Every Child Ready to Read® (ECRR) identifies five practices (talk, sing, read, write, and play) that adults should use to engage with children to build early literacy skills. Through singing, children can practice the rhythms and rhymes of spoken language, learn new vocabulary words and their meaning, learn about story structure, and develop memory skills. Additionally, “Learning about …Read more »
MCLS partners with more than 70 vendors and publishers to provide member libraries with discounted pricing and centrally negotiated licensing. We regularly review expressions of interest from prospective vendor partners and add an average of four new vendors per year. How do we identify prospective partners? Vendors regularly reach out to us, promoting their products and services. We also engage with …Read more »
With thousands of audio-picture books in various languages, LOTE4Kids features authentic storytelling by native speakers (not AI). It supports English and bilingual language learning through engaging stories, multiple reading formats, and built-in learning activities. LOTE4Kids currently provides over 8,500+ picture books in 100+ World languages, from widely spoken languages such as Spanish, Chinese, and Hindi, …Read more »
FREE Virtual Events | June 1, 3, 5, 2026 Join the Linked Data Users Group of the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) and the Program for Cooperative Cataloging’s EMCO Wikidata Community of Practice (CoP) for a free, semi-synchronous, week-long virtual event that explores Wikidata. No prior experience is necessary! Project staff will provide you with everything you …Read more »
The following library staff members have earned Certificates of Library Staff Development by attending workshops through MCLS! Basic Essential Workplace Skills Certificate (FREE*) Pamela Wright, Rawson Memorial District Library, MI Basic Cataloging Certificate Jordan Ehrmann, Novi Public Library, MI Robert Lebowitz, Bronx Community College, NY Advanced Cataloging Certificate Sarah Mominee, Novi Public Library, MI For questions, …Read more »
FREE Webinar | May 21, 2026 | 2 p.m. Eastern (1 p.m. Central) LocalHop is a connected platform built to help libraries run better programs, reach more patrons, and save staff time. With 1,000+ libraries nationwide already on board, LocalHop delivers real results: 20% average program attendance growth and 3+ hours of staff time saved per week! Join us for a showcase webinar on May …Read more »
FREE Webinar | June 4, 2026 | 1 p.m. Eastern (12 p.m. Central) Join editors from the Modern Language Association on June 4, 2026, at 1 p.m. Eastern (12 p.m. Central) to learn about MLA Handbook Plus, a repository for not only the full text of the MLA Handbook but also companion guides and video courses from the MLA. Providing …Read more »
Infobase serves K–12, higher education, and public libraries with a unified portfolio of reference, streaming video, and information literacy tools—built around a single mission: helping learners find, evaluate, and apply information with confidence. For consortia, that means one trusted partner spanning every member segment. No gaps in coverage, no redundant negotiations, no piecing together a …Read more »
Together, the MCLS community is strong. Together, we will thrive in 2026 and beyond! There are a multitude of benefits to being a member of a large collective like MCLS, which has more than 600 members of every size and type of library across Indiana and Michigan. MCLS offers affordable and customizable access to the key services …Read more »
As MCLS Executive Director, I lead staff who truly care about providing the best possible services and value to libraries, including through partnerships with other organizations and the many vendors we work with. The investment you make in MCLS in terms of membership and/or the time you spend working and communicating with our staff is invaluable to us as an organization. …Read more »
