TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: August 11, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

LSTA Grant Awards Announcements – Coming Soon!
As a result of our most recent LSTA grant round, we are excited to award eleven grants for innovative projects with diverse beneficiaries. The grant-funded projects are wide-ranging and include the creation of programs and resources to strengthen families affected by incarceration, the expansion of a science fair initiative that connects third- and fourth-graders with area STEM professionals, and the development of creative in- and out-of-school-time digital learning opportunities. The grant awards will be posted on the refreshed MDE website next week. In the meantime, please contactJackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) for a complete list or for more information.

Get to Know Valuable Partners in Afterschool and Digital Literacy
In communities across Minnesota, organizations are working to build bridges between in-school learning and afterschool experiences for students of all ages. Key players in this effort are 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC), active partnerships between schools and community organizations that provide students with a broad array of academic supports, enrichment programs and engagement opportunities to help them achieve, connect and thrive. 21CCLCs are prime partners for a library’s afterschool and summer programs.

You’re invited to learn more about 21CCLCs at a special kick-off event at the St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN).Register today; space is limited. (The morning session is for 21CCLCs only.)

Tuesday, August 23, 1-3 p.m.
SPNN, 550 Vandalia Street Suite 170, Saint Paul, MN 55114

Connect with interesting colleagues and gain insights into the power of collaboration. Learn about the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival and how empowering kids to create their own films exercises their 21st century skills and creates community connections for your library. Tour the SPNN site and hear how they have worked for years with kids and the Saint Paul community to grow into something much more than a cable access studio. Discover how SPNN can guide you in more effective and efficient use of your library’s makerspace to support youth in their creation of digital media—and how they’re already doing that for the Saint Paul Public Library through their Createch studios. Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) for more information about the event.

NLS Authorized to Provide Braille E-readers
On July 20, 2016, President Obama signed a bill amending the Pratt-Smoot Act of 1931 that authorizes the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) to provide playback equipment in all formats to its users. This change will allow NLS to provide access to braille e-readers, which are devices capable of reading electronic braille. The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault serves about 10,000 people across the state, in collaboration with NLS and the State Services for the Blind, which manages and distributes the federally provided equipment for the NLS program.

For more information about the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library, please contact Catherine Durivage (1-800-722-0550).

Prepare to Celebrate Lights On Afterschool
Launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool (LoA) is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. It’s time to plan your Lights on Afterschool 2016 event for the week of Oct 17- 21! Ignite Afterschool, Minnesota’s statewide network dedicated to advancing high-quality afterschool and summer programs for all youth, is excited to announce the statewide theme: Hats Off to Afterschool!

Check out Minnesota’s online LoA Toolkit and attend the webinar on September 9, 10-11:30 a.m., to learn more about planning your LoA event. Once your plans are made, register your event with the Afterschool Alliance, the national coordinator of LoA. Ignite Afterschool has 500 free light-up hat activity kits available courtesy of the Bakken Museum. You can order up to 30 for your event, while supplies last. Email Matt at Ignite Afterschool to request your kits.

For more information about LoA 2016, check out the Afterschool Alliance’s LoA Event Planning Guide, or visit theAfterschool Alliance website.

Get Ready for the Celestial Event of the Century
In just over a year, on August 21, 2017, the shadow of the moon will sweep across the United States in a spectacle that hasn’t occurred in 99 years. So jump on the eclipse train! Register your library with the National Center for Interactive Learning (NCIL) at the Space Science Institute. Once you’re registered, you’ll have access to NCIL resources to help you plan and promote your eclipse event. Share your event’s press release, flyer or website link to receive 50 free eclipse viewing glasses for your patrons, available while supplies last. Visit the NCIL website for more information.

TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: June 28, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Get Supercharged with Storytime Colleagues Nationwide
OCLC recently announced that the Supercharged Storytimes orientation archive is available for free to all public library staff. Now in addition to connecting with fellow Minnesota storytimers, you can learn from and share with storytime presenters across the country.

