Category Archives: Communication

CMLE, Communication, Podcast, Training

Linking Our Libraries Episode 205: Staff Development

Personal Training at a Gym - Cable Crossover

This week we are talking about Staff Development, and we have a Guest Host: Elizabeth Proell, from St. Cloud Public Library.

You know that to do any job in a library means you have to keep building and honing your skills. Everything we do changes, develops, and evolves – and this will never stop.  If there ever was a time in libraries where we could just coast along on skills we learned twenty years ago, those days are long gone! Technology, automation, and streamlining of all organizations and workers means that we are constantly looking for better, faster, cheaper ways to do all the work we do every day. And what that really means for all of us is that we have to not only keep up with things happening around us – but we need to be out there ahead of our patrons so we are ready to help them build their skills! It’s not just embarrassing to not be able to answer a question on email or web design or VR technology – it is bad practice.

We know it is a challenge!! Your budget is stretched to the max already, your time is also filled as full as you can get it. So we are here to help you! CMLE’s website is filled with information and links to all kinds of great places to go to help you build your skills.

  • We maintain a Continuing Education calendar.
  • We share all kinds of places to take classes, either for free or at a reduced cost – and we offer up to $300 in scholarship money to offset the cost of any training you can identify!
  • We are building webinars and in-person training sessions for you, to work though any time.
  • We are also available to come to your library (or archive, or history center, or other organization) and talk with you about some training ideas, or to do some training based on your individual library’s needs.
  • We have material on our site for this episode; and we also have material all kinds of useful library-related skills, available in our Skills Toolbox section of our site.

 

Want to listen to an episode?

  • You can download an app, subscribe to “Linking Our Libraries” and all episodes will appear on your phone – it’s so easy!
    • Apps we like include Pocket Casts, iTunes, and Stitcher.
    • Download any of these, search for “Linking Our Libraries” and hit Subscribe.
    • If it is not readily available, just enter this RSS feed: http://libraries.blubrry.com/feed/podcast/.
  • Or, you can stream an episode right now on your computer by going to our streaming page, by clicking here.

Whatever tool you use, we hope you enjoy it! Thanks for listening, and sharing ideas on libraries!

Want to talk with us about this topic? Do you, your staff, or your organization need training in this topic? Want to write a policy, or develop a program?  We are here for you!
Click here to get started!
CMLE, Communication

Library Link Review!

In the news heading

The library field is filled with all sorts of interesting stories. Click through these links to explore ideas from around the profession, and library-adjacent stories!

Do you have other stories to share? Add them to the comments below!

 

Communication

Library Link Review!

In the news heading

The library field is filled with all sorts of interesting stories. Click through these links to explore ideas from around the profession, and library-adjacent stories!

Do you have other stories to share? Add them to the comments below!

Communication, Tech

CMLE Weekly Training: Defending against Ransomware

Ransomware-picRansomware is around, and we are hearing stories about it happening to schools around Central Minnesota!

You have probably heard stories about ransomware already, but may not be sure about it, or may think your little library does not have anything worth stealing. But criminals know your data is important to you, no matter what it may be.

Most of our members are part of larger organizations: schools, colleges, and other parent groups. If they have an IT department, it would be worth your time to ask what they are doing to protect your website. And if possible, it may be worth backing up your site and your data yourself – just in case!

What is ransomware? It is software that blocks access to your files; or threatens to publish your files. Picture a criminal holding your patron registration hostage, threatening to release names, addresses and circulation data. Or pulling up your website, only to see a skull and crossbones – and a demand  for bitcoin.

Short version: it’s bad.

But the good news is that you can take some steps to avoid this problem.  And be sure you are backing up your site, so if you are hit by ransomware, you can just move on! (Well, it’s still going to be a hassle and problems for your library – but everything is  not destroyed, and you do not have to pay money to anonymous criminals. So it is pretty much a win!)

We have a few resources here for you to browse, as you work to put together your own disaster plan for a ransomware attack.

General ransomware articles:

Sources for data backup

CMLE, Communication

CMLE Resources: Site Map

World map blank without bordersIt’s not the most flashy part of our website, but the Site Map is a handy tool for you.

Our job, as a multi-type system, is to provide information, resources, and assistance to our 300+ members. So our website is bursting with all kinds of things that might be helpful in different situations, to different kinds of libraries, archives, history centers, and more.

It gets confusing. Things seem jumbled.  There is a lot to consider, and a lot to look at.

No worries, however! We have your back on this. We have spent a lot of time thinking  through the organization of the site, to make it as useful to you as possible.

Our Main Menu items are here: (There are a lot of links under each menu item, so you have plenty of material to browse around here.)

  • Welcome! Start Here
    • All kinds of information is here, including our contact information, our bylaws, our Board information, and more.

 

  • Subscribe to Us!
    • On this page you can subscribe to our social media, Linking Our Libraries podcast, online book groups, and weekly newsletter

 

 

  • Check Out Some Amazon Shopping!
    • If you want to check out some fun Amazon products, and you click our links, a small portion of the money you are already spending at Amazon will come back to CMLE.

You can start here to find what you need; and if you get stuck just contact us. You can find all of these links in our menu, so feel free to take some time to browse around and maybe find some fun new items!

We have organized this site for you, to provide you with information and resources to make your work easier. If you have material to contribute – send it to us! If you need some information we do not have up there yet – let us know!