Discover your inner leader!

Looking to develop or enhance your leadership skills, invigorate your career, and connect with other library workers in a relaxing atmosphere? Then apply to the Minnesota Library Association Institute for Leadership Excellence (MILE) today!

The MILE 2009 Institute will provide participants with the opportunity to:

* Develop and refine skills necessary to be a leader in the libraries of tomorrow.
* Develop professional and personal goals and help you move forward on those goals.
* Network and make connections with people in the broader community.
* Reflect on the variety of leadership opportunities available at the local, regional, and state levels.
* Be matched with and work with a mentor for several months following the Institute.

Thanks to the generous support of the MN Library Foundation & the State Library, we are able to cut the cost for participants from $300 to $150!! This includes not only the Institute's programming, but also room and board from April 28 - May 1, 2009! More information and applications can be found on the MILE subunit webpage:

http://mnlibraryassociation.org/committees-subunits/mile/

Library workers of all experience levels are welcome to apply.

Join us to Discover your Inner Leader!

Minnesota Library Legislative Platform

The latest version of the MN Library Legislative Platform can always be
found on mn.webjunction.org. The link to the latest version is now
http://mn.webjunction.org/mlamemo/articles/content/41783517

If you set up the RSS feed from the MLA/MEMO Advocacy section, you will be
notified when new versions are available.

Always check for the latest version of the platform on mn.webjunction.org
before sharing information from the platform to insure accuracy. Thanks.


Mark Ranum, Director
Plum Creek Library System
290 S Lake / Box 697
Worthington, MN 56187

507.376.5803 (office)
612.701.9989 (cel)

More Things on a Stick

More Things On a Stick Program To Launch in January

ST.PAUL, Minnesota (January 15, 2009) --Minnesota’s seven multicounty, multitype library systems (multitypes) will launch the More Things On a Stick: A Library Learning 2.0 Program on January 20, 2009.. This program is the new version of the very popular 23 Things On a Stick Program sponsored the Minnesota Multitypes last year. Staff in academic, school, public and special libraries, as well as members of library Governing and Advisory Boards are invited to participate in this fun, self-paced program that encourages participants to experiment with various Web 2.0 tools. Mashups, more organizational and productivity tools, and deeper uses of RSS and Delicious are just a few of the new offerings in 2009.

All details about how to participate and suggestions for getting ready are now available online at http://morethingsonastick.pbwiki.com. Registration will begin on January 20^th at this same address (as part of Thing 1). Those who complete all 23 Things plus the evaluation within 17 weeks will win a completion prize.

More Things On a Stick are online activities that encourage participants to experiment and learn about new and emerging technologies that are reshaping the context of information on the Internet today. The activities are hands-on with experiential exercises, short readings and discovery work. Each Thing can take as little as one hour or as much time as you’d like to give it. The Minnesota Certification Program has approved this program for 25 contact hours to meet public service and technology competencies. Continuing Education Units will be available to all participants as well. Early endorsements of this program include but are not limited to, MLA, MEMO, MINITEX and State Library Services. Others are expected to add their support and will be mentioned on the More Things on a Stick wiki site.

Participants who wish to receive the completion incentive prize must register their blogs (Thing 1) by February 20 and complete all Things plus the evaluation (and blog about each one) by May 20, 2009. Receipt of the completion prize enters participants in a statewide drawing for additional prizes.

According to Ann Walker Smalley, Metronet Director, “Participants clamored for ‘Thing 24’ when they had finished the original 23 Things On Stick! More Things On a Stick builds on the learning from that successful program and offers people the chance to try new Things that will make their personal and professional lives more productive, more connected, and even more fun. Join this online learning community and start 2009 with a resolution to try all of the Things. You do not have to have done the original 23 Things On a Stick to do More Things.” Participants are encouraged to work with others in their libraries or regions and to share their insights and discoveries either through the participant blogs or in person.

This program is the Minnesota twist on the 23 Things: Library Learning 2.0 program, developed by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County. Library organizations across the country have used the 23 Things concept to encourage staff to learn and use these Web 2.0 tools. The directors and staff of the seven Minnesota Multicounty Multitype Library Systems are the core of the 23 Things On a Stick team, with additional coaches available across the state. This group has worked together to develop More Things On a Stick and to customize it for Minnesota library staff. This group will track participants’ progress as shown in the individual blogs and provide helpful hints and encouraging words.

The multitype library systems respond to the needs of Minnesota librarians by providing library support services, including continuing education. The multitype systems believe that knowledgeable library staffs are better able to meet the needs of their library users. The multitypes connect library staff in all types of libraries to professional and staff development opportunities and look forward to broad participation in this exciting learning program.

