Tag Archives: News from the Region

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Welcome Back!

Patricia Post, CMLE Director
Patricia Post, CMLE Director

This week marks the beginning of our new Weekly Review publication cycle, and by now, most of our K-12 and academic librarians have at least one week under their belts. Public librarians are taking a slight breather now that the summer reading programs have ended! And, it is hard to say what the special librarians are feeling at the moment; probably sadness that summer is ending! Schedules are slightly different for the 320 libraries in the Central MN region, but new energy is definitely in the Fall air! CMLE provides support services to library/school media center personnel. A few facts and reminders….

  • Some posts this week are gathered from news compiled over the summer, case in point, Getting Caught Up With State Library News
  • We continue to seek stories about programming in Central MN libraries and school media centers. Send stories or pictures  to admin@cmle.org
  • Last year,  CMLE used Google Hangouts to do monthly think tank meetings with a representative group of members. Are you interested in helping us assess needs and propose programming in our region? If so, please send email to admin@cmle.org
  • A reminder that upcoming library conferences, webinars and other noteworthy events will be offered through our Library Events Page.
  • Each week we will try to provide some easy, breezy, “good-to-know” posts about the library world or your home library too, but we will also insert some bigger picture posts to stretch you a bit too! No grumbling please….it is good for all of us…
  • Each week, we cull through hundreds of items and choose 7-15 items we feel might be of most interest or most helpful. Did we miss the mark? Let us know at admin@cmle.org
  • Last academic year we posted nearly 500 blog posts. We keep it manageable for you though one email per week with a listing of all of the weeks blog posts! Then, you are in control to pick and choose what meets your needs.
  • CMLE also has a Facebook and Twitter account….check us out. Facebook at Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange and Twitter @CMLEMN. Like us or follow us today!

Onward! Welcome back to a new academic year and lots of interesting activity and information from library land!

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

From the Director: A CMLE Wish List

PPphotoIf you have been following our legislative updates, you will notice that the Minnesota Multitypes have requested a funding increase. Just as it is fun to fantasize a bit about winning the lottery, so goes it with multitype funding. The multitypes were created in Minnesota Statute in such a way that our funding stays flat until we ask for an increase. This means that sometimes our funding can stay flat for 10-15 years, which has happened in the past. Needless to say, flat funding presents special problems when the cost of doing business increases each year!

I think you will be excited to hear what CMLE might be able to do if we should get the requested funding increase.

With this funding increase, CMLE would acquire additional infrastructure/staff/expertise to do the following either regionally or more broadly, in collaboration with others. Of course, if we get less than we ask for, things will need to come off this list, so please consider it a draft! CMLE could….

  1. Replicate tried, true, and evaluated programs (some by other multitypes) in the CMLE region. Possible examples are Camp Read a Lot, and the MILI Information Literacy Program (scaled for Greater MN region)
  2. Support better access, understanding, and hands on skill sets with media specialists and teachers around ELM resources, including the new Learning Express
  3. Explore expansion and/or provision of eBook collections to K-12 schools
  4. Increase the number of professional development events and activities for library staff from all library types
  5. Contract with an evaluation expert to assist libraries in evaluating their efforts and crafting their stories. Then, assist libraries in telling their stories through various venues, ranging from social media to the Legislature
  6. Contract with a copyright expert to respond to questions from the field
  7. Create an online professional library collection that supports librarians needs
  8. Increase CMLE’s ability to capture presentations (video) and share content more broadly
  9. Add the ability to bus Central MN library staff to Twin Cities events like MN Book Awards, Teen Lit Con, and Library Legislative Day

Are there CMLE member services on your wish list, but not on ours? Are there things on the list that surprise you? We are always interested in your input and feedback, so send them pronto to admin@cmle.org

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Welcome Back!

Patricia Post, CMLE Director
Patricia Post, CMLE Director

This week marks the beginning of our new Weekly Review publication cycle, and by now, our K-12 and academic librarians have at least one week under their belts. Public librarians are taking a slight breather now that the summer reading programs have ended! And, it is hard to say what the special librarians are feeling at the moment; probably sadness that summer is ending! Schedules are slightly different for the 320 libraries in the Central MN region, but new energy is definitely in the Fall air! CMLE provides support services to library/school media center personnel. A few facts and reminders….

  • Some posts this week are gathered from news compiled over the summer, case in point, Getting Caught Up With State Library News
  • We continue to seek stories about programming in Central MN libraries and school media centers. Send stories or pictures  to admin@cmle.org
  • Are you interested in being  a member of a new CMLE think tank group? My fingers are crossed that the group might be willing to consider doing Google Hangouts to help us brainstorm new ideas. Interested in helping us assess needs and propose programming in our region? If so, please send email to admin@cmle.org
  • Upcoming library conferences, webinars and other noteworthy events will be offered through a new table format this year …check it out in our Upcoming Events blog post each and every week!
  • Each week we will try to provide some easy, breezy, “good-to-know” posts about the library world or your home library too, but we will also insert some bigger picture posts to stretch you a bit too! No grumbling please….it is good for us…
  • Each week, we cull through hundreds of items and choose 7-15 items we feel might be of most interest or most helpful. Did we miss the mark? Let us know at admin@cmle.org
  • Last academic year we posted over 400 blog posts. We keep it manageable for you though, one email per week with a listing of all of the weeks blog posts!
  • CMLE also has a Facebook and Twitter account….check it out. Facebook at Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange and Twitter @CMLEMN. Like us or follow us today!
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

We’ve Learned: Staffing News and Updates from Around the Region

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We’ve Learned… is designed to keep our readers informed about news concerning personnel in CMLE libraries/media centers. Please keep us informed of any “happenings” regarding staff members in your area so that we can include them in the next write-up! Happenings can include: changes in staffing, awards, honors… you get the idea!

  • Jonathan Carlson is the new Science Librarian at the College of St. Ben’s/St. John’s University. Former Science Librarian, David Wuolu, has moved to Collection Development.

Please be sure to share with us any changes, updates, or exciting things happening in your library!

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

We’ve Learned: Staffing News and Updates from Around the Region

We’ve Learned… is designed to keep our readers informed about news concerning personnel in CMLE libraries/media centers. Please keep us informed of any “happenings” regarding staff members in your area so that we can include them in the next write-up! Happenings can include: changes in staffing, awards, honors… you get the idea!

  • Mary Waite is the new Media Specialist at Rocori Middle School and High School.
  • Tom Gilgenbach is the new Media Specialist at Maple Lake High School.
  • Be sure to send CMLE updates from your library, school, or district as well! Send us an email or post in the comments area. We’d love to share them!