Contents:
News | Executive Director | Training | Special Offers
Michelle Bradley, MCLS Manager for Engagement, Consulting, and Training, has been selected to serve as a facilitator at RIPL 2020, which will be held in Itasca, IL from July 12-15. RIPL (The Research Institute for Public Libraries) is an immersive event for public library staff to learn practical methods for gathering, analyzing, and using data for planning, management, and communicating impact. Selection as a facilitator was a competitive process, utilizing a review process of two or more independent blind reviews of applications. As a facilitator, Michelle will receive discounted registration for full attendance at the Institute. Michelle says, “I am looking forward to discovering more ways to utilize data to empower libraries and to put new ideas into practice with our own member libraries.”
MCLS will again be offering, in partnership with the Library of Michigan, several training sessions on developing essential skills for library staff to facilitate effective conversations and meetings. These skills can be used in a variety of settings including staff and work meetings, strategic planning sessions, one-on-one interactions with library patrons, library sponsored Community Conversations, and focus groups. Training will be presented by We Can Work It Out, LLC. These workshops, to be held in May and September 2020, will include learning theory, as well as practice of skills and peer feedback. Because they are funded by the Library of Michigan, these trainings are only open to staff of Michigan libraries.
Registration will be open soon, so watch the email lists and MCLS website for the announcement. In the meantime, we hope you'll save the dates and plan on joining us!
We are pleased to announce that Traverse Area District Library in Traverse City, MI has selected Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) to provide consulting services for strategic planning. We will be working with TADL throughout the summer and fall of 2020.
Is your library interested in learning more about our consulting services? Visit our webpage to read more or contact us to request a quote.
Calling all academic librarians! Mark your calendars for the Spring 2020 MCLS eResources Meeting from 10am-4pm on Friday, April 17 at the MCLS office in Lansing, Michigan. Planning is in process with more detailed information to follow, including participating vendors and discussion topics. Registration is now open.
MCLS is pleased to announce a new series of in-person workshops designed for supervisors. These workshops are a continuation of MCLS’s efforts to meet the needs of library staff. The workshops range from four to six hours, and lunch will be included. The workshops are filling up, but there are still spots in both April sessions, so register today!
If you have questions, please contact Pam Seabolt at seaboltp@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 123.
Hurry to save money on your registration for the Computers in Libraries 2020 conferenceAre you planning to attend the Computers in Libraries 2020 conference in March? If so, MCLS and Amigos Library Services can help you save money on conference registration. Register for the conference here by March 6, and use discount code: AMI20.
Contact Grace Boykin at boykin@amigos.org with any questions.
Curious about the open access movement? Wondering what terms like transformative agreement, Plan S, green and gold journals, and APCs really mean? MCLS Manager of Group Purchasing Stephanie Davis will be hosting a free, two hour webinar on Thursday, March 26, from 2-4pm Eastern (1-3pm Central). Taming the Transformative Tangle: Gain Understanding about Transformative Agreements is designed to provide members an overview of Open Access (OA), including its history, definitions of key terms, and an outline of current models of transformative agreements between publishers and libraries and consortia.
In our November/December newsletter, I provided a few data from our 2019 engagement survey designed to create a baseline understanding for our Board of Directors about member libraries’ awareness and usage of MCLS’s services. This month, I’ll present more data.
We thank all who took the time to respond to the survey, and we’ve gained useful information about how we could operate in the future. As I said in a previous newsletter, we’re very interested in how we might meet libraries’ needs in new ways, and market what we do more effectively.
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.
This is the final opportunity to get leftover bibliotheca inventory. Single DVD cases are available free to member libraries on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no minimum order required, and cases can be picked up at the MCLS office in Lansing, Michigan, or delivered by mail. Libraries using the mail option are responsible for shipping costs. Contact services@mcls.org to place an order.
As a reminder, MCLS is recommending that our members work with Minitex, a Minnesota-based consortium, for their future security product and supply needs. Tim Peters is ready to assist MCLS members with their purchases, and can be reached by phone at (800) 462-5348 or by email at tim@minitex.umn.edu.
With thousands of new health sciences titles published each year, how do you know which titles remain relevant or are worth acquiring? Doody’s Core Titles® makes answering these questions a breeze! Selected by content experts and seasoned librarians, this annually published list of the most distinguished titles in 120+ health sciences specialties is the most popular collection development tool for health sciences librarians worldwide. With the newest edition coming out in April, it's the perfect time to equip yourself with this invaluable tool.
MCLS member libraries qualify for group purchasing rates, so contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401 to ask for a quote.
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) has partnered with Gale to offer members a health and science package with reputable, reliable content. Together, we can make an impact on education by delivering essential, credible, and up-to-date content from powerful research platforms with vetted sources. Special discounts are available on the following products:
A 30-minute instructional webinar featuring the updated Gale Interactives for Chemistry, Human Anatomy, and Science will be held on Thursday, March 18, 2:30-3pm Eastern (1:30-2pm Central). Register today! For a quote or more information, contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401.
For over 50 years, SLACK Incorporated has been providing specialty medical content to institutions of all sizes. With many of SLACK’s journals indexed in Medline/PubMed, patrons of medical libraries around the world see SLACK as a trusted source for medical content. SLACK offers a variety of healthcare journals and archives in areas such as Nursing, Ophthalmology, and Allied Health. Supply your end users with the medical knowledge that could save lives by subscribing to SLACK journals today.
For a quote or more information on exclusive discounts for MCLS members, contact MCLS Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401.
