|
Tag Archives: State Library Service
Library Consultant Group Unveils Report
The 2014 Minnesota Legislature directed the commissioner of the Department of Education to consult with people knowledgeable about state libraries and service delivery about ways to increase service delivery and collaboration between library governance systems.Over the past five months, the Libraries and Service Delivery Consultant Group reviewed options for changing library procedures and governance systems to ensure equitable and cost-effective access to library services statewide. The legislative charge also asked the group to consider ways to increase access to emerging electronic services.
A final report with recommendations was due to the Legislature by February 1, 2015, and is now available.
Updates from State Library Services
TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: January 27, 2015
SUBJECT: Summer and At-Risk Food Programs, Meetup, 90-Second Newbery, and more
Updates from State Library Services
Summer and At-Risk Food Programs for Kids – Webinar Reminder
Public libraries can help make sure kids have access to nutritious food when school is not in session by participating in summer and/or afterschool food programs. Begin planning your library’s summer 2015 participation by attending an informational webinar on February 4, 2015 at 11 a.m. Jenny Butcher, USDA Summer Food Service Program Coordinator at MDE, will share how you can get involved. Register here today. Please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event. Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.
Libraries Serving Youth Meetup
Registration opens on February 14, 2015 for State Library Services’ first-ever Libraries Serving Youth Meetup. Here’s a chance for school librarians and public librarians to meet, network and share ideas. Learn about successful public library and school collaborations, get creative ideas and enjoy a free lunch. Presenters include Erin Smith, Mike Evavold, Nina Shimmin, Donna Ohlgren, Chad Lubbers, Ellen Morehouse and Brianna Belanger. The Meetup is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stay tuned to the State Library Services website and listserv for more information. For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356 with questions.
90-Second Newbery Film Festival News
We’re excited that Minnesota kid movie-makers submitted 35 entries to this year’s 90-Second Newbery Film Festival. Festival host James Kennedy is now selecting the Minnesota videos that will be shown at the first-ever Minnesota screening on February 28, 2015, from 3-4:30 p.m. at Hennepin County – Minneapolis Central. Although pre-registration isn’t required, we’d love to know you’re coming. RSVP to attend the event, which will be co-hosted by madcap authors James Kennedy (The Order of Odd-Fish) and Kelly Barnhill (The Witch’s Boy). For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356.
Help People in Your Community Reach Their College Goals
Minnesota College Goal, a statewide volunteer program that provides free information and assistance to students and families completing the FAFSA, is looking for sites to host financial aid events and would like to partner with libraries. Hosting a Minnesota College Goal event in your area provides students the opportunity to complete their FAFSA with the support of trained professionals. To learn more or to register as a host site, visit the Minnesota College Goal website. Contact Emily Kissane at emily.kissane@state.mn.us or 651-582-8508 with any questions.
Ignite Afterschool
Ignite Afterschool is a statewide network of organizations dedicated to engaging young people in quality afterschool activities. Proposals are now being accepted and registration is open for “Powering Learning. Expanding Possibilities,” a statewide out-of-school time learning and STEM conference co-hosted by Ignite and the Minnesota STEM Network that will be held at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center on April 14-15, 2015. For more information, please contact Jennifer Nelson at jennifer.r.nelson@state.mn.us or 651-582-8791.
Updates from State Library Services
TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: January 14, 2015
SUBJECT: Updates from State Library Services: LSTA Mini Grants, MBTBL job opening, and more
LSTA Mini Grants
State Library Services is pleased to announce the second round of mini grant projects supported by LSTA funds. With a maximum award of $10,000, these eighteen mini grant projects support activity-based partnerships between schools and libraries as well as the creation of engaging play-friendly spaces and experiences for children ages 0-8 years old and their caregivers. To learn more about the mini grant recipients, visit the State Library Services LSTA page.
Position Opening at the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library
The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time library technician. Located in Faribault, the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library provides library services to individuals with a visual, physical or reading disability that prevents them from reading standard print materials. The vacancy announcement and application form may be found online at the State Job Search website. The closing date for the position is January 20, 2015. For more information, please contact Catherine Durivage at 507-384-6860 or catherine.durivage@state.mn.us.
90-Second Newbery Film Festival News
The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is an annual video contest in which kid filmmakers create movies that creatively tell the entire stories of Newbery-winning books in about 90 seconds. The submission deadline, Friday, January 16, is right around the corner. Make your last-minute edits and submit your film. Access details about the 90-Second Newbery video competition).
Please plan to attend the first-ever Minnesota 90-Second Newbery screening Saturday, February 28, 2015, from 3-4:30 p.m. at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central. Although you don’t have to register to attend, we’d love to know you’re coming. RSVP to attend the event, which will be co-hosted by madcap authors James Kennedy (The Order of Odd-Fish) and Kelly Barnhill (The Witch’s Boy). For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356 .
