All posts by Mary Jordan

Check this out:, Communication, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Let's talk! CMLE Google Groups, and more

orville-2
Orville likes to talk about libraries and library issues!

As we travel around to visit and talk with library people all around the system, we ask everyone what we can do to the help them get their work done. Our jobs are to make your jobs easier, and to help us all work together more effectively. And the one thing we consistently hear is that everyone wants to connect more easily and more frequently with their colleagues in other libraries.

As a system, working to connect everyone together, we want that too! So we are working out some strategies for helping you to get connected in a way that works for you.

One strategy is to set up a variety of Google Groups for you to join as you wish. You can post discussions, ask questions, share material, and set up chatting and Hangouts. So far, we have groups set up for all kinds of different organizations, and you can join any of them. We will be adding groups based on topics you might want to discuss on a regular basis (copyright, information literacy, planning, etc.), but Google takes a while before they let us set up more groups.

So we can dive in here and get started with sharing! While we don’t anticipate everyone will contribute huge amounts of discussion (though, of course that is fine too), we want to start having places where you can chat with each other, ask questions, and generally consult with your colleagues outside your library!

Note: although we envision these as being part of the strategy to connect CMLE libraries, if you are a library person outside of our system it is fine to join and discuss your library topics here. We want to build a community of library people! Continue reading Let's talk! CMLE Google Groups, and more →

Academic, Check this out:, CMLE, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

December CMLE book group picks

'Cozy Cabin', United States, Wisconsin, Phillips
Get cozy in December with our Goodreads books!

If you have some time over the weekend, and have already finished up our November book group selections, we present – for your reading enjoyment – our December books!

In our CMLE Librarian Professionals discussion group, we will read “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin.

In December, our Monthly Topic is stress management, and this book can be a way for you to get a handle on that. And we all start thinking about New Year’s resolutions as we get closer, so this book can help you to focus some of your energy on thinking about happiness goals!

Gretchen Rubin spends a year thinking about happiness, and how to make her already pretty-good life better. This was a NYT best seller for two years, and if you read it when it first came out, you might want to give it a re-read with some new perspective. She followed this up with several other books on happiness, and strategies for making your life happier.

She and her sister also create a weekly podcast with tidbits of advice on happiness-building activities you can take on. After I listened to “Podcast 91: Delete a Soul-Sucking App” I deleted Twitter from my phone, because it was making me upset to read my feed – but I couldn’t stop myself from spending time following every distressing discussion. I have to say I was much happier afterward!

I have picked up several other useful tips on increasing happiness – a very worthy goal in my eyes – from the podcast, and from the Happier series of books from Gretchen. If you have not explored in this area, try out her first book (this one!), or follow her blog, or listen to the podcast. See if consciously thinking about happiness strategies can make you happier this month! Tell us all about your experiences!

In our CMLE Librarians Enjoying Books discussion group, we are reading “The Strange Library” by Haruki Murakami.

December is a hectic month for everyone, so we want to be respectful of your time and give you a quick book. At 96 pages, this is the shortest of Murakami’s books translated into English from his native Japanese. (“What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” is also pretty short, but not much information on librarians!)

If you have not yet read any of his books, you have an interesting adventure ahead of you! If you have already delved into the somewhat surrealistic world he creates, you will find many of his typical images here: sheep, cats, jazz, whisky.

This is not a library you would aspire to for yourself, but sometimes it’s good to get out there and try some new ways of thinking. Holiday times can be a challenge for everyone, so breaking up your traditions (and traditions of holiday-induced stress!) with an interesting and odd little look into a new world might be just the thing to inspire you to enjoy your lives and your holiday traditions!

Have you read other Murakami books? They are nearly impossible to describe, but what was your favorite part? Were there books you particularly liked? If this is your first time in the Murakami world: welcome! There are adventures to be had here, and things to explore.

We are looking forward to hearing your responses!

Academic, Check this out:, CMLE, Communication, General, Public, Resources, School Media Specialist, Services, Special, Tech

Do you need some pep? Check out these library advocacy videos!

Videos can be a great way to demonstrate your services, and to advocate for your library!  Check out these library videos, to see what kinds of things other libraries are trying.

Does your library make videos? Would you like to?? At CMLE Headquarters, we want to encourage video creation and sharing, so tell us about your work!

