We have a winner! Thanks to everyone who “liked” CMLE over the past few weeks on Facebook. It’s great to see so many of you out there, and we hope to see more in the future too! So, without further ado… our winner is Kris Sylvester from McGregor Elementary! Congrats, Kris… and thanks for staying connected! See you on Facebook!
All posts by Kate
Recommended App: Grammar Jammers Primary Edition
Pearson Education, Inc. has developed a kid-friendly app for learning grammar usage and mechanics. The primary edition of this app promises “catchy animated songs and rhymes [to] 
make English language arts exciting!” Grammar Jammers Primary Edition includes unique animations and quiz questions on the following topics: adjectives, contractions, nouns, pronouns, punctuation, sentences, and verbs. The app is free and is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.1.2 or later.
Check out this YouTube video for a nice sampling of what’s available on the app. I absolutely love the music and imagine that both kids and adults (parents & teachers) could enjoy listening to it (unlike some cartoon/kids music!).
Grammar Jammers is also available in Elementary and Middle Editions. However, these editions of the app typically cost around $2.99.
Just for Fun: Sassy, Funny, and Silly Librarian Calendars
Wowza! Have you noticed the uptick in the number of librarian calendars of late? Librarians have likely always struggled with their “image”… however, articles like the recent Personal Branding for Librarians from ALA, and What a Librarian Looks Like from the Huffington Post blog point towards the fact that the image struggle still continues… maybe even more so!
So, what’s a librarian to do, you ask? Increasingly, the answer seems to be …. create a librarian calendar! (Okay, so maybe the real reason is to raise money, but it’s really all about the image, right?!)
Here are a few of my favorites! 
2013 Tattooed Youth Librarians of Massachusetts
Cat Librarian Calendar 2013 (may not actually “help” our cause!)
And… we can’t forget 2012’s Men of the Stacks
Have you ran across any fun librarian calendars or sites? Share here!
Academic Librarians — Register for Ebooks and Academics: Video Presentations and Discussion
Register today for Ebooks and Academics: Video Presentations and Discussion!
Academic Librarians from all Colleges in Central MN
St. Cloud State University New Welcome Center (easy parking)
Friday, November 30, 9:00AM-12:30 PM
Academic librarians, please join your colleagues from around the region for this local event with outstanding national content!! Attendees may include personnel from: College of St. Bens/Johns, Rasmussen College, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, SCSU, Cambridge Campus of ARCC, and Pine Technical College. Recently, CMLE staff participated in the virtual SEFLIN eBook conference called eBooks: Benefits, Challenges, and the Future, and paid for group access to the recordings of the five national presenters. We selected the messages of national ebook experts, Sue Polanka and Chad Mairn, as being of most interest to you for this first event. Besides listening to their best thinking on ebooks, we would like to offer this opportunity to network informally and discuss local ebook developments and ideas too. CMLE is hosting and arranging this free event.
Come ready to listen, engage, and discuss!! Light refreshments will be served.
Agenda
9:00-9:15 Introductions & logistics
9:15 – 10:15 Sue Polanka (Head of Reference and Instruction, Wright State Universities Libraries)– eBook Licensing and Access: Now and in the Future
This session will analyze barriers to ebook lending models currently available for libraries including licensing, packaging, DRM, use models, and pricing. Trends in the publishing industry such as self-publishing, enhanced ebooks and digital textbooks, which may impact libraries, will be highlighted, demonstrating new opportunities for the future.
10:15-10:45 Group Discussion
10:45 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 12:00 Chad Mairn (Information Services Librarian and adjunct professor at St. Petersburg College & Chief Technology Officer, Novare Library Services) – Getting the Most from Your eBook Readers: Tips and Tricks
New examples of electronic reading material — e-books, e-magazines, e-textbooks — are appearing every day as well as devices and software to read them on. Accessing, transferring, and interacting with electronic text via Nooks, Kindles, and other e-reading devices, however, can be complicated. Join Chad Mairn as he offers tips and tricks for library staff to help their patrons use their e-reading devices to their full potential. This session will include information on: dedicated and non-dedicated e-readers, new and innovative e-reading devices and software, current and upcoming e-formats, digital Rights Management, privacy issues, and emerging technologies impacting reading in a digital age.
12:00 – 12:30 Group Discussion
Not enough discussion time? Consider walking to Bo Diddleys, Pacific Wok, Noodles & Company, or Chipotle for lunch on your own and continued conversation/debate with colleagues.
Registration is requested. Deadline is end of day on Wednesday, November 28. Register at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EbooksAcademics
Kate Bessey will be contacting all registrants by Thursday, November 29 with directions and parking instructions.
We hope you’ll join us! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
P.S. Not to worry, similar events will be held in the near future for our other library types as well! Be on the look out!
Library Journal’s List of America’s Star Libraries – Six Minnesota Libraries Named!
Six Minnesota public libraries have been named to Library Journal’s list of America’s Star Libraries for 2012. The designated libraries include:
Minnesota:
Hennepin County Library
Grand Marais Public Library
Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library, Crosby
East Grand Forks Campbell Library
Ely Public Library
Edgerton Public Library
For more information see: http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/11/managing-libraries/lj-index/class-of-2012/americas-star-libraries-2012-top-rated-libraries/