Category Archives: Training

CMLE, Communication, Tech, Training

Save the Date: ELM Expo, Sat March 11

 

Several of our CMLE members are using ELM, and we could really increase that number! Sign up for this mini expo today! (And remember: we have scholarship money to give you!)

We have information on our website about the Electronic Library for Minnesota. “ELM (Electronic Library for Minnesota) gives Minnesota residents online access to magazine, journal, newspaper, and encyclopedia articles, eBooks (online books), and other information resources.

ELM provides information on a vast array of topics, including consumer information, arts and humanities, current events, health, science, social science, politics, business, and more.”

Continue reading Save the Date: ELM Expo, Sat March 11 →

General, Training

Circulating Unusual Items: A Webinar

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CMLE members: some of you already have unusual items you are circulating, and some of you are considering them. Everyone might enjoy this webinar on these items from the Association of Specialized & Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA)!

Join in on Tuesday, February 7!

There is a growing trend of adding “unusual items” to libraries’ circulating collections. Circulating cake pans, post- hole diggers, ukuleles, soil testers, bread machines and more is exciting and impactful, but challenging. This talk introduces and contextualizes the trend, discusses best practices, addresses common questions, and suggests a plan for adding unusual items to your own library. Continue reading Circulating Unusual Items: A Webinar →

Academic, Communication, Public, Resources, School Media Specialist, Special, Training

See some Censorship? Say something!

It can be tough to know what to do if your library has a potential censorship situation. But you are not alone!! The ALA is here for all libraries, whether or not you are a member. Being part of a profession means you have resources and support – a good thing when problems happen!

From the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom:

The Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) introduced upgraded tools that make censorship easier to report and easier to track. We’ve rolled out a simpler form to document censorship and hate crime and a web page exclusively for challenge support.

Report Censorship

Continue reading See some Censorship? Say something! →

Academic, General, Guest Blogger, Public, Research, School Media Specialist, Special, Training

Creative Commons Part 1: What does “Creative Commons” mean?

Creative Commons

CMLE Guest Blogger: Carli Spina If you have any questions, let me know in the comments or contact me on Twitter where I’m @CarliSpina.

Creative Commons Part 1: What does “Creative Commons” mean?

Copyright is an important but often intimidating topic. As library staff, we may know that copyright protections exist, but knowing their exact parameters or how to get permission to use a copyrighted work can be complex and time consuming.

Recognizing this problem, a group of experts developed the concept of the Creative Commons (often abbreviated CC) and the associated licenses to make sharing, reusing, and remixing works easier for everyone. Using this approach, the creator of an item offers the item under a license (or legal agreement) that explicitly provides for the types of use that are permitted free of charge. Continue reading Creative Commons Part 1: What does “Creative Commons” mean? →

Academic, Check this out:, Special, Training

What’s RUSA and how can it help you?

RUSA Logo
helping people is what they do!

CMLE Headquarters wants to give you all the tools that you need to be successful in our ever-changing profession!Having support around our system is helpful, and reaching out to professional organizations across Minnesota and across the country can help you to be stronger, better, and more efficient in your daily work. Working in a library is tough!! We want to help you make it as easy as possible.

This is a webinar from RUSA to help you get acquainted with their work. Tune in live if you can; or you can check out the video replay later. Continue reading What’s RUSA and how can it help you? →