Minnesota Coalition for Intellectual Freedom Annual Dinner

Register now for the Minnesota Coalition for Intellectual Freedom Annual Dinner featuring speaker Jane Kirtley.

Limited seating available Register Now!

More than seven years after 9/11, the government continues to curtail speech, assembly and access to information in the name of national security with hardly a complaint from the general public. Meanwhile, satire in "The New Yorker" and the film "Tropic Thunder" generates plenty of protests. Have Americans lost their sense of humor -- and their sense of outrage about attacks on our fundamental rights? Join us for this thought provoking Presentation!

Jane Kirtley has been the Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota since August 1999. Jane also is an attorney and a member of the New York, District of Columbia, and Virginia bars.

July Board Minutes

Minnesota Library Association
Board Meeting Minutes

Friday, July 18, 2008
9:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Sheraton-Bloomington
7800 Normandale Blvd.
Vista Room 2202


Present: Ken Behringer (President-Elect), Melissa Brechon (ALA Chapter Councilor), Robin Chaney (Treasurer), Robin Ewing (ARLD Chair), Anne Friederichs (PLD Chair), Heidi Hoks (Past-President), Ben Trapskin (IFC Chair/Member at Large), Carla Urban (Secretary), Wendy Wendt (President)
Absent: Cindy Ahrens (MLTA Chair), Mike Bloomberg (Legislative Chair)
Also Present: Suzanne Miller (State Librarian), Lyndi Finifrock (MILE), Alison Schaub (MLA Office Staff)

