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Source: https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/rss/news.rss

<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
<channel>
<title>News & Press</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/</link>
<description><![CDATA[ Read about recent events, essential information and the latest community news. ]]></description>
<lastBuildDate>Wed, 8 May 2024 02:58:25 GMT</lastBuildDate>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Nov 2023 16:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
<copyright>Copyright © 2023 Minnesota Library Association</copyright>
<atom:link href="http://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/rss/news.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"></atom:link>
<item>
<title>ERMN 2024: Save the date and call for proposals</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/658113/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/658113/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Save the date for the 2024 E-Resources Minnesota (ERMN) Virtual Conference on the afternoon of Wednesday, February 21, 2024, hosted by Minitex. Share your e-resource tips, tricks, and best practices with colleagues from across the region. <img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/item/mla_comm23_ermn2024logo250.png" /> The ERMN Conference planning committee is <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLMsIgujYdDctYK8lA2RnzjD7m-l0GT2iO3l0eHqiLa4Jk1Q/viewform">seeking proposals</a> for presentations and panel discussions on e-resource related topics. Submissions are due by December 22, 2023. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeLMsIgujYdDctYK8lA2RnzjD7m-l0GT2iO3l0eHqiLa4Jk1Q/viewform">Submit a proposal</a> for one of the following: <ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li>Full Sessions: 40-minute lecture or workshop conference presentations.</li><li>Half Sessions: 20-minute talks. Two short talks are grouped into a single session.</li><li>Panel Discussion Sessions: 50-minute sessions offering participants a more in-depth opportunity to learn about an e-resource related topic or issue through a facilitated discussion involving multiple presenters.</li></ul> Stay tuned for more information and a link to the conference registration!]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:07:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>2023 Legislative Wrap-Up Recording Now Available</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/644425/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/644425/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2023 Legislative Session Wrap-UpView the <a href="https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2F1pgrFahWZ-NklPZp39UJSEYAZ8D95iB1-C2BM8oojs10LH5c-0OMkOS_dGI-9nBg.vrbx2LN9w1iVxZr-/1/01000188f94a22d4-c190bba5-56c1-4d0d-ae23-fd783fcd20ed-000000/sNLD9SmbNIoqHHAn1-wgPdyuuAk=327" target="_blank">legislative update</a>* recorded on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, to learn more about MLA’s success at the Capitol, including:<ul style="font-size: 18.6667px; list-style-type: disc;"><li>Legacy Funding for Regional Public Library Systems $2.75M/Year</li></ul><ul style="font-size: 18.6667px; list-style-type: disc;"><li>Regional Public Library System Funding (RLBSS) $4M increase in funding, future increases tied to the Basic Education Allowance, a formula adjustment, and the use of current state demographer numbers for calculations.</li></ul><ul style="font-size: 18.6667px; list-style-type: disc;"><li>MultiCounty MultiType (MCMT) Regional Library Systems $700K for operating and $1M one-time grants for media specialists.</li></ul><ul style="font-size: 18.6667px; list-style-type: disc;"><li>Minitex Funding for online nursing and health databases.</li></ul><ul style="font-size: 18.6667px; list-style-type: disc;"><li>School Library Media Centers and Specialists A definition of a school library or school library media center, $23M/Y for school libraries, and School Library Aid.</li></ul><ul style="font-size: 18.6667px; list-style-type: disc;"><li>Bonding $4M for construction and renovation grants.</li></ul>If prompted for a Passcode to watch the recording, enter!CvcK%g1 ]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 26 Jun 2023 21:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Announcing Recipients of 2023 Minnesota Academic Innovators Award</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/643671/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/643671/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Minnesota Academic Innovators Award is an annual award that recognizes academic librarians or academic project teams who have made an outstanding recent contribution to advance the mission of an academic library in Minnesota through an innovative project, program, or service. This year, ARLD is recognizing the outstanding work of a team, which includes Robin Ewing, Jennifer Quinlan, Tom Steman, Melissa Prescott, and Missy Northenscold of St. Cloud State University. The team made substantial strides towards making course materials and scholarship more affordable and accessible for their institution, and for the larger Minnesota State system. By creating <a href="https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/critical-thinking-in-academic-research">an open textbook for LIB courses</a>, openly sharing learning objects and resources in the course management system and <a href="https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/">institutional repository</a>, managing textbook donations, coordinating events, and going above and beyond with their outreach, these librarians have saved students over $10 million. From their nomination letter, “The entire team of librarians and staff have strategically focused on all elements of affordability and OER/OA, with much success for our students, faculty, and staff, and this year will be awarded an additional $100K in grant and project funding from Minnesota State to develop a <a href="https://www.minnstate.edu/admissions/oer/oer-projects/index.html">Z-degree</a> transfer pathway for all students in the Minnesota State system.” The ARLD Board is thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize this important work. One can look further by visiting their <a href="https://stcloudstate.libguides.com/affordability">Affordability and Open Educational Resources (OER) guide</a>.  Our recipients accepted the 2023 Minnesota Academic Innovators Award at the ARLD Day Virtual Opening on April 28, 2023. The award is sponsored by the Academic & Research Libraries Division (ARLD) of the Minnesota Library Association. ARLD is a division of the Minnesota Library Association and is also the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) chapter in Minnesota. ARLD’s purpose is to identify and seek solutions to mutual problems on the academic and research library level of librarianship, to improve services, to encourage development of librarians, and to stimulate cooperation among libraries.]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jun 2023 19:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Hooray for MN Libraries! The 2023 Legislative Session Adjourns</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/641180/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/641180/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2023 Legislative Session Adjourns Report from Sam Walseth CHA, 5.23.23 In recent years we have become accustomed to a massive flurry of last-minute legislative activity on the final weekend of a session, including a scramble on the last day to get budget work done. In most years we’ve seen the legislature stumble into June special sessions to finish budget bills ahead of the June 30 fiscal year deadline. This year was different and a ‘global agreement’ on budget targets on March 21st certainly helped bring the budget debate to a close. About two weeks ago we saw the first slate of budget bills start to wrap up. Just over a week ago, the Education deal was announced. Last week the remaining budget bills made their way to closure. On the last day of session, the Health & Human Services bill was the last major budget bill to pass. However, the last day also featured another bill that would pump $300 million into nursing homes as part of a deal with the GOP to secure the votes to pass two infrastructure bills. The first infrastructure bill (HF 669) appropriated $1.5 billion in general obligation bonds, including $4 million for library construction and renovation grants. The second infrastructure bill includes $1 billion in cash for many other projects. And with that, your legislature has adjourned until they reconvene on February 12, 2024.  Mark your calendars for June 7 Be sure to join the MLA Legislative <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/">call at 10am on Wednesday, June 7</a> as MLA Legislative Chair Liz Lynch and the lobbying team from Capitol Hill Associates will provide a debriefing on this monumental legislative session. (You will need to log into the MLA website to view and register for this event)<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/legislative_committee/mla_23_hooraymnlibraries23le.png" />]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 May 2023 20:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Legislative Updates: May 3, 2023</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/639473/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/639473/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/legislative_committee/mla_23_legupdate_logo620x160.jpg" />Legislative Updates from MLA Lobbyist, Sam Walseth and ALA Chapter Councilor, Hannah Buckland May 3, 2023   Update from Sam Walseth, CHA <ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li>View Sam’s May 3rd legislative update, which includes the following messages:<ul style="list-style-type: square;"><li>○Contact <a href="https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/cc/Default?type=bill&year=2023-93&bill=HF-2497">Education Finance Conferees</a> to urge them to support the Senate's position on library funding.</li><li>○Contact the <a href="https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/cc/Default?type=bill&year=2023-93&bill=HF-1999">Legacy Conferees</a> to thank them for their support of Arts and Cultural Heritage funding in public libraries.</li><li>○Contact <a href="https://www.leg.mn.gov/leg/cc/Default?type=bill&year=2023-93&bill=HF-2073">Higher Education Finance and Policy Conferees</a> to support funding for Minitex.</li><li>○Session ends on Monday, May 22, 2023</li><li>○<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cXYZJlY0yOn2FzTXzT7-uxWj5V9UsGv-/view?usp=sharing">Click Here to View Update</a></li></ul></li><li>Complete the<a href="https://forms.gle/NxYYBwwUyAckajzE7"> 2023 Legislators Contacted Survey</a> by the end of the month.</li><li>Mark your calendar for the online Legislative Forum, scheduled for August 8, 2023! </li><li>Attend the June 7th Legislative Update by registering on the <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/">MLA Event Calendar</a> page.