ASPeN Sign In Change: From ePass to Okta
The State of Montana is replacing its ePass authentication system with a product called Okta. All state agencies, including MSL, are currently in the process of updating their applications to use Okta. This will be the new way to sign into ASPeN. MSL staff are working with State IT staff to make sure that all current ASPeN users are migrated from ePass to Okta, so no action is required by ASPeN users at this time. The MSL Okta single sign on will be live by June 30th.Click to edit this placeholder text.
Excellent Library Services Award (ELSA) Application Now Open
Are you ready to apply for the Excellent Library Service Award? The application is open in ASPeN. The award covers activities in the calendar year 2021. The deadline to apply is June 10, 2022. Thank you to the 13 libraries that have already applied!
To apply: Log in to your ASPeN account, go to your Admin page and select APPLY next to the Excellent Library Service Award 2022 - Application
In each section there is a list of recommendations, an open question, and a third longer option. Most libraries will just select the required number of recommendations and enter a short response to the open question, and can ignore the "None of the statements apply" section.
However, there are libraries offering excellent service where those recommendations don't fit. The third section gives these libraries the opportunity to explain how they do meet the spirit of each section (as described below each section heading) and submit an application. It isn't necessary for these libraries to enter a response to the Open Question but if there is an appropriate answer it can be included.
This revised award was developed by a committee of librarians from various types of libraries and approved by the State Library Commission last year. Applications will be reviewed by state library staff and winners announced at the MLA tri-conference in Missoula in August.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Pam Henley, Statewide Consulting Librarian, at phenley@mtlib.or phenley2@mt.gov.
A new contributor to the Montana Memory Project
The World Museum of Mining in Butte has contributed two collections to the MMP. See bulletin 5/13/22 for details.
Library Book Club Kit Discussion
At the MLA Public Library Directors Thursday morning meetup on 5/12/22, there was a discussion about managing and sharing book club kits. Currently people are taking several different approaches to managing their kits, both at the federation and individual library levels. There was consensus among the group that they would like to find a way to make kits more discoverable and easier to reserve across the state. We talked about the Montana Shared Catalog and OCLC as options as well as the benefit of courier service to make sharing more affordable. In summary, there is no perfect solution but there are at least a couple of options to explore.
The group was interested in learning more about a software product called Kitkeeper and how that could work for statewide sharing. Our next step is to request pricing information and find out more about what administration could look like in a distributed model where libraries and/or federations could maintain their own holdings.
If you are interested in sharing book club kits with other libraries, it would be helpful to gather some information from you so that we can assess what options would work best for everyone: https://forms.office.com/g/hT98mkLXiJ
Please respond by next Friday, May 20 if you are interested, or contact Cara Orban at corban@mt.gov with any questions.
New URL for MSL Help Desk
Zoho, MSL's helpdesk and knowledgebase vendor, is rolling out upgrades for additional security that will require a slight change in the url for our helpdesk. MSL's helpdesk url will be changing from https://desk.zoho.com/portal/montanastatelibrary/en/home to https://montanastatelibrary.zohodesk.com on Wednesday, May 25th. All pages and links will be automatically redirected to the new url so you should not run into any issues using the helpdesk or submitting tickets and all functionality will remain the same.
PCI Webinar Access Available until May 31st, 2022
Montana State Library has contracted with PCI Webinars for access to all live webinars and their recordings from January 2022 - April 2022. All of the live webinar sessions have been presented, and Montana has access to these recordings until May 31st, 2022. The recordings are available in the MSL Moodle. You must be logged in to the MSL Moodle and enrolled in the PCI Webinars 2022 course to access the recordings.
Please contact Colet Bartow at colet.bartow@mt.gov if you have any questions!
The 2021-22 PCI Webinar Series includes:
- eAccessibility Evaluating Your Library’s Success Indicators and Scalable Staff Training
- Podcasting and Your Library
- How to Grow and Strengthen Your Team
- Engaging Online Community Members
- Readers Advisory Year in Review 2021
- Artificial Intelligence in the Library
- Pro Tips for Giving Great Presentations
- Best Picture Books Published in 2021 for Ages 1-6
- Basic Cataloging with RDA
- The Power of Words
- Once Upon A Training: Using Stories to Increase Learning and Engagement in Staff Training
- Eliminating Personal Burnout: 7 Crucial Skills
- Managing Up
- Cataloging Graphic Novels
- Power Team: Grow Your Library with Your Circle of Influence
- How Do We Do It? Practical Classification with the Dewey Decimal System
- Meditation in the 21st Century - Why Meditation Matters Even More
May and June CE Opportunities
This is a list of CE opportunities from around the country that are available for Montana librarians.
