Contents:
News | Executive Director | Training | Special Offers
As shared in our May 2021 eNewsletter, MCLS joined the Open Education Network (OEN) as a consortial member effective July 1. A recognized leader in helping academic institutions advocate and advance open educational resources at their colleges and universities, OEN utilizes a proven program to engage with faculty in the review and development of open education textbooks. Our consortial membership allows MCLS to stay current with open education efforts and offers multiple benefits to MCLS academic member libraries, including an option to join OEN as an individual Allied member at a deeply discounted rate. In addition, MCLS is offering a limited number of sponsorships to encourage OEN Allied membership and support open education initiatives at campuses across Indiana and Michigan.
MCLS will host two informational webinars on Wednesday, Aug. 18, noon-1pm Eastern (11am-noon Central) and Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2-3pm Eastern (1-2pm Central) to help libraries learn more. The sessions will introduce the MCLS OEN consortial membership and outline the opportunities available to MCLS members. Both MCLS & OEN staff will be present to share information and answer questions.
On June 22, 2021, Ithaka S+R issued a major report titled, "What's the Big Deal: How Researchers are Navigating Changes to Journal Access." Below is a snippet of the executive summary from the full report.
The dominant mode by which research libraries have provided maximum journal access as cheaply as possible—subscription bundles or “Big Deals”—is giving way to new approaches. This transition is taking place through a combination of negotiations, activism, business modeling, user needs research, and decision support, among other factors. To support these processes, Ithaka S+R partnered with 11 academic libraries to understand researcher perceptions to help inform their ongoing strategic decision making about Big Deal journal subscriptions.
Recognizing that libraries must also undertake case-by-case assessments prior to making decisions about any particular journal package, in this report we share findings from the project that merit wider public consideration.
Share your thoughts with Stephanie and Chrystal at services@mcls.org.
On Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021, library staff from around the state of Michigan will gather virtually on Zoom for Libraries Engaging Appreciatively for Positive Change (LEAP) 2021! This event, which will create and kick off the 2021-22 cohort, is a continuation of our partnership with the Library of Michigan and our shared Michigan Libraries Engage project and will allow for up to 100 more participants to be introduced to Appreciative Inquiry and how it can be utilized for community engagement.
Like the 2020 event, LEAP 2021 will be facilitated by MCLS's Engagement, Consulting, & Training team along with Maureen (Mo) McKenna of Return on Energy Consulting, and is funded by the Library of Michigan. It is open to all staff of Michigan libraries. November's LEAP Day will be followed by six optional monthly facilitated learning Zoom calls from December 2021 through May 2022 to continue the journey and offer a community of support as participants strive to apply the knowledge to their own work and life experience.
Look for more details and registration coming soon on the email lists, the MCLS September eNewsletter, and our website!
Equitable access has been a core principle of publicly-funded library service for going on two centuries. For well over a decade, an ever-growing number of libraries have come to recognize that fines for overdue materials can pose a barrier to equity, and have responded by eliminating those fines. American Library Association (ALA), local and national news media, and others have taken notice and championed and celebrated this change.
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.
PebbleGo is packed with informational articles, ready-made activities, and literacy supports for students of all abilities. This web-based digital research platform has full audio accommodations, citation tools, and highlighted text and is accessible across many platforms. Teach foundational concepts, increase understanding, foster independence, and more with PebbleGo, PebbleGo Next, and the many PebbleGo Modules.
For a list of available modules or a quote, contact us at (800) 530-9019 ext 401 or services@mcls.org.
For K-12 students to succeed, teachers must be successful first. Gale In Context: for K-12 Educators Unlimited can help. Building on the foundation of Gale in Context, this resource is a collaboration and lesson planning tool that enables K-12 educators to find and personalize digital learning content, plan learning activities that work well for all learners, and provide equity for all students.
Gale in Context: for K-12 Educators Unlimited gives K-12 librarians a new and unique way to merge quality, curriculum-aligned content with related lesson plans and instructional tools. Winning the ISTE Best in Show both in 2019 and 2020, Gale in Context: for K-12 Educators Unlimited is putting library resources front and center. The Gale in Context: for K-12 Educators Unlimited package includes unlimited and simultaneous access to 10 Gale Databases!
Want to explore this package? Check out a trial for MCLS members.
Register today for the upcoming webinar on Aug. 10 from 11:30am-12:30pm Eastern (10:30-11:30am Central.) Gale is offering discounts for MCLS members. To take advantage of special summer discounts (20% for libraries subscribing prior to August 15), contact Group Purchasing at (800) 530-9019 ext 401 or services@mcls.org for a quote and information on a demonstration.
Think ScienceDirect only has journal articles? Think again! ScienceDirect offers knowledge in a variety of formats, from introductory encyclopedia chapters to essential books to advanced journal articles. ScienceDirect provides access to more than 42,000 digital books that help researchers and students gain the insights they need to get ahead. These books are seamlessly interlinked alongside journals to support an uninterrupted research workflow. They are DRM-free with unlimited usage.
Please join us for an informational webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2-3pm Eastern (1-2pm Central) to learn more about eBooks on ScienceDirect. Andy Albrecht, Senior Product Manager at Elsevier, will lead the session, outlining platform features and functionality. Register today!
Special pricing is available to MCLS members participating in this offer, which includes a range of access models. To learn more or to request a quote, contact Group Purchasing at (800) 530-9019 ext 401 or services@mcls.org.
The events of the last two years have changed how we work, strained our resources, and shifted the needs of library users. To help, ProQuest and MCLS have come together to offer special pricing for all libraries – including academic, public, and K-12.
MCLS members can get special pricing on these essential databases:
For academic libraries
For public libraries
For K-12 libraries
With the next school year upon us, explore CultureGrams and SIRS Issues Researcher to help your students learn more about the world they live in.
Don’t see a product listed under your library type? Don’t hesitate to ask!
Secure your savings today. Special pricing is available for MCLS members now through Dec. 20, 2021. To discuss price quotes, product information, or complimentary trials on these or other resources, contact Group Purchasing at (800) 530-9019 ext 401 or services@mcls.org.
