National Library Legislative Day award available

The ALA Washington Office in conjunction with the White House Conference on Library and Information Services Taskforce (WHCLIST) is pleased to announce that a monetary award has been created to help pay for a participant to attend National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) held annually in Washington DC. WHCLIST was an effective force in library advocacy nationally, statewide, and locally, following the White House Conferences of 1979 and 1991.

Criteria:

The recipient should be a library supporter (trustee, Friend, general supporter), not a
professional librarian.

Priority will be given to those who are first-time attendees to National Library Legislative Day.

Recipient should include a letter of reference from a library director, school librarian,
trustee board Chair, Friends Group Chair, or other library person.

Recipient must be willing to continue to advocate for library services.

The Washington Office will contact the recipient's Senators and Member of Congress to announce
the award.

Two WHCLIST leaders and one member of the Washington Office staff will choose the recipient each
year.

ALA and WHCLIST are committed to ensuring that the American people get the best
library services possible. These funds will be used to further those efforts.

If you or someone you know might be interested, please send a letter explaining why you should be chosen, your letter of reference, and a completed NLLD registration form to:

Rosalind Reynolds
Government Relations Specialist
1615 New Hampshire Ave NW
First Floor
Washington, DC 20009

rreynolds@alawash.org
202-628-8419


NLLD registration form can be found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/washoff/washevents/nlld/registrationa/registration.cfm

Social Side of Reflections

The Minnesota Digital Library is pleased to announce that people may now comment on the images in our “Minnesota Reflections” collection. The MDL designed a wiki site that allows us to provide this resource. Look at a photo, map or document, click on the “comment on this item” and leave your comments.

We are looking for public support in providing information on the items in our collection and we would like people to ask questions and share stories.

Here’s what you need to do:

• Visit Minnesota Reflections ( http://reflections.mndigital.org/ )

• Search for items you want to view.

• When you are looking at an individual photo, document or map, you will see a button in the blue menu bar above the image. The button is red with yellow type.

• Click on that button and you will go to a wiki page. From there, comment as you like on that particular object.

No registration is required. We do ask people to focus their comments on the item in the collection.

The Minnesota Digital Library will monitor comments. This is still a prototype service. We are still designing it and answering questions about how to share the information people provide.

If you have general comments, suggestions or insights to offer regarding the Social Side of Reflections, please send them to Marian Rengel, MDL outreach coordinator (mrrengel@stcloudstate.edu).

Thanks for helping the MDL with the project and have fun.

Visit the Minnesota Digital Library’s collection site at http://reflections.mndigital.org/ and our home at http://www.mndigital.org/

Library Day at the Legislature

Library Day at the Legislature is February 27th this year. We have an important platform (available at http://web.augsburg.edu/library/MLA/2008platform.pdf ) this year that we are trying to advance during a year with a bleak budget forecast and transportation at the top of the agenda for the Governor and legislature (there was apparently some kind of transportation-related thing in the news this year).

The evening briefing this year will be at Augsburg College (room TBA), conveniently located just off of I94 about 10 minutes from the Capitol. Parking will be provided.

Please register as soon as possible. Registration form can be found at
http://web.augsburg.edu/library/MLA/2008%20Leg%20Day%20Registration%20Form.pdf

Librarian Position at Inver Hills Community College

Inver Hills Community College seeks an unlimited full-time Librarian to join its team of librarians, technicians and support staff. The successful candidate will demonstrate a commitment to bibliographic instruction, and will possess currency in using electronic databases.

This position will provide reference service to faculty and students; provide bibliographic instruction to students in a classroom setting; perform other miscellaneous librarian duties (acquisitions, web page development, statistics management, etc.); supervise student workers; participate in professional development activities; participate in committee assignments and college-wide initiatives; conduct classroom research and other assessment/evaluation activities; mentor students.; and participate in program review.

Located 10 minutes from downtown St. Paul, Inver Hills is an open door community college which serves over 5000 students each semester through liberal arts, transfer, and career programs. Nationally recognized in adult experiential learning, Inver Hills is an Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) institution. The college is committed to reflecting a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds among its administrators, faculty and staff.

Application Deadline: February 27, 2008

Appointment: Unlimited full-time beginning August 20, 2008

Starting Salary: $40,000 to $57,500/year to start, based on education, and teaching and related professional experience. Salary potential to $68,000 based on continued employment. (Salary range as of 6/30/2007; collective bargaining agreement is still being negotiated.)

Minimum Qualifications:

· Master’s degree in Library Science or equivalent degree.

Preferred Qualifications:

· ALA-accredited MLS.

· Academic library experience.

· Experience with reference and/or bibliographic instruction.

· Effective written and oral communication skills.

· Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team.

· Demonstrated ability to teach using a variety of teaching methods.

· Experience using a variety of technologies to enhance teaching and student learning.

· Understanding and commitment to the assessment of student academic achievement.

· Experience with diverse student populations.

· Supervisory experience.

