MCLS is committed to supporting the community engagement efforts of libraries in Indiana and Michigan. We have upcoming community engagement roundtable discussions scheduled in both states.  These discussions are free and open to anyone with an interest. Join us for the opportunity to support one another in your community engagement efforts. Indiana Location: Monroe County …Read more »

Indiana librarians are invited to attend one of five Community Conversations to be held in the southern portion of the state in the month of March.  The purpose of these conversations is to gather information about the needs of the Indiana library community and to explore your hopes, concerns and aspirations. We will conduct another …Read more »

33 Michigan Libraries Selected by the Library of Michigan and MCLS to participate in Harwood Public Innovation Training. In partnership with the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and the Library of Michigan, the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) announced on January 15, 2016, that 50 individuals from 33 Michigan libraries were selected to undergo …Read more »

The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) announced today that nine school libraries in Indiana have been awarded a $500 collection development mini-grant. The funds were made available to MCLS member libraries through a grant program established by the MCLS Board of Trustees from the proceeds of the sale of the former INCOLSA building in …Read more »

Congratulations to the University of New Mexico cataloging staff! Are you looking for a way to motivate your cataloging staff to refresh their skills?  Would you like to develop a sense of comradery and achievement as part of your professional development?  Eight members of the University of New Mexico cataloging staff recently did just that. …Read more »

MCLS is pleased to announce that Nancy Kirkpatrick has been promoted to MCLS Associate Director and Michelle Bradley has been promoted to MCLS Member Engagement Manager. Nancy joined MCLS in February 2015 and has been the MCLS Member Services Manager since July 1. She will continue in both capacities, working closely with the executive director …Read more »

The MCLS office will close at 10 am on December 28 due to inclement weather.  We plan to be open normal hours tomorrow, December 29.  Stay safe and warm!

This article was adapted from a talk I gave at “Public, School and Academic Libraries and Student Achievement”, the 2015 Mahoney Conference. The conference was sponsored by the Library of Michigan, in conjunction with the Michigan Association for Media in Education, the Cooperative Directors Association, MCLS, Michigan Library Association, and Michigan Academic Library Association. The …Read more »

Greetings to all in this holiday season. Thank you for another year of dedication and hard work towards a stronger, more vibrant and engaged Midwestern library community. Our libraries do make the world a much better place. We don’t say that out loud often enough. Celebrating the holidays, the MCLS office will be closed: December …Read more »

MCLS has issued a new Request for Quote for Selected Web-based Databases to license specific data content for participating libraries in Indiana and Michigan. Responses are sought for services beginning July 1, 2016. The RFP is posted here: http://mcls.org/rfq2016. Questions regarding the RFQ may be addressed to rfq2016@mcls.org.