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!
Do you realize that when you click the BUY button on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, or Google, and you think you are buying an eBook, you are in fact simply licensing the book! Yep…it is true. This lack of clear ownership remains one of the murkiest problems in the eBook industry, one I have always resented!
I am thrilled by the news that Sony is addressing this problem with a new product. In fact, while defining clear ownership, they hope to also allow us to sell our used eBooks. Once sold, the book will actually disappear from the original owners account! Now we are talking….I am all about buying used when I can!
I admit, the technical details left me a bit mired, but read the full blog post to see what you think. Sounds like we can expect Sony to take this product to trade shows in Spring 2015! Read the full post at Sony Developing New DRM to Make Used eBooks Viable.
Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/ojj9olm, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
TO: Minnesota Library Staff
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: December 2, 2014
SUBJECT: Upcoming Workshops for Libraries
Webinars, Workshops and More
Ignite Afterschool
Ignite Afterschool is a statewide network of organizations dedicated to engaging young people in quality afterschool activities. With MDE and its partners, Ignite is building a statewide framework for quality afterschool programs. Library staff are invited to attend regional working meetings in December to provide feedback on the emerging quality framework.
Registration is now open for “Powering Learning. Expanding Possibilities,” a statewide out-of-school time learning and STEM conference co-hosted by Ignite and the STEM Network that will be held on April 14-15, 2015. Library staff are invited to submit conference session proposals on the conference themes — Systems Building and Partnerships, Integrating 21st Century Skills and STEM and Sharing Your Stories and Successes: Data, Evaluation and Messaging.
The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers make movies that creatively tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in ninety seconds or less. With the deadline to submit films set for December 20, 2014 (deadline extended to 1-16-2015 as of 12-11-2014), there are only weeks left to create. Please promote the opportunity to local kids and families through your library or school. Visit the State Library Services web page to download the logo, a sample press release, a flyer, a video invite from 90-Second Newbery founder James Kennedy, and more.
Mark your calendar for the first-ever Minnesota screening of the best 90-Second Newbery entries on Saturday, February 28, 2015, from 3-4:30 pm at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central. Co-hosts of the event will be James Kennedy, founder and curator of the 90-Second Newbery, and Kelly Barnhill, Minneapolis author of The Witch’s Boy. For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356.
Libraries and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
The recently enacted federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) includes exciting opportunities for libraries. From the potential to partner with Job Centers to the possibility to expand digital literacy services, WIOA recognizes the important part libraries play in workforce development and the benefits of strengthening that role.
Please join us for a webinar about WIOA and Minnesota’s libraries on Thursday, December 11, from 1-2 pm. Rick Roy, Director of Workforce Coordination at the Department of Employment and Economic Development, will give an overview of WIOA and lead a discussion of opportunities for partnerships and alignment of services.
If you missed our November 18, 2014 copyright event with Nancy Sims, we are truly sorry for your loss. Nancy referred to a number of resources during her presentation, which we promised to share broadly with everyone. She did a great job of explaining fair use and shared relevant examples to allow us all a bit of time to wrestle through the fair use process too. Much to the consternation and sometimes delight of participants, copyright is not black and white, and often, we have more ability to make a case for fair use than we may have thought! Today we share a treasure trove of Best Practices to help guide your fair use decisions in specific areas!
Visit Best Practices in Fair Use to receive additional guidance on specific areas of fair use as listed below. Tip: zero in on a relevant area and consider downloading or bookmarking the PDF to keep handy for all of your staff members to use as a reference tool when making internal decisions about fair use. The list of best practices includes…..
Emily Singley wanted to know whether commonly held assumptions about the research skills of college students hold true. She looked at seven studies published within the last three years, and saved us all a lot of work by sharing her results! This is what I love about online publishing….the greater good of all! So, out of nine very interesting findings, I share my highs and lows here!
What delighted me….that students do use library databases–though they often start with Google.
What saddened me….when students need help, they rarely ask librarians for help!
TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: November 20, 2014
SUBJECT: Web Page Updates, 90-Second Newbery and MNsure
State Library Services Web Page Updated
The State Library Services web page is a one-stop resource for many of State Library Services’ programs and activities. There, you’ll find resources for promoting the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival, an online form to request our Early Literacy and Keep Reading Fun bookmarks, and a link to more information about the statewide initiative to explore the future of e-books. You can also easily access information about library construction grants, LSTA grant opportunities, and statewide public library statistics.
Calling All Kid Filmmakers!
The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers make movies that creatively tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in ninety seconds or less. With the deadline to submit films set for December 20, 2014 (deadline extended to 1-16-2015 as of 12-11-2014), there’s only one month left to create. Please promote the opportunity to local kids and families through your library or school. Visit the State Library Services web page to download the logo, a sample press release, a flyer, a video invite from 90-Second Newbery founder James Kennedy, and more.
Mark your calendar for the first-ever Minnesota screening of the best 90-Second Newbery entries on Saturday, February 28, 2015, from 3:00-4:30 pm at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central. Co-hosts of the event will be James Kennedy, founder and curator of the 90-Second Newbery, and Kelly Barnhill, Minneapolis author of The Witch’s Boy. For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge, Library Program and Partnership Coordinator, at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356.
MNsure Webinar for Libraries Available for Viewing
MNsure’s webinar on open enrollment is available for viewing on MNsure’s YouTube channel. The session reviewed MNsure’s marketing, outreach, and operations for the current open enrollment period that runs through February 15, 2015. For more information or to request the webinar slides, please contact Emily Kissane at emily.kissane@state.mn.us or 651-582-8508.
Partnering with libraries for visioning, advocating, and educating
Do you realize that when you click the BUY button on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, or Google, and you think you are buying an eBook, you are in fact simply licensing the book! Yep…it is true. This lack of clear ownership remains one of the murkiest problems in the eBook industry, one I have always resented!