2016 Livonia Public Library Summer Reading Program … Parkour!

“Do you need a book recommendation? Have you ever seen a librarian stunt double? Check out our 2016 Livonia Library Summer Reading video featuring Phoenix Freerunning Academy and our very limber librarians. Jump into action on June 4, 2016 by grabbing a reading log at any of the Livonia Public Libraries! Visit our website for more info: http://livoniapubliclibrary.org. And for the Children’s summer reading log, visit our Children’s Programs page: http://livoniapubliclibrary.org/kids/…. Library Parkour!”

Save the Troy Library “Adventures In Reverse Psychology”

“The city of Troy, Michigan was facing a budget shortfall, and was considering closing the Troy Public Library for lack of funds. Even though the necessary revenues could be raised through a miniscule tax increase, powerful anti-tax groups in the area were organized against it. A vote was scheduled amongst the city’s residents, to shut the library or accept the tax increase, and Leo Burnett Detroit decided to support the library by creating a reverse psychology campaign. Yard signs began appearing that read: “Vote to Close Troy Library on August 2nd – Book Burning Party on August 5th.” No one wants to be a part of a town that burns books, and the outraged citizens of Troy pushed back against the “idiotic book burners” and ultimately supported the tax increase, thus ensuring the library’s survival.”

 

 

A Vision Shared: School Board/District Planning for

School Library Advocacy

 

“This short film provides pointers for creating a school board/district wide vision statement for school libraries and emphasizes the importance of advocating for school libraries.”

Librarians Do Gaga

“Students and faculty from the University of Washington’s Information School get their groove on.”

 

Librarian Rhapsody- Shoalhaven Library Staff

This is the most unusual annual report from a library that I’ve ever seen – but combining telling their community about the things they have been doing over the past year with a strong message advocating for the library is a great touch! (Keep watching to the end for the final couple of sentences!)

Academic, Check this out:, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Update from State Library Services

state-library-services

CMLE members: we are posting this info so you can keep up on library activities from around the state. As always, CMLE Headquarters wants to be your one-stop source for all kinds of library information!

TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: November 22, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Tax Season Is Slowly Approaching – Order Outreach Materials and Mark Your Calendars
Your library probably receives at least a few questions about taxes during the tax season. State Library Services is working again with Prepare + Prosper’s statewide outreach campaign, Claim it!, and the Department of Revenue to provide your library with free resources and a webinar in December.

Order outreach materials from Prepare + Prosper for your library to help individuals find out if they qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit and to help them locate a free tax preparation site. Place your order today to receive these free materials in time for tax season.

Prepare + Prosper and the Department of Revenue will host a webinar for libraries with resources and information to help you during the 2017 tax season. The webinar will take place on Wednesday, December 14, at 11 a.m. Please register for the webinar today and join us in December. Please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508) with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.

Early Childhood Screening Informational Video and Webinar
Early Childhood Screening, offered by all school districts, is a way to determine if young children are on track for meeting developmental milestones. Some families do not take advantage of Early Childhood Screening because they don’t know about it or they have concerns about it. If parents knew more about what screening is and is not, they may be more likely to have their children screened and identify areas for additional focus before kindergarten.

Public librarians can help increase participation in screening by encouraging families to get their children screened between the ages of 3 and the start of kindergarten. The Minnesota Department of Education and community partners teamed up to create a five-minute informational video with basic information about screening for parents and caregivers, thanks to funding from The McKnight Foundation.

To learn how you can help increase families’ awareness of screening and comfort with the process, please join us for a webinar presented by MDE’s Early Childhood Screening Coordinator, Margo Chresand, on Thursday, December 8, Noon-12:30 p.m. (Add the webinar to your calendar.) Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.

What’s New for the 2016 Minnesota Public Library Annual Report?
2016 will soon be history. It’s time to get ready to document your library’s performance measures in your annual report. Share your ideas and preferences about data elements for the 2016 report, by completing the 2016 Minnesota Public Library Report Proposed Data Element Changes survey.

You’re also invited to make suggestions, share issues, and learn about proposed new indicators and modifications to current definitions. Join your colleagues in a discussion on Thursday, December 15, 1:30-2:30 p.m. When it’s time, join the meeting via WebEx or join by phone at 1-888-742-5095. Registration is not required. Please contact Joe Manion (651-582-8640) with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.

