Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Update from State Library Services 2/29/16

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TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: February 22, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Learn How Your Library Can Feed Hungry Minds and Bodies This Summer–Webinar This Wednesday

Fewer than 15 percent of Minnesota kids who benefit from the free or reduced-price school lunch program have access to summer and afterschool food programs. Limited access to free food programs, particularly during the summer, leaves many children hungry. Public libraries can help make sure kids have access to nutritious food when school is not in session. Begin planning your summer 2016 participation by attending an informational webinar on February 24, 2016 at 11 a.m. Jenny Butcher, USDA Summer Food Service Program Coordinator at MDE, will share how you can get involved. There is no need to pre-register. Please join the WebEx meeting online (meeting number 594 625 833) or call in at 1-888-742-5095 (conference code 874 403 3672). Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.

Everybody Get Supercharged–Learn How at This Week’s Webinar

Minnesota’s Supercharged Storytimes website is now archived and open for all Minnesota library staff to explore throughMarch 31, 2016. To learn more about this unique training resource, join our 30-minute introductory webinar on February 26, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Jackie Blagsvedt will highlight for you the best of Minnesota’s Supercharged Storytimes online community. You may also join the webinar by phone at 1-888-742-5095 with conference code 132 628 9594. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) with questions.

Experience the Creativity of Minnesota’s Kid Filmmakers

Please join us this weekend in celebrating Minnesota’s finest kid filmmakers! 90-Second Newbery Film Festival founder and middle grade author James Kennedy has chosen his favorite entries from Minnesota, and will share them at the second annual Minnesota screening on Saturday, February 27, 2016, in Pohlad Hall from 3-4:30 p.m. at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central. Co-hosts of the event will be James Kennedy and Kelly Barnhill (Minneapolis author of The Witch’s Boy). On-site book sales will be provided by Addendum Books. Make your free reservation to attend the screening today.

The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual nationwide video contest in which kid filmmakers make movies that creatively tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in ninety seconds or less. Making a film is a fun, creative and multi-faceted educational exercise that builds 21st century skills. Kids—with some help from an adult—cooperatively write, storyboard, produce, direct, costume, act, frame and edit their films. We are thrilled that 89 films were submitted by students from Minnesota this year. For more details about the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356).

Register Today for the Libraries Serving Youth Meetup

Be part of this annual opportunity for school librarians and public librarians to meet, network and share ideas in a casual setting. Join your colleagues at MDE in Roseville on Saturday, April 16, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get creative ideas, connect with like-minded professionals about issues important to you, and learn about diversity in children’s literature from author Cathy Camper–the author of the critically-acclaimed and fan-favorite graphic novel, Lowriders in Space. At the Meetup, you’ll also get a sneak-peek at the sequel, Lowriders to the Center of the Earth, scheduled to hit bookstore and library shelves on July 5, 2016. Space is limited so register today! For more information, please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356).

Save the Date: Better Together – Strengthening Adult Learning Communities – Libraries, Adult Education and Workforce Regional Meetings

Mark your calendar and plan to join colleagues from adult education, libraries and workforce development for a full-day learning opportunity. The workshops are designed to increase our collective capacity to work together to improve adult literacy and workforce outcomes for Minnesotans.

At each session, you’ll hear promising practices for collaboration across organizations, learn about free resources that promote digital literacy and workforce skills, and have a chance to work with your local counterparts to develop a collaborative project.

April 29, 2016 – Roseville at Minnesota Department of Education
May 9, 2016 – Mankato at Country Inn and Suites
May 16, 2016 – Grand Rapids at Saw Mill Inn

For more information or to be included on a mailing list for future announcements, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

Now Open for Business: The Public Library Report Survey 

We greatly appreciate the time and expertise library directors and filers put toward the completion of the annual public library report. All twelve regional library systems and 141 public libraries complete the survey, which is required by law. (That’s one sure way to get a 100% response rate!) It’s that time of year again, and the 2015 online survey is open now until April 1, 2016. Please contact Joe Manion (651-582-8640) with questions about the survey.

State Library Services has kept Minnesota public library annual reports published since 1899. Over the past hundred years the reports have demonstrated tremendous growth as well as persistent values.

Minnesota Public Libraries Then and Now