Author: Zac Lundstrom

Teams

Communications Team

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 30, 2020

The Communications Team focuses on ensuring consistent promotion of MELSA-wide programs/resources/campaigns throughout the eight library systems, as well as developing ideas for how to best promote metrowide programming and events and reviewing proposals that MELSA receives from a variety of local media for advertising partnerships.

TEAM MEMBERS

Collins, Dawn Marie – Anoka County Library

Straszewski, Erin – Anoka County Library

Jones, Patrick – Carver County Library

Fiscus, Natalie – Dakota County Library

Benson Sanchez, Kirsta – Hennepin County Library

Yetman, Josh – Hennepin County Library

Hatler, Carrie – Ramsey County Library

Huber, Claire – Saint Paul Public Library

Opitz, Stacy – Saint Paul Public Library

Sy, Michaela – Saint Paul Public Library

Bergstrom, Michael – Scott County Library

Lo, Ching – Washington County Library

Ukura, Kim – Washington County Library

MELSA Facilitator

Jennifer Baker

Teams

E-Resources Team

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 30, 2020

MELSA’s E-Resources Team oversees the selection of metro-wide purchases of electronic databases and tools for the member library systems. They also arrange for staff training for the use of these databases; provide reviews to each other about databases their systems are using; and are responsible for the survey of annual reference statistics.

TEAM MEMBERS

Hedlund, Olivia – Anoka County Library

Jones, Patrick – Carver County Library

Gormley, Maureen – Dakota County Library

Crary, Shannon – Hennepin County Library

Coan, Nathan – Ramsey County Library

Zillhart, Jessica – Saint Paul Public Library

Ethier, Sarah – Scott County Library

Kraft, Brian – Washington County Library

MELSA Facilitator

Kathleen James

Teams

Collection Development Team

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 27, 2020

The MELSA Collection Development Team focuses on library collection questions that have MELSA-wide scope and impact. This scope includes evaluation and coordination of shared ebook collections, collaborative collection development, best practices in evaluating and maintaining collections, equity in collections, advocacy with publishers and vendors, and exchange of ideas. Discussion will include collection activities in adult, teen and children’s services and materials in all formats.

This team works closely with the MELSA e-Resources team, including making recommendations for collections that fall within the eResources budget.

Team Members

Hawkins, Sarah – Anoka County Library

Hedlund, Olivia – Anoka County Library

Stankey, Krista – Anoka County Library

Weber, Kari – Anoka County Library

Jones, Patrick – Carver County Library

Cogar, Russ – Dakota County Library

Dorn, Julie – Dakota County Library

Wayne, Christine – Dakota County Library

Couillard-Smith, Chelsea – Hennepin County Library

Crary, Shannon – Hennepin County Library

Mueller Schultz, Gail – Hennepin County Library

Fuller, Paige – Ramsey County Library

Haynes, Anna – Ramsey County Library

Zillhart, Jessica – Saint Paul Public Library

Ethier, Sarah – Scott County Library

Noyes, Angie – Washington County Library

Wylie, Drew – Washington County Library

MELSA Facilitator

Abigail Dillon

Programs

Winter Reads

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 21, 2020

Winter Reads 2026

Read. Share. Repeat.

Winter goes a whole lot faster with a good book – or several! With tens of thousands of titles available in hard copy, e-book and e-audiobook formats, we’ve got you covered! And there are several author events – even a local author fair – taking place at several Twin Cities public library locations.

Carver County Library

Dakota County Library

Ramsey County Library

Events

Teen Lit Con

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 21, 2020

Teen reading & writing

An event that celebrates teen literature, promotes reading and writing, and creates a community of readers by connecting teens and authors.

Visit Teen Lit Con

Programs

Summer at your library

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 21, 2020

Thank you to our generous partners for their commitment to summer learning and literacy:

Thank you to our media sponsor:

Programs

smARTpass

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 20, 2020

Find your next free or discounted admission to the arts in the Twin Cities

VISIT SMARTPASS

smartpass

An arts access website offering free and discount admissions to a variety of cultural destinations in the Twin Cities.

With smARTpass you can gain free and/or discounted admissions to local shows and museums. All you need is your library card and through smARTpass you’ll be able to start enjoying local arts with ease!

Programs

Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 20, 2020

Create ebooks to share with readers across the state

CHECK OUT MINNESOTA LIBRARIES PUBLISHING PROJECT

share with your readers

Local authors can create ebooks and share them with readers across the state and potentially across the country using free tools provided by Minnesota libraries.

create an ebook

Design and export your own ebook for free. Using our DIY book design tool, you will be enabled to create, edit, and format attractive content using a wide variety of options.

Share your book

Once your e-book is ready to share with readers, you can submit your work for inclusion in a statewide collection of e-books promoting independently-published local authors.

Read ebooks

Read new and diverse ebooks from indie authors from Minnesota, as well as from across the country.

These tools are available for all Minnesota residents, no library card needed! Visit opens in a new windowthe Minnesota Libraries Publishing Project website to access.

Programs

History Day Partnership

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 20, 2020

Financially supported library research experiences

Virtual Hullabaloo Schedule

MELSA financially supports the library research experience for middle and high school students participating in History Day across the seven-county metro region by partnering with the Minnesota Historical Society.

HULLABALOOS

“Hullabaloos” are research open houses. At these events, students visit public and academic libraries to receive help on their History Day projects. Students that attend hullabaloos can work with librarians to locate relevant resources, receive one-on-one feedback from MNHS staffers or mentors about their projects (called “Power Conferences”), and learn more about various aspects of History Day projects through mini-workshops.

*This partnership is funded by Minnesota’s Arts & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Fund.

Programs

Legacy Amendment

Post author By Zac Lundstrom
Post date November 20, 2020

Explore the arts, culture, literature, and history

MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE FUND- LEGACY AMENDMENT

MELSA and its member libraries present an array of arts, cultural, literary, and history programs in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, historical societies, and other community organizations.

Programs are funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Projects are reported on the Minnesota’s Legacy website, created by the Minnesota Legislature.

BACKGROUND

In November 2008, Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate funds for Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. Under the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) Minnesota’s public libraries receive funding distributed to the 12 Minnesota Regional Library Systems, including MELSA, to provide programs and services in: arts, arts education, arts access, and the preservation of Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage.

PROGRAMS

MELSA currently distributes its Legacy fund allocation in these areas:

70% for local programs provided by the eight MELSA member library systems
26% for regional programming including Club Book and Teen Lit Con
4% for administration