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Image of the Montana State Library Logo
This newsletter serves a biweekly digest to consolidate and archive events and news from various library directed outreach from the Montana Library Network within the Montana State Library. This newsletter will go out on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
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Credentials for the Public Libraries Survey were sent to directors on 9/12.
The Public Libraries Survey (also known as the Montana Public Library Annual Statistical Report) will open Monday, October 3 and close Wednesday, November 30. The Public Library Standards require libraries to submit the PLS and review its results with the library board each year (see ARM 10.102.1158, 10).
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Save the Date!
The combined power and value of your OCLC subscriptions
All Montana Libraries are invited to join us on November 9 at 10:00 MST for a 1-hour overview of what's included in the State’s OCLC group subscription. We'll briefly cover:
- How this program supports the goals of Montana libraries
- Specific products and services included
- The value of central, shared data in WorldCat
- Support options and resources
All staff at all levels are invited. You can get started with OCLC resources whether you're a director looking for strategic options, managing a department, trying to optimize efficiency, or would like to learn more about using specific cataloging, resource sharing, and discovery tools. We hope to see you there!
CE Category: Collection Management and Technical Services for 1 credit
Registration information to come!
Libraries are a Worthy Cause
Can you explain why libraries matter? How to make requests that get results? Who to contact to get support? Mark your calendars: November 15 at 3 p.m. we'll learn more! (Yes, we're talking about advocacy - you can do it too!).
Watch for more information in the next newsletter and find the link in the ASPeN events calendar.
Digital Equity & Libraries recording
- An overview of digital equity concepts and the role of libraries in promoting digital equity.
- Karen Perry from NTIA reviews funding and planning opportunities related to the federal Digital Equity Act.
- Jennie Stapp provides an overview of past and current activities of the Montana State Library & local libraries related to digital equity.
- Members of the Summit team talk about how libraries can engage with the State of Montana Broadband Office in developing a Digital Equity Plan.
Access the recording through the ASPeN Event Calendar at:
https://mslservices.mt.gov/ASPeN/Events/Event_Detail.aspx?Event_ID=22061
Or on our MSL YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHGhdcvaBQ&feature=youtu.be
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The Montana State Library provides lifelong learning support to all Montanans through a combination of librarian professional development and training, program development, and meaningful partnerships. Lifelong Learning projects include sustained, long-term efforts in early literacy, economic development, and summer reading, as well as other topics such as health information, STEM programming, wildlife education, and civic engagement.
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Join us for "The Day That Finally Came" with Chris La Tray, Métis Storyteller, on October 25th, 2022 from 6:30 - 8 pm on Zoom. Register now and please start sharing out the registration link (http://tinyurl.com/ChrisLaTray) with anyone who might be interested.
We are looking for libraries to co-host!
Please email Amelea Kim if you are interested in Co-hosting this event! Co-hosting libraries are expected to do the following:
- Publicize the event. We have templates you can put your library's logo on, or create your own materials if you wish. Please see this PDF for the details.
- Share and advertise on social media, if your library has social media accounts. We will list your library page as a co-host of the Facebook event.
- Either host a viewing party at your library, where all of you join through one computer, or invite your patrons to join individually from the comfort of their homes.
- Have at least one staff member from your library attend the event live.
Interested in future MLN Virtual Programming? This is what we have coming up:
- Fibershed Montana - Topic and Date TBD, probably in early Spring 2023
- April 20th, Foraging for Mushrooms in Montana with Dr. Cathy Cripps from MSU
Find updates and information on the MLN Virtual Programming Webpage.
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Save the Date: CSLP Summer Symposium on 12/8/22!
CSLP is hosting another national Summer Symposium for librarians to meet, learn, and brainstorm for the 2023 Summer Reading program! Any and all are welcome to attend for free.
This VIRTUAL symposium has multiple sessions and workshops. More details will be released soon, and registration opens in October.
Find more information and 2021's Summer Symposium on the CSLP website
STEM Workshops for Libraries in May 2023
If any of you are interested in STEM Programming in Libraries, the State Library is working with the Space Science Institute to bring two all-day STEM trainings for librarians to eastern and western Montana in 2023! Here are the dates and info (might be subject to change):
- Workshop 1 for Western Montana - May 15th, 2023 in Bozeman
- Workshop 2 for Eastern Montana - May 17th, 2023 in Glendive
- Both trainings will be 10 am - 4 pm
- Lunch is provided to attendees and all workshop-related costs are covered by the Space Science Institute.