Highlighted Content
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WebJunction Launches First Courses in Series on Digital Collections Stewardship [webjunction.org]: in partnership with Washington State University’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation, WebJunction has launched the first two in a series of free online courses developed for staff at small public libraries and tribal archives, libraries, museums on digital stewardship and community-centered curation of digital collections. These on-demand courses, adapted from the Tribal Digital Stewardship Cohort Program developed at Washington State University, are now available.
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New Justice Gap Study Confirms Problem Exists [webjunction.org]: The Legal Services Corporation released a far-reaching new report on the crisis in civil legal aid, The Justice Gap: The Unmet Civil Legal Needs of Low-income Americans, in April 2022. Learn about the depth and impact of the justice gap in our communities, and how free WebJunction courses and resources can help.
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Interesting Patron Questions [webjunction.org]: The reference desk of a library is truly one of the most interesting of places. In a recent poll, we asked WebJunction members to share the most interesting patron questions they had received, and the response was amazing. While there are definitely many humorous submissions, we also know that every day, library staff answer important patron questions that help in so many ways. From completing homework to applications for college, to supporting job-seekers and those looking to better understand nutrition or a disease - libraries help people find the information that they need to live informed and productive lives. And some days, it's just really entertaining.
WebJunction Webinars for You
These upcoming webinars are open for registration. If you can’t attend a live session, all WebJunction webinars are recorded and available for free in the Course Catalog [learn.webjunction.org].
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Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom: Proactive Planning for Public Libraries
Across the United States, there are increased reports of book challenges from community members, which have led to very public and heated discussions. As public library leaders and staff consider how to prepare for similar local challenges, being proactive about developing and sharing policies and procedures can help to create clarity and establish expectations around responses to book challenges. This preparation may also include engaging stakeholders, partners, and supporters around the value and essential need for intellectual freedom in the library. Join this discussion with panelists who are working through these issues in their communities, to learn about the resources they have found useful, and their suggestions for getting started.
The Euphorigen Investigation is an escape room that immerses players in a world of manipulated media, social media bots, deepfakes and other forms of deception. Featuring both an online and in-person version to help patrons navigate misinformation, Euphorigen was designed by faculty, staff, and students at the University of Washington Information School in response to library staff requests for alternatives to traditional information literacy programs. In this webinar we’ll explore how the designers approach teaching about misinformation, learn how libraries are using the escape room with their patrons, and find out how to get started with the Euphorigen Investigation at your library.
Lawyers in Libraries 2022
In honor of Law Day 2022, Montana public libraries have partnered with volunteer attorneys to host a "Lawyers in Libraries" program. Access to civil legal justice, as well as accurate legal information, is important for helping Montanans navigate civil legal issues, and the "Lawyers in Libraries" programs seek to connect patrons with accurate, reliable legal information.
To read more about this program, please check out the press release from 5/12/22, and visit the Lawyers in Libraries 2022 webpage on the MSL website.
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Summer Reading Resources from CSLP
Summer reading planning is starting to heat up, so I wanted to share out all of the summer reading resources that you have available to you. Whether you are just starting with planning, or almost finished, I hope that some of these might be of use to you!
Manual & Artwork
The CSLP online code for the manual and the artwork was first sent to public library directors in September of 2021, so if you missed that feel free to contact me directly for directions and how to access the materials.
- CSLP provides tutorials for accessing materials. There are also additional materials being added to the online manual weekly, so be sure to check back in with the manual even after you download and/or print it. The store is also still open, for any last-minute programming supplies and incentives.
Marketing
- CSLP Social Media Toolkit: Need some summer social media inspo? Check out the 2022 CSLP Social Media Toolkit! You will find #OceansOfPossibilities, including plug and play posts, graphics, font suggestions, virtual meeting background, social media cover photos and more in one convenient spot. And remember, the Toolkit is a living document, with more posts added all year round!
- CSLP Social Media Toolkit Link (Google Folder)
- Don’t forget to follow CSLP on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram: @CSLPreads. You can also join the 2 official Facebook groups from the CSLP page.
- You are also welcome to reshare any posts from the MSL Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts to your library's social media accounts.
- CSLP PSA
- Hashtags: You can tag your social media posts with these hashtags, and also explore other posts from libraries all over the countryy!
