State Library Updates: 5/3/2016

MDE logo retrieved online 12/17/13..TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: May 3, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Team Up with Workforce and ABE Colleagues
Thank you to the more than 100 people who attended the first Better Together workshop last Friday! We were excited to see connections being made across organizations, and plans beginning for partnerships among libraries, adult basic education, and workforce organizations in the metro area.

There is still time to register for the Mankato and Grand Rapids workshops.

Monday, May 9, 2016 – Mankato at Country Inn and Suites (Registrations received after April 29 are not guaranteed a lunch)
Monday, May 16, 2016 – Grand Rapids at Saw Mill Inn (Register by Friday, May 6 to make sure lunch will be available for you)

At Better Together, you’ll learn about promising practices for collaboration across organizations and learn about free resources that promote digital literacy and workforce skills. To help put your own ideas for collaboration into action, we are offering a competitive grant opportunity that will award up to ten grants with a maximum of $5,000/applicant. At least one of your project partners must attend a Better Together workshop and proposed projects must show promise for sustainability. Applications and more information will be available at Better Together sessions. 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).

Submit Your LSTA Grant Application Soon
Apply for a mini grant or a larger competitive grant today! Applications are due Tuesday, May 17 for our two 2016 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) competitive grant opportunities. Mini grants (up to $10,000) are available to help libraries offer programs and services to improve learning opportunities for children and young adults. The larger competitive grant opportunity will fund grant projects from $10,000-$100,000 with an overarching goal to expand library services for learning and increase access to high-quality information resources for all Minnesotans. Applications and further information for both opportunities are available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s Grants Management site. To learn more, visit the LSTA webpage and view the 2016 grant opportunities timeline. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) for additional information.

Take a Look at the Supercharged Library
Supercharge your storytimes, collections, family engagement, and more through the OCLC-created Supercharged Library. Resulting from last fall’s Supercharged Storytimes project, the Supercharged Library is a compilation of resources generated by public library storytime providers from around the country and intended to invigorate your ongoing early literacy and learning work with kids and families. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) for more information.

Go a Little North of Normal – ARSL Conference 2016
Take advantage of this unique close-to-home opportunity to connect, learn and share with your rural and small library allies from across the country. The 2016 Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference is in Fargo, ND from Oct. 27-29, and early bird registration is now open.