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News | Executive Director | Training | Special Offers | MeL
Indiana libraries selected for Wellbeing Literacy grantsThis spring, 16 Indiana libraries will receive Wellbeing Literacy grants through a partnership between MCLS and The Wellbeing Lab.
These libraries will receive one-year subscriptions to The Wellbeing Lab's PERMAH Wellbeing Survey, which they may use with their staff or their community. One staff person from each of these libraries will also take part in the Certificate in Creating Wellbeing program through The Wellbeing Lab, starting at the end of April. The cohort will be made up of participants from various professions, so the experience will be a great way to learn along with other library staff, as well as others outside libraries.
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 Indiana.
Join us for the MCLS 2021 Spring eResources Meeting scheduled for Friday, April 23, 9am-3pm Eastern (8am-2pm Central). We’ll meet online again this year and hear from SAGE and Wiley representatives regarding the upcoming 2022 multiyear group renewals for SAGE Premier and Wiley eJournals. Other presenters include representatives from Kanopy and EBSCO. Group Purchasing Manager Stephanie Davis will give an update on Group Purchasing at MCLS, including information on the status of MCLS open access efforts. We’ll end the day with door prize drawings.
Attendance is free, but you must register in advance. Register today!
We are pleased to announce that four public libraries in Indiana have all selected Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) to provide consulting services for strategic planning. We will be working with La Porte County Public Library this spring, Garrett Public Library through the summer, and Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library and Westchester Public Library throughout fall 2021.
Is your library interested in learning more about our consulting services? Visit our webpage to read more or contact us to request a quote.
New sessions of The Facilitator's Toolbox now open to Michigan library staff for registrationIn partnership with the Library of Michigan, MCLS will offer four more training sessions presented by We Can Work It Out, LLC on essential skills for library staff to facilitate effective conversations and meetings this fall. These are additional sessions of trainings taught in past years, so that more library staff can benefit.
Skills practiced in these sessions can be used in a variety of settings including staff and work meetings, strategic planning sessions, one-on-one interactions with library patrons, library-sponsored Community Conversations, and focus groups. The workshops will be held over Zoom on four dates in September 2021, and will include learning theory, as well as practice of skills and peer feedback.
Because they are funded by the Library of Michigan, these trainings are only open to staff of Michigan libraries. Registration is now open for these small, interactive workshops and we expect them to fill fast, so claim your spot today!
This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, with additional funding provided by the State of Michigan.
The MCLS Virtual Dialogues will continue on Zoom on the third Friday of each month, 11am-12:30pm Eastern (10-11:30am Central). Our next gathering will be on Friday, April 16. Part support group, part visioning, let’s share our thoughts and ideas as we navigate the environment we find ourselves working in right now and look towards the future. These Dialogues are open to all library staff of all levels and roles throughout our two-state Indiana and Michigan region, and beyond.
Watch the email lists for the login link and topic announcement. We look forward to seeing you!
Check out archived recordings of our past Dialogues>>
Unlocking the Secrets of a Digital Literacy Learning Plan for Library Staff open for registration for Michigan library staff“Unlocking the Secrets of a Digital Literacy Learning Plan for Library Staff" is being offered by MCLS in partnership with the Library of Michigan this April and May. The workshop is designed to equip you with the tools and a process to help you build a learning plan around technology and digital literacy skills for library staff. If you wish your library had such a learning plan in place, but you’re not sure where to start or how to organize it, then this workshop is for you!
Registration is just $15. Because these sessions are funded by the Library of Michigan, they are only open to staff of Michigan libraries. This workshop will only be available as live virtual instruction.
This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, with additional funding provided by the State of Michigan.
This month, MCLS Executive Director Scott Garrison interviews Jake Speer, Indiana State Librarian, and Randy Riley, Michigan State Librarian. Jake, Randy, and Scott discuss how libraries have adapted during the pandemic, questions that remain, and some hopes and plans for the future.
Read more/Watch the interview >>
For more information or to see all upcoming workshops, visit our workshop and event registration page. If you have any questions, please contact us at training@mcls.org.
Did you know that ALL eBooks on the Gale platform are DRM-free and have unlimited simultaneous use, and that Gale works with nearly 150 publishing partners? This means that not only can you get quality Gale imprint “reference” works, but you can also add titles that will supplement the programs at your college or university from such publishers as:
Not only this, but all Gale eBooks come with MARC records and accessing them on the Gale eBook platform (formerly GVRL) will allow your students to highlight and take notes, save content to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive, access various citation formats, and more. Gale eBooks also integrate into your campus LMS, course syllabi, and LibGuides.
For a quote or more information, contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401.
Building on the previous article which discussed the Gale eBook platform, we have many academic discipline title lists available for review. You can purchase all the titles listed or select which titles work best for your students and faculty.
Gale and MCLS are making the Opposing Viewpoints/Global Issues companion eBooks, ABC-Clio Group eBooks, IGI Global Titles: Healthcare & Medicine, Education, Science & Engineering, and more available to MCLS members.
All Michigan libraries can access the Opposing Viewpoints eResource via MeL, but the content you will see reflects social issues and controversial/current event topics that undergrads in particular tend to research for papers, speeches, etc.
To request the list(s) you’d like to review or get a quote, contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401.
myLIBRO is an all-in-one library solution to help libraries connect with patrons & students and increase library access, particularly during COVID restrictions. This mobile app solution offers connection to most Integrated Library Systems, allowing patron search/hold/account management; self-check; scheduling for curbside/contactless pick-up & in-library services; reserve & play of audiobooks from Overdrive & other platforms. It also offers a robust notification system, letting libraries share library news such as emergency closures, policy changes, and upcoming events. Smart-assist features are in development. MCLS will host a webinar on Thursday, April 15, 11am-12pm Eastern (10-11am Central) where the various features of myLIBRO will be presented. Sign up today to reserve your spot.
For additional information or a price quote, contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401.
Since 2015, MCLS libraries have enjoyed discounts on document delivery service fees from Reprints Desk as a benefit of their membership. Reprints Desk is launching a new service called Article Galaxy Scholar (AGS). It will provide ready access to scholarly content from over 30,000 journals within minutes to seconds. The first of its kind, AGS is an on-demand document delivery solution that enables libraries to:
To learn more, request the recording of the recent webinar where David Stern, Library Director at Saint Xavier University, provided a glimpse into the workings of Article Galaxy Scholar for MCLS members and gave an overview of how AGS service streamlines article acquisition workflows. Contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401 to request the webinar recording, to learn more about AGS, or to request a quote.
We are excited to announce that Laura Warren-Gross is joining the MCLS MeL Team as the new MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries. A librarian and certified teacher, Laura is looking forward to building more and deeper relationships with public library staff across the state. Laura will initially be working part-time; in mid-June she'll become a full-time member of the staff. We'll be sure to alert everyone when we're ready to begin scheduling training sessions with her.
