On March 5-7, 2019, 50 library staff and partners from 15 Indiana libraries began a nearly year-long journey by attending a Public Innovators Lab taught by certified coaches from The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. The individuals from all 15 libraries will participate over the next year in additional …Read more »

I’m very excited to begin work as Executive Director at the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) on Monday, March 4. I have a profound appreciation and respect for MCLS as an organization, and the work its dedicated and driven staff do for and with its diverse member libraries, vendors, Board of Directors, and other …Read more »

Due to the success of last year’s workshops and back by popular demand, MCLS will be offering, in partnership with the Library of Michigan, six more trainings on facilitation presented by We Can Work It Out, LLC. Because they are funded by the Library of Michigan, these trainings are open to staff of Michigan libraries. …Read more »

Are you planning to attend the Computers in Libraries 2019 conference in March? If so, MCLS and Amigos Library Services can help you save money on conference registration. Register for the conference here, and use discount code: AMI19. Contact Nicole at Amigos at walsh@amigos.org with any questions.

The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) is pleased to announce that after working with Greenwood/Asher and Associates to conduct a comprehensive nationwide search, Scott Garrison has been selected as the next MCLS Executive Director, effective March 4, 2019, succeeding current Executive Director Randy Dykhuis, who retires March 29. Garrison is currently Dean of the …Read more »

The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) is pleased to announce that Stephanie Davis will be the next Manager of Group Purchasing. In this role, she will lead negotiations and subscriptions for electronic resources from more than 70 companies. Stephanie will begin on Feb. 5. “MCLS has been a great partner over the years and …Read more »

Fifty individuals from 15 Indiana libraries were selected to attend the Harwood Public Innovators Lab sponsored by MCLS. The Lab will take place Tuesday through Thursday, March 5-7, 2019 at Indiana Wesleyan University – Indianapolis North campus. MCLS is fully funding the participants tuition for the training, lodging, some meals during the training, and will …Read more »

From a highly-qualified pool and after first-round interviews with the Search Committee, the MCLS Board has invited three finalists to Lansing to meet the staff and further interview with the Board. As part of each interview, the candidates have been asked to prepare a presentation to be simulcast to the membership on the topic “Your …Read more »

On Nov. 7, in our second 2018 Users Group virtual gathering, MCLS hosted an hour-long webinar featuring two speakers. Presiding over the conversation was Andrea Kappler, Committee Chair, MCLS Linked Data for Libraries Users Group Steering Committee (Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library). We first heard from Andrew Weidner, Digital Operations Coordinator for the University of Houston …Read more »

The MCLS Board of Directors met across two days, Thursday, Nov. 29 and Friday, Nov. 30, for their annual strategic planning retreat and November Board meeting. During the retreat, the Board considered ways to more fully engage with MCLS members, heard presentations from MCLS staff members about operations and achievements for 2018, and discussed ways …Read more »