In order to make some changes to the Introduction to Basic Soft Skills workshop series, MCLS will put it on a brief hiatus. One big change will be rebranding what has been known as “Soft Skills” as “Essential Workplace Skills.” This series name change will help to reflect the content of the workshops and their …Read more »

Starting June 1, 2021, MCLS will be moving to a new training, workshops, and events registration system, Corsizio. We believe you will find the system to be user-friendly and that it will continue to provide all the benefits of our current system. Since it will look a little different, we wanted to take a few …Read more »

Registration is now open for upcoming virtual training for Michigan library staff on foundational digital literacy topics, offered by MCLS in partnership with the Library of Michigan. This workshop is being offered multiple times throughout September and October to accommodate smaller participation limits in each session, which will allow for plenty of personal attention and …Read more »

MCLS is pleased to announce a new series of in-person workshops designed for supervisors. These workshops are a continuation of MCLS’s efforts to meet the needs of library staff. The workshops range from four to six hours, and lunch will be included. Learning to Manage for New Managers, Feb 27, 9:30am – 2:30pm Eastern, Lebanon …Read more »

MCLS will be offering five workshops in March and April 2020 as part of an Indiana LSTA grant project to support the development of digital skills and literacies of Indiana public library staff. The workshops will empower participants to create a digital learning plan for their library by learning how to incorporate technology competencies and …Read more »

In conversations with multi-types of libraries in both Indiana and Michigan, participants stated that “soft skills” were the most needed skills for staff in the 21st century library.  In response, MCLS has created a new Certificate of Library Staff Development in Basic Soft Skills. The certificate program includes five live, online courses delivered by MCLS …Read more »

John Sterbenz has been employed at the Kresge Business Administration Library at The University of Michigan since 1992, joining its librarian ranks in 1998. He has spent over 18 years serving in various Technical Services roles at the library, including as manager of the unit since 2000. In 2016, he was promoted to the rank …Read more »

This month’s featured trainer, Jessica Barnes, has spent her career working in and for Indiana public libraries. After receiving her MSLIS from the University of Illinois in 2004, she worked in and managed reference, circulation, teen, and technical services departments in three northern Indiana public libraries. As the northern Indiana regional coordinator for the Indiana …Read more »

 This month’s featured trainer, Mahasin Martinson, currently works in the IT Department at the Indianapolis Public Library. Originally from Lansing, Michigan, Mahasin bridges our two membership states, and has been a lifelong patron of libraries. She has volunteered and worked in public libraries for over 15 years. In May 2016, Mahasin completed her master’s degree …Read more »

Vicki Bloom is a new instructor for MCLS, and will be teaching this month’s featured workshop, Purposeful reference: Developing connections and outcomes through research consultations. Some fun facts about Vicki: She has worked in libraries in four different states, including medical, special, public, and academic libraries. During her first week as a medical librarian, she …Read more »