We are pleased to share that two valued MCLS team members have stepped into new roles as of Oct. 1, 2025!
Ann Kaskinen, former MeL Engagement Specialist, K-12, is now our new TALK Program Coordinator and Laura Warren-Gross, former MeL Engagement Specialist, Public, is stepping into the role of Engagement Strategist. Due to federal funding uncertainties, the Library of Michigan made the decision not to renew its contract with MCLS for MeL eResources training. Fortunately, MCLS was preparing to expand our team in 2025, and the timing aligned perfectly to have Ann and Laura step into these new roles.
Ann and Laura are well known to many Michigan libraries through MeL eResources training/engagement and conference presentations. In their new roles, they’ll continue to support libraries—now across Indiana, Michigan, and beyond—with even broader reach and deeper engagement.
Read on to learn more about Ann and Laura and how they’ll continue to make a difference in the library community through MCLS.
Ann Kaskinen, TALK Program Coordinator
“I am excited to begin working as the new TALK Program Coordinator for MCLS, where I can support libraries focused on improving literacy for their youngest learners. I am already starting to meet many people who are passionate about connecting community organizations and families with literacy resources for 0- to 6-year-olds.”
Ann began her career teaching high school ELA, social studies, and public speaking. After earning a library degree from CMU, she worked for 15 years as a K-12 Library-Media Specialist before joining the MCLS staff in 2019 as the Michigan eLibrary (MeL) Engagement Specialist for K-12. Ann also has experience as an ISD consultant, a teen librarian for a public library, and a government docs intern.
In her new role, Ann is responsible for Text and Learn for Kindergarten (TALK), a service of MCLS designed for public library implementation. She coordinates demonstrations, contracts, support, TALK marketing and outreach, user community-building, and future development and strategy. As a member of the eLicensing and Collection Resources team, Ann also assists the department in providing customer service for other subscriptions through MCLS. To learn more about TALK and request a quote or demonstration, visit textandlearn.org.
Laura Warren-Gross, Engagement Strategist
“I’m looking forward to building relationships with library staff in Indiana and Michigan as we continue to engage with libraries of all types.”
Laura earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Arts in Library Media from Central Michigan University. She spent four years teaching high school English and Earth Science and 21 years as a school librarian prior to joining MCLS in 2021 as the MeL Engagement Specialist for Public Libraries. Laura participated in ALA’s Emerging Leaders program and was awarded MASL’s School Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award.
As the new MCLS Engagement Strategist, Laura helps lead efforts to build meaningful, lasting relationships with people at all levels within the library profession. She utilizes engagement tools that combine strategic thinking with hands-on efforts to help academic, public, school, and special libraries achieve the extraordinary. If you are attending either the MLA or ILF annual conferences this fall, stop by our booth to meet her!
The MeL project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library of Michigan.
Now that the fall conference and event season has begun, MCLS members will see MCLS Board of Directors members in a variety of places near and far. As the informed voice and agent of the member libraries who own MCLS, our Board needs to hear from you about how MCLS is doing in delivering on their new vision statement that took effect July 1. Are you getting good value for the time and dollars you invest in working with MCLS? What new value could MCLS provide for your library and the broader library community? What questions do you have for Board members, and what do you want them to know about what MCLS is doing well or ways we could improve to help libraries thrive?
Now is an especially good time to connect with Board members as they prepare for their annual fall retreat on Oct. 26-27. At the retreat, the Board will focus on MCLS’s future as a member-owned and governed organization, including how we can drive and foster innovation. As part of their work, they will consider how to stay connected with MCLS members so that together, we can build the best possible future for libraries.
As you talk with our Board members, consider how their current vision lands with you – what can MCLS do to turn vision into reality? What questions might you have about what the Board’s vision does or does not include? Their vision reads:
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services exists so that:
Libraries can benefit by gaining expanded access to resources, innovative and stable library services, and collaborative efforts, worth the continuing investment of members and affiliates.
What does this vision mean to you? What can we do to make it a reality, and how will we know we’ve done that?
If you know any of our Board members, seek them out and ask questions or share a story about how MCLS has made or could make a positive impact for your library. If you don’t know them yet, introduce yourself and learn more about them as colleagues and people, why they serve on our Board, and what their experience has been like.
You’ll also see members of the MCLS staff at many conferences and events this month and next. Talk to us, too – we want to know what’s on your mind and how we can help. As I say each month, you can always share your thoughts with me at garrisons@mcls.org.
by MCLS Engagement Strategist Laura Warren-Gross
Libraries are vital to their communities. Visit any library and you will see exactly why this is true. I recently visited Evie Parrish, director of Jasper County Public Library. Evie has worked at Jasper County since 2005, working her way through various positions and departments up to director. Her long history and experience with the library are assets as she looks to shape the future.
One of the ideas we discussed was about how the role of the library is changing in her community. Evie is working with her staff to consider how they can add a Library of Things to their collections. Having access to a variety of things that can be useful in the daily lives of her patrons will add value to the library. MCLS is offering a new course, Setting Up a Library of Things for Public Libraries, which Evie and her staff were able to take at a discounted rate thanks to their membership.
Evie told me that her community does not have organizations such as a YMCA or a Boys and Girls Club, so she envisions the library as a community hub for folks to gather and enjoy a public place. The library is doing a light remodel that will include additional study room space to help provide another way to come together.
Our conversation made me think about how libraries are shaped by their communities. What resources or services do you provide for your patrons that they would otherwise not be able to access? Engagement, Consulting, and Training team members would love to hear about your library and share your story. Interested? Contact us at engagement@mcls.org.
MCLS staff members will be at several conferences around Indiana and Michigan (and beyond) this fall. Below is just a glimpse of where we’ll be soon. If you’re attending any of these events, please visit our booth or find us and say hi! We would love to connect.
(*While supplies last.)
