Category Archives: Special

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

A message of gratitude from the director…

photo-1415912364061-78a25859c0faAfter all of the recent terrorist threats, I think we are all feeling especially close to family and loved ones this Thanksgiving. I am thankful for so much this year, it is hard to list it all, indeed, I need categories!

Library colleagues do indeed get their own category. I appreciate engaged library staff (like you) who continue to use our services and engage in our programming. Whether you are reading and/or commenting on our weekly blog posts, liking our Facebook page, retweeting our Tweets, writing book reviews or other blog posts, suggesting ideas for programming, applying for scholarships, participating in our Quick Question Polls, or attending our events, you are the heart of what we define as resource sharing!

CMLE staff  are thankful for the opportunity to serve your needs, and to work with you to increase the capacity of all types of libraries in Central Minnesota! It is our privilege to work with talented and engaged library staff and we thank you for the opportunity!

Programming Idea: Use a whiteboard in the library with a “What are YOU thankful for?” heading, then sit back, and observe a showplace of thanks big and small!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Patricia-

Patricia Post, CMLE Executive Director

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Good Free Photos), licensed under CC0 1.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

The list is out! 25 disruptive technologies in 2016

photo-1422207134147-65fb81f59e38The season of lists is beginning! I will not apologize for sharing them…. I find many in the library field love lists, so lets get started with this annual list that provides opportunity for some bigger picture thinking!

Stephen Abram blogs about library industry trends, innovation, and information. Recently, he shared this popular list of disruptive technologies, and indeed, reviewing this list is enlightening, and in some cases worrisome. I think number 2 is interesting to consider as we think about places where our library users can weigh in on services and materials.

See the full list here….

Image credit: https://unsplash.com/ (Padurariu Alexandru), licensed under CC0 1.0

 

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year is announced…

face-crying-with-laughter-744x744Well, this is interesting! For the first time ever, the Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year is a pictograph, officially called the ‘Face with Tears of Joy’ emoji. And, did you know that emoji’s have been around since the late 1990’s?

What is always interesting is to also consider what else was in the running for Word of the Year. See the shortlist here….

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Watch for sheep facing downhill!

sheep2Just for fun….our friends at the Farmers Almanac impart some interesting folklore tidbits for us to ponder….ppssstttt, we recently experienced thunder in November!

Weather Folklore

  • If the geese on St. Martin’s Day (November 11) stand on ice, they will walk in mud at Christmas.
  • If the first snow sticks to the trees, it foretells a bountiful harvest.
  • If sheep feed facing downhill, watch for a snowstorm.
  • If on All Saints Day the beech acorn is dry we will stick behind the stove in winter, but if it is wet and not light the winter will not be dry, but wet.
  • Thunder in November indicates a fertile year to come.
  • If there be ice in November that will bear a duck, there will be nothing thereafter but sleet and muck.
  • As November 21st, so the winter.
  • When the winter is early, it will not be late.
This piece is part of a much larger post by Farmers Almanac.
Image credit: https://unsplash.com, (Ariana Prestes), licensed under CCO 1.0.
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Weekly Review: 11/19/2015

CMLE Updates: State and Regional News
  • Going to the TIES Conference?  More
  • Will you do an Hour of Code event this year? More
  • Great Rivers genealogy rock star! More
  • CMLE assistance with professional development expenses More
Upcoming Events and Registration Information
  • MN Libraries Continuing Education Calendar More
  • Minitex Webinars and Trainings More
  • Assorted online webinars More
Tech Bits and Ideas

  •  Kids are using technology earlier! More
  • Artificially intelligent software in education More
Resources You Can Use
  • Tools for verifying the validity of social media More
  • ICYMI: Teen services;10 questions to ask yourself! More
  • Recommended App: Amazing World Atlas More

Food for Thought

  • Did you know? Underground archives at the U of M More
Just for Fun
  •  Turkey trivia and the great yam scam! More