</li></ul> Update from Hannah Buckland, ALA Chapter Councilor On Tuesday, Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, II, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Shontel Brown introduced the Prison Libraries Act of 2023. This legislation would establish a new program to provide grants to state prisons to create or develop libraries. <a href="https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2023/04/ala-welcomes-prison-libraries-act-2023">https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2023/04/ala-welcomes-prison-libraries-act-2023</a>   Sen. Reed and Rep. Grijalva introduced the Right to Read Act of 2023 on Wednesday. This bill would highlight the importance of certified school librarians in schools and increase the authorization for funding beneficial to school libraries. Additionally, the legislation also protects the Constitutional rights of students to access information in school libraries, extend liability protections to teachers and school librarians, and improve federal statistics on school libraries. The legislation also supports recruitment, retention and professional development for state-certified school librarians. Additionally, the Right to Read Act would improve federal collection of statistics about school libraries to provide better data about how schools are advancing students' learning and literacy skills. <a href="https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2023/04/ala-aasl-praise-library-legislation-expand-access-students-nationwide">https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2023/04/ala-aasl-praise-library-legislation-expand-access-students-nationwide</a>   More Social Workers (MSWs) in Public Libraries Act On Friday, the More Social Workers (MSWs) in Libraries Act was introduced by Rep. Sylvia Garcia with Reps. Barbara Lee and Hillary Scholten. It would create a grant program that places social work interns and qualified social workers in public libraries.   Resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal Expressing support for the staff of this Nation's public, school, academic, and special libraries and the essential services they provide to our communities, recognizing the need for funding commensurate with the broad scope of social services and community supports provided by libraries, preserving the right of all citizens to freely access information and resources in their communities, supporting a strong union voice for library workers, and defending the civil rights of library staff.]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 4 May 2023 19:03:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Monthly Legislative Update Meeting (May 3, 2023)</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/638695/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/638695/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Monthly Legislative Update Meeting with MLA Lobbyist Sam Walseth   Join us on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. for a brief legislative update from MLA Lobbyist Sam Walseth as we approach the end of the legislative session. Register for the meeting by visiting <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/">https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/</a>   Legislative Survey We are interested in learning how many legislators were contacted by library advocates this session. Please fill <a href="https://forms.gle/ft3ZCVyrQvawN5yS9">this survey out</a> at your convenience. Thanks!]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Apr 2023 17:04:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Legislative Update: April 11, 2023</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/637222/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/637222/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Legislative Update: April 11, 2023 Time is running out to tell Congress to #FundLibraries! Join ALA’s annual advocacy campaign to secure federal funding for libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Act (IAL). Simply complete <a href="https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=20002">this online form</a> to send the message to your Congress Members or to receive a script you can use over the phone with their staffers. These actions take only a moment of your time and can make a world of difference for libraries nationwide. So far, neither Sen. Klobuchar or Sen. Smith have signed on to support either LSTA or IAL. On the House side, Rep. Craig is alone in her joint support for LSTA and IAL while Rep. Omar has only signed on to support LSTA. We know many Minnesota Congressmembers support libraries in word; now is the time to ask them to take action. For more information about this campaign, please visit ALA’s #<a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fund-libraries">FundLibraries</a> website. Hannah Buckland, ALA Chapter Councilor Legislative Surveys Tell us about your library legislative day experience at the Capitol on February 28th. Please take a moment to fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfua6gAUaSZAOm3_aE69MNJShzDj7OnwKOOLfPSIquXF4weRg/viewform">brief survey</a>. We are also interested in learning how many legislators were contacted by library advocates this session. Please fill <a href="https://forms.gle/ft3ZCVyrQvawN5yS9">this survey out</a> by the end of the legislative session. Thank you for advocating for Minnesota libraries! Liz Lynch & Sarah Hawkins, MLA Legislative Co Chairs  ]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:55:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Join Us for a Legislative Update!</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/635995/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/635995/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Join Us for a Legislative Update! Join us on Monday, April 3 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom for a brief legislative update. MLA Lobbyist Sam Walseth will share news regarding the MLA bills and we’ll discuss steps to move the legislative priorities forward.    View the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UQCpQDcJHsAi9t4hygaxQgEsQVAJu2hNeqED0y09Cqw/edit?usp=sharing">Agenda</a>   Register for the legislative update by visiting: <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events">https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events</a>.]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:54:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>CYP Welcomes New Chair Elect!</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/635993/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/635993/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[CYP Welcomes New Chair Elect!Kirsten Vaughan has worked in public libraries for over ten years. She has spent most of that time serving the Greater Minnesota area. As a rural librarian, she has worn many "hats," but her favorite role has been programming for children and youth, including Storytimes, themed Reading parties, escape rooms, and more.<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/roundup/2023_rup/MLA_23_KirstenVaughan.jpg" />]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:28:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>PLD Day 2023 - Call for Lightning Round Proposals</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/635991/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/635991/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[PLD Day 2023 - Call for Lightning Round ProposalsAnyone can contribute to the Lightning Round! Prepare a five minute talk about anything related to public libraries-- new initiatives or programs at your branch, professional trends, general concerns or even something that excites you! To submit a proposal, please email <a href="mailto:PLD@mnlibraryassociation.org">PLD@mnlibraryassociation.org</a> Join us for this year’s virtual PLD Day 2023 on Friday, May 5. Registration opens April 6. ]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Mar 2023 00:01:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Let’s Celebrate a Great Day at the Capitol</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/633976/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/633976/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Let’s Celebrate a Great Day at the Capitol! Library Legislative Day at the Capitol was a huge success! Thank you to the over 40 library advocates who attended the library fair, attended the hearings, and visited their local legislators.  Join us for the Library Legislative Day Debriefing on Wednesday, March 8th at 10:00 a.m. to hear a brief update from Sam Walseth, MLA Lobbyist and share experiences from the day. To register for the meeting, visit <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events">https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events</a>   Legislative Action Items: <ul><li>We have a bill number for Legacy!!! HF2386 Contact your local Representatives and ask them to support and sign on to HF2386. </li><li>Ask your local representatives to sign on to HF1917 in support of Minnesota Library Systems, which includes support for Regional Public Library Systems, MultiCounty/MultiTypes (MCMT), and School Media Centers!</li><li>Please note: a previous version of the Invest in Minnesota Library Systems included incorrect information.  The chief authors for School Library Aid SF1911 & HF1974 are Senator Mary Kunesh and Representative Mary Fances Clardy.</li></ul>   We would also like to remind you of the following: <ul><li>Visit the <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/page/2023LegislativeSession">MLA Advocacy’s 2023 Legislative Session</a> dropdown for access to the latest handouts for educating advocates about MLA initiatives. </li><li>Register for the monthly Legislative Update on MONDAY, APRIL 3rd at 10:00 a.m. NOTE: We will be meeting on Monday rather than Wednesday, during the month of April only (<a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events">calendar event change coming soon!</a>).</li><li>Send a follow-up thank you email to your local legislators. Feel free to attach <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11DHhVu1Tu8IQgvSa_ufvLJ1Js14ixmBI?usp=sharing">documents supporting MLA bills</a>.</li></ul>]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 7 Mar 2023 15:59:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Prairieland Book Challenge Online Conference</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/628475/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/628475/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Prairielands First Friday in February Online Conference
<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fr20.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001phOmFmQak4g_ESn-OWWGW3pX3PFYRU9jBeeDloYlTH55Io3nyJyTH2o_gyIsZnamry5YuT4Irkg7MmdiOUjousxW1kJzEK7QaCEyhR8mfS5MzmljSBytyt-MCWoeTypiwsOolLORiLk8Mibd2ny4YX4UhoGw5D7EgebDYtnqpzs%3D%26c%3DXaBDLIF5dYZ23QeDHa3tOlRAa2Ew-OXNBo2zhyIJlYqSygsvxb1wSQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DeoWn6rYJhUL6U9qLffW2fMPet58FQ_EVKfBru1px7kMs_B5QR4xCCg%3D%3D&data=05%7C01%7CHeather.Biedermann%40southcentral.edu%7C5ad5785a17fe4a17bb2e08daee9a9691%7C5011c7c60ab446ab9ef4fae74a921a7f%7C0%7C0%7C638084644963365325%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GQMMWca8TlX0fyspH1d%2FhYseVuE00a4j0bJwJbuVg6o%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14pt;">When it Happens to You: Coping with Resource Complaints and Challenges</a>
Feb 3, 2023