- #OceansOfPossibilities
- #CSLPreads
Additional Programming Ideas, Resources, & Supports
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2025 and 2026 CSLP Slogans and Themes
For the next part of the slogan decision process, CSLP will be announcing listening sessions in August for member libraries to give feedback on the final list of 2025 slogans, as well as preview the options for the 2026 themes. These slogans and themes will be voted on at the Annual CSLP meeting, which CSLP state reps will attend in September. Stay tuned for more information on the August listening sessions!
Ready 2 Read Rendezvous 2022
Exciting news! The 2022 Ready 2 Read Rendezvous will be in-person in Lewistown, MT from October 21st - 23rd! The schedule workshop and speakers are TBD, but more information will be forthcoming hopefully in June. If you would like more information on the Ready 2 Read Rendezvous, please look at the 2019 schedule and information webpage, as the 2022 Rendezvous will be similarly formatted.
Please feel free to reach out to Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov with any questions, and excited to see you all in Lewistown in October!
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The Democracy Project, A Civic Engagement Project for Teens and Public Libraries
If you weren’t able to come to the Democracy Project with Humanities Montana information webinar yesterday, you can check out the recording and information below!
For those who are unfamiliar, The Democracy Project is a wonderful opportunity for libraries to work closely with a group of teens in their community and help support them as they design a civic engagement project of their choosing. Past Montana projects include addressing food insecurity for teens through a community fridge program (Billings), organizing a Holocaust book club and education/awareness in the community (Whitehall), and climate change activism and education (Missoula). With support from Humanities Montana (as well as $5,000 in funding!), you can help engage the youth in your library, and empower them to think about what they want to change in their communities.
I highly encourage anyone who has interest in this intersection of teen services, civic engagement, and community investment to check out this webinar, and fill out the Letter of Interest Form, due by June 1st. Submitting this form is NOT a commitment to participating – this will just connect you with Humanities Montana staff so that you can start a conversation and brainstorm how this might look in your library.
Humanities Montana is open to creative ways of working with each community and a goal of the program is to help build your teen audience. Not having a teen audience already in place is not an obstacle to participating!
Here are the webinar links, and information:
Contact Information: Please reach out to Jenny Bevill, Humanities Montana/Democracy Project Coordinator at jennifer.bevill@humanitiesmontana.org with any questions you may have!
MLN Virtual Programming Series: Mariah Gladstone, Indigikitchen on 5/20/22
The next scheduled MLN Virtual Program is with Mariah Gladstone from Indigikitchen! She will be doing a cooking demonstration and talking the history of Indigenous food systems, as well as the relationship between cultural identity, health, and native plants. She'll discuss the current Indigenous food movement and how the ingredients native to this continent can be incorporated into today's meal planning and preparation. You can register/share out the following registration link: tinyurl.com/indigikitchen.
I am currently creating outreach and publicity materials, as well as the Facebook event for this next program, but if you are interested in having your library participate, please let me know! Participating libraries will be expected to:
- Share and publicize the event on social media, if your library has social media accounts. We will list your library page as a co-host of the Facebook event as well.
- You can host a viewing party at your library, where all of you join through one computer, or you can invite your patrons to join individually from the comfort of their homes.
- Publicize the event using Poster Templates, with your library's logo on the materials
- Have at least one staff members from your library attend the event live
Please email Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov to let me know if you'd like to sign up to help publicize this program.
As a reminder, this MLN Virtual Programming Series is not only for the benefit of Montanans all around the state to learn about topics of interest, but also for public libraries to gain experience with virtual programming facilitation in their communities.
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Montana Library Resources
This section is a list of resources that may be of interest to the general Montana library audience. Feel free to contribute to this section of the newsletter by sending things to Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov.
Summer Reading Resources
- Best Practices Guide on Libraries and Summer Food Programs from CSLP
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Afterschool Meals in Libraries – Offering Year-Round Nutrition Webinar on 5/18 at 1 pm MT: Libraries provide a unique opportunity to combat food insecurity and improve the health and well-being of children in their communities. Interested in learning how? Join this webinar to learn how the Afterschool Meals Program can provide nutritious meals and snacks in libraries. You will hear from two libraries and a program sponsor – Jasmin LoBosso from the Kern County Library in California, Sarah Wright from the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio, and Shannon Amos from the Children’s Hunger Alliance – about their experience starting Afterschool Meals Programs in libraries.
Children and Youth Services Resources
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