Saginaw Valley State University
Tina Mullins

 

The MiALA Web/UX Interest Group is hosting a free in person half day lunch and learn session focused on user experience methods. MiALA members and nonmembers are welcome to join us from 10:30am - 1:30pm on Thursday, October 17 at the Michigan State University Main Library. 
 
Register for this event!
 
Lunch is included at this free event where panelists will share their recent and current user experience projects, including work in both physical spaces and online. Interactive activities will give you hands-on learning opportunities that you can bring back to your library. 
 
Members of the Web/UX Interest Group who attend will be eligible for a raffle to receive a $175 credit for a Library Juice Academy course of your choosing. (If you're not already a member of the IG, please take this as an invitation to join!)
 
Questions? Email the planning group,
Denise Leyton (dmleyton@umich.edu)
Angela Brcka (angela.brcka@wmich.edu)
Scooter Russell (scott.russell@wmich.edu)

Join open education advocates and supporters for a day of networking, sharing, and learning about the uses of open educational resources (OER) at their institutions. This year's keynote speaker is Jess Mitchell, who will be speaking about Inclusive Design in Education: Breaking Down Barriers to Access.

The MI OER Summit will take place on October 18, 2019 from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at Delta College in University Center, Michigan. For more information and to register, go to: www.mioersummit.org. 

October is here and most of us are in full swing of the fall semester, so are things at MiALA. The conference committee are beginning their charge to bring us a robust conference in May, 2020. The OER Summit will be taking place in a few weeks as will the UX Lunch and Learn. You can learn more about each event on the MiALA webpage. 

I recently gave an update for MiALA at the Library of Michigan Board meeting, it was well received. Additionally, I got to hear what our sister organizations have been working on and offering in the future. It was a good meeting. One item that was discussed at length generated from the Michigan Association for Media Education (MAME). They are seeing a correlation between dropping literacy rates among elementary aged students and the lack of Media Specialists in schools. The state does have a shortage of Media Specialist and some librarians work for multiple locations within a single district or have to split their time between the library and teaching in a classroom. There was also discussion on how the lack of Media Specialists impacts  incoming college students who are not taught how to do research and write research papers. It is a major concern and one that is gaining some support with legislators. 

Lastly, thank you to all the members who have participated in a recent member survey, the data is being analyzed and will be reported on the board in the coming months. 

What are you currently reading?
I'm always reading multiple books at the same time and usually all non-fiction. Right now I am enjoying the following:

--The graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
--America's Greatest Library: An Illustrated History of the Library of Congress by John Y. Cole
--Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John Gottman Ph.D., Julie Swartz Ph.D., Doug Abrams M.D., and Rachel Carlton

What are your research interests?
My interests include Instruction, Reference, First-Year Experience, STEM, and connecting with Online Students.


Do you have hobbies or interests outside of the library?
I love creative activities. My class at the Flint Institute of the Arts starts soon on flameworking. I will be learning how to make beautiful colored glass beads and pendants with a torch. I am also currently working on a tee-shirt quilt and crocheting kitchen scrubbies. I love to cook, garden, up north lake life, and to go canoeing/kayaking. I really love the hunt of genealogy! I am very into genetic genealogy at the moment which has been knocking down some of my brick walls.

What drew you to the library profession?
My undergraduate degree is in Paralegal Studies from Eastern Michigan University. I love the hunt! I like to get a question and find the answer. My plan was to obtain a J.D. but I eventually decided to pursue a MLIS at Wayne State University.

What do you value about MiALA?
I value being able to connect with and learn from academic librarians from across the state. It is very affordable and the professional development opportunities are amazing.

Is there anything else that you would like to share/include in your member spotlight??
I encourage everyone to get involved in MiALA! Volunteer! I have a strong belief in the need for this organization which is why I carve out the time. I was fired up when over 100 academic librarians met to talk about what would become the MiALA at Michigan State University in 2014. I served for two years as the Private College Representative on the MiALA Board from 2015-2017. It never felt like work, it was usually the best part of my week. I am now the Chair of the STEM IG. My MiALA enthusiasm has made up for my total lack of experience and I have learned a lot along the way! You can too!

LOEX 2020: Call for Breakout Session Proposals
We Can Do It!: Building the Best in Library Instruction

48^th Annual LOEX Conference
May 7-9, 2020
Ypsilanti, Michigan

You are invited to Ypsilanti for LOEX 2020 to showcase your innovations in library instruction. We are excited to see librarians from many places & backgrounds discuss how both instructional ingenuity and tried-and-true successes can impact student learning.

This year’s LOEX tracks are:
* Pedagogy: Instructional Nuts and Bolts
* Assessment: Building in Quality Control
* Innovation: Forging Ahead for 21st Century Learners
* Leadership: Stepping Up to the Line
* Failures and Problem-Solving: Retooling and Reinventing
* Collaboration and Outreach: Assembling Production Teams

Proposals for 50-minute long presentations and interactive workshops can be submitted only through the online submission form and must be received by Friday, November 22, 2019. The primary contact for the proposal will receive a message indicating receipt of the proposal when it is submitted and will be notified if the proposal has been accepted for presentation by Monday, January 13, 2020.

For more details, please visit http://loexconference.org/breakout-sessions/