Category Archives: Special

CMLE Weekly Review: 12/03/2015

The following posts went live during the past week!

CMLE Updates: State & Regional News
  • We’ve learned….about job openings!  More
  • Save the date book lovers, upcoming CMLE/ITEM event!  More
  • Featured book: The Gardener More
Upcoming Events and Registration Information
  • December Notable Dates for your Noggin (fun programming dates) More
  • 2016 Teen Lit Con organizers announce authors  More
Tech Bits and Ideas
  •  The wacky world of DRM  More
  •  Smartphone camera tricks to hone your skills More
Resources You Can Use
  • Creative Commons and citing your online sources More
  • An easy to use gamification infokit More

Food for Thought

  • An interview with Jessamyn West, public librarian AKA technology lady!  More
  • Take a tour of the new brick and mortar Amazon bookstore! More
Just for Fun!
  •  Crank up some holiday tunes More

Save the date: Jan.12th book lovers event!

QoR8Bv1S2SEqH6UcSJCA_TeaDo you believe you may have been born in a bookstore in a past life? Do you crave spending time with other people who love books? Do you feel unable to keep up with your voracious readers (or yourself) and all of the new possible titles?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may really enjoy an upcoming FREE “bookish event” that CMLE, ITEM, and Barnes and Noble are offering. One hour of solid gold book talks will take place over a variety of genres, Pre k-12 age groups including adult books that would be age appropriate for teens, and items for your personal growth too! Please send your email reservation, Subject line:  RSVP for January 12. All are welcome!

Location:     St. Cloud Barnes and Noble store
Date:             Tuesday, January 12, 2016

3:30 – 4:00      Social time and light refreshments
4:00 – 5:00      Book Talks
5:00 – ??           Social time and shopping

Tip: Check with your employer to see if they have already set up a B&N Institutional Account or a B&N Educator Discount Card. If so, you could have important discounts already in place just waiting for you!

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Carli Jean), licensed under CC0 1.0

Handy gamification infokit

"The Wrong Side of the Bed" 1st 3d Storybook Created for the new iPadNeed to add to your Gamification resources? Then check out Jisc Digital Media’s new Gamification infokit. Really a break down of the concept of Gamification and it’s elements as well as examples, the toolkit provides up-to-the-minute information on how it can be used – and misused – in education. Here is the table of contents so you can jump to a topic:

The interesting part is that they give the “why” as well as the “how.” From Psychology to the issues and problems they cover it all. Check out the announcement or visit the infokit site.

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mxg47n6, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

We've Learned! About job openings

Job Openings in the CMLE Region

Librarian/Information Studies (Unclassified MSCF-CC Faculty)
Appointment: Full Time-Unlimited
Location: Cambridge, MN Campus of Anoka Ramsey Community College
Start Date: August 18, 2016
Application Deadline: December 31, 2015
Full description and application instructions

 

Technology Assistant, Elk River
Application materials

 

Looking for library job opportunities beyond the CMLE region? Try out the Minnesota Libraries Jobline!

 

Crank up some holiday music

downloadGot music? Chances are good that sometime soon you’ll be in need of some holiday or winter-themed music. Do you have a holiday bash coming up? How about a holiday party at your library? Or, maybe you just want something quiet, yet festive to listen to at your desk? See our suggestions below for finding just the right song…

Pandora

Pandora has a free and a for-fee option for your computer or device. I utilize the free version of Pandora, and it suits me quite well. You get unlimited music, but note that there are advertisements with the free service (maybe 2 commercials an hour, and colorful advertisements around the player). There are a variety of holiday stations just waiting for your perusal! Examples of holiday stations include: Classical Christmas, Country Christmas, R&B and Pop Holidays, Peaceful Holidays, and Hanukkah. My favorite is Swingin’ Christmas – with artists like Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Michael Buble’, and Ella Fitzgerald, you really can’t go wrong!

Jango

Jango provides free internet radio – their claim is that they’re like Pandora, only with fewer advertisements and more variety. Examples of holiday stations available on Jango include: Jango Bell Rocks, Feliz Navidad, Independent Christmas, Christmas Mix, and New Year’s Eve Party.

iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio is a free service that allows you to stream live radio from around the world to your computer or device. In addition, you also have the option to create your own custom stations. iHeartRadio’s holiday selection is somewhat unique because it connects you to live radio stations from coast-to-coast with holiday music in heavy rotation. So, if you’re a radio fan – with DJs and their hoopla – you may enjoy checking out a iHeartRadio holiday radio station. You can also select iHeartRadio’s custom holiday stations.

These are just a few of many internet music options! What are some of your favorites?

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Padurariu Alexandru), licensed under CC0