TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: September 30, 2015
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Get Ready for Supercharged Storytimes across Minnesota

Wow! On October 5, 81 library staff members from all across the state will start supercharging their storytimes by participating in an OCLC-led project that will educate and empower them as early literacy influencers in their communities. They will engage in weekly online workshops and connect with peers across the state as they learn and try out new practices. In addition to increasing their early literacy expertise, participants will contribute to research that documents the benefits children and families gain by attending storytimes. We are excited to work with so many dedicated library staff on this project and look forward to sharing the results! Contact Jackie Blagsvedt at jacqueline.blagsvedt@state.mn.us or 651-582-8805 for more information.

Turn a Newbery Award-Winning Book into a 90-Second Film

Interested in taking a fast-paced crash course on how to make a film for the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival? Join Film Festival founder and middle-grade author James Kennedy for a whirlwind, hands-on workshop at the Minnesota Department of Education in Roseville on Saturday, October 10, 2015 from 9 a.m.-Noon. No experience is necessary, but registration is required. Register to attend by October 8, 2015. Bring along your tablet or laptop (and a kid if you’d like) for the best experience. Contact Jen Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356 for more information.

Lights on Afterschool: Celebrate at Your Library

Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool (LoA) is a nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their importance to children, families and communities. Scheduled this year to take place on October 22, it’s a great opportunity to share how your library creates a welcoming space for youth.

And while your library might not offer organized afterschool programs, you do offer “stealth” learning opportunities just by being open when kids are not in school. If you’d like to host a celebration, Ignite Afterschool, Minnesota’s afterschool network can offer support, including a toolkit. Subscribe to Ignite Afterschool’s email updates to get more information right in your inbox.

If you want to get started right away, here are some additional resources to help you plan:

• Check out the online Afterschool Alliance LoA event planning toolkit or download the LoA Event Planning Guide. They both have tons of resources, from sample templates to fun activity ideas.
• View this on-demand webinar, “Planning a Lights On Afterschool Event: How to Engage Your Policymakers and the Media.”
• Register your event with the Afterschool Alliance, the national coordinator of LoA. They’ll also share the info with Ignite so that it can give you the support you need to have a great event.

Contact Jen Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356 for more information.

Stay Updated about the 2015 Public Library Annual Report

Thanks to the hard work of dozens of public library staff members, who diligently collect and enter information, Minnesota’s 2014 public library data is now available. You can find a 2014 report for each public library State Library Services’ Library Statistics web page. And in the near future, we’ll be publishing selected data that provides a statewide overview of key data.

*Pausing to take a breath* It’s now time to get ready for the 2015 survey. You’re invited to a webinar hosted by Joe Manion, Data Coordinator. Joe will share changes to the 2015 survey approved by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). You’ll have a chance to learn about modifications to federal data elements and definitions, and suggest modifications or additions to the state-level data that we collect. You’ll also be able to share any concerns about the annual report process. This webinar is for library directors, survey reporters, and anyone interested in library data collection.

Please join the discussion on Wednesday, October 28, 1:30 to 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. Please email Joe at joe.manion@state.mn.us to request a copy of the webinar slides after October 28.

(Note: The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) requires advance notice in order to provide a requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice to cancel a requested accommodation.)

Bring the Eco Experience to Your Public Library

The Eco Experience, a project of the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, is the second largest exhibit at the State Fair. It is a place to discover sustainable options for home, garden and family; to learn about clean water, urban farming, furniture and clothing reuse, recycling, air quality, climate change, renewable energy, and eco-friendly transportation. It is one of the State Fair’s most popular attractions, even winning the People’s Choice Award in 2013, but it is only available to the public during the twelve days of the fair.

Beginning this December, you can bring a piece of the Eco Experience to your library for a month-long stay.  

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has fabricated a traveling tabletop exhibit, “Your Resilient Community: Assets to Help Your Community Weather a Changing Climate.” Consisting of two large pieces and a portable table, the interactive exhibit helps identify community assets which address three changing climate challenges affecting Minnesota communities.

Exhibit spec sheets will be available at State Library Services’ booth in the MLA conference exhibit hall, and on the State Library Services website after the conference. We’re finalizing details related to the circulation (including an online reservation form) and will share more information by November 1. In the meantime, please contact Emily Kissane at emily.kissane@state.mn.us or 651-582-8508 for more information.

Apply for a Public Library Construction Grant
The Library Construction Grant program provides public libraries with funding for renovation, construction, and improvement projects that result in more accessible library facilities. An estimated $848,000 in state funding is available to award approximately three public library construction grants in this second round of 2014 funding. Projects may:

• Remove architectural barriers from a library building or site.
• Remediate conditions hazardous to health or safety.
• Renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library.
• Construct a new library.

Application forms and instructions are available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s Grants Management site. Scroll to Library Construction Grant opportunity. Completed applications are due November 10, 2015. Please contact Emily Kissane at emily.kissane@state.mn.us or 651-582-8508 for more information.