Public library staff are invited to create a free account and enroll to:
• Learn how to incorporate research-based early literacy concepts into storytimes;
• Recognize the role early literacy plays in early childhood development;
• Gain insight for articulating the relevance of storytimes to parents, caregivers, and other library stakeholders;
• Learn more about the Supercharged Storytimes online orientation pilot, originally offered to more than 500 library staff members in six states (including Minnesota) in 2015; and
• Access archived webinars and resources, and share thoughts with other enrollees in discussion forums.

If you’re simply looking for fresh ways to amp up your storytimes, visit the Supercharged Library, a compilation of resources generated by public library storytime providers from around the country. Contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) for more information about Supercharged Storytimes.

Measuring What Matters
We all have an interest in promoting increased awareness of the value of public libraries in the United States. In order to do this, effective data is indispensable. Concerns about the explosion of surveys in recent years have led directors of state library agencies across the country to think more deeply about what data really is essential to collect. Through a proposed cooperative agreement with IMLS, COSLA (Chief Officers of State Library Agencies) has outlined a process for creating a National Public Library Data and Outcomes Action Plan. Measures that Matter seeks to develop a plan that will allow for the timely collection of reliable, comparable and meaningful data on public libraries while reducing the burden of data collection on local libraries. Read more about the project or contact Jen Nelson (651-582-8791) for more information.

Reintroduce Your Library to Your Community
Outside the Lines is a week-long celebration, September 11-17, 2016, that demonstrates the creativity and innovation happening in today’s libraries. Libraries from 41 states participated in 2015. Whether your library is large or small—school, academic, special or public—you can participate in this international celebration by hosting an event that:
• Gets people thinking and talking about libraries in a different way.
• Showcases your library in the community.
• Represents your local community.
• Highlights how your library is relevant to people’s lives.
• Is active and gets people engaged.
• Is fun!

Learn more about Outside the Lines and how to participate through an informational webinar on Thursday, June 30 from11:00 a.m. to noon. No registration is necessary, but virtual space may be limited. Discover more about Outside the Lines and register as a participating location on the campaign’s website.

TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: June 9, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Engaging the Community through Public Libraries
State Library Services was a capstone client for the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota this spring. Staff worked with graduate student Pamela Foster to complete her Master’s professional paper. Public Libraries and Community Outreach: Program Assessment for Serving Homeless Patrons examines how libraries across the U.S. and Canada, including Hennepin County Library, are using public outreach to engage staff, the community, and homeless patrons. The paper also discusses tools and methods libraries could use to measure the impact of their community engagement efforts. You can request a copy of the paper from Joe Manion (651-582-8640).

Make Ebooks Minnesota Part of Your Summer Reading Program
As you gear up for summer programs to keep kids engaged in learning while school’s out for the long break, remember Ebooks Minnesota offers another way to make reading part of the summer fun.

Ebooks Minnesota features Minnesota’s independent publishers and books about Minnesota. With an array of fiction and nonfiction titles, the collection has something for everyone. Check out some of the series for young readers:

• I.Q. series
• Manga Math Mysteries
• Twisted Journeys
• You Write It
• Sports Heroes and Legends

The collection is free to use, there is no limit to the number of titles that can be checked out at any time, and readers can keep titles as long as they wish. Visit the website or download an app for your device via the App Store, Google Play, or Kindle Fire HD.

Ebooks Minnesota is a two-year pilot project brought to you by Minitex and the Minnesota Department of Education, made possible in part by funding from through a Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

Turn Around, Bright Eyes: Library Programming for the Total Eclipse of 2017
Too busy with summer reading to even THINK about attending a webinar? The Space Science Institute has got you covered. Take a 20-minute breather from summer reading madness on Wednesday, June 15 at 2:00 pm to attend a 20-minute “mini webinar.” You’ll get great information about the 2017 total solar eclipse, and be able to ask questions about promoting the event in your library. Here are a couple fun facts to get you started: 1) On August 21, 2017, a total eclipse of the sun will be visible in the continental U.S. for the first time in almost 40 years; 2) The total eclipse will ONLY be visible in the U.S. and no other country. Download an eclipse FAQ sheet.

Register for the mini webinar. Password is “star1”. This webinar will be VoiP only, so you will need to use a laptop, or a desktop computer with a microphone and headset (there will be no call-in option.) If you have any problems with your registration, please contact Anne Holland for assistance.

