Library of Michigan Weekly Digest Bulletin

Library of Michigan announces a new LSTA Grant Program 08/29/2016 Library of Michigan announces a new LSTA Grant Program The Library of Michigan is pleased to announce a new Library Services & Technology Act grant program. The grant program is designed to provide Michigan libraries with the opportunity to develop innovative programs or services that have the potential to develop into sustainable regional or statewide programs, and include strong partnerships between libraries, and/or community groups or agencies.   Applicants may propose a library program or service in any content area appropriate for library services, such as:   ·       To develop an innovative service or program to meet a newly identified community need; ·       To meet the increased community demand for a service or resource; ·       To improve or develop new services to target populations, such as people from diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; individuals with disabilities; and individuals with limited functional literacy, limited English proficiency or limited information literacy skills.   The grant program is competitive. The grant period will be from one to three years and funding will be for $50,000 to $225,000 per year up to a possible total of $500,000 over three years. Applications will be reviewed by the Library of Michigan staff and the LSTA Advisory Council as peer reviewers. No more than ONE to THREE grants will be approved.   Eligible applicants include Michigan public, academic, school and special libraries as well as non-profit statewide organizations that serve Michigan libraries. Detailed information on the grant program, including the program timeline, applicant eligibility, and the application, is available atwww.michigan.gov/lsta.   Contact Karren Reish at 517-241-0021 or reishk@michigan.gov with questions on the program. School Libraries 21st Century - New Libraries for the New School Year 08/29/2016 School Libraries 21st Century - New Libraries for the New School Year Congratulations to two new libraries for achieving SL 21 status in the Library of Michigan School Libraries 21st Century benchmarks program. We currently have 130 certified school libraries in the state. We are pleased to highlight Denise Moll and Anne Brainard's great work! For more information on the program and how they can be used in your district or building, go to www.michigan.gov/sl21.  New SL 21 Libraries   Exemplary Status West Hills Middle School Media Center, West Hills Middle School, Bloomfield Hills Schools  - Denise Moll, Media Specialist Mona Shores High School Library Media Center, Mona Shores High School, Mona Shores Public Schools            - Anne Brainard, Library Media Specialist Library of Michigan MeL Surveys - Please respond soon! 08/30/2016 Library of Michigan MeL Surveys - Please respond soon! Please join in the great response we are getting. The survey deadline is Sept. 8th so we need your feedback soon! _______________________________ Good afternoon, the Library of Michigan doing our biannual surveys for library patrons and library staff about MeL and statewide services. We do surveys every two years to improve our services and to provide data for our reports to the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which provides funding for MeL databases, MeLCat and other statewide programs. Please share the surveys widely!   1.       Library Staff Survey -https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LibraryofMIStaff. Please share the library staff survey widely as we want to hear from all library types and all levels of library staff.   2.       Library Patron Survey - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LibraryofMIPatrons.  Please post the library patron survey widely for your community – on your web page, in your social media, etc. We want to hear from as many users as possible.   Thank you so much for your help with this!   Karren Reish Library Grants Coordinator MeL Minute - Gale Promotional Materials reminder 08/31/2016 MeL Minute - Gale Promotional Materials Hi all,   We all know that the Gale MeL databases are fabulous and full of useful information for Michiganders of all ages but sometimes it's helpful to have a bookmark or poster to remind patrons of the unique features of each database. While you could design your own, there's no need to do so because Gale makes available free promotional materials for you to order.  Bookmarks, flyers, posters, tent cards, tip sheets, and more are MeL branded and can be customized to show your library's name/address/logo/url or other message as well, for shipment directly to your location, for free!  Start at the Gale ProMo site, sign in**, select "I'll Take It" or "I'll Tweak It", scroll down to find the Michigan eLibrary, and choose the piece(s) of interest.  In a few weeks you'll have colorful promo pieces to help boost database and library usage. **To obtain the required username and password unique to Michigan libraries, send an email to contact@mel.org Michigan residents or Michigan library access only. MeL Minutes are brought to you by the Library of Michigan.  