Tag Archives: Resources

CMLE, Guest Blogger

Stearns History Center CMLE Extended Mini Grant Report

This is a guest post from Steve Penick, archivist at the Stearns History Museum.

The Stearns History Museum’s (SHM) $4,000 storage project was partially funded through CMLE’s Extended Mini Grant Program, enabling staff to purchase shelves and archival storage boxes for collection materials.  Thanks in part to community partners, local Stearns County Lion Clubs, and a generous anonymous donor, the project’s goal of improving storage capacity and reorganizing our photographic collection has been achieved.  

Photo reorganization was the first component to be addressed.  SHM’s collection, around 25,000 images, had been stored on shelves in several different locations within the archives.  Staff assembled two 10’ storage units, bringing the entire collection into one space.  The remaining three shelves, have room for approximately 2,700 images, will be available for future growth.

Three units containing 30 shelves, space for 90 large archival boxes, are planned for new collections that previously did not have a permanent location.   A few examples include:  Eden Valley’s Marge Gruenes political correspondence and photographs (1980’s-1990’s), the Siefermann Family Papers (1890’s-1920’s) documenting their Richmond farm, and Senator Dave Durenberger collection, highlighting his formative Collegeville education years from St. John’s Preparatory and University.  Combined, some two dozen collections are prepared for data entry into our catalog and ready to be assigned a permanent location.

With the photograph reorganization, two empty units became available for incoming collections as they are received from donors.  Staff will have the opportunity to better organize and prepare these materials for collection storage. The space allows for 24 large archival boxes and up to a dozen mid-size ones.

The benefits of this shelving project are both immediate and long-term.  Patron and staff access to our resources has been improved, especially our photographic collection.  

Thanks CMLE for helping us make this happen!

Books, Resources

Books and Resources for Black History Month

February is Black History Month! We want to make sure our member libraries have all sorts of book recommendations and resources to celebrate this month and to encourage learning about Black history all year long.

Let’s start with some recommended reading lists: 

Next, explore these resources you can use in your school library or classroom: 

Finally, last year at CMLE we hosted an African American Read-In event where we were able to explore an awesome variety of African American literature. Read about our event or learn more about African American Read-Ins.

If you’d like to get some more book recommendations, listen to our Reading With Libraries podcast episode about the genre of African American literature:

CMLE, Communication, Services

Being Professionally Lonesome…Together

Interior view of Stockholm Public Library

I loved this article, because I see this issue across our system and in many other areas. A lot of libraries, especially schools and specials, have either one person working there, or one person and a couple of maybe-part-time people who can fill in there and also other places in the organization. So being alone is a real issue -and it’s a tough one!

One of our priorities at CMLE is providing a place where our members can connect with other library people – across the system, across the state, and across the profession. So please, when you feel alone at work – whether you are a solo librarian, or just the only one in your organization who does your thing, or who likes your library-focused area, know that CMLE is filled with members who are right there with you!! Subscribe to all our stuff (newsletter, podcast, online book groups, online discussion groups, and more!), and come to our events, to be sure you are connecting. Never hesitate to give us a call at HQ, or send us an email, or even to stop by to chat! We are your system, and are here to support libraries!

Continue reading Being Professionally Lonesome…Together →

Communication, Resources

The US Library of Congress Just Put 25 Million Records Online, Free of Charge

LOC Main Reading Room Highsmith

By David Nield, from Science Alert

“Knowledge is power, the old saying goes, but it isn’t much use if it’s hidden away – so we’re excited to learn that the US Library of Congress is making 25 million of its records available for free, for anyone to access online.

The bibliographic data sets, like digital library cards, cover music, books, maps, manuscripts, and more, and their publication online marks the biggest release of digital records in the Library’s history.

“The Library of Congress is our nation’s monument to knowledge and we need to make sure the doors are open wide for everyone, not just physically but digitally too,” says Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

“Unlocking the rich data in the Library’s online catalogue is a great step forward. I’m excited to see how people will put this information to use.”

