April 2019 Newsletter

Announcing the 2019 Annual Conference Scholarship Winners

The Conference Scholarship subcommittee is pleased to announce this year's conference scholarship recipients:

Annual Conference Scholarship Recipients (each will receive full registration to the Annual Conference, two nights lodging at the conference hotel, and a $50 travel stipend):
  • Katie Alphenaar - Grand Valley State University
  • Elizabeth Bucciarelli - Eastern Michigan University
  • Emily Dunn - Kettering University
  • Katie Iversen - Wayne State University
  • Beth Lieberman - North Central Michigan College
  • Zoe McLaughlin - Michigan State University
A huge thank you to everyone who applied, and a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to each of the recipients!

We look forward to seeing each one of you at this year's MiALA Conference on May 13 & 14 at the Conference Center at Saginaw Valley State University

With sincere best wishes from the Conference Scholarship Subcommittee:
Elizabeth Walker, Spring Arbor University (Chair)
Agnes Widder, Michigan State University

Interest Group event presentations now online

Were you unable to attend the Data Literacy Boot Camp or the Practical Assessment: From Beginner to Expert events on March 8? 

The presentations from both events are now available online on their respective event pages!

Click here to access the Data Literacy Boot Camp event page!

Click here to access the Practical Assessment: From Beginner to Expert event page!
 

Thanks to our Annual Conference Sponsors

Thank you to the following institutions who have pledged their support for the #MiALAAC19 Annual Conference:

Platinum Level
Michigan State University
Grand Valley State University
Saginaw Valley State University
Western Michigan University

Gold Level
Elsevier
Ferris State University

Silver Level
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services
ProQuest

Bronze Level
Davenport University
Emery-Pratt
Oakland University

General Support
Aquinas College
Cornerstone University
North Central Michigan College

This event was also made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, go to the Annual conference Sponsorship page.
 

Welcome New Members!

University of Michigan
Jesus Espinoza

Miami University
Rachel Makarowski

Miami University Libraries
Laura Birkenhauer

Elsevier
Sheena Shah

University of Michigan
Jason Imbesi

University of Michigan
Craig Smith

Stephen H. Fletcher Library (Alpena Community College)
April Barres

Glen Oaks Community College
Trista Nelson

Baker College
Patrick Mullane

Western Michigan University
Roy Zimmer
 

President's Message

Paul Gallagher

It’s April, the birds are chirping, and the sun is peeking out from behind the clouds for the first time in months!  Spring means the start of a new season, and of course – the MiALA Conference! Happening on May 13 &14th at Saginaw Valley State University, this year promises to be the best yet, and is focused on “Our Value: Communicating, Promoting, and Visualizing.”

Conference registration is open, and breakout sessions are posted online!  I am blown away the depth and breadth of the presentations and posters – thank you all for volunteering your time to share your expertise.  Please note that this year we have some new discounts in place for library support staff and part-time librarians and continue to greatly discount for LIS students.  For members of the Michigan Health Sciences Library Association and with the Academic Library Association of Ohio, we are happy to be in partnership and to offer the membership rate as well.   I’m also glad that the Mid-Michigan Digital Practitioners will be holding their Spring meeting on Wednesday following conference and am very glad to be partnered with this outstanding group of innovators.

I also wanted to mention this year’s elections, which kicks off on April 15th with the call for nominations.  This is your organization, and you can have a very direct hand in its future.  I would encourage you to run for a position and ask to encourage your colleagues to do the same.

-Paul

Call for Nominations just around the corner

Spring is here, and so is the time to start thinking about your service in the Michigan Academic Library Association!

Leadership takes many forms within MiALA and this year, we are looking for nominations to Board positions, Committee leadership positions, Interest Group leadership positions, and, new this year, members of the Interest Group Coordinating Council. You probably know several colleagues who could do an excellent job of filling them – and don't be shy, we accept self-nominations too!  If you are new to academic librarianship in Michigan, it's okay. We'd love to have you, and your fresh voice.

Nominations open on April 15 and will extend through the Annual conference, followed by elections. Our new leadership will join the team on July 1, 2019.

