Tag Archives: Libraries

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

How to Keep Libraries Relevant

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Image by MLibrary. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Common's licensing.
Image by MLibrary. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Common’s licensing.

A recent post on the Education Week blog caught my eye, and captured the true dilemma many librarians and media specialists face as they ponder the future of libraries. The post is most specific to K-12, yet there are parallels for other library types too. Author Matthew Lynch proposes that to keep up with student needs, school libraries need to embrace a blend of traditional and contemporary philosophical needs (then takes the time to list them out). It is not hard to understand that remote access to the school catalog is a huge deal to students, yet so many schools in our region do not provide such access. In some districts, individual schools cannot even see each other’s catalogs. Why is that? Is it only a money thing, or do some believe our power remains in forcing people to  physically visit the library or in asking the  media person to do a search for them? Students want instant, remote access  to school catalogs for  books and other objects too. The post concluded with a rousing conclusion about Libraries of the Future and our own Minnesota school media leader Doug Johnson provided a great quote in this section.  Johnson says “that all libraries have three primary responsibilities in the coming decade: providing high touch environments in a high tech world; offering virtual services; and standing ground as uber information hubs.”  If decision makers are willing to break out of the traditional rut, school libraries (all libraries) will remain relevant and viable. Take five minutes to read the complete post, including  quotes from other thought leaders on this subject!

Patricia Post, Director
Central MN Libraries Exchange (CMLE)
A Minnesota Multitype Library System
St. Cloud State University, Miller Center 130-D
720 4th Ave. So.
St. Cloud, MN  56301-4498

Phone: 320-308-4779  Fax: 320-308-5131
E-mail: papost@stcloudstate.edu

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Tumblr as a Library Resource?

Image by Jessaaz. Retrieved from FlickR. Used under Creative Commons licensing.
Image by Jessaaz. Retrieved from FlickR. Used under Creative Commons licensing.

An article in Brain Hive placed by a high school librarian refers to the impact Tumblr had on her teen patrons. Robin Brenner professes that using this form of social media is even more affluent than Facebook or Twitter. Robin goes on to list essential tips (8) on how she  successfully marketed library resources, to teens, with Tumblr.  She also shares her top picks for current sites categorized by Teen Lit Tumblrs, Tumblarians, Teen Authors who Tumble, etc. Click here to read, Power Tumbl’ng: Why Tumblr Is a Great Way to Reach Teen Patrons (September 2013.)

In a related post, The Library Is Open: A Look at Librarians and Tumblr (June 2013), Molly Mcardle talks about how librarians have and can incorporate Tumblr in their work.  Molly quotes other types of librarians targeting a wide range of patrons who also use Tumblr.

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MILE Participant: CMLE Scholarship Recipient!

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Minnesota Library Association (MLA) Institute for Leadership (MILE) encourages and promotes leadership regardless of the position a person holds with in a library . The following post was submitted by CMLE scholarship recipient Sarah Seeley, Branch Assistant, Great River Regional Library-Buffalo. 

My experience at MLA’s Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) exceeded my expectations on every level.  I met fantastic people, both attendees and presenters, and discovered leadership skills I had never identified. I also learned new techniques and forums for library leadership that I know will serve me throughout my library career.

The most valuable part of the retreat for me was identifying and understanding my own personal leadership themes, discussions of how those themes interact with other individuals, and strategies for building good teams with various leadership styles.  I have already begun using this new understanding back at my job, and know it will continue to benefit me in the future.

I enjoyed learning about various forums for library advocacy and techniques to get the message out about libraries in Minnesota and the nation.  We also had a great coach who led discussions and exercises about keeping yourself and staff engaged and effective at work and in life.

On the last day we set a number of goals for ourselves to be achieved in the next eighteen months.  Going forward I will be working with a mentor for advice, coaching, and accountability toward those goals.  I am thrilled with the mentor I have been assigned and have already begun work on my goals, all of which will have a great effect on my work and within our library system.

I appreciate the support CMLE has provided for my attendance at the MILE program. I recommend it to anyone interested in leadership in the library field.

Sarah Seeley

Academic, Check this out:, General, Special

Physical Vs. Virtual Libraries

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Image by JD Hancock. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licensing.
Image by JD Hancock. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licensing.

Most libraries engage in a yearly (more or less) assessment of their collections; weed dated materials and identified additional, new items to purchase. However, not all libraries are treated equal when it comes to budget allocations for resources. So at some point a process is generally developed to identify what to purchased, and ultimately in which format (print or electronic.)

With the growing interest in electronic resources, a dialogue has began about the viability and perceived importance of sustaining a physical library. The Higher Education Network recently weighed in on this discussion, from an academic perspective, in an article stating that. “Academics will need both the physical and virtual library for years to come (June 2013). ”  Click here to read the full article.

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Half Price Book Sale!

Image by Chor lp. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licensing.
Image by Chor lp. Retrieved from Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licensing.

Did you know that every year, at the Minnesota State Fair Grounds-Grand Stand, a company called Half Priced Books has a clearance sale?

On October 5-6th, from 9-6 pm, you can join hundreds of book lovers. Sift through rows and stacks of materials on the hunt for missing pieces to your personal and/or professional collections.

Tip: If you plan to attend on behalf of your library, consider bringing a helper to watch over your finds. Also, if you intend on making several purchases, bring a cart to do the heavy carrying so you can keep your hands free.