Register for the next MiALA member meet up on Friday, January 22, 2021 from 10:00 - 11:00 AM (EST) hosted by the Web/UX Interest Group.

MiALA Member Meet Up is the place where the entire membership comes to connect, share and learn from one another!  The member meet up will be held online using zoom. The member meet up is free for all MiALA members but registration is required. Click on the link below to attend!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqcOmrqTojGdwslZvPAbqZXqejMkDmWOL0

Library websites as communication tools during COVID-19
Library websites serve as a front door to all of the services, collections and spaces that we offer our users. When we all closed our physical doors in March and as we've reopened fully or in more limited capacities since, our websites serve as the go to place for users to find out what services are still available online and in person.  
 
During this member meetup we will hear from two speakers who will describe how they shifted their content approaches to make sure their websites had the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 service changes: 

• Heidi Burkhardt - Web Project Manager and Content Strategist at the University of Michigan Library Ann Arbor will talk about launching a new website during COVID

Megan Kudzia - Digital Scholarship Librarian at the MSU Libraries will talk about changes made to their Digital Scholarship Lab site and how it interacts with the Library website as a whole. 

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Tracy Maurer

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Michael Shields

University of Michigan-Dearborn
Raya Samet

Wayne State University
Alexis Macklin

University of Michigan
Allyssa Bruce

Wayne State University
Chelsea Ryan

University of Michigan - Dearborn
Monica Adams

Kettering University Library
Stephanie Pavlica

Northern Michigan University
Kevin McDonough

Michigan State University Libraries
Taylor Gruizinga

 

Beth Martin
OER Librarian
Western Michigan University

MiALA Immediate Past President

What are you currently reading?
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
It is a Goodreads Choice 2020 winner

What are your research interests?
Leadership development, open education, and open pedagogy

Do you have hobbies or interests outside of the library?
Not sure if it is a hobby, but I am working on a second masters through Aquinas College, which takes up most of my free time. I do enjoy working on my family's genealogy. I enjoying cooking more than baking and am always on the hunt for new and fun recipes.

What drew you to the library profession?
I received my bachelors in Public History from Western Michigan University and was interested in becoming an archivist. I enrolled in the MLIS at Wayne State University in the mid-1990s because it had an Archival Administration emphasis. I worked for a short time with the General Motors Media Archive in the mid-to late 90s, then made the jump to libraries afterwards and never looked back.

What do you value about MiALA?
There is so much I value with MiALA that I am unsure where to start. Firstly, I would mention that I value to networking with other colleagues around the state. MiALA offers many avenues to interact both virtually and (eventually) face-to-face. The best way to interact with colleagues is by joining an Interest Group. These groups offer everything from discussion topics to book or article read-and-shares, to professional development. Another thing I value is the ease of getting involved in MiALA on a higher level. I have been a past board member, and am currently the past president of the organization. Being involved on that level has given me a better understanding of the needs of academic libraries across the state. My involvement has brought so much meaning into my own work life and I would recommend to all members to try to join the board for a rewarding opportunity to learn and grow.

Is there anything else that you would like to share?
I have enjoyed being a member for our first five years as an organization and I look forward to years to come.

Hello Colleagues, 

A few weeks ago, I was thinking this January greeting would be a message of being kind to ourselves, particularly with regards to resolutions, looking to the future with the hopes of fast and effective vaccine distribution and of less political disruption.  

While that may still apply, the political landscape has certainly changed. I do not want to share a message that pretends to make a statement without risk of insult and my thoughts this morning instead focus on what I can do, how I can personally help to try and heal the divide. So, my resolution this year is to listen, truly listen, to try and better understand different opinions.  What can you do? What can MiALA do? Please share your thoughts with me at cssimpson@madonna.edu.
  
MiALA is working hard to support you in these trying and challenging times. Please tune into the informative Michigan Colleges Online OER sessions, Interest Group programming, and our Monthly Member Meet-Ups for socialization and idea sharing.  Visit our calendar for more happenings and stay tuned for information regarding the 2021 Annual Conference, which will be virtual this year.  

I wish you and yours a healthy, safe and meaningful new year! 

