All posts by Mary Jordan

Academic, Communication, Public

MLA Educational Webinars

“At the MLA conference in Duluth we recorded two sessions which are now available free to members. These are the first of several webinars that will be made available to members over the course of the year. Some of these may be recording other MLA events such as the keynote at PLD or ARLD day and may expand to specific continuing education events that will be happening around our state. In most cases these continuing education events will be both in-person and online events. The brand new Continuing Education Committee is currently examining topics, locations and methods to bring these events to MLA members. This will be an additional opportunity for members to present outside of the conference. This new initiative for our members is very much in the planning stage so stay tuned!”

More with Less: Project Management for Beginners – Listen Now!
Speakers: Kelly McBride, Director, Osceola Public Library and Anthony Molaro, Ph.D., Professor, St. Catherine’s University

BiblioTech – Bringing the Library to the Public– Listen Now!
Laura Cole, Administrator, BiblioTech

Academic, Advocacy, Communication, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Library Advocacy Updates from EveryLibrary

To keep our members updated on the news affecting our profession, we share material from all kinds of library organizations. This is the latest weekly newsletter from the advocacy organization EveryLibrary.

Remember: library advocacy is everyone’s job! We know the work we do is important – be sure you tell other people about it, and the work you do to serve your community!

From EveryLibrary:

It already looks like 2017 will be a daunting year for library funding and support across the country. We are disheartened to report at least two public library closures and a continued decline of school library funding and support. We are also concerned about an empowered Republican Study Committee who have proposed Federal Budgets with an agenda that includes defunding the National Endowment of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services which makes millions of dollars in grant money available to libraries. We will continue to see well organized institutions like the Koch Brothers funded Americans For Prosperity PAC come after libraries. That’s why we are starting this year by asking you to help us stand up against these initiatives and support our nation’s libraries.

Continue reading Library Advocacy Updates from EveryLibrary →

CMLE, Communication, General

Literary….toothpaste???

As you know, many library people tend to be book fans. And book fans tend to like book-related accessories.  You can find all kinds of things to go along with the books you love:

All of that is usual, and you have probably seen similar items already.

But, have you seen literary toothpaste??

It was a first for me! I saw this on Twitter, and issued a challenge there: I will buy a tube of either flavor for a CMLE member, and in return you will blog about the experience for us!

Continue reading Literary….toothpaste??? →

General, Public, School Media Specialist

Be a Mentor for ALSC !

You have a lot to share!

As an experienced library person, you remember back to when you were new in libraries, or new in your job. Did someone help you? You can be that person who helps to make someone else’s journey easier and more fulfilling!

The Association of Library Service to Children is looking for mentors – and you may be just the person they need!!

You do not need to be a member of ALA or ALSC, or to have a library degree, to mentor someone. You just need to be willing to talk with someone who is new, and who could use a source for guidance in questions and support. I’ve been in CMLE libraries, so I know we have many people here who would just be great mentors!!

Apply today!! (Check in with us here at CMLE Headquarters if you want to talk about your application!) Continue reading Be a Mentor for ALSC ! →

Communication, General

Libraries in the comics

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Libraries, and library people, are -as we all know – fascinating! All kinds of great things happen in libraries, and every day is a potential adventure for us.

This has not gone unnoticed.

There are many comics out there that are set in libraries, and when you read through them it can be so fun to say “Yes! That happened to me!” or “Eeek! That sounds so scary!”

Do you have other favorites? Add them in the comments below! We would love to hear about more!

One of the most famous library comics is the now-retired Unshelved. It’s all about the adventures of Dewey – a librarian who may not be the best example of great service. Other characters include his well-meaning (but not terribly effective) manager, the enthusiastic children’s librarian, a senior Reference librarian, and a few other library staffers.

You can follow the creators’ schedule, as they travel to all kinds of library conferences; and you can buy all kinds of neat things in their online store – including my favorite shirt:

Continue reading Libraries in the comics →