Greater Together: Expanding Partnerships

Librarians from across the center of MN gathered in Chaska for a rare opportunity for school librarians and public librarians to meet, talk to each other about library services and learn from each other about collaborations happening between libraries and community organizations. Librarians from Hennepin, Anoka, Scott and Dakota Counties discussed how they are improving services to patrons by working together and gave specific examples of the benefits youth in MN are receiving, as a result.

We met on Tuesday, April 16 at the lovely Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and started our day with spectacular goodies provided by North Lights Library Network and Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange.  We had updates on state library services, including information about the new eLibrary portal that will be replacing ELM. After the panel discussions, there was time for one-on-one networking.

Several of us took time to visit the absolutely phenomenal Andersen Horticultural Library which contains nearly 20,000 books specific to horticulture, botany, landscape architecture and local natural history.  I had no idea that the library was home to a commissioned set of furnishings designed and built by the famous architect and woodworker George Nakashima. Simply breathtaking.

If you didn’t get to attend this Meet-up, watch for one in the future.  As a school librarian, I had a wonderful time and would definitely attend again.