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.

I gotta say, for both WebJunction and Facebook, this is pretty cool. Before, it was difficult to know when something happened on your group unless you remembered to go look at the page. Now, you get an email. Before, you couldn’t easily send a message to everyone in the group: you had to compose a message by hand in your email program; now, you can send one out with little effort. And, it was hard to find groups before, since they don’t appear in the navigation menus. Now there is a whole page dedicated to a directory of groups (plus you can use Search to find them too). Finally, as a group administrator, you are now better equipped to manage the content and members of your group page.

Granted, this is really complex functionality and we haven’t gotten it all figured out (ahem, nor has Facebook, I must say!). But, for your library-related group projects, we’d love you to try creating a WebJunction group to bring everyone and their content together on the same page. We’ve seen some great examples of groups in action, but with 62,000 members, we think there is room for more!

For more tips on how to use groups and other features of WebJunction, I’d like to suggest you view the archived webinar How to Make the Most of WebJunction, during which Jennifer and I take you on a tour of the site through the eyes of a librarian working on readers advisory.

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!

Next Thursday’s webinar, Expanding Your World Through Web Conferencing, will showcase success stories of library staff who are using web conferencing tools to host virtual conferences, produce e-learning activities, collaborate with remote staff, and host virtual meetings. As budgets tighten and as technologies improve, more and more staff are gathering together both online and blended with face2face settings to learn from each other and to get work done. Come hear about the benefits of meeting virtually and learn how a variety of web conferencing tools are being integrated with other technologies and in other settings to overcome both cost and distance. Join panelists Karen Burns, Cindi Hickey and Jennifer Peterson on Thursday, July 1 at 1:00 pm Eastern, for a session filled with experience and expertise in online engagement!

And speaking of online conferencing, mark your calendars for WebJunction’s second online conference coming December 1 & 2 focused on Serving the 21st Century Patron. See you online!

Register Now for July 1 Webinar»
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In his introduction post, David shares:

I’ve have been working on a process to secure windows 7 (enterprise or ultimate editions) public access computers using Microsoft virtual hard drives, group policy. I made significant head way with the process but the decision was made to utilize a commercial product for locking down our organizations PAC’s. So, I’m left with a body of work that has great potential but is incomplete. I would like to propose a group project to complete work on the process collaboratively. Then open up the resulting process for the community as a way around the “Windows 7 Steady State” quandary.

I’m thrilled to see WebJunction used like this, as a collaboration tool, and encourage all who have an interest in exploring the topic to help create a solution to the “quandary”, whether it’s to ask more questions or to provide your own insights. Thank you, David, for starting the group and I look forward to supporting your efforts!

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As part of the team that refreshed and relaunched the course (kudos especially to Dale and Sharon), I spent some time reflecting on the story behind the course. All of the courses in WebJunction’s catalog have a story behind them, but this one especially illustrates the effort and collaboration that goes into the creation of a course.

Course Creation
The course was initially developed with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as part of WebJunction’s Spanish Language Outreach Program, a nationwide program that partnered with state libraries to provide on-the-ground outreach workshops in 40 states and has cultivated WebJunction’s online community of library staff committed to serving the needs of Spanish speakers. Yolanda Cuesta, author and expert on outreach to multicultural communities, developed a stellar curriculum for the workshops and, along with Laura Staley, SLO’s project manager, adapted the curriculum for the online version. The technical side of course development is not to be overlooked but let’s just say that somewhere in there the magic happened and in March of 2006 the initial course was launched. And since I’m reminiscing, I’d like to be sure to recognize too, the 158 trainers and coordinators who’s fine work enhanced the content throughout all 3 rounds of the program (440 workshops!) as well as the online course. The recent refresh and revamp was completed to update links and handouts and in order to migrate the course to an elearning standard format so the system tracks your progress as you work through the course (doesn’t have to be in one sitting!) and so you can receive a certificate.

Course Outline
The course description provides a complete set of learning goals, but here’s a quick outline of what’s covered in the course:

• Overview of the current landscape of Hispanic/Latino populations, their access to technology and existing library services.
• Understanding cultural differences and the dimensions of diversity.
• Developing an outreach action plan including needs assessment, building community partnerships, planning, programming and marketing.
• Implementing computer classes for Spanish speakers.
• Evaluating the impacts of outreach efforts.
  

Taking the course with others
But today the most exciting part about the story is that we’ve created a new course group for folks enrolled or interested in the course. The WebJunction groups feature is being used by members to gather, often as co-learners, and as a member of this group, you can augment your self-paced learning by connecting with others taking the course, asking questions of one another, and sharing your experiences with outreach at your library. I’ve posted a handful of resources to the group, including one of the course’s most valued tools, Serving Spanish Speaking Communities Success Checklist, which helps you to assess how well your library understands and serves your Spanish-speaking patrons. There are a few other resources posted related to learning with a cohort, but I hope to see others join in and share their own templates, tools and examples related to their learning. All are welcome to join and take part in the group, including those who have already taken the course or those who would simply like to share ideas about enhancing services with other library staff. I know that there are at least 15 people out there who have enrolled since the course relaunched, so I’ll be looking to you to join the group and model cohort learning. The story of this course continues with you and with what you do to improve or enhance services to Spanish speakers in your community. Thank you to all WebJunction learners for all you do for libraries!

There’s a second WebJunction course discounted this month on Updating and Upgrading Library Computer Software and I’m sure there’s a story behind that one too, but as Joe Janes always says, “that’s another story.”

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