Tag Archives: Update

Updates from State Library Services

Updates from State Library Services

Welcome, Leah!

State Library Services is excited to welcome Leah Larson as our new LSTA Coordinator. Leah most recently worked for the Perpich Center at the Crosswinds Arts & Science School Library, providing resource support for faculty and students, as well as educators around the state through Perpich Outreach. She has an MLIS from the University of St. Catherine, and is a certified Minnesota K-12 media specialist. Leah taught ESL, Special Education, and Language Arts for grades 1-8 at public schools in Minnesota, Texas, and New York, and was a media specialist in Richfield prior to starting at Perpich. She has led numerous professional development workshops and cohorts for teachers and media specialists on equity in education, and literature as a lens for teaching and learning about culture. In addition to her work with LSTA, Leah will bring her school library expertise to a number of different projects. Leah can be contacted at leah.larson@state.mn.us or 651-582-8805.

Updates from Our Partners

Measures that Matter Webinar: Moving Toward More Meaningful Measures

Circulation, visits, program attendance, patron satisfaction…these are some of the many measures commonly collected by public librarians. But how well do we understand what measures tell the most meaningful stories of today’s libraries? During the first webinar in the three-part Measure that Matter series, the landscape of major public library surveys was scanned, and ways to consider how library data could be used more productively in the future were considered. The second webinar explored more deeply the concepts of sampling, data types, and data management. The third webinar will look toward the future, considering what data public librarians should collect to demonstrate their impact. Speakers both within and outside the library field will provide multiple perspectives on meaningful measures. Register today to attend the webinar.

Save the Date: Capturing Imaginations, Building Skills Conference

The Minnesota STEM Network and Ignite Afterschool are teaming up again to offer their second joint conference. The two-day event November 29-30, 2017, at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education Conference Center, will bring people together to ensure every young person in Minnesota has access to high-quality STEM education and an opportunity to build 21st century skills. Join us as we investigate, connect, and advance formal and informal STEM education and workforce development. We will share registration information and the request for session proposals when they are available later this summer.

Updates from State Library Services

Thanks for Meeting Up!

The third Libraries Serving Youth Meetup was held on April 22 at the St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN). Sixteen enthusiastic school media specialists and public librarians came together to learn about the Saint Paul Public Library/SPNN Createch partnership, discuss makerspaces, share ideas, and network. Attendees left the Meetup energized to try more maker activities with tweens and teens.

Following the Meetup, ten librarians attended a stop-motion animation workshop presented by SPNN. Participants learned a lot, had a fabulous time, and created three very brief films during the course of the two-hour workshop. Participants used HUE cameras and software to make the films, and they proved to be both easy to use and reasonably priced. If stop-motion animation workshops are in your library’s future (perhaps to encourage your kids to create 90-Second Newbery Film Festival submissions, for example), HUE might be worth checking into.

Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) to request slides from the Createch presentation or for tips and tricks in planning your own regional meetup.

Continue reading Updates from State Library Services

Updates from State Library Services

Better Together – Strengthening Adult Learning Communities
Please join us for Better Together, a gathering of colleagues from adult education, libraries, and workforce development that will focus on how collaborative digital literacy efforts can increase communities’ capacity to improve adult literacy and workforce outcomes for Minnesotans.

This year’s session will be Monday, May 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., with time for informal networking and discussion afterwards. We will meet at St. Paul Neighborhood Network, 550 Vandalia St., Suite 170, St. Paul.

The day will have two parts: 1) a learning strand highlighting resources that promote digital literacy and workforce skills, and 2) a Northstar strand giving participants the opportunity to provide input for the next level of the Northstar Digital Literacy Project.

Please note that Better Together is the day before the national Net Inclusion 2017 conference, also held in St. Paul.

Register for Better Together today. For more information, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

This is What We Heard
Earlier this month, 37 library stakeholders attended listening sessions in Roseville and St. Cloud to share their perspectives on Minnesota’s library needs and priorities in the next five years. This sort of stakeholder feedback will help guide us toward solid goals for our LSTA Five-Year Plan for 2018-2022. Listening session participants agreed that all types of libraries will continue to be a resource for education and information. Print will endure and digital formats will expand. Teaching people how to access and evaluate information will become even more important. As community gathering places, use of library spaces and technology will grow. Developing services for immigrants, seniors, the economically disadvantaged, and those living in remote rural areas will be essential. Critical needs include advocacy, financial support, professional development, and stronger connections within communities and between libraries.

