LSTA Grants Awarded
The 2017 LSTA grant cycle awards have been issued! The larger, competitive awards are going to eight recipients for a total of $517,000, funding projects ranging from $32,000 to $98,000. The Early STEM Literacy in Libraries Mini Grants are being awarded to seven recipients for a total of $50,000, funding projects ranging from $2,000 to $9,000. Find more information on the State Library Services’ LSTA page, or contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604).
Taxes 101 for Minnesota Libraries
The 2018 tax season is right around the corner! What questions do you have about the upcoming tax season? What resources or information would be helpful for your library?
Join a tax conversation on December 13 at 11 a.m. with the Minnesota Department of Revenue and Prepare + Prosper to get your questions answered and to learn about important updates.
Join the Taxes 101 webinar on December 13. The call-in toll-free number is 1-888-742-5095, and the conference code is 492 064 9083.
Although registration isn’t required, if you do register for Taxes 101, you’ll be able to submit a question in advance so the presenters can address it during the webinar.
For further information, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).
Order Your Library’s 2018 Tax Season Outreach Materials
As you may know, tax time is an important moment in the lives of low- and moderate-income individuals and families. That’s why every year, Prepare + Prosper works with libraries across Minnesota to distribute outreach materials about free tax preparation and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Order your free materials soon in order to receive them for tax time.
Libraries in the nine-county metro area: order your materials through the online Prepare + Prosper order form.
Libraries in Greater Minnesota: order your materials through the Prepare + Prosper online order form.
For more information, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).
Get Ready for the 2017 Minnesota Public Library Annual Report
2017 will be history soon. It’s time for public libraries to get ready to document their performance measures in the Minnesota Public Library Annual Report! The online survey tool opens February 1, 2018.
Library directors and annual report filers are invited to participate in a webinar on Wednesday, January 10, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., to learn about proposed indicators and modifications to current indicators and definitions and how to enter data into the online survey tool. This webinar will be useful for both experienced and new report filers. When it’s time, join the meeting via WebEx. Registration is not required.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Joe Manion (651-582-8640).
Updates from Our Partners
New Teen Services Competencies Released
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) has released its brand new “Teen Services Competencies for Library Staff.” This document outlines the skills all library staff need to effectively serve teens. Download both the full document and the Competencies at a Glance for free on the YALSA website. YALSA is also offering 10 months of free webinars, beginning in March 2018. For more information, visit the YALSA blog.