Free! 
<a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fr20.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D001phOmFmQak4g_ESn-OWWGW3pX3PFYRU9jBeeDloYlTH55Io3nyJyTH2o_gyIsZnam82thi7iy43PKGPTBeO5cu5pmu-p0fXpP8j4IME0tR7-YGEFZiZR0W7BEiopVMZgiWAwE9hiO29k%3D%26c%3DXaBDLIF5dYZ23QeDHa3tOlRAa2Ew-OXNBo2zhyIJlYqSygsvxb1wSQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DeoWn6rYJhUL6U9qLffW2fMPet58FQ_EVKfBru1px7kMs_B5QR4xCCg%3D%3D&data=05%7C01%7CHeather.Biedermann%40southcentral.edu%7C5ad5785a17fe4a17bb2e08daee9a9691%7C5011c7c60ab446ab9ef4fae74a921a7f%7C0%7C0%7C638084644963365325%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vlFdXiimlyaSppsQcVXqn1D8eDB6fMVgSC19u4mHCfg%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" style="font-size: 14pt;">Register</a>
Sessions will help you prepare for the possibility of complaints, challenges & concerns about your library's resources. Whether in a public, school, academic or special library, the possibility of a complaint is ever present.<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/news/MLA_PrairielandsLogo_474.jpg" style="width: 474px; height: 186px;" />]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jan 2023 21:47:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Minnesota 2022 Elections Results and Analysis from MLA Lobbyist, Sam Walseth CHA</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/623579/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/623579/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Minnesota Elections Results and Analysis from MLA Lobbyist, Sam Walseth CHA   11.14.2022 In 2018, 1.393 million people voted for Tim Walz. Last Tuesday night, 1.312 million Minnesotans turned out for Walz, putting him squarely in the victory circle early on election night. In 2018, GOP Gubernatorial nominee Jeff Johnson attained 1.097 million voters and Scott Jensen pulled in 1.120 million this year. The GOP maintained strong message discipline on crime and inflation, highlighting failed attempts to defund the police. While this resonated with their traditional voters, those messages were trumped by higher concerns over threats to reproductive rights and our democracy among independent voters, who upon post-election analysis, appear to have tilted slightly to the Democrats. While Trump’s visibility in Minnesota was low this cycle, offering late endorsements for Jensen, perhaps his presence nationally, and the continued rhetoric about re-litigating the 2020 election, didn’t play well here. Of note, GOP Secretary of State candidate, Kim Crockett, who, joking or not, talked 2020 election fraud, had the poorest showing among GOP statewide candidates. Furthermore, attempts by GOP candidates in MN to distance themselves from the Dobb’s decision and claim that abortion wasn’t on the ballot don’t appear to have worked with women and independents. Add a strong youth vote (18-29 year-olds) that broke by huge margins for DFLers and the red wave was just a mirage in Minnesota. Republicans last won a statewide race in Minnesota in 2006, a year where Tim Pawlenty won re-election to the Governor’s office in a three-way race. Also note Amy Klobuchar’s 1.566 million votes in 2018. She’s up for re-election in 2024. Once again, Democrats hung on to all statewide constitutional officers. For Congress, the incumbents return as Angie Craig (CD 2 south metro) secured a win in one of the most competitive congressional races in the country. Dean Phillips (CD 3, west metro) won handily, moving a congressional seat that in 2014 was a GOP +24 to a now DFL +20 district. Secretary of State Steve Simon was the largest vote-getter on election night, collecting 1.345 million votes. House Speaker Melissa Hortman defied the odds and is keeping her majority intact with what looks to be a 70-64 split. Most stunning of all is that the Senate DFL found a pathway to 34 members, attaining the slimmest of majority status, 34-33, and giving the DFL a governing “trifecta” - the first since the 2012 election. The DFL’s pathway is through the suburbs, which have solidified for them, along with the larger Greater MN communities of Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Mankato and Moorhead. The rural DFL juggernaut that, with the Iron Range, held control of Minnesota’s political landscape through the 1980s until Obama’s second term is gone, as is the GOP control of the suburbs. Both elements still exist, but the dominant political identities of the regions have flipped the script and a new Minnesota majority has emerged. Minnesota is one of 18 states, including Michigan, which have joined the Democrat trifecta club. Of course, many states are in the Republican trifecta club, but Minnesota had been one of two hold-out states for divided state government and throughout the midterm cycle it felt like it could go the other way. DFL Priorities Another factor, perhaps benefiting the DFL, is the fading of left-leaning third parties, like the “Legal Marijuana Now” party, which will lose major party status after failing to secure a minimum 5% voter threshold in the last two general elections. After seeing votes hemorrhaged to the marijuana parties in recent elections, the DFL has taken an aggressive stance toward pro-legalization. We should expect to see a marijuana legalization bill advance and likely become law during the 2023 session. Labor groups, of course, are a mainstay presence for Minnesota’s DFL and Paid Family Medical Leave will be another top priority issue for the new trifecta to advance. Last, but not least, is the impact of the Dobb’s Supreme Court Case, overturning Roe vs Wade. There will be serious consideration by the new DFL majorities to place a constitutional question on the ballot for 2024 voters to consider. A state Supreme Court decision is currently protecting a woman’s right to choose in Minnesota. As for Education: vouchers and “education savings accounts” are dead on arrival. Instead, we should expect a significant, if not a truly historic, education package to emerge from the Walz budget plan, released by January 24. In recent years, teacher union pressure has been to allocate state aid to categories of staff groups, like school counselors, in addition to state dollars in student-based formulas (general education, special education, English Language Learners). In his press conference last Wednesday, Governor Walz talked about potentially fully funding special education. Support for regional library systems has been in the mix in recent DFL (and the 2021 GOP) education plans. New Leaders Last Thursday the Senate DFL decided on Sen. Kari Dziedzic (Minneapolis) to be the Senate Majority Leader. They selected Bobby Joe Champion (Minneapolis) to be the President of the Senate. They selected Ann Rest (New Hope) to be the Tax Chair, and they picked John Marty (Roseville) as the Finance Chair. SML Dziedzic said they are still deciding on assistant leadership posts. She stated their caucus will spend more time together and hearing from their very large incoming class of new Senators about what policy issues they heard at the doors as they work to coalesce around their 2023 agenda. A committee structure and chairs remain to be seen and is probably a couple of weeks out. The Senate GOP also regrouped and chose a new leadership team. Sen. Mark Johnson (East Grand Forks) will be the new Senate Minority Leader. His leadership team includes Sens. Justin Eichorn (Grand Rapids), Julia Coleman (Chanhassen), Karin Housley (Stillwater) and Bill Weber (Luverne). The House DFL will continue under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Hortman (Brooklyn Park). They have selected Jamie Long (Minneapolis) as their new Majority Leader and House Whip Athena Hollins (St. Paul) to work with Speaker Hortman on organizing the House for 2023. Last Friday, the House GOP decided to move in a new direction with the selection of Lisa Demuth (Cold Spring) as the incoming House Minority Leader. Education Leaders Last February’s redistricting results led to many retirements, including key educational leaders. Tuesday’s election resulted in another key retirement as Senate GOP Education Chair Roger Chamberlain lost his election to Heather Gustafson. Chamberlain’s race was highly targeted by the DFL, in particular by Education Minnesota, who sought to unseat Chamberlain. Both the House and Senate DFL majorities need to select new Education chairs, but we likely won’t know who they’ll be for a few weeks. Library Leaders THE Rep. Mary Murphy (DFL Hermantown) Library supporters lost their key ally in the election. Longtime House DFLer Mary Murphy (DFL Hermantown) lost by a narrow, 35 vote margin, ending a long and storied career. Her unwavering support for library programs will be missed and we’ll need to rally up new supporters to fill her historic shoes, especially on Library Legacy and Bonding requests. Rep. Dan Wolgamott (St. Cloud) Rep. Dan Wolgamott, the latest House chief author for regional public library system support, won re-election to his third term. He stays in the majority, and we’ll look to him for continued support of the MLA agenda. Sen. Mary Kunesh (DFL New Brighton) Filling the library advocacy gap in the Senate has been Sen. Mary Kunesh, a former licensed school media specialist in her own right. She now gets a chance to legislate from the Senate majority and we can be excited about her prospects for helping advance the MLA agenda. Sen. Mark Johnson (GOP East Grand Forks) Sen. Mark Johnson, the latest Senate chief author for library system support, won re-election to his third term. While the GOP lost majority status, Sen. Johnson has been selected as their new leader. He is the Senate Minority Leader for the 2023 session and beyond. We’ll still look to Sen. Johnson for his continued support of the MLA agenda. Sen. Karin Housley (GOP Stillwater) Sen. Karin Housley, the latest Senate chief author for library construction and renovation grants (Bonding bill) won re-election to her fourth term. We’ll still look to Sen. Housley for her continued support of the MLA agenda. New Members Overall, we expect 68 new members in the Legislature to be sworn in on January 3, 47 in the House and 21 in the Senate, about 1/3 of each body. The Senate DFL caucus has 20 current members and 14 new Senators joining their ranks. The Senate GOP caucus has 24 returning members and 9 new Senators. The House DFL has 51 returning members and 19 new members. The House GOP has 40 returning members and 24 new members. In addition to the committee structure for the House and Senate, and their committee staff, the actual committee rosters are the final piece of the organizational jigsaw puzzle as the new legislative chessboard is set. We likely won’t see committee rosters until very close to the start of session, somewhat by design to keep the lobbyist crew at bay, but it’s also a monumental task for leadership to balance out many interests, many personalities, and ensure that key legislation won’t hit accidental roadblocks during committee hearings. One Minnesota A significant consensus for policy and legislative solutions around a core set of issues seems elusive in Minnesota, as it appears to be for the rest of the nation. Our voting blocs appear to be hardening, especially along generational lines. While a political trifecta certainly greases the skids for Tim Walz’s second term, perhaps relief from the pandemic and serious civil unrest will allow him to refocus our energies on the many problems that all our communities are facing. Housing shortages, workforce shortages, childcare shortages, rebuilding respect for our educational professionals, property tax stability, layering in the federal infrastructure money, and yes, persistent economic and educational disparities that all too often fall on racial lines. These might not be the hot issues that trigger extreme voter bases, but they’re the bread-looking-for-butter issues that cross the rural metro divide. A sustained focus on these complex challenges over the fresh four years of Walz’s next term, and the Senate’s four-year term, could get us back on track for the good life we expect in Minnesota.]