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Religion in the Library compiled correctly
by Don Priest 28 Jun '18

28 Jun '18

After the "best practices" guideline sent out to the list today, I realized my previous compiled responses for the discussion a few weeks ago was submitted incorrectly. I put it all in a PDF attachment, not embedded in the message itself. So, I'm sending it again the right way! My apologies for the mistake! Don Priest Southgate Veterans Memorial Library 14680 Dix-Toledo Rd. Southgate, MI 48195 734-258-3002 ext. 3003 We do not allow nativity scenes. We feature Santa and snowmen, holly, greens etc. A bit puzzled about why you would leave up the Pride Month display, but worry about the Nativity? Seems like both reflect cultural values of American society. If you really want to make it appear that you are not supporting one religion over another, I would focus on adding displays from other belief systems, not taking away one. Just my opinion. ______________________________________________________________________ Hello Don, I am at a small private ELCA university in the UP. We put up Christmas decorations in the library every year but I include other religious observances too. For example, we made a large Christmas tree out of butcher block paper and added 'ornaments' that represent Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Crescent and moon for Islam, peace symbols, along with Christian symbols. I try to make it as inclusive as possible. I also do a book display with various holiday books for all ages. I have also had the pushback about LGBTQ+ displays but I tell patrons that our collection and displays reflect the diversity of our community and that we try to provide all of our patrons with reading materials. As far as the Nativity goes... maybe simple signage that tells passerbys who is responsible for it will help to distance the library from the Nativity scene. Maybe contact the group that puts it up and ask for them to take responsibility/credit. Please share the responses you receive with the rest of the listserve, I am sure there are other librarians who would like this kind of feedback too. Enjoy the end of spring! ______________________________________________________________________ Hi Don- I see many librarians discuss removing religious symbolism altogether, even if it is a Christmas Tree because while not inherently religious, it still reflects the Christian Holiday. You seem to be in a spot where you could choose to highlight many world religions so the patron in question would feel more represented or you remove the implied religious decorations altogether and represent no one. It’s a tricky subject to be sure, but my judgement lead me to simply focus on winter decorations around the holidays and not a focus on Christmas . As far as your pride display goes, I think that’s a different set of circumstances altogether. Religions might have a problem with it, but that’s on them, not you. Pride isn’t a religion thing, so there’s no implied discrimination there. Just my rambly two cents. Hello- If you are publically funded, the display of a celebration of one religious holiday over another is a First Amendment concern. You are endorsing Christianity over any other religious system at that point if you are directly sponsoring the display. I am not saying you are wrong to be indirectly doing so, but I am saying that you are legitimately subject to challenges for it. Do you also put out colors for Holi, or celebrate Sukkot with booths, or help with Ramadan meals after sundown publically? --Yes, having a crèche out front during Advent privileges Christianity, and invites challenges… from the whole spectrum of people who disagree… including your Atheist or Fundamentalist patron. So you have to identify your privilege and understand it to be so… libraries are supposed to be by their nature, inclusive spaces for all, tacitly endorsing the majority culture and not endorsing minority cultures is privilege. Because I am a Theology librarian, we could quickly go into the weeds on this subject from some other perspectives as well. If the same patron challenges a rainbow flag, or Pride… that’s his right to do so, but this is a policy challenge on the same lines, but a different idea is at stake. You are not endorsing a school of religious thinking, despite your patorn’s complaints about his own “religious beliefs”, but affirming positive civil rights for people who are you patrons. This is also controversial, but IMHO, the right thing to do. others may not agree. This has parallels with Intellectual freedom inside the library, where we ethically do not interfere in people’s reading/media choices, but we do make collection development decisions based on what the majority of our patrons will read first, then seek to find other viewpoints. This subject gets deep quickly, and is very controversial. One resource I know for this is the ALA Intellectual Freedom IG. There is a good body of constitutional law on this subject as well. (I speak for myself, not for my organization here, with some insights from my position) Hope you find a good solution: ______________________________________________________________________ I have to disagree with Anne. I think there is a major difference between Human Rights and religion. If your religion doesn't believe in equal rights for everyone, that's tough cookies for you. Religious holidays, on the other hand, are tricky. I used to work in retail, and the couple of stores I worked in approached the holidays in very different ways. One had about 20 different religious institutions represented. It was more of an educational display than a holiday display (cool but a ton of work!). The other store I worked in avoided all references to all religions. They did a different color scheme every year and then we did lights, tinsel, and snowflakes. We actually had people complain about both (no one is ever happy in retail), but we just said 1. this is an acknowledgement of all traditions associated with this time of year or 2. This is an acknowledgement that this is a special time to different people in different ways. Personally, the all religions display is a lot of work, but it's something that's pretty fun if you can swing it. The no holidays display is just an easy fall back. I've also seen displays of pine trees that were decorated with different religions (the Meijer Gardens has a great holiday tree display). That's a nice way to have a tree without having it be a purely Christian icon. ______________________________________________________________________ I think it would be a mistake to equate a Pride month display, which speaks to issues of civil rights, with displays of religious observances. A library, as a public institution, has the responsibility to reflect all its users. In as much as we are public, we should also be cognizant of the historical separation of church and state and be wary of aligning ourselves with a specific religious tradition Don, The ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee created an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights on that topic fairly recently. Here's a link if you haven't seen it. [ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion | http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion ] [ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion | Religion in American Libraries | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues ] [ http://www.ala.org/ | www.ala.org ] The First Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to believe and practice their religion or practice no religion at all and prohibits government from establishing or endorsing a religion or religions. Thus the freedom of, for and from religion, are similarly guaranteed. There is also a Q & A on the topic. [ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionfaq | http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionfaq ] From my brief reading of it and memory of the creation, if it's an outside group putting up the display, you need to offer the same opportunity to other groups. If they choose not to take advantage of that opportunity, that's fine, as long as it's available. [ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionfaq | Religion in American Libraries: Questions and Answers | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues ] [ http://www.ala.org/ | www.ala.org ] Religion, American Libraries, This Q & A provides guidance to libraries and librarians in protecting First Amendment rights to five freedoms: freedom of the press, speech, petition, assembly and religion. Courts have consistently held that for freedom of the press and speech to be meaningful, people must have the right to receive information: that is, to read, view, hear or access what they choose. In addition, the freedom of (and for) religion has been understood to include both the right of individuals to believe and practice their religion and the right of individuals and the state to be free from religion. Hope that helps! The nativity scene and the tree may very well be illegal, as we still have separation of church and state in this country. For a time, at least. Pride month is not a religious celebration and is completely appropriate. Below is a link to a very informative article on the subject. Yes, it probably leans towards my particular opinion, but it is an excellent discussion. [ https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2016/11/01/tis-the-season-holiday-pro… | https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2016/11/01/tis-the-season-holiday-pro… ] Don, I suggest getting some advice from your lawyer. Based on the responses you have received so far most people are giving opinions that may or may not be based on fact. In cases like these there is quite a bit of misunderstanding, in particular regarding the separation of church and state. Best to get guidance from a professional to help know how to set policy. These types of battles seem to be getting more common so it would not be a waste of time or money. Of course, that is only my opinion. ______________________________________________________________________ Hi Don, We used to have Christmas themed programs & displays in my old library - but it was a very homogeneous community so no one complained. Thinking back, I would do things differently. If the majority of a community is one religion, that is a great reason for a library to explore and share info about the other religious customs. I wouldn't put up a nativity without also having equal space and prominence for a Judaic display, along with one for Kwanzaa, Islam, Hindu, Buddhim, Gaia, etc. Best to stop all