Contents: Executive Director | News | Training | Special Offers | Vendor Spotlight | Product Spotlight | MeL
This month, I’ll recap the first session of the Michigan Library Association’s 2023-2024 Think Space program, held in December 2023. Following its first two years focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion and how libraries can respond to pushback against those principles as they manifest in the form of book challenges, censorship, legislative activity, and more, this year’s Think Space’s agenda is all about the future of libraries. Though this program takes place in Michigan, it offers much food for thought for libraries everywhere. Note: this recap is long. I hope you find value in it.
As you may be aware, MCLS recently launched its 2023-2024 strategic planning journey. We are seeking broad input and participation in shaping our vision for the future, particularly as it relates to exploring:
We are partnering with Spartina Consulting who are facilitating a strengths-based, participatory approach to strategy development known as Appreciative Inquiry. Our next step will be holding a Listening Tour. At the listening sessions we’ll use Appreciative Inquiry questions to harness your wisdom and creativity in helping us to examine and further build upon a draft framework of the strategic topics above. Think of this as an invitation to help us co-create a “partially painted canvas” for our next chapter together.
“Meet Me in the Middle”—a Virtual Dialogue designed for mid-level managersThe middle of an organization is a unique–and important–position to occupy. If you answer to a director, dean, or other top position but also manage people or projects, we invite you to meet your colleagues in the middle for a Virtual Dialogue on Wednesday, March 20, from 10:30 a.m.-noon Eastern (9:30-11 a.m. Central). MCLS’s Engagement, Consulting, and Training Team will facilitate a dialogue that we hope helps you feel like you’re not “stuck in the middle.”
MCLS Virtual Dialogues are free and are designed for you to connect, engage, learn from, and support each other across our two-state membership region. Virtual Dialogues aren’t courses or webinars, but instead are guided conversations with fellow library workers where you can share experiences and learn from each other.
We hope to see our mid-level manager colleagues on March 20. Watch the email lists and our website to see who our next invited group will be for May!
ConsortiaManager CornerThank you to everyone who input their population data into ConsortiaManager (CM). As noted in the December/January newsletter, “Allowing libraries to input this data directly into CM streamlines the pricing process as it is included in the information sent to vendors with each new order and renewal.” If you did not complete this task, please contact services@mcls.org.
In other CM news, we want to remind libraries renewing subscriptions to always look at any notes from MCLS staff by clicking on the icon in your renewal listing. These messages often include important information related to the renewal.
Michigan library selects MCLS to provide consulting servicesWe are pleased to announce that Mott Community College Library in Flint, MI has selected Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) to offer a staff professional development day on Feb. 2. We are looking forward to spending the day with the Mott Library staff!
Is your library looking for library-specific consultants, presenters, or facilitators? MCLS can help! Visit our webpage to read more or contact us to request a quote.
New semester of trainings now available for registration! The workshop schedule for January-June 2024 is now available at the MCLS Store.
MCLS is seeking new cataloging instructorsMidwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) needs 2-3 new cataloging instructors to teach existing workshops for the last half of 2024 and in 2025. Do you have an extensive knowledge of cataloging, experience presenting in an online environment, and a skill for teaching and making this complicated subject clear to library staff? You may be just the person we are looking for!
Please email Gwen Haviland, Training Coordinator, at training@mcls.org with any questions or download and submit our MCLS Instructor Application found near the bottom of our webpage.
The MeL project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.
The MCLS website has a full list of vendor partners and a searchable product list.
Vendor and Product Lightning Rounds provide bite-sized presentations on MCLS productsWhat is a Lightning Round? It is a quick and easy way for members to learn about eResource products available through MCLS. Attendees hear from five vendors who are allotted 15 minutes each to present the best of their products plus updates and information. In 2024 MCLS will host four Lightning Round vendor events on Zoom, each focused on a different library type!
