Mark your calendars; ARLD Day is coming soon!  Join us on April 25, 2014 as we explore The Creative Library.  This annual gathering is hosted by the Minnesota Library Association’s Academic and Research Libraries Division.

Our keynote speaker, Barry Kudrowitz, is Assistant Professor of Product Design at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.  He is a designer, teacher, author, artist, and musician: a real Renaissance man.  He wowed MILE attendees with his presentation on innovation, and plans to engage us with the interaction of observation, problem finding, and the innovative process.  See his website at http://www.wonderbarry.com/main.html.

Look for ARLD’s call for conference session proposals, in both full-length and “lightning round” formats.  We will be calling for submissions on a variety of topics such as: Maker spaces, community partnerships, creative collaborations, learning commons, innovations in collection development, teaching and learning, mobility and e-learning, reference and outreach, assessment and impact, innovation through social media, and marketing and promotion.

In addition we are seeking nominations for the Innovator’s Award which recognizes librarians or project teams who have made an outstanding recent contribution to advance the mission of an academic library in Minnesota.  More information and the nomination form are available at http://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/awards/minnesota-academic-innovators-award.

We hope you will be able to join us on April 25, 2014, at the beautiful University of Minnesota Arboretum in Chanhassen. Registration information will be available in March.  It’s a great opportunity to share ideas, connect with colleagues, and explore new ideas for your library.

Randi Madisen

ARLD Communications Officer

Century College Library

3300 Century Ave. N.

White Bear Lake, MN 55110

651-779-3292