All posts by Mary Jordan

Wrapping up January Monthly Topic: Grants

This month we have talked about a few different strategies for grant writing, and shared some ideas on places to go for grants. All of this will be collected on our website, under Monthly Topics. We will also have material available in our Grants and Fundraising section.

And what are a few things we can take away from this month of grant learning? Continue reading Wrapping up January Monthly Topic: Grants

Food and Fun: A Good time was had by all!

Dateline: Monday, Jan 30, 2017

Place: Old Chicago restaurant, St Cloud

Purpose: CMLE members gathering for food, fun, and library talk

Verdict: Complete success!!

Yes indeed, we had a good time at the first in a series of CMLE gatherings! One of the most frequent member requests is for more opportunities to gather together informally, to share ideas, ask questions, and just have time to talk together.  And this happy group was the result!

Continue reading Food and Fun: A Good time was had by all!

Contribute to the ACRL Framework Sandbox

If you are in an academic library, or looking at academic information (as many of you are), you may want to be involved in a sandbox project from the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). You can look through the contributions and information other people are creating, and you are very much encouraged to contribute information yourself! No need to be a member; they want contributions from everyone, so feel free to dive in here and browse around for information that might be relevant to you and your library! Continue reading Contribute to the ACRL Framework Sandbox

ALA opposes new administration policies that contradict core values

As always, CMLE works to keep you informed on news around the profession. In this case, we are sharing the official American Libraries Association (ALA) stand on recent actions taken by the new administration because we want you to know what is happening, and to give you some ideas and details from your professional body. CMLE is not a political organization, but we support the values of the profession, including a free flow of information; and we always support the best libraries and the best service to our communities!

There are links you can use here to build your own advocacy skills, and of course we are always happy to help you in advocating for your library and for your community!!Talk to your legislators, and other stakeholders, to be sure your own voice is heard!

If it has been a while since you read through our professional Code of Ethics, this is a good time to do so. (We have the entire thing after the page break, for your convenience!)

The work libraries do to support their communities is important; keep reminding everyone of the value we bring! Continue reading ALA opposes new administration policies that contradict core values

Strengthening Networks, Sparking Change: Museums and Libraries as Community Catalysts

https://www.imls.gov/

The results are in, and we have all kinds of information on strategies you can use in your library to strengthen your connection with your community!

This is a free report, from the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Not all of it will be relevant to everyone; but it would be worth taking a few minutes to flip through this file to see what kinds of ideas you might get to help you in your library. And, as an advocacy note: this is just the kind of thing you can be showing to your administration to demonstrate the value a library can bring to you!

The report can be found here.

More information is available here: Continue reading Strengthening Networks, Sparking Change: Museums and Libraries as Community Catalysts