The listening sessions were hosted by State Library Services and conducted by the Management Analysis Division of Minnesota Management and Budget.

Updates from MDE

Apply to Be a 21st Century Community Learning Centers
The Minnesota Department of Education is seeking applications from eligible applicants for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant program. Funding is available to establish, sustain, and expand community learning centers in order to provide students—particularly those who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools—with high-quality programs that support the whole child, primarily during non-school hours (including before school, after school, evenings, school release days, and summer.)

City or county governments, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, local education agencies (LEA), non-profit agencies and for-profit corporations, tribal agencies, and other public or private entities are eligible to apply—including libraries. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Specific eligibility criteria are identified in the General Information Section of the grant opportunity instructions document. There is no maximum grant award amount, and the minimum grant award allowed is $50,000 annually.

Please visit the Grant Opportunity webpage and scroll down to this grant opportunity for the application documents. Applications should not be submitted into the SERVS system. The application (cover sheet, assurances, narrative, forms and budget documents) must be received (not postmarked) by Thursday, June 1, 2017, 4:30 p.m. Please contact Eric Billiet for further information.

Updates from Our Partners

Share Your Work – Connecting Children and Families to Nature through Libraries
The Minnesota Children & Nature Connection (MNCNC) would like your help in connecting children and families to nature. They know many Minnesota libraries/media centers are already engaged in such activities, but need your help to get a broader picture of the work being done, and how they might better support you. Please take a few minutes to answer their short Minnesota libraries survey. MNCNC thanks you in advance for your input.

Understanding Measures that Matter
As part of the national Measures that Matter initiative, the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) will offer a three-part webinar series about the public library data landscape during May, June, and July. The first webinar, “Measures that Matter: A View into the Current Public Library Data Landscape,” will take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2-3 p.m. Learn more and register on the WebJunction website. Everyone is welcome to attend this webinar. Dates and descriptions for the second and third webinars will be announced soon.

Welcome to the Minnesota Library Publishing Project
The Minnesota Library Publishing Project (MLPP) is a pilot project that provides online publishing tools and training information to support independent authors and small publishers across the state. MLPP is coordinated by Minitex with support from Minnesota’s academic and public libraries.

MLPP’s book design tool is Pressbooks, an easy-to-use, online, cloud-based service that enables authors and publishers to create attractive content using a wide variety of templates and formatting options. Pressbooks assigns each uploaded manuscript a unique URL that authors can use to share their work, and enables authors to export their work in multiple formats. Authors also have a variety of options to create print versions of their book(s).

Learn more at an introductory Pressbooks webinar on Thursday, April 27, 10-10:45 a.m.
The MLPP website also offers training videos, best practices documents, and step-by-step instructions on how to get started with Pressbooks.

Minitex is working with MELSA and CRPLSA on the launch of Library Journal’s SELF-e system, which enables authors to share their work with readers across the state—and potentially across the country. This program will launch in the metro area this summer and will likely spread to the rest of the state shortly thereafter. Stay tuned or contact Andrea McKennan at MELSA for more information. MLPP is an experimental endeavor and your feedback is welcomed.

Other News of Note

A Poem a Day Keeps the Mind at Play
During National Poetry Month in April—and all year round—visit Bookology’s Poetry Mosaic, a website that features a poem read by favorite and new children’s poets each day throughout April. Poets include Joyce Sidman, Pat Mora, J. Patrick Lewis, Nikki Grimes, and more! In your classroom, your library, your homeschool, around the table during your family’s meal—everywhere, listen to poetry out loud.

For the Record

A Brief Look at Community Engagement in Minnesota Public Libraries
For the first time, public libraries reported baseline data on community engagement measures for the 2016 Minnesota Public Library Report. Community engagement depends upon partnerships with diverse stakeholders from public and private spheres. 73 percent of public libraries partnered with one or more organizations to address community needs last year.

When two or more organizations create a partnership they can engage with one another to varying degrees. Among libraries that have partnerships, 89 percent communicate information by attending meetings, distributing promotional materials, setting up displays, making presentations, etc. in order to raise awareness of community needs. 78 percent provide mutual assistance in working toward a common goal by sponsoring activities or recruiting volunteers to address community needs. 64 percent work together to jointly develop and deliver a program or service by sharing staff, resources, and costs for the benefit of participants.

