Category Archives: Communication

Communication

Learning About Library Associations: Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association

Library science is an enormous field, home to every interest you could imagine! This means that there are many organizations out there for you to join, in order to connect with other people who share your professional interests.

So even if you work alone in your library, there are other people out there doing work similar to yours! Each week we will highlight a different library association for you to learn more about, and depending on your work, potentially join! You can also check out our page dedicated to Library Associations.

This week we are learning about the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association (MOLA). Their mission is to  “facilitate communication between professional performance librarians, educate and assist them in providing service to their organizations, provide support and resources to the performing arts, and work with publishers  to achieve the highest standards in music performance materials.”

MOLA was founded in 1983 and is made up of more than 270 performance organizations around the world, with more than 450 librarians. Librarians are able to share information and connect through MOLA to help with their library work.

Their annual conference is right around the corner, taking place March 16th – 19th and hosted by the Kansas City Symphony!

Their website offers plenty of resources for members. MOLA members can stay current with news through the quarterly newsletter, interact with other members through their online Discussion Forum, or browse current job openings and internships.

Interested in joining MOLA? Explore their detailed list of member organizations and librarians! Then visit their membership page to learn about the application process.

CMLE, Communication

Stop in Wednesday for Office Hours

Do you have a pressing library issue to discuss, or a really exciting library idea that you are bursting to share? Stop by our office on Wednesday, March 7th, and tell us all about it!! (Office Dog Lady Grey will be excited to hear about it too)

CMLE Office hours are from 11am – 1pm on March 7th, March 14th, March 20th, and March 28th. We will be available to chat, no appointment needed, about all things libraries!

CMLE HQ is located at 570 1st St. SE St. Cloud MN 56304. We are in the cmERDC building right next to East Side Target. If you want to setup a different time to meet, send us an email at admin@cmle.org.

Communication, Programs

Spotlight Program: Librarians Without Borders

Blank Map World Secondary Political Divisions

Each week we look at an interesting program in a library – something you might admire, or something you might adapt and try in your own library.  This week we are looking at a larger program: Librarians Without Borders.  We have chatted with several of our members who are interested in international work, and this can be a good way for you to find out materials for working in libraries!

“We are an organization that was formed in February 2005 by a group of socially-minded librarians who wanted to address the vast information resource inequity existing between different regions of the world. Our vision is to build sustainable libraries and support their custodians and advocates — librarians.

Today, Librarians Without Borders is an action-oriented non-profit powered by a volunteer Executive Team, Board of Directors, and library-science students in six universities in Canada. Take some time to explore our website to find out more about us and what we do. To keep current on our news and activities, subscribe to our RSS feeds or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

History

LWB was founded in February 2005 by a group of socially-minded librarians who wanted to address the vast information resource inequity existing between different regions of the world. Our vision is to build sustainable libraries and support their custodians and advocates — librarians.

Our Mission

Librarians Without Borders (LWB) is a non-profit organization that strives to improve access to information resources regardless of language, geography, or religion, by forming partnerships with community organizations in developing regions.

Our Values

Libraries have a fundamental role as defenders of intellectual freedom and providers of equal access to information.

Access to information is vital in supporting learning and literacy, reducing poverty, empowering citizens, and building healthy, strong communities.

We do not draw cultural or linguistic boundaries – diversity is embraced; we will work with our partners in their own cultural context and in their own languages.

Our efforts are enhanced by working collaboratively, internally as well as externally with the domestic and international community, to further our mutual goals.

Get in Touch

General inquiries can be made to info@lwb-online.org“

Communication

Updates from State Library Services

Updates from State Library Services

Young child with apple

To Be Well Read, Kids Must Be Well Fed

During the school year, more than 40 percent of Minnesota’s K-12 kids are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Fewer than 15 percent of those kids have the same access to food programs in the summer. This leaves many little bellies hungry. Bring summer nutrition to a community hub where kids learn and play in the summer: your public library.

Begin planning your summer 2018 participation by attending an informational webinar on Wednesday, March 14, at 11 a.m. Jenny Butcher, USDA Summer Food Service Program coordinator at MDE, will share how you can get involved. Add the webinar to your calendar. There is no need to pre-register; just please join the Summer and Afterschool Food Service Programs in Libraries WebEx meeting online (meeting number 599 928 018) or call in at 1-888-742-5095 (conference code 874 403 3672). Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.

If you need more inspiration for serving summer meals at your library, check out this Food for Every Child video from Hunger Impact Partners. Grant funding may be available to support your library as a summer food site. Second Harvest Heartland serves the 7-county metro and surrounding counties. Their summer food grant opportunity opens in March, as long as funding is available. Additionally, libraries are eligible to apply for a Summer Meals Initiative grant from Hunger Impact Partners. We’ll share information about more grant opportunities as we learn about them.

Volunteer Recording Program Making Strides at the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library

The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library (MBTBL) is in the process of making its older analog recordings available in a digital format. These books of Minnesota interest were initially recorded on cassette. Each of the approximately 60 titles recorded by volunteers at the library’s recording studio in Faribault has been digitized and they are now undergoing the process of being made navigable. Working with volunteers, staff index the book by adding markers that function like links within a website, helping MBTBL patrons navigate the book by its component elements such as chapters.

Thus far, seven cassette titles have been made accessible in the digital format—with more to come. Check out our most popular title, A Country Doctor’s Casebook by Dr. Roger A. MacDonald, sharing his experiences in small vignettes as a country doctor in rural northeastern Minnesota from 1948-1980. A Country Doctor’s Casebook (DBC09984) is now available to eligible MBTBL patrons statewide on cartridge by mail or nationally via download through Minnesota BARD.

