TO: Minnesota Library Staff
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: December 2, 2014
SUBJECT: Upcoming Workshops for Libraries

Webinars, Workshops and More

Ignite Afterschool

Ignite Afterschool is a statewide network of organizations dedicated to engaging young people in quality afterschool activities. With MDE and its partners, Ignite is building a statewide framework for quality afterschool programs. Library staff are invited to attend regional working meetings in December to provide feedback on the emerging quality framework.

Registration is now open for “Powering Learning. Expanding Possibilities,” a statewide out-of-school time learning and STEM conference co-hosted by Ignite and the STEM Network that will be held on April 14-15, 2015. Library staff are invited to submit conference session proposals on the conference themes — Systems Building and Partnerships, Integrating 21st Century Skills and STEM and Sharing Your Stories and Successes: Data, Evaluation and Messaging.

For more information, please contact Jennifer Nelson at jennifer.r.nelson@state.mn.us or 651-582-8791.

Calling All Kid Filmmakers!

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers make movies that creatively tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in ninety seconds or less. With the deadline to submit films set for December 20, 2014 (deadline extended to 1-16-2015 as of 12-11-2014), there are only weeks left to create. Please promote the opportunity to local kids and families through your library or school. Visit the State Library Services web page to download the logo, a sample press release, a flyer, a video invite from 90-Second Newbery founder James Kennedy, and more.

Mark your calendar for the first-ever Minnesota screening of the best 90-Second Newbery entries on Saturday, February 28, 2015, from 3-4:30 pm at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central. Co-hosts of the event will be James Kennedy, founder and curator of the 90-Second Newbery, and Kelly Barnhill, Minneapolis author of The Witch’s Boy. For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356.

Libraries and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

The recently enacted federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) includes exciting opportunities for libraries. From the potential to partner with Job Centers to the possibility to expand digital literacy services, WIOA recognizes the important part libraries play in workforce development and the benefits of strengthening that role.

Please join us for a webinar about WIOA and Minnesota’s libraries on Thursday, December 11, from 1-2 pm. Rick Roy, Director of Workforce Coordination at the Department of Employment and Economic Development, will give an overview of WIOA and lead a discussion of opportunities for partnerships and alignment of services.

Please join the webinar via WebEx. The session will be recorded. For more information, please contact Emily Kissane at emily.kissane@state.mn.us or 651-582-8508.

For more information about State Library Services, please contact Jennifer Nelson at jennifer.r.nelson@state.mn.us or 651-582-8791.