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 9:49 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions (Wendt)
Adoption of Agenda with revisions Motion: To approve agenda as revised. Behringer/Brechon/carried
Approval of June 20, 2008 Minutes Motion: To approve minutes. Behringer/Friederichs/carried
Financial Report (Chaney)
5.1 Monthly Reports - Our position this year compared to last is much more solvent. Our situation, even if conference only breaks even, will be good. Motion: To approve financial reports. Hoks/Friederichs/carried.
5.2 Budget & Finance Committee Report – Met last week to look ahead at staffing possibilities in relation to conference and budget scenarios. It is likely that we wouldn’t be prepared to hire a full-time Executive Director until at least 2nd quarter of 2009. The group is looking at a variety of options. Some approaches would be dependent upon outcomes of the Visioning process, in that the type of leader desired would be dependent on the desired future direction of the organization. Action Item: Brechon will send information to the Committee about other state library organizations that contract with management companies for support and management services.
5.3 Audit Update – Auditors didn’t have everything they needed. Chaney is working with them to complete the process.
Update on Activities
6.1 Pending Action Items:
6.1.1 Brechon – Contact MELSA about distributing CYP bookmarks. Done.
6.1.2 Wendt – Contact Emily Mamun about Communication Committee description. In-process
6.1.3 Wendt – Ask Committee Chairs to send out welcome to interested members. Action Item: Schaub will send copies of sub-group membership lists to the group chairs.
6.1.4 Hoks, Urban, Trapskin – Evaluate RFI responses re online registration. Presented information gathered on various services. Miller mentioned that WebJunction has a registration module. Urban will evaluate that service. Motion: That MLA subscribe to the RegOnline service for annual conference registration and 2008 membership renewal unless the WebJunction option provides equivalent functionality at a better price. Urban/Freiderichs/carried Action item: Schaub will put out a renewal reminder to members from last 3 years who have not yet renewed this year, including info about the upcoming conference. Action Item: Conference Committee and online registration group will work together to prepare the online form.
6.1.5 Wendt – Invite Alison Schaub to next Board meeting. Done.
6.1.6 Wendt, Urban – Set up regular conference call schedule with Schaub. Regular contact will be established.
6.1.7 Wendt – Contact Iowa Library Association re flood assistance. Done. A message was sent out to the list with contact info for each of the affected libraries.
6.1.8 Wendt – Contact Ruth Solie re Nominating Committee. Solie declined, but Anne Walker-Smalley has agreed to chair the Committee.
6.2 Interim Director’s Update (Schaub)
6.2.1 Schaub has been culling through the files and reacquainting herself with the files, etc. Recommends we purchase a back-up server for appr. $200. Motion: That MLA purchase a back-up server and data be backed up at least bi-weekly. Behringer/Brechon/carried.
6.2.2 E-mail addresses: There are a number of e-mail addresses that forward to the blog. Dicsussion of whether we need these. Action Item: Schaub will check to see how these are functioning, with the probable outcome of eliminating them, since they haven’t been used. Action Item: That we distribute a message to the subgroup lists stating that because of concern about the timeliness of communication, we’re eliminating the moderator function. Moderator function will be continued for the membership list.
6.2.3 MLA computers: MOTION: That we approve the purchase of a new battery for the MLA laptop. Chaney/Brechon/carried. All data has been moved from the old desktop. It is extremely slow. Motion: That the old desktop computer be decommissioned. Behringer/Trapskin/carried. Action Item: Schaub will clean the hard drive, send out a message to the MLA llistserv offering a chance to win it, requiring that they pick it up.
6.2.4 Office space: MLA is paying for space we’re not currently using. We will inquire of MELSA whether our rent will stay the same or increase in the next year. The outcome of the Visioning process will have an impact on our space needs.
6.2.5 Web Site: Needs to be cleaned up and punched up, even on a transitional basis. Schaub and Trapskin will do some basic work and develop a mock-up for our approval.
Reports
7.1 MLA Institute for Leadership Excellence (Finifrock) – MILE 2009 Planning. Have had one meeting. Had been trying to partner with MEMO, but MEMO decided it wouldn’t work out this year. Will be held in April, probably at a retreat center near St. Cloud. Applications will be ready by October. Presented the planning information, subcommittees, etc. Requested guidance on dealys in communications via the listserv and budgeting/funding process. Miller encouraged MILE to apply to State Library Services for funding. As with other MLA events, the event is required to budget to break even, but MILE can contact the Foundation and other organizations as possible sponsors.
7.2 ALA Councilor Report (Brechon) She distributed her report in advance. Anaheim was a lovely conference site. ALA is thinking about shortening the conference for elected councilors, who currently stay until Wed. afternoon.
7.3 MLA 2008 Conference Report (Brechon/Hoks)
a. Conference Sessions & Brochure – Preconferences and sessions have been determined. Ginny Erbe is working on the conference brochure. The conference planning committee will take charge of welcoming each presenter and checking on room and equipment set-up, since assigning that to the Program Committee didn’t work last year.
b. We have room for 45 vendors and have booked half of those spots already. Action Item: Brechon will send out a list of vendors all ready signed up to the Board, and a list of previous vendors to Schaub. We should all think about other vendors to possibly contact.
c. Schaub will post conference sessions and such to the Web site to being promoting.
d. Action Item: Wendt will draw up talking points about issues related to the conference (food included, change in date, etc.) and Schaub will pull together a save the date and highlights announcement.
7.4 Legislative Committee Report (Behringer) Legislative Forum went well; 3 legislators showed up, 45 attendees; 6 or 7 possible platform issues were developed.
7.5 Minnesota Library Foundation (Wendt & Trapskin) The MLF has not met since our last meeting.
7.6 ARLD Day 2009 (Ewing) ARLD is starting planning early. The date is set for May 1, 2009, at the Arboretum. Keynote speaker is almost finalized. Board was impressed with the advanced planning!
7.7 MLA 2009 Conference Update (Brechon) Contract for 2009 conference in St. Cloud has been signed: Oct. 14-16. Working on Rochester for Oct. 5-8, 2010, and Duluth for Oct 19-21, 2011.
7.8 Visioning task Force (Wendt) Met July 9 to review what other state library associations are doing; tweak the survey to be sent out to MLA members and non-members with a goal of sending it out in August or September with results back in time for the conference.
7.9 State Library Services (Miller) The Department of Education, within which State Library Services resides, is doing some reorganization. They might be out of contact Aug. 6-7. Budgets are not yet out. Guidelines for federal money have changed which puts a crimp on how the funds can be used in an environment where they’re desperately needed. LSTA grant awards paperwork has just been completed. Construction grant application window is open and they’re due Oct. 24. The Advisory Council will not meet in August.
Discussion Items
8.1 Web Site Task Force Update (Trapskin) – Wendt has a few changes to make to the contract and has requested a Word version of the contract. We will include a statement requesting that we strive toward ADA compliance as much as possible. Once the contract has been signed, Dan Moriarty will prepare 2 mock-ups for us to respond to. Timeline is approximately 3 months.
8.2 Library School Graduates – We have occasionally offered a free one-year membership to library school graduates. Are we interested in reinstituting that practice? A general new member packet is a higher priority. It could then be modified for library school grads. We should also consider attending some of the St. Kate’s graduate events.
Adjournment 12:19 p.m.