religious displays or have one the celebrates the diversity of beliefs around the world. Keep the separation of Church and State clear. An LGBTQIA exhibit/display is more of a civil liberty/freedom issue. We libraries have always tried to educate people about and support civil liberties. If his religion is opposed to homosexuality, that is his business and he need not check out those materials; but he is not allowed to infringe on the rights of others to exist or to be represented in the community. There are those who used to feel similarly about African Americans, and other groups. I had a complaint this year that we were "overdoing" our Black history displays (and our community is 77% AA)! I agree with Phillip and Kate. We wouldn't hesitate to celebrate Black History month, or Women's history month and I believe that Gay pride fits in this category as opposed to religious observances. You might argue a Christmas tree isn't religious but they only come out at Christmas time and you'll rarely see them in a University Library (at least in my humble experience). If Nativities were to suddenly disappear, would references to Ramadan and Passover also disappear? What about the increasingly popular Color Runs, which are an appropriation of the Hindu festival of Holi? It seems to me that by removing any references to religious festivals such as these, we are missing an opportunity to become more informed about others who may not be "like us". We do not need to prioritize one religion over another, that's a personal choice, and not what librarians are about. Also, all religions are protected by law in this country. But we can help provide information, and hopefully help as many as possible to feel included, not excluded. Just as we try to do with Black History Month, Gay Pride, etc. Again, just my opinion. ______________________________________________________________________ You know, personally I would just steer clear of pointing out in display, program or otherwise religions or religious holidays. Purchasing library materials—books and media—is certainly a way of providing the information about such to one’s patron’s. Don, I’m sure you directed your patron to whomever is involved in the Nativity display. There are many municipalities around Michigan who still display one during the Christmas holiday. Freedom of speech and expression is the rule, but imo libraries have many, many more neutral options when it comes to promotions. Just my 2 cents ;-) Don, you’ve clearly asked a great question. A lot of interesting discussion happening on this. I will join with those whose comments have stemmed from a patron-based approach. That has never failed to lead me well, whereas the more intellectual/philosophical approach has. Frequently. Certainly we are, as librarians, concerned with ethical discussions and exploration of philosophical issues; however, it is important to remember that we are here, most basically, to simply be people serving other people. Distinctions between religion and culture are murky, at best. I would posit that for anyone who is deeply religious, the two are all but inseparable. This is true for any religion. I would ask these questions: What reflects your community? Is the Nativity important to some members of your community? Is the Pride Month display a source of encouragement or acceptance for even one of your patrons? If you don’t know the answer, find out. If the answer is no, get rid of them. If the answer is yes, keep them. Then add a few more questions to your arsenal: ask the man who complains whether he believes his neighbors should be compelled to believe as he does. I’ve asked patrons this, and once they understand the library is here for everyone, it generally takes care of the complaint very well. Ask him what is most important to him, and how the library can positively affirm those values. We are here to celebrate and build up our communities, we are not here to engage in cultural censorship. We don’t get to decide what is worth celebrating and what is not: that is for our patrons to guide us. My two cents, with maybe just a little change alongside. J Have you asked this patron to be involved by suggesting displays, programs, books to add to the collection? Many of our more needy patrons just want to be heard. I believe it is all in how you present it to him. He is wanting to impose his beliefs as well, by rejecting someone else's. I would ensure that your displays meet as many of the area as possible for sex, religion, race, age, etc.which I am sure is written somewhere in your policies. Respectful, diverse education of our communities in my mind, is part of our job and one that I do not take lightly. I am fortunate enough to be at a college campus where my monthly displays have not been challenged. I have a display for Christmas , Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah. I currently have a Pride month display. I had a Chinese New Year, and point out all the countries that celebrate it besides China, etc, etc. Good luck to you. ______________________________________________________________________ Many years ago as a Director in another state my library board unexpectedly banned Christmas at their November meeting. Really. Decorations were limited to greenery (no Christmas trees), poinsettias and red ribbons and no holiday specific programs. It did not sit well with our community or our staff. I even ended up on local talk radio. This community had a good sized Muslim/Somalian refugee community, which was a big part of what spurred the board member who initiated it. If your board is thinking of doing something like this it might work better if they at least post the agenda item ahead of time. It turned out to be very bad PR. That's unfortunate that you received a complaint! I would certainly leave the pride display up because it's a civil and social issue. Personally, the nativity scene is fine. Just like others have said, as long as you're (potentially) open to other groups putting their paraphernalia up. I see what others are saying about separation of church and state, that seems to make it a bigger issue. In reality, a bunch of people (no statistics here) celebrate Christmas each year, but wouldn't consider themselves "religious" or a part of a religion. Just like people who celebrate Halloween aren't actually celebrating witchcraft (again, majority of people). It's ultimately up to your discretion what you do, but since the library is a public space, if the person finds offense, he can go elsewhere, or if he has something he wants represented, then perhaps you can work together. It probably also depends on your city. For instance, with Flat Rock, the Beautification Committee goes all out with Christmas decorations during the holidays. I grew up in a Jewish/Christian home in NYC, so I notice the lack of other religious representations, but it certainly represents the community of Flat Rock itself (which has multiple churches within blocks of each other). I hope this helps somewhat. And that whatever you decide, it's a peaceful resolution! ______________________________________________________________________ My thoughts exactly, Connie! If I (and my board) were to ban Christmas at the library in this small, very religious town, it would be an enormous black-mark against the library! We do not push the religious aspect of Christmas, but we put up a tree, decorate the railing, have snowflakes falling from the ceiling, and there is a Christmas Open House. We have had different themes over the years, sometimes with Santa, once with a nationally known children's author who lives nearby. She read her Christmas books to the children through the evening. Naturally, there are crafts for the kids; reindeer antlers, gingerbread men, etc. It was wonderful and we got lots of positive feedback and new people signing up for cards. ______________________________________________________________________ Not an expert here, but I am going to suggest that there is an important difference between a cultural display (Pride Month) and a religious display (nativity). Religious displays run the risk of violating separation of church and state as required by the First Amendment to the US Constitution, while cultural displays do not. ALA's website ( [ http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion | http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion ] ) seems concerned only with the availability of religious materials in the library's collection, but not with religious displays on library property. But maybe a closer reading would reveal more. This site gives arguments on both sides: [ https://aclu.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000691. | https://aclu.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000691. ] The debate centers on whether or not a religious display on public property amounts to favoring one religion over another, which would violate the Constitution. Not sure if this helped or not, but now you have more to think about! Hi Don, I saw your discussion on Michlib and thought I'd add my two cents. I think it's best to be neutral in these matters, but we sometimes think of neutrality in the wrong way. A lot of people believe that a complete ban on religious displays is the most neutral response. I disagree. I think that banning religious displays gives (tacit) support to atheism. Why? Because it projects an atheist environment. If the state "religion" was atheism, we'd see no religious displays. If you ban religious displays, you get the same result. Like all religions, atheism makes metaphysical truth claims. Supporting it above all others, even tacitly, is not neutral. I think the most inclusive response is to allow members in the community to create displays that reflect their own belief systems (including atheism). If people ask, "Why don't you have a display for such-and-such religion," invite them to make one. If they say they don't have the time or inclination, give them your card and tell them the door is always open. Furthermore, you could post a small sign near every display that says something along the lines of, "Want your own display? Call (XXX) XXX-XXXX to make it happen". Finally, if you're worried about display-overload, create a policy that limits how long a display can be up and create a system for reserving spots. In the end, you'll still get complaints, but honestly, you'll get complaints no matter what way you go. I think the most important thing is to strive to be fair, and I think this is the way to do it. I hope you've found some benefit to my thoughts! If you want to include this (or not) in your response to everyone, I'm totally fine with it. Have a great weekend!

