MLA 2024 Conference

Join us to explore the exciting developments in the Minnesota Libraries Professional Learning Network (MNPLN) and the LevelUp initiative. This session will provide a bit of background on the LevelUpMN.org program and how it has been reinvigorated and reimagined by The MNPLN Coordinating Council, a group of library leaders from Minitex, State Library Services, MNPALS, MLA, public libraries, academic library education programs, school libraries, academic libraries, and the MCMTs. The Council has come together to plan and create course content that is essential for all library professionals in MN. These courses will be available to anyone interested in the workings of libraries to register and work through at no cost, and participants will be able to share transcripts and certificates of their accomplishments with employers and on social platforms. We will review these current efforts and share plans for the future as we strengthen our amazing MN library community to be more inclusive and supportive of all library workers and their professional growth.

This class is designed to assist librarians and others who work with diverse populations in locating health information. The resources presented are selected for their emphasis on providing culturally relevant information in the preferred language of the population. Background information on refugees and immigrants in the U.S. and their unique health issues will be presented.

Come learn more about MLA's Technical Services Section (TSS), whose purpose is to provide members and other Minnesota library workers with opportunities to discuss current problems and future developments in library technical services, and to educate and inform. 

In the 2018-2019 academic year, the State of Minnesota began providing additional financial aid for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the Grants for Students with Intellectual and Development Disabilities (ID Grant) program. However, the Minnesota Inclusive Higher Education Consortium (MIHEC) highlighted additional barriers for these students which included lack of postsecondary education options, limited capacity in Minnesota’s three existing Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary (CTP) programs, and limited funding. In the 2023 Minnesota Legislative Session, the State acted to address these barriers. In fall 2023, the University of Minnesota’s Institute on Community Integration (ICI) entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) to establish a technical assistance center (TA Center) to create self-sustaining education options across the state for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to earn postsecondary credentials. OHE in collaboration with the TA Center will host a competitive request for application in spring of 2024 for institutions who will be launching these programs.
The State of Minnesota is specifically addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education by establishing the TA Center. The focus of the TA Center will be to expand higher education enrollment to include individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who historically have not had options to pursue higher education. The establishment of CTP programs will allow these students to access federal financial aid, Minnesota state aid, and other funding sources for students with disabilities (example: Vocational Rehabilitation and waiver funding).
During this session, attendees will learn about how libraries can support postsecondary institutions in building their capacity to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Attendees will also learn about how libraries can help students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families access postsecondary programs and student financial aid.

We will explore the New Capstone Connect and go into our eBookroom as well as our Activities, Makerspace and Lesson plan section. We will explore an activity and a maker project together. We will also explore our National/State Standards and topic search feature and show how this will help librarians save time and integrate into their ed-tech tools. We will then experience PebbleGo Create. PebbleGo Create is an intuitive digital workspace for students and all learners to demonstrate what they are learning from our research database PebbleGo. Students can choose to text, draw, use audio or video and create unique backgrounds to show what they have learned. When students are free to choose their own methods of expression and take an active and creative role in their learning they gain confidence and the learning stays with them. Come join us while we have fun exploring Capstone Connect and PebbleGo Create. This is for K-6 Librarians, Instructional Tech Coordinators, Teachers, Technology Specialists, Principals and anyone who would like to learn more about the new parts of PebbleGo.