Competition is always steep for the limited seating at the annual Library Technology Conference. Registration has been known to fill up in hours. Get set now to register on Wednesday, December 7th at 12:00 Noon (CST).
Tag: ce
MILE 2017
Participate in The Minnesota Library Association (MLA) Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) 2017 — Leading for Life!
Are you currently in a leadership position?
Do you want to work towards entering a leadership position or role?
Do you find yourself providing leadership even though your official position might not be in leadership?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, MILE is for you! MILE is looking for applicants for the 2017 cohort and mentors. During the May 2-5, 2017 conference emerging library leaders from across the state learn about leadership.
More information, and applications for participants and mentors can be found on the MILE website.
Applications are due December 1, 2016. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity!
Lake Superior Libraries Unsymposium
Sometimes you need a break from the average conference. You need an UNCONFERENCE!
Registration is now open for the 5th Annual Lake Superior Libraries Mid-Winter Unsymposium at UW-Superior’s Jim Dan Hill Library! Join us on January 6, 2017 for an afternoon of networking, discussion, and collaborative problem-solving!
At the LSLS Unsymposium, you determine the conversation. Participants brainstorm a host of topics, which are then selected in a bottom-up, democratic manner. Rather than listening to a single speaker, you get to ask questions, interact, and offer your own expertise on a topic chosen by the whole group. So…everyone wants to talk about succession planning? Done. You’re the only one who wants to talk about bathroom lighting? Too bad! Together, we’ll discover our common challenges and develop solutions together. You’ll come away from the Unsymposium invigorated by lively discussions and ready to take that excitement back to your library.
The Unsymposium is free and open to everyone. Register today! (Note – Registration will be capped at 60 participants. Register early and be part of the special group.)
WHEN: Friday, January 6, 2017, 1:00-4:30 pm
COST: Just your time!
WHERE: Jim Dan Hill Library, University of Wisconsin Superior
HOW DO I REGISTER?: Just complete this form
QUESTIONS? Contact us!
Tax Season Outreach Materials
Tax Season Is Slowly Approaching
Order Outreach Materials and Mark Your Calendars
Your library probably receives at least a few questions about taxes during the tax season. State Library Services is working again with Prepare + Prosper’s statewide outreach campaign, Claim it!, and the Minnesota Department of Revenue to provide your library with free resources and a webinar in December.
Order outreach materials from Prepare + Prosper for your library to help individuals find out if they qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and to help them locate a free tax preparation site. Place your order before Monday, October 31 and you’ll receive the free materials in December.
Prepare + Prosper and the Department of Revenue will host a webinar for libraries with resources and information to help you during the 2017 tax season. The webinar will take place on: Wednesday, December 14 at 11 a.m.
Register for the webinar today and library staff from around the state in December. Please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508) with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.
ELM Expo
Join fellow librarians from across southern Minnesota to learn more about ELM – the Electronic Library for Minnesota.
This day-long training event will provide the chance to explore in-depth all that ELM has to offer. Minitex librarians will provide training on the specialized databases and participants will discover which database is best for what. Learn with the experts about how to best search, save, and share the results as well as how to teach accessing the database resources to users back home. Various database vendors will also be on hand to talk about new resources, interfaces, and features. All levels of experience welcome!
Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Minnesota State University Library – Mankato
601 Maywood Avenue, Mankato, MN
$25 per person registration fee – Participation limited to first 100
Sponsored by Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative, SAMMIE, SELCO/SELS, Minitex, and Minnesota State University-Mankato.
Good response to ARSL in ND!
At the close of Early Bird registration, 448 people are registered for this year’s ARSL conference and 129 are from Minnesota! There are 42 states represented, Washington, D.C., and Saskatchewan, Canada. There are many new and returning vendors. All signs promise a successful conference.
Things are really starting to heat up as it gets closer to the conference. The Holiday Inn is full, The Holiday Inn Express behind the hotel is full and the Holiday Inn Express on 45th has maybe 2 or 3 rooms for Wednesday and Thursday only. Conference planners are working to find another backup hotel!
Even though Early Bird registration ended on Friday, September 2, interested individuals can continue to register. See you in Fargo!
ARSL Registration
August is here and it is time to register for the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) annual conference October 27-29th in Fargo, ND. Early bird registration and fees are due no later than September 2nd Visit arsl.info to get started.