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Michlib-l best practices guidelines
by Norris, Sonya (MDE) 28 Jun '18

28 Jun '18

Greetings Michigan Library Community, This is a best practices update for posting to Michlib-l. We welcome your participation on Michlib-l. There are a few guidelines that help improve the experience for everyone: 1. If you ask for group input on a topic, offer to collect the responses and then re-post them to the list so everyone can benefit. Be sure to embed those responses in the body of your message. 2. Please keep in mind when composing your messages that attachments are removed from posts for digest subscribers and in the archives. For maximum reach, embed the text you wish readers to see in the body of your message. If an attachment is especially important for its images, formatting or other reasons, upload it to your website and then link to it in your message to Michlib-l. 3. Do not post replies that are meant for one person to the entire list. You can accomplish this by using the "Reply" feature and not "Reply All." And, of course, a little patience goes a long way. We've all accidentally posted something to a list that was only meant for one person so gentleness with each other is helpful as well. Have a fabulous day in Library Land, Sonya Sonya Schryer Norris Library Consultant Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48909 517-373-4457 https://michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan http://mel.org<http://mel.org/> http://michlibrary.org<http://michlibrary.org/> Our collective efforts can help make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years! Here are the goals and strategies: http://mi.gov/top10in10/ [cid:image002.png@01D20444.B08921B0]