For more information about the library or its recording program, please contact Catherine Durivage (507-384-6860) or if you or someone you know is interested in volunteer recording opportunities, contact Etta Thornburg (507-684-6865).

2018 90-Second Newbery Film Festival Minneapolis screening

Thanks for Another Great 90-Second Newbery Film Festival!

The fourth annual Minnesota 90-Second Newbery Film Festival screening played to a full house on February 10 at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central’s Pohlad Hall. Co-hosted by 90-Second Newbery founder/curator James Kennedy and middle grade author Pete Hautman, the best student-made films from Minnesota and across the country were highlighted at the event. Each film told the story of a Newbery-winning book in 90 seconds or less (give or take) and was written, directed, acted, filmed, and edited by kid filmmakers. Check out the recap of the screening to see snapshots from the day, as well as the dozen or so prize-winning Minnesota-made videos that were featured.

This year, nearly 100 films were submitted by more than 230 Minnesota kid filmmakers from across the state. If you’re inspired by this year’s movies, find out how you can participate next year by visiting the 90-Second Newbery website. Now’s a perfect time to get your students and community partners thinking about filming for next year. It’s a great project to promote media and digital literacy for kids in a creative, collaborative setting. If you started a movie but missed the entry deadline for this year’s festival screening, don’t give up. Finish your masterpiece and send it in. Mr. Kennedy accepts 90-Second Newbery films all year round. For more information, please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356).

Library Construction Grant Applications Available

The Library Construction Grant program is accepting applications for 2017 round two competitive grants. The program provides public libraries with funding for renovation, construction, and improvement projects that result in more accessible library facilities. Projects may:

  • Remove architectural barriers from a library building or site.
  • Remediate conditions hazardous to health or safety.
  • Renovate or expand an existing building for use as a library.
  • Construct a new library.

The 2017 Minnesota Legislature allocated a total of $2,000,000 to the program. Approximately $838,000 of the state allocation is available to award as grants.

Application forms and instructions are available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s Grants Management site. Scroll to Library Construction Grant opportunity. Completed applications are due via email by Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 3:30 p.m.

Please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508) for more information.

Updates from Our Partners

University of Minnesota-Extension

Webinar for Your Patrons: Understanding and Estimating Health Care Costs

The University of Minnesota-Extension is leading a webinar—geared at reaching your patrons—about how they can make the best use of their health coverage.

In the webinar, Understanding and Estimating Health Care Costs, UM-Extension staff will help anyone enrolled in a health plan better understand potential costs and benefits.

The webinar will be offered on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, 1-2:30 p.m. If your library would like to set up a viewing for its patrons—or for more information—please contact Lori Hendrickson, Extension educator and Extension professor, Family Resiliency (218-327-5958 ext. 3007).

About Us

State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), partners with libraries to achieve equity and excellence in our collective work for Minnesotans. Division staff are consultants who help libraries plan, develop and implement high-quality services that address community needs. State Library Services administers federal grant, state aid, and state grant programs that benefit all types of libraries.
Advocacy, Communication

Minnesota Library Legislative Day

House Chamber, Minnesota State CapitolIf you didn’t already know that we are really excited about libraries, and love to talk about them, then: Hello! Welcome to your very first day with CMLE!! We’re into libraries here, and we hope you are too!

The Minnesota Library Association (MLA) organizes Library Legislative Day each year. This year, it is Tuesday, March 6.

Check out this MLA/ITEM Legislative Legwork Committee site – new this year with a TON of great info!! If you have ever wanted to know even the smallest detail of what it’s like to go to Legislative Day (spoiler: it’s fun!), it is here!

If you would like to attend Legislative Day, CMLE members can apply for scholarships to cover the costs of finding a sub, traveling, or other costs associated with your attendance. We will give you a scholarship for this event, even if you have already received one this year or are planning to attend something else. Legislative Day is important to libraries, and we want to support you in attending!

BUT!!!! AND!!!!

What if you can’t make it to this very good event? No worries – the MLA/ITEM site has you covered there too!

There is a bunch of information about being part of Virtual Library Legislative Day activities! You can participate all week long, from your desk, at night after the kids go to sleep, in the morning while you wait for coffee to brew – whenever is best for you!

CMLE knows we have members who are not able to attend, but want to advocate for their libraries and for their library systems. We will host an in-person event at our Headquarters on Tuesday, March 6. From 9:00 to 3:00 that day we will be in our Headquarters (570 1st Street SE – next door to Target), advocating for libraries. Join us!!

  • We will provide postcards, a computer, a phone, pens – all the tools for communication.
  • We will have information on the 2018 MLA/ITEM Legislative Platform and the 2018 Key Messages.
  • We will have email and physical addresses of legislators.
  • We may possibly also have Lady Grey in house, to provide support and encouragement. (She’s a big library supporter!)

What will happen?

  • Send an email to your legislator. Get a cookie.
  • Call to support one of the bills. Get a cookie.
  • Tweet to legislators. Get a cookie.
  • Write out a postcard to a stakeholder for us to mail. Get a cookie.

You are seeing how this works, right?? We are unashamedly buying your library advocacy efforts in the hopes that you will get some experience in quickly sharing the message of “Yay Libraries!” with stakeholders – and that you feel comfortable doing so!! Advocacy is just telling people about libraries; and really – that’s always fun!

(Note: there will be other rewards for people who are not currently eating cookies, and want to support libraries. We support your healthy choices!)

People like libraries. They (generally) want to help us! It’s just our job to tell them what we need.

REGISTER TODAY!!!!

Be sure that MLA and ITEM know you are on the job and ready to advocate! Whether you go to the in-person event (it’s really fun!!!!!), or attend the CMLE Virtual Event, or participate virtually on your own – numbers matter. Let everyone know that you are ready to support libraries in Minnesota!!