Minnesota Public Library Annual Report Training
Data collection for 2014 Public Library Annual Reports will start in early February. Public library staff are invited to attend a webinar to learn about the process, changes for this year and more. Please visit the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Calendar or contact Mary Ann Van Cura at maryann.vancura@state.mn.us for the dates and times of webinars.
Libraries Serving Youth Meetup
State Library Services invites you to join us at the Libraries Serving Youth Meetup on Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Here’s a chance for school librarians and public librarians to meet, network and share ideas. Learn about successful public library and school collaborations, get creative ideas and enjoy a free lunch. Presenters include Erin Smith, Mike Evavold, Nina Shimmin, Donna Ohlgren, Chad Lubbers, Ellen Morehouse and Brianna Belanger. Registration opens February 14, 2015. Stay tuned to the State Library Services website and listserv for more information.
Summer and At-Risk Food Programs for Kids
Fewer than 17 percent of Minnesota kids who benefit from the free or reduced-price school lunch program have access to summer and afterschool food programs. Limited access to free food programs, particularly during the summer, leaves many children hungry. Public libraries can help make sure kids have access to nutritious food when school is not in session.
Begin planning your summer 2015 participation by attending an informational webinar on February 4, 2015, at 11 a.m. Jenny Butcher, USDA Summer Food Service Program Coordinator at MDE, will tell you how your library can be involved. Pre-registration is not required. Login to the February 4 webinar. Please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us with questions or to request a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event.
Note: MDE requires a two-week advance notice in order to provide the requested accommodation and requires a 48-hour notice in order to cancel a requested accommodation.
Help People in Your Community Reach Their College Goals
Minnesota College Goal, statewide volunteer program that provides free information and assistance to students and families completing the FAFSA, is looking for sites to host financial aid events and would like to partner with libraries. Hosting a Minnesota College Goal event in your area provides students the opportunity to complete their FAFSA with the support of trained professionals. To learn more or to register as a host site, visit the Minnesota College Goal website. Contact Emily Kissane at emily.kissane@state.mn.us or 651-582-8508 if you have any questions.
State Library Updates & Reminders
TO: Minnesota Libraries
FROM: State Library Services
DATE: December 11, 2014
SUBJECT: Award for Continuous Improvement, 90sN Deadline Extended, Summer Reading Evaluation
Award for Continuous Improvement
I am delighted to announce that State Library Services has received the 2014 Governor’s Award for Continuous Improvement. Under the leadership of Jen Nelson, the State and Federal Programs Team (Jackie Blagsvedt, Emily Kissane, and Jennifer Verbrugge) was recognized for their work in streamlining state and federal grant and aid program administration over the last year. Their combined efforts to align program applications, reporting and administration with state statutes, work collaboratively with colleagues in School and Agency Finance, and incorporate plain language have led to improved processes and an increased amount of funds available for competitive grants. Specifically, State Library Services increased federal Library Services and Technology Act competitive grant awards by 58 percent in one year, resulting in more options for funding local projects.
But perhaps the most far-reaching impact of streamlining federal and state program administration has been to allow 1.25 FTE to focus on key priorities for State Library Services and the Minnesota Department of Education – achieving the goals articulated in the Governor’s Seven Point Plan for Better Schools. State Library Services staff now work with libraries across the state to improve their capacity to deliver quality early childhood learning experiences and to connect schools and libraries to foster academic success and close the achievement gap.
I hope you will join me in congratulating their recent successes and their commitment to fostering strong libraries in Minnesota. -Kevin McHenry, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Education
Deadline for Newbery Film Festival Extended to January 16, 2015
90-Second Newbery founder James Kennedy has given kid filmmakers a holiday gift: an extra four weeks to complete and submit films. The new deadline is January 16, 2015.
Please update your promotional messages to local kids and families through your library or school. Visit the State Library Services web page to download the logo, an updated sample press release, an updated program flyer, a video invite from 90-Second Newbery founder James Kennedy, and more.
Also – mark your calendar for the first-ever Minnesota screening of the best 90-Second Newbery entries on Saturday, February 28, 2015, from 3:00 – 4:30 PM at Hennepin County Library – Minneapolis Central. Co-hosts of the event will be James Kennedy, founder and curator of the 90-Second Newbery, and Kelly Barnhill, Minneapolis author of ‘The Witch’s Boy.’ For more details, please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356.
Evaluating Summer Reading: A St. Kate’s Capstone Project
On behalf of State Library Services, a trio of St. Kate’s MLIS students researched summer reading program evaluation practices in Minnesota libraries and in other states during the fall semester. The result is a comprehensive 40-page document with recommendations, the full-text of communications with a range of interviewees, and a bibliography of timely and topical resources. Please contact Jennifer Verbrugge at jennifer.verbrugge@state.mn.us or 651-582-8356 if you would like a copy of the final report.