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MeL Minute: Libraries Rock with MeL
by Norris, Sonya (MDE) 28 Jun '18

28 Jun '18

Greetings Michigan Library Community, Summer is here and Michigan Libraries Rock! To help support the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) and your summer reading program, be sure to check out the Michigan eLibrary (http://www.mel.org/) Here are a few suggestions: * NoveList K8+<http://galesupport.com/migeoipcheck/migeoipcheck-ebsco.php?database=NOVEL>: Search "Libraries Rock" and click on the Lists and Articles tab for multiple reading lists related to this year's Libraries Rock theme. * BookFLIX<http://galesupport.com/migeoipcheck/migeoipcheck-scholastic.php>: There is a Music and Rhyme theme book that contains 25 pairs of fiction/nonfiction books in this database. Don't miss out on the great fiction and nonfiction book pairs for some of Michigan's youngest readers! * Britannica School<http://www.galesupport.com/migeoipcheck/migeoipcheck-brit.php?database=BRHI…>: Researchers of all ages can check out this database to learn about musician biographies and the history of music. Use "Explore Biographies" and look in "Known For" to find Arts, Visual (dance), Entertainment (instrumentalists; musical composers; radio; singing), and Technology (instrument making). You may also conduct a general search for "music" to find articles on different types of music, plus take a look at the tabs on the left of the search for images, videos, and even magazine articles related to music. * Early World of Learning<https://worldbookonline.com/ewol/home?subacct=O6106>: Give the frog a kiss and change him into a prince by clicking on "Classics" from the main page in this database. Once you are in this fairytale land, you can access classic children's songs such as The Alphabet Song, Eensy Weensy Spider, This Old Man, and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. * eBooks<http://galesupport.com/migeoipcheck/migeoipcheck-ebsco.php?database=EBOOK>: A general search for "music" in the main eBooks collection yields over 5,000 books to browse throughout the summer for both kids and adults. * Gale Virtual Reference Library<http://www.galesupport.com/migeoipcheck/migeoipcheck-gale.php?database=GVRL>: You'll definitely want to check out the title Bowling, Beatniks, and Bell-Bottoms : Pop Culture of 20th- and 21st-Century America for music history by decade. Also available is the St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture reference book that details the different types of music such as folk, soul, and pop. Finally, Computer Sciences highlights how computers have impacted all aspects of the music industry. * Opposing Viewpoints in Context<http://www.galesupport.com/migeoipcheck/migeoipcheck-gale.php?database=OVIC>: Maybe adults would like to look into some controversial issues related to music. This database contains topic pages on Censoring Music Lyrics, Online Music Trading, and Rap (Music). But did you know....you can conduct a general search for music, then scroll down the page to the Topic Finder located on the bottom right. Using the Topic Finder, you will see many related topics such as Music Industry, Music Awards, and Classical Music, and each of these subtopics will yield related articles. And of course, don't forget to check MeLCat<http://mel.org> for books and material related to music. Maybe you can even find books on how to make your own homemade musical instrument! Brought to you by the MeL Team. MeL databases are available to Michigan residents or Michigan library access only. Want more information on MeL? Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, email us at contact(a)mel.org<mailto:contact@mel.org>, visit http://mel.org<http://mel.org/>, or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new>. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. #IMLSGrant Sonya Schryer Norris Library Consultant Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48909 517-373-4457 https://michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan http://mel.org<http://mel.org/> http://michlibrary.org<http://michlibrary.org/> Our collective efforts can help make Michigan a Top 10 education state in 10 years! Here are the goals and strategies: http://mi.gov/top10in10/ [cid:image002.png@01D20444.B08921B0]

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Opioids in Communities: Libraries in Response, an OHIO workshop
by Lancaster, Cathy (MDE) 28 Jun '18

28 Jun '18

Please excuse any cross-posting. A colleague in Ohio asked that I share this workshop series out, in light of Michigan's coverage of the opioid crisis<http://michiganradio.org/post/libraries-find-themselves-front-lines-michiga…>. Libraries play a central role in the health and well-being of the communities they serve. But, as we consider how to respond to the challenges we see, remember that we don't have to go it alone. During the "Resources in Your Backyard" session, attendees at any of the upcoming Opioids in Communities, Libraries in Response<https://www.ohionet.org/librariesinresponse> events will have the chance to hear from local representatives of Project DAWN<https://www.odh.ohio.gov/health/vipp/drug/ProjectDAWN.aspx>, a community-based overdose education and naloxone distribution program. Staff from Project DAWN will share information about local and regional resources as well as how to spot the signs of an opioid overdose. For additional information, and to register ($45), click here: https://www.ohionet.org/librariesinresponse. Follow the events on Facebook and Twitter via #LibrariesRespond. These programs are made possible thanks to an LSTA grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), awarded by the State Library of Ohio. Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 LancasterC5(a)michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/>

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Pew Research Center Presentation: Skill Requirements For Future Jobs: 10 Facts
by Jim Flury 28 Jun '18

