Tag Archives: MLA

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

MLA Conference Registration

The 2012 Annual Conference of the Minnesota Library Association will be held October 3-5, 2012, in St. Paul, Minnesota. This premier educational event attracts more than 400 library professionals, Friends of the Library, and library trustees from across Minnesota.

The three-day conference features high-quality continuing education opportunities with more than 70 sessions across nine simultaneous tracks (Administration & Leadership; Authors, Literature, and Programming; Children & Young Adults; Collection Management & Technical Services; Digital Information & Technologies; Diversity; Library Trustees & Friends; Professional Development; Public Services), a silent auction fundraiser, countless networking opportunities, and an exhibit hall with vendors you want to talk to showcasing library products and services.

The conference will feature Killer Cocktails, Dinner with Colleagues, MLA division and subunit meetings, online handouts, and a lineup of informative and thought-provoking keynote presentations:

  • “Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians but Were Afraid to Ask” by Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Dr. Anton Treuer
  • “10 Quick and Painless Steps to Effective Advocacy for Libraries” by advocacy guru Stephanie Vance
  • “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” by library consultant and futurist Joan Frye Williams

The conference will also include breakout sessions by featured speakers:

  • Saroj Ghoting – Sharon Lerner Early Literacy Lecture series (three sessions)
  • Stephanie Vance – secrets for effective communication with elected officials
  • Erin Walsh – what happens to the adolescent brain on the path from childhood into adulthood
  • Joan Frye Williams – the importance of middle management

New features this year include the one-day MonstrosiTEEN mini-conference focusing on teen services, an Appy Hour breakfast showcasing must-have apps for your handheld device, an eReader petting zoo, tweet-ups, and sessions and activities focused on first-time attendees.

Complete details about sessions, speakers, and registration are now available at www.mnlibraryassociation.org/mlaconference2012.

About MLA: The Minnesota Library Association is an association of library supporters, representing all types of libraries by helping them accomplish together what none can do alone. MLA provides opportunities to meet library peers and associates, and meets the interests of its more than 625 members by facilitating educational opportunities, supporting strong ethical standards, and fostering connections between the library community and various constituencies. In addition to the annual three-day conference, programs are planned and sponsored year-round by MLA divisions, sections, roundtables, and committees. Find out more at www.mnlibraryassociation.org.

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Primer for Minnesota Library Advocacy

**Courtesy of MLA Legislative News**

Want to have more information while talking with your legislators, either on Library Legislative Day or anytime during a Legislative Session? Check out the Primer for Minnesota Library Advocacy!

This primer is intended to assist both newcomers and old hands in advocating for Minnesota libraries of all types. The hope is to provide a one-stop spot for information about what is going on in the current legislative session, an overview of how Minnesota libraries and systems work together to meet the needs of all Minnesotans, how to participate in Library Legislative Day, and an “Advocacy 101” introduction to those who may be new to advocacy.

You can access this primer by clicking on “Primer for Minnesota Library Advocacy” on the Advocacy and Legislation page of the MLA website. Please contact Michael Scott, 2011 MLA Legislative Chair, at mscott@selco.info, with comments or suggestions for the primer.