Community partnerships in Minnesota libraries

Also for the first time, public libraries reported baseline data on volunteers for the 2016 Minnesota Public Library Report. Volunteers are individuals who perform a service willingly and without pay. Libraries that collect volunteer numbers (N) reported that 14,292 volunteers (N=264) worked 281,214 hours (N=292) in 2016. That’s the equivalent of 7,030 full-time workers. 2,133 teens (N=205) accounted for 31,418 volunteer hours (N=194).

Library volunteers can be any age but are usually 14 years of age or older. Volunteer tasks in the library include creating library displays, maintaining the condition of physical materials, assisting with annual book sales, making library customers’ visits welcoming and successful, assisting with library programs, assisting customers with computer applications, and returning materials to library shelves.

Volunteers in Minnesota libraries

Updates from State Library Services

Our LSTA Five-Year Evaluation and Planning
We recently submitted the evaluation of our 2013-17 LSTA Five-Year Plan to IMLS. Please take a few minutes to read about the good work we were able to do in support of libraries across the state. Read LSTA Five-Year Evaluation Report.

We are continuing to work with Management Analysis and Development (MAD) to develop a new 2018-2022 LSTA Five-Year Plan. We will use what we learned during our 2013-2017 LSTA plan evaluation process, and seek feedback from stakeholders to guide us toward solid goals for our next five years. Please contact Jen Nelson (651-582-8791) with questions about the Five-Year Plan evaluation or the Five-Year Plan development process.

Updated Library Trustee Handbook Now Available
State Library Services has updated the Minnesota Public Library Trustee Handbook. This revised edition includes updated content from the prior handbook as well as the Library Trustee Manual template published by the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) in 2016. The handbook is meant to be a useful resource for library trustees. It informs trustees about Minnesota’s public library environment and governance structure, and helps them understand their roles and responsibilities as library stewards. Its purpose is to give trustees a broad view of their duties and responsibilities.

Special thanks to Karen Pundsack, Executive Director, Great River Regional Library, and Audrey Betcher, Director, Rochester Public Library, for their insightful editing and content contributions.

If you have questions or feedback about the handbook, please contact Joe Manion (651-582-8640). Continue reading Updates from State Library Services

Updates from State Library Services

Join Our Team
Do you have experience working with grants and with school libraries? Are you interested in helping libraries develop programs and services that support K-12 learners? If so, we may have just the job for you. State Library Services is hiring a Library Development and Services Specialist (LSTA Coordinator) who will manage our federal Library Services and Technology Act grant activities and lead activities that address the needs of school-age children and youth. Read more about the job at the State of Minnesota careers site (search Job ID 12160), and submit your application online by March 28. Please contact Jen Nelson (651-582-8791) with questions.

Library Service and Technology Act Funds
State Library Services typically announces a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) competitive grant round soon after we receive our annual Grants to States allotment from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). As you may be aware, the federal government, including IMLS, is operating under a Continuing Resolution for federal fiscal year 2017. We have received an LSTA Grants to States award for federal fiscal year 2017 that is based on the funds IMLS has available under the Continuing Resolution. The amount is less than usually received and IMLS has indicated that we will be notified after April 28, 2017 if any supplemental funds are available. Because the amount we received is reduced, we are postponing opening a competitive grant round until notification of a supplemental award is received. Please note that no current (state fiscal year 2017) grants or grant-funded projects are impacted. Please contact Jen Nelson (651-582-8791) with questions.

Meet Up with Other Librarians
The Libraries Serving Youth Meetup is an annual opportunity for school librarians and public librarians to meet, network and share ideas. This year, attendees will have a chance to connect, and develop creative ideas with colleagues around the topic of makerspaces.

School and public librarians are invited to join us at SPNN in Saint Paul (550 Vandalia Street, Suite 170) for the Meetup on Saturday, April 22, 2017, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., followed by an optional stop-motion animation workshop, 2-4 p.m. Register today for the Libraries Serving Youth Meetup. Attendees should plan to bring a bag lunch. You can also register for just the stop-motion animation workshop. Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) with questions.