Researchers and analysts will get most use out of the new records, but there’s plenty of potential for them to be used in apps and databases as well. The Library hosted a Hack-to-Learn workshop looking at how the data could be used. Continue reading The US Library of Congress Just Put 25 Million Records Online, Free of Charge →

Academic, Tech, Training

Twenty Three Framework Things self-paced training!

How to Participate

To participate in 23 Framework Things, register and work on the 23 things at your own pace. Begin with any “thing” by clicking on it from the homepage or via the “Things” drop-down menu. Each thing presents a prompt, giving a directive or asking a big question. Take time to analyze the prompt and read any suggested articles or blog posts, ask co-workers about the ideas presented, or do your own research on the issue — whatever you need to do to wrap your head around the topic — then follow the directive or share your reaction to the big question in the Comments section of the “thing.” You can also post your reaction on your own site, but be sure to share a link to it in the Comments section of the “thing” if you want us to track your progress. Please use your full name when posting in the Comments section or create a Gravatar.

About
Welcome to 23 Framework Things, an exploration of the Association of College & Research Libraries’ Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. This academic librarian-focused, self-paced program encourages participants to read, reflect, and respond to prompts and big questions surrounding the implementation of the Framework at their institutions.

Rationale

In response to the call for more support and resources surrounding the Framework, we, the current and former chairs of the Instruction Round Table of the Minnesota Library Association, decided to make 2017 the year we focus on the Framework. Through this program and the workshop and conference session that preceded it, we are engaging academic librarians in learning more about the Framework and putting it into practice at their institutions.

Participants

ALL are welcome to participate in 23 Framework Things, including those across the United States and internationally. However, due to funding, larger prizes will only be given to participants working in Minnesota. Please view the How to Participate page and fill out the Registration Form to participate.

Things

Each “thing” is essentially a prompt to get you to think about one aspect of the Framework. “Things” will be released in waves. At the beginning of each month from May 2017 to August 2017, a new wave of “things” will be released with “things” from different tracks.

Tracks

The 23 things are split into four tracks that loosely surround a theme, specifically: Pedagogy, Frame Focus, Assessment, and @ Your Institution.

Timeline

Though the 23 Framework Things site will stay active for years (barring catastrophe and whatnot), progress tracking, site management, and prize eligibility will end on October 5, 2017. Those who complete all 23 things by this date will receive a certificate of completion.

Prizes

Due to funding from the Minnesota Library Association, the prizes for Minnesota and Non-Minnesota participants will be different. We encourage Minnesota librarians to join and participate in MLA in order to explore additional opportunities for professional development and make connections within the Minnesota library community.

Non-Minnesota Participants

A digital track badge for posting to your personal website will be emailed to you after the completion of each track. Completing all 23 things will earn you a digital “All the Things” badge for posting to your personal website and a certificate of completion for the 23 Framework Things program.

Minnesota Participants

1st tier (completing 1 thing): A print copy of the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education [First 50 Minnesota participants]
2nd tier (completing 1 track): A 1st track button, a 1st digital track badge for posting to your personal website, and entry into a drawing for your choice of a READ poster from the ALA Store [Max: $18] (1 winner)
3rd tier (completing 2 tracks): A 2nd track button, a 2nd digital track badge for posting to your personal website, and entry into a drawing for a $30 gift card to Lithographs or Out of Print (1 winner – your choice)
4th tier (completing 3 tracks): A 3rd track button, a 3rd digital track badge for posting to your personal website, and entry into a drawing for your choice of a library instruction book from the ALA Store [Max: $60] (1 winner)
5th tier (completing all things; 4 tracks): An “All the Things” button, a digital “All the Things” badge for posting to your personal website, a 4th track button, a 4th digital track badge for posting to your personal website, entry into a drawing for up to $100 off MLA membership dues (1 winner; valid for next time your membership is due), and a certificate of completion for the 23 Framework Things program
For those who elect to receive prizes via mail, prize packages will be sent out within 1 month of completion. Drawing winners will be notified by October 9, 2017.”