Minnesota Library Association

Grant reviewers needed! Volunteer to review Mary C. Murphy Library Construction Grant applications; volunteers will meet in December 2025 & January 2026 approximately twice. Included in one of those meetings will be a reviewer training. Sign up here: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

Support Minnesota Library Association Foundation on GiveMN The Minnesota Library Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit whose mission is to raise money to enhance services and increase awareness of Minnesota libraries. We sponsor library leadership development a...

Consider donating. Together, MLF and @mnlib.bsky.social assist Minnesota libraries, as the Foundation sponsors MLA’s MILE program, career development scholarships for library staff, the Minnesota Author Project, and other MLA special projects. www.givemn.org/organization...

Support Minnesota Library Association Foundation on GiveMN The Minnesota Library Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit whose mission is to raise money to enhance services and increase awareness of Minnesota libraries. We sponsor library leadership development a...

The Minnesota Library Foundation is participating in Give to the Max Day today! The Foundation funds programs for leadership and professional development across the Minnesota library community. Please consider sharing MLF's request for Give to the Max Day donations! www.givemn.org/organization...

2026 PLD Board Nominee Information

Are you passionate about public libraries in Minnesota or know someone who is? Nominate yourself or someone else for MLA's 2026 Public Libraries Division Board! Open positions include: Chair-Elect, and Member-at-Large. Submit nominations by December 5th: docs.google.com/forms/d/1Vsn...

The next session in the Metronet Jobline Webinar Series is 'On the Record – Interview Dos & Don’ts' on November 20th, at 2:00 pm. This session will provide insight into what interviewers are looking for and how to present yourself clearly & confidently. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

There's no better time to join MLA than right now! PLA is coming to Minneapolis for the 2026 Conference April 1–3, and your MLA membership allows you to register at a discounted rate. Joining MLA can save you over $300 on PLA registration. Join/renew now: www.mnlibraryassociation.org/page/JoinorR...

Email your legislators to support libraries: speakupforlibraries.us

Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities

Apply for a special grant opportunity for small & rural libraries: the Libraries Transforming Communities grant! If your library serves a population of 25,000 or less & is located at least 5 miles from an urbanized area, apply by Dec. 11th: www.ala.org/tools/librar... via @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social

Mary C. Murphy Library Construction Grants are available! This state of Minnesota funding is available to public library jurisdictions for renovation, construction & improvement projects that result in more accessible library facilities. Apply by December 1st: education.mn.gov/MDE/DSE/Gran...

Library Leadership Forum- Connect with fellow library professionals across Minnesota by joining the Library Leadership Forum (LLF). This newly established professional development book club and discussion group, sponsored by M...

Join Metronet's next Library Leadership Forum discussion on November 19th at 3 pm: Choosing Your Battles. How do we as leaders choose our battles, resolve conflict, and collaborate when we don't agree? Learn more and register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Sean Sherman with his new cookbook Turtle Island

"I hope that people can have this opportunity to be lured in by this beautiful food and actually learn something and maybe, hopefully, develop some empathy where there might not have been." Read our Newsmaker interview with award-winning chef Sean Sherman. https://bit.ly/3LgoIN7

Minnesota Libraries Censorship/Materials challenge support Use this form to share concerns about quiet/silent censorship, materials challenges, or any other intellectual freedom questions you may have. This is not a reporting form, it is a place where you ca...

MLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee has a new, easy-to-use form, 'Minnesota Libraries Censorship/Materials Challenge Support,' for library workers to ask questions or request support—on anything from displays & policies to staff training & materials challenges: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Nothing Compares 2 local libraries: Hennepin County releases limited-edition Prince cards The Hennepin County Library System released a limited-edition library card of the Minnesota music icon on Friday. They are available at all 41 branches.

In honor of the debut of the “Purple Rain” musical at State Theatre in Minneapolis, the Hennepin County Library System introduced a limited-edition Prince library card Friday.

Email your legislators to support libraries: speakupforlibraries.us

The next session in the Metronet Jobline Webinar Series is 'Write on Track – Résumés & Cover Letters' on November 13th, at 2:00 pm. This webinar will provide you with the tools to create polished, targeted application documents that get noticed. Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

"In Praise of #Librarians in Dangerous Times: Sarah Weinman on the Awesome Responsibility of the Seekers and Keepers of Truth" (via @lithub.com.web.brid.gy) lithub.com/in-praise-of... #libraries

Free webinar! Join the MN Association of Library Friends for 'Warm Reads For Cold Nights' on Wed. Nov. 12th, 12-1:30 pm. The webinar features Graywolf Press, Minnesota Historical Society Press, and surprise guests from Minnesota's own homegrown writer community! mnlibraryfriends.org/programs/web...