Next meeting: Friday, August 15, 2008, MLA Conference Room

Respectfully submitted,

Carla Urban
MLA Board Secretary

Annual Conference Update

Hello, MLA members, colleagues and friends! Plans are being finalized for MLA's 2008 Annual Conference, which will be held at the Sheraton Bloomington on November 19, 20 and 21, 2008. I hope you will be sure to come to what promises to be yet another incredible conference!

Reserve your hotel room today! Please go to: http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=08072522
03&key=17DDD. Or Call 866-837-4278 for reservations.

As you may have noticed, the MLA 2008 Annual Conference falls a bit later in the year than usual. After much discussion and cooperation between MLA and the Sheraton-Bloomington, this was a win/win compromise that was reached in an effort to negotiate a previously signed contract which would have placed an unrealistic financial burden on MLA.

In the process of working out a mutually-acceptable conference alternative, every attempt was made to avoid holidays, date conflicts with other library-related conferences, and the most hectic time of the year for academic libraries.

We appreciate the Sheraton-Bloomington's flexibility in working with us on this and hope that you will be able to take advantage of this schedule shift to do some holiday shopping or to attend a holiday event in the metro area. The Sheraton Bloomington will be offering special overnight packages for those conference attendees that may want to extend their time before or after the conference.

During the conference, the accommodations at the Sheraton-Bloomington enable attendees to stay in the same location as that in which conference sessions and events will be held. This offers participants greater convenience and ease of access. We have had to be a bit creative in the layout of our conference, but we are confident that you will find it

You may notice that the registration cost for the conference has increased. This was necessary because most meals, with the exception of the awards banquet, are included in the registration fee. Having the all-inclusive fee has been very popular with the majority of our members and we have been encouraged to continue with this practice. Unfortunately, due to the cost of food and other rising prices, the increase was unavoidable. However, I firmly believe this conference is well worth the registration fee and hope you will agree.

I look forward to seeing you in November where we will have the opportunity.To Explore. To Evolve. To Excel. Together.

~Wendy Wendt, MLA President

Intellectual Freedom 101

Check out the video from the first-ever "Intellectual Freedom 101" program at ALA's 2008 Annual Conference in Anaheim:

http://blip.tv/file/1082495

Blog post on the video here: http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?title=if_101&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

GSLIS Seeks Nominations for Downs Intellectual Freedom Award

The Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) at the University of Illinois seeks nominations for the Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award. The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2008.

Given annually, the award acknowledges individuals or groups who have furthered the cause of intellectual freedom, particularly as it impacts libraries and information centers and the dissemination of ideas. Granted to those who have resisted censorship or efforts to abridge the freedom of individuals to read or view materials of their choice, the award may be in recognition of a particular action or long-term interest in, and dedication to, the cause of intellectual freedom.

The Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award was established in 1969 by the GSLIS faculty to honor Dean Emeritus Downs, a champion of intellectual freedom, on the occasion of his 25th anniversary as director of the School. Previous winners have included Barbara M. Jones, Wesleyan University Librarian, who was honored for her international work on behalf of intellectual freedom (2007); Michele Reutty, who refused to turn over patron records without a subpoena (2006); John Doe of the court case "John Doe v. Gonzales" (2005); Whatcom County Library System (2004); June Pinnell-Stephens, Collections Services Manager for Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Library, Fairbanks, Alaska, and Mainstream Montgomery County, a Montgomery County Texas organization (2003); retired librarian Zoia Horn and Ginnie Cooper and the Multnomah County Library Board of Trustees (Portland, Oregon) (2002).

Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc., Westport, Connecticut, provides an honorarium to the recipient and co-hosts the reception in honor of the recipient. The reception and award ceremony for the 2008 Downs Intellectual Freedom Award will take place in January 2009 during the American Library Association's Midwinter Meeting in Denver, Colorado.

Letters of nomination and documentation about the nominee should be sent by e-mail to unsworth@illinois.edu with a copy to weech@illinois.edu or in paper form to John Unsworth, Dean, GSLIS, 501 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820 before October 15. Questions should be directed to Associate Professor Terry Weech at weech@illinois.edu.

State Library Services newsletter

The 1½-page May issue of the State Library Services newsletter is available at http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/Library/documents/Publication/034294.pdf

Practical Time Management: How to Get Things Done When You Don't Have Time, People, or Resources

State Library Services will be bringing Pat Wagner to five locations in Minnesota, June 23-27, 2008, for a workshop called: Practical Time Management.