- Attendees will need to cover transportation costs on their own.
Workshops are limited to 30 attendees.
Interested in attending?
Please fill out the STEM Programming in Libraries Workshop Interest Form.
Filling out this form is not a commitment that you will attend. We will ask for final commitments in early 2023.
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Montana Children and Youth Services Meet-Up
If you missed the Montana Children and Youth Services (CYS) meet-up from 9/28/22, you can watch the webinar recording online! The topic was School Age Programs, and the links and resources discussed during the webinar are posted in the YouTube video description.
Our next scheduled CYS Meet-Up is happening on 10/26/22, at 10 am, and the topic will be Scaffolding Programs for Multiple Ages! So please join us then if you would like to talk about that topic.
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The MMP launched a new digital exhibit as an output of our very successful summer teacher workshop. This one, created by Laura Dukart, looks at flooding at various locations throughout Montana in the 19th and 20th century. It is full of dramatic photos of floods in Miles City, Lewistown, Missoula, and many other locations. Visit the exhibit on the MMP site here.
Late 19th century photographer L.A. Huffman was known for his stirring action shots of the West. These included views of cowboys in action and scenes of the ranching way of life. He captured noteworthy images of Native Americans, both dignified portraiture and important images of the Native lifestyle. Of particular significance is his visual documentation of the hunt and slaughter of the bison on the plains, before their near extermination. The Montana Historical Society has a large collection of his photographs, many of which are available to view on the MMP. Visit the page here.
Genealogy is a popular and important activity for millions of Americans. The Montana Memory Project has tens of thousands of items from dozens of institutions around the state which can be used for genealogical research. In order to make searching easier, we have compiled this helpful starter guide for those wishing to use the MMP site. You can visit the guide here.
We continue to add new content to the Henry Meloy collection, working in conjunction with our partners at the Montana Museum of Art & Culture. The total number of Meloy items on the MMP numbers over 800, in a variety of mediums. Check it out here!
New Interactive Tour of the Montana State Capitol Grounds
We are excited to launch a new effort allowing people to use MMP content on their phones in the place where history was made. We've partnered with a company called Adventure Lab to produce self guided tours of interesting locations. Their app is free to download and easy to use.
Our first Adventure Lab walks you through the grounds of the state capitol, and allows you to compare historic photos to the current condition of the building and grounds.
Adventure lab is a great tool for history buffs and students - we hope you will give it a try if you are in Helena! This link will take you to our capitol Adventure Lab:
https://adventurelab.page.link/C9mh
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Board Continuing Education
New public library standards went into effect on July 1, 2022. We’ve had some questions about the following:
Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 10.102.1158 [lnks.gd] (4) The board receives at least three hours of continuing education each year.
This new standard states the board (all members or a quorum) should participate in continuing education. With busy schedules, many responsibilities, and limited time to get it all done, here are a couple of suggestions for fitting continuing education in for library boards.
- Have a plan! At the beginning of the fiscal year create a continuing education plan. Include topics, who will do the training, and when the training will occur.
- Set aside 20 minutes at the beginning of each meeting. Keep it relevant to your current work and continuing education will be more meaningful.
- If your board meets each month, the 20-minute sessions quickly add up to the 3-hour requirement. Including continuing education sessions in your public meeting notice is an easy way to document achieving the standard.
Individual trustees can still participate in the voluntary MSL Certification program—and are encouraged to do so—but the new standard applies to boards rather than individual trustees.
Please share any ideas you have for meeting this standard with MSL Consultants Tracy Cook, Suzanne Reymer, Pam Henley, or with Colet Bartow. We will be happy to share with other boards to help them meet the public library standards.
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WebJunction Webinars:
If you can’t attend a live session, all WebJunction webinars are recorded and available for free in the Course Catalog
Library of Things: The What, Why and How of Lending Objects
October 19, 2022 ◆ 3:00 pm EST/ 12:00 pm PST ◆ 60 minutes
From tools to toys, cameras to kitchen appliances, fishing gear to musical instruments, and from blood pressure monitors to robots – you can do it! The presenters highlight their experiences selecting, budgeting, cataloging, displaying, sustaining, and marketing their Library of Things. They will share what has and hasn’t worked, and you’ll leave with strategies for making the right decisions for your community.
