by Randy Riley, State Librarian, LM

Tim Gleisner began his position as the new manager of Special Collections at the Library of Michigan (LM) on November 20. Tim and the Special Collections unit will be placing even a higher priority on publicizing and promoting the unique resources located in the Michigan Collection, Rare Book Room and Michigan Documents Collection. He most recently served as the Assistant Director at the Herrick District Library in Holland, MI and before that managed the local history resources at the Grand Rapids Public Library.  His energy and commitment to looking for new and inventive ways to educate library users about the wealth of resources in Special Collections already made an impact. For 20+ years of my career as a librarian I had the pleasure of overseeing the Special Collections at the LM and coordinating various related programs. Working to become an “expert” with the collection was a goal from my first day on Oct. 1, 1989. Maybe with another 28 years of working with the collection pouring through the various resources (print, microform and digital) will allow me to acquire the same level of proficiency as former LM staff like Ilene Schechter, Rich Lucas, Dick Hathaway or Carole Callard. It is a big collection…

Special Collections has always played a large part in what the LM has to offer residents and libraries across the state. If you are interested in researching a Michigan topic ranging from light houses to the Detroit Red Wings to water quality studies, Special Collections is for you. Early in the LM’s history, collecting materials that document the history of the Great Lakes state have been a priority. The collection is a state treasure and easily accessible in open, browseable stacks.

I encourage you to take the time to reach out to Tim Gleisner and ask him about how Special Collections can assist your library in strengthening and putting a more pointed focus on your community’s local history collection. The number of library patrons interested in local and family history continues to grow each year. Let Tim and his staff help you. Tim can be contacted at gleisnert@michigan.gov or (517) 335-8389.  After all, the LM is the library for all things Michigan.

by Pamela Spoor and Nick Wallett, Manistee County Library

As many libraries experience the difficulties of managing public access computer use and print management, we at the Manistee County Library experienced the same and wished to achieve a system that allowed for patron instigated sign up and minimized the waste of uncontrolled printing. We tried free-ware programs and café style programs, which unfortunately were not up to the task.  While attending the Rural Libraries Conference we visited the booth of Sanilac Computer products and took a look at what it offered. 

The mConsole software is a “Session and Printer Management program for Libraries.”  Sanilac Computer Products developed a great software product that met our needs here at the Manistee County Library and our five branches.

The key features of mConsole are Session and Printer Management, The Waiting List and Announcement Workstation, the Console Workstation, VNC viewer (Optional), and The Public Workstation Engine. The server can be setup on any machine that is Windows based and is set on top of the free SQL Express 2005 and above.

Even though they are a small business based in Sanilac, they provide great support. They have helped us out with database corruption, server setups, database rebuilds, and other questions we threw at them.  

What is nice about the software is that you can set the Locked Workstation state to show Instructions on how to login on the computer and also add images such as your logo or building. When the patron signs on the computer,  the Acceptable Use Policy appears. This is great to have for the public so that they know the policy and don’t have to search for it. There is a clock at the bottom right that shows how much time is left in the session with a warning at the five minute mark.

For inexpensive software, it is a robust system and it keeps getting better over time. I hope more and more Michigan libraries use this software and support our own local company here in Michigan.

by Evette Atkin, Continuing Education Coordinator, LM

Join us at Michigan’s premier conference event for small and rural libraries throughout the state. Spring is quickly approaching and here at the LM, we are in full swing preparing for the 2018 Loleta Fyan Small & Rural Libraries Conference. This year we’re heading away from Mackinac Island and west to the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa outside of Traverse City April 30-May 2. This year's theme is Open Doors, Open Minds, celebrating diversity and inclusion in libraries. This popular and valuable professional development event will include general sessions, author talks and a wide assortment of sessions in a variety of tracks including:

• Open Doors (library services)
• Open Minds (diversity & inclusion)
• Administration & Management
• Community Engagement & Collaboration
• From Tykes to Teens
• Information Technology
• Show & Tell
• Trustees & Friends

Need information to supply to your board and/or other stakeholders as to why you should attend? The conference will:

• Provide new perspectives and encourage you to return to your library with new ideas and new ways of solving problems.
• Allow you to gain information on how other libraries of similar size, situation and budget handle the same problems you are facing – and maybe give you new ways to address old issues.
• Encourage a sense of community and collaboration that can benefit your library long after the Conference is over.
• Introduce you to new ideas for fundraising, programming and building community support.

Registration is slated to open in February. For more information, visit http://michigan.gov/fyanconference.

The LM Foundation generously supports the Loleta Fyan Small & Rural Libraries Conference through administration of Loleta Fyan funds.  This project also is supported by the LM with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.

by Tim Gleisner, Head of Special Collections, LM

My name is Tim Gleisner and I am the new Head of Special Collections at the LM. I am a graduate of UW-Milwaukee and a native of Milwaukee. Before coming to the LM, I  worked at the New York Public Library, Herrick District Library in Holland and the Grand Rapids Public Library. I held the roles of Reference Librarian, Head of Special Collections, and Assistant Director.

At the LM, I oversee the Government Documents, Law, Michigan, and Rare Book Collections, Michigan Center for the Book, and nine staff who help to collect, preserve and make accessible information on the State. That means the staff will be reaching out to the public and library staff of the state. We want to learn what should be collected now and how we should be doing it.

To help figure this out, the Special Collections staff will be leaving the building and talking to libraries around the state. We will also be engaging in conversations with other organizations including the many historical, genealogical, legal, and literary communities that are our constituents. We want to know how these different groups feel and want from the collections of the LM. Hopefully with this information we will be able to grow and plan out the growth of the Library for years to come.

I know many of you in the library, historical, genealogical and literary worlds from my many years of working in Michigan libraries. But, there are many of you that I don’t know and want to meet. I want to learn how the collections of the LM can help to serve you better. To that end please email me at GleisnerT@michigan.gov with any thoughts or ideas you might have and together let’s grow the LM!

by Holly Hentz, Director, Hamburg Township Library

For library users in Hamburg Township, 2017 was a year of enhanced services aimed at broadening the horizons of children and adults alike. While expanding its digital resources, the library also offers a hands-on experience in the form of a lending service for the ukelele. This compact, four-string instrument have been making its way into public libraries nationwide, and has received an enthusiastic response from Hamburg Library patrons. “We started out with two ukulele kits,” says Library Director, Holly Hentz, “and their popularity caught the attention of The Music Man store-owner in Brighton, who donated two more ukuleles to help us keep up with the demand. All four kits have been consistently checked-out since we introduced them in February.”

Like most public libraries, Hamburg aims to keep its services fresh and exciting. Balancing the sometimes competing goals of being budget-friendly and on-trend can be a challenge. Ukuleles offer an easy place to start as they are currently popular, affordable, and appealing to library users of all ages. After consulting with other libraries with ukulele programs already in place, Hamburg developed kits and lending policies that are both easy to maintain and manage. The Library also provides supplemental materials in the form of music books and instructional DVDs aimed at learning the ukulele.

Will the popularity of this service lead to offering additional musical instruments in the future? “Perhaps,” says Hentz, “we’re watching to see where patrons’ interests guide us, whether it leads to a ukulele club or a demand for additional instruments down the line. For now, we’re very pleased with the response.” If your library is interested in starting a ukulele lending service, or you would like more information on Hamburg Library’s program, contact them at hamb@tln.lib.mi.us

by Karren Reish, Grants Coordinator, LM

The LM has a new grant management system. Libraries and librarians that apply for stipends, Public Library Services Grants, Collaborative Library Services Grants or current grantees will now use the new system, Gifts Online from Blackbaud. Grantees and applicants need to set up a username and password to login in to the grant site. Application links no longer point to SurveyMonkey applications. New applicants may just click the links at the LSTA page or the CE stipend page when the programs are accepting applications. Current grantees will be contacted about how to set up an account so the rest of their grant reports and documentation can be submitted in the system.