Share your story with MDL's new creative writing contest The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) is launching a new creative writing contest. Using any item in MDL as a prompt, participants will write a fictional short story, poem, or other creative piece. Winn...

Share your story with the Minnesota Digital Library's (MDL) new creative writing contest! Using any item in MDL as a prompt, participants will write a short story, poem, or other creative piece. Winners will be published in an online exhibit. Deadline is Nov. 30th: minitex.umn.edu/news/minneso...

Reader. Voter. Ready. Inspiring Future Voters: A Booklist for Young Readers. ALSC, Booklist, ALA. ALA.org/readervoterready

Looking for new reads to help teach your young patrons about civic engagement this election season? @wearealsc.bsky.social & @ala-booklist.bsky.social have a booklist for that!

Check out the Inspiring Future Voters Booklist, with recs for all ages: www.ala.org/alsc/publica... #ReaderVoterReady

Twin Cities Book Festival Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival is the annual Minnesota gathering for readers, writers, publishers, and purveyors of literature.

The Twin Cities Book Festival is this Saturday, November 8th! Come to Union Depot in St. Paul from 10am to 5pm and check out all the activities and events here: twincitiesbookfestival.com #tcbf

Carnegie libraries, including three in the east metro, will each get $10,000 The $10,000 gifts are meant to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Carnegie libraries, including three in the east metro, will each get $10,000. The Carnegie Corporation of New York announced the gifts last week: www.twincities.com/2025/10/28/c... via @pioneerpress.bsky.social

Report: “They Hold These Truths: Minnesota's Archive of Endangered National Park Signs Tops 11,000 and Counting” #saveoursigns #nationalparks #archives @datarescueproject.org

The next session in the Metronet Jobline Webinar Series is 'Circulating Connections: LinkedIn and Public Presence' on Nov. 6th, from 2:00-3:30 pm. To stand out, combine networking, volunteering, & exploration of opportunities beyond your comfort zone. Register here:
us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

AI-Generated Video and Media Literacy Librarians’ news literacy lessons are vital to teaching students to identify AI and misinformation on social media.

AI-Generated Video and Media Literacy
Librarians’ news literacy lessons are vital to teaching students to identify AI and misinformation on social media.
www.slj.com/story/AI-Gen...

The Essential Values of School Librarians: Part 2 Join us for Part 2 of "The Essential Values of School Librarians" to discover the collective "Why" of licensed library media specialists in Minnesota. We will be continuing the conversation about our ...

Join Part 2 of "The Essential Values of School Librarians" to discover the collective "Why" of licensed library media specialists in Minnesota. The conversation will be happening online on Thursday, November 6th from 4-5:30 pm. Register here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Opening Doors, Turning Pages: How Prison Libraries Help Build Second Chances Prison Banned Books Week reminds us that the freedom to read doesn’t stop at the prison gate — it starts there

Prison Banned Books Week reminds us that the freedom to read doesn’t stop at the prison gate — it starts there

medium.com/everylibrary...

ELM Expo 2025: Half-day event in Saint Paul The free, half-day ELM Expo offers educators and library staff hands-on training and peer learning to maximize the use of eLibrary Minnesota (ELM).

Register for the 2025 ELM Expo! This free, half-day event from Minitex & Metronet will take place on Friday, November 14th in St. Paul. It offers educators & library staff hands-on training & peer learning to maximize the use of eLibrary Minnesota (ELM). Learn more: minitex.umn.edu/news/elibrar...

Loss of federal funding spells end for Flathead County Library hotspot program A federal grant that allowed the Flathead County Library to loan out internet hotspots dried up this week, and library trustees appear disinclined to continue the program.

Across the country, library Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs have had to be curtailed or even shut down because of losses of federal funding: dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/ju...

Learn more about ALA's advocacy for Digital Equity: ala.org/advocacy/federal-resources/broadband-policy

Metronet Scholarship - Public Library Association Conference 2026 Application Applications are due by December 1, 2025 at 5:00pm. No exceptions will be made. Metronet is a multicounty multitype library system that serves libraries of all types in the metropolitan area by levera...

Announcing scholarships for the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference April 1-3, 2026 in Minneapolis! The Metronet Board has designated funds for a special scholarship program to attend the PLA Conference. Learn more here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

📣 Some exciting news for Library Friends groups!

@ala-united.bsky.social and @penguinrandomhouse.bsky.social are providing grants to Friends groups at small and rural libraries. Applications open Dec. 17!

Learn more: bit.ly/3Wh5ZmM