Why should you come to ARSL2016?
♦ Well first and foremost, it is a national conference organized by small and rural librarians for professionals who work in small and rural libraries. A list of break-out sessions can be found here .
♦ Secondly, this conference is incredibly affordable. Full conference rates begin at $243.85, which includes 3 breakfast meals, 2 lunches, the welcome reception, and all author events. This year the keynote speakers line-up can be found here and includes best selling author William Kent Kruger and Betty Gronneberg, founder of uCodeGirl. Also, the conference hotel (Holiday Inn Fargo) is offering a low conference rate of $99/night!
♦ Finally, this conference is the best opportunity to meet and visit with other library professionals who truly understand what it is like to work with limited staff and an even more limited budget. By participating in after hour opportunities like dine-arounds and game night, you will be able to grow your professional network from outside of your immediate area to a national network of friends and colleagues. Many who come to this conference stay connected during the year and search each other out at future conferences.
We hope you are able to join us and look forward to seeing you at ARSL2016 in Fargo, ND this October 27-29th (unless you come in early for a pre-conference or tour on the 26th!
From the ARSL2016 Planners
Save the Dates! 10th Annual Library Technology Conference
2017 marks the 10th year of the Library Technology Conference!
Mark your calendar: March 15-16, 2017, Macalester College in St. Paul.
#LTC2017 will provide an opportunity to discuss changing technologies as they affect library services; to share tech innovations and experiments with colleagues; and to gain skills and knowledge to adapt and apply in libraries of all kinds. The conference features challenging, thought-provoking keynote speakers; insightful presentations and panels; and practical, interactive hands-on workshops.
Registration: Conference registration is expected to open in early December. Watch the conference website, Facebook, or Twitter feeds for additional info.
Call for Proposals: The call for session proposals will open in mid-late August. Conference registration fills fast (in just a little over two hours in 2016!) and being a session presenter is a great way to guarantee yourself a spot!
See you in March at #LTC2017!
Apply Now for ARSL Scholarships
Scholarships applications are still being accepted for The Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) annual conference. Apply by June 30!
Join librarians from around the country at North of Normal, October 27-29, 2016 at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. #ARSL2016
Refresh and Revitalize Your Friends Group: MALF Workshop
MALF Brings a New Workshop Series to Minnesota Libraries
By popular demand, “Revitalization” is the focus of this year’s Minnesota Association of Library Friends (MALF) annual workshop series. Sally Gardner Reed, Executive Director of United for Libraries, will lead and keynote Refresh and Revitalize Your Friends Group in half-day workshops in four locations across Minnesota.
Questions to consider: Does your Friends group organize the same slate of events year after year, without appreciable growth or diversification? Does the same handful of long-time volunteers assume all leadership responsibilities, with no real prospect of “new blood” in sight? Is your membership roster stagnant, or worse, declining?
If you answered yes to any (or all) of these questions, rest assured that you and your Friends group are not alone and Refresh and Revitalize Your Friends Group is just what you need. Please join library Friends at one of four locations across Minnesota:
Austin Public Library (SELCO)
323 4th Ave NE, Austin, MN, 55912
Wednesday, September 14 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Rum River Library (MELSA)
4201 6th Ave, Anoka, MN, 55303
Thursday, September 15 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Robert Trail Library (MELSA)
14395 S Robert Trail, Rosemount, MN, 55068
Friday, September 16 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Douglas County Library (VLS)
720 Fillmore St., Alexandria, MN, 56308
Saturday, September 17 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Of these sessions, Sally Gardner Reed promises, “We will cover a lot of ground, but focus on how to change the typical ‘structure’ of the Friends group to attract new, young, and active volunteers.”
In addition to the keynote, attendees will participate in small group roundtables, plus have a chance to share thoughts and experiences during an hour-long idea exchange session – a MALF workshop staple, and one of participants’ best opportunities all year to network and share with Friends from across Minnesota.
Refresh and Revitalize Your Friends Group is FREE to attend, and it is not necessary to be a member of MALF or any Library Friends organization. A complimentary lunch will be provided at each location. Pre-registration is required, to ensure the appropriate number of lunches and informational packets. Registration for all four sessions opens Monday, July 18 and will close in early September. Stay tuned to the MALF Blog for more details.
