All posts by Angie

Conference

Recap of the 2019 LibTech Conference!

We were lucky enough to be able to present again at the LibTech Conference at Macalester College this year! We gave a joint presentation with Sarah and Zach from Minitex. CMLE talked about how we were able to teach ourselves podcasting and the Minitex staff talked about their experience teaching themselves how to make videos.

We also attended several great sessions throughout the day. Mary learned about creating Moodle classes and I got to hear about one academic library’s experience with their VR equipment. This conference is so informative and filled with friendly library people from all over the country.

Chatting about books, making new friends!

While we were at the conference, we were able to record some episodes of our Book Bites mini podcast with conference attendees! We did have to overcome a few small equipment challenges, but podcasting onsite is always such a great learning experience, and it was worth it because we were able to meet a bunch of interesting library people!

You may remember last year at the LibTech conference, the library on campus was unveiling their recently renovated makerspace. I was so excited to go back and check it out to see how it had changed! There were so many fun things to try out and look at, I ended up staying for quite awhile!

  • Such an inviting space!
  • So many available tools!
  • Chill out with the help of VR!
  • New projects in the Idea Lab this year!

We definitely recommend this conference to anyone working in a library and dealing with technology. Thanks to our co-presenters for an awesome experience!

Books

We Heart MN: Books inspired by MN art museums

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

This week we will take a look at some Minnesota art museums! While these books might not be about the museum itself, they are connected in some way! Enjoy!

Inspired by the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth:

The Way of Cheng-Khee Chee: Paintings 1974 – 2014
This full-color, 72-page book and exhibition catalog features reproductions of 39 of the artist’s most important works, depicting 40 years of exceptional artistic reproduction. Also, there is a section that illustrates in detail the artist’s unique technical innovations.
Contributors to the publication include essays by curator Peter Spooner and artist scholar Ann Klefstad who address the subject of Cheng-Khee Chee’s artistic development, as well as how Chinese and Western styles and spirituality have influenced the artist’s paintings.
This book includes images of high quality of art reproduction. Each artwork has been digitally scanned, bypassing an intermediate photographic step. Thus the images are sharper and truer in color quality than any previous publication containing Cheng-Khee Chee artworks.

Old Turtle by Douglas Wood, Cheng-Khee Chee (Illustrator)
“Old Turtle first burst upon the publishing scene in 1992, and it was instantly recognized as a classic fable about ecology, peace, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Simple yet profound, it has since brought hope and inspiration to children and adults around the world.”

Inspired by the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis:


Russian Fairy Tales: Palekh Painting by Alexei Orleansky
“The best fairytales from the treasure chest of world literature, accompanied by illustrations by the master of Palekh painting. “

Inspired by the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis:


Mill City: A Visual History Of The Minneapolis Mill District by Kate Roberts, Shannon Pennefeather
“In Mill City, explorers, excursionists, early settlers, entrepreneurs, and laborers tell the story of St. Anthony Falls in their own words. Their vivid accounts are paired with historic photographs and artworks that bring their experiences to life.”

Communication

Library Journal names their Movers and Shakers for 2019!

The Movers and Shakers 2019 award from Library Journal is a big deal! We are so proud of CMLE supporter and long-distance member Violet Fox, who is honored in the Advocates category for her outstanding advocacy work in the cataloging field.

From the article:
“She credits her approach to her experiences in the zine librarian and #critlib communities. “We need help from [others] so we can build a classification that’s as just and equitable as possible,” says Fox.”

Also in the Advocates category is Minnesotan librarian Carol Jackson from the Ramsey County Library for her excellent programming work.

Learn about the recipients of the Movers and Shakers 2019 in this excerpt below and check out the full article here!
“They give patrons the intellectual, emotional, and technological tools to become their best selves. They provide solutions to move the needle on critical issues such as literacy and health, race, social justice, and gender bias.

They do this and more with powerful professional and personal commitment. They help kids become readers and give them agency to lead on inclusivity, diversity, and international understanding, work with the unhoused and those with criminal records while upholding their dignity, and change the way their libraries interact with students and faculty and the way students and faculty innovate and collaborate.”

CMLE, Programs

Take some tea with CMLE!

Advocate for libraries, chat with library people, and enjoy gorgeous and delicious treats like this!

We had such a delightful time last year when we held a member event at the Mad Hatter Tea House in Anoka that we want to do it again!

Since our members work in school media centers, history centers, archives, public, and academic libraries, we really appreciate hearing about the variety of tasks and challenges you handle every day. Plus, we love when our members get to meet each other and form connections across different types of libraries! We’re based in St. Cloud and hold many events in that area, so we want to branch out a bit to connect with some more members!

Join us on Sunday, May 5th at 10:30 for a Queen of Hearts tea service.
We scheduled this event on a Sunday since the majority of our member libraries are closed that day and can hopefully come join us instead!

We’ll also have a selection of library advocacy postcards with us, ready to sign and mail out to legislators and other library stakeholders. It’s SO important to speak up about the value that libraries add to communities, and we’ll help you do that!

Sip some tea, fill out postcards, and meet some other awesome library folks. It’s a great time!

If you want to reserve your spot right away, RSVP below! We are offering “scholarships” again for this member event, since we don’t want the cost to be the reason you can’t join us!

Books

We Heart MN: Intriguing Minnesota Women

A forest next to a lake with a cartoon heart in the middle

In this series, we’ll pick some of our favorite things about Minnesota and share some related book suggestions. (We’re open to your suggestions! Comment below or email us and tell us some of your favorite MN things!)

This week we take a look at some books by or about some of the very cool women that have called Minnesota home! Take a look:

Wanda Gág: A Life of Art and Stories by Karen Nelson Hoyle
“At the young age of just 15, Wanda Gág received her dying father’s last wish that she take up his dream of becoming a successful artist: “What papa couldn’t do, Wanda would have to finish.” Wanda assumed the role of head of the household and became the sole means of support for her sick mother and six siblings. Although times were tough, Wanda persevered and eventually became a celebrated artist and author living in New York City.”

No Horizon Is So Far: Two Women And Their Extraordinary Journey Across Antarctica by Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen
“Chronicles and celebrates the journey of two modern-day heroines who crossed Antarctic on foot. Though modern technology could not ensure rescue, website transmissions and satellite phone calls enabled more than 3 million school children from 65 countries to bear witness to Ann and Liv’s journey. In February 2001, former schoolteachers Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen became the first women to cross the Antarctic continent on foot.” 


Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed
“Sugar—the once-anonymous online columnist at The Rumpus, now revealed as Cheryl Strayed, author of the bestselling memoir Wild—is the person thousands turn to for advice. 
Tiny Beautiful Things brings the best of Dear Sugar in one place and includes never-before-published columns and a new introduction by Steve Almond.  Rich with humor, insight, compassion—and absolute honesty—this bookis a balm for everything life throws our way.”

Gratia Countryman: Her Life, Her Loves and Her Library by Jane Pejsa
“Sometimes called the “Jane Addams of libraries” Gratia Alta Countryman had an influential role in the Minneapolis Public Library, as well as libraries across the country.”
Read a review of this book in our series Read Across Minnesota!