Add Ebooks Minnesota Records to Your Catalog
Libraries now have an additional way to give their patrons access to Ebooks Minnesota: Minitex has MARC records available for the collection! Please let Minitex know how you’d like the content by completing this brief survey. They’ll provide you with information about accessing the records in a way that best suits your needs. For more information about the MARC records, please contact Minitex. For more information about Ebooks Minnesota, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

Updates from MDE

Take Part in Regional Lexile Workshops for Librarians and Other Educators
In partnership with MetaMetrics (developers of the Lexile Framework), MDE is offering free professional Lexile workshops for librarians and other educators across the state. View the Lexile workshop flier with dates, locations, and other information, and then register for the Lexile workshop nearest you today.

A deeper understanding of Lexile measures can help you work more effectively with teachers and parents who are seeking materials based on Lexile levels. The workshops cover a number of topics including an overview of free Lexile resources and tools. CEUs will be available at the workshops.

Please contact Margarita Alvarez, Test Development supervisor, Statewide Testing, Minnesota Department of Education if you have questions about the workshops.

Updates from Our Partners

Check Out the New Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub
The Minnesota Historical Society recently released a new Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub as a Beta site. The new Hub brings together the Minnesota digital newspapers from the original Hub, the Historical Minneapolis Tribune newspapers, and new sets of digitized Minnesota newspaper titles—all in a new platform.

During the new Hub’s initial Beta period, the original Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub and the Historical Minneapolis Tribune websites will continue to be available. The Digital Newspapers at MNHS landing page explains the transition and provides the link for the new Hub.

Please contact the Minnesota Historical Society webmaster with your feedback about using the new Hub and/or connecting to the new Hub, original Hub, or the Historical Minneapolis Tribune. The webmaster will forward any communications on to the MNHS digital newspaper team.

Addressing Families Affected by Incarceration
With support from MDE through an LSTA grant, Hennepin County Library is offering a series of programs about families and incarceration.

Hennepin County Library invites educators and community members to a unique forum addressing the issue of families and incarceration. At the Brookdale Library (6125 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center) on Wednesday, March 22, 2017, at 4:30 p.m., author Nora Raleigh Baskin will briefly talk about her book, Ruby on the Outside, a compassionate story about a young girl and her incarcerated mother. After Baskin’s presentation, a panel of local experts on the issue will share their experience and help participants develop strategies that can be applied in the classroom to help families affected by incarceration. Register today for the Educator Forum on Families Affected by Incarceration.

Additionally, Hennepin County Library is offering a series of programs from March through July on families and incarceration. Visiting authors include Howard Zehr, Maya Schenwar, and Shaka Senghor.

Please download and share the Families and Incarceration flier with more details about the forum and related events. If you have questions, please contact Daniel Marcou (612-543-8852).

Save the Date: Legal Information Training
The metro county law libraries and the State Law Library are hosting an educational program on Friday, April 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Shoreview branch of the Ramsey County Library.

Sessions will include:

  • Review of mncourts.gov with special emphasis on help topics, forms and a description of statewide self-help services
  • Overview of where to find probate and estate planning materials online
  • Program on criminal expungement
  • Session dealing with common landlord tenant issues
  • Exercise on where to find legal forms

All librarians are welcome, and registration information will be available closer to the event. Please contact Liz Reppe (651-297-2089) with questions.

Other News of Note

Leave No Child Hungry This Summer
The USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) helps fill meal gaps during the summer months for kids who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year. Second Harvest Heartland supports SFSP by building community awareness to increase participation. Your library can help hungry families find free meals in your community this summer. Second Harvest Heartland has free outreach materials without year-specific information so they can be distributed across multiple summers. You can request outreach materials for your library through the Second Harvest Heartland website.

Take Your Library Outside the Lines
Outside the Lines (OTL) provides a framework for libraries—no matter their size or type—to share their stories, connect with their communities in new and exciting ways, and shift perceptions of libraries everywhere. Celebrate OTL with your community Sept. 10-16, 2017.

Register your library to participate in OTL 2017. (If your organization participated in 2016, you can simply log in, update your existing profile and check the 2017 box to be included in this year’s festivities.) Registration will get you such things as new graphics and shareable content, webinars that focus on specific ways to make OTL work for your library, and updated examples and tips from participating libraries. For more information, visit the OTL website.