Contents:
News | Executive Director | Training | Special Offers
The MCLS Nominating Committee seeks nominations from the membership for the following openings on the MCLS Board of Directors:
Nominations will be accepted until 5pm Eastern (4pm Central) on Friday, July 15, 2022. The slate of candidates will be chosen from the nominations, voted on by the current Board of Directors in August, and presented to the membership in early September.
Read more about Board terms and responsibilities and how to submit nominations>>
New MCLS phone numbers are here!As of July 1, MCLS has new phone numbers! Our main numbers – (517) 394-2420 and toll-free (800) 530-9019 – remain the same, but all group phone numbers (e.g. Training, MeLCat Help, MeL eResources Help, etc.) and staff direct numbers have changed.
To find our new numbers, please visit our website Contact page. Please make note of, and update in your systems, any of our numbers you have saved or use frequently.
We are hopeful that this transition will be smooth, and we look forward to connecting via our new phone system.
July 5 marks a new beginning for MCLS: it is the date when MCLS goes live with ConsortiaManager as its subscription management system. Over the past several months, MCLS staff members have been busy preparing for this transition, getting data ready to migrate, learning to navigate ConsortiaManager, and communicating with our members about the change. Note: there will be no renewal or subscription renewal activity during the June 17-July 5 between-systems downtime.
We are excited about ConsortiaManager and, of course, are mindful of the changes and adjustments it will require for all of us, MCLS members and staff.
Read more about the transition and register to attend a CM training session>>
As you may recall from previous newsletters, MCLS was awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) monies by the Library of Michigan to support the digital content needs of publicly funded academic libraries in Michigan, including universities, community colleges, and Michigan's three tribal colleges. Across the nation, APRA monies for libraries were funneled to states via the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
Orders are coming in and money is getting spent! The deadline for spending the funds is July 15, 2022. If your library has not made a product selection yet and you would like more information and guidance, please contact Stephanie Davis as soon as possible at (800) 530-9019 or daviss@mcls.org.
Enrollment now open for Michigan Online “Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries” course with access through Aug 30, 2022The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services and the University of Michigan are partnering again to extend the offer of a free pilot of the “Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries” course on Michigan Online. All staff of MCLS member public libraries in both Indiana and Michigan is eligible to participate.
We are very excited to share that Kristin Fontichiaro, Clinical Professor at the University of Michigan School of Information, is the instructor for this four-week, self-paced course.
Save money on your Internet Librarian conference registrationAre you planning to attend the Internet Librarian 2022 conference in October? MCLS and Amigos Library Services can help you save money! Register for the conference here, and use code 22AMI. Please contact Grace at Amigos at boykin@amigos.org with any questions.
The call for nominations to serve on the MCLS Board of Directors (2023-2025) is open to MCLS member libraries, and the Board and I invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know by July 15 to play an active role in setting and refining the vision that guides MCLS to serve hundreds of libraries of all sizes and types. Beyond the details the call provides, you can learn more about the MCLS Board’s people and processes, including its makeup, current roster, and governance, on the MCLS website.
From my own perspective, the MCLS Board needs members who are engaged. Our Board offers rich opportunities for learning about the libraries we serve, and for leadership that can help set MCLS’s future directions.
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.
MCLS has negotiated discounts with several library supplies and equipment vendors on behalf of our members. These vendors include Brodart, Ingram, The Library Store, Kapco, Office Depot, Barcodes, Inc., and Vernon Library Supplies. You can find more information on discounts and how to order on each vendor’s page.
MCLS adds HotelPlanner to member discount opportunitiesDiscounts on hotel bookings are now available to MCLS members through HotelPlanner. Members can save up to 65% or more off room rates at over 900,000 lodging options worldwide. The custom booking site has special deals by many supplier channels to bring the best rates from thousands of hotels and other accommodations worldwide. Whether you are looking to book a luxury beach resort in the Caribbean, an urban upscale hotel in New York City, a cozy bed ‘n’ breakfast in Savannah, Georgia, or maybe a VRBO or rental condo, you save by booking through HotelPlanner as an MCLS member.
Members book the hotels directly through the customized MCLS HotelPlanner website. MCLS staff is not involved in the reservation process. For information on how to access the customized MCLS HotelPlanner website, contact Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019.
