by Zach Miller
Quick Summary
Minnesota's Capitol Area Library Consortium (CALCO) is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In recognition of this milestone, and National Library Week, Governor Tim Walz has proclaimed April 23-29 "Capitol Area Library Consortium Week."
Text courtesy of CALCO.
An organization of Minnesota government libraries and librarians is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Gov. Tim Walz proclaimed April 23-29 “Capitol Area Library Consortium Week” to recognize CALCO during National Library Week.
CALCO libraries and librarians serve the information needs of employees working in the judicial, legislative and executive branches of Minnesota state government. They also help the public access government information.
The organization was formed in 1973 to encourage cooperation among state government libraries and increase their role within Minnesota’s library community. Today CALCO includes 13 member libraries and four associate members.
Librarians working in CALCO libraries provide research assistance, make government information accessible, and manage library collections and spaces.
Here are examples:
- Minnesota Attorney General Library provides information services and resources to support the legal, policy, and law enforcement activities of the Office of the Attorney General.
- Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Library ensures agency staff have the latest news, academic research and business information as they work to grow Minnesota’s economy.
- Minnesota Department of Health’s Barr Library provides public health workers the latest peer-reviewed research through its interlibrary loan networks so staff can effectively work to protect, maintain and improve the health of Minnesotans.
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Library manages a collection of books, journals and government documents on natural resource management.
- Minnesota Department of Revenue Library provides research services and resources on state and federal tax code and legislative policy to help agency employees serve their customers.
- Minnesota Department of Transportation Library offers a new digital repository, the MnDOT Digital Library, which connects staff and the public to current and historical MnDOT publications.
- Minnesota Historical Society’s Gale Family Library gives students access to primary sources and research support as they work on “National History Day in Minnesota” projects; it also hosts the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub that provides everyone free access to news back to 1849.
- Minnesota Legislative Reference Library provides access to more than 40,000 state documents, and for the last 20 years has made all state documents available electronically.
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Library manages a collection of books, documents and journals on pollution, toxicology, solid and hazardous waste, and sustainable development.
- Minnesota State Law Library provides access to legal information for the judiciary, legal community and the public.
- Minnesota State Library Services partners with libraries to achieve equity and excellence in library services as well as administers federal and state grant programs that benefit all types of libraries.
- Minnesota State Services for the Blind’s Communication Center employs a librarian to help provide adaptive reading solutions for visually impaired clients seeking access to books, news and other information for school, work and everyday life.
- Perpich Arts Library is an arts resource for Minnesota residents, especially teachers and students.
- Ramsey County Law Library provides residents free access to legal resources including databases, books and journals as well as workshops and legal assistance.
Please contact Dru Frykberg, DEED librarian and CALCO treasurer, for more information (dru.frykberg@state.mn.us and 651-259-7177) or contact CALCO libraries directly.