28 Jun '18

Good Morning, Below is a link to a June 19, 2018 Pew Research Center presentation titled Skill Requirements For Future Jobs: 10 Facts. How will you position YOUR LIBRARY to be in the forefront when it comes to the skills and training patrons will need for these future jobs??!! http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/06/19/skill-requirements-for-future-jobs-10… Jim Jim Flury Technical Services Manager The Library Network 41365 Vincenti Court Novi, MI 48375 248-536-3100 x133 Fax 248-536-3098 jflury(a)tln.lib.mi.us

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ILS Administrator position re-opened-Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (OH)
by Jobeth Bradbury 28 Jun '18

28 Jun '18

Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County (OH) - ILS Administrator Search Re-opened with New Salary Range! The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County<https://www.libraryvisit.org/> (OH) seeks an experienced ILS Administrator to manage operation of the systemwide Integrated Library System (ILS) as well as applications related to data collection and analysis. PLYMC is a county-wide system serving 238,823 residents, governed by a 15-member Board, supported by a stellar staff of 169 FTE and a $15,540,797.84 annual operating budget. The ILS Administrator holds the primary responsibility of the day-to-day monitoring, maintenance and ongoing development of the Library's ILS platform, Sierra, and serves as the point of contact for data analytics products such as Innovative's Decision Center and OrangeBoy's Savannah. This includes supporting staff system wide to ensure accuracy, reliability and usability of the ILS and collaborating with other departments throughout the system to identify and coordinate resolution of issues in support of library services. The ILS Administrator works under the direction of the Technology Director but may be consulted directly by staff to advise and resolve difficult or unusual problems. For additional information on the Library and Mahoning County, see PLYMC Links<http://www.bradburymiller.com/PLYMCLinks2017.htm>. Responsibilities. Key responsibilities include (1) Managing the operation and maintaining the function of the ILS and associate software, services, equipment, processes, and vendors; (2) collaborating with departments throughout the system to ensure accuracy, reliability, and usability of the ILS; (3) proactively identifying and resolving problems of server application issues in support of library services; (4) maintaining contracts, ensuring software updates, coordinating planned maintenance, and arranging support calls for ILS-related systems; (5) generating statistical data and reports to provide timely data and analysis to appropriate decision maker; and (6) providing excellent and timely internal customer service responding to employee questions, concerns, and help requests. Please visit ILS Administrator<http://www.bradburymiller.com/ILSadmindesc.pdf> for the complete position description. Qualifications. Minimum qualifications include: (1) three years of experience in ILS administration, database administration, or administration of other business systems; (2) knowledge of and experience with ILS applications, SQL, Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office application suite with an emphasis on Excel; (3) knowledge of principles and practices of public library operations, issues, and trends including circulation standard practices and procedures and other technology resources pertinent to library operations; (4) strong analytical and troubleshooting skills with the capacity to understand and interpret data; or (5) the equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the work required. A Bachelor's degree in library science, computer science or related field required; a Master's degree in library and information science, computer science or related field is strongly preferred. Experience with ILS systems preferred and experience with Sierra ILS strongly preferred. Compensation. The salary range is $50,00 - $70,000 (negotiable with experience) with an excellent fringe benefit package which includes pension plan with the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). For further information, contact Bradbury Miller Associates<http://www.bradburymiller.com/contactus.html>. Apply via email with a meaningful cover letter and your resume as Word or pdf attachments to Karen Miller<mailto:karenmiller@bradburymiller.com>. This position closes July 29, 2018. Jobeth Bradbury Bradbury Miller Associates<http://www.gossagesager.com/> 4545 Wornall Rd, Ste. 805 Kansas City, MO 64111 816-803-7087 (cell); 816-531-2468 (office) Sign up for our newsletter<http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?llr=myy6mkoab&p=oi&m=111489311…> to get the latest updates!

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Opportunity: Informationist / Medical Librarian (Michigan)
by Elizabeth Lorbeer 27 Jun '18

