Category Archives: General

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist

MN library included in 2016 Library Building Awards

carved BookDo you ever just want to see some really cool libraries?

Then feast your eyes on these! The American Institute of Architects has announced the seven winners of the 2016 Library Building Awards. All designed by US-licensed architects, these buildings highlight how libraries are adapting to serve the ever evolving needs of their communities.

One of the winners is close to home, the Hennepin County Walker Library. The design was made to be similar to the surroundings in the Uptown neighborhood. Check out their Flickr album showing the building process and finished product!

Many of the other winners of the award have included sustainable features in their buildings that make them eco-friendly. They also aim to be more accessible to their communities. In Kansas, the Lawrence Public Library Renovation and Expansion project has met this goal – after re-opening, visits increased by 55%!

 

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/pofwmxw, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
General, Public, School Media Specialist

YALSA shares top ten teen nominees

Tash reading on the beachLove young adult fiction? Get your reading lists ready!

YALSA has announced the 2016 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees, a list of 26 titles published in 2015. You can view a video and a list of the nominees, courtesy of the YALSA website. They are asking libraries to encourage teens to read the nominated books during the summer so they can be ready for the national Teens’ Top Ten vote, which will take place August 15 through Teen Read Week (October 9–15)

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mogarhq, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

 

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Registration now closed

Colorful lightsRegistration is now closed for our New Library Celebration and Jess Lourey Author Talk event. 

Don’t miss this great event on May 5th at the St. Cloud Community and Technical College! Come and check out their new library digs, enjoy author Jess Lourey, hear about eBooks MN, and enjoy Cinco de Mayo themed food and drink!

Get more information here, and make sure to register! Deadline is close of business Friday, April 29, 2016. We look forward to seeing you there!

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/n66vvn2, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

CMLE Weekly Review: 4/21/2016

This issue of the Weekly Review recaps our blog posts from April 15-20, 2016.

CMLE Updates: State & Regional News
– State Library Services Update 4/14 More
– New staff member at CMLE! More
– Jess Lourey – Author Spotlight More
– MN Book Award Winners! More

Upcoming Events and Registration Information
– Register now: Participants receive a free book! Celebrate the new SCTCC library, author Jess Lourey, and eBooks MN More
– Notable dates for your Noggin – May More

Tech Bits and Ideas
– Video tips for the classroom More
– New makerspace technology! More

Resources You Can Use
– Treasure trove of old seed catalogs More
– AASL recommended app: Kahoot More
– Minecraft portal to help teachers More
– Heard of Google Cardboard? More

Food For Thought
– Kids who are under connected to the Internet More

Just For Fun
– 10 of the shortest books ever! More

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist

Kids who are under-connected to the Internet

bustle...“What’s it really like to do your homework on a smartphone you’re having to borrow from your mom, but she needs it for something else? Are you really able to do your research paper?” – Victoria Rideout

Many U.S. schools have improved their internet connections, but for many kids, home is still a major hurdle for learning as assignments go online. With so many 1:1 schools, where do these under-connected kids turn to complete their school work? That was one of the questions examined in a report by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center when they surveyed 1,191 parents with children ages 6 to 13, considered lower-income or “low- and moderate-income families.” The results aren’t promising. Most families didn’t have any internet access, and those that did usually only had mobile, and it was slow.

It seems that the digital divide is being addressed in schools but have we only gone part-way?

Read the whole article now.

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/kh96ovf, licensed under CC BY 2.0