Presenter: Patricia Wagner, Pattern Research, Inc.
Description: One of the most common complaints heard from staff is, "There's so little time. How do I find the time?" Join in the challenge and the fun! Listen, practice, and learn:

How to be productive and effective, even when you feel stretched too thin.
How to make hard choices when demands on your time conflict.
What to do when they cut your budget.
How and when to draw a line in the sand.

Dates and Locations:
6/23 Chanhassen: Chanhassen Public Library, 7711 Kerber Blvd., Chanhassen, MN 55317
6/24 Mankato: Traverse de Sioux Library System Office, 1400 Madison Ave. Suite 622 Mankato MN 56001 (east end of shopping center)
6/25 Granite Falls: Minnesota West Community and Technical College, 1593 11th Ave, Granite Falls, MN 56241
6/26 St. Cloud: St. Cloud Public Library, 405 St. Germain St. W., St. Cloud, MN 56301-3667
6/27 Cloquet: Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, 2101 14^th St, Cloquet MN 55720

Time: Registration begins at 8:00 a.m.
Workshop is from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This will include a working lunch which will be provided (to those who register by June 13).
Audience: Staff of libraries and library organizations of all types
Cost: No charge. Lunch included .

Mileage Reimbursement:
Available, with priority given to those who submit a mileage reimbursement request with registration or by June 13. To confirm reimbursement is available, apply in advance. Don't hesitate to submit a request. (Funding is extensive, but not unlimited.) Reimbursements will be made after the workshops.

Registration:
Deadline: Friday, June 13 (Lunch cannot be guaranteed for those registering after this date.)
To register, select a date and location and select a registration option.

Online Registration: http://mn.webjunction.org - Click on "Calendar of Events";
locate desired date, click to open event, scroll down to complete registration form.

Email: If preferred, send registration to Mary Ann Van Cura at maryann.vancura@state.mn.us

SSPiN's Spring Meeting

SSPiN's annual Spring Meeting will be held on
Tuesday, May 27th, 10:30 A.M., on the Macalester College campus in St. Paul.
The meeting will be followed by a brief tour of Macalester's DeWitt Wallace library and a lunch gathering at a local restaurant.

The agenda will include a review & revision of SSPiN bylaws.


If you plan to attend the tour and/or lunch gathering, please RSVP to secretary Jacki Betsworth (betsworth@macalester.edu) by noon on Friday, May 23rd.

MLA Visioning Task Force Meeting Notes

The MLA Board has pulled together a group of Board Representatives and Subunit Chairs to serve on the MLA Visioning task force. Minutes from the first meeting, including what purpose the committee will serve and some action items are posted below.

MLA Visioning Task Force
May 7, 2008
MLA Meeting Room
1619 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN

In Attendance: Wendy Wendt, Lynne Beck, Jody Wurl, Emily Mamun, Chris Beyerl, Mary Huismann, Tracy Hvezda, Melissa Brechon, David Pratt, Mark Ranum, Ken Behringer, Cecelia Boone, Kristen Mastel, and Jonya Pacey

Recorder: Emily Mamun

Responsibilities of the Task Force:

Guide the process of updating the MLA visions and drafting a strategic plan for organizational advancement, the goal of which should be to make MLA relevant, dynamic and useful.

Tasks/Assignments:

1. Research other associations – Jody, Chris and Mary.

The group will research associations on their own. Jody will collate and send to the group for review before our next meeting.

2. Find out who doesn’t join MLA and why – Kristen, Tracy and Melissa.

The group will identify opportunities to gain new members including identifying the categories of membership we already have and those we should go after (kinds or libraries, other professions that might have an interest).

The group will finalize the member survey drafted by the Communications Committee. After which time Mark and Emily will work to get the survey online and functional via SurveyMonkey.com.

The group will notify Emily if they require help from the Communications Committee.

3. Understand our current member breakdown – Wendy.

Wendy will ask Cynthia in the MLA office to send the membership summary to the VTF group.

4. Explore MLA’s relationship with the College of St. Catherine – Tracy.

Tracy will work to identify opportunities to gain visibility at St. Kate’s including but not limited to a speaker’s bureau, informational interviews and class visits.

Other Discussion:

A. Should MLA be restructured to match a new mission/vision?

Tentative yes. The group will move forward with the understanding that some restructuring may be necessary as we draft a strategic plan. That said, the group will work to leverage the strengths of the current structure going forward.