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 18 Nov 2022 18:19:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>MLA Conference History: Revisiting Duluth After 100 Years</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/619853/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/619853/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Fun flashback! Back in October of 1922, the MLA Conference was held in Duluth at the Spalding hotel (now where the Ordean building is) for the 30th annual conference. Over 150 library staff from across MN attended. Thank you to Duluth Public Library staff for finding this history!<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/roundup/Historic1_525x668.jpg" /><img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/roundup/Historic2_524x532.jpg" />]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:53:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Legislative Update from Sam Walseth</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/610086/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/610086/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Legislative Update from MLA Lobbyist, Sam Walseth CHA   Frontline Worker Pay The MLA legislative team requested some feedback from the Department of Labor and Industry on potential requests for frontline worker pay from employees of library systems. The bill that passed outlines specific sectors of the economy whose employees are potentially eligible to apply, and some library staff fit those categories; “schools, including charter schools, state schools, and higher education,” to name one sector that could apply for library staff. Below are two questions we asked and the response we received from DOLI: <ol><li style="background: white;">Is there a penalty for applying and not receiving or being denied payment? There is not an automatic penalty for applying and being denied payment. However, as part of the application, the applicant must certify their eligibility to each of the eligibility criteria set forth in the Frontline Worker Pay law. One of the application questions asks the applicant to certify that they worked in one or more of the identified frontline sectors and identify the sector(s). There is also a final certification where the applicant must acknowledge the following statement: “I certify and affirm the above information is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that if I submit a false claim for payment, I may be charged with an attempt to commit theft of public funds. I understand there may be other penalties for not telling the truth on this application.”</li><li style="background: white;">Will staff who apply with a public library listed as an employer be categorically denied? No, but there are a number of mechanisms built in the system to verify eligibility. As stated above, as part of the application, the applicant must certify their eligibility to each of the eligibility criteria set forth in the Frontline Worker Pay law. There will also be verification through the Department of Revenue related to AGI, verification through DEED related to UI benefit payments, and statistical sampling related to employment eligibility. If a payment is made to an ineligible individual, the law allows the commissioner of revenue to “issue an order of assessment to the individual receiving the payment for the amount of the payment.”</li></ol> For more information on the Frontline Worker Pay program, go here: <a href="https://frontlinepay.mn.gov/submit">Minnesota Frontline Worker Pay Program Submission Manager (mn.gov)</a>   Special Session goes bust – Campaigns in Full Swing We’re over a month out from the close of the regular legislative session. Hopes for a special session to revive tax, spending and bonding legislation under the leadership “4-4-4” plan have evaporated. Both sides are pointing a finger at each other for the failure to produce significant legislation amidst a multi-billion-dollar surplus. Governor Walz is calling for a brief special session to pass one-time rebate checks, $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families. GOP leaders from Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller, House Minority Leaders Kurt Daudt and GOP candidate for Governor, Scott Jensen, have all panned the one-time rebate checks as an election year gimmick. They’re hoping to keep the surplus intact for the next full budget session in January and run the table on the November elections. If they do, permanent tax cuts are their primary goal.   Infrastructure-only Special Session? Left out of the finger pointing on taxes and spending is any mention of a bonding bill. 2022 was supposed to be a bonding year after all. Between now and the election there will be speculation about a special session to pass a bonding bill and perhaps setting aside state matching funds to draw down Minnesota’s share of the federal infrastructure bill. If there’s any hope for an “infrastructure-only” special session it would most likely have to wait until after the primary election in early August. Many rank and file GOP incumbents in the legislature have found themselves with primary challengers to deal with this summer. At stake for MLA is the potential for bonding dollars for library construction and renovation grants.   Campaign Season A recent poll shows a tight race for Governor with a healthy portion of the voters still undecided on Walz or Jensen. There’s a ton of money on both sides and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller will remind folks that in 2020, his caucus was targeted nationally by Democrat interests and outspent 3:1, but they hung onto their majority. The pundits say it’s shaping up to be a good year for the GOP given the inflation and gas price woes as Biden takes the blame, deserved or not, it’s just the way things have gone in midterms and the President’s party. The D’s hope to rally their base to the voter booth as they look at Roe vs Wade, gun violence prevention and continued fallout from the January 6 investigation. Will it be enough? Who will tune in and turn out to vote next fall is the big question. Minnesotans tend to buck national trends and vote in large numbers, which could keep legislative majorities thin.   Attend the Monthly Legislative Committee Meeting! Join the monthly Legislative Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 6th at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom to hear an update from MLA Lobbyist Sam Walseth and his team, and to learn more about the upcoming Legislative Forum.   Click here to view the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bWguYXDhRzfkmmQEpTwaSMY2fZiQgh7TgqyM2kxp3yk/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">agenda</a> and the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NwYAeKSHGyvNvEC6DdmXcAAR2-W7cGAjVg5ktEtnPWw/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">notes</a> from the June 1 meeting.   Register for the monthly meetings by visiting <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/event_list.asp">Upcoming Events</a> on the MLA site.  ]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2022 15:21:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Megan Kocher and Amy Riegelman are the 2022 Minnesota Academic Innovators</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/607319/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/607319/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The Minnesota Academic Innovator’s Award is an annual award that recognizes academic librarians or academic project teams who have made an outstanding recent contribution to advance the mission of an academic library in Minnesota through an innovative project, program, or service.<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/arld/mla_22_megankocher_250.jpg" />Megan Kocher<img alt="" src="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/resource/resmgr/arld/mla_22_amyriegelman_250.jpg" />Amy Riegelman This year, ARLD is recognizing the outstanding work of Amy Riegelman and Megan Kocher, respectively Social Science and Science Librarian at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, for their efforts developing the IMLS-funded Evidence Synthesis Institute. In collaboration with the libraries at Carnegie Mellon University and Cornell University, Megan and Amy’s leadership and work to establish free, multi-day workshops for librarians and information specialists across the US and Canada has provided much needed evidence synthesis training previously unavailable outside the health sciences. As stated in their nomination letter, “over the course of the grant, hundreds of librarians in a broad range of disciplines are being trained in best practices in supporting evidence synthesis at their own institutions and thus improving the quality of research and publications which are utilized to inform practice and policy. An improved understanding of evidence synthesis methods extends far beyond the growing community of librarians being trained to other library staff at their institutions and in their regions and impacting a vast number of disciplinary researchers outside of librarianship being supported by their libraries.” Amy and Megan accepted the 2022 Minnesota Academic Innovators Award at the ARLD Day Virtual Opening on May 6, 2022. The award is sponsored by the Academic & Research Libraries Division (ARLD) of the Minnesota Library Association. ARLD is a division of the Minnesota Library Association and is also the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) chapter in Minnesota. ARLD’s purpose is to identify and seek solutions to mutual problems on the academic and research library level of librarianship, to improve services, to encourage development of librarians, and to stimulate cooperation among libraries.]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 1 Jun 2022 19:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>Legislative Update from MLA Lobbyist, Sam Walseth CHA</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/606833/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/606833/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Legislative Update from MLA Lobbyist, <a href="mailto:sam@capitolhillassoc.com">Sam Walseth CHA</a>


