Category Archives: CMLE

CMLE, Programs

We want to start off Fall with a celebration!

Fall (6282684630)

Are you having a good summer?

We love summer time here at CMLE HQ – and are busily making all kinds of great plans to help us serve our members in the upcoming year!

It truly is an amazing experience to be able to work with all the different libraries, archives, history centers, and other organizations that make up a multitype system. And I always am a big believer that everyone is stronger when we work together! (Feel free to insert any cheesy “yay team!” cliche of your choice here)
Team Sky Logo
One of our missions here at HQ is to help our members to connect with each other. Everyone is doing interesting work across the system (I’ve seen it!!!); and it  can really help when you know you have colleagues in other libraries to help support you and your work.

We have many fun plans ahead, but to get started we are going to have a Back-To-School/Fall-Is-Coming time to hang out and chat with each other!

This will be at HQ (570 1st Street SE, St. Cloud, MN 56304), and will be a casual event. We will have snacks and goodies available, raffles of prizes, tours of the office (plants! faux windows! bike desk!), and a chance for people to meet up and chat!

Let’s set a day and time that works for most people! Please vote in the poll below, and let’s get this on our calendars so we can get ready for two of the best things: snacks and library talk!

Vote here for any days/times that work for your schedule!(required)

CMLE, Communication

Upcoming Wednesday Office Hours

 


Next CMLE Office Hours: July 26th and August 2nd, both from 11am – 1pm!

Location:
CMLE Headquarters
570 1st Street SE 
St. Cloud, MN 56307

 

What are CMLE Office Hours?

Well, in a recent poll, many people said they would appreciate having a time to just casually drop in to Headquarters to chat about library stuff.

So we have established a CMLE Office Hour for you!

Every Wednesday afternoon with an even numbered date, we’ll be here in the office from 11:00 to 1:00, and available for you to visit! (And not only will Mary and Angie be available to chat, Lady Grey may make an appearance as well! She usually has some excellent ideas to contribute! 🙂 )

You can feel free to stop in, with no appointment necessary.  Feel free to come talk about library programs, policies and procedures, ask questions, talk about cool things you are doing, or any other library-type stuff! We are available to you.

Come chat about writing policies, working through materials selections, negotiating with vendors, planning your website or social media, going to conferences as a presenter or an attendee, zines/manga/pop culture coolness, or anything else you want to discuss!

Want to talk about library things, but can’t make it in to the office? Let us know and we can set up a phone call or a chat session instead!

Would you like to just come say hi for a minute, and put a face to our names? Do it!

You can test out the bike desks, see the plants and ever-changing seasonal decorations, and check in on Orville The Official Office Bear! (Really, he’s the heart of the whole operation; so you don’t want to miss out on that!)

See you at Headquarters!

CMLE, Communication

Thursday July 20: Dinner and Library Talk!

Do you want to eat dinner and chat about libraries?

We do too!!

Based on a recent poll, this will be a dinner event.

Thursday, July 20th
5:30 pm
The White Horse
809 West Saint Germain, St Cloud, MN 56301

The White Horse Restaurant and Bar doesn’t take reservations so CMLE staff will arrive a little early to hold a table or two.

We have really enjoyed having our social events in the winter and spring; and are looking forward to hearing from you guys about your summer work, any plans you are making for upcoming programs, and any other interesting library things you want to share! (And it’s ALL interesting when it comes to library stuff!!)

So join us on Thursday July 20th and we’ll have some happy library conversation and enjoy some good food! Email us with any questions, and we hope to see you there! 🙂

Please RSVP if you can; we are looking forward to seeing you!

Are you attending Thurs 7/20?

 

Books, CMLE, Communication, Programs

Day Forty Four of the CMLE Summer Fun Library Tour!

Logo for Book Club Central website by the American Library Association

Would you like to read more, or at least to hear about some more good books? Probably everyone who works in libraries would say yes!

CMLE has an online book group, where we suggest a book with some professional skills useful for library people, and one where we feature a fun read with a library person. You can subscribe to either, along with our podcast and social media, right here!

And the American Library Association also wants to help you to find interesting books, for yourself or to recommend to your patrons. “Book Club Central is a new online resource for book clubs and readers featuring book reviews, author interviews, discussion questions and more. Award-winning actor, producer, and avid reader Sarah Jessica Parker is the Honorary Chair of Book Club Central and a passionate advocate for libraries and literacy. Ms. Parker will offer her own book selections as part of SJP Picks.”

 

CMLE, Communication, Services

Being Professionally Lonesome…Together

Interior view of Stockholm Public Library

I loved this article, because I see this issue across our system and in many other areas. A lot of libraries, especially schools and specials, have either one person working there, or one person and a couple of maybe-part-time people who can fill in there and also other places in the organization. So being alone is a real issue -and it’s a tough one!

One of our priorities at CMLE is providing a place where our members can connect with other library people – across the system, across the state, and across the profession. So please, when you feel alone at work – whether you are a solo librarian, or just the only one in your organization who does your thing, or who likes your library-focused area, know that CMLE is filled with members who are right there with you!! Subscribe to all our stuff (newsletter, podcast, online book groups, online discussion groups, and more!), and come to our events, to be sure you are connecting. Never hesitate to give us a call at HQ, or send us an email, or even to stop by to chat! We are your system, and are here to support libraries!

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