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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!

TIES Conference: CMLE Scholarship Recipient

The following post was submitted by CMLE scholarship recipient Marlene Peterson,  Elementary Media Specialist at John Clark Elementary and Richmond Elementary (Rocori)

1026206_10200793689498228_166602550_oTIES 2013 Conference – Fast Forward; Transforming Pedagogy with Technology

 Thanks to a CMLE scholarship, it was my privilege to attend the TIES 2013 Conference in December.  I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions, vendors and moments of collaboration with other educators and experts.

One session that I attended was the “Best free websites for upper elementary” with presenters Krista Isaacs and Melissa Wilber from Lakeview Elementary.  The presenters demonstrated 21st century initiatives and skills.  I was inspired by the examples of student projects and videos that were shared.  I went away with a handful of websites that I would start using immediately, along with a dozen more websites that would take a little more time to implement.

I was drawn next to a session on “Digital Citizenship,” an important consideration for all educators.  This was a great session presented by Troy Reynolds (Wini-Mac) who shared practical ideas that can be quickly implemented, based upon the Common Sense Media organization.  Their website offers a digital citizenship scope and sequence, student assessment, lesson plans and many other educator resources. I plan on using this resource with the 5th grade media classes that I teach each week.

My favorite session was “Enticing struggling readers to read a good Nook ” presented by Bonnie Fahning and Kate Tinguely (Prio-Lake-Savage).  I loved their idea that holding a Nook takes away peer pressure and embarrassment for the student who doesn’t want others to see what they are reading.  They found that using a Nook engages the readers with the text.  They shared that they have had very few problems with their Nooks, which are checked out to students just as they would check out a library book.  They were very happy with the Nook professional development, support and reviews given by Barnes and Noble.  This session gave me inspiration and encouragement to further pursue digital books for my reluctant readers.

Public Library Accessibility & Improvement Grants Awarded

MDELogoTO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: January 8, 2014
SUBJECT: Grant Announcement

Public Library Accessibility and Improvement Grants Awarded

State Library Services is pleased to announce the Round Two 2013 Public Library Accessibility and Improvement grant awardees. With $608,700 in funds available, five completed applications totaling more $1.1 million in requests were received by State Library Services. The two applications receiving top average scores by an independent review committee were approved for funding by Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius.

Anoka County will receive a grant of $150,000 toward the renovation of the Northtown branch in Blaine. The project will improve the accessibility of the building with an improved entrance, adapt the children’s area and other building spaces. Robert D. Thistle, Anoka County Library Board President noted that “the Library Board is pleased to receive this grant … the funds will allow us to make the service desk, restrooms and book returns accessible to all.”

The city of Ely will receive a grant of $458,699 toward building a new accessible library building. The current library, housed in Ely’s Community Center, has outgrown its space and is not accessible to people with mobility impairments. The new building will bring the library into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines. Rachel Heinrich, director of the Ely Public Library, noted that the grant will help “this ‘end of the road’ community to improve library service to the area residents without a significant tax increase by bridging the gap between cost savings gained by the new building and the payments on the building’s construction.”

The Public Library Accessibility and Improvement Grant program is a one-to-one matching construction grant program intended to support the renovation and construction of public libraries, with a special interest in ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities. The program is funded biennially by an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature.

For more information or to sign up for this listserv, please contact Jennifer Nelson at 651-582-8791 or jennifer.r.nelson@state.mn.us.

Featured Book: Orange is the New Black

Orange_Black

This post is a part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books. If you have a book you would like to showcase, please send your review to our offices

Book: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman

Review by Katherine Morrow, Branch Librarian, Mille Lacs Lake Community Library

If you’ve seen the Netflicks series Orange is the New Black you may want to pick up the book with the same title.  Though you’ll find Piper and many of the same characters in the memoir, don’t expect as much conflict and drama as the television version.  If you haven’t heard of it, the author, Piper Kerman, who is a Smith graduate, is arrested and incarcerated over 10 years after she committed a drug-running crime.  She is in her mid-thirties in a stable home with her fiancé Larry when she has to surrender to the federal corrections institute in Danbury, CT.  In prison she stands out with her blond hair and college degree.  She bonds with her fellow inmates over inventive ways to use sanitary napkins and confiscated ketchup and also helps them with their schooling and legal cases.

This book dramatizes the problem that was recently highlighted by Attorney General Eric Holder, that too many non-violent individuals are being incarcerated for drug offenses.   Kerman serves her 15 months and is able to return to her former life.  Many of the women she meets are not so fortunate and end up back in prison.

I checked out this book through the ECRL Overdrive site and read it on my Kindle.  Although there was a small wait, I probably got the digital version sooner than I would have as a regular book.

Kids Feet Power Schools

Confetti.Jessica M. CrossAs we dream of a future of schools and libraries being powered by wind or sun, let’s not forget other possibilities. PaveGen is a new technology that harnesses the power of footsteps to produce electricity. It is possible that cities could be powered by foot traffic too, but it would  be imperative to keep that foot traffic going! Although the trial happened in London, Fast Company reminds us of exciting possibilities for our future. Read the full post at http://tinyurl.com/o5fckv9