You’re finally to the last patron in what felt like a never-ending line. You take a deep breath and put on your best smile, but you’re immediately met with a rude comment about the wait. You channel your inner professional and use your best customer service voice to deflate the situation. Success! But, you don’t …Read more »

This month, I’ll use this space as a call to participate in an upcoming online discussion about how data are impacting – and have the potential to impact – academic libraries in terms of budget, collections, spaces, serving users, and more during the COVID era. The discussion will include college and university libraries (community colleges …Read more »

In order to make some changes to the Introduction to Basic Soft Skills workshop series, MCLS will put it on a brief hiatus. One big change will be rebranding what has been known as “Soft Skills” as “Essential Workplace Skills.” This series name change will help to reflect the content of the workshops and their …Read more »

Libraries nationwide have seen an increase in “First Amendment audits” and book challenges over the past year-plus, and many anticipate more of this activity in 2022 and beyond. This month, I’ll highlight some resources from library and other organizations, including in Indiana and Michigan, that can help libraries prepare for and deal with what many …Read more »

The anatomy of Creative Commons licenses By Chrystal Pickell Vandervest Read time: 4 minutes Now that you know about copyright law, you’re ready to choose a Creative Commons (CC) license. Just kidding! There’s more to know about the three layers and four elements that are combined into six CC licenses (plus the two bonus public …Read more »

This time of year offers many changes, including a change in season, a new year, and a chance for new beginnings. I’ll focus here on some of the changes happening at MCLS, as 2021 ends and 2022 begins. Two members of the MCLS Board of Directors rotate off of our Board at the end of …Read more »

Save the date! Starting February 2022, Midwest Collaborative for Library Services and the University of Michigan will partner to offer a pilot of the “Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries” online course. With limited “seats” available, this initial course will be offered FREE for up to 100 individual staff members of MCLS member libraries …Read more »

By Chrystal Pickell Vandervest Read time: 4 minutes Before we can talk about the anatomy and use of CC Licenses and CC-Licensed Works for your next OER project, it is essential that we have a base understanding of copyright.  Copyright law’s relationship with intellectual property  Copyright law falls under the umbrella of intellectual property (rights …Read more »

Mark your calendars for the MCLS Annual Membership Meeting to take place from 10-11am Eastern (9-10am Central) on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. This year’s membership meeting will take place online using Zoom, and will feature reports from MCLS President Paul Gallagher, Executive Director Scott Garrison, and Treasurer (and Audit Committee Chair) Arlene Weismantel. There is …Read more »

We are pleased to announce that Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) has been awarded an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant in the amount of $45,000 by the Indiana State Library. The grant will allow us to offer Libraries Engaging Appreciatively for Positive Change (LEAP) to Indiana library staff in 2022. LEAP is a …Read more »