United for Libraries (formerly Friends of Libraries U.S.A.) is the Friends of the Library arm of the American Library Association, and MALF’s counterpart on the national stage. As executive director, Sally Gardner Reed oversees UFL resource development, strategic planning, and committee assignments.
Selfie for MLA at 125
As part of the 125th anniversary celebrations, MLA will collect video selfies. Don’t be camera shy. Share your best MLA memory in two minutes or less.
Here is how:
- Start by introducing yourself … name, library affiliation (current or past), and note approximately how long you’ve been a MLA member
- Choose one or two of these suggestions as your selfie focus
- My most memorable MLA involvement
- My best MLA networking opportunity
- My best MLA professional development
- My best MLA social event
- My best MLA buddy outside of my workplace (joint selfie an option)
- My own reflection
- Send it to MLA125video@gmail.com
MLA will post the videos on the association’s YouTube channel as well as show them at the conference at the MLA 125th table. Have fun and remember — We Are MLA: Best Memories!
Successful Teen Lit Con 2016
Teen Lit Con 2016: A Huge Success With an endorsement as the “best event of its kind in the US” from none other than National Book Award Winner Neal Shusterman, Teen Lit Con 2016 closed another chapter on this widely anticipated annual event.
More than 1,000 teens & other YA readers descended on Sibley High School for a day of author talks, breakout sessions, and literary fun. Readers came from as far away as Moorhead, Marshall, and Cedar Rapids, as all parts of the MELSA region. 12 Twin Cities schools received transportation awards to bring students to the event.
The national authors Neal Shusterman, Faith Erin Hicks, Jason Reynolds, and Leigh Bardugo filled the Sibley HS auditorium for their keynotes. Local authors drew enthusiastic readers at their panels. Other breakout sessions on writing & publishing also were packed.
A shout out to the more than 70 Ambassadors from all types of libraries, schools, and ”just people who like books” who helped make this Legacy-funded event a success. Partners Sibley High Sschool and ISD 197 (West St. Paul-Mendoota Heights-Eagen) were also vital to making it happen.
Ambassador Susan Bernstein, Carver County Library, was a champion Tweeter before, during, and after the event. You can see the fun by browsing the Twitter hashtag #teenlitcon for lots of pictures & comments.
As the happy readers streamed out their biggest question was, “When is Teen Lit Con 2017?”
News posting from Ann Walker-Smalley, Metronet
ARSL Registration Open
Early Bird conference registration open!
Register now for this fun-filled, informative conference coming to the upper Midwest on Wednesday, October 26 – Sunday, October 30, 2016 in Fargo. Take advantage of this unique close-to-home opportunity to connect, learn and share with rural and small library allies from across the country.
Lake Superior Libraries Symposium 2016
Registration for the fifth annual Lake Superior Libraries Symposium is now open!
LSLS16, “NOW That’s What I Call Libraries!” will be held on Friday, May 20th, 2016 at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, MN. Library staff, administrators, trustees, and students from the Upper Midwest and beyond are invited to attend and participate. Register today!
For just $49, you’ll experience:
- Keynote by Jason Griffey, founder and principal at Evenly Distributed, a Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University, and formerly an Associate Professor and Head of Library Information Technology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
- 16 inspiring presentations on exciting and innovative projects happening NOW at rockin’ local and regional libraries of all types
- A Thursday evening pre-conference social event
- A Friday evening post-conference social event hosted by At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe.
Pre-Conference Workshop
Also consider attending the pre-conference workshop on innovation in libraries, facilitated by Jason Griffey on Thursday, May 19th from 1:00-4:00 pm. The pre-conference workshop fee is $20 for conference attendees, and $25 for individuals only attending the workshop. Find more information and register here.
Locations, Accommodations & Information
The LSLS16 Conference is located in beautiful Duluth, the gateway to the North Shore of Lake Superior. The region features world class breweries, restaurants, and outdoor activities. Have more questions? Contact us
About LSLS16
The Lake Superior Libraries Symposium is a conference developed by library staff members from Northwestern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. The Symposium was created to promote resource sharing and communication between organizations and to help librarians develop enhanced professional networks. Our continued operations are thanks to the in-kind and monetary contributions of our supporters.