Before considering any new direction, the group will evaluate the mission and vision of MLA and give a recommendation about how to move forward. Jody, Chris and Mary will bring outstanding language from other associations to the group as they encounter it.

B. What is the value of Committees, RoundTables, Divisions (subunits in general)?

What makes each subunit a Roundtable, Division or Section? Some groups have bylaws and practice while others do not.

After membership survey data has been returned, the VTF will ask subunit leaders to poll their groups to better understand the value each provides. Additionally, The VTF will work with leaders to gather information on how each of their groups work in practice and compare their responses with what is written in the MLA Bylaws.

Timeline for the Task Force:

Member Survey to be distributed in Late August/Early September 2008 (to include academics who are now finishing their terms for the year).

VTF will draft a strategic plan based on the survey data and other committee work in October 2008.

The plan will be put up for member review at the Annual Conference in November 2008.

In December 2008, the member-reviewed and revised plan will be handed off to the incoming board for review and decision.

Next Meeting of the VTF:

1 pm July 9 in the MLA Conference Room (Wendy will book the meeting room).

Online Library Information Technology Program

The Minneapolis Community & Technical College Library Information Technology programs are now available entirely online. For detailed information go to
<http://www.minneapolis.edu/academics/areaofstudy.cfm?aos_id=88>. The degree and certificate programs are designed to educate and train people to work at the library paraprofessional level (also know as library technicians or associates).

The Associate of Science Degree in Library Information Technology, which is composed of 33 program credits and 30 liberal arts/general education credits, provides students with a solid grounding in library theory and practice and a strong foundation of general education courses that can lead to further study in the liberal arts. Library science classes include an introduction to public and technical services, cataloging, indexing and abstracting, reference and online services, and intellectual freedom and information ethics. The A.S. degree also requires students to do a 4 credit internship, and take an intermediate computer course in Microsoft Office applications, and a business course on Human Relations and Team Building. Required general education classes include two writing/composition courses, a speech course, and a course in Information Studies entitled Ideas, Censorship and Politics. All general education courses are also available in a fully online format, or can be taken on campus in traditional face-to-face format.

The Certificates in Public and Technical Information Services are each 14 credits, or you can earn both certificates by taking a total of 20 credits. The courses for the two certificates are the same core library courses required for the A.S. degree. Therefore if you wish to continue on for the A.S. degree you only need take (or transfer in) the remaining 30 credits of general education, and complete the computer and business courses and the library internship.

We also offer our library courses to non-degree seeking students with instructor permission. However, first priority is given to students seeking a degree or certificate.

Applications and admission for fall semester 2008 is now open. The program only accepts 20 new students per year on a first come first serve basis. Fall semester classes begin August 25, 2008. For general application and admissions information go to <http://www.minneapolis.edu/prospectivestudents/submityourapplication.cfm>.
If you have a prior college degree, or college level writing classes, you will not have to take the college placement test in reading. If you do not have a prior college degree or writing classes, you will need to take the Accuplacer reading test either at the MCTC testing center, or a
local community or technical college testing center that offers the Accuplacer test. All MnSCU community & technical colleges offer the test, and the Accuplacer test is the most widely used assessment test at 2-year colleges.

If you are interested in more information you can contact:

Tom Eland, Information Studies Coordinator, thomas.eland@minneapolis.edu, or Virginia Heinrich, MCTC Library Operations Coordinator, virginia.heinrich@minneapolis.edu

Note: Tom Eland is available for contact May 20 - June 19, and July 29 -
August 16. Virginia Heinrich is available for contact June 20 - July 28.

Information Literacy: The Bridge to College Readiness

FRIDAY, JUNE 20,2008
8:00am – 3:30pm
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA ST PAUL CAMPUS CONFERENCE CENTER

Sponsored by Metronet and the Cooperating Libraries in Consortium (CLIC)

The goal of this conference is to demonstrate the importance of information literacy skills for students’ success in college. Information literacy is defined as the ability to follow a systematic process in doing research, that is, with the knowledge of how to formulate questions, gather, evaluate, and organize the information discovered, draw conclusions, present results, and use information sources in an ethical and responsible manner. Conference attendees will learn about the efforts of some of Minnesota’s secondary schools to teach these skills, the expectations of college faculty (especially those involved with “freshmen year experience” courses), and the importance of improving the alignment of information literacy instruction between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Educators in Minnesota have recognized alignment as a critical issue, one that the Governor’s P-16 Group is working on particularly with respect to math and science education. Consequently the conference should be of interest to K-12 teachers and school media specialists, college and university faculty and librarians, school administrators, curriculum specialists, legislators, government officials, and others interested in how we can better prepare Minnesota’s students with 21st Century skills.

