Contents:
News | Training | eResources | MeL | RIDES
Road trip success!Thanks to all the folks who came out to meet with MeLCat staff at the MCLS Regional Meetings and MeLCat Symposiums in July. We had the opportunity to speak with over 200 staff members from participating libraries on topics ranging from paging slips to data loads to requesting to delivery, and everything in-between. We appreciate the feedback and suggestions to improve MeLCat and we are already investigating implementation of some of the ideas.
Read more about the MeLCat Symposiums and Regional Meetings >>
MCLS and the Indiana State Library will be making their way around the state of Indiana this fall. Five regional meetings are in the works to give librarians updates on the activities of both organizations. All meetings will be from 10am–noon. Save the date for a meeting near you.
Springer, MCLS, and GVSU invite all curious librarians for lunch and collaboration with colleagues and to share experiences about working with eResources. Friday, August 21, 2015, 10am–3pm at the Grand Valley State University Mary Idema Pew Library.
Get on your bike and ride! Libraries in Indiana and Michigan are using bicycles in unique ways. The Putnam County Public Library (IN), in partnership with the DePauw University Office for Sustainability, is loaning bicycles to their patrons. The Traverse Area District Library (MI) in partnership with Norte! Youth Cycling, has a “pedal-powered” library.
Read more about these libraries and their bicycle initiatives >>
Two of our larger member public libraries have been paired up for the "Library Match" project. The Kokomo-Howard County Public Library in Kokomo, Indiana and the Troy Public Library in Troy, Michigan have been paired up to participate in the pilot project “Library Match.” For the next six months, they will participate in activities together using video-conferencing equipment generously underwritten by the H.W. Wilson Foundation.
Read more about what makes them a match >>
Harwood/ALA Public Innovators Lab for Libraries will be held in Detroit October 14–16, 2015. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the “turning outward” practice of engaging your community, and it’s close to home.
Does your public library need to complete a strategic plan? In this two-day series led by Sara Laughlin, recently retired director of Monroe County Public Library, Indiana, and veteran planning consultant, you will learn and practice do-it-yourself tools you can use to create your own plan. These will be highly interactive sessions, and Sara will coach and advise participants throughout the process.
During this two day series held at the Lake County Public Library in Merrillville, Indiana, you will:
Part 1: Identify your community's needs, Sept. 9, 10am–3pm (CT), 4 LEU
Part 2: Set your library's direction, Oct. 21, 10am–3pm (CT), 4 LEU
August is a great time to take some of our basic cataloging courses that are prerequisites for more advanced workshops.
For more information, visit our upcoming workshops and events page. If you have any questions, please contact training@mcls.org.
Looking for a new product or resource? Trying to maintain or increase services provided while working with a smaller budget? Wondering if MCLS works with a particular vendor? These are all questions for the Member Services Department, and we’re here to help! If anything listed below might be right for your library, please send an email to kirkpatrickn@mcls.org to indicate your interest, or you can send an email to services@mcls.org to request a quote. Some of our best ideas come from you, our members, so please share!
We’re now working with Springshare to offer discounts on their products, including LibGuides, LibAnswers, LibAnalytics and LibCal. If you already subscribe to LibGuides, you can get a discount on any new platforms you might want to add. Email services@mcls.org for a custom quote.
Docuseek2 provides essential documentary films for higher education and exclusive academic streaming from renowned leaders in the industry. They have a variety of flexible pricing models available. If you’d like to learn more, we’ve scheduled two webinars – August 17 at 2:00 pm EDT and August 20 at 11:00 am EDT. Contact services@mcls.org for the GoToMeeting links and access codes.
Beanstack is a web application and database of content curated by children's librarians. It helps engage local families by providing personalized recommendations and tools for earning incentives. Your library may also use the service as your online summer reading platform. 43% of Beanstack users do not have a library card before signing up and over half use the service primarily on mobile devices. Clients include Brooklyn Public Library, Calgary Public Library, and MCLS member libraries Kent District Library and Salem-South Lyon District Library. Learn about Kent District Library's experience with Beanstack on their local radio station and their KDL Blog.
Bentham Science is a highly regarded STM publisher, with over 125 peer reviewed subscription journals and a collection of over 300 eBooks. Within their collections Bentham Science has a number of high Impact Factor journals, many of which are leaders in their respective fields. Their leading titles include Current Gene Therapy, Current Molecular Medicine, Current Medicinal Chemistry, Current Pharmaceutical Design and Current Drug Targets.
Current title list and catalogues >>
Bentham Science is offering MCLS members a no obligation 3 month free trial to all of their content. Contact services@mcls.org for the log in credentials to take advantage of this trial.
The Chronicle of Higher Education and The Chronicle of Philanthropy will both offer site license discounts (potential savings up to 20%) if we have enough MCLS members interested in joining a group purchase. Site licenses for both products include:
Please email services@mcls.org for a quote or with any questions.
MCLS is your source for genuine 3M security strips and hardware. By purchasing 3M through MCLS, your library will save a minimum of 25% off security strips and 15% on accessories and hardware. To request a quote or place an order, contact services@mcls.org or 800-530-9019 ext. 401.
MCLS and Office Depot work together to provide our members special pricing for a variety of office supplies. On average, an MCLS member can save 25% on paper, ink, cleaning supplies, coffee, snacks, copy services and more. Libraries should pay special attention to items marked with the "Best Value" symbol to ensure the greatest discount. Free delivery on orders of $50 or more.
To receive this discount libraries must register an account with Office Depot and select Invoice Account Registration. For more information, contact services@mcls.org or 800-530-9019 ext. 401.
Navigating legal resource requests can be fraught with challenges. Layer upon layer of ever changing laws, codes, and more from municipal, state, and federal sources complicate providing efficient and appropriate legal resources.
Join us on August 26 at 9:30 am for a free, brief, half hour webinar with Michigan librarians who specialize in legal resources. Learn from your colleagues, practitioners in the field who regularly utilize MeL databases legal resources to provide their patrons with the information they need.
Registration is free and open to all Michigan library staff.
Thanks to all the folks who came out to meet with MeLCat staff at the MCLS Regional Meetings and MeLCat Symposiums in July! We had the opportunity to speak with over 200 staff members from participating libraries on topics ranging from paging slips to data loads to requesting to delivery, and everything in-between. We appreciate the feedback and suggestions to improve MeLCat and we are already investigating implementation of some of the ideas.
Any questions should be sent to melcathelp@mcls.org.
The MeL project is funded by the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library of Michigan, part of the Michigan Department of Education. Additional funding is provided by the State of Michigan.
The ROSEY program allows Michigan libraries to discard unwanted materials in a simple, low cost, environmentally-sensitive way. Last year well over $6000 was generated to help subsidize the cost of the green RIDES totes. In the next few months we will be providing special boxes for ROSEY contributions, more information and instructions coming soon!
Those libraries that participate in the program should review the new acceptance standards for materials.