There is a website with everything you ever wanted to know about MiALA elections at http://miala.org/election_central.php , but here are the basics:

Open positions
  • Vice President/President-Elect, Secretary, Publicly Funded University Rep, Private College Rep, Community College Rep
  • Advocacy Committee Chair, Communications & Marketing Committee Chair, Membership Committee Chair
  • Interest Group Coordination Council Representatives (1 2-year term and 1 1-year term)

For more information on the positions open for nomination, and/or if you are interested in running, or in nominating a colleague, please find the appropriate form on the Elections website (http://miala.org/election_central.php).  

If you have any questions, please contact a member of Nominations/Elections committee (Jessica Sender, Chair - jsender@lib.msu.edu; Elizabeth Webster -  ewebster@msu.edu, Molly Lederman - mledermann@wccnet.edu,  Jeremy Barney - barneycj@hope.edu, Sarah Kolk - smk23@calvin.edu, & Suzanne Bernsten - bernss@star.lcc.edu).

Member Spotlight

Jessica Shuck

Headshot of JessicaJessica Shuck
eResources Librarian
Cornerstone University

What are you currently reading?
I usually have a few books going. I have a decent commute so I love audiobooks! I am finishing up The Good Neighbor (read by Mr. Reading Rainbow himself, Lavar Burton- which has brought about a lot of nostalgia!). I just started Maid by Stephanie Land, which has been really impactful. I'm also reading Escape Rooms and other Immersive Experiences in the Library and Green Revolution, as well as various picture books.

What are your research interests?
My research interests include information literacy, library instruction assessment, library outreach, and recently on a more personal level, sustainability.

Do you have hobbies or interests outside of the library?
My husband and I have two young kids (ages 5 and 3) and two dogs who keep us very busy! Aside from reading and spending time with my family, I love doing anything outside- walking, hiking, kayaking and swimming, really anything in nature or by water. I love to dig in the dirt and attempt to garden but I'm mostly just good at perennials.

What drew you to the library profession?
I genuinely love serving other people- connecting someone with what they want or need is exciting to me. It's funny because while I was in high school and college and I had never even considered it a career path. I started volunteering in a school library my junior year of college just for some experience. The school librarian told me about a page position at the public library. Once I started working part-time at GRPL I was hooked and I realized that it could be a great option for me.

What do you value about MiALA?
MiALA is an amazing organization! I love being part of a group of people who are so smart and friendly and helpful. It's been great making connections with so many of you and realizing that we can all help and grow with each other. I'm so thankful for the many opportunities MiALA offers in terms of leadership experience, learning, and collaboration.

MiALA Annual Conference Registration Open

Registration for MiALA’s 4th annual conference is open! This event will be held May 13-14 at the The Conference Center at Saginaw Valley State University. We're excited about all this conference has to offer, including:
  • Keynote Speaker Rebecca Blakiston from the University of Arizona
  • Pre-conference reception from 5-7 pm Sunday, 5/12 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Bay City (open to all attendees)
  • 33 breakout sessions throughout the conference presented by your Michigan and Ohio academic library colleagues
  • A “Birds of a Feather” lunch on Monday featuring Interest Group sessions
  • Poster session/Information fair
  • Dinearounds for dinner on Monday night - a great way to explore what the Saginaw/Bay City area has to offer!
  • The MiALA annual membership meeting Tuesday during lunch - see what MiALA has accomplished in the past year, and what's in store for the future!
  • Career Services Panel along with an opportunity to receive resumé and interview tips from experts in the field.
Registration costs are as follows:
Full Conference: $150 MiALA, ALAO, & MHSLA members, $100 special pricing for MiALA members who are support staff and/or part-time librarians, $25 MiALA members who are LIS students, $50 LIS students who are not MiALA members, & $200 for all others
 
One-day: $100 MiALA, ALAO, & MHSLA members, $75 special pricing for MiALA members who are support staff and/or part-time librarians, $15 MiALA members who are LIS students, $25 LIS students who are not MiALA members, & $150 for all others
 
A room block has been secured for the nights of May 12 & 13 at two hotels with a short drive away from the event location. Go to the MiALA Annual Conference webpage for instructions on how to reserve your room. The deadline to reserve a room at the Courtyard by Marriott, Bay City is April 11. The deadline to reserve a room at the Doubletree by Hilton, Bay City is April 20.
MiALA Newsletter - April 2019 Newsletter