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May 1, 2026
In This Issue
- April Certifications
- Certification Program Updates
- WebJunction Highlights
- MLA Conference Credits
- Recent Webinars
- Looking Back 20 Years
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- Czerwinski, Sara – Staff, Thompson Falls Public Library
- Eckerson, Andrea - Branch Manager, Lewis and Clark Library - East Helena
- Gideon, Sierra – Staff, Missoula Public Library
- Haddix, Megan – Library Director, Glasgow City-County Library
- Jenkins, Camden - Staff, Lewis and Clark Library
- Kanode, Triston - Staff, Butte-Silver Bow Public Library
- McNally, Deby – Staff, Lewis and Clark Library
- Nelson, Malin – Staff, Lewis and Clark Library
- Wicks, Emily – Library Director, Chouteau County Library
Are you close to completing a certification track? Login to ASPeN to view your certification track, credit balance, and end date. Submit a Help Ticket if you need help with your OKTA login credentials.
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To Audit or To Get Credits?
This is an important question as we get ready to transition to a new policy and begin to move away from ASPeN to track credits for MSL Certification.
- Directors are required to get certified--not a new requirement.
- Trustees and staff can voluntarily earn credits toward certification--also not new.
For Credit: MSL Learn
Enroll in MSL Learn courses, complete the activities and evaluation to earn credit toward certification.
MSL Learn badges represent credits and completion of courses. There's no need to log credits in ASPeN when you take these online courses. An OKTA account is your credential to login to MSL Learn.
To Audit: MSL Learn
It is important to know that anyone can access MSL Learn courses, whether you are working on credits toward certification or just want to brush up on library learning that is specific to Montana. Guess access is an option to view courses—you won’t be able to complete activities or get credit, but you can still engage with course content.
To Audit: YouTube
If you don't track continuing education credits, or only want to view for informational purposes, you can always view recorded webinars on the MSL YouTube Channel. Subscribe for alerts when new content is added!
Contact Colet Bartow, MSL Continuing Education Coordinator, for help navigating MSL Learn.
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Looking for More Advanced Cataloging?
These ABLE courses may be just what you’re looking for
We've highlighted the new LiFT courses in recent newsletters, but these ABLE courses are relevant for those who want to build their cataloging skills. The WebJunction courses are free!
New to Children’s Services?
Supercharged Storytimes is a self-paced course consisting of six modules, which include videos, readings, activities, and reflection questions. The course provides training in how to intentionally apply research-based practices to boost early literacy in young children attending library storytime.
Length: Approximately 10 hours of videos, activities, readings and reflection questions
Learning Objectives:
As a result of taking the Supercharged Storytimes self-paced course, practitioners will be able to:
- Explain the impact of library storytime practices on early literacy development in children, referencing significant studies such as the VIEWS2 research. Describe the key pillars of a supercharged storytime and integrate them into their own storytimes.
- Be intentional in supporting early literacy behaviors in relation to books and storytime activities through the use of the Early Literacy Planning Tool.
- Increase interactivity with children during story times, observing children’s behaviors, and engage parents/caregivers to reinforce these behaviors at home and in other environments.
- Share early literacy information with parents/caregivers, providing them with ideas and resources they can use with their children in everyday life.
- Use assessment tools to evaluate and improve storytimes, including self-reflection and the Project Outcome Early Childhood Literacy outcome-based assessment toolkit.
- Employ strategies to reach children and families of highest needs in communities served by the library.
- Confidently articulate the value of library storytimes to a variety of stakeholders and recognize how Supercharged Storytimes connects to other early literacy structures such as their state’s early learning guidelines, Every Child Ready to Read® and Head Start Child Outcomes.
Note:
If you haven't taken our 4-course series on youth services, check out these MSL Learn Courses:
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Recent Webinar
ADA and Libraries
This training introduces the core requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how they apply to public libraries.
Emily Shuman leads the Rocky Mountain ADA Center, overseeing strategy, operations, and a six-state service region. Since joining the Center in 2018, she has become a trusted consultant on the Americans with Disabilities Act, known for her clear, compelling education on complex ADA issues. Drawing on her lived experience with non-apparent disabilities, Emily brings both insight and leadership to the national accessibility landscape.
Marilyn Bennett is the Outreach and Digital Resources Librarian for the Montana State Library. As a part of her duties, she manages the Montana State Library Talking Books program, which is a library service for the blind and print disabled.
MLA Conference Credits
The 2026 Montana Library Association Conference is in the books! It was great to see so many of you at the conference.
If you want to claim MSL credits for the sessions you attended, you can do that now! All conference sessions are available in the ASPeN Continuing Education Control Panel.
Instructions
- Log in to ASPeN.
- Click the Continuing Education tile.
- Scroll down to the "Add Independent Learning Event" section. Events appear in the list AFTER the date of the event.
- Use the drop-down option (the small triangle to the right of the most current event listed) to display all the events in the past year.
- Find the event you wish to claim and click Go!
- Only events you have not already claimed credit for are displayed to you.
- Events are displayed in reverse chronological order, the most recent dates at the top.
- Save
Watch this short demonstration video if you need a refresher.
 Visit the MSL YouTube Channel to watch this short demonstration!
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Looking Back |
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Montana State Library, 2006-02 - Big Sky Libraries, Volume 94 (2006-02). Montana History Portal, accessed 4/27/2026.
This month’s choice was inspiring and nostalgic for me (Colet Bartow). The several articles devoted to honoring professional librarianship—and celebrating Montana’s librarian community—were a great reminder of what continues to be great and true about working with libraries in Montana.
Enjoy!
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The MSL Continuing Education program is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Montana State Library. |
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