Contents:
News | Executive Director | Training | Special Offers
We welcome the following libraries, who have joined MCLS since July 2021:
Clinton Public Library, IN
Franklin Public Library, MI
Homer Public Library, MI
Leelanau Township Library, MI
Litchfield District Library, MI
MacDonald Public Library, MI
Mercy High School, MI
Reed City Area District Library, MI
South Whitley Community Public Library, IN
Tahquamenon Area School Public Library, MI
Winchester Community Library, IN
We are so glad to have you as members!
MCLS currently has 645 member libraries across Indiana and Michigan. Is YOUR library receiving all the benefits of membership? Find out by checking our member list, and learn more about membership on our website!
Chrystal Pickell Vandervest, Group Purchasing Coordinator, earned a Creative Commons Certification from Creative Commons just before the winter holidays. The Creative Commons Certification recognizes proficiency in open licensing.
As part of the Creative Commons certification course, Chrystal wrote a collection of five articles about copyright, Creative Commons licenses, and more, which are being released monthly. You can find the full collection, as they're added, on MCLS’s Creative Commons articles page.
Congratulations, Chrystal!
The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services and the University of Michigan are partnering to offer a free pilot of the “Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries” course on Michigan Online. All staff of all MCLS member public libraries in both Indiana and Michigan is eligible to participate.
Beginning on February 15, MCLS members will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of public library funding strategies with this four-week, self-paced course which is part of U-M’s Public Library Management series. The opportunity to join this FREE, initial online cohort is particularly exciting as it represents a pilot effort between the University of Michigan and MCLS to support professional development in public library management.
Read more and sign up to receive registration information as soon as it's available>>
Congratulations to Canton Public Library Director and former MCLS Board member Eva Davis on being inducted into the Canton Hall of Fame in her hometown! Eva served on the MCLS Board of Directors for more than seven years, including two years as Board President and several years on various committees, including the Audit Committee. Just stepping off the Board in December 2021, Eva has been one of the most committed and dedicated Board members MCLS has ever had, and we appreciate all of her work and effort.
We are grateful to know you and work with you, Eva. We know you'll keep doing amazing things in your community and the library profession. Watch the video announcement to see just a few highlights of Eva's work.
We are pleased to announce that Ferndale Area District Library in Ferndale, MI has selected Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) to provide consulting services for strategic planning this winter and spring.
Is your library interested in learning more about our consulting services? Visit our webpage to read more or contact us to request a quote.
Looking for presenters for your staff in-service day? MCLS can help.If your staff development plan includes in-service days, MCLS can bring half-day or full-day training to your library. Our customized staff in-service training is created to apply to staff at multiple levels of the organization. We are currently offering the following training and facilitation topics:
We can also facilitate customized discussions at your in-service days or retreats. Email Pam Seabolt, Manager of Engagement, Consulting, and Training at seaboltp@mcls.org for more information and a price quote. Remember that MCLS member libraries receive a reduced rate!
Now that you know about copyright law, you’re ready to choose a Creative Commons (CC) license. Just kidding! There’s more to know about the three layers and four elements that are combined into six CC licenses (plus the two bonus public domain tools) before you know which license is the best for your OER.
Intermission (already? yes!): If you’re scratching your head thinking ‘I’m missing something. I don’t know about copyright law’, go read “What you need to know about copyright” first. Don’t forget to come back here when you’re done. I’ll be here waiting.
Now that you’re caught up (or you already knew about copyright), there are three layers in CC licenses.
If you’ve said . . .
then our opt-in direct emails are for you!
We know what you might be thinking, but no, this isn’t another email distribution list to keep up with. We’ll send you relevant special offers and vendor updates right to your inbox from our group purchasing team (no more than once a week). When you reply, it'll be only to us.
Opt-in today!
Libraries nationwide have seen an increase in “First Amendment audits” and book challenges over the past year-plus, and many anticipate more of this activity in 2022 and beyond. This month, I’ll highlight some resources from library and other organizations, including in Indiana and Michigan, that can help libraries prepare for and deal with what many find to be divisive and disruptive events.
Do you have a desire to teach others and knowledge regarding cataloging a Library of Things? If so, we would love to hear from you! We are looking for an instructor who can teach others how to catalog items found in a Library of Things such as art, pots and pans, tools, and more. We are hoping to find someone who has practical, hands-on experience working with a Library of Things at their own library.
To express interest, please fill out our MCLS Instructor Application. This workshop would be offered in our July – December 2022 training semester. Questions? Contact Gwen at training@mcls.org.
Are you interested in becoming an MCLS instructor on a different topic? Please fill out our MCLS Instructor Application and email it to training@mcls.org.
Attention Indiana and Michigan school library staff! Several of our workshops (mostly cataloging) now qualify for PGPs for Indiana school library staff and SCECHs for Michigan school library staff. The number of hours available will be listed on the registration page for the workshops these apply to. For those workshops that qualify, you will be able to express interest in receiving credits during registration.
If you have any questions, please email training@mcls.org.
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 & Gale partner to bring special eBook pricing for middle & high school librariesNow is a great time for Middle & High School Libraries to expand their eBook collections! Special pricing is available to libraries purchasing Gale’s High School eBook Collection as well as individual eBook titles. The Collection of 221 titles covers all major disciplines, including communications, health sciences, history, literature, political science, psychology, and social studies with over 60% of the titles with 2020-2022 copyright dates. Discount to MCLS members is 35% off the list price for the Collection and up to 70% off for individual titles. Members have the option of extended invoicing (up to 3 budget cycles).
Learn more about Gale eBooks by checking out the MCLS trial site (if prompted, use “trial” for password), viewing this informational video, and/or reviewing Gale’s Top 7 Reasons to Explore Gale eBooks.
Questions? Want a quote for your library? Contact Group Purchasing at services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401.
For more than 50 years, Ingram Content Group has provided libraries with pricing discounts on print purchases, media resources, and library binding services. MCLS academic and public library members in both Indiana and Michigan are eligible for further savings through special consortia discounts. Examples include a 42-44% savings on trade hardcover purchases and 38-42% for trade quality and mass-market paperbacks. Discounts are determined based on the number of copies purchased. Continuations and standing orders are also eligible for these special discounts. Interested members need to reach out to Ingram before placing an order. Along with MCLS, TLN offers discounts in Michigan.
Contact information, as well as the full discount schedule and terms, is available at the Ingram Content Group vendor page on the MCLS website. Contact Group Purchasing, services@mcls.org or (800) 530-9019 ext 401 for more information.
MCLS has negotiated discounts with several library supplies and equipment vendors on behalf of our members. These vendors include Brodart, Demco, 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.
