Statement from State Library Services
Minnesota, like everywhere in the world, is in the midst of an unprecedented health crisis. We know that the situation for public libraries is challenging and want to support you in your efforts to balance serving the community with the health, safety and welfare of your staff and patrons. Please know that State Library Services supports your decision-making in concert with your governing body.
COVID-19 is a public health crisis and libraries need to do their part to reduce the potential for spread. That said, this health crisis affects more than just the physical health of those who are ill or at risk; it is affecting the social, emotional, educational and economic health of all. These concerns are ones in which libraries, too, may help in mitigating.
For libraries that remain staffed while closed, State Library Services encourages library staff to continue to provide library services to the extent possible through:
- Home delivery of library materials
- Online and telephone reference services
- Online programming, especially in support of students and families impacted by school closures and homeschoolers.
- Increased provision of Econtent services
- Social media outreach and community engagement
- Other services identified as essential to your communities
State Library Services is, at this point, fully operational and available to assist you with any service questions or concerns. Please let us know how we can be helpful to you.
Status of Grant Programs
We currently have two 2020 Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) competitive grants open for application. The deadline for applying remains April 17, 2020. Grant applications and instructions are available on the Minnesota Department of Education's LSTA Grants site.
To learn more about the current LSTA grant opportunities, please attend a webinar on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, from 10 to 11 a.m. Join the LSTA grant guidance webinar; there is no need to pre-register. To join by phone, call 1-415-655-0003, conference code: 963 098 214.
Visit the LSTA webpage or contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604) for more information.
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Reviewers Needed for LSTA Mini Grants
Have you attended a YALSA Transforming Teen Services training on connected learning or computational thinking?
Do you have experience with connected learning or computational thinking?
If you answered yes to either of those questions, please consider becoming a reviewer for the LSTA mini grants. Grant reviewers independently read and score applications based on established criteria, and then join a panel to discuss grant scores. Contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604) for more information.
Status of Events from State Library Services
In this section, we outline postponements to events we had planned to offer in March or April 2020. We are hopeful that many of them can still go on in modified form; however, we are monitoring the situation, and will send an update in early April. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we push on in uncertain times.
90-Second Newbery Film Festival
The 90-Second Newbery Film Festival has been switched to a live streaming event hosted by festival creator and curator James Kennedy.
It will still take place on Saturday, April 25, 3-4:30 p.m. Details on how to stream it are in the works!
Questions? Contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604).
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Libraries Serving Youth Meetup
Originally scheduled for April 28, this event is postponed until May or June (we will confirm dates and the North Metro location in a future newsletter).
At this annual event, school librarians and public librarians come together to meet, network, and share ideas. This year’s theme is #OwnVoices, and there will be a panel of Minnesota authors, book talks and a workshop on equitable and inclusive content. The day will be emceed by Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen! Contact Leah Larson (651-582-8604), for assistance with questions.
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Whole Person Librarianship
The workshops in Roseville (Minnesota Department of Education) and Grand Rapids (Blandin Foundation) are postponed until May or June; the workshop in Mankato (Blue Earth County Library) may be cancelled; we will confirm dates in a future newsletter.
Led by Sara Zettervall, library trainer and co-author of the book Whole Person Librarianship: A Social Work Approach to Patron Services, the workshops help librarians apply social work concepts to the library setting. Each location will include a panel exploring social work and library collaborations.
Register your interest in attending a Whole Person Librarianship workshop. All workshops will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an hour break for lunch on your own. Please contact Leah Larson, 651-582-8604, with any questions.
The Power of Play Workshops
These workshops are still tentatively scheduled for May. If you are interested, continue to register so that we can contact you in the event of alternate dates.
During The Power of Play: Building 21st Century Skills workshops, led by the Minnesota Children's Museum's specialist in child development, you’ll discover the benefits of play and get practical tips for how to support playful learning in libraries.
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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 Ashley Bieber (651-582-8849) if you have any questions.
Listening Sessions on Racial Equity
State Library Services is looking for library staff from a variety of library types and locations to talk with us about their experiences with racial equity work in libraries. We're planning 90-minute facilitated listening sessions, with 8–10 participants in each session. The information you provide in these sessions will shape our future initiatives to support library staff in working toward racial equity.
For now, we only need to know if you are interested: let us know by filling out this Equity Interest questionnaire. We will identify potential dates in the coming weeks.
Please contact Hannah Buckland (651-582-8792) or Verena Getahun (651-582-8714) with questions.
Art from Embracing Equity, Annie E. Casey Foundation
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