All posts by admincmle

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!
General, School Media Specialist

Ever heard of your school library as "third place?"

If your students, staff, and teachers think of your school media center as their third place, that trendsis a very cool thing. But, what does it mean?

Quite simply, home is your first place, work or school is your second place, and your third place is where you go to “hang out” with friends, collaborate with your peers, where you meet for quiet discussion or friendly debate. The tricky bit is….can a school media center be a third place when it is also part of a second place. The answer is yes!  The following article tells you how, with examples and additional readings too.  Read the full article here.

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/lfpv7xn, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

State Library Update 2/11/16

MDE logo retrieved online 12/17/13..TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: February 11, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

We’re Hiring! Position Open at the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library
State Library Services is excited to announce that the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library is now hiring an Audio Visual Education Specialist. Based in Faribault, this new position will run the library’s volunteer-driven recording program, creating digital audio recordings for library patrons. Applications will be accepted through February 16. To access the job posting and apply online, visit Minnesota’s Online Job Application website and search for job opening ID #2799. For more information, please contact Catherine Durivage (507-384-6860).

Learn More about Supercharged Storytimes
Last fall, 80 Minnesotans participated in Supercharged Storytimes–a dynamic online early learning training program–sharing their experiences, challenges and triumphs in amping up their storytimes. The Supercharged Storytimes curriculum is now available to all through the end of March, and we’d like to invite you to join in the fun.

Please join Jackie Blagsvedt for a 30-minute webinar on February 26, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. when she’ll highlight the best from Minnesota’s Supercharged Storytimes online community. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can join the conversation by phone at 1-888-742-5095, conference code 132 628 9594.

Contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) 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.

Learn How Your Library Can Feed Hungry Kids
Fewer than 15 percent of Minnesota kids who benefit from the free or reduced-price school lunch program have access to summer and afterschool food programs. Limited access to free food programs, particularly during the summer, leaves many children hungry. Public libraries can help make sure kids have access to nutritious food when school is not in session. Begin planning your summer 2016 participation by attending an informational webinar on February 24, 2016 at 11 a.m. Jenny Butcher, USDA Summer Food Service Program Coordinator at MDE, will share how you can get involved. There is no need to pre-register. Please join the WebEx meeting online (meeting number 594 625 833) or call in at 1-888-742-5095 (conference code 874 403 3672). 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.

Save the Date: Better Together – Strengthening Adult Learning Communities – Libraries, Adult Education & Workforce Regional Meetings
Mark your calendar and plan to join colleagues from adult education, libraries and workforce development for a full-day learning opportunity. The workshops are designed to increase our collective capacity to work together to improve adult literacy and workforce outcomes for Minnesotans.

At each session, you’ll hear promising practices for collaboration across organizations, learn about free resources that promote digital literacy and workforce skills, and have a chance to work with your local counterparts to develop a collaborative project.

April 29, 2016 – Roseville at Minnesota Department of Education
May 9, 2016 – Mankato at Country Inn and Suites
May 16, 2016 – Grand Rapids at Saw Mill Inn

For more information or to be included on a mailing list for future announcements, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Supervisor Nuts and Bolts Workshop

I have a plan. (187/365)Do you supervise and give work direction with no authority? Do you feel like you are killing yourself to meet all aspects of your job, when it is never enough? Are your best intentions being undermined, misunderstood or met with hostility? Let us help…

CMLE would like to gauge your interest in attending two “after school” sessions (4-6 pm) in St. Cloud that will build your skill sets in positively influencing others and in creating space to do really good work. Come to hear how to get others (often paras) to do what you want them to do, while also wrapping your supervisor around your little finger! Come prepared to share with a professional expert/facilitator what is hard, what is not working, and get tips you can use tomorrow to make you better at what you do!

CMLE is willing to underwrite the costs of this event, but needs to gauge interest before we hire an expert to teach/facilitate these sessions. We need a minimum of 10 people and have room for 25. If you are from the Central MN region and think  this free workshop is for you, please weigh in below and indicate ALL dates that you could attend the first session.

Problems with the poll? Send email to admin@cmle.org for assistance.

The poll closes on February 22, 2016.

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/qc788l4, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

New ELM video project!

“Visit the new Video ELM site to hear stories from staff in Minnesota libraries, library systems, and statewide organizations like History Day highlighting the importance of ELM resources in their daily work and lives. If you’d like to submit your story, we’d love to include it on our site and share with the library community. Don’t be shy!  The more, the merrier!  Each story added helps promote ELM’s usage and awareness. Please consider being a voice for ELM. When you go to Video ELM to record a video, simply click on the large plus sign, follow the prompts, and consider these three questions in your recording.

  • What is your name?
  • Where do you work and what is your position?
  • How do you see the ELM databases used in your school, university, public library, or organization?  Or how do you see the impact of ELM databases on Minnesota residents?

If you don’t make a recording, don’t worry.  Just enjoy the videos and share!  Participate today!”
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

New makeup of the CMLE Governing Board

fireworksJanuary marks when CMLE has a turnover in its Board members. It is also the meeting where we do the yearly election of officers to serve on the Executive Committee. Each year I marvel at the knowledge around the table and the generosity of Board members in giving of their time.

A few facts about the CMLE Governing Board:

  • As a multitype library system, created in MN Statute, a Governing Board is required to oversee finance and services that serve regional needs.
  • The Board includes eleven members, consisting of seven citizen members (not employed in library or information services) and four library workers representing academic, public regional libraries, school media centers and special libraries.
  • Citizen members are appointed by the cooperating regional system boards, GRRL and ECRL in the Central MN region.
  • The number of representatives from each regional system board is determined in proportion to population, with a minimum of two citizen representatives from any system. On this Board, five are GRRL appointees, two are ECRL appointees.
  • For additional information about length of term or other details, see the CMLE Bylaws.

The 2016 slate of Officers (Executive Committee) include:

  • Maria Burnham, President
  • Susan Schleper, Vice President
  • Vi Bergquist, Treasurer
  • Joanne Kudrna, Secretary

A roster of the full CMLE Governing Board is available on our website.

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (kazuend), licensed under CC0 1.0