Library information provider OCLC, US, has received a $4.1 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support five years of ongoing operations of WebJunction, the learning place for libraries.
Built with grant funding from the Gates Foundation and launched in 2003, OCLC's WebJunction has helped more than 70,000 library staff build the job skills they need to meet the challenges of today's environment. WebJunction.org provides a wealth of training resources - including online courses, webinar presentations, downloadable curricula, and real-world examples collected from libraries - to share the knowledge, skills and support that power relevant, vibrant libraries. WebJunction programmes support library staff working daily to connect their local communities with the content, space and services they need to enrich and transform lives.
The new grant will support OCLC's continued development of the programmes, content and systems of WebJunction.org, and provide long-term sustainability of services that will help libraries thrive in changing and challenging technological environments today and into the future.
WebJunction's training resources, programmes and content have been used by staff in 69 percent of U.S. public libraries. From July 2011 through June 2012, staff enrolled in more than 19,000 courses via WebJunction and more than 17,000 staff members registered for 26 free webinar programmes offered on hot topics in the library profession.
Eighteen state library agencies partner with OCLC to offer their members sponsored access to self-paced courses and localised training content through WebJunction.org. One of the first state library partners was Connecticut State Library.
