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 need a refresher or want to learn something new? Minitex Reference Outreach & Instruction has a new group of ELM webinar offerings packed with practical information you can apply to work or your personal interests.
Click below for more information on specific class dates, times, and descriptions.
Image by Jamierabbits. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.
According to HuffPost Books, “An avid reader is one of the best things a person can be. Not only does reading literature enhance your brain’s connectivity , it also allows you to experience other cultures, and avoid making embarrassing grammatical errors.There are, however, a handful of irksome situations that book lovers have to face. When is it okay to abandon a so-so novel? What’s the most efficient method of bookshelf organization? Is it snobby to dump someone on the basis of his or her dislike of reading? These and other quirky conundrums are perhaps the only downside to loving books with all of your heart and soul.” Just for fun, get a quick list of 19 quirky conundrums that you will completely understand as the book lover you are!
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Kristy Raffensberger writes: “There are many people who say the library played an important role in their childhood. But for Kenneth Choquette, the library was—quite literally—his home. Ken’s grandfather, John Mahon, was the custodian at the Webster branch of the New York Public Library from approximately 1940 to 1971. In those days, mostly because of the coal furnace, being a custodian was a twenty-four hour job. At the very top of Webster, up a back staircase, was Ken’s home: a four-room apartment.”…
We live in an age of Big: Big Computers, Big Data, and Big Lies.
As information professionals, we need to keep our skills sharp in steering clear of inaccurate data. And, if we are better in honing our skills, we can better help our end users too!
Randy Olson writes: “Faced with an unprecedented torrent of information, data scientists have turned to the visual arts to make sense of big data. The result of this unlikely marriage—often called ‘data visualizations’ or ‘infographics’—has repeatedly provided us with new and insightful perspectives on the world around us. However, time and time again we have seen that data visualizations can easily be manipulated. Here are three easy steps we can follow to save ourselves from getting duped in the data deluge.”…
Image by nic519. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons’ licensing.
The data is in! Download School Library Journal’s 4th annual survey of eBook Usage in U.S. K-12 Libraries. Usage of eBooks in school libraries, especially at the high school level, is expected to continue to rise incrementally.
The survey extrapolates that an estimated $73 million was spent on eBooks in U.S. schools is 2012-2013. And since last years survey, the percentage of LMC’s materials budgets spent on eBooks has nearly doubled, with that percentage expected to more than triple by 2018.
Register now for upcoming ELM webinar offerings. They begin February 18th!
