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The Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange (CMLE) is one of seven regional multitype library systems established to meet the needs of and share the resources of all types of libraries. We love libraries, and are here to support them!
Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MN Library Legislative Update

**This update was written by Elaine Keefe, MLA/MEMO Library Legislative Lobbyist** (Received on Monday, April 29, 6:09 pm)

The Legislature must adjourn three weeks from today.  Most of the omnibus budget bills were passed on the floor of the House and Senate last week.  Conference committees are in the process of being appointed and will begin meeting later this week. Here is the status of the major bills affecting libraries:

Omnibus Higher Education Bill (SF 1236):  The bill has passed both the House and the Senate.

The Senate higher education bill includes a $300,000 per year increase in funding for Minitex/MnLINK.  The House maintains current funding.

Please contact the conferees listed below and ask them to support the Senate funding level for Minitex/MnLINK:   

Omnibus E-12 Education Bill (HF 630): The bill has passed both the House and Senate. Here are the highlights for MLA and MEMO:

  • Both the House and Senate versions of the bill maintain all library appropriations at current levels.
  • Both the House and Senate change the terminology in statute from “grant” to “aid” for Regional Library Basic System Support and Multi-type funding.
  • The Senate includes language clarifying that total operating capital can be used by schools to purchase computer, software and annual licensing fees. I expect the House to accept this language in conference.
  • The House increases the general education formula by 2% in FY 14 and 2% in FY 15. The Senate increases the general education formula by 1% in FY 14. The House had more money to spend than the Senate did.

House conferees are Reps. Paul Marquart (DFL – Dilworth), Carolos Mariani (DFL – St. Paul), Kathy Brynaert (DFL – Mankato), Will Morgan (DFL – Burnsville) and Dean Urdahl (R – Grove City). Senate conferees are Senators Chuck Wiger (DFL – Maplewood), Patricia Torres Ray (DFL – Minneapolis), LeRoy Stumpf (DFL – Plummer), Alice Johnson (DFL – Spring Lake Park) and Kevin Dahle (DFL – Northfield).

Omnibus Tax Bill (HF 677):  The bill has passed the House and is currently being debated in the Senate. Both bills raise a substantial amount of new revenue via increases in income taxes, sales taxes and and cigarette taxes. The House also raises taxes on alcohol.  Both bills include property tax relief.

The House bill increases aid to cities by $80 million and aid to counties by $30 million.  The Senate bill increases aid to cities by $80 million and aid to counties by $40 million.  These increases will be helpful to public libraries.

Legacy:  The House Legacy bill was scheduled to be taken up on the House floor 10 days ago and then was pulled.  Rumor has it that controversy over the outdoor heritage appropriations have made it questionable whether the bill can pass.  The Senate has not yet put its bill together.

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

Free Monthly Webcast Series Specifically for School Librarians!

Photo by Litworld
Photo of Shannon Miller by Litworld

If you attended the summer MEMO leadership event and/or the MEMO Fall Conference last year you heard Shannon Miller talk about our role to “be the change.” School Library Journal recently began a series of monthly webcasts hosted by Shannon. Supposedly, your attendance at each of the one hour free webcasts will unleash the library leader in you and will inspire leadership at every level!  Learn strategies from the experts to help you take the lead through effective communication, collaboration and execution. You will gain valuable skills to help shape your professional future as well as the future of your library, school and community.

Go to http://www.slj.com/BeTheChange/#_ to get details on each webcast and to register. Please note that the webcasts are also archived so you can access them when it best suits your schedule.

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

MNLFI Update!

CMLE staff have been involved both on the Steering Committee and in the Futurists groups of the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative (MNLFI) over the past few years.  Please note this communication from the Futurists for those who may want to book a workshop.

Book your workshop with the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative (MNLFI) today! If your organization is interested in an MNLFI workshop, please fill out the workshop request form on our website mnlfi2025.org by June 1. Requests must be received by June 1 to be considered, though the workshops themselves may be held throughout the summer of 2013. Over the past year, members of MNLFI have visited libraries of all types throughout the state of Minnesota facilitating workshops exploring the future of libraries. Workshops can be very broad in scope or can be customized to help your organization with a specific need. Visit the Workshops page for more information.

Feedback from workshops has been positive, pointing to the increased engagement and enthusiasm for the future of libraries among participants.

Examples of previous workshops:

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  • Managers from Dakota County Library considered how future directions will change hiring and training practices.
  • MLIS students at St. Catherine University developed ideas about the future of the “participatory library” as part of a Library 2.0 class.
  • Staff from Carver County Library explored a variety of the Scenarios developed by MNLFI in preparation for a strategic planning discussion.
  • Staff from the MnDOT Library considered how they can foster partnerships to meet the reference needs of the future.
  • See more on the Shared Visions page.

The Minnesota Library Futures Initiative was developed to spark conversation about the future of libraries in Minnesota. The MNLFI Steering Committee selected 24 participants from all types of libraries through an open application process. The MNLFI Futurists gathered to research and discuss factors likely to impact the future of libraries and possible ways libraries might respond to those opportunities and challenges. What we discovered is that being engaged in the conversation about the future is more empowering and energizing than reading about it and everyone has something to contribute.

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

What Do Teacher Librarians Teach?

Some rights reserved by Roberto Verzo
Some rights reserved by Roberto Verzo

It is still April and a month long celebration of school media specialists, AKA teacher librarians. We received lots of positive feedback about our April 3rd  post on 100 Things Kids Will Miss if they Don’t Have a Teacher Librarian in their School so thought our readers may want more of the same. Never stammer if asked what you do….have your elevator speech ready! To help you formulate or flesh out that speech, we recently uncovered another great document authored by Dr. Joyce Valenza/teacher-librarian at Springfield Township High School in Erdenheim, Pennsylvania and Gwyneth A. Jones, teacher-librarian at Murray Hill Middle School, Laurel, Maryland. Check out their document, titled  What Do TL’s Teach?

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

A Big Spoonful of Librarian Positivity!

Some rights reserved by Library_Miss
Some rights reserved by Library_Miss

Things are hard in library land right now, we get that! So, if you have been feeling the least bit gloomy about your future as a librarian, you need to read this piece.  It appeared recently in Library Journal, and was authored by Barbara Fister, librarian at Gustavus Adolphus College. Barbara cites ten reasons she loves being a librarian, and it is a refreshing reminder of what is positive and noble about this profession. The post is called Ten Easy Pieces: The Profession of Librarianship.  I hope you come away feeling as hopeful and refreshed as I did. Enjoy!