Tag Archives: library system

Support CMLE: Shop at Amazon!

As the Minnesota multitype library systems prepare to enter our tenth year without a budget increase, we are looking for ways to diversify our income from other sources. We want to be able to provide more services and more programs to our members!  One easy way to help us to do this is by using Amazon.com.

Not available at Amazon, but she’s a big CMLE supporter!

Amazon provides a program called Amazon Associates. When people click through our site to buy things at Amazon.com, we get a small percentage of their profits on the sale.  You have probably seen some other libraries, nonprofits, and small businesses using this program.

What could you do to support CMLE? It’s easy!

Click on our website. Find stuff you like at Amazon.com. Buy it. Bask in the glow of supporting library services!

Aaaaaaannnnd…that’s it! Continue reading Support CMLE: Shop at Amazon!

The State of America's Libraries Report

SOAL14_CVR.inddOn April 13, the American Library Association (ALA) released its report on the 2014 State of America’s Libraries during National Library Week, April 13–19, detailing library trends of the past year. Included in the report are trends associated with academic, public, and school libraries; ebooks and copyright issues; social networking; library construction; legislative issues; and intellectual freedom.

The report has a strong focus on the importance of school libraries.

“More than 90 percent of traditional public schools have a school library, but public schools continue to struggle with the impact of funding cuts. For public school libraries, that means that professional staffing has been targeted for cuts nationwide.

The ALA is on the forefront of efforts to shore up support for school libraries.

“On one hand, budget and testing pressures have led to decisions to eliminate or de-professionalize school libraries,” said Barbara K. Stripling, ALA president. “On the other hand, the increased emphasis on college and career readiness and the integration of technology have opened an unprecedented door to school librarian leadership.”

Stripling and the ALA are undertaking an advocacy campaign for school libraries that sets goals in five critical areas: literacy, inquiry, social and emotional growth, creativity and imagination, and thoughtful use of technology. The task for school librarians, Stripling said, is to fulfill the dream that every school across the country will have an effective school library program

Stripling wrote a really excellent short piece on standing up for school libraries, which gets to the heart of the school library being a place of trust and opportunity.

The full text (80 pgs) of the 2014 State of America’s Libraries report is available at http://tinyurl.com/kpy5ct6

Portions of this post were from the April 14 ALA Press Release