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We've had big news in the works for a while now, and we are excited to finally share it with all of you: we are changing our name! The Montana Memory Project began in 2005, and in the years since we've grown at an astounding rate. Last year we hired our 2nd full time staff member, and launched a new web platform to host content. We've partnered with nearly 100 organizations over the years, and we thank all of them for their hard work to build the program to where it is today.
We think the next big step forward is a change in our name to better align with our mission. Our new name Montana History Portal captures everything we believe we have been working towards all these years, and will continue to work on going forward. The word History is at the center of what we do. Working with libraries, museums, and other organizations around the state, we have compiled over 80,000 historical photographs, documents, books, and much, much more. We also believe that people will find us more easily on the web, as the word History is closer to what we do than the word Memory. Portal is critical because that is what we are: we are a centralized doorway leading the public to the collections of institutions around the state. And of course the word Montana speaks for itself: we are here to tell the story of all Montanans, whether they lived in the 19th or the 21st century!
Starting today, you will begin to see a new look and feel with all of our content, in particular our email newsletters, social media, and help guides. You have probably noticed the new Montana State Library logo (below), which will be a single, unifying logo for all MSL programs, including the Montana History Portal. Over the next month, we will be transforming the website to accommodate the new name and logo, and we are also VERY excited about a total redesign of the look and feel of the site. But don't worry, we are NOT changing the URL, so all of your bookmarks and favorites will work just as the do now.
We are very excited about this new name, and we hope you are as well. So please join us and step on through the Montana History Portal!
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Get your story writing skills ready! Using any photo in the Portal collection participants will write a short story (650 words or less) and submit it to the form. Winners will be chosen from grades 3-6, grades 7-12 and adult. The deadline to enter is March 17, 2023.
Browse the photo collection to find an interesting photo. Once you've found an image save the link to that image - you'll need it when submitting your story.
If the entire collection is too overwhelming try one of these smaller collections:
Related to Mining Photos with animals Photos of people
How to Enter:
Write a short story based on the photo (650 words or less). We are using an online form this year for contest entries. We recommend using a Microsoft Word Doc or a Google Doc to draft your story. Use a basic font and single spacing. Complete the following form and copy and paste your story into the form where asked: https://forms.office.com/g/vw7n7ZvBL8
Remember, the entry deadline is March 17, 2023. Photos and stories will be highlighted on Portal social media accounts.
Prizes
The Portal is proud to partner with Distinctly Montana and the Museum of the Rockies for this contest.
First Prize:
- Grades 3-6: $50.00 Gift Certificate to Distinctly Montana Store
- Grades 7-12: $50.00 Gift Certificate to Distinctly Montana Store
- Adult: $100.00 Gift Certificate to Distinctly Montana Store
- All age group first place winners will receive a one-year subscription to the Distinctly Montana Magazine
- All age group first place winners will be published in the Distinctly Montana newsletter, web page and other social media channels
Second Prize:
- Grades 3-6 and Grades 7-12 second place finishers will receive 3 passes to the Museum of the Rockies; Adult second place finishers will receive 2 passes to the Museum of the Rockies.
- All age group second place finishers will receive a one-year subscription to the Distinctly Montana Magazine
- All age group second place finishers will be published in the Distinctly Montana newsletter, web page and other social media channels
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
- There is no fee to participate in the Montana History Portal Photo Prompt Contest.
- There is no restriction on the number of entries a participant can submit.
- The Montana History Portal does not endorse the content of any stories created for this Contest.
- We have the right to reject submissions for violations of, but not limited to, inappropriate content, defamation, or copyright issues.
- The Montana History Portal reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant or Entry at its sole discretion. No correspondence shall be entered into.
- The Montana History Portal reserves the right not to select finalists if, at its sole discretion, no suitable entries are received.
- Entering the Contest grants the Montana History Portal permission to make public and otherwise use an entrant’s name and story for publicity purposes.
- Participation constitutes the entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules. By participating in the Contest, the entrant is representing and warranting that he/she has read and understood, and agrees to be bound by, these rules. Including the guides and rules referred to herein, these Official Rules constitute the entire agreement between the entrant and the Montana History Portal in relation to the Contest. They govern the entrant’s participation and supersede any prior or other agreements between the entrant and the Montana History Portal relating to the Contest.
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For those of you who are looking for more resources on where to direct patrons with legal questions, please consider coming to our February webinar, Civil Legal Resources in Montana for Public Libraries. Please see the workshop description below, as well as the registration information:
- Webinar Date: February 28th, 1 - 2 pm
- Description: Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) provides free civil legal services to low-income Montanans. Join MLSA to learn more about the legal resources available to Montanans and where you can direct clients who are looking for legal advice or information. Webinar attendees will learn more about:
- What civil legal issues are (they are more common than you might think)
- MLSA services and application process
- Legal resources available to the public
- Increasing access to legal resources for rural Montanans
Town Pump is providing $1,000 grants for public libraries to support summer reading programs through their "Keep Kids Reading" grant program! Any public library is encouraged to apply, and those who have received funds in the past should apply again as well.
The grant application process will open on March 1st, and will accept applications through April 14th with the goal of sending out the grant funds in the first week of May.
You can access the grant application at the Town Pump Charitable Foundation Grant Application website. Click on "Keep Kids Reading" to open the grant application for that program on March 1st.
