your group (e.g., title or description)
• remove members from your group
• send an email to everyone in your group
• delete your group.

Groups directory: This new directory lists all of the groups created on that particular WebJunction site, in alphabetical order and including the description and number of members in the group. If you use a state-specific version of WebJunction, you will want to check out both the directory on that site and the central WebJunction site. When signed into WebJunction, you can join or create a new group right from the directory. The directory also features the most recently created groups and spotlights a particular group to check out. You can still use search to find groups, regardless of where they were created, but we hope you enjoy browsing the directory.

The Groups User Guide has been updated to include the most current instructions for how to create, join, and manage groups. If you encounter any issues with groups, please contact support@webjunction.org.

With these new enhancements, we expect we’ll see even more innovative uses of the groups feature. We look forward to seeing you connect and collaborate using these free tools made available to all in libraryland.

Want to learn more about how to effectively use groups and other WebJunction tools? Come to our free July 29 webinar, How to Make the Most of WebJunction!