Quick Summary
Sessions at Minitex Connect 2024 will be divided into two rooms. While Room One explores topics specifically related to the new MNLINK, Room Two sessions will highlight some of the big picture issues in the Resource Sharing world. Topics include technology trends, resource sharing and delivery processes, and recent challenges in interlibrary loan.
Minitex Connect will take place Tuesday, May 14, on the beautiful campus of Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. For the first time, the conference will be fully in person. The cost to attend is just $40. This year's theme is "Resource Sharing and the New MNLINK." The timing is perfect, with MNLINK set to be relaunched just two weeks earlier, on April 30.
While Room One sessions will provide training on the new MNLINK system and its related tools, Room Two sessions will highlight some of the big picture issues found in the Resource Sharing world. Our panelists and presenters are experts in the fields of library technology, resource sharing and delivery processes, and interlibrary loans (ILL).
Session 1: The Future is Here: Navigating the tech landscape
Session 2: Resource Sharing & Delivery in Minnesota: The big picture
Session 3: ILLuminating Conversation: Hot topics in Interlibrary Loan
Tech Trends in Libraries - Hosted by Minitex software developer Matt Niehoff, this panel will bring together several experts in the field of library technology. These industry leaders come from Sourcewell, the Saint Paul Public Library, Index Data, the University of Minnesota Libraries, and Concordia University, St. Paul. Members of the panel will discuss technology trends that libraries should be paying attention to: how AI will shape the future of libraries, changes in technology that address upcoming challenges, authentication, and how to keep up with tech trends.
The Resource Sharing "Big Picture" - In this group presentation, staff at Minitex and three different types of libraries will explain how resource sharing works throughout the state of Minnesota. After a thorough overview of the Minitex resource sharing process, from requests to delivery, representatives from Minnesota State University, Mankato, the Arrowhead Library System, and the Mayo Clinic Libraries will discuss the state of resource sharing at their individual institutions. The presenters will provide details about their ILL departments, patrons, request procedures, communication, delivery system, changes to their services, and other challenges.
ILLuminating Conversation: Hot topics in Interlibrary Loan - The growing emphasis on collaboration and resource sharing among libraries underscores another key topic in the ILL landscape. Consortial agreements and cooperative ventures enable libraries to expand their reach and provide patrons with access to a wider array of materials. By pooling resources and expertise, libraries can overcome limitations posed by individual collections, enriching the research endeavors of patrons and fostering a culture of inclusivity.
In this panel discussion, we delve into key questions surrounding ILL practices, including the implementation of CONTU, considerations of fair use, changes in workflows and policies, staffing dynamics, DEIA implementation, the challenges of providing ILL services within multi-branch library systems, and the impact of platform transitions like MNLINK's move to a new platform.
If these sessions sound interesting to you, then make plans to join us at Minitex Connect 2024. Registration is open!