 
2022 Session Adjourns “Sine Die”
Last Sunday night the 2022 legislative session came to a close, leaving much of the hoped-for legislation on bonding, tax cuts and supplemental spending left undone. On Monday, retiring legislators gave speeches to their respective chambers. Their heartfelt comments, memories and advice about bipartisanship were well received, although it made many of us wonder where those attitudes and perspectives were the week before. Over 40 members of the legislature are retiring, another 11 are making an effort to move from the House to Senate.<br
/>
 
The Leadership 4-4-4 Plan
In the days and weeks to come there will be a lot of speculation about a special session to enact bills under the leaderships “4-4-4” plan. The plan called for $4 billion in tax cuts and $4 billion in supplemental spending over the next three fiscal years, while leaving the last $4 billion in available surplus on the bottom line. The deal also called for a $1.4 billion general obligation (GO) bonding bill.
For Minnesota’s public libraries, a bonding bill is the most significant piece of outstanding legislation. Despite a $1 billion spending target for E-12 education, negotiators for the Education Conference Committee dropped the RLBSS proposal early in the process. A solid effort by both chief authors, Rep. Dan Wolgamott and Sen. Mark Johnson was made throughout the session and they were fully engaged through the final days, working their channels to make this possible. We owe them both many thanks for their genuine advocacy and support.<br
/>
 
Education Negotiations
Senate E-12 negotiators made a strong push to put the vast majority of the $1B target into buying down school district special education expenditures, often referred to as the “special education cross-subsidy.” They also insisted on putting somewhere between $42-55 million into literacy training grants for K-5 teachers.
The House wanted to divvy up the $1B target, spreading it across a broader array of services, including continuing existing Voluntary PreK funding, early learning scholarships, mental health funding, English Language Learner funding, nutrition funding, and one-time funding to pay for an unemployment insurance mandate on schools for hourly workers, in addition to some special education funding. The House also fought for several of the mandates and policy provisions, particularly around student discipline.<br
/>
 
Tax Cut Negotiations
While the Education conference committee was a tail of difficult negotiations, the Tax conference committee felt like a love fest. Chairs Paul Marquart and Carla Nelson led the group to a $4 billion tax cut over the next three years. The highlights included a full elimination of state income taxes on social security benefits, an income tax credit for renters, and a first-tier income tax cut, reducing the current law rate of 5.35% to 5.1%. The bill also included a $30 million increase to both Local Government Aid and County Program Aid. As with most major bills, the tax bill was not taken up for a vote.
 
MLA Legislative Priorities
 
Library Capital Investment: SF 4034/HF 4421
SF 4034 Status in the Senate for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF4034&ssn=0&y=2022">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF4034&ssn=0&y=2022</a>


Senator Karin Housley and Representative Mary Murphy have been helpful, getting a larger library bonding bill introduced. The bill calls for $5M in GO bonds and $15M in cash for the library construction and renovation program. The Governor’s bonding bill includes $1M for library bonding. The last bonding bill, passed in October 2020, included $2.951 million for library construction and renovation grants.<br
/>
 
Regional Library Basic System Support: HF 4300
HF 4300 Status in the House for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF4300&ssn=0&y=2021">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF4300&ssn=0&y=2021</a>


The large, on-going budget surplus gave hope to the Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) proposal contained in HF 1710 (Dan Wolgamott)/SF 1131 (Mark Johnson). HF 4300 is the House Omnibus Education Finance & Policy bill, and the contents of HF 1710 were loaded into this legislative package. Despite a strong effort by our chief authors, this provision was dropped early in negotiations.<br
/>
 
School Libraries & Media Centers Defined: HF 4300
The House Omnibus Education Finance & Policy bill also includes a definition for “school libraries and media centers.” MLA worked with MDE and various public school organizations over the past year on the language. Sen. Mary Kunesh offered this language as an amendment to the Senate’s ‘literacy’ bill, but it was voted down over concerns expressed by majority members that it would create an unfunded mandate on schools. This provision, along with much of the House DFL policy provisions, was not even discussed or debated during conference committee negotiations.
 
