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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!
Check this out:, School Media Specialist

School Media Articles Worth Reading

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Article One: Have you read  the January  School Library Journal  article, Partners in Success: When school and public librarians join forces, kids win? Read the story of how Leslie Yoder, a digital literacy and learning specialist with St. Paul’s public schools and Ramsey County Library teen librarian  Marcus  Lowry have found creative ways to work together. We know that some schools in our region already partner with their public libraries. Please consider sharing your stories with me, and I can share them more broadly through a blog post. Your colleagues really want to hear your story.

Article Two: I know this article will really irritate some folks, but the truth of the matter is that there will be more schools considering new models or possibilities for media centers, and yes, in some cases, the hardcopy books may disappear altogether! It is an important time to make sure you are at the table when important discussions about the future of your school occur. Use the comments area to share what you think about what this Minnesota school did….The article is titled  School Library Thrives After Ditching Print Collection. The Digital  Shift, Jan 8.

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

Free WebJunction Webinars

WebJunction-logoDid you know that the WebJunction website contains a monthly list of  freely available training opportunities that are available to the library community? WebJunction Minnesota,  provides access to online, self-paced courses and other features, and  is available to all members of the Minnesota library community.

Your professional development has never been so convenient, easy, and affordable! It can feel overwhelming, but just pick one and give it a whirl!

Titles of Free January Programs

The list below will give you an idea of the rich offerings available to you. Interested in getting more detail or attending one of these events?

Go to http://www.webjunction.org/find-training/free-events.html and scroll down to get details on any of the webinars below. If the date has already passed, no worries, you can attend the archived content. I tried the second offering on Burnout, and all it required was a short download of Blackboard Collaborate! Pretty painless…..

  • Trustee Training Course: Planning, Policy Making, and Evaluation
  • Burnout: Avoiding the Flames
  • Better than Bullet Points
  • Keeping Your Library Safe: Black Belt Librarians
  • An Introduction to Facilitating Groups
  • Data Privacy Month: Are You Smarter Than Your Phone?
  • Louder, Faster, Funnier: Humor & Learning
  • Culture: Communications, Collaboration, and Creating Core Values
  • Strengthen the Influence of Your Leadership: Prepare for Success
  • Landing Your Ideal Library Job
  • Transforming Communities Through Apps: Part II
  • To Evaluation and Beyond: The Evolving Role of the Embedded Librarian
  • Database of the Month: Tools you can Use
  • Broadband Basics for Public Libraries
  • New Resources for the Common Core
  • The Impact of an Ice Cream Sundae
  • Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without Giving In
  • Strengthen the Influence of Your Leadership: Leverage Your Knowledge of Communication Styles to Positively Influence Work and Personal Relationships
  • QR Codes: Bridging the print-to-digital divide
  • Basics of Information Literacy Assessment
  • Rockin’ the Virtual Classroom
  • Show Me the Money: Fundraising That Taps into The 90% of All Wealth That Is Not Cash
  • Reenergize Your Best Employees Before They Leave You
  • Creating a Culture of Innovation in your Library and Community
  • Listening Skills For Leaders: How To Conduct A One On One Conversation To Motivate Others
  • Strengthen the Influence of Your Leadership: Build Rapport and Motivate with The Language of Influence
  • Introduction to Fundraising Planning
  • Managing Team Conflict Effectively
  • Developing an Epic Facebook Strategy for Your Nonprofit
  • Strengthen the Influence of Your Leadership: So, What Do You Do? Talk Up Your Value in 30 to 60 Seconds
  • Your Board and Fundraising

See the WebJunction Minnesota website for more general information and an events calendar.

Check this out:, School Media Specialist

TIES Technical Leadership Conference in St. Cloud

Mary Mehsikomer, TIES, announces that the TIES Technical Leadership Conference will be held on February 14-15, 2013 at the St. Cloud Convention Center. Click on this link  for more information and a registration link.

Or, go directly to http://tinyurl.com/avmz6rp for the conference website.
I hope to see you there! If you have questions, please feel free to call or e-mail me.ties
Mary

Mary Mehsikomer
Technology Integration Development & Outreach Facilitator
TIES
1667 Snelling Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55108
(651) 999-6510
E-mail: mary.mehsikomer@ties.k12.mn.us
http://www.ties.k12.mn.us

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

23rd Public Library Report is Out!

Check out this new blog post from UpNext: The IMLS Blog about New Report Shows Trends in U.S. Library Service! According to the report, circulation, public programs and digital services are on the rise. Now in its 23rd year, the Public Library Report provides the most comprehensive data from the nation’s 17,078 public library outlets.  It covers collection sizes, operating revenue and expenditures, and staffing, as well as performance indicators, such as public Internet computers, circulation, reference transactions and library visits. For the first time this year the report goes beyond the national level analysis to look at trends at the local, regional, and state levels.

Read the full post about the report  at http://blog.imls.gov/?p=2645

Go directly to the full report and state by state data at http://tinyurl.com/ac39ajc

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

New Pew Internet Report: Library Services in the Digital Age

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Patrons embrace new technologies – and would welcome more. But many still want printed books to hold their central place at public libraries.

The internet has already had a major impact on how people find and access information, and now the rising popularity of e-books is helping transform Americans’ reading habits. In this changing landscape, public libraries are trying to adjust their services to these new realities while still serving the needs of patrons who rely on more traditional resources. In a new survey of Americans’ attitudes and expectations for public libraries, the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project finds that many library patrons are eager to see libraries’ digital services expand, yet also feel that print books remain important in the digital age.

“In the past generation, public libraries have reinvented themselves to become technology hubs in order to help their communities access information in all its new forms,” noted Kathryn Zickuhr, Research Analyst at the Pew Internet Project, and co-author of a new report on the survey findings. “While many patrons appreciate being able to access new digital resources at libraries, they also say they value having print books and other traditional resources at libraries and still want a personal connection with library staff. Many libraries are torn between expanding their digital offerings on the latest platforms and still providing quality resources for patrons who may lack experience with technology or the means to own the latest devices.”

 The report explores:
• How Americans use public libraries
• Public priorities for libraries
• What new services people say they would use in the future

“The level of public eagerness for new services seems to be matched by wariness of changes in traditional library activities that patrons have used for years,” said Lee Rainie, Director at the Pew Internet Project and co-author of the report on these findings. “These findings paint a picture of a public that wants its libraries to be all things to all patrons. There is no clear roadmap of public priorities for libraries, so different communities will likely come up with different mixes of services as they move into the future.”

Read or download the full report: http://libraries.pewinternet.org/2013/01/22/Library-services/