Register
On-Demand Learning for Libraries
The Learning for Libraries drop down on the Continuing Education site offers on-demand learning for Library Directors, Library Staff, and Trustees.
New MSL YouTube Channel Content
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The Montana Library Spotlight is an opportunity for us to highlight and celebrate the awesome things that Montana libraries are doing!
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Today's Montana Library Spotlight features the Troy Library and Opportunity Center (TLOC)! We chatted with Sharee Miller, the Troy branch librarian, to get more details.
What is the TLOC project?
The Troy Library and Opportunity Center is a library expansion project that will create a community resource center hub within Lincoln County Libraries Troy branch by pooling agencies, staffing, programs and resources together under one roof.
Who is involved in the project?
The Troy Library and Opportunity Center planning team has grown to 19 community agencies strong. The core group of team members have continued to meet and collaborate monthly since early 2021, sharing financial contributions, staffing, time, and programming. (Five of these agencies have signed MOU agreements and two have letters of commitment.) The core group consists of Lincoln County Libraries, Lincoln County Government, Lincoln County Library Foundation, Lincoln County Unite for Youth, Spring Up Troy, Western Montana Mental Health Center, Zero to Five Lincoln County. The following agencies are contributing partners with varying degrees of responsibility in the project: Asbestos Resource Program, Friends of Scotchman Peak Wilderness, Head Start-Troy, Kootenai Job Service, Lincoln County Health Department, Nurturing Center Kalispell, Troy City Government, Troy Chamber of Commerce, Troy Christian Fellowship, Troy School District, Troy United Methodist Church, United Way of Northwest Montana, and Yaak Valley Forest Council.
In late 2020 Montana Economic Developers Association performed community listening sessions as part of an Economic Needs Report. During those community listening sessions, a clear need for a community resource gathering space was defined and a task force of concerned citizens and agencies formed to identify ways to meet this need.
At the same time, the Troy volunteer ambulance service purchased a larger facility and announced plans to vacate the current building adjacent to the Troy Library. Both the current library building, and the former ambulance service building are owned properties of Lincoln County Government.
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All agencies and citizens involved in the task force charged with building a community resource center recognized the potential for a hybrid library/community resource center by combining these two spaces. Libraries are natural gathering and community resource centers and adding additional space and resources to the current one seemed an obvious choice. The library teamed up with the task force and began working on the Troy Library and Opportunity Center Project in Early 2021.
What are you hoping to accomplish with this project?
The Troy Library and Opportunity Center project has the ambitious goal of pooling resources across a variety of partner organizations to address identified community risk factors of substance abuse, poverty, a need for human connectivity, and access to quality mental healthcare. The group believes they can accomplish these goals by expanding the Troy branch Libraries' footprint, adding additional community spaces including private and large group meeting spaces, technology, classroom space and even a community kitchen area. The group shares in the Lincoln County Libraries mission of connecting our community to information, ideas, and each other.
What are you most proud of so far with this project?
The amount of work and effort that has been contributed by so many amazing community partners. We are already sharing staffing, offering more shared programs, and working in a wonderful collaboration together, even before the new building is developed. We have worked really hard to engage the community and understand what programs and services are important to them. It is through this community outreach that the project has already brought so many new programs and resources to Troy. Programs like job service training in the library, technology classes, Dolly Parton's imagination library, enhanced story times and Teen programs.
What are you excited to do in the future with this project?
I am really excited to see all of the good things will come from within the new facility. I will be overjoyed to see all of the amazing programs and services that the community will be able to access and provide in this new space.
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Thanks Sharee for sharing information about this project! You can find out more about this project by watching a video from Zero to Five Lincoln County (starting at 2:43) about the collaborative efforts happening in Lincoln County.
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We recently streamlined the Certification panel in ASPeN. This handy guide will help you get started.
Please submit a HelpTicket with any questions or feedback on the new look and functionality.
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October/November
Click on the image below to see the coming months and register for upcoming events.
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