The Education Conference Committee Members were:
House: Jim Davnie, Julie Sandstede, Ruth Richardson, Hodan Hassan, Sondra Erickson
Senate: Roger Chamberlain, Justin Eichorn, Zack Duckworth, Julie Coleman, Chuck Wiger
 
Library Legacy:
The House Legacy committee advanced a bill that would provide a funding bump to many of the Legacy programs funded last session. Regional library systems would see a $404,000 increase in fiscal year ’23 and the MN Center for the Book would see a $18,000 increase in fiscal year ’23 under the proposal. The Senate was cool to the idea of increasing Legacy funds for Arts & Cultural Heritage (ACH) this session and the final Legacy bill that did pass does not include any increases for ACH programs.
 
Community Broadband Access
The Drought Relief, Agriculture, and Broadband Omnibus (HF3420 <a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3420&ssn=0&y=2021">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3420&ssn=0&y=2021</a>
<span
style="color: #222222; background: white;">) was one of the only large funding bills to pass this year. Included in that package is $210 million over the next three years for Minnesota's Border-to-Border Broadband grant program. The Office of Broadband Development has been preparing for this
potential funding, so we can expect the first round of grants soon. The bill also provides some direction for anticipated additional federal funding for broadband in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.


 
Student Data Practices: HF 2353
A compromise was struck between the ACLU, School District officials and Tech Providers on new regulations around student data and school monitoring of usage on school district devices. The bill passed and was signed into law on 5.22.22. The final bill can be found here, the 1st engrossment posted on 5.8.22:
HF 2353 Status in the House for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2353&ssn=0&y=2021">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF2353&ssn=0&y=2021</a>


 
Regulations on Student Directory data:
The House Public Safety omnibus bill, HF 4608, contained language regulating student directory information. The bill did not pass. The language stated in part:
“An educational agency or institution may not designate a student's home address, telephone number, e-mail address, or other personal contact information as directory information under this subdivision. This paragraph does not apply to a postsecondary institution.”
Scroll to line 215.22:
HF 4608 2nd Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF4608&type=bill&version=2&session=ls92&session_year=2022&session_number=0">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF4608&type=bill&version=2</a>


<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/text.php?number=HF4608&type=bill&version=2&session=ls92&session_year=2022&session_number=0">&session=ls92&session_year=2022&session_number=0</a>
 
Regulations on digital and online library database for students: HF 467
This bill advanced in 2021 in the House Education process, but it did not advance or see any debate this session. Look for advocates to reintroduce some version of this during the 2023 legislative session.
HF 467 Status in the House for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF467&y=2021&ssn=0&b=house">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?f=HF467&y=2021&ssn=0&b=house</a>

]]></description>
<category>Advocacy/Legislation</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2022 21:24:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>National Legislative Update from Hannah Buckland</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/605092/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/605092/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[It’s time to come together to #FundLibraries! Each year, ALA works with congressional staff to produce and circulate “Dear Appropriator” letters in Congress, addressed to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The circulation of these letters is our most influential nationwide advocacy action to keep libraries supported with robust federal funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and Innovative Approaches to Literacy Act (IAL).
While the deadline for letter signatures in the House has passed, there’s still time to join the cause: The deadline in the Senate is May 18, and as of May 6, neither Senator Amy Klobuchar nor Senator Tina Smith has signed on to support libraries. Please take a few minutes to encourage our senators to 
<a href="https://cqrcengage.com/ala/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=514122">take action</a>
!
More information about the #FundLibraries campaign is available through <a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/fund-libraries">ALA</a>
.]]></description>
<category>Featured</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2022 22:16:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Legislative Update: Final Two Weeks!</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/605090/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/605090/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[2022 Session Update – Final Two Weeks


The final two weeks of the 2022 legislative session are here. The session must adjourn “sine die” on Monday, May 23, which means they can pass bills until midnight on Sunday, May 22. A deal on Unemployment Trust repayment and Frontline Worker or “Hero” pay has been signed into law. School employees, as a sector of the economy, are potentially eligible.
 
The House and Senate have passed their respective Education bills and a conference committee is now established. The two bills couldn’t be further apart. Problematic legislation on student data practices has been significantly amended. Will a Pensions bill emerge in the final days of session?
 
As it always happens, the major deal-cutting and decision-making will likely pile up in the final days of the legislative session. For MLA’s agenda, we hope to see a bonding and budget deal come together.
 
MLA Legislative Priorities


 
Library Capital Investment: SF 4034/HF 4421


SF 4034 Status in the Senate for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF4034&ssn=0&y=2022">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF4034&ssn=0&y=2022</a>


Senator Karin Housley and Representative Mary Murphy have been helpful, getting a larger library bonding bill introduced. The bill calls for $5M in GO bonds and $15M in cash for the library construction and renovation program. The Governor’s bonding bill includes $1M for library bonding. The last bonding bill, passed in October 2020, included $2.951 million for library construction and renovation grants.<br
/>
 
Contact your legislators to support library bonding!
 
Regional Library Basic System Support: HF 4300


HF 4300 Status in the House for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF4300&ssn=0&y=2021">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF4300&ssn=0&y=2021</a>


The large, on-going budget surplus has given life to the Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) proposal contained in HF 1710 (Dan Wolgamott)/SF 1131 (Mark Johnson). HF 4300 is the House Omnibus Education Finance & Policy bill and the contents of HF 1710 are loaded into this legislative package. Sen. Mark Johnson is still working to find a path for this proposal to get across the finish line when leadership negotiations take place towards the end of session.<br
/>
 
School Libraries & Media Centers Defined: HF 4300


The House Omnibus Education Finance & Policy bill also includes a definition for “school libraries and media centers.” MLA worked with MDE and various public school organizations over the past year on the language. Sen. Mary Kunesh offered this language as an amendment to the Senate’s ‘literacy’ bill, but it was voted down over concerns expressed by majority members that it would create an unfunded mandate on schools.
 
The Education Conference Committee Members are:


House: Jim Davnie, Julie Sandstede, Ruth Richardson, Hodan Hassan, Sondra Erickson
Senate: Roger Chamberlain, Justin Eichorn, Zack Duckworth, Julie Coleman, Chuck Wiger 
 
Library Legacy: HF 3438


HF 3438 Status in the House for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3438&ssn=0&y=2021">https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3438&ssn=0&y=2021</a>


The House Legacy committee is advancing a bill that would provide a funding bump to many of the Legacy programs funded last session. Regional library systems would see a $404,000 increase in fiscal year ’23 and the MN Center for the Book would see a $18,000 increase in fiscal year ’23 under the proposal. The Senate has been cool to the idea of increasing Legacy funds for Arts & Cultural Heritage (ACH) this session.<br
/>
 
Community Broadband Access


Broadband funding is included in the omnibus Agriculture and Housing bill, the amount of funding will be determined during conference committee negotiations. The Senate language, as the bill currently stands, includes $110 million and increases the state’s match from 50% to 75% for the Border-to-Border grant program. The House proposal is $25 million. They also increased the state match to 75%, as well as increased the project cap to $10 million for grants.
 