27 Jun '18

Hi! Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Library is excited to be recruiting for an Informationist/Medical Librarian. As a newer medical school and, consequently, an all-digital medical library, we are part of many innovative research projects, co-author scholarship, and instructors in the medical education, informatics, and biomedical sciences programs. The library's operation is small, yet mighty, and we have daily access to senior leadership, faculty, residents and staff, and a front-row view of how a medical school works. Our medical student approval rating on the Independent Student Survey is 100%, and we're known for being the most helpful and nicest faculty in the medical school. We are leaders, educators, advocates, and researchers in our school and community. We are a team of informationists, librarians and a computer scientist that supports each other’s dreams, ideas, experiments, and professional successes. We believe in each other, and our department offers a nurturing environment where anything is possible if you can build it. Informatics, informationists, biomedical scientists, librarians, or those wanting a new adventure are encouraged to apply. Job description & apply here (please include a cover letter): http://med.wmich.edu/node/309 Overview Western Michigan University School of Medicine (www.med.wmich.edu<http://www.med.wmich.edu/>) seeks a Informationist/Medical Librarian to provide library services to support teaching and learning, research productivity and patient care. Coordinates and administers the formal educational efforts of the Library including developing instructional materials, research guides, web tutorial and support services to guide WMed stakeholders through the world’s recorded knowledge. Provides instruction and consultation in bibliographic research methods, health literacy and ethical scholarship including avoidance of plagiarism and respect for copyright. Responsibilities * Instructs on effective searching and evaluation of results for biomedical databases, evidence-based clinical resources, and point-of-care tools. * Provides consultation on how to use and retrieve literature and effectively manage citations with bibliographic management tools. * Develops self-instruction programs for information literacy skills and assessment tools to gauge student learning. * Delivers library instruction using technology tools including course management system, mobile and tablet devices, screen casting and web conferencing. * Co-teaches orientation sessions, course-integrated instruction and workshops. * Responsible for outreach and marketing activities to promote awareness of the Library’s resources and services. * Participates in the development, implementation, and evaluation of services, policies and procedures. * Evaluates information resources and integrates new technologies in delivery of health information services. * Supplies, organizes, and manages content on the Library’s web page and medical school media channels. * Participates on medical school committees to support teaching, research, and clinical care activities. * Ability to work occasional rotations for evening and weekend hours as scheduled. Qualifications * Master’s degree required, preferably from a library or information sciences program accredited by the American Library Association. * A bachelor’s degree in the life or health sciences preferred. * Academy of Health Information Professionals credential preferred. * Skill in teaching adult learners. * Ability to create and deliver user-centered information literacy instruction. * Familiarity with assessment tools to evaluate and guide Library strategic planning. * Demonstrated interest and aptitude for technologies relevant to medical education and clinical practice. * Willingness to contribute to the profession through scholarly publications and service activities. * High degree of organizational, analytical, and critical thinking skills. * Maintains current knowledge of the trends and issues in higher education, scholarly communication, research practice and health care. About Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine As one of the newer US medical schools, WMed is an exciting environment to pursue an academic career. The medical school is a collaboration of Western Michigan University, which ranks among the 50 largest colleges and universities and among the top 100 national public doctoral universities in the US, and Kalamazoo's two teaching hospitals, Borgess Health and Bronson Healthcare. The medical school is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation supported by private gifts, clinical revenues, research activities, tuition, and endowment income. WMed was granted full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education in February 2018 and candidate status by the Higher Learning Commission in 2016. The inaugural medical student class graduated in May 2018 after completing the innovative, patient-centered four-year CLEAR curriculum that prepares them to be exceptional clinicians, leaders, educators, advocates, and researchers or tomorrow. There are more than 200 residents and fellows in ten residencies and three fellowships accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). WMed is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) for continuing medical education. The School of Medicine Clinics are housed in a modern 60,000 square foot clinical building on the Oakland Drive Campus and are accredited by The Joint Commission with recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. The 350,000 square foot educational building on the W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus located in downtown Kalamazoo underwent a $78 million renovation and expansion project including a state-of-the-art Simulation Center and two laboratory research floors. The Innovation Center on the Parkview Campus is a life science, technology, and engineering incubator serving the earliest startups to maturing companies with subsidized, low-cost laboratory, office and conference space, high quality scientific equipment and expertise, and a wide range of support services. Kalamazoo is a wonderful and vibrant city, located midway between Chicago and Detroit. It is a short distance from Lake Michigan, and home to two nationally ranked institutions of higher learning, Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo College. Kalamazoo is known for its community focus and emphasis on access to quality education at all levels. The Kalamazoo Promise is a nationally renowned program in which graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools receive free tuition to attend public and private colleges in Michigan. At the other end of the educational continuum, the Kalamazoo Ready 4s program ensures that every 4-year-old in Kalamazoo County has the opportunity to attend a high-quality pre-kindergarten program, regardless of ability to pay. Kalamazoo and Michigan provide extensive entertainment and recreational activities, including opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, unique restaurants and shops, and a strong culture supporting the arts. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is an Equal Employment Opportunity /Affirmative Action employer of females, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans, and actively strives to increase diversity within its community. We provide a drug- and tobacco-free workplace. EEO Minorities/Women/Disabled/Protected Veterans. Posted by: Elizabeth R. Lorbeer, EdM, MLS, AHIP Library Director Associate Professor & Chair, Department of the Medical Library Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine 1000 Oakland Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49008-8033 med.wmich.edu/library https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethlorbeer ________________________________ This electronic message is intended for the named recipient(s) only, and may contain information that is confidential or privileged. If you are not the named recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the contents of this message is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, or are not the named recipient, please notify us immediately by contacting the sender at the electronic mail address noted above, and delete and destroy all copies of this message. Thank you.

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UPCOMING WORKSHOP -- If These Walls Could Talk: Researching Your Historic House - July 6
by HSM Main 27 Jun '18

27 Jun '18

Upcoming Workshop . Friday, July 6 If These Walls Could Talk: Researching Your Historic House with Robert Myers, Historical Society of Michigan and Cassandra Nelson, Preservation Lansing <http://www.hsmichigan.org/programs/workshops/> Learn more and register on our website. Every building has a history, and your house has a great story to tell. In this workshop, you'll learn how to uncover house histories: who built them and when, their architectural styles, and the stories of the families who called them home. Join us on Friday, July 6, to find out what to do with that information. Participants can "attend" remotely, if they prefer. See our website for full details. <http://www.hsmichigan.org/programs/workshops/> Learn more and register on our website. _____ The Historical Society of Michigan is our state's oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 by territorial governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations to preserve and promote Michigan's rich history. _____ For more information on the Historical Society of Michigan, please visit <http://www.hsmichigan.org/> www.hsmichigan.org or e-mail us at <mailto:hsm@hsmichigan.org> hsm(a)hsmichigan.org. _____ The Historical Society of Michigan 5815 Executive Dr. . Lansing, MI 48911 Phone: (517) 324-1828 . FAX: (517) 324-4370 Future History Skills Workshops <http://www.hsmichigan.org/programs/workshops/> Visit our website for full descriptions of each workshop. Friday, July 20 Taming the Chaos: Collections Management for Small Museums Friday, August 3 Archives 201 Friday, August 17 Suiting Up: First-Person Interpretation Friday, September 7 Genealogy 201 Participants can "attend" remotely, if they prefer. See our website for full details. (Remote access is not available for off-site workshops.) Workshops are held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Meijer Education Center at the Historical Society of Michigan, 5815 Executive Dr., Lansing, Michigan (unless otherwise noted). Off-site workshops are held 1-4 p.m. If you are a personal member of HSM or represent an organization that itself is a member of the Society, registration is $39. Registration for non-members is $79 and includes a one-year HSM Individual Level 1 [Basic] membership. This e-mail is sent to our members and friends to keep you updated on historical activities and opportunities to learn more about our state's history. To opt-out, please respond to this e-mail with "remove" in the subject line.

