Check out all the good things happening in libraries across the state! And you can always sign up to get this newsletter from the State Library Services in your own email.
Summer Youth Services Call
Join library staff serving youth from around the state for a mid-summer check-in! Take a deep breath and enjoy a collective moment of sharing, celebration and support. Monthly youth services calls will resume in the fall. When: July 14, 2021, 3 p.m. Where: Join the Zoom meeting
Honoring Bill Asp
One of Minnesota’s longest-serving state librarians, William G. Asp (“Bill”), passed away on June 16, 2021. Among several tributes to his legacy of advocating for public library services in Minnesota, the American Library Association passed a memorial resolution honoring Bill at their annual meeting last week. The staff of State Library Services echoes that appreciation for Bill Asp’s astonishing and foundational accomplishments in service of Minnesotans and the library profession.
Save the Date: Early Childhood and the Somali Community
This summer, State Library Services is contracting with Ruqia Abdi to provide a series of online workshops about early childhood and the Somali community. Ruqia is the author of Better Parenting: A Guide for Somali Parents in the Diaspora (available both in English and Somali). Ruqia will bring her blended experience of Somali culture, public library work and parenthood to translate early childhood research-based theory into practice. Times and topics will be as follows: Early Childhood and Public Libraries – Fri., Aug 20, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Early Childhood and the Somali Community – Mon., Aug 23, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Parent Engagement and Education – Fri., Aug 27, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Program Implementation Tips and Q & A – Mon., Aug 30, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Attending all sessions in the series is recommended, but not required. The workshops will not be recorded. A registration link will be available in the next newsletter.
Updates from the State
Moving Forward Together
After more than a year of challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota is looking forward to a brighter future, with increased opportunity for all Minnesotans to skill up, earn a college credential, and improve their economic outlook. Word of mouth is the most effective outreach tool to encourage adults to take those opportunities. Knowing that, Forward Together is looking for Ambassadors: local volunteers trained to encourage their friends, neighbors, and colleagues to enroll in or to return to college or workforce training and complete their programs. The Ambassadors will be trained on not only higher education options, but also Adult Basic Education integrated programs, state-supported workforce training programs, and accessing workforce or career services. Being an Ambassador might involve face-to-face conversations, sharing information via social media, or exploring other ways that make sense for their community. The program is flexible and the possibilities for making a real impact are almost limitless! Register to become a Forward Together Ambassador!The first ambassador trainings have already begun, but keep an eye out for more trainings to come. If your organization is interested in becoming a partner in this work, please contact Caitlin Hamrock to learn more.
Summit for Online Educators
The Minnesota Online and Digital Learning Summit is a conference for educators in online and blended settings. This is a participant-driven event with practitioner/presenters sharing their expertise in two types of sessions: online workshops or facilitated participatory conversations. When: Tuesday, August 3, 2021, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. All sessions will be hosted live on Zoom or Google Meet and broadcast to YouTube live as well. Visit the website to check out 2020’s program, and sign up to attend or present this year!
Coming to Minnesota: Men’s Sheds
Men’s Sheds are activity-based social organizations for senior men to get out and do things with other guys. Most members are retired or (in the case of farmers) semi-retired. Sheds are independent: members decide what they want to do together – which might be anything from woodworking, to gardening, carpentry, fishing, community service, music, photography, cooking, biking, or other activities. Men’s Sheds foster friendships, keep men active, reduce isolation and loneliness, and improve health and well-being. On top of that, they’re fun! On July 21 at 9 a.m., join a free webinar hosted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to learn how Men’s Sheds have taken rural and agricultural communities in Ireland by storm, and see if you might want to join, sponsor, or support a Men’s Shed in your own community. When? July 21, 2021, 9 -10 a.m. in Minnesota / 3 – 4 p.m. in Ireland Register here to receive the Zoom webinar link. For more information, contact Meg Moynihan, 651-201-6616, or Rachel Paskewitz, 651-201-6018.