The conference committee members are:


<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Representatives Sundin, Hausman, Howard, Vang, Theis</li>
<li>Senators Westrom, Dornink, Draheim, Pratt, Dziedzic</li>
</ul>]]></description>
<category>Industry News</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2022 22:12:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>2022 Session Update from MLA Lobbyist, Sam Walseth – Legislative Break </title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/602551/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/602551/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The first act of the 2022
 legislative session has come and
 gone
 as the third bill deadline
 (April
 8) is now in the rearview mirror. The legislature is taking their traditional Passover/Easter break starting on Friday, April 8 and resuming business on
 Tuesday,
 April 19. When they return they’ll have 5 weeks to try and finish work on any legislation they hope to see enacted into law. The session must adjourn “sine
die” on Monday, May 23rd which means they can pass bills until midnight on Sunday, May 22nd.
The budget and policy positions for the Governor, House DFL majority and Senate GOP majorities are firmly established. For Governor Walz, facing re-election, a one-time tax rebate,
more money for schools, a large bonding bill, replenishing the state’s unemployment trust fund and sending ‘HERO’ pay to pandemic front-line workers would be a clean sweep. The Senate GOP wants a permanent
income tax for all income taxpayers in Minnesota and to eliminate income taxes 
on social 
security
 income. The
 House DFL
 
wants
 to
 go big
 on education
 
spending and is looking at a more targeted tax relief bill, focused on tax aids and credits instead of broad based rate cuts.

A deal
 on replenishing
 
the unemployment
 insurance trust
 fund and
 
HERO
 pay
 remains elusive. As it always happens, the major deal-cutting and decision making will likely pile up in the final days of the legislative session. For
MLA’s agenda, we hope to see a bonding and budget deal come together.
<h1>MLA Legislative Priorities

</h1>
 
Library Capital Investment: SF 4034/HF 4421
 
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF4034&ssn=0&y=2022">SF 4034 Status in
 the Senate for the 92nd
 Legislature</a>
 (2021 - 2022)

Senator Karin Housley and Representative Mary Murphy have been helpful with getting a larger library bonding bill introduced. The bill calls for $5M in GO bonds and $15M in cash for the library construction
 and renovation program. The Bonding
 Bill
 process is always nebulous, full
 of closed
-door conversations and wrangling to put
 together a super majority vote
 in
 both chambers for support.

Governor Walz set the stage with
 a $2.7 Billion package of
 capital
 projects. His plan includes $1
million for library construction and renovation grants, despite $90 million in needs identified by the regional public library systems. We have our work cut out to improve the $1 million

figure. The last bonding bill, passed
 in October 2020, included $2.951million
 for
 library construction and renovation grants.

 
Regional Library Basic System Support:
 HF 4300


<h1>
</h1>
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF4300&ssn=0&y=2021">HF 4300 Status in
 the House for the 92nd
 Legislature</a>
 (2021 - 2022)

The large, on-going budget surplus has given life to the Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) proposal contained in
 HF 1710 (Dan Wolgamott)/SF 1131
 (Mark
 Johnson). HF 4300 is the House Omnibus Education Finance & Policy
bill and the contents of HF 1710 are loaded into this legislative package. Sen.
 Mark
 Johnson is still working to
 find
 a path for this proposal
 to get across the finish line when leadership negotiations take place towards the end of the session.

 
School Libraries & Media Centers
 Defined:
 HF 4300


The House Omnibus Education Finance & Policy bill also includes a definition for “school libraries and media centers.” MLA 
worked with MDE and various public school organizations over
 the past
 year on
 
the
 language. 
Sen.
 Mary Kunesh
 
offered
 this
 language as
 an amendment to the Senate’s ‘literacy’
 bill,
but it was voted down over concerns expressed by majority members that it would create an unfunded mandate on schools. 
 
Library Legacy: HF 3438


<h1>
</h1>
<a href="https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF3438&ssn=0&y=2021">HF 3438 Status in
 the House for the 92nd
 Legislature</a>
 (2021 - 2022)

In a welcome surprise this session, the House Legacy committee is advancing a bill that would provide a funding bump to many of the Legacy programs funded last session. Regional library systems would
 see a $404,000 increase in
 fiscal
 year ’23 and the MN
 Center
 for the Book would see a $18,000 increase in fiscal year ’23 under
the proposal.

 
Community Broadband Access


<h1>
</h1>
The Office of Broadband Development
 (OBD) is still awaiting federal
 approval
 to allocate the $70 million
 from
 the 2021 Capital Projects Fund.
 The
 OBD is still confident they
 will
 be able to start a round of Border-to-Border grants early this summer using those funds.
 A
 few bills making their way through the state legislature seek to send more funding to the OBD. Representative Rob Ecklund has two identical broadband bills, a strategy to increase the chances of passage.
HF14 and HF4375 would appropriate $100 million to the OBD for more grants. Both bills passed out of committee with unanimous votes and are currently awaiting further action. In an effort to make the grants accessible to more communities, the current
language lowers the local match requirement from 50% to 25%.