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MeL Database Announcement
by Breed, Liz (MDE) 27 Jun '18

27 Jun '18

The Library of Michigan is pleased to announce that our most recent procurement process is nearing the finish line and we can announce our intentions to you. Our MeL Databases RFP process began with 8 listening sessions held in several communities around the state from Canton to Marquette. Your feedback helped shape the content of the RFP which was issued in January of this year. Several vendors responded to the RFP and 11 vendors were asked to provide trial access and product demonstrations via webinars. More than 200 members of the library community evaluated database resources during the trial period and provided detailed feedback to us via an evaluation survey. The decisions on the final choices were made using your evaluations and the available budget allocated to the Michigan eLibrary program. The Library of Michigan needs to balance the acquisition of database resources for MeL while continuing to provide services and support for the diverse Michigan library community. Our intent is to build a well-rounded state library that can provide services and support across the state to help libraries enhance their work in their own local communities, whether it be in a municipality, on a campus, or in a school building. In addition to providing high-quality electronic resources, one of our goals is to maintain and extend other statewide library services such as continuing education stipends, collaborative grants, summer mini-grants, community engagement training with Harwood, Wandoo Reading Program, continuing education to build knowledge and skills of the library community, increased enhancement of early literacy programming, Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) Michigan Hub, and potentially other services our community will request in the future. What Did We Request from Vendors? In 2017-2018 the Library of Michigan allocated nearly 75% of their statewide library services funding to the Michigan eLibrary that provides both the statewide resource sharing system, MeLCat, as well as electronic resources. When the Library of Michigan crafted the bid document, using input from the library community, we asked for pricing that includes a wide range of possible resources to support many different types of library audiences. For example, in this RFP we asked for resources that would cover the following topic areas meeting the needs of different library patrons: general interest (such as auto repair and genealogy, etc.), preK-12 educational, academic educational, allied health, business, reference eBooks, test preparations, licensing, certification, career preparation and workforce skills building. What Are the Results of the Evaluation Process? Our review team carefully evaluated all the resources offered and made their recommendations. Based on the best cost, evaluation scores for things like content and user interfaces, and library community input via surveys and product demonstrations, we are currently in the final stages of contracting with a variety of vendors for MeL database resources with access beginning October 1, 2018. Several resources we currently provide will continue under the new contracts, while others will be replaced with comparable products and new ones will be added to MeL.org and made available to all Michigan residents. For a complete list of databases click here<https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/lm_2018_June_Full_List…>. The following summary table indicates the overall packages that will be available to MeL users on October 1, 2018. NEW RESOURCES CONTINUING RESOURCES EXPIRING RESOURCES EBSCO Core Enhanced Package and EBSCO Business Package Gale Cengage * Opposing Viewpoints in Context (OViC) * Demographics Now People and Business Gale Cengage - All except Demographics Now and OViC AtoZDatabases.com Encyclopaedia Britannica School Scholastic BookFlix World Book * Early World of Learning * World Book Kids * Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos ProQuest Heritage Quest Civic Technologies' BusinessDescision What the Changes Will Bring. After reviewing library community feedback, pricing and our available budget we made decisions to move to a more comprehensive suite of products from EBSCO that fits within our allocated budget and also provides a number of enhancements to our current product lineup. There is a substantial list of resources available with EBSCO's package. For a full list of the EBSCO resources to begin this fall click here<https://www.michigan.gov/documents/libraryofmichigan/lm_2018_June_Full_List…>. Some of the specific highlights of EBSCO's offering are noted below. These bring the Michigan library community greater access without added cost. * MyHeritage, EBSCO's genealogy resource (replacing HeritageQuest) * NoveList upgrade to include both Novelist K-8 Plus and NoveList Plus (One of the most requested resources.) * LearningExpress Library upgrade to the full suite of resources. * Job and Career Accelerator * Computer Skills Tutorials o PrepSTEP Bundle * A 30,000+ collection of eBooks covering everything from K-8 to Business. * eBook Academic Collection * eBook Business Collection * eBook K-8 Collection * eBook High School Collection * eBook Public Library Collection * Additional eBooks can be found in LearningExpress Library, Literary Reference Center, MasterFILE, Poetry & Short Story Reference Center, and Science Reference Center * A substantial business collection with the following resources: * Business Book Summaries * eBook Business Collection * Entrepreneurial Studies Source * Regional Business News * Small Business Reference Center We also heard from the library community about a need for a business resource that fit better with the needs of public libraries wanting to provide access to detailed business and residential listings for their patrons. Our new resource, AtoZDatabases.com, fits this need and our budget. It is our goal to support and maintain a comprehensive collection of electronic resources for our K-12 community. The decision to not renew Scholastic's BookFlix resource was difficult and given the cost of this resource, it would be a challenge to provide other types of educational resources that were requested by the K-12 community. While we have secured a robust collection of electronic resources for the Michigan Library community, we are continuing to investigate options to supplement our current early literacy resources. EBSCO's K-12 offering includes their K-8 eBook collection, MasterFILE Complete, Biography Reference Center, Middle Search Plus (for middle school libraries), Primary Search (for elementary libraries), History Reference Center, and Literary Reference Center which contains many full text classics. Additionally, we are maintaining our subscriptions to Gale's Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Britannica's Encyclopaedia Britannica School, and World Book's Early World of Learning, World Book Kids and their Spanish language resource Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos. What Happens Next? Once the contracts are finalized later this summer, more detail about these resources will be available, and work will begin to configure the subscription access to the new package of EBSCO resources as well as to AtoZDatabases.com. MeL team members will also be working with vendors to develop more enhanced training and support that will help you learn how to use the new e-resources most effectively. Be on the lookout for upcoming training sessions to learn more about the resources in the summer and fall. Also on October 1, we will be excited to debut a new MeL site. Our goal is to create an easier to use portal for all things MeL and will also focus on providing additional database training and support resources. We look forward to feedback from the library community and sharing our progress as we move through the re-design process. What Should You Do? It is important that you, your public service and technology staff stay abreast of the MeL changes and training opportunities for our new resources that will be announced in the coming months. You can stay up-to-date by subscribing to the following lists or visiting the Library of Michigan website: * Michlib-L Listserv<http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo> * MeL Databases List<http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo> * LM's Michigan eLibrary page<https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18668_39174---,00.h…> You should also begin planning to make any necessary changes to your website, printed materials, and statistical collection methods. The MeL team would like to extend its thanks to the many members from the Michigan library community that took time to participate in the product demonstrations and provide evaluations of the resources through the survey. Additionally, thanks to the staff from the Library of Michigan and the Midwest Collaborative for Library Services for doing the work behind the scenes to enable the Michigan eLibrary program to serve our libraries and patrons across Michigan. Questions? For questions about the 2018 RFP please contact Liz Breed, Michigan eLibrary Coordinator, via email at breedl(a)michigan.gov<mailto:breedl@michigan.gov> or fill out our web form<https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/0,2351,7-160-18668_39174-471706-…>. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services<https://www.imls.gov/>. Additional funding is provided by the State of Michigan and the Library of Michigan Foundation<http://www.libraryofmichiganfoundation.org/>. Liz Breed Michigan eLibrary Coordinator Library of Michigan Michigan Department of Education 517-373-4466 breedl(a)michigan.gov<mailto:breedl@michigan.gov> www.mel.org<http://www.mel.org>