Celebrate Summer Learning Day Every Day This Summer
The nation may celebrate 2016 Summer Learning Day on July 14, but public libraries celebrate learning all summer long. Across the state this summer, we know that hundreds of educational and entertaining events will take place in Minnesota’s public libraries. Share what you’re doing with the rest of the state—and the country—by posting events on the National Summer Learning Association’s website.

Bring Financial Empowerment to Your Community
Interested in learning more about promoting financial well-being in your community? The University of Minnesota Extension service will host Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Your Money, Your Goals workshops throughout the state for community organizations and agencies. Participants will become well-versed in using a toolkit designed to increase people’s financial literacy and skills.

The sessions cover key financial literacy topics, many of which are important for teens—emotions, values, culture, and money decisions; savings for emergencies, bills, and goals; and credit and debt, just to name a few.

Learn more about the program. Trainings begin in June and run through August, so register today for the session nearest you. Please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508) for more information.

Reintroduce Your Library to Your Community
Outside the Lines is a week-long celebration, September 11-17, 2016, that demonstrates the creativity and innovation happening in today’s libraries. Whether your library is large or small—school, academic, special or public—you can participate in this international celebration by hosting an event that:

– Gets people thinking and talking about libraries in a different way.
– Showcases your library in the community. 
– Represents your local community.
– Highlights how your library is relevant to people’s lives.
– Is active and gets people engaged.
– Is fun!

Learn more about Outside the Lines and how to participate through an informational webinar on Thursday, June 30 from11:00 a.m. to noon. No registration is necessary, but virtual space may be limited. Learn more about Outside the Lines and register as a participating location on the campaign’s website.

TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: May 26, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Better Together: Strengthening Adult Learning Communities
At three Better Together workshops this spring, 180 participants learned creative approaches to leveraging their expertise to serve adult learners and to improve Minnesota’s workforce. The workshops offered library, adult basic education and workforce center professionals a chance to team up to address the needs of students, workers, job seekers, and employers.

Better Together attendees also learned more about online resources including the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment, the Minnesota Literacy Council’s digital literacy curriculum, and the Electronic Library for Minnesota’s computer skills center.

With Workforce Innovation Act incentive funds earned by Adult Basic Education, the Minnesota Department of Education is able to offer up to ten competitive grants of up to $5,000 for projects designed to increase collaboration between the three partners and improve adult literacy and/or workforce outcomes, especially in the area of digital literacy. Grants must be submitted by Adult Basic Education and at least one partner had to attend a Better Together session. For information, please contact Julie Dincau (651-582-8681) or Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

Steps Toward a Minnesota Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan Continue
In April and May, MDE hosted ten public meetings to explore ESSA with large, diverse groups of stakeholders. Comments and presentations from most of the feedback sessions are now available on MDE’s website.

In July and August, work groups will be convened with the goal of informing the framework for Minnesota’s plan. Next steps are listed on this tentative timeline, and MDE anticipates submitting its plan in early 2017. Please send questions and comments to mde.essa@state.mn.us.

MDE and MetaMetrics® Help Combat Summer Learning Loss for Your Students
Summer is upon us–and with it, the end of formal classroom time for many children. Leaving behind a structured learning environment often results in summer learning loss. Instead of progressing in their reading and mathematics skills, students may flatline or slip in their abilities. Low-income children are especially susceptible to loss, since they often lack access to books at home.

To combat this trend, MDE is teaming up with MetaMetrics® this year to provide opportunities for summer reading and math learning. The Summer Reading and the Summer Math Challenge engage families and students in summer learning. Find out more about Metametrics® summer learning opportunities, including materials you can use to promote these programs, on the MDE website.

Welcoming New Staff at MBTBL
Etta Thornburg joined the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library as Audio Visual Education Specialist in early May. Ms. Thornburg will be helping to re-launch the volunteer recording program that will create digital audio recordings of locally selected materials. Prior to joining MDE, Ms. Thornburg was employed at Planned Parenthood in Des Moines, Iowa as their Education and Health Services Program Manager and brings a great deal of volunteer management and library experience to this position. For more information, contact Catherine Durivage (1-800-722-0550).

