University of Minnesota Duluth Education and Human Service Professions Librarian Kayleen Jones has been lauded as one of Library Journal's 2025 Movers & Shakers for her work collaborating with faculty, staff, and students to improve UMD's Children's Literature Collection. Jones' group emphasized books that better reflect the experiences of BIPOC students and provide positive representations for young readers. Previously, ARLD lauded Jones for this work with their 2024 Minnesota Academic Innovators Award.
Latinx library professionals play a crucial role in creating environments that promote knowledge, community, and inclusion. To honor and highlight these individuals, we will be sharing their stories in the coming weeks. This week’s story comes from Tana Lucero, a youth services librarian at the Duluth Public Library.
As of the close of business on October 17, Minnesota's election officials are permitted to start processing ballots. Additionally, as of October 18, voting locations are allowed to open their doors to voters who would like to cast their ballot early, in person.
The North Star Promise program provides a tuition-free pathway for Minnesota residents to attend any Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, or Tribal College in Minnesota. To be eligible, students must have a family income below $80,000 and must not have previously earned a bachelor's degree.
The Minitex Policy Advisory Council advises the Minnesota Office of Higher Education and Minitex in the planning, development, and evaluation of Minitex programs and services. The council has six new members in 2024, including Scott Duimstra, who represents Metro Area Public Libraries.
Cathy and Glen Miranker have donated $2 million to establish an endowed chair for the University of Minnesota's Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature. The Kerlan is open to the public and offers more than 100,000 children’s books, original manuscripts, artworks, and other materials.
The WAM-RT Plexi is a modern library security system featuring plexiglass panels and chrome finishes, designed to secure wide corridors and detect EM security tags with advanced technology. It includes features such as remote diagnostics, audible and visible alarms, and optional patron counting software, all while enhancing the library’s aesthetic appeal.
The deadline to register for official NACO Training with Mark K. Ehlert is November 1. This training is a refresher for catalogers in the Minnesota NACO Funnel, and open to catalogers proficient with copy cataloging in a bibliographic utility.
eBooks Minnesota expanded its collection by adding several Spanish-English and Somali- English bilingual titles, reflecting a growing commitment to diversity and inclusion in its offerings.
The Minitex Network for Open & Affordable Practices (MNOP) is officially kicking off with an event on November 14, 2024. Join us for program lead Greg Argo providing more detail about the program, a little interactive polling and discussion, and guest speaker Abbey Elder, the Open Access & Scholarly Communication Librarian at Iowa State University and the Iowa Statewide Open Education Coordinator.