Plan to attend in Fergus Falls 10/29

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Listening Sessions Scheduled

The Minnesota Historical Society, the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Minnesota Humanities Center will host a series of listening sessions to obtain public input for a 10-year plan and 25-year framework for the use of funds made available through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. The constitutional amendment, approved by voters in November 2008, added a provision to Minnesota’s constitution that provides for an increase in the sales tax to support outdoor heritage, clean water, parks and trails, as well as arts, history and cultural heritage.

Representatives from the three organizations and 10 other history, arts and cultural organizations and libraries will work together to develop a plan for how proceeds of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund will be spent. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. Listening sessions will be held in coming months in locations across the state. An online survey is available. The results of this collaborative planning process will be reported to the legislature by Jan. 15, 2010.

Listening Sessions

Time: 5 – 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to arrive at 5 p.m.

RSVP: legacy@mnhs.org

• October 21 Minnesota History Center in St. Paul
• October 27 at the Minnesota Discovery Center , Highway 169, Chisholm
• October 29 at the Fergus Falls Center for the Arts , 124 W. Lincoln Ave.
• November 16 at the Rochester Community and Technical College , Heinz Center, 851 30th Ave. S.E.
• November 17 in the Twin Cities TBA
• November 18 in Marshall at Charter Hall, Rooms 201 and 217, Southwest Minnesota State University, 1501 State Street South (Park in “A” or “B” lots on east side of campus)

Online Input

If you can’t attend a listening session, please provide your input via an online survey.

Committee

The 13-member committee was chosen from a field of 50 applicants nominated by their peers.

Members are

• Peggy Adelman, chief financial officer, Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley;
• Jennifer Bloom, executive director, Learning, Law and Democracy Foundation, St. Paul;
• Michael Garcia, president and CEO, Duluth Children’s Museum;
• Allen Harmon, president and general manager, Duluth-Superior Area Educational Television;
• Andrea Kajer, deputy director, Minnesota Historical Society;
• Patricia Mulso, executive director, Freeborn Historical Society, Albert Lea;
• Jeff Nelson, public strategy managing director, Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul;
• David O’Fallon, president and CEO, MacPhail Center for Music, Minneapolis;
• Rebecca Lynn Petersen, executive director, Fergus Falls Center for the Arts;
• Brenda Raney, director of government relations, Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul;
• Mark Ranum, director, Plum Creek Library System, Worthington;
• Stanley Romanstein, executive director, Minnesota Humanities Center;and
• Pam Perri Weaver, board member, Minnesota State Arts Board.

MN Library Foundation mini-grants available

Heads up!  MLA Foundation mini-grants are available to Minnesota libraries. Application deadline is Dec 31, 2009, for these $500 awards. Click here for the guidelines and application information.

This is a great opportunity to seek supplemental funding for that very special project or event!

Peg Werner and Joan Larson

Peg and Joan

Originally uploaded by NLLN.

Peg Werner and Joan Larson were both honored at the recent MN Library Association Annual Conference in St Cloud.

Peg received the President’s Award from MLA President Ken Behringer for her work on library maintenance of effort across a whole field of players and interested partners. Peg is the Director fo the Viking Library System.

Joan Larson received the MN Library Association Distinquished Achievement Award for her years of service in the library community, her passion, enthusiasm, and endless innovation, and her continued voice in retirement. Joan is the former Executive Director of the Northern Lights Library Network , an active member of the Douglas County Friends of the Library in Alexandria, and a member of the Mn Assoc of Library Friends Board.

Also honored at the Conference was Senator Dan Skogen of Otter Tail Co for his hard work and successful championing of libraries in the Minnesota Legislature.  

Congratulations to all!

The Weaver race car

The Weaver race car

Originally uploaded by NLLN.

Will Weaver’s appearance in Detroit Lakes, complete with race car and Team Weaver member Bill Smith, was a big hit. Thanks to the Detroit Lakes Public Library and Becker Co Friends of the Library. Middle school kids from Detroit Lakes and Mahnomen were there. More pictures are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlln

NLLN Governing Board to meet

Looking forward to demonstrating and playing with “23 Things” and “More Things” at the Feb 21 Governing Board meeting in Detroit Lakes, 10am, lower level of the Graystone Hotel. Agenda,Minutes, and Director’s Report available at here.

Meet Your Destiny Conference

Calling all school media center staff — beat the winter doldrums by attending the “Meet Your Destiny” conference/workshop planned for the evening of  Sunday, Jan 25 and Monday, Jan 26, 2009, at the Arrowwood Conference Center in Alexandria, MN.  More information can be found on the conference wiki and the online registration form.

This will undoubtedly be the social and learning event of the winter season — don’t miss it!

Party on a Stick at MLA Conference

Michael and Nancy

Originally uploaded by NLLN.

“Party on a Stick” was well attended by conference goers at the recent MLA Conference in Bloomington. Here Michael Scott and Nancy Steele man the ice cream cart — a popular part of the party.

For more pictures from MLA, go to the NLLN flickr site on the side bar or at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlln

Be a MN Book Award Judge

Applications are now available to be a Minnesota Book Awards judge. This is a great opportunity. More information and the application form can be found at: www.thefriends.org .

Applications for preliminary and final round judges are being accepted for the eight book categories.  Volunteer judge applications and eligibility requirements are available online at http://www.thefriends.orgor by calling 651/336-6497.  Qualified individuals new to the book judging process as well as experienced judges are encouraged to apply.  The deadline for applications is Friday, October 10, 2008.

Minnesota Book Award Nominations open

From the St Paul Friends of the Library and the Minnesota Book Award Committee comes the following announcement. More information is available at their website.

Nominations for the 21st annual Minnesota Book Awards are open now through Friday, December 12, 2008.  The eight categories in which books may be entered are Children’s Literature, General Nonfiction, Genre Fiction, Memoir & Creative Nonfiction, Minnesota, Novel & Short Story, Poetry, and Young People’s Literature.  Anyone may nominate an eligible book by completing the nomination form and submitting five non-returnable copies of the book, plus the $40 nomination fee, to The Friends’ office.  Nomination forms and the eligibility and entry guidelines are available online at http://www.thefriends.org or by calling 651/366-6497.
 

Presidential debates and libraries

Below is a message from James Rettig, President of ALA, regarding the upcoming Presidential debates and how to submit library-related questions for the candidates:

On Tuesday, October 7, one of the three 2008 Presidential debates between Senators Barack Obama and John McCain will be held at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. This debate will be a town hall format moderated by Tom Brokaw. The moderator will call on members of the audience as well as select questions submitted online.

During this election year, we are looking for librarians and library supporters from across the country to call attention to the value of today’s libraries in our communities, as well as the issues the library community is facing. We encourage all ALA members to submit questions. The Commission on Presidential Debates has partnered with MySpace to create a new Web site, www.MyDebates.org. This site will become available in the days leading up to the first Presidential debate on September 26.  The more questions submitted, the more likely a library question will be asked. This is an opportunity for the library voice to become an important part of the 2008 Presidential election.

Sincerely,

James Rettig
ALA President