Study Released on the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
A division of the Library of Congress, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), provides free audio and braille materials for U.S. residents who cannot read standard print due to visual and other disabilities. The NLS program uses federal funds to provide these materials through a national network of libraries, including our own Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault which serves about 10,000 people across the state.

The NLS is always looking for new ways to better serve its clients, and the answer is often found in new technologies. A recent study conducted by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed the importance of NLS’s ongoing quest for improved services, and even went so far as to recommend that Congress consider authorizing NLS to provide its users wireless devices for reading electronic braille files. This could mean a big change from the cartridges and talking book players many customers are currently using.

For more information about the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library, please contact Catherine Durivage (1-800-722-0550).

School Librarians, You’re 2 Cool 2 Be 4-gotten–Stay in Touch This Summer
School is nearly out for the summer. If you’re looking at a work break for the next few months, please consider staying connected with State Library Services. We promise to keep you updated about workshops, programming and more. Sign up with your summer email address today! Please contact Jen Verbrugge (651-582-8356) with questions.

Register Today for the Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Education Symposium
The eighth annual Hormel Foundation Gifted and Talented Education Symposium provides an opportunity for educators, librarians, administrators, counselors, psychologists, school board members and parents to gain a greater understanding of the unique needs of gifted and high potential learners. Invited speakers include many of the field’s finest regionally, nationally and internationally known presenters.

All are welcome to register and attend the symposium, June 13-16, 2016 at Austin High School, 301 3rd Street NW in Austin. Sessions will address best practices for the assessment of students for services, program models, social and emotional needs, instructional strategies, under-represented populations, under-achievement, integration of STEM and technology, and specific content in the areas of science, mathematics, language arts and social studies. The symposium fee is $200 and attendance is limited. Registration closes on June 1, so sign up today. Please contact Wendy Behrens (651-582-8786) for more information.

TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: May 3, 2016
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services

Team Up with Workforce and ABE Colleagues
Thank you to the more than 100 people who attended the first Better Together workshop last Friday! We were excited to see connections being made across organizations, and plans beginning for partnerships among libraries, adult basic education, and workforce organizations in the metro area.

There is still time to register for the Mankato and Grand Rapids workshops.

Monday, May 9, 2016 – Mankato at Country Inn and Suites (Registrations received after April 29 are not guaranteed a lunch)
Monday, May 16, 2016 – Grand Rapids at Saw Mill Inn (Register by Friday, May 6 to make sure lunch will be available for you)

At Better Together, you’ll learn about promising practices for collaboration across organizations and learn about free resources that promote digital literacy and workforce skills. To help put your own ideas for collaboration into action, we are offering a competitive grant opportunity that will award up to ten grants with a maximum of $5,000/applicant. At least one of your project partners must attend a Better Together workshop and proposed projects must show promise for sustainability. Applications and more information will be available at Better Together sessions. For more information, to request an accommodation, or to be included on a mailing list for future announcements, please contact Emily Kissane (651-582-8508).

Submit Your LSTA Grant Application Soon
Apply for a mini grant or a larger competitive grant today! Applications are due Tuesday, May 17 for our two 2016 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) competitive grant opportunities. Mini grants (up to $10,000) are available to help libraries offer programs and services to improve learning opportunities for children and young adults. The larger competitive grant opportunity will fund grant projects from $10,000-$100,000 with an overarching goal to expand library services for learning and increase access to high-quality information resources for all Minnesotans. Applications and further information for both opportunities are available on the Minnesota Department of Education’s Grants Management site. To learn more, visit the LSTA webpage and view the 2016 grant opportunities timeline. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) for additional information.

Take a Look at the Supercharged Library
Supercharge your storytimes, collections, family engagement, and more through the OCLC-created Supercharged Library. Resulting from last fall’s Supercharged Storytimes project, the Supercharged Library is a compilation of resources generated by public library storytime providers from around the country and intended to invigorate your ongoing early literacy and learning work with kids and families. Please contact Jackie Blagsvedt (651-582-8805) for more information.

Go a Little North of Normal – ARSL Conference 2016
Take advantage of this unique close-to-home opportunity to connect, learn and share with your rural and small library allies from across the country. The 2016 Association for Rural and Small Libraries Conference is in Fargo, ND from Oct. 27-29, and early bird registration is now open.