Category Archives: CMLE

CMLE, Communication

CMLE is on the air!

You probably listen to a few podcasts already, or at least know about some of the biggies out there in the podcast world.  We have talked about library people who podcast, and podcasts you can use for workplace stress management. It’s a great way to share information – something we take very seriously here at CMLE Headquarters.

So we have begun our own podcast!

Our podcast is called Linking Our Libraries, in recognition of the work we do as a multitype system in linking our libraries to each other, to all sorts of information, and to us. Continue reading CMLE is on the air! →

CMLE, Communication, General

Cheer on the CMLE Bike Team!

As you may be aware, at CMLE HQ we are huge fans of our bike desks. We appreciate the focus that biking brings us while we work, and they are a healthy addition to our work space!

Since we bike at our desks every day, we thought it would be fun to start tracking the miles to see how far we can travel. That was how we created the idea for our Virtual Library Bike Tour! Each week we will track our mileage and will virtually “visit” libraries along our trip.

We have an in-person map with pins (Orange = Angie, Blue = Mary) for visual tracking and will of course be keeping track online as well. Follow our progress on Google Maps here!

Each library that we “visit” will be linked to and briefly described on our Twitter account @CMLEBikeTeam.

So far, on my way out west, I’ve “visited” St. Cloud Public Library, Clemens Library at St. Ben’s, and Alcuin Library at St. John’s!

Follow along and visit libraries across the country with us as we embark on this biking adventure!

And of course, if you’d like a bike desk of your own, check them out on Amazon.

CMLE

Support CMLE: Shop at Amazon!

As the Minnesota multitype library systems prepare to enter our tenth year without a budget increase, we are looking for ways to diversify our income from other sources. We want to be able to provide more services and more programs to our members!  One easy way to help us to do this is by using Amazon.com.

Not available at Amazon, but she’s a big CMLE supporter!

Amazon provides a program called Amazon Associates. When people click through our site to buy things at Amazon.com, we get a small percentage of their profits on the sale.  You have probably seen some other libraries, nonprofits, and small businesses using this program.

What could you do to support CMLE? It’s easy!

Click on our website. Find stuff you like at Amazon.com. Buy it. Bask in the glow of supporting library services!

Aaaaaaannnnd…that’s it! Continue reading Support CMLE: Shop at Amazon! →

Academic, CMLE

We hit the road! CMLE visits St. John’s University Library

As part of our commitment to ensuring CMLE members have a lot of opportunities to meet each other in person, to chat about libraries, and to admire the libraries of other members, we are visiting CMLE libraries as a group. And this month we visited the newly renovated St John’s University Alcuin Library!

We’ve shared news of this renovation before, and many members have asked us about their progress. So this was a particularly fun visit, as none of us had seen the final product! (There is still more renovation underway; and should be finished before students start the Fall 2017 semester.)

Thank you to Kathy Parker and her wonderful staff for setting this up for us, and for being such gracious hosts!

We immediately felt welcomed to this lovely library with our own room, and a nice sign! Orville, the CMLE Office Bear, immediately relaxed in this environment, and enjoyed some of the snacks provided. Continue reading We hit the road! CMLE visits St. John’s University Library →

Advocacy, CMLE

Library Advocacy: It’s all about you!

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Don’t be a potato – remember you are a library professional and speak up for libraries everywhere!

CMLE members, and all library people out there – we need your voice, and we need it now!! We are sharing some advocacy tips from the Association for Library Services for Children (ALSC) and from the Joint Committee on Libraries, Archives, and Museums (CALM), so you hear different library voices asking you to join with us!

Let your federal, and your state, legislators know how important libraries are!! YOU are the best ones to give advice – so do not hesitate! Email! Call! Write! Visit!! Do it now!!

Continue reading Library Advocacy: It’s all about you! →