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President's Update - July 14, 2016
As the 2016-17 MLA President, I look forward to learning new skills and working with the dedicated volunteers and staff. It is an honor to be part of such a powerful team in this influential organization. I have worked ...
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President's Update - June 9, 2016
I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude lately. Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Academic Library Development Network (ALADN) conference in Boston. The speakers repeatedly emphasized the need to say t...
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President's Update - May 12, 2016
I recently had the honor of being part of Michigan’s delegation to National Library Legislative Day. This was my first time participating and I expect it won’t be my last. Representing Michigan libraries on C...
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President's Update - April 14, 2016
Happy National Library Week! This is the week that we celebrate our achievements and reflect on the many ways that libraries and library professionals support our communities. There is no doubt that this year’s t...
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Libraries Applaud Michigan Senate for Library Funding Support
Michigan Library Association (MLA) commends the Michigan Senate and Senate leadership for recognizing the importance of supporting the funding structure for Michigan’s libraries. Today t...
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President's Update - March 10, 2016
I recently participated in a fantastic workshop from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The conference focused on development and fundraising for academic leaders, but the messages can be appl...
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President's Update - February 11, 2016
Show of hands, please – who wants to ride a Zamboni? Last weekend two of my student workers and I got to do just that at a Northern Michigan University hockey game. In a few days, we’ll get to climb to t...
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President's Update - January 14, 2016
Today’s topic is the value of professional associations, specifically the value of active participation in said associations. I’m reflecting on this topic for two reasons. First, a student and I are going...
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President's Update - December 10, 2015
Allow me, please, to share the silly highlight of my week -- a tiny dog wearing a tiny cowboy hat sitting on a miniature horse outside our library.
Like many academic libraries, Olson Library collaborates with a lo...
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President's Update - November 12, 2015
This month I have a challenge for you and for me. I challenge each of us to reach out to someone at another library. You get bonus points if you reach out to someone at a different type of library. The goal is simp...
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President's Update - October 8, 2015
The MLA Annual Conference is just around the corner. I am registered, I have my hotel reservation and I downloaded the conference mobile app (text MLA 57780). All ready then, right? Well, not so much.
Now comes ...
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President's Update - September 10, 2015
Those of us lucky enough to live in the central Upper Peninsula know that we're experiencing a tremendous blackberry season. We also know that good berries mean good pie and good pie is meant to be shared.
This mo...
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President's Update - August 13, 2015
It’s almost time for students to show up at Northern Michigan University. Classes start in less than two weeks. All of us on campus will soon feel the students’ excitement at the start of the fall semester...
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President's Update - July 9, 2015
This is an exciting year for the Michigan Library Association. I am honored to be your president. We have a thoughtful, productive board of directors bringing many important perspectives to the table in order to fulfill ...
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President's Update - June 11, 2015
My year of service to you is almost done. Wow, this past year went quickly. As I look back at my work with MLA this year, the one word that comes to mind is perspective. People see the world and issues through their own...
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President's Update - May 14, 2015
One of the most challenging tasks in communicating with others is how to effectively give negative and positive feedback. When giving feedback, feelings of embarrassment, not wanting to be confrontational and the vulnera...
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President's Update - April 9, 2015
"In winter, I plot and plan. In spring, I move." - Henry Rollins
This past winter has been a season of strategic planning for me. I participated in strategic planning at my home library this winter and for the Michigan...
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President's Update - March 12, 2015
The Value of Volunteering
As library professionals volunteering is close to our hearts. When you work in a library so much of your work is helping people. As I’ve worked in libraries I’ve found that it mak...
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President's Update - February 12, 2015
The old idiom, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail” might be trite, but there is no arguing its logic. Lack of planning often yields lack luster results, but has any librarian ever said, “I can&r...
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President's Update - January 15, 2015
It is difficult, if not impossible, to enact a new program or service without incorporating some attribute of a previous related effort. It is easy to get inspiration from past successes as you go about a new project...