Updates from Partners
The Story of Minnesota Water
We Are Water MN builds networks of people who protect and affect water, hosts a traveling exhibit that shares messages about water in Minnesota, and designs public programming that builds relationships with and responsibilities to water. The program is seeking five communities to work with in 2022 and the application is now open. Please take a look—we’d love to have your application! Please note that applications are due on July 26, 2021. The strongest applicants will describe how they intend to leverage hosting We Are Water MN—how it will contribute to their existing work, who they hope to build partnerships with, and who they’re hoping to reach through public events and activities. We strongly recommend you speak with someone at Minnesota Humanities Center as you’re working to prepare your application. Please reach out to Blake Rondeau (651-772-4248) to schedule a time to talk. Appointments will begin July 12. Minnesota Writers Directory: July Spotlight The Minnesota Writers Directory, a project run by the Minnesota Center for the Book, connects writers across the state with people who want to hear more about their stories and their craft. Each month, they feature a rotating list of writers from different genres each month who are available for virtual events. This month’s featured writers are Yelena Bailey, Staci Drouillard, and Sue Leaf. Many Minnesota writers, including past and recent Book Award finalists and winners, are available for virtual events for classrooms, libraries, and beyond. Browse the site by author, genre, and Skype/Zoom availability to find a writer who is a good fit for your audiences. Photo/illustration credits: Vectors Market, Noun Project; Ivan Dostál, Unsplash
About State Library Services State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), partners with libraries to achieve equity and excellence in our collective work for Minnesotans. Division staff are consultants who help libraries plan, develop and implement high-quality services that address community needs. State Library Services administers federal grant, state aid, and state grant programs that benefit all types of libraries.
Join library staff serving youth from around the state for a mid-summer check-in! Take a deep breath and enjoy a collective moment of sharing, celebration and support. Monthly youth services calls will resume in the fall. When: July 14, 2021, 3 p.m.
This summer, State Library Services is contracting with Ruqia Abdi to provide a series of online workshops about early childhood and the Somali community. Ruqia is the author of Better Parenting: A Guide for Somali Parents in the Diaspora (available both in English and Somali). Ruqia will bring her blended experience of Somali culture, public library work and parenthood to translate early childhood research-based theory into practice. Times and topics will be as follows: Early Childhood and Public Libraries – Fri., Aug 20, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Early Childhood and the Somali Community – Mon., Aug 23, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Parent Engagement and Education – Fri., Aug 27, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Program Implementation Tips and Q & A – Mon., Aug 30, 1 – 3:30 p.m. Attending all sessions in the series is recommended, but not required. The workshops will not be recorded. A registration link will be available in the next newsletter.
After more than a year of challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota is looking forward to a brighter future, with increased opportunity for all Minnesotans to skill up, earn a college credential, and improve their economic outlook. Word of mouth is the most effective outreach tool to encourage adults to take those opportunities. Knowing that, Forward Together is looking for Ambassadors: local volunteers trained to encourage their friends, neighbors, and colleagues to enroll in or to return to college or workforce training and complete their programs. The Ambassadors will be trained on not only higher education options, but also Adult Basic Education integrated programs, state-supported workforce training programs, and accessing workforce or career services. Being an Ambassador might involve face-to-face conversations, sharing information via social media, or exploring other ways that make sense for their community. The program is flexible and the possibilities for making a real impact are almost limitless! Register to become a Forward Together Ambassador! The first ambassador trainings have already begun, but keep an eye out for more trainings to come. If your organization is interested in becoming a partner in this work, please contact Caitlin Hamrock to learn more.
The Minnesota Online and Digital Learning Summit is a conference for educators in online and blended settings. This is a participant-driven event with practitioner/presenters sharing their expertise in two types of sessions: online workshops or facilitated participatory conversations. When: Tuesday, August 3, 2021, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. All sessions will be hosted live on Zoom or Google Meet and broadcast to YouTube live as well. Visit the website to check out 2020’s program, and sign up to attend or present this year!