Registration is now open for our first quarter Vendor Lightning Round for public library members scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Eastern (9:30-10:30 a.m. Central).
After registering, you will receive Zoom access information. The list of participating vendors will appear in the March newsletter.
Additional Vendor Lightning Rounds take place second quarter for school library members, third quarter for medical library members, and fourth quarter for academic library members. Be sure to watch future newsletters for date announcements.
Cash in on MCLS members-only savings with BloomsburyBloomsbury is pleased to offer MCLS members additional savings on the one-time purchase of several digital resources through May 31, 2024, with the steepest discounts running until Feb. 15, 2024. Berg Fashion Library subscribers save an extra 5% on the one-time purchase of the Bloomsbury Fashion Photography Archive and Bloomsbury Fashion Video Archive.
If you have any questions, or if you’d like to see title lists or set up free 30-day trials of any of these resources, please reach out to MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
Please note that Drama Online and Bloomsbury Collections are excluded from this sale.
Academic Writer is APA’s self-directed digital resource for supporting academic communities as they prepare students to meet the rigors of university research and writing. Unlike proofreading or writing tools, this revolutionary platform is designed to help users develop a solid academic writing foundation by combining pedagogical and self-paced learning tools with content management technology.
Reflecting the latest guidance of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.), Academic Writer assures libraries provide students and educators a level of accuracy, consistency, and confidence not available from any other source. Institutions can prepare students across a spectrum of disciplines and subjects that use APA Style.
Free trials are available. For more information or to request a quote or trial, reach out to Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
Information Today, Inc.’s 2024 Computers in Libraries: Library Futures and Wildest Dreams conference will take place in Arlington, VA on March 12-14 with pre-conference half-day workshops offered on March 11.
The conference focuses on "emerging and leading-edge technology that allows us to engage with, and bring strategic value to, our user communities. Using the latest information and practices to help you make informed choices, this event looks at how to escalate and delight both the human and digital experiences in your community—whether an academic, corporate, nonprofit, public, or school library."
To take advantage of this special offer, visit the registration form and use the code 24AMI. Contact Grace Boykin at boykin@amigos.org with any questions.
Value Line PublishingValue Line Library offers three levels of subscription access to their investment research platform – Library Elite, Library Basic, and Library Research Center. All three levels offer on-site as well as remote access for anytime, anywhere use. Value Line’s investment research platform features more than two dozen customizable modules for your patrons to maximize the value of your library's online research subscription. Value Line Library clients include academic, corporate, law, and public libraries. Visit the MCLS Value Line Publisher page to compare companies covered, historical data, and other features and choose which tier will best suit your patrons.
For a demo, quote, trial, or other assistance, contact us at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
Visit the eResources page of the MCLS website for a full list of vendor partners and a searchable product list.
Introducing Naxos’s inspirational new learning resource for ages 4-12: MusicBoxMusicBox offers a wealth of engaging activities and resources for a young person to explore either alone or together with adults who recognize the value of laying solid foundations for a lifelong appreciation of classical music.
MusicBox contains friendly texts and special playlists for:
Available in both home and school versions. For trial access and pricing, contact Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
The MeL project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.
A huge thank you to all the MeLCat libraries and library staff who helped continue to make MeLCat successful in 2023!
In 2023, MeLCat welcomed two new libraries:
In addition, the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor resumed lending in October 2023.
More than 1 million items were requested by patrons throughout the state of Michigan. January 2023 was the busiest month, with patrons placing a whopping 103,743 MeLCat requests! Altogether in 2023, more than 970,000 items were loaned out to patrons all over Michigan.
The top 5 most requested titles via MeLCat were:
In 2023, MCLS MeLCat staff helped libraries with a plethora of MeLCat questions and issues, and more than 3,150 tickets were opened by library staff. MCLS MeLCat staff also reached more than 300 library staff through more than 45 MeLCat-related trainings.
Laura Warren-Gross holds free MeL eResource Office Hours