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Job Opportunities @ Bloomfield Township Public Library - Adult Services Department Head & Clerical Assistants
by BTPL Careers 27 Jun '18

27 Jun '18

Greetings-- We have another excellent job opportunity at Bloomfield Township Public Library, in addition to our two other thrilling openings. See the attached for our newest job, Administration Clerical Assistant. Go to our website (https://btpl.org/about-us/employment-volunteer/) to find out more about our other openings: Adult Services Department Head and Circulation Clerical Assistant (similar title to other Clerical Assistant job, very different position). Best Regards, Linden Godlove Administrative Assistant Bloomfield Township Public Library ________________________________________ From: michlib-l-bounces(a)mcls.org [michlib-l-bounces(a)mcls.org] on behalf of michlib-l-request(a)mcls.org [michlib-l-request(a)mcls.org] Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2018 12:00 PM To: michlib-l(a)mcls.org Subject: Michlib-l Digest, Vol 44, Issue 26 Send Michlib-l mailing list submissions to michlib-l(a)mcls.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to michlib-l-request(a)mcls.org You can reach the person managing the list at michlib-l-owner(a)mcls.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Michlib-l digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Speaker on Alzheimer's (brownr(a)charlottelibrary.org) 2. Blu-ray cases (Don Priest) 3. Job Posting: Adult/Teen Services Hourly Librarian (Jessica Parij) 4. 1000 books before kindergarten (Marla Drury) 5. PLEASE SHARE: Reminder for Voter Registration (Simlar, Cathleen (MDOS)) 6. Unclaimed Property (Amber Hughey) 7. Library Law Webinar - Summer Library Law (Membiela, Clare (MDE)) 8. labels -- various Demco & TSLA (Chris Cook) 9. Re: Unclaimed Property (ConnieJo Ozinga) 10. Continuing Education Stipends - Up to $1600 - Deadline is June 30! (Atkin, Evette (MDE)) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2018 13:16:49 -0400 From: <brownr(a)charlottelibrary.org> To: <michlib-l(a)mcls.org> Subject: [Michlib-l] Speaker on Alzheimer's Message-ID: <000801d40d71$78541970$68fc4c50$(a)charlottelibrary.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" We have had Carol Waarala speak at our library a couple of times now. She is very knowledgeable and offers many different programs regarding partnering with those living with dementia. Our patrons have been very appreciative of the information they have received, and both times have asked to have her back! I would recommend having her speak at your library. Her contact info: Carol Waarala, MSW, LMSW Certified Specialist in Aging and Dementia Care waaralacarol(a)gmail.com <mailto:waaralacarol@gmail.com> (248)420-3067 www.seekingpositivepathways.com <http://www.seekingpositivepathways.com> ~Rhonda Brown Charlotte Community Library (517)543-8859

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