Latest News

A range of blue pixels

New Minitex course offered: Digital Project Skills

by Sara Ring
Are you planning a digital project/program at your organization, but unsure where to begin? Attend this virtual course to learn about digital imaging (scanning), metadata standards and best practices, and how to protect and preserve the content you've digitized. This 2-part virtual course will take place on March 30th and April 1st.
Pink cupcake with a yellow "5" candle atop.

Ebooks Minnesota is celebrating 5 years

by Beth Staats
On February 28th of this year Ebooks Minnesota will be celebrating its 5th year as a Minitex program, thanks in part to MDE and State Library Services. What began as a pilot program in 2016 with just over 3,500 titles, has grown in scope and content to a whopping 11,000+ books. The best part is that it continues to grow.
The Minitex "Celebrating 50 Years" logo above the names of the fifteen libraries that participated in the pilot phase.

The MINITEX pilot project: Alice Wilcox and 15 libraries

by Zach Miller
On July 24, 1970, Alice Wilcox issued the MINITEX Pilot Project Report. In the report's recommendations, she wrote, "it is in the public interest to provide access to the major bibliographic collections for all citizens with information needs." Without the 15 libraries that participated, the pilot project could never have succeeded.

MLA offers free three-part series on white supremacy in academic libraries

by Zach Miller
The series will deconstruct the history and present-day manifestations of white supremacy in academic libraries and archives and demonstrate action plans to enact change on the individual, institutional, and professional levels. The free event will be offered via Zoom, and registration is required.
A vintage illustration of a winged messenger set in the foreground of a blazing sun.

The first Minitex Messenger

by Zach Miller
The initial design for the Minitex Messenger was created by Mary Mortenson in 1971. Inspired by the artwork of Peter Max, Mortenson's design was featured in black-and-white outline on the earliest issues of the Minitex Messenger print newsletter.
A photograph of an internet router.

Governor's Taskforce on Broadband publishes annual report

by Zach Miller
The Governor's Taskforce on Broadband recently published their annual report for 2020. Jim Weikum, Executive Director of the Arrowhead Library System, represents the library community on the taskforce. The report shows progress towards the state's goals, but suggests that the current internet speed target is not adequate to support remote business and education needs.
Individuals of different backgrounds all agreeing by saying "try to stop the spread of false information"

Misinformation, Disinformation, Malinformation: What's the difference?

by Beth Staats
Lately, I've been attending a series of webinars on Information Literacy and the most recent was Media Literacy for Adults: Misinformation and Disinformation, presented by Nicole Cook, Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina. Her research and teaching interests include human information behavior (particularly in an online context) and she has published Fake News and Alternative Facts: Information Literacy in a Post-Truth Era, which some of you may have read.
Volunteering

An Appeal to Volunteer

by Jessica Manner
Jessica Manner reflects on the one-year anniversary of Covid-19 hitting the United States and how it is more important the ever to volunteer.