Updates from State Library Services - February 2020, Issue 1

Updates from State Library Services

February 2020, Issue 1

Updates from State Library Services

MN counts

Counting Every Minnesotan

Thank you to those who attended our free Census workshops – held in partnership with the Minnesota State Demographic Center – in Duluth, Detroit Lakes, and Blaine the week of February 3!

We still have three sessions remaining, so please join us as we 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.

While the primary audience of this workshop is library staff, representatives from other organizations directly supporting the public during the 2020 Census are also welcome to register. Find a date and time that work for you!

Workshops are provided at no cost, and registration is required for Resources for Navigating the 2020 Census. Please contact Hannah Buckland (651-582-8792) for assistance with any questions.

teenagers

Refresh Your Youth Services Skills

We have a few spaces in each of two YALSA Transforming Teen Services trainings hosted by Great River Regional Library. 

Register to join us for one or both YALSA Transforming Teen trainings! Note that at each of these trainings, you will participate in two workshops.

March 2 – 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Youth Voice & Choice: Explore the importance of relationships for youth services. Learn how you are already implementing elements of Connected Learning, and come away with new, attainable ideas for youth programming and language for advocacy.
  • Rubik’s Cubes, Recipes & Critical Thinking: We’ll explore the importance of computational thinking for 21st Century youth services. You'll get hands-on experience and a chance to discuss what computational thinking is and how it can be integrated into activities for youth. Dive in to the critical thinking skills that let you think like a computer.

March 30 – 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

  • Ages & Stages of Youth Development: Make programming for youth easier by understanding what makes them tick. This workshop picks up where Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) leaves off. Explore how young people change in the years between 8 and 18.
  • Anytime, Anywhere Facilitation Skills: Become more confident in managing groups of any age and size. Participants will review a menu of strategies for leading groups and troubleshoot through potential challenges that may occur. Yes, this may involve practicing a few strategies in front of your peers!

Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash

whole person logo

Whole Person Librarianship: Libraries and Social Workers in Collaboration

From the Twin Cities all the way to Melbourne, Australia, libraries are collaborating with and hiring social workers. This trend has grown exponentially in the last few years, but how are all those libraries making it happen? What can library staff members learn from social workers, regardless of whether there’s one in the library?

These questions and more will be addressed in full-day workshops that draw from the 2019 book Whole Person Librarianship: A Social Work Approach to Patron Services. Library trainer and co-author Sara Zettervall will lead each workshop and present best practices in working with community partners, complemented by a morning panel of local and national experts.

Join us in March or April for a day-long workshop where we’ll:

  • understand the basics of library-social work collaboration, including the three major types of scalable collaboration
  • help participants articulate where they can start their own collaboration if they choose to do so
  • describe social work concepts such as person-in-environment, cultural humility, and reflective practice, and begin to apply them to library service
  • help participants apply at least one of the above concepts to an activity focused on their own work in a library setting
  • hear from local presenters about examples of library-social work collaboration and/or potential community partners

Register today to attend a Whole Person Librarianship workshop. This free workshop is repeated in three locations:

  • Friday, March 27, at Minnesota Department of Education (Roseville)
  • Monday, April 20, at Blue Earth County Library (Mankato)
  • Monday, April 27, at Blandin Foundation (Grand Rapids)

All workshops will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an hour break for lunch on your own.

While the primary audience of this workshop is library staff from all library types, social work students and field faculty are also welcome to register. Library staff who directly assist public patrons are especially encouraged to attend. 

Please contact Leah Larson at leah.larson@state.mn.us or 651-582-8604 for assistance with any questions.

MCM logo

The Power of Play is Back!

State Library Services is pleased to announce three upcoming sessions of this popular workshop on the power of play.

During The Power of Play: Building 21st Century Skills workshops, you’ll discover the benefits of play and get practical tips for how to support playful learning in libraries.

The half-day workshop is led by the Minnesota Children's Museum's specialist in child development. You’ll learn about the components of play and the power and benefits of play to early childhood and beyond. Together, we’ll consider the role of play in library programs, services, and facilities to support family engagement.

Register now for one of the Power of Play workshops:

  • Wednesday, May 6, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., in Fergus Falls
  • Tuesday, May 12, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., in Duluth
  • Wednesday, May 20, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., in Austin

Please contact Jen Nelson (651-582-8791) if you have any questions.

 

Updates from the State

monarch caterpillar

Protecting Pollinators

Here's a great resource to help you plan summer youth programming around gardens, science, or nature!

In this online training, you will learn how to plan a project to get students involved in authentic, purposeful scientific research on pollinators that enhances their knowledge and 21st century skills. Explore real life examples and online resources to implement Citizen Science in your program.

Feb. 19, 2020, at 11 a.m.: Register for this Citizen Science online training.

The Minnesota Department of Education is providing this training as part of its commitment to achieving the goals of the state’s Interagency Pollinator Protection Team.

Photo credit: Brett Whaley

EAP_flyer

Heat or Food?

The Minnesota Commerce Department’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps lower-income Minnesotans with their heating bills.

There’s still time to apply for this year’s program – the deadline is June 1 – and the department does have funding for additional households remaining.

Get the word out!

  • The Energy Assistance Program has flyers available in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali; contact Sandra Seeman for electronic copies.
  • To help patrons find their service provider online, direct them to visit the Department of Commerce Energy Assistance Program Service Provider List or call 1-800-657-3710.

 

Updates from our Partners

CFPB logo

Improving Financial Education Resources

To help libraries better serve patrons, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is interested in learning about libraries’ financial education resources.

They’ve prepared a short, 10-minute survey asking about your library’s familiarity with and use of financial education resources. Take the 2020 Financial Education Program Survey of Libraries. The survey is open until March 6, 2020.

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.