Want more information on MeL?  Stay tuned for next week's MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, email us at contact@mel.org or visit mel.org.  We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your public service colleagues. Eunice   Eunice C. Borrelli Michigan eLibrary Internet Librarian Library of Michigan/Michigan Dept. of Education 517-241-4996 Looking for your copy of Michigan Reads? 08/31/2016 Michigan Reads! March 2017 The Library of Michigan has selected Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum written by Lisa Wheeler* and illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith for the March 2017 Michigan Reads! program.   Last winter it was decided that the Michigan Reads program would change to March to coincide with "March is Reading Month." Materials will be developed this Fall, with a survey to request an author tour up by October 2016, and delivery of the materials will be in January/February of 2017. The next program with author tour will be March 2017 and then annually in March thereafter.    *Please note that Bubble Gum, Bubble Gum was taken out of print in December 2016. We are looking into possible options for purchasing copies, but in the end it is up to the publisher if they choose to put it back in print.  They are running a very unique special for us to have copies printed for distribution across the state.  You are invited to shape your library or school's Michigan Reads! programming around the featured author, Lisa Wheeler, and her great variety of books; you may find her titles on her website. STEM Programming & Inclusive Storytimes Workshop registration closes tomorrow... 09/01/2016 MaKey MaKeys, littleBits, Storytimes & More! Our STEM Programming & Inclusive Storytimes Workshop, being offered at 4 locations across Michigan, registration closes tomorrow. There are a few seats left, so please go to:http://www.solutionwhere.com/lom/cw/showcourse.asp?82   The FULL agenda for the day can be found here. In the morning session, all participants will have the opportunity to learn how to use & implement programming on MaKey MaKey and littleBits.  Each participant will be given one MaKey MaKey and one littleBits kit to take back to their library for programming use and/or circulation to the public ($200 value!).   The afternoon will offer two breakout sessions.  The first being for children's staff: an interactive Inclusive storytime session with hands-on activities and implementation ideas with Bloomfield Township Public Library's Jen Taggart and Michigan Braille & Talking Book Library's Stephanie Wambaugh (Bridgid Turner from LARA will be speaking on behalf of Stephanie at our Marquette workshop). The second afternoon breakout is for staff working with Teens & Tweens: a Portable MakerSpace Kit session, where ideas and tips for fun, easy-to-do, "on the go" STEM programming will be shared and hands-on demos of various equipment.    $25 registration, lunch provided. The deadline to register and also to cancel with a full refund is 5 pm on Friday, September 2, 2016. If you register and do not attend the event or cancel your registration by September 2nd, you will be billed for the full registration amount.   ·         Thursday, September 15th – Houghton Lake Public Library, 4431 W Houghton Lake Dr, Houghton Lake, MI 48629  (If able, please bring a laptop or chrome book) ·         Friday, September 16th – Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front St, Marquette, MI 49855 (If able, please bring a laptop or chrome book) ·         Thursday, September 22nd – Pontiac Public Library, 60 E Pike St, Pontiac, MI 48342(computers provided) ·         Friday, September 23rd – Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S Rose St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (laptops provided)   Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for effective participation in the meeting should contact Mary Anne Smith, at 517-373-1580 (voice) or 517-373-1592 (TDD) no less than 10 days in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance. Free MeL webinar - MeL means business: The new business portal 09/01/2016 Free MeL webinar - MeL means business: The new business portal Please see below for information on a webinar highlighting our new MeL Business portal. _______________________________________   Tour the new MeL business portal and discover new ways to give your business and entrepreneur community a competitive advantage. Please join us on September 28, at3:30pm Eastern, for a 30-minute webinar focused on MeL business resources and the newly designed portal.   Registration is free and open to all Michigan library staff.   Read more and register for this webinar. http://mcls.org/training-events/training-events-list/training-event/?ref_cID=198&bID=0&dd_asId=5472   This webinar will be recorded, archived, and made available. http://mcls.org/mel/mel-training-events/   Please share.   Thank you.   David   David Votta Community Engagement Librarian Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS)                      Lansing, MI & Indianapolis, IN                   Questions?  Contact Us STAY CONNECTED: