Rural Library Sustainability Workshops Approved

The Rural Library Sustainability Workshops, funded by the Gates Foundation and organized and presented by Mary Ann Van Cura, State Library Services, have been approved for 6 contact hours for Philosophy 2 and 11 and Public Services A2, A3, A8 Competencies. The workshops are being held in many locations in MN during February through May, 2007.

An Evaluation of Minnesota Voluntary Certification

The full report An Evaluation of the Minnesota Voluntary Certification Program by Nancy Bolt and Jody K. Howard is available on the MDE Website.

In my opinion, this report is fair and well-done. The results are not a surprise.

The report contains 4 items of misleading information:
1. It takes 4 years to complete the program, not 3 years.
2. If someone wishes to extend their time for completeing certification, they email the Chair of the Oversight Committee who takes their request to the Oversight Committe for approval, not just that the participant makes a phone call.
3. More online courses are available than the Consultants realized. Some of the approved courses sponsored by MINITEX, the College of DuPage, and SirsiDynix are archived, and can be taken online.
4. There 3 options for the Final Project, not 2 options.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the online survery, the focus groups, and the interviews.

Tech Expectations with Marshall Breeding

Tech Expectations will be held in Minnesota on April 30 through May 4, 2007 at 5 locations. For additional information and registration, check out the MN Voluntary Certification Program Calendar.

Marshall Breeding will be the Presenter.