Streaming News – State Library Services newsletter available

The Nov issue of the State Library Services  Connections Newsletter is available online at:

http://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/groups/Library/documents/Publication/032865.pdf

Congratulations to Fergus Falls Center for the Arts for being a year 2 Big Read Grant award winner. This grant award is given by the National Endowment for the Arts to a select number of communities across the countyr. The Fergus Falls community will be reading The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan this year.

Garrison Keillor Presentation at ALA

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=199834-1&tID=5

You can purchase (or watch via video stream) Garrison Keillor’s address to ALA in June 2007. This is a wonderful tribute to the role of libraries — of all kinds — to our American life. It is done with Garrison’s charm, humor, insight, and passion.  Click on this link to purchase or view this:

http://www.c-spanarchives.org/library/index.php?main_page=product_video_info&products_id=199834-1&tID=5

Call for Judges – Mn Book Award

Dear Friends of the Minnesota Book Awards, 

With the application deadline quickly approaching for individuals interested in serving as a final round judge for the 20^th annual Minnesota Book Awards, I wanted to send out a reminder that the application deadline is Friday, November 30, 2007. 

Applications are being accepted from individuals qualified and interested in judging one of the following eight award categories:  Children’s Literature, General Nonfiction, Genre Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Minnesota Nonfiction, Novel & Short Story, Poetry, and Young Adult Literature.   

The position description and application form are available at www.thefriends.org/mba_judges.html.  Qualified applicants need not have previous judging experience to apply. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions about anything related to the 20^th annual Minnesota Book Awards, and be sure to visit www.thefriends.org for ongoing updates.  As a reminder, book nominations close on Friday, December 14, 2007.  Thank you for your continued support of Minnesota authors and books. 

Warmly, 

Ann  

Ann Nelson

Minnesota Book Awards Coordinator
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library
325 Cedar Street, Suite 555
Saint Paul, MN 55101-1055Direct Phone Number:  651/366-6497
Main Office Number:  651/222-3242    Fax:  651/222-1988
mnbookawards@thefriends.orgwww.thefriends.org 

The Minnesota Book Awards is a Capital City project, led by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, in consortium with the Saint Paul Public Library and the Mayor’s Office of the City of Saint Paul.  Outreach partners include the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA), the Minnesota Library Association (MLA), and Minnesota Department of Education - State Library Services. 

Listen to a podcast interview with Beth Kelly

MINITEX Reference service has done a series of podcasts that are now available on their Reference blog site. I’ve enjoyed several of these interviews but would recommend you listen to the interview with Beth Kelly, recently retired director of the Duluth Public Library. She grew up in Crookston and she talks of how her early library experience in the public library shaped her entire life, not just her professional experience. Listen to the interview at:

http://blogs.minitex.umn.edu/reference/2007/10/

Minnesota Sesquicentennial: 150th Anniversary of Minnesota

Minnesota Sesquicentennial: 150th Anniversary of Minnesota Help pick the Capital For A Day by voting for communities in the 5 regions of the state that applied for this honor. While you’re at it, check out the rest of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial site’s offerings, including round 2 grants to communities.

Minnesota 2020 — Minnesota’s Public Libraries: Priceless, in Dollars and Sense

Minnesota 2020 — Minnesota’s Public Libraries: Priceless, in Dollars and Sense

Read this important report on public libraries written for the MN think tank MN 2020  — also note, in the sidebar, the “numbers” indicating the amount of money Minnesota spends on libraries, the amount of circulation, number of buildings, and the economic impact of libraries. It’s pretty impressive! 

MLA Visioning Summit, Nov 15, 2007

The Minnesota Library Association needs you – members and non-members alike! 

The Association will be holding a Visioning Summit on Thursday, November 15^th from 10 am until 1 pm at the Ridgedale Library.

As you have heard, this past year has been one of great challenges for MLA, but it has also been one of great opportunities.  It has been an opportunity to get back to our member-driven roots and to regroup, reevaluate and recharge.   It is now time to start planning for the future.  Now is our opportunity …            

 To explore the challenges that libraries and library workers are facing and to explore ways that MLA might help them meet these challenges

To evolve into an association that is limber, progressive, and relevant to its members, to the library community, and to the state as a whole

To excel as an association and to help our members excel as well 

Sue Hall will be facilitating this brainstorming session, which will be an opportunity for the library community to talk about what the association is doing right, what doesn’t fit so well anymore, and what should be changed.  

Let’s think outside of the box and explore the possibilities! I hope to see you there!   If you are unable to attend, there will also be an online survey available, a Visioning blog, and additional follow-up meetings and conversations to make certain that your voice is heard. 

 Help us ensure that MLA is vital and relevant to every library in the state!Minnesota Library Association 2008:  To Explore. To Evolve.  To Excel.  Together. 

 Wendy Wendt 

President-Elect, Minnesota Library Association
Director, Marshall-Lyon County Library

Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World [OCLC - Membership reports]

Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World [OCLC - Membership reports]

This new report from OCLC is the latest survey – internationally – of libraries and the social network. This is available for purchase, download, or to read online.  

From OCLC:
The practice of using a social network to establish and enhance relationships based on some common ground—shared interests, related skills, or a common geographic location—is as old as human societies, but social networking has flourished due to the ease of connecting on the Web. This OCLC membership report explores this web of social participation and cooperation on the Internet and how it may impact the library’s role, including:
The use of social networking, social media, commercial and library services on the Web
How and what users and librarians share on the Web and their attitudes toward related privacy issues
Opinions on privacy online
Libraries’ current and future roles in social networking
The report is based on a survey (by Harris Interactive on behalf of OCLC) of the general public from six countries—Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States—and of library directors from the U.S. The research provides insights into the values and social-networking habits of library users.

Alice Hofstad Presenting

Alice Hofstad Presenting

Originally uploaded by NLLN.

Alice Hofstad organized the fall media workshop at the North West Service Coop in Thief River Falls. It was a great success. About 25 people were in attendance and learned a lot about digital cameras, podcasting, Internet safety, and updates from the region.