Contact: Ann Walker Smalley, Metronet Director, ann@metronet.lib.mn.us

More Things On a Stick blog is online at http://morethingsonastick.pbwiki.com

Webinars from the MINITEX BATS unit

Students in our program and anyone working in Minnesota libraries can take these webinars from MINITEX.

~~~~~

We still have some open seats in these upcoming webinars from the Bibliographic and Technical Services (BATS) Unit:

What is Metadata?: A Very Basic Introduction

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central Time)

What, exactly, is metadata and what does it have to do with my digitization project? Is it important? How can I learn more about it? This one-hour Webinar will answer these questions, and more. You will gain a basic understanding of metadata and why you should care about it.

Who should attend?: Anyone working with digitization projects or digital objects who needs a basic introduction to metadata.

Registration: http://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/training/webinars.asp#200

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Dublin Core for Beginners

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (Central Time)

Are you involved in a digital project at your institution? How will you describe your digital objects in order to provide online access to them? One option is to use the Dublin Core, an international metadata standard used to describe digital content. This 60 minute webinar will introduce you to Dublin Core and the 15 elements. As we look at several examples, the Western States Dublin Core Metadata Best Practices will be used as a guideline.

Who should attend?: This webinar is intended for staff who work in libraries or cultural heritage institutions as catalogers, archivists, special collections librarians, or anyone who has responsibilities for the description of and access to digital collection materials.

Registration: http://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/training/webinars.asp#201

MINITEX Registration: Go to Upcoming Training Sessions http://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/training/

January 17 Twin Cities American Society for Indexing Meeting

Twin Cities ASI Chapter 2008/09 Program

Saturday, Jan. 17^th
William Mitchell Law College Library, Room 234

875 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN

Schedule for regular meetings:

9:00 – 9:30: registration, networking, refreshments

9:30 – 10:00: brief business meeting, announcements

10:00 – 12:00: scheduled program

12:00 – Drawing for door prizes!!! And, for those interested, lunch at nearby restaurant

Audio Books: The Past, The Present and the Future.

The Program: E-books got a big boost recently when Oprah Winfrey gave away a Kindle to her studio audience; but let's not forget audiobooks! They have been around for a long time and are a growing segment of the book industry and their availability now reaches far beyond the sales racks of countless truckstops across the country! Sales continue to increase through purchases by libraries and there is an evolving role for audiobooks in education. Our speaker will begin with a brief history and overview of audiobooks, their uses, and how their share of the book market has developed to the present time. A Kindle will be demonstrated and we will conclude with some speculation about its future impact as well as the impact of additional forms of digital distribution. Shel will also describe the role of the producer and engineer in creating and recording high quality audio performances. We will conclude with Q&A. The Speaker: Shel Danielson is President of Holton House Audio, a St. Paul based publisher and producer of Audiobooks. His communications background is extensive: he has been a radio DJ, News Director, Music Programmer and Program Director. A Twin Cities pioneer in free-form and progressive radio, he helped create and produce the legendary KQRS format of the late 60's and 70's. From the mid-80’s through the mid-90’s, he was a programmer, host and developer of several Jazz, Blues and Rock programs at KTCJ and KTCZ, "The Cities 97." From 2000 to 2006, he was on the Advisory Board of KBEM-FM, a radio station owned and operated by the Minneapolis School Board. He has worked as a teacher with "at-risk" urban youth at St. Paul Job Corps. Shel has written, voiced or produced thousands of commercials. His interest in creating an audiobook company was sparked by his volunteer work at the Minnesota State Services for the Blind, where he was a producer, news and audiobook reader. Outside of the broadcasting business, he has been the research director for a biotech start-up company and co-owner of a R&D company. He has a BA in Communications and Organizational Management. He's known in his family as "The Book Grandpa, because that's what everyone gets for presents." Shel is a good cook, loves books, and some of his fondest childhood memories are of time spent in a little Carnegie Library in the small town of Lake City, Minnesota.

Driving directions: From I-94 take the Lexington Parkway exit. Turn right on Lexington Parkway and continue to Summit Avenue. Turn left on Summit Avenue and continue to Victoria. (William Mitchell is on your left). Turn left on Victoria and left into parking lot.

Security instructions: After hours (evenings and weekends) the College locks all doors and requires all non-WM visitors to enter through the front doors (by the flagpole) and to sign in at the visitor's desk.

Any questions, please call me (office: 701-298-6304; cell: 701-541-0055) or drop me an e-mail at: galenschroeder@msn.com

►Remember that each & every meeting is a networking opportunity. Be sure to bring your business cards to share!!!

Hennepin County Library Internship Opportunity

Library Outreach Services Internship
Hennepin County Library

Outreach promotes the use of the library by the nontraditional or under-served user through the development and support of programs and services.

The Outreach Department’s goal is to bring the experience of the library and its resources to the community - in their homes, senior living facilities, rehabilitation centers, the correctional facilities of the county and through events held at the library.

Commitment:
One semester, 4 to 8 hours per week.

Wage:
This is an unpaid position which could be for college credit or work experience.

Job Location:
Main work location is at the Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Dr., Minnetonka, with some work in Downtown Minneapolis at the Juvenile Detention Center, in Plymouth at the Adult Correctional Facility, and in Minnetonka at the County Home School.

Application Deadline:
January 30, 2009.

Duties:

Duties may include the following:

 Assist at outreach events aimed at first generation library users
 Assist in classifying / organizing Adult Correctional Facility collection
 Assist in compiling and analyzing data for Adult Correctional Facility programs and Deposit Collection booktalking program
 Assist in creating documents for use in Large Print book club kits, including writing book discussion questions
 Assist in implementation of resource workshops at Adult Correctional Facility
 Assist in the creation, implementation and evaluation of a reading interest survey for use with the Deposit Collection sites, at the Adult Correctional Facility, and at the County Home School
 Assist in weekly filling of information requests from Adult Correctional Facility
 Plan, develop, and implement a book discussion group at the Adult Correctional Facility (women's) and District 287 (teens)
 Plan, develop, and implement a project of interest related to Outreach

Requirements:
Intern must have taken at least one class in collection development, information services or public libraries.

To Apply and for Questions:
Submit a resume and brief cover letter outlining your qualifications for this internship to:
Tom.Grund@co.hennepin.mn.us
- OR -
Tom Grund
Hennepin County Library - Ridgedale
12601 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
(952) 847-8518

For more information contact Patrick Jones at pjones@hclib.org or (952) 847-8859.

LSSIRT December 08 Newsletter posted

The American Library Association's Library Support Staff Interest Round Table's latest newsletter is now posted on their web site:

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/lssirt/lssirtbenefits/benefitsservices.cfm

Check out the info on ALA elections on page 4.