Take care and be kind to yourself, 
Cynthia

On the occasion of the 59th presidential inauguration as Joseph R. Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States, the MiALA Board would like to reflect upon the significant and unfortunate role that poor information-gathering as well as violent and intentional disinformation played in recent rallies and events, including the attack at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The MiALA Board affirms the work done through academic libraries to facilitate the proper access, evaluation, and use of credible information in a climate where the dissemination of misinformation and propaganda are easily promulgated. Academic libraries foster and develop skills such as critical inquiry and educated knowledge-sourcing, life-skills which extend beyond the reach of the academic environment and contribute directly to informed citizenry. 
 
To encourage this informed citizenry, we would like to direct individuals to consult the following resources, which are just a sample of the support provided by Michigan academic libraries.
 

• Reliability and Quality of Information (Western Michigan University)
• News Literacy (Michigan State University)
• "Fake News," Lies and Propaganda: How to Sort Fact from Fiction (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor)
• Website Evaluation (Grand Valley State University)
• Research Toolkit (Kalamazoo College)
• Fake News  (Oakland Community College)

After having to postpone the 2020 annual conference last Spring, the MiALA Conference Committee is looking forward to the Virtual 2021 Conference. While we have retained an excellent schedule of sessions from presenters who generously agreed to present their 2020 content next year, we also have the opportunity to add additional programming. The MiALA Conference committee seeks proposals for the 5th annual conference to be held virtually May 13-14, 2021. This is a targeted call for presentations of research and library projects related to current events in libraries including:
 

• Anti-racism work in libraries in response to events of 2020
• Quick pivots in service models during COVID-19 shutdowns. What have we learned?
• How will COVID-19 adjustments transform academic library service models long-term?
• Staff work-life balance in the work-from-home era
• Role of academic libraries in a hyper-politicized era

 
In order to facilitate flexibility and as many opportunities for a large number of speakers, the committee is encouraging short-form presentations. If you have an idea for a panel on one of these subjects please do propose this along with a list of speakers. The committee will also work with proposals to craft panels or lightning-style talks on similar topics. 
 
Because we want to give as many library staff the opportunity to present at the conference as possible, we respectfully ask those of you who already have an accepted presentation to please refrain from submitting new proposals on this Call.
 
****Prior to submitting your proposal, please review the information provided on the Breakout Session Guidelines page.**** 
 
Please submit your breakout session proposal using the application form by January 22nd. The primary contact listed on each proposal will receive a message indicating receipt of the proposal when it is submitted and decisions on proposals will be communicated to the primary contact by late February.
 
Questions about proposals can be sent to Jessica Hronchek hronchek@hope.edu. Questions about the conference in general can be sent to conference@miala.org.
 

Join us for the 2021 series of MCO Faculty Conversations on Open Educational Resources (OER). These conversations feature faculty who are currently using an open textbook or other free or lowcost materials in their courses.
 
Open to all faculty from community colleges and four-year institutions who want to learn more about OER from their peers or are currently using OER and want to share their experience.
 
Topics may include:
*What textbook are faculty using and why?
*Did they make any adjustments to their teaching?
*Any challenges for them or students?
*How did the students like the textbook?
*What would they do differently next time?
*What outcomes did they see?
 
Where & When? Online via ZOOM web conferencing - 12:00-12:45 pm
Visit micollegesonline.net > Resources > Meetings for a list of these events.
 
Friday, Jan 8, 2021
PHILOSOPHY
Jim Soto, St. Clair County CCC
David Strand, Oakland CC
Matthew Van Cleave, Lansing CC
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Jan 15, 2021
SOCIOLOGY
Donna Giuliani, Delta
Christina Miller-Bellor, Delta
Erwin Selimos, West Shore CC
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Jan 22, 2021
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Diane Miller, Mid Michigan CC
Claire Sparklin, Washtenaw CC
Ryan Wilson, Northwestern MI
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Jan 29, 2021
COMPOSITION
Tara Broekel, Oakland CC
Shauna Hayes, Muskegon CC
Suba Subbarao, Oakland CC
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Feb 5, 2021
WELDING/TRADES
Andrew Paad, Alpena CC
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Feb 12, 20121
MATH HOMEWORK
Wade James, West Shore CC
Brad Stetson, Schoolcraft
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Feb 19, 2021
BIOLOGY
Paul Bilinski, West Shore CC
Jeff Hucko, Glen Oaks CC
REGISTER HERE
 
Friday, Feb 26, 2021
DEVELOPMENTAL ENGLISH
Nancy Gray, Northwestern MI
Kristen Salathiel, Northwestern MI
REGISTER HERE