Progress Update on Minnesota’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan
Thank you to the many members of our library community who took the time to participate in the recent ESSA regional meetings held across the state. Commissioner Cassellius and other MDE staff were impressed by the representation of libraries at each session. Approximately 25 school librarians attended the ESSA meeting held by Jen Nelson and Kevin McHenry at MDE on November 9. Thank you all for giving voice to the critical role that school librarians play in student success. Later this fall, there will be additional opportunities to discuss the plan as it takes shape, including a survey for parents, educators and community members. Visit MDE’s ESSA webpage for updates and information, and email MDE with questions or concerns.

Playdates for Educators (of All Sorts)
The Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas is hosting monthly, free playdates for educators, artists, and makers who want to discuss, share, and try out new ways of bringing joy and playful learning to students. Fall playdates will be held on Wednesday, November 30, and Wednesday, December 14, 7-9 p.m., in the makerspace on the first floor of the University of St. Thomas Anderson Student Center at 2115 Summit Avenue in Saint Paul. Each session will include a hands-on project led by Playful Learning Lab students, as well as ample time for discussion and networking. Please email Annmarie Thomas to RSVP.

Young Adult Books Added to Ebooks Minnesota Collection
Ebooks Minnesota has added more than 150 new titles from Flux Books, a YA imprint of North Star Editions. The newly added collection includes imaginative and compelling books written by authors such as Maggie Stiefvater, Laurie Stolarz, Simone Elkeles, and A.S. King. Visit Ebooks Minnesota today to start reading. Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) with questions.

Thank You for Your Feedback
State Library Services is working with Management Analysis and Development (MAD) to assess our progress toward meeting the goals of the 2013-2017 LSTA Five-Year Plan. We received hundreds of responses to our online survey and 25 library stakeholders participated in focus group discussions. We appreciate your time and thoughtful participation – and commitment to quality library services across Minnesota. Our evaluation report is due to IMLS at the end of March 2017. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) with questions.

Exploring Early STEM Learning in Libraries
This fall, the Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) offered early STEM training to more than 170 library and early childhood professionals. Thank you to all the attendees, and the workshop hosts and refreshment providers: Fergus Falls Public Library and Friends, Grand Rapids Public Library and Friends, Hennepin County Library – Brooklyn Park and MELSA, Dakota County Library – Wescott and MELSA, Waseca Public Library and Traverse des Sioux Library Cooperative. We couldn’t have been successful without your participation.

The Early STEM Learning in Libraries initiative is made possible by funding through a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) with questions.

Registration for M3 Huddle Sessions Is Open
At the MLA Conference, MDE Learning Specialist Eric Billiet and State Library Services staffer Jen Verbrugge presented a session about Making Meaning with Multiple Data Sets (M3) – a method afterschool programs across the state use to collect and evaluate program data. Your library can use M3, too. Visit Ignite Afterschool’s website or listen to this introductory preparation webinar to learn more.

An M3 huddle is a six-hour session that brings program teams together to intentionally make meaning of their data and plan action steps. Your library can use this opportunity not only to consider data collection and evaluation, but also to connect with afterschool programs in your area. Follow the links below to register for a huddle session near you:

Register for January 20, Minneapolis Huddle Session.
Register for January 12, Greater Twin Cities Metro (Brooklyn Center) Huddle Session.
Register for December 16, St. Paul – Sprockets Huddle Session – 1st Option.
Register for January 13, St. Paul – Sprockets Huddle Session – 2nd Option.
Register for January 12, Southeast Huddle Session (Rochester).
Register for January 25, Southwest Huddle Session (Willmar).
Register for January 20, Northwest Huddle Session (Bemidji).
Register for January 27, Northeast Huddle Session (Duluth).

Please contact Matt Ramirez at Ignite Afterschool with any questions or concerns.

Check this out:, CMLE, Public, Visits

Visiting the Cambridge Public Library

Continuing our series of visits to CMLE area libraries, I was able to visit and chat with the staff at the Cambridge Public Library, as well as the East Central Regional Library Headquarters. Thanks to Barb Misselt, Sarah Hawkins, and Carla Lydon for taking time out to show me around libraries all day, and to give me  a lot of good info on libraries in their area!

say-yes
This is the BEST library saying!!

Although we were all sad to hear about the defeat of the Cambridge ballot measure for a much-needed new building (for more information on this and 70+ initiatives voted on across the country, check here), the library itself is still providing some great resources to its community! This sign, displayed in the community room, is a great example of the work they are doing to reach out to patrons and to serve their community! Libraries are in the business of providing information and entertainment; and we need to always search for that “yes” to give to our community.

Continue reading Visiting the Cambridge Public Library →