Over the past two years, much has changed about how we all work.  Many staff were thrown into the deep end of remote working, and we have all learned a lot from our experiences.  In response, MCLS staff has undertaken an internal process to discover what the future of work will look like at MCLS.  …Read more »

MCLS launched its new subscription management system, ConsortiaManager (CM), on July 5. Libraries can now renew subscriptions via CM. An email sent on July 13 provided libraries with a link for establishing a CM login. Also on July 13, ConsortiaManager staff conducted a training demonstrating the renewal process for libraries. The basic process for renewing …Read more »

The call for nominations to serve on the MCLS Board of Directors (2023-2025) is open to MCLS member libraries, and the Board and I invite you to nominate yourself or someone you know by July 15 to play an active role in setting and refining the vision that guides MCLS to serve hundreds of libraries …Read more »

The Midwest Collaborative for Library Services and the University of Michigan are partnering again to extend the offer of a free pilot of the “Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries” course on Michigan Online. All staff of MCLS member public libraries in both Indiana and Michigan are eligible to participate. We are very excited …Read more »

July 5 marks a new beginning for MCLS: it is the date when MCLS goes live with ConsortiaManager as its subscription management system. Over the past several months, MCLS staff members have been busy preparing for this transition, getting data ready to migrate, learning to navigate ConsortiaManager, and communicating with our members about the change. …Read more »

MCLS is getting new phone numbers! Our main numbers, (517) 394-2420 and toll-free (800) 530-9019, will remain the same, but all group phone numbers (e.g. Training, MeLCat Help, MeL eResources Help, etc.) and staff direct numbers will be changing. The changes will happen on July 1, 2022. Once the new phone numbers are in effect, …Read more »

As we shared last month, MCLS will transition to ConsortiaManager (CM) as its subscription management system in July 2022. CM is a commercial product specific to consortia and used worldwide by more than 40 consortia. It offers numerous benefits to both MCLS members and MCLS staff, including improved data management, robust reporting capabilities, and more …Read more »

We are excited to begin offering our Essential Workplace Skills (previously called Soft Skills) workshops in a new, self-paced tutorial format through Niche Academy! Several of these reformatted courses are open for registration as of June 1, 2022. Though they have been renamed and are different in format, the content remains the same. The courses …Read more »

MCLS invests in innovation for libraries At their May 6 meeting, the MCLS Board of Directors accepted MCLS’s FY23 budget, which includes investments we will make using some reserve funds to foster innovation and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (which we abbreviate as DEIJA) for the libraries we serve, the broader library community, …Read more »

Seven staff members from five libraries in Indiana and Michigan and one in Texas earned their MCLS Certificate of Library Development in Basic or Advanced Cataloging between December 2021 and April 2022. Those who earned these Certificates represent both public and academic libraries. Basic Cataloging Certificate Alisia Neubeck, Gary Byker Memorial Library, MI Christina Hunt, …Read more »