Strengthen Adult Learning Communities
The following information has been shared from State Library Services:
Attend Regional Meetings to Strengthen Adult Learning Communities
Mark your calendar and plan to join colleagues from adult education, libraries and workforce development for Better Together, a full-day learning opportunity. The workshops are designed to increase our collective capacity to work together to improve adult literacy and workforce outcomes for Minnesotans.
At each session, participants will hear promising practices for collaboration across organizations and learn about free resources that promote digital literacy and workforce skills. Attendees also will have a chance to work with local partners to develop a collaborative project.
April 29, 2016 – Roseville at Minnesota Department of Education
May 9, 2016 – Mankato at Country Inn and Suites
May 16, 2016 – Grand Rapids at Saw Mill InnRegister today for the workshop of your choice. For more information, to request an accommodation, or to be included on a mailing list for future announcements, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).
Mark Your Calendar: MLA at 125
Come to the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center September 29 – 30, 2016 to enjoy, learn, and celebrate the 125 year history of the Minnesota Library Association. The MLA Conference will feature fabulous keynote speakers and top-notch presentations from other librarians across the state. Network with colleagues and move forward into the future of libraries.
Whether new to MLA or just a first time conference attendee, there will be many opportunities to meet colleagues, grow professionally and learn from the history and expertise of MLA. A newcomers’ orientation session will introduce the conference structure and help participants get the most out of conference experiences.
Visit the conference Facebook page or the MLA website to keep up on the latest conference news. Online Registration will begin July 21.
Teen Lit Con 2016
Teen Lit Con 2016 – A day to celebrate teen literature, promote reading and writing, and to create a community of readers by connecting teens and authors.
May 7, 2016
Henry Sibley High School
1897 Delaware Ave, Mendota Heights
Free & Open to the Public – Doors open at 9:30am. First event at 10:00.
Posters featuring book covers or author pictures. Print and post at the library or school!
Use & follow the event hashtag #teenlitcon
This project made possible with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the people of Minnesota for Library Legacy activities.
Hold the date for EQS Symposium
Mark your calendar. Hold the date. Plan to attend.
Annual symposium for library library paraprofessionals and support staff.
Enhancing Quality Staff Symposium
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
ARSL Call for Proposals
ARSL is accepting proposals for break-out sessions at the 2016 Conference to be held in Fargo, North Dakota on October 27-29, 2016. The theme for ARSL 2016 is North of Normal. ARLS would like to hear about creative ideas that take libraries beyond normal. Proposals for these 1-hour sessions may be submitted using the online form. The deadline to submit is March 21, 2016 in order for the Conference Programming Committee to review and make selections. Those who submit a proposal will be notified whether or not their proposal was accepted by April 15, 2016.
Presenters are reminded that workshops must be geared toward the small and rural library audience, and those that are practical, hands-on, and how-to are preferred. This is not the proper venue for post-graduate dissertations or marketing products. Additional instructions are included on the form.
Workshop presenters will receive ONE complimentary conference registration per workshop title selected, i.e. a team of three presenters working on one workshop will receive one complimentary registration.
Watch the ARLS website, Facebook and Twitter streams for the latest conference news!
Ebooks MN Training
Ebooks Minnesota webinar with Q&A
Date: February 17, 2016
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
This webinar will provide a detailed overview of Ebooks Minnesota on the BiblioBoard Library platform. Attendees will gain an understanding of the parameters and focus of the program from a Minitex team member, followed by a demonstration of the navigation and content on BiblioBoard, the PatronsFirst mobile library.
Become a Summer Food Program Site
Learn How Your Library Can Be a Summer Food Program Site
Fewer than 15 percent of Minnesota kids who benefit from the free or reduced-price school lunch program have access to summer and afterschool food programs. Limited access to free food program
s, particularly during the summer, leaves many children hungry. Public libraries can help make sure kids have access to nutritious food when school is not in session.
Begin planning your summer 2016 participation by attending an informational webinar on February 24, 2016 at 11 a.m. Jenny Butcher, USDA Summer Food Service Program Coordinator at MDE, will share how you can get involved. There is no need to pre-register.
Please join the WebEx meeting online (meeting number 594 625 833) or call in at 1-888-742-5095 (conference code 874 403 3672). Email Jen Verbrugge with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event.
Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.
Storytime for Grown Ups
How to Plan and Implement a Storytime for Grown Ups
Join Joe Manion, Library Development Specialist at State Library Services and Tim Claussen, Reader & Trainer, for an informative library programming workshop. Participants will learn how to create and deliver a storytime program designed for individuals living in senior residences (apartments, assisted living, care facilities, etc.)
Marrch 3, 2016, 12:30 to 4:30pm,
Ramsey County Library: Roseville
The workshop is free. Participation is limited to 30. The workshop is sponsored by MELSA and State Library Services. For more information, email Joe Manion or call 651-582-8640.
Tax Resources Webinar
Attend an Upcoming Tax Resources for Libraries Webinar
The 2016 tax season is coming up quickly! To help libraries serve their communities during the tax season, State Library Services and the Minnesota Department of Revenue invite library staff to attend the Resources for Libraries webinar on Thursday, January 14, 2016 from 10-11 a.m.
The webinar will cover the following topics and allow time for participants questions.
- Minnesota Department of Revenue updates
- Common Minnesota credits
- Important tax dates
- Identity theft
- Free tax preparation sites
- Helpful resources
Join the WebEx meeting online and call 1-888-742-5095 (toll-free) or 1-619-377-3319 using meeting number 594 801 277. The webinar will be recorded. Please email Emily Kissane or call 651-582-8805 with questions or to request the recording link.
Teen Lit Con 2016 Authors Announced!
Teen Lit Con author line-up for May 7, 2016!
Headliners
- Neal Shusterman, author of 2015 NBA Young People’s Literature Award winner Challenger Deep
- Jason Reynolds, author of Boy in the Black Suit. All American Boys, co-authored with Brendan Kiely, is on the PW Best YA Books 2015 list.
- Faith Erin Hicks writes comics & graphic novels. The Adventures of Superhero Girl won an Eisner Award in 2014.
- Sabaa Tahir is the New York Times bestselling author of the young adult fantasy An Ember in the Ashes. It’s been optioned for a movie.
Featured Local Authors
- Pete Hautman returns! His most recent book is Eden West. Pete won the Young People’s NBA in 2004 for Godless.
- John Coy, author of Crackback & Box Out, has a new book Gap Year coming out in 2016.
- Derek E. Sullivan’s first book is Biggie. He’s from Nebraska.
- Monica Ropal When You Leave is included in the Publisher’s Lunch BUZZ Books 2015: Young Adult Spring.
- Dawn Kiehr writes young adult thrillers: The Cutting Room Floor & If You Wrong Us.
- S.A. Bodeen published two new books in 2015 Lost & The Detour. She has 5 previous novels.
In addition to this great line-up of author presentations, there will be more breakout sessions, fun stuff in the Exhibit Hall, giveaways for teens, and additional literary excitement than ever!
Mark your calendar for May 7, 2016 at Henry Sibley High School.
To stay up-to-date on Teen Lit Con announcements, follow us on Twitter @TeenLitCon and sign up for email notices about transportation awards & other info.
Use & follow our hashtag #teenlitcon.
Fall Fun Day 2015 a Success
Great River Regional Library (GRRL) hosted the first ever CRPLSA sponsored Summer Reading Program Fall Fun Day Program on November 22. About 40 librarians from around the state attended to brainstorm and share ideas to plan for their 2016 programs and as a “train the trainer” event. Representatives from the CRPLSA-sponsored iReads program were also on hand to display incentives and other program materials available.
The theme for next year will be “Read for the Win” a celebration of sports and achievement which will tie in nicely with the Summer Olympics.
The collaboration was very successful. Attendees reported:
- “This was an amazing program that is going to save us SO much time & it is going to make our program stronger & more inventive.”
- “So many ideas! The brain games will be used for this Winter Reading Program.”
- “I learned new ideas to implement with toddlers, school age, and teen/adults. Most programming can be inexpensive. I have never done a multi-generational program before but I will try one this upcoming year. You gave a lot of ideas that I would have never thought of.”
LibTech Registration Opens in One More Week
Coming Soon –
LibTech Conference Registration!
Registration for the 2016 Library Technology Conference will open Wednesday, December 9 at 12:00 Noon (CST)
Note: Conference filled in record time last year. Mark your calendars and share the registration date with your colleagues!