Please contact Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov with any questions, and thank you Town Pump for your support and generosity!
If you missed the Dementia Friendly Libraries training that happened on Friday, February 3rd, you can now watch the recording on the MSL YouTube Channel!
Link to webinar recording
Description: Dementia Friendly Missoula will review types of dementia, how to recognize the signs of dementia, and provide tips for interacting with individuals with memory loss. The focus on libraries will include tips for creating a dementia friendly physical space, recognizing and when needed, assisting a person in navigating community environments and providing resources and programming for individuals with dementia and those who care for them. Resources for libraries such as program opportunities, dementia kits, suggested books, and funding opportunities will be shared.
To Register for CE Credit: ASPeN Event Page Link
If you have questions, please contact Marje Doyle at macrd1953@gmail.com
CSLP Theme and Slogan Suggestions - Please Submit!
Have you ever thought about where our CSLP themes and slogans come from? Who thinks them up? How do we select each year’s slogan? Well, the answer is YOU! Each year we seek feedback from [your state] library staff for future summer slogan and theme suggestions. Libraries from across the nation contribute too and together we come to consensus. So now is your time to SHINE! Please complete the 2026/2027 CSLP Theme and Slogan Survey to suggest ideas for the following:
- Slogan for the 2026 theme of Dinosaurs - the artist is Kaylani Juanita
- Theme for 2027.
You can see previous CSLP Themes and Slogans at the Theme and Slogan webpage. Please share your suggestions by February 27th, 2023.
As a reminder when submitting suggestions:
- A theme is a single concept described in one or two words. For example: space, oceanography, music. The theme for 2023 is unity, kindness, and friendship.
- A slogan is a short, striking, and memorable phrase that promotes summer programming and CSLP. Examples are:
- A Universe of Stories
- Oceans of Possibilities
- Libraries Rock
- The 2023 slogan is All Together Now
As your State Rep for CSLP, I will submit your suggestions to CSLP for consideration on February 28th. The review process for suggestions will go from March through August, and will result in the top 5 choices for both the slogan and the theme. I will then ask you all to vote again on which options you like best, so I can vote for Montana at the Annual Meeting in September. Let me know if you have any questions on this process (akim@mt.gov)!
2023 CSLP Social Media Toolkit
The Social Media Toolkit for the 2023 CSLP Program is now available! You can view the toolkit at the following link:
2023 Social Media Toolkit
This is a living document, so there will be updates throughout the year! I'd recommend bookmarking the link, and checking back to see what changes have been made.
Additionally, be sure to follow CSLP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest! @CSLPreads on all platforms.
For those of you interested in attending the STEM Trainings in Helena (5/15) and Glendive (5/17), we are now looking for final head counts and attendance. Please fill out the Attendance Confirmation Forms below, and feel free to share with any staff at your library.
As another reminder, if your library is interested in receiving FREE solar eclipse glasses, please make sure to fill out the Solar Eclipse Glasses Registration Form from the Space Science Institute! Glasses are first come, first served, so please fill this out early to make sure you make it on the list.
Read about the SEAL (Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries) project that all of this is made possible under at the Space Science Institute's SEAL Project Webpage.
MLN Virtual Programming Schedule
The Montana Library Network Virtual Programming series will be starting again in 2023! Please take a look at the following programs, and reach out to Amelea Kim at akim@mt.gov if your library is interested in co-hosting any or all of these events. As a reminder, as an official co-host, you can choose to participate in at least one of the following ways:
- Share and publicize the event information and registration for your patrons to join individually from home
- Host a watch party at your library for patrons to come and watch together
- Host a watch party somewhere in your community outside the library for patrons to come and watch together
All co-hosting libraries will receive publicity and outreach templates to help with outreach, as well as follow-up generalized statistics of attendees from their service area to report in the Public Library standards report.
January 2023: Montana Fibershed - Connecting Montana folks with Montana Fiber
- The recording from the Montana Fibershed virtual program is now available! You can watch it on the MSL YouTube channel
March 2023: Thunderous, with Natalie Peeterse and Mandy Smoker Broaddus
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Date: March 9th, 2023 from 6 - 7:30 pm on Zoom
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Program Description: Thunderous is a children's graphic novel grounded in contemporary Indigenous experiences while also centering traditional Lakota ways of knowing, language and identity. The authors will share highlights of how the book came to life and read a selection.
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Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/thunderousMT
April 2023: Dr. Cathy Cripps - Foraging for Wild Mushrooms in Montana
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Date: April 20th, 6:30 - 8 pm
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Program Description: Foraging for wild mushrooms has become a popular activity in Montana and across the country. The idea of free food from forests and meadows is appealing, but a wrong choice for the frying pan can be potentially deadly. There are dangerous mushrooms out there--and also lots of delicious ones! This presentation covers how to get started collecting wild mushrooms, including how to find them, how to pick them, and how to identify them. Choice Montana edibles such as King Boletes, chanterelles, morels, hawk wings, lion’s mane, oysters, and more, are shown in full color and their edible properties described. The general rules for eating wild mushrooms are also important to know. Lastly, a few of the toxic species to be avoided, especially those that have caused poisonings in Montana, will be discussed. Further resources for wild mushroom hunting in Montana are provided. Learn about the diversity of mushrooms in our state and how they promote ecosystem health!
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Registration Link: www.tinyurl.com/mushroomMT
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