Infographic released an article (April, 2013) referring to the challenges facing many public libraries today. It starts by identifying the opening of an all digital and technologically advanced library in Texas. Using this as a discussion point, it touches on the role these facilities play in their communities, damaging budget cuts and the shift in patron demand(s) on these providers. Click here to read the full article titled, “The Changing Face of Public Libraries.”
As we wrap up School Library Month, it is especially timely for Maureen Sullivan, president of ALA to write a blog post specifically about the importance of school libraries. Maureen mentions cuts to specific federal programs that may have impact on our school media centers in Minnesota. She also mentions that “The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Online Survey of Teachers found that although the Internet has opened up a vast world of information for today’s students, their digital literacy skills have yet to catch up. Twenty-four percent of those surveyed stated that students lack the ability to assess the quality and accuracy of information they find online. Another 33 percent reported that students lack the ability to recognize bias in online content.” This reinforces the critical role that media specialists possess in our schools.
Read Maureen’s post at http://tinyurl.com/crqshp8
**This update was written by Elaine Keefe, MLA/MEMO Library Legislative Lobbyist** (Received on Monday, April 29, 6:09 pm)
The Legislature must adjourn three weeks from today. Most of the omnibus budget bills were passed on the floor of the House and Senate last week. Conference committees are in the process of being appointed and will begin meeting later this week. Here is the status of the major bills affecting libraries:
Omnibus Higher Education Bill (SF 1236): The bill has passed both the House and the Senate.
The Senate higher education bill includes a $300,000 per year increase in funding for Minitex/MnLINK. The House maintains current funding.
Please contact the conferees listed below and ask them to support the Senate funding level for Minitex/MnLINK:
Omnibus E-12 Education Bill (HF 630): The bill has passed both the House and Senate. Here are the highlights for MLA and MEMO:
House conferees are Reps. Paul Marquart (DFL – Dilworth), Carolos Mariani (DFL – St. Paul), Kathy Brynaert (DFL – Mankato), Will Morgan (DFL – Burnsville) and Dean Urdahl (R – Grove City). Senate conferees are Senators Chuck Wiger (DFL – Maplewood), Patricia Torres Ray (DFL – Minneapolis), LeRoy Stumpf (DFL – Plummer), Alice Johnson (DFL – Spring Lake Park) and Kevin Dahle (DFL – Northfield).
Omnibus Tax Bill (HF 677): The bill has passed the House and is currently being debated in the Senate. Both bills raise a substantial amount of new revenue via increases in income taxes, sales taxes and and cigarette taxes. The House also raises taxes on alcohol. Both bills include property tax relief.
The House bill increases aid to cities by $80 million and aid to counties by $30 million. The Senate bill increases aid to cities by $80 million and aid to counties by $40 million. These increases will be helpful to public libraries.
Legacy: The House Legacy bill was scheduled to be taken up on the House floor 10 days ago and then was pulled. Rumor has it that controversy over the outdoor heritage appropriations have made it questionable whether the bill can pass. The Senate has not yet put its bill together.
If you attended the summer MEMO leadership event and/or the MEMO Fall Conference last year you heard Shannon Miller talk about our role to “be the change.” School Library Journal recently began a series of monthly webcasts hosted by Shannon. Supposedly, your attendance at each of the one hour free webcasts will unleash the library leader in you and will inspire leadership at every level! Learn strategies from the experts to help you take the lead through effective communication, collaboration and execution. You will gain valuable skills to help shape your professional future as well as the future of your library, school and community.
Go to http://www.slj.com/BeTheChange/#_ to get details on each webcast and to register. Please note that the webcasts are also archived so you can access them when it best suits your schedule.
The Lake Superior Libraries Symposium is a conference developed by librarians from Northwestern Wisconsin and Northeastern Minnesota. From an initial collaboration of academic and public libraries to educate their community on E-books, the idea for a regional professional network was born. Out of that collaboration the Lake Superior Libraries Symposium was created to help librarians develop enhanced professional networks and promote resource sharing and communication between organizations. Our continued operations are thanks to the in-kind and monetary contributions of our supporters.
Participate in the 2013 Lake Superior Libraries Symposium to be held on June 7th, 2013 at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Superior, WI.
Who should attend? Library staff, patrons, administrators, trustees, and students from around Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula, and beyond are invited to attend!
The cost to attend this year’s symposium is $49. Click here to register online.