Category Archives: CMLE

CMLE, Communication

Grant Opportunity Encourages Community Development Approaches for Libraries, Archives and Museums

CMLE members: if you are interested in pursuing a grant (this one or others) and would like to talk with us about it, or would like to have us help you to make connections with other libraries across our system who might join you in a grant project – we are here for you!! We can help you develop grants, write the proposal, administer programs, and to complete the post-grant paperwork.

https://www.imls.gov/

Grant Opportunity Encourages Community Development Approaches for Libraries, Archives and Museums

Deadline for applications is April 3

Washington, DC – The Institute of Museum and Library Services announces a new grant opportunity as part of its Community Catalyst initiative. With Activating Community Opportunities Using Museums/Libraries as Assets – A National Leadership Grants Special Initiative, IMLS invites proposals to test and develop museum and library collaborative approaches for bringing about positive community change. Continue reading Grant Opportunity Encourages Community Development Approaches for Libraries, Archives and Museums →

CMLE, Communication, Visits

CMLE members are gathering!

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At CMLE Headquarters, our mission is to serve our members. One of the biggest issues our members have talked about with us is the problem of being alone in their libraries, or feeling unconnected from the work other library people are doing.

We are on the job for you!

We have a variety of opportunities for all of us to gather in person to chat about libraries (or other topics – we are fascinating people after all!), and to visit libraries.

Continue reading CMLE members are gathering! →

Advocacy, CMLE, Communication

Advocacy basics (Just add You!)

We all know that advocacy for our libraries is important. We know libraries are wonderful and valuable members of the communities they serve; but other people need to be educated in our value!

But it can be hard to know how to get started, or what to say. So we are starting you off with a few ideas here. These will also be on our website, and we invite members to contribute their advocacy materials so we can share them on the site!

Remember: Minnesota Library Legislative Day is Feb. 22!! If you can go in person: great! If not – I would like to have all CMLE libraries contribute phone calls, emails, and letters to be sure legislators hear about the value of libraries!! Continue reading Advocacy basics (Just add You!) →

CMLE, Visits

We want to see your stuff – Invite us over!

Okay, it’s not generally polite to invite yourself to someone else’s place. But this is different – it’s library visits!

You have probably been following the reports of our visits to CMLE member libraries (and if not, check them out). Every library has interesting things, interesting programs, and interesting materials. When you spend all day with your stuff, it’s hard to remember to notice how much great work you are doing. When we come to visit, we are fully prepared to admire the great things you are doing! Even something that feels like an average day to you will provide something interesting to us. And being able to share this with your colleagues across the system helps everyone with their service. It’s always good to be able to see how other people are handing displays, materials, and patrons in their libraries.

Plus: it’s just a lot of fun to visit our members and get to know each other!!

When can we come visit you??

Fill out the form, give us a day/time that would work for you!!

Academic, CMLE, Public, Visits

Group Visits to CMLE Libraries: Let’s Go!

OpenLibraryLogoIf you are reading this, you are almost certainly a library fan. And of course, you would be entirely correct to be so – libraries are fantastic!!

At CMLE, we feel we have both lovely libraries and wonderful library people. As we seem to all agree on this across our system – it would be great to visit each other and to have the chance to admire each other’s libraries!

We are organizing monthly trips to libraries across the system, so we can all have a chance to visit libraries that are new to us, different types, and approach the same challenges in maybe a new way. Plus, going as a group gives people the chance to meet up in person! (We are not restricting this to just CMLE members; if you are reading this, you are invited!) Continue reading Group Visits to CMLE Libraries: Let’s Go! →