Taxes 101 for Libraries
The 2016 tax season is right around the corner! To help libraries serve their communities during the tax season, State Library Services and Prepare + Prosper’s Claim it! campaign invite library staff to participate in:
Taxes 101 for Minnesota Libraries
Thursday, November 19, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon
The webinar will cover topics such as who needs to file taxes, basics about tax credits for individuals and families with low to moderate income, free tax preparation sites, frequently asked questions, and community resources. The goal of the online session is to give libraries the resources needed to make tax time a little less overwhelming. Register today and then join the WebEx meeting online or call in at 1-888-742-5095 (toll-free) or 1-619-377-3319 using conference code 874 403 3672 / meeting number 593 489 753. Contact Emily Kissane with questions.
OCLC Reclamation Webinar
Staff from lib
raries interested in the reclamation offer for the MnLINK Gateway transition to OCLC WorldCat Discovery are strongly encouraged to attend a 60-minute OCLC webinar to learn more about the project. The webinar will take place on Thursday, October 29 at 1:00 PM and will be recorded for later viewing. This webinar will cover the same material as the OCLC Reclamation webinar that took place on October 6. All locations currently represented on the MnLINK Gateway are eligible for the reclamation. For more information about the project, please review articles previously published on Minitex News or contact Becky Ringwelski.
No registration is required.
MnLINK OCLC Reclamation Webinar
1:00 PM CDT, Thursday, October 29, 2015
Follow this link to join the meeting
Join by phone: 1-877-668-4490 (toll free) or 1-408-792-6300
Phone access code: 716 748 480
Know When to Hold Em, Know When to Throw (Recycle) Em
Records are vitally important to the operation of any organization; they serve as the organization’s memory and are evidence of past events and the basis for future actions. Join the Government Records Specialist for State Archives at the Minnesota Historical Society for the webinar —
Records Retention for Public Libraries
Wednesday, November 18
1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Charles Rodgers of the State Archives Department of the Minnesota Historical Society will present a brief webinar review of the state records laws, the definition of government records, basic records management issues, and the role of the State Archives. Participants will learn to identify records, assess their value and determine how long to keep them. No registration is necessary, just join the WebEx meeting online or call 1-888-742-5095 (toll-free) or 1-619-377-3319 using conference code 874 403 3672 / meeting number 253 118 533. Email Jen Verbrugge with questions.
Fall Fun Day
CRPLSA and the Youth Services Committee invite library staff to the inaugural Fall Fun Day for the 2016 iREAD Summer Reading Program (SRP)! Join youth services staff from across the state to begin planning for SRP – 2016. Fun Day participants will be able to identify at least one new programming idea to augment the summer programming at their library.
Date & Time: Friday, November 20, 2015 | 9:00a-12:00p
Location: St. Cloud Public Library – Mississippi Room
Theme: Read – For the Win! (Games, sports and the Olympics!)
Annual Report Webinar
Public library directors, survey reporters, and others interested in library data collection are invited to a 2015 Public Library Annual Report webinar hosted by Joe Manion, the State Data Coordinator. Joe will share changes to the 2015 survey approved by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Learn about modifications to federal data elements & definitions, and suggest changes or additions to the state-level data that is collected. Participants will be able to share any concerns about the annual report process.
Wednesday, October 28
1:30-2:30 pm.
Registration is not required. Join the WebEx meeting online or call in at 1-888-742-5095 (toll-free) or 1-619-377-3319 using conference code 289 945 0924 / meeting number 253 591 132. Email Joe Manion to request a copy of the webinar slides after October 28.
Go Back to School with Schoolhouse Rock!
Join Minitex and the University of Minnesota Libraries Regional Depository Library in new webinar series, Go Back to School with Schoolhouse Rock!. This series will focus on the three branches of the U.S. federal government.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
2:00 PM–3:00 PM (Central Time)
This webinar will focus on the legislative process and locating legislative resources. Before the session, learners will watch Just a Bill from Schoolhouse Rock!. Riegelman and Beck will elaborate on the content in the video and use it to test your knowledge. By starting with this video intended for an elementary audience, we will layer on more advanced content about the legislative process as well as guidance on tools that are available. Meet us in this liminal space as we transition from novices to experts.