Cost: $30 includes materials, lunch, refreshments, and parking

Registration deadline: June 13, 2008

For a detailed schedule, information about speakers, and a link to the online registration,

visit http://www.metrolibraries.net/library-wire/overview.html

Legislative Forum date set

The 2008 Legislative Forum will be on Wednesday July 16 at the Chanhassen Library.

http://www.carverlib.org/locations/chanhassen.php

Please reserve this date and more information will follow on plans for the day.

Minnesota Library Foundation "Lunch for Libraries"

The Minnesota Library Foundation cordially invites you to attend the first Lunch for Libraries, a fundraising event with proceeds benefiting Minnesota libraries, on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Hostess: Angela Davis, WCCO Anchor
Guest Speaker: Lorna Landvik, Best-selling Minnesota Author
Location: Kagin Commons, Macalester College, St. Paul

11:30 a.m. Book Sales & Signing
12:00 p.m. Lunch & Author Presentation
RSVP By June 4th

For more nformation, contact Judy at MELSA 651-645-5731, or at judy@melsa.org

The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library is delighted to announce the continuation of a Minnesota Book Awards initiative made possible by grants from the Minnesota Department of Education - Office of State Library Services and the Minnesota Library Foundation.

Effective immediately, Minnesota libraries and affiliated nonprofit library organizations are invited to apply for funding to host an author event or series featuring Minnesota Book Awards winners or finalists. The application deadline is Friday, May 23, 2008.

Your help in sharing this exciting opportunity with libraries and affiliated organizations in your network is greatly appreciated. A total of $6,000 is available for author events occurring between now and November 30, 2008. The maximum that may be requested for funding reimbursement by any one library or affiliated organization during this funding period is $500.

The application process is easy. Contact Ann Nelson at the Friends for a application materials. The application may be returned by email, fax, or mail. Applications are currently being accepted, and priority will be given to organizations not receiving funding reimbursement through this program within the last 12 months.

Organizations are encouraged to feature finalists or winners from the most recent Book Awards, although this isn't a requirement. A listing of 20^th annual Minnesota Book Awards winners and finalists is included as the third attachment. A complete listing of winners and finalists from throughout the Book Awards' 20 year history is available on The Friends' website, www.thefriends.org.

Please let me know if you have questions regarding this opportunity. I am available as a resource to applicant organizations needing author contact info and/or programming suggestions.
Thank you for your help in spreading the word about the available funding for Minnesota Book Awards Author Events. This is a great opportunity for us to work together in promoting and honoring Minnesota authors and books throughout the state.

Ann Nelson
MN Book Awards Coordinator
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1055
Direct: (651)366-6497
Main: (651) 222-3242
Fax: (651) 222-1988
mnbookawards@thefriends.org
www.thefriends.org

Reference Renaissance registration now open

Reference Renaissance will be held in Denver, Colorado August 4-5, 2008.

Head on over to http://www.bcr.org/referencerenaissance to register and for updates on programs and speakers. Early Bird Registration is $150 by May 31st. Regular registration is $175.

We're expecting 300-400 attendees from all over the US and from all types of libraries!

Contact Brenda Bailey-Hainer at bbailey@bcr.org or 303.751.6277 ext. 117 if you have any questions.

About the Conference:
A Reference Renaissance: Current and Future Trends
August 4-5, 2008, Denver, CO
Sponsored by BCR (Bibliographical Center for Research) and RUSA (Reference and User Services Association), an ALA Division

Rumors of the “death of reference” have been greatly exaggerated! Reference and information services now encompass not just traditional forms such as in-person point-of-service, telephone, and e-mail, but also Instant Messaging, Text Messaging (SMS), blogs, wikis, library pages on MySpace and Facebook, and virtual reference desks in Second Life.

A Reference Renaissance: Current and Future Trends conference will explore all aspects of reference service in a broad range of contexts, including libraries and information centers, in academic, public, school, corporate, and other special library environments. This two-day conference will incorporate the multitude of established, emerging, and merging types of reference service including both traditional and virtual reference. It presents an opportunity for all reference practitioners and scholars to explore the rapid growth and changing nature of reference, as an escalating array of information technologies blend with traditional reference service to create vibrant hybrids.

