MCLS Blog

Obama Mentions Public Library in Speech

I was pretty happy to hear President Barack Obama mention a public library in his speech this week.  He said,

“I think about Ty’Sheoma Bethea, the young girl from that school I visited in Dillon, South Carolina — a place where the ceilings leak, the paint peels off the walls, and they have to stop teaching six times a day because the train barrels by their classroom. She had been told that her school is hopeless, but the other day after class she went to the public library and typed up a letter to the people sitting in this chamber. She even asked her principal for the money to buy a stamp. The letter asks us for help, and says, “We are just students trying to become lawyers, doctors, congressmen like yourself and one day president, so we can make a change to not just the state of South Carolina but also the world. We are not quitters.” That’s what she said. We are not quitters.”

What if Ty’Sheoma didn’t have a public library where she could go to use the computer? Or what if her public library’s hours were cut? Or if they didn’t have the equipment or staff to help her?  Even though President Obama didn’t expound on Ty’Sheoma’s use of the public library, I’m still pretty thrilled that he actually mentioned the words “public library” and maybe got a few people thinking about the value of the public library.

Wouldn’t it be great if our Michigan governor and legislators picked up on this thread and started talking about the value of public libraries in our communities?

Add comment February 27th, 2009

Preservation Conference in progress for June 4-5, 2009

Planning for the Preservation Conference is almost complete!  For a summary of where we are so far with the speakers line-up, see Kevin Driedger’s Library Preservation blog. Kevin will also be one of our speakers, talking about 2.0 and preservation.

The conference will be held at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing on June 4-5, 2009.  The theme of the conference is: Who are You Going to Call? Vendor-library partnerships in physical collection preservation projects.

Online registration for this conference will be available on MLC’s registration web page during the first week in March.  Stay tuned!

Add comment February 20th, 2009

Pecha Kucha to be featured at the 5th Annual MeL Users Day on April 13

Online registration is now available for the Fifth Annual MeL Users Day 2009. To liven things up this year, we are introducing a new segment of Pecha Kucha presentations.

Pecha Kucha — also known as “w00tSlam” or “Lightning Round” — is a presentation format based on the triad:  “Be brief! Be brilliant! Be gone!” In the 20×20 Pecha Kucha format, each presenter is allowed a slideshow of 20 images, each shown for 20 seconds. This results in a total presentation time of 6 minutes 40 seconds before the next presenter is up.

In addition to six Pecha Kucha presentations, this year’s MeL Users Day agenda includes an open discussion time, conventional break-out sessions, and a peek at what’s in store for MeL in the future.

MeL Users Day 2009 will be held at the Lansing Center on April 13, 2009. For detailed information on MeL Users Day, see MLC’s News & Announcements web page: http://mlcnet.org/cms/sitem.cfm/news__announcements/mel_users_day_2009/

To register online, see: https://members.mlcnet.org/workshops/viewcourse.html?id=195 For assistance with registration, please contact Heather Thomas at MLC (thomash@mlcnet.org).

Add comment February 18th, 2009

MLC and OCLC

Yesterday I received a message from one of our members that started out: “I just found out today that OCLC will be terminating the agreement with MLC on June 30, 2009. There seems to be some “buzz” going around about this.” I wasn’t too surprised to hear about the “buzz” as there has been quite a bit of talk about OCLC’s new service model. The reality is that there will be some changes, but other things will stay the same.

In September 2008, OCLC announced their intention to implement the new support and service model. That will happen on July 1, 2009. The big change is that the new model centralizes support at OCLC. In July, questions that you formerly sent to MLC about cataloging or ILL will go to OCLC directly.

MLC retains a key role in the new service model. We will continue to offer the same high-quality training on Connexion, ILL, MARC, and other OCLC-related topics. In addition, we will send you your monthly OCLC invoice.

We are in the process of working out a transition plan with OCLC, and you will hear more details as our discussions continue.

Add comment February 13th, 2009

Library of Michigan Joins Plinkit

Press release posted on LIS Wire:

Add comment February 13th, 2009

Fresno library lets Danville pilot’s late fees fly

Click below for a GREAT story!

Hero pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger of Danville is now every librarian’s hero, too.

Add comment February 5th, 2009