Join Colleagues at the Libraries Serving Youth Meetup

The Libraries Serving Youth Meetup is an annual opportunity for school librarians and public librarians to meet, network and share ideas. This year, attendees will have a chance to connect and develop creative ideas with colleagues around the topic of partnerships between schools and public libraries.

School and public librarians are invited to join us at Wellstone Center in Saint Paul (179 Robie St. E.) for the Meetup on Monday, April 30, 2018, 1-4 p.m., followed by an optional networking opportunity at a nearby restaurant (TBD) from 4-5:30 p.m. Learn more about the program on our website, and then register to attend by April 23. Attendees can also bring a meal for an optional on-site lunch from 12:30-1 p.m. prior to the Meetup. Mileage reimbursement may be available for attendees from Greater Minnesota. Please contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604) for more information about mileage reimbursement and/or the Meetup.

Ojibwe Language Books Added to Ebooks Minnesota

The Minnesota statewide open access collection, Ebooks Minnesota, has just added Ojibwe language titles. In partnership with Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia and Wiigwaas Press, about a dozen books are now available to anyone accessing Ebooks Minnesota within the state’s borders.

Grassroots Indigenous Multimedia is a nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by Ojibwe community members Mary Hermes and Kevin Roach. With hopes of revitalizing the Ojibwe language, they began creating and distributing high-quality indigenous language materials. Several of their books in the Ebooks Minnesota collection include copies both in Ojibwe and English. The organization has developed more than 20 picture books based on Ojibwe conversational archives. Visit their website for more information.

Wiigwaas Press specializes in publishing monolingual and bilingual indigenous language and teaching materials. It is part of Birchbark House, a nonprofit founded by literary luminary sisters Heid Erdrich and Louise Erdrich in 2008 to promote indigenous language revitalization. Wiigwaas Press makes available Native American language materials that inspire multiple generations to learn and share indigenous languages. Find out more on the Birchbark Books website.

Ebooks Minnesota’s collection of books in languages other than English is rapidly growing. In the coming months, the collection will boast more titles in Ojibwe, as well as Somali and Karen. Email Ebooks Minnesota or complete the feedback form to share your comments or to request more detailed information.

Middle Grade STEM Grant Opportunity from NASA

On April 9, 2018, the NASA Glenn Research Center Office of Education opens a solicitation for applications from youth-serving organizations (YSOs) and formal/informal education institutions in NASA Glenn’s six-state region (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI). They are seeking proposals to implement STEM content in out-of-school time (OST) settings for students in grades 6-8 from June 1, 2018, through August 15, 2018 using the NASA Glenn Engineering Design Challenge (EDC): Powered and Pumped Up. This challenge provides students the opportunity to work on real-world problems in a collaborative, team-based environment. Students apply lessons learned to solve problems that STEM professionals face, while gaining a deeper knowledge of how NASA’s work is a part of their everyday lives. The deadline to apply is April 23. Award-winners will be notified on April 30.

Awardees will receive:

• Travel funding to attend a mandatory one-day facilitator training workshop during the week of May 21-25, 2018 (date TBD).
• Funding to cover materials and supplies needed to implement the EDC.
• EDC activity content aligned to Next Generation Science Standards.
• Help desk support to assist educators as needed in facilitating the EDC.
• Opportunities for live, web-based connections with NASA scientists and engineers.

Additional details will be provided in the full solicitation documentation available April 9, 2018. Sign up to receive the latest news and updates about NASA Glenn Research Center’s Engineering Design Challenge opportunities.

Upcoming Project Outcome Webinar

Outcome measurement is a way for libraries to assess their impact on the people they serve and helps libraries answer the question, “What good did we do?” Libraries may need to measure outcomes for a variety of reasons—from measuring and improving impact, to better managing services and resources, to demonstrating a need for funding or other support. On Wednesday, April 11, 2018, 1-2 p.m., Project Outcome hosts the webinar, How to Develop Outcome Measures and Design Effective Surveys. This webinar is designed to help libraries develop their own outcome measures based on program goals, and implement those measures through effective survey design. Register today for this no-cost webinar.

This webinar is the second in a series featuring Project Outcome’s Outcome Measurement Guidelines, designed to guide and support outcome-focused data collection. Future topics include implementing alternative data collection methods and measuring outcomes over time.

SciGirls Educator Workshop

You’re invited to attend a free, four-hour PBS SciGirls GO GREEN Educators’ Workshop where you will learn more about gender-equitable teaching strategies using SciGirls programming. SciGirls is a national educational initiative using media, activities, and professional development to empower youth, ages 8-12. You will learn more about the SciGirls GO GREEN curriculum and take part in  hands-on science lessons using recycled materials, which you can implement in your program. Lunch will be provided. The workshop will be held at the Hennepin County Library, 830 Winnetka Avenue North, Golden Valley, on Saturday, June 16, 2018, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Register for the workshop today.

Think Small Updates Texting Service for Parents of Young Children

Think Small’s new texting initiative, ParentPowered Texts, has been updated. The goal of improving literacy and pre-reading skills for children aged birth-5 has been expanded to birth-6 ½ years of age. Parents receive three customized text messages each week. The family-centered tips include messages that encourage parents to read to their children promoting work on letter recognition. Texts are available in English, Spanish, and Somali. More than 5,000 families are currently enrolled in the program throughout Minnesota!

Think Small ParentPowered Texts provide continuous support to parents throughout the year. The information covers multiple areas of a child’s development—social-emotional, health, literacy, and math skills. All messages are based on the child’s birth date, which guarantees timely, developmentally appropriate content and advice.

Think Small can supply your library with bookmarks and other materials to promote this new service.

Contact Diana Neidecker, Think Small Community Engagement Coordinator, for more information.