Contents: Executive Director | News | Training | Special Offers | Vendor Spotlight
This month I’ll recap the spring 2023 Think Space program from the Michigan Library Association (MLA), which featured journalist Ron French from Bridge Michigan, lobbyist Bob DeVries from GCSI, pollster Bernie Porn from EPIC-MRA, former politician Arlan Meekhof, and passionate librarians including the award-winning Amanda Jones from Louisiana. The speakers and participants offered an array of perspectives that overlapped at times and conflicted at others, making for a very thought-provoking program.
Following opening remarks from MLA President Scott Duimstra, Ron French offered advice for how libraries can work effectively with journalists to get stories out:
Join MCLS for our special summer Virtual DialogueGrab an ice cream cone or some ice-cold lemonade—you deserve it—and join MCLS for our special summer Virtual Dialogue on Tuesday, July 11, from 7-8:30 p.m. Eastern (6-7:30 p.m. Central). We hope this special evening time will allow frontline library staff, school librarians, and anybody else who can’t get away during the day to join in the conversation. And, of course, we hope to see some familiar faces as well! We will continue to engage around cultivating a growth mindset, this time focusing on flipping problems into opportunities.
MCLS Virtual Dialogues are different than traditional webinars or workshops. We use guided questions to facilitate a supportive space where you get to meet and talk with library workers from all different levels from all types of Indiana and Michigan libraries. We believe the answers are in the room and find that participants walk away feeling inspired and ready to implement the new ideas they heard from each other.
Register today on our website to receive an email from Zoom with the link to join. Registration is free, but limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions, please email us at engagement@mcls.org. We hope to see you on July 11!
MCLS is seeking cataloging instructors for 2024Do you have an extensive knowledge of cataloging, experience teaching in an online environment, and a skill for making this complicated subject clear to library staff? You may be just the person we are looking for!
Please email Gwen at training@mcls.org to express interest or download and submit our MCLS Instructor Application, found near the bottom of our Training & Events webpage.
MCLS members: watch your inboxPlease note that MCLS will be sending out a membership renewal email reminder to most key library contacts (directors, billing contacts, and primary contacts) in early June*. This email offers an opportunity to respond with any changes to your membership and to provide updated contact information ahead of our July 1 renewal date. Invoices will be generated and emailed to your billing contact in mid-June.
Thank you so much for being an MCLS member! If your library has had a recent change in director or billing contact, please contact Gwen at membership@mcls.org or 517-939-1388.
*Note: renewal reminders for school library members were sent in May.
MCLS Spring 2023 eResources Meeting recapOver 40 members of the MCLS academic and medical library community gathered virtually on Friday, May 5, for the annual MCLS Spring eResources Meeting. Participants heard from vendor representatives from Clarivate and SpringerNature. New multi-year agreements for group purchases from these vendors begin in 2024 and the presentations offered members the chance to hear directly from vendors, ask questions, and share concerns. The Web of Science presentation outlined new integrations with ProQuest products because of the Clarivate purchase of ProQuest. SpringerNature shared their updated single eBook purchase option.
Reach out to Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382 if you were unable to attend and are interested in the vendor PowerPoint.
New semester of training workshops is now availableVisit the MCLS Store for the full summer/fall 2023 semester of training workshops now open for registration!
Questions? Contact Gwen at training@mcls.org or 517-220-9950.
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.
Visit the eResources page of the MCLS website for a full list of vendor partners and products.
Are you looking for additional support in growing and sustaining open education programs at your institution? As a member of MCLS, your institution is eligible to join the Open Education Network (OEN) at the discounted rate of only $579 (regularly $1,737).
What does it mean to be a part of the OEN?
Contact Group Purchasing for a quote and product information at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
The Neurosurgical Atlas is available for the first time to libraries as an institutional modelFor the first time ever, the Neurosurgical Atlas—known as the ultimate resource in cranial surgery—is available for libraries. This work is the most comprehensive, interactive, and exclusive multi-media collection that unveils novel and efficient techniques for brain surgery. It has inspired a devoted global community of over 70,000 members and is used by neurosurgeons, residents, medical students, nurses, neuroscience researchers, radiologists, and other allied health professionals. Its nonprofit mission is to push the boundaries of surgical excellence, education, and research to achieve the best possible patient outcomes.
Contact Group Purchasing for a trial and more information at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
MCLS's HotelPlanner booking site will save you $$$ worldwideTraveling over the summer months? Looking for affordable hotel options? Check out HotelPlanner! MCLS member library staff can save up to 65% (and sometimes more) off room rates at over 900,000 lodging options worldwide. The custom booking site has special deals from many supplier channels to bring you the best rates from thousands of hotels and other accommodations.
Contact Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382 for the link to share with your library staff.
NewsBank meets the needs of diverse library typesNewsBank, Inc. has been one of the world’s premier information providers for more than 40 years. Its comprehensive, web-based research products satisfy the diverse needs of public, college and university, school, government, and military libraries.
For schools: NewsBank enables school libraries to provide students and teachers with convenient access to—and user-friendly search of—unique news and information databases comprised of primary sources published around the world. NewsBank’s information resources, research tools and programs do the following:
For Public Libraries: Did you know NewsBank has created resources that support summer reading? With just a few clicks, your patrons can sample articles, activities, and resources promoting friendship, kindness, and unity.
In addition, NewsBank offers access to thousands of local news sources from around the country, many of which are not found elsewhere. With eyewitness reporting, obituaries, letters to the editor, and more, only a local news source can satisfy patrons’ needs for information relevant to their communities. Local news provides a solid foundation of knowledge about the area’s people, businesses, government, sports, health, and culture. From a student studying environmental change to a busy mom looking for an article she saw weeks or months ago, online access to news archives benefits the entire community.
Contact Group Purchasing to request a quote or learn more about these products at services@mcls.org or 517-939-1382.
Learn the basics of PolicyMap at a June 13 webinarIs your library planning to renew your strategic plan? Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of your community to better serve and attract new users? PolicyMap offers easy-to-use online mapping with data on the demographics, real estate, health, jobs, and more of communities across the U.S.
From the classroom to the boardroom, thousands of organizations trust PolicyMap to find the right data for their research, market studies, business planning, site selection, grant applications, and impact analysis. A web-based resource, PolicyMap is powered by a growing and current library of indicators from more than 150 authoritative public and proprietary sources.
Join us at Learning the basics of PolicyMap on Tuesday, June 13 from 2-3 p.m. Eastern (1-2 p.m. Central). The webinar will cover: an overview of basic user interface including searching for locations, loading datasets, saving, and printing; unique custom functionality such as creating custom boundaries, editing ranges, and customizing colors; highlighting specific datasets; and time for questions.
