We are pleased to announce that three Indiana libraries have selected Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) to work with them on projects this spring. We will be facilitating a strategic planning process for St. Joe County Public Library in South Bend, IN and offering staff professional development days for the David L. Rice Library at University of …Read more »
This month, I’ll recap the first session of the Michigan Library Association’s 2023-2024 Think Space program, held in December 2023. Following its first two years focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion and how libraries can respond to pushback against those principles as they manifest in the form of book challenges, censorship, legislative activity, and more, …Read more »
As you may be aware, MCLS recently launched its 2023-2024 strategic planning journey. We are seeking broad input and participation in shaping our vision for the future, particularly as it relates to exploring: Engagement and collaboration–building community and strengthening relationships with our member libraries as well as others with whom we work and collaborate. Investing …Read more »
The middle of an organization is a unique–and important–position to occupy. If you answer to a director, dean, or other top position but also manage people or projects, we invite you to meet your colleagues in the middle for a Virtual Dialogue on Wednesday, March 20, from 10:30 a.m.-noon Eastern (9:30-11 a.m. Central). MCLS’s Engagement, Consulting, …Read more »
As we turn the calendar page from 2023 to 2024, I’ll focus on some of the changes happening at MCLS. First, I thank the following MCLS Board of Directors members whose service ended in 2023: Annie Bélanger, Grand Valley State University (Michigan Academic Library Representative) Lisa Brakel, Airport Community Schools (Michigan School Library Representative) Lauren …Read more »
We’re doing something new with our Virtual Dialogue series for 2024! We’ll be bringing together specific groups of library staff from across our two-state region to give space and time for those with similar challenges and opportunities to meet for dialogue on topics of interest to them. Our first Virtual Dialogue of 2024 will be …Read more »
Check your email on Dec. 4 for instructions on implementing FTE in your ConsortiaManager profile. This feature allows you to input your library’s user count information, which is used by vendors to determine subscription pricing. Different library types use different user counts; academics use full-time equivalent (FTE), medical libraries use bed count, public libraries use population served, …Read more »
Conferences and other events are a good means for building collaboration, engagement, and relationships, seeking innovative ideas, listening, and learning. Fall is a busy conference season for many, including us at MCLS. This month, I’ll touch on some conferences and events where I and other MCLS staff have been/will be this fall, and some of …Read more »
MCLS is steadily working on TALK’s transition from a fully IMLS grant-funded program to an MCLS subscription-based service. To facilitate setting up your account in our system, we need to know if you are planning to offer TALK to your patrons after the grant ends in July 2024. IMLS grant funds will cover the TALK …Read more »
MCLS joined the Project ReShare community in 2019, and as of September 2023, MCLS and Project ReShare have decided it is in the best interests of both entities to part ways. MCLS is the single largest financial contributor to date to Project ReShare’s effort to create new resource sharing software that is currently in use …Read more »