Attendees will be able to identify the steps that a bill takes to become a law (and the pitfalls in between!). An understanding of the legislative process as well as an awareness of the freely available and fee-based tools will help attendees tackle challenging patron inquiries about legislative information.
Presenters:
Amy Riegelman
University of Minnesota Librarian of Government Information, Psychology, Educational Psychology, and Child Development
Lynne Beck
University of Minnesota Library Associate, Access & Information Services
Total Boox and New Ebook Pricing Models
Total Boox and New Ebook Pricing Models
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
11:00 AM–12:00 PM (Central Time)
The shift to ebooks has wrought many changes in the library market. Most of them haven’t worked to our advantage. But there are some interesting new business models. In this webinar, presenter Jamie LaRue focuses on a company called Total Boox, which allows for unrestricted downloads, multiple use at the same time, no holds, no waiting, for all titles. How do they make money? The library pays only for what gets read (not what gets checked out). But this means that libraries (and publishers) get a rich new source of data: what percentage of books do people actually finish? Does it vary by genre? What might this mean for collection development?
Presenter: James LaRue writes, speaks and consults about the future of libraries, with a focus on organizational and leadership development. As the former director of the Douglas County (Colo.) Libraries, he established a library managed ebook content delivery platform that garnered international attention. He is also author of “The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges” (Libraries Unlimited, 2007).
LibTech 2016
Save the date for the 9th annual Library Technology Conference, March 16-17, 2016, on the Macalester College campus in St. Paul.
The LibTech Conference provides an opportunity for library staff and information technologists to come together to discuss the changing technologies that are affecting library services; to see examples of what libraries are doing with these technologies; and to provide a venue where participants can learn skills or knowledge that they can take back and adapt for use within their own library. In addition to thought-provoking keynote speakers, the two-day conference will include a mix of traditional lecture-style presentations, panel discussions, as well as interactive and hands-on workshops. Sessions will be offered on a wide range of topics and at varying skill levels. Anyone interested in the changing technologies that are affecting libraries should plan to attend.
EBooks, Patrons, Libraries, and Consortia
Ebooks, Patrons, Libraries, and Consortia: Past, Present, and Plans for the Future
Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 1:00 PM–2:00 PM (Central Time)
Greg Pronevitz, executive director of the Massachusetts Library System and stakeholder in a statewide ebook platform servicing over 400 libraries, will discuss consortial ebook platforms and their history, present, and plans for the future among library consortia. Our patrons who have patience have grown accustomed to state-of-the-art library platforms and can navigate the maze of links and authorizations required to check out ebooks. Those without patience buy their ebooks from commercial providers. Greg believes that libraries can succeed in serving current ebook patrons and many new ones as the years go by if they work together.
Presenter: Greg Pronevitz is the founding executive director of the 1,600-member Massachusetts Library System (MLS). He has 17 years experience at the CEO level at MLS and one of its pre-merger components. He spent nine years managing the provision of services to libraries in a consortial environment at OHIONET.
Greg is an advocate for consortial services. He has written and spoken frequently on library delivery service. He was a key player in the formation of the Digital Commonwealth of Massachusetts (one of the Digital Public Library of America’s founding hubs). At MLS, Greg has worked with main partner the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (the state library agency) and other stakeholders to pilot a statewide ebook platform that has been expanded in beta and has grown to more than 400 subscribing libraries called the Commonwealth eBook Collections with access to some 170,000 titles.
And Greg has a Minitex connection: He was co-author/editor with Minitex director, Valerie Horton of the 2015 ALA Editions book Library Consortia: Models for Collaboration and Sustainability.
Supercharged Storytimes thru specialized learning
Minnesota is one of just five states selected to participate in a new IMLS-supported OCLC initiative, Supercharged Storytimes. It is an empowering, research-backed approach to storytime planning and delivery established in Washington state. Up to 100 staff from Minnesota libraries will have the opportunity to participate in five free, one-hour online learning sessions scheduled this October and November. Participants will be active in a specialized learning community designed to boost the impact of library storytimes and demonstrate how libraries provide high-quality early literacy experiences that gets kids ready for kindergarten.
More information including basic criteria for participation
Email Jackie Blagsvedt, Youth Literacy and Library Program Specialist at the Minnesota Department of Education, State Library Services, with your questions.