Category Archives: Check this out:

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

Free Monthly Webcast Series Specifically for School Librarians!

Photo by Litworld
Photo of Shannon Miller by Litworld

If you attended the summer MEMO leadership event and/or the MEMO Fall Conference last year you heard Shannon Miller talk about our role to “be the change.” School Library Journal recently began a series of monthly webcasts hosted by Shannon. Supposedly, your attendance at each of the one hour free webcasts will unleash the library leader in you and will inspire leadership at every level!  Learn strategies from the experts to help you take the lead through effective communication, collaboration and execution. You will gain valuable skills to help shape your professional future as well as the future of your library, school and community.

Go to http://www.slj.com/BeTheChange/#_ to get details on each webcast and to register. Please note that the webcasts are also archived so you can access them when it best suits your schedule.

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

MNLFI Update!

CMLE staff have been involved both on the Steering Committee and in the Futurists groups of the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative (MNLFI) over the past few years.  Please note this communication from the Futurists for those who may want to book a workshop.

Book your workshop with the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative (MNLFI) today! If your organization is interested in an MNLFI workshop, please fill out the workshop request form on our website mnlfi2025.org by June 1. Requests must be received by June 1 to be considered, though the workshops themselves may be held throughout the summer of 2013. Over the past year, members of MNLFI have visited libraries of all types throughout the state of Minnesota facilitating workshops exploring the future of libraries. Workshops can be very broad in scope or can be customized to help your organization with a specific need. Visit the Workshops page for more information.

Feedback from workshops has been positive, pointing to the increased engagement and enthusiasm for the future of libraries among participants.

Examples of previous workshops:

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  • Managers from Dakota County Library considered how future directions will change hiring and training practices.
  • MLIS students at St. Catherine University developed ideas about the future of the “participatory library” as part of a Library 2.0 class.
  • Staff from Carver County Library explored a variety of the Scenarios developed by MNLFI in preparation for a strategic planning discussion.
  • Staff from the MnDOT Library considered how they can foster partnerships to meet the reference needs of the future.
  • See more on the Shared Visions page.

The Minnesota Library Futures Initiative was developed to spark conversation about the future of libraries in Minnesota. The MNLFI Steering Committee selected 24 participants from all types of libraries through an open application process. The MNLFI Futurists gathered to research and discuss factors likely to impact the future of libraries and possible ways libraries might respond to those opportunities and challenges. What we discovered is that being engaged in the conversation about the future is more empowering and energizing than reading about it and everyone has something to contribute.

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

2013 Lake Superior Libraries Symposium

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lake-superior-symposium-1aThe Lake Superior Libraries Symposium is a conference developed by librarians from Northwestern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. From an initial collaboration of academic and public libraries to educate their community on E-books, the idea for a regional professional network was born. Out of that collaboration the Lake Superior Libraries Symposium was created to help librarians develop enhanced professional networks and promote resource sharing and communication between organizations. Our continued operations are thanks to the in-kind and monetary contributions of our supporters.

Participate in the 2013 Lake Superior Libraries Symposium to be held on June 7th, 2013 at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior, WI. 

Who should attend? Library staff, patrons, administrators, trustees, and students from around Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula, and beyond are invited to attend!

  • A Thursday night pre-conference Library Palooza featuring trivia, glitter, and library conversations at Dubh Linn Irish Pub
  • Keynote presentation will be on libraries as community spaces for knowledge sharing and media production by Nate Hill, Assistant Director at the Chattanooga Public Library and Co-Chair of the Digital Public Library of America‘s Audience & Participation work-stream,
  • In addition, this symposium will facilitate presentations (16) by librarians and administrators from public, academic, and school media organizations on designing space, skills, and services. Plus poster sessions and time to network.
  • A Friday evening post-conference social event at the award-winning Thirsty Pagan Brewery

The cost to attend this year’s symposium is $49. Click here to register online.

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

Recommended EdTech Tool: Quizlet

QuizletThis week CMLE highlights the Quizlet learning site; A clearinghouse of content created by teachers. In its basic form, the subject matter is presented as a virtual flashcard that allows the content to be read and/or spoken.  To capture the attention of various types of learners (visual, verbal, etc.), the learner may select how the content is arranged-image only, answer only, or both. Then the learner is able to study, test, self assess and even select associated games. As a  teacher, you  may also incorporate tools to embed the content in a presentation to a class, print materials for handouts, etc.

How is this tool relevant to libraries?

Libraries themselves are clearinghouses of information. Media Specialists/Librarians are stewards of this information by assisting learners to both assess and properly incorporate their findings. In the search box on the Quizlet site, I entered the word “library”. Several links appeared. Here is an example of what I found: 16 Basic Library Terms students need to know when using the media center.

How to use this tool?

  • Search for a specific subject in the box located along the top of the site.
  • A list of multiple prerecorded flashcards will appear.
    • Hover over the title for additional information.
  • Click on the link to begin testing out the content provided.
    • Some information is offered in another language.

Remember teachers are free to become content creators as well as users!

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

Play Boxes Deconstructed!

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Some rights reserved by Mags20_eb
Some rights reserved by Mags20_eb

Recently the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), in keeping with their target audience (children), blogged about play-spaces in libraries. But with limited space and the possibility of heavy usage, some libraries may need to look for another alternative. The solution, mini play boxes.  A “play box” is a themed collection of play objects and various manipulatives that are chosen specifically to highlight and enhance early learning. Learn more at ALSC.

According to Deborah J. Leong, PhD and Elena Bodrova, PhD there is a growing body of research that shows a link between play and the development of cognitive and social skills, enhanced social development, improved literacy skills and increases in other areas of academic learning.