Our theme of a “Reference Renaissance” was taken from an editorial by Diane Zabel, in a recent issue of Reference and User Services Quarterly (winter 2007). Zabel wrote of a “resurgence of interest in reference” and that “reference is experiencing a regeneration, a reference renaissance.”

Back By Popular Demand! 23 Things On A Stick Returns For A Second Round

Didn’t have time to do 23 Things On a Stick the first time around? Got, oh, so close to finishing the 23 Things in the first round? This is your chance to participate in this individual online learning program focused on Web 2.0 tools in the context of libraries and media centers.

The Minnesota Multicounty Multitype Library Systems announce the opening of registration for a second round of 23 Things On a Stick beginning on May 15 (same content). The program will run through September 15, 2008. Library staff, Friends of Libraries, and Library Governing Board members are invited to sign up. Those who participated in the first round can re-register, using their same blog, pick up where they left off, and complete the rest of the 23. Those who have never started, have a second chance to register and join in this round!

Participants in the first round of 23 Things On a Stick were delighted with their experience.

The Things begin with each participant creating a blog to record their learning on more than 23 Web 2.0 tools. Participants then complete all Things explained at the 23 Things On a Stick blog (23thingsonastick.blogspot.com).

Ready to participate? Read the instructions at 23thingsonastick.blogspot.com about how the program works, how to create and register your blog, and then get on the stick and do the things. If you are continuing from the first round, you must re-register your blog.

Don’t miss this chance to do all 23 Things. You want to be ready for Thing 24 and More Things On a Stick!

Contact: Ann Walker-Smalley, Metronet Director

ann@metronet.lib.mn.us

23 Things On a Stick blog is online at www.23thingsonastick.blogspot.com

State Library Services newsletter

The most recent issue of the State Library Newsletter is now available at http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/Library/documents/Publication/034213.pdf

2008 Minnesota E-Learning Summit for K-12 Education

May 21-22, 2008 Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN

Hosted by iSeek Solutions and Minnesota Learning Innovations Council

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr. Michael Wesch, Cultural Anthropologist and Media Ecologist, Kansas State University

"Human Futures for Technology and Education"

For more info on Mr. Wesch, go to: http://mngts.org/elearning2008/index.html

HALF DAY COMPUTER LABS & TUTORIAL ON WED, MAY 21, including

● Edu-Games that Are Fun to Play ● Second Life ● Make Your Own Games with "Scratch"

For detailed info on ALL computer labs, go to: http://mngts.org/elearning2008/program.html and click on "Session Descriptions and Speaker Info"

44 SESSIONS ON THURSDAY, MAY 22, including

● Developing Online Teachers ● 3-D Learning Environments ● How Moodle Opens Doors

● Balance Teaching with Web 2.0 ● Developing Online Skills-Based Courses

For detailed info on ALL sessions, go to: http://mngts.org/elearning2008/program.html and click on "Session Descriptions and Speaker Info"

EXHIBIT HALL ON THURSDAY SHOWCASING LATEST TECHNOLOGIES

Offering demonstrations, refreshments, silent auction, dessert buffet, entertainment

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Offering sessions for beginner to advanced, the Summit is for anyone interested in e-learning, including

● Admin/Sr. Mgmt ● K-20 Educators ● Tech Mgrs & Staff ● Library Admin & Staff

For more detailed info, go to: http://mngts.org/elearning2008/general_information.html

FEES & REGISTRATION

$148: Full Conference Fee - Wednesday & Thursday

$ 49: Half Day Computer Labs/Tutorial--Wed Only

$ 99: Conference & Exhibit Show--Thursday Only

To register, go to: http://mngts.org/elearning2008/index.html and click On-Line Registration

FORM MORE INFO

Contact Rich Spencer, Govt Training Services, 651-222-7409, ext. 201 or rspencer@mngts.org

GTS is providing planning, management, marketing and registration services for the Summit.

Midwest Library Technology Conference

Registration
is now available for the midwest library technology conference

May 29-30, 2008Macalester College St. Paul, MN

A conference bringing libraries from around the region together to share how
changing technologies are affecting the services they provide to their users.

2008 Foundation Contribution Forms Now Available

Download your 2008 Foundation Contribution form on the Foundation Page