Of note, ALL grant information and follow up documents will be submitted in the grant system. We no longer will accept documentation by fax or email. The second big change is that users can save, print, or email applications and documents, upload all documents and do reports in the system. They even will be able to see and share previous applications and reports.

We are excited to have a grant system that saves and shares applications and documents easily for users and for us. As always, the application questions and grant program information are available at www.michigan.gov/lsta and the stipend questions and program information are available at www.michigan.gov/cestipend. If you have any questions on using the new system or any of the LM grants, please contact me at 517-241-0021 or reishk@michigan.gov. 

by Sonya Schryer Norris, Library Consultant, LM

In fiscal year 2017, the legislature appropriated one full time employee to support E-Rate administration for the State of Michigan.  The Michigan Department of Education Office of Data and Information Management is pleased to announce that Joseph Polasek has accepted the position of E-Rate Specialist in the Educational Technology Unit.  In funding year 2016, Michigan school districts and libraries were reimbursed more than $68 million dollars for internet access and internal connections (WIFI).  Joe will assist districts and libraries in maximizing their E-Rate reimbursements as recent programmatic changes to E-Rate at the federal level have been challenging for applicants. Additionally, he will assist districts with leveraging federal funds to meet connectivity targets for transforming teaching and learning, not simply to enable online assessments.  The position also will assist districts and libraries in moving to consortium applications for internal connections, paralleling the migration of ISDs and subsequently school districts over to the Michigan State Education Network (MISEN) for internet access.  The E-Rate Specialist will work more broadly on infrastructure issues and with community anchor institutions to narrow the homework gap, extending internet access to unserved and underserved areas through private sector partnerships and pilots.

I still will be working on E-Rate as well, but it is only a small sliver of my job. The best way to reach Joe and myself with E-Rate questions is to email erate@michigan.gov.

I would also like to share with you the report I wrote in 2017 about the state of E-Rate and Michigan libraries. It includes a summary of the director’s survey as well as a review of current trends with the program from a Michigan persepctive. My favorite part of the report is the success stories that we collected from around the state to demonstrate the importance of this program to legislators for National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) as well as for an American Library Association (ALA) report. As we look forward to NLLD 2018 I would like to encourage you to contact me at norriss2@michigan.gov with stories of how E-Rate impacts your library’s capacity to serve the public and your bottom line.

by Edwina Murphy, Librarian, LM

Conduct biographical research, learn how to tie a fish fly, see the artwork of an award-winning artist or sit back and listen about the very unique history of the state. The LM has a healthy stream of events planned for the winter. 

The LM is teaming up with the Painted Trout staff to teach a starter fly tying class. The session will feature the classic and helpful Woolly Bugger and may advance to the Mayfly.  Ladies do not be shy; your instructor just may be owner Lauren Kingsley.

• February 10th, Beginning Fly-tying Class, 1 - 4 p.m., Lake Huron Room ($10.00, registration required @ https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rainbowtrout)

Capitol Women; Women Who Worked in the Capitol from 1879 – WWII: Librarians, Legislators, Janitresses, Clerks, Stenographers, and Maybe a Telephone Operator or Two will be co-hosted by the Historical Society of Greater Lansing.  Presenter Valerie Marvin has dedicated her research to the lives and careers of those who have served in the state’s capital building.  Ms. Marvin can often be seen sporting a delightful vintage period outfit.

• February 22nd, Capitol Women; Women Who Worked in the Capitol from 1879 – WWII, Lake Michigan Room, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., 4th floor

Visit the Martha W. Griffiths Michigan Rare Book Room for the exhibit on the populist president, Andrew Jackson, 7th President of the United States: Michigan Joins the Union.

• January 27th – April 30th, Andrew Jackson 7th President of the United States, Michigan Joins the Union, Martha W. Griffiths Michigan Rare Book Room, 4th floor

On Exhibit until January 31st, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, Art Exhibit

This exhibit features a ten-foot tryptic inspired by the classic gospel song, His Eye is On the Sparrow which features every bird mentioned in the bible.

Please visit our website or Facebook page for any updates on coming events.