Updates from State Library Services, January 2020

Updates from State Library Services

January 2020

Updates from State Library Services

Voter Information Follow-up

Many thanks to those who participated in our recent Voter Engagement survey! Your responses will guide our collaboration with the Office of the Secretary of State as we work to provide library staff with voter resources for patrons.

As the 2020 election cycle moves along, watch this space for more information about what we’re cooking up and for more opportunities to be involved!

vote 2020
M3

Data That Matters

If you are interested in program evaluation, please consider attending one of two free upcoming M3 Huddles (Making Meaning with Multiple Data Sets) supported by Ignite Afterschool.

In this day-long, hands-on M3 Huddle workshop, you will have a chance to evaluate a youth program at your library and learn evaluation methods that can be applied to programs for patrons of any age.

Note that you may bring a team of three to five people, or send a single staff member who will join a team with library staff from other systems.

Register for M3 Huddle: Central Minnesota in Onamia on January 30, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Register for M3 Huddle: Suburban Metro in Maplewood on February 7, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604) for more information.

MN counts

Counting Every Minnesotan

State Library Services has partnered with the Minnesota State Demographic Center to provide support to library staff in helping patrons complete their 2020 Census forms.

Because the 2020 Census will be available online, people who lack internet connectivity, a device, and/or digital literacy skills may visit your library for any of these three essentials.

Join us in February for a two-hour workshop where we’ll become familiar with the 2020 Census forms, discuss how to respond to common questions about the Census, and review referral options for when patrons need more support with Census completion than the library can provide.

This workshop will be led by State Demographic Center staff. Find a date and time that works for you!

Staff from all library types are welcome, and staff who directly assist public patrons are especially encouraged to attend. These workshops will be valuable for libraries in hard-to-count communities, which may be served by small or rural library locations.

Advance registration is required. Please contact Hannah Buckland (651-582-8792) if there are any questions.

Youth Voice and Choice

Youth Voice and Choice Training: Focus on Somali Youth

Last chance to register for a Youth Voice and Choice hands-on training!

At this workshop, you'll see how you are already implementing elements of connected learning, and come away with new, attainable ideas for youth programming and language for advocacy. Then we'll look at how this framework is particularly relevant to Somali youth.

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Burnhaven Library, 1101 County Rd 42 W, Burnsville MN 55306

This training is part of the YALSA/COSLA IMLS grant funded project "Transforming Teen Services: a Train the Trainer Approach." Please contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604) if you have any questions.

hammer

2019 Construction Grant Recipients

The Library Construction Grant program provides dollar-for-dollar matched funds for projects that lead to more accessible library facilities. State Library Services is pleased to announce the following 2019 Library Construction Grant recipients:

  • The Chisholm Public Library will restore building integrity, including electrical upgrades and repairs to the ceiling and masonry.
  • The Cloquet Public Library will build a nearly 7,000-square-foot addition to expand programs for adults and children.
  • The Dodge Center Public Library will improve library accessibility with power-assist doors.
  • The Duluth Public Library will remodel the area near the main entrance to add new restrooms, including a gender-inclusive restroom.
  • The Hutchinson Public Library will repair the building's roof and improve library accessibility by bringing restrooms into ADA compliance.
  • The Kimball Library of the Great River Regional Library will construct a new 4,200-square-foot library building, increasing public areas from 384 square feet to 3,717 square feet.

Congratulations to all grantees!

Funding for this round of grants was allocated by the 2018 Minnesota Legislature. For more information about the construction grant program, please contact Hannah Buckland (651-582-8792) or visit the State Library Services website

Credit: franky, Noun Project

 

Updates from the State

mn housing

Homework Starts with Home

Minnesota Housing is now accepting applications for the Homework Starts with Home program. This program supports collaborative efforts between schools, housing organizations, and local governments to identify, engage, and stabilize students experiencing homelessness and their families.

Minnesota Housing will allocate up to $3.5 million in Housing Trust Fund and Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program funds. Minnesota Housing will also provide up to $300,000 in one-time planning grants for applicants to develop the partnerships and collaborations necessary to apply for Homework Starts with Home grants in the future.

Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2020.

Questions? Email mhfa.grants@state.mn.us or call 651-296-9822.
For more information and application materials, please visit www.mnhousing.gov.

 

Updates from our Partners

Transforming Communities, Library-Style

Is your library working to engage your community? Consider applying for a new grant from the American Library Association: the Libraries Transform Communities Engagement Grant. This $2,000 grant will go to one school, public, academic, tribal, or special library to advance its community engagement efforts. The deadline for submission is February 3, 2020.

transforming libraries
fields

Civic Switchboard Field Project Awards

Civic Switchboard is a project to develop the capacity of libraries to participate in civic data ecosystems.

Between 2017-2019, they funded nine library projects for library and data intermediary teams across the county.

In 2020, Civic Switchboard will support an additional six Field Projects. The awards combine a stipend for project support with a workshop for awardees facilitated by the Civic Switchboard team. Check out the Call for Proposals for more details and important dates.

They are holding an informational webinar on January 21 at 2:30 - 3:30 CT. The webinar will go over application criteria and answer any additional questions.

Photo credit: BI278 Aerial View of Farmland Charles Tilford, CC BY-NC-SA

About State Library Services

State Library Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), partners with libraries to achieve equity and excellence in our collective work for Minnesotans. Division staff are consultants who help libraries plan, develop and implement high-quality services that address community needs. State Library Services administers federal grant, state aid, and state grant programs that benefit all types of libraries.