 
<a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/page/LegislativeCommittee">Updated Legislative Documents can be found here</a>.]]></description>
<category>Advocacy/Legislation</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 Apr 2022 22:26:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Legislative Call to Action: Advocate for Regional Public Library Systems</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/595855/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/595855/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Regional Library Basic System Support (RLBSS) Funding Increase and Formula Change: SF 1131/ HF 1710 <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1utphPdqm9rdwIIMXU4g_61TRlJosYH5q/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Invest in Minnesota's Regional Public Libraries</a>: Share this document with your legislators, board members, directors, patrons and more. Committees:<ul><li>Senate, Education and Finance Policy Committee</li><li>House, Education Finance Committee</li></ul>Senate Authors<ul><li>Chief Author, Senator Mark Johnson</li><li>Coauthors: Sen. Justin Eichorn, Sen. Gary Dahms and Sen. Nick Frentz </li></ul>House Authors<ul><li>Chief Author, Rep. Dan Wogamott</li><li>Coauthors: Rep. Cheryl Youakim, Rep. Heather Keeler, Rep. Sandra Feist, Rep. Jordan Rasmusson, Rep. Samantha Vang, Rep. Jeff Backer, Rep. Sondra Erickson (More to Come!)</li></ul>Notes:<ul><li>This funding is crucial for the operation of the regional public library systems and the sharing of resources.</li><li>The last RLBSS increase was in 2008.</li><li>This bill will stabilize the volatile formula used for allocating the funds to regional library systems.</li><li>This bill will allow regional public library system governing boards to set operating budgets based on actual funding amounts, rather than on anticipated amounts. </li></ul>Call to Action: <ul><li>Contact your legislators and ask them to support SF 1131/HF 1710, investing in public libraries and in their communities.</li><li>Ask your local Representative to sign on to HF 1710 to support regional public library systems.</li><li>Encourage your boards, Friends, patrons, local elected officials, business owners, and other library advocates to contact their legislator on behalf of the regional public library systems.</li><li>Ask library advocates to write letters to the editor on behalf of the regional public library systems.</li><li>Create a buzz using social media and other methods to keep the momentum going!</li></ul>]]></description>
<category>Advocacy/Legislation</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:39:42 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Legislative Call to Action: Advocate for Capital Project Funds</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/595854/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/595854/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Capital Projects Funds Summary: The federal <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/capital-projects-fund" target="_blank">Capital Projects Fund</a> provides $10 billion for states and tribes to support long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by strengthening and improving the infrastructure necessary for work, education, and health monitoring. Minnesota’s portion is $180 million. Of this, $70 million is dedicated to broadband infrastructure, and the remaining $110 million is undetermined. Eligible applicants are states and tribes. This means that Minnesota submits one grant plan that includes all of the state’s planned projects. The Governor’s Office and the state legislature are key players in determining the substance of this plan. Three main project types are eligible for inclusion in the state’s plan: (1) broadband infrastructure projects; (2) digital connectivity technology projects; and (3) multi-purpose community facility projects. Public libraries are multi-purpose community facilities. This language comes directly from the federal program guidance:Projects [that are eligible] construct or improve libraries [providing] public access to the internet for purposes including work, education, and health monitoring such as offering digital skills programs and support for community members engaging in virtual learning. What You Can Do: During the 2022 legislative session, our goal is to ensure city administrators, county administrators, state legislators, and the Governor know that libraries are a smart investment with the Capital Projects Fund.<ol><li>Talk to your city or county administrators to confirm they are familiar with the Capital Projects Fund.</li><li> Reach out to Hannah Buckland at State Library Services (<a href="mailto:hannah.buckland@state.mn.us?subject=Capital%20Projects%20Fund">hannah.buckland@state.mn.us</a>) to share how the Capital Projects Fund could benefit your library. Hannah can connect you (or your city/county administrator) with the Governor’s office to share your story further.</li><li>Reach out to your state representatives to convey the need for libraries to receive some of this funding.</li></ol>General Talking Points: <ul><li>Border-to-border broadband serving all Minnesota households is important. But until all Minnesotans have affordable, stable housing AND the finances to pay for an annual internet service subscription plus devices AND the skills to use this technology, border-to-border access does not mean access for all. Safe, welcoming public library facilities remain essential.</li><li>Since 1994, the state legislature has appropriated only $17.951M for library construction projects. This federal funding could make a huge difference for libraries in all corners of Minnesota.</li><li>The average age of a Minnesota public library building is 52 years old (constructed in 1970).</li><li>85% of Minnesota public library buildings are more than 20 years old. Of these 20+ year-old buildings, 60% have been renovated in the past 15 years.</li></ul>]]></description>
<category>Advocacy/Legislation</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:22:46 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Start Planning Your 2022 Legislative Session</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/593240/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/593240/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Hello Minnesota Library Advocates, The countdown is on! The Legislative Session begins on January 31. It's time to get to work! As the COVID numbers continue to climb and with the current closure of the House and Senate buildings, we would like to urge you to participate in the legislative process virtually during Virtual Library Legislative Week, February 28 through March 4, 2022. Please contact your local   legislators to see if they are interested in meeting with you via Zoom, Teams, or whichever <a href="https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/page/VirtMtgAppt2021" style="font-size: 14pt;">virtual communication platform </a>you currently use. If your legislators would prefer to meet with you in person, we will continue to have the L'Etoile du Nord reserved with tables, chairs, and a coat rack to use as a central meeting space. As Library Legislative Day approaches, we will ask you to fill out <a href="https://forms.gle/YT83yShSEq8mjeay5">this form </a>indicating if you will be needing the space so we can plan accordingly.  Contact Your Legislators Today!The session is right around the corner! Starting on Tuesday, January 18, contact your legislators to set a time to meet with them during Library Legislative Week - or even before! If you have not yet determined your list of local legislators, use <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_vDRSx2xWibsccYiPwoBeJ8A0yKDD6xC/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106801361725608277725&rtpof=true&sd=true">this spreadsheet as a guide </a>(Note: this spreadsheet was last updated 01/12/21).   Gather Library Stories from Your CommunityShare <a href="https://forms.gle/rA6LLLiGQ8JmWarp9">this form </a>via social media or your website to gather impactful library stories. LegWork Committee Member Ann Hokanson will share the responses with the appropriate regional directors who are coordinating virtual visits, so that they may be shared with the legislators.   Upcoming Dates for Your Legislative Calendar: Attend the Online Legislative Committee Meeting, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. Attend the online legislative committee meeting on Wednesday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. to keep up with the latest news regarding the MLA legislative priorities, the MN Legislature, and national library issues. Sign into the MLA website as a member to view Upcoming Events and register (to receive the Zoom Meeting ID and Passcode).  Virtual Library Legislative Week Briefing, Date will be shared soon! Sam Walseth, MLA lobbyist and his team from Capitol Hill Associates will provide an overview of the current legislative session and an update regarding MLA bills and initiatives. This session will take place the week of February 21 and will be recorded and shared with the membership. More information is coming soon!  Legislative Day at the Capitol, Monday, February 28 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. If your legislator would like to meet with you in person, and if you need a place to meet, the L'Etoile du Nord will be available. Please <a href="https://forms.gle/YT83yShSEq8mjeay5">use this form </a>if you plan to use the space for a meeting.  Virtual Library Legislative Week, Monday, February 28 - Friday, March 4! Set up appointments with your local legislators, starting on Tuesday, January 18, for the week of February 28. Thank your legislators for all they do for the residents of MN and thank them for supporting libraries!  Legislative Committee Meeting, Wednesday, March 2 - Canceled! Use this time to connect with legislators!  Legislative Week Debriefing, March 9 at 10:00 a.m. Join Sam Walseth and the LegTrio and share your stories - both good and bad - from Library Legislative Day and Virtual Library Legislative Week! A Zoom link will be shared as the date approaches.  LEGISLATIVE FORUM, ONLINE, AUGUST 9, 2022 - SAVE THE DATE!!! The Legislative Trio and the Legislative Working Committee are hard at work developing handouts and resources to support advocates in this process. Stay tuned for more information!]]></description>
<category>Advocacy/Legislation</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jan 2022 20:50:02 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Registration is open for ERMN Conference 2022</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/588975/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/588975/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Registration for <a href="https://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/conference/2022-01/2022-electronic-resources-minnesota-ermn-conference" target="_blank">ERMN Conference 2022 </a>is now open. We hope you will join us for the conference on January 26 - 27, 2022. Also, consider registering for the optional pre-conference workshop on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 25 (“Library Carpentry: Tidy data for librarians” led by Stacie Traill and Wanda Marsolek).  Keynote speaker Scarlet Galvan will present “Talisman Dashboard.” Scarlet is the Area Lead for Assessment and Planning, and Collection Strategist Librarian at Grand Valley State University Libraries. At GVSU she develops and leads efforts toward a more sustainable, open collection. Her research focuses on the sociopolitical aspects of library services platforms and scholarly communications. Scarlet serves as a member of Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition’s (SPARC) Executive Steering Committee. When not negotiating resources for the library, she writes science fiction and makes soap. <a href="https://www.minitex.umn.edu/events/conference/2022-01/2022-electronic-resources-minnesota-ermn-conference" target="_blank">ERMN 2022</a> will feature an exciting program of speakers and opportunities for discussion with e-resources colleagues. Registration closes January 21, 2022 or when capacity is reached. <div> </div>]]></description>
<category>Association News</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 3 Dec 2021 18:57:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title>Media Literacy in Early Childhood for Youth Library Staff</title>
<link>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/587981/</link>
<guid>https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/news/587981/</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Erikson Institute's TEC Center is now offering a new IMLS-funded professional development program, Media Literacy in Early Childhood for Youth Library Staff. Recruitment is open for this four-month professional development series, in which participants will spend approximately 10 to 12 hours total in entirely online synchronous and asynchronous learning. Cohorts will be made up of 20-25 youth library staff from across the U.S.   Learn more about the program and apply today at <a href="https://www.erikson.edu/professional-development/tec-center/librarians/ ">https://www.erikson.edu/professional-development/tec-center/librarians/  </a> <div> </div>]]></description>
<category>Association News</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
</item>
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