Application Requirements: Submit an application packet by February 27, 2008 which includes ALL of the following:

· Letter of interest which states that you are applying for the Unlimited Full-time Librarian position, and addresses the minimum and preferred qualifications for the position.

· Current resume.

· Graduate transcripts (photocopies acceptable at time of application; original sealed transcript due at time of hire). (NOTE: Many institutions provide students and graduates with online access to unofficial transcripts).

· A completed Inver Hills Community College Application found at http://depts.inverhills.edu/HR/default.htm

Submit a complete application packet to:

Human Resources – UFT Librarian Search Committee

Inver Hills Community College

2500 – 80^th Street East

Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076-3224

651-450-8399 (fax)

Humanresources@inverhills.edu (email)

651-450-8369 (TTY)

23 Things on a Stick: A Library Learning 2.0 Program

It is official! The 23 Things on a Stick: A Library Learning 2.0 Program is now open for registration. Technically, registration is open until February 15th, but why wait? Register today to begin exploring these 2.0 activities in as little as 15 minutes per day. We guarantee that your confidence level will increase with the accomplishment of each Thing. Be prepared to feel like some of this is play, which is OK! Go now to http://23thingsonastick.blogspot.com

Creativity and Aging program with Dr. Gene Cohen

Nationally-known author and aging expert, Dr. Gene Cohen, will visit the Twin Cities area in late-January 2008 to speak on "The Mature Mind and Aging Brain: Positive Changes and Creativity in the Second Half of Life."

Monday, January 28, 7 - 9 p.m.
Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka
PUBLIC PROGRAM - OPEN TO ALL
Dr. Cohen will speak on latest research and findings on the subject of creativity and aging, highlighting elements in his most recent books. Dr. Cohen is a highly recognized professional in the area of aging and promotes the value and wisdom of age coupled with experience. There will be a drawing for his books (2) at the end of the program. No registration is required.

Tuesday, January 29, 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Ridgedale Library, 12601 Ridgedale Drive, Minnetonka
WORKSHOP FOR LIBRARY STAFF
(Open to staff throughout Minnesota. Please register in advance at http://www.melsa.org/member/workshop/index.cfm .)
Dr. Cohen links the attributes, gifts and skill sets of the 55+ age population with library services and programs, including volunteer work, building planning, and intergenerational programming.

Dr. Cohen is a graduate of Harvard College and the Georgetown University School of Medicine and has a doctorate in Gerontology from the Union Institute. He is the author of more than 150 publications in the field of aging, including several edited text books. His individually authored books include, "The Brain in Human Aging," "The Creative Age: Awaking Human Potential in the Second Half of Life," and "The Mature Mind: The Positive Power of the Aging Brain."

At the present, Dr. Cohen is the director of the Center on Aging, Health and Humanities at George Washington University where he also holds the positions of Professor of Health Care Sciences and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is the cofounder of the Creative Discovery Corps whose mission is to identify and preserve the creative accomplishments and rich histories of under-recognized talented older adults.

Both programs are co-sponsored by the Hennepin County Library and the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA).

Library Day at the Legislature

Library Day at the Legislature is February 27th this year. We have an important platform this year that we are trying to advance during a year with a bleak budget forecast and transportation at the top of the agenda for the Governor and legislature (there was apparently some kind of transportation-related thing in the news this year).

The evening briefing this year will be at Augsburg College (room TBA), conveniently located just off of I94 about 10 minutes from the Capitol. Parking will be provided.

Please register as soon as possible.

I will post more information as it becomes available.

MLA membership and PLA registration

Just a quick reminder that there's still time for MLA members to take advantage of the January 18 early bird registration deadline for the 2008 Public Library Association Conference, which will be held in Minneapolis on March 25-29. Visit http://www.placonference.org to register.

Remember, one of the perks of being an MLA member perk is the discounted registration fee!
In addition, be sure to sign up for our Guys Read: Make Noise with Boys Book Discussions preconference on Tuesday, March 25th, which will feature author Jon Sciescka. The MLA Board and I are delighted that Scieszka was recently appointed by Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, as the first National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-001.html This position was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education, and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.

It's a coup for MLA that one of Scieszka's first national appearances after receiving this honor will be at our preconference!

In addition to Scieszka and the other outstanding presenters, there are some surprises in store for preconference attendees. You'll receive a variety of Guys Read-related gifts and enjoy refreshments courtesy of Capstone Press http://www.capstonepress.com/ and Stone Arch Book .http://www.stonearchbooks.com/

In addition, MLA will receive 100% of the registration fees from this preconference and will incur no expenses. So, this is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to benefit! You'll have an excellent professional development opportunity that will also benefit our association. I hope to see you there!

LISjobs.com Launches Online Community

New discussion forums now open

LISjobs.com, the largest free library career portal on the Internet, is pleased to announce the launch of its new online community for librarians. Devoted entirely to career development and job hunting, these forums provide a space for librarians, LIS students, library workers, and information professionals to discuss professional development issues: http://lisjobs.com/forum/.

