This turned out to be quite a different column than the one I thought I was writing. Lately, I’ve been thinking about linked data a lot, and I thought I’d opine a bit about the history and development of linked data, with an update on a couple cool linked data projects in Michigan and Indiana. …Read more »

Time is running out to secure a seat for this great opportunity to learn valuable tools to make your library even more visible in your community. The deadline to register is Friday, October 31. On November 6, 2014, the Cooperative Directors Association, the Library of Michigan, and the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) will …Read more »

To say that the 2013 Michigan Library Association Directors Summit was a transformative event in my life would be hyperbole. But it would not be too much to say that my notion of how best to lead a nonprofit organization was forever altered. I learned that our usual way of designing the services we offer …Read more »

The 2011 MCLS Annual Report is now available online in html format.

Ruth Dukelow, long-time Associate Director at MCLS, has announced that she will be the next Executive Director of Cooperating Libraries in Consortium (CLIC) in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ruth’s final day at MCLS will be March 1. MCLS will host an open house for Michigan and Indiana library staff on Thursday March 1 from 2:00 – …Read more »

The 2010 MCLS Annual Report is now online in two formats, PDF and interactive swf.  See: http://mcls.org/cms/sitem.cfm/about/

What if you could offer your patrons access to 7 million books with the click of a mouse? Imagine an easy patron-initiated resource-sharing service with visible shelf status. Other states have done it, and Indiana can too! MCLS Executive Director Randy Dykhuis and other MCLS staff are scheduled to present at four of the Indiana …Read more »

Holy cow. A year has passed already?!? When a staff member mentioned to me that we were coming up on our first year anniversary, that was my reaction. It’s true that the older I get, the faster the years fly by, but even so, I look back to February 15, 2010 and wonder where the …Read more »

Mea culpa. Yes, I made a mistake during my update at last week’s annual membership meeting. During my recitation of the past year’s events and actions, I should have prominently featured the change in our membership structure and dues that will be effective July 2011. I’ve heard from some of you that you felt blindsided …Read more »

Last week was a historic one for MLC. On Tuesday, the membership voted 68-1 to combine with INCOLSA, and the following day the INCOLSA membership approved the same resolution 153-29. We are grateful for the overwhelmingly positive votes and are eager to begin working together as the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services. MCLS will officially …Read more »