“I’m excited to be able to offer this space for collaboration and discussion,” says Rachel Singer Gordon, webmaster, LISjobs.com. “As librarians, we know that we work and learn best in community -- I look forward to watching the forums grow.” Current forum moderators include:

Michael Stephens, LIS schools
Jess Bruckner, Jumpstart your career
Meredith Farkas, Professional development and participation
Susanne Markgren, Talking tenure
Kim Dority, Professional writing
Sophie Brookover, Work/life balance

In recent related developments, Info Career Trends, LISjobs.com’s professional development newsletter, has moved to the Wordpress platform to better serve its subscribers. Its long-time career Q&A columnists, Tiffany Allen and Susanne Markgren, have moved to their own blog, and author/entrepreneur Kim Dority joins in with her new monthly column on “Rethinking Information Careers.”

Info Career Trends continues to fill an underserved niche, devoted entirely to career and professional development issues for librarians and information professionals. The newsletter and column content are accessible at: http://www.lisjobs.com/career_trends/. Rachel Singer Gordon shares: “I’m so pleased to bring Kim on board, and to watch the Library Career People column evolve in its new blog format. I look forward to hearing others’ opinions across the LISjobs.com online community.”

LISjobs.com, launched in 1996, provides free library-related job listings to both employers and job seekers, as well as related services from resume postings to career development blogs.

LISjobs.com: http://www.lisjobs.com
Online community: http://www.lisjobs.com/forum
Info Career Trends newsletter: http://www.lisjobs.com/career_trends/
Contact: Rachel Singer Gordon, rachel@lisjobs.com

Legislative Day is February 27th

Legislative Day is scheduled for Wednesday, February 27th, 2008. Please save the date, and the registration form will be available on the MLA website soon.

MN Coalition for Intellectual Freedom New Website

The Minnesota Coalition for Intellectual Freedom has a new website www.mncif.org

This organization is dedicated to defending 1st ammendment rights and is slowly building a web presence.

Apply by January 25 for We the People "Created Equal" Bookshelf!

The ALA Public Programs Office is pleased to partner with the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the fifth We the People Bookshelf project. This year's theme is Created Equal.

Public and school (K-12) libraries are invited to apply online through January 25, 2008 at www.ala.org/wethepeople. A single application may be submitted on behalf of multiple libraries within a library system, school district or community. Individual branch and school libraries are also encouraged to apply.

In spring 2008, 3,000 successful applicants will receive the We the People Bookshelf, a collection of 17 classic hardcover books for young readers on the Created Equal theme. Several titles focus on the life and writings of Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th birthday will be celebrated during the 2008 - 2009 programming period. In addition, winning libraries will receive four titles in Spanish translation, a History in a Box resource kit on Lincoln, and accompanying materials for programming including bookplates, bookmarks and posters.

For book titles, programming ideas and tips, access to the guidelines and application, and further details, visit www.ala.org/wethepeople. With questions, contact publicprograms@ala.org.

Sincerely,
American Library Association
Public Programs Office
50 E. Huron - Chicago, IL 60611
www.ala.org/publicprograms

P.S. - Please share this information with other libraries in your area! Multiple libraries within a system/district may apply for and receive Bookshelves.

Early Literacy Training

The Power of Play:
Its Impact on Early Literacy and Learning

Family Place Libraries National Symposium 2008

Featuring Guest Speaker, Vicki Hawley

Held at the Minneapolis Public Library

Wednesday, March 26, 2007

8:45 AM - 12:00 PM

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Family Place Libraries invites you to learn more about what public libraries can do to foster early literacy within their own libraries and communities. This free bi-annual symposium brings together public librarians from around the nation to hear presentations from specialists in children's literature, early literacy, childhood development, and family support, and provides a forum for librarians to network and learn from one another.

The Symposium is free of charge. Register early; space is limited. Registrants will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis.

Click here to register online, or click here to download a brochure.

For more information please contact Caitlin Maloney at cmaloney@lff.org.

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This year's guest speaker, Vicki Hawley, is the coordinator of professional development in early literacy for the Center for Early Education and Development at the University of Minnesota. Ms. Hawley has a varied child and family teaching background, which includes Minnesota's Early Childhood and Family Education, and Parents as Teachers Projects. She has served as the training coordinator for the Minnesota Early Literacy Project as well as statewide child care training and parent education programs in North Dakota, the literacy home visiting component of the Words Work! initiative in St. Paul and a statewide Head Start/Americorps early literacy initiative in Minnesota. Due to her great curiosity about the process of learning and change in adults, particularly those that work with children, Ms. Hawley views her work both as a vocation and a avocation.

Tech-savvy Gen Y finds a home in the library

Future Tense is a 4-minute daily feature on Minnesota Public Radio. Tuesday’s segment featured comments on a Pew survey by Leigh Estabrook professor of library and information science, professor of sociology and director of the Library Research Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The survey results indicate young adults 18-30 years old are heavy users of libraries. They know libraries provide information resources in all media.

Tech-savvy Gen Y finds a home in the library
http://www.publicradio.org/columns/futuretense/2008/01/01.shtml#014426