Library Systems Planning to Merge

The boards of the Arrowhead Library System (ALS) and the North Country Library Cooperative (NCLC), both of Mountain Iron, have voted to merge the two agencies.

The Arrowhead Library System was established in 1966 and is one of twelve regional public library systems that cover all 87 counties in Minnesota. ALS provides coordination, support, and technology for 29 public libraries in the seven-county Arrowhead region, as well as delivering services directly to residents via Bookmobile and Mail-A-Book services. The North Country Library Cooperative is one of the state’s seven “multi-county, multi-type” library cooperatives designed to foster cooperation between all types of libraries: public libraries, K-12 school libraries, academic/higher education libraries, and special libraries in public and private agencies.

Both agencies serve the same geographic area, and there are commonalities in some of our services. NCLC has leased office space from ALS since 2002. There has often been confusion about the distinctions between the two agencies on the part of our customers and some officials. As we began to look at operational efficiencies, particularly in these challenging economic times, a possible merger of the two library systems became a viable option.

The merger will become official with approval by the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education to designate the Arrowhead Library System as the “multi-county, multi-type” library system for northeastern Minnesota. The merger will be effective July 1, 2012. During this transition, the two agencies will engage in a collaborative strategic planning process to determine service priorities, staffing needs, and other administrative and operational functions. The boards of the two agencies would not have approved the merger unless they felt the end result would be improved services.

Questions about the merger should be directed to me, Jim Weikum, ALS Executive Director, at (218) 741-3840 or jweikum@arrowhead.lib.mn.us .

2012 Library Legislative Day in St. Paul

Arrowhead Library System staff, trustees, and library staff visited the Capitol for Library Legislative Day on February 28^th. Pictured from left to right are ALS Assistant Director Shari Fisher, Representative Mary Murphy, ALS Legacy Event Coordinator Miriam Kero, and ALS Executive Director Jim Weikum.

Minnesota Library Return on Investment Study

View the Report..The Minnesota Library Return on Investment report was made possible with funds from the Arrowhead Library System ROI grant from the IMLS, a federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning, along with State Library Services, the Minnesota state library agency, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act. The report was completed by the University of Minnesota - Duluth, Labovitz School of Business and Economics Bureau of Business and Economic Research under the direction of Jim Skurla.

February is Love your Library with a Gift

The Arrowhead Library System's Bookmobile and Mail-A-Book provide library services in your community or your home year round, and this month's appeal is an opportunity to add more library materials. 

Please support your library with a gift to the Arrowhead Library System Fundraising Campaign, 5528 Emerald Avenue, Mountain Iron, MN 55768.

ALS and NCLC Oddities Display

In the fall, ALS and NCLC teamed up to have a display collection of oddities we had lying around our house. There was a quite the collection of interesting pieces when it was all said and done.

ALS and NCLC 2011 Toy Drive

For the past few months, staff and board members from ALS and NCLC have been collecting toys for the Salvation Army. The toys were dropped off last week, and will soon be spreading cheer to boys and girls across the Iron Range.

Legacy "sculptures" at the Calumet Public Library

These are all identified as "cast works" by the sculptor/creator, Jeffrey Kalstrom. One piece celebrates "Abby," the Reading Education Assistance Dog (READ) that worked at the Calumet Library. A second piece depicts branches of a tree (including birds) and can be used for displays that change with the seasons. The third piece was much more difficult to photograph and sits above the entry door to the Library. It says "Calumet Library" and appears to be a section of a log, along with a wood saw.

Useful Information on serving job seekers and small businesses from the MLA Conference

Project Compass Workshops  Minnesota Library Association Conference   October 13, 2011

Useful nuggets and resources that can be used for improving Library services to job seekers and entrepreneurs:

The presentation of 21^st Century Library Shifts provided a concise summary of how libraries are changing which I can use in discussing changes with my staff, my Library Board, and the City Council.  (p 6 of the Project Compass Workforce Recovery Workshops   booklet available on Web Junction.

The handout of 56 Things you (your library) can do provides a very useful quick list of ideas that can be further developed for supporting job seekers and small businesses.

Connecting with local (MN) resources was useful:

• MELSA Jobs & Small Business initiative Including jobs and small business resources pages on MELSA site.   (Contact: Melinda Ludwiczak: Melinda@melsa.org, Chad Lubbers, chad.lubbers@co.washington.mn.us )
• Ramsey County Library Job Seeker and Small Business Assistance Project  is developing a variety of services  (Contact: Mary Moran:  mmoran@rclreads.org )
• I was looking for curricula for computer training classes and was able to connect with someone who could provide outlines. 
• One workshop participant reported that their local workforce center gave them copies of the Creative Job Search workbook.

Small business:  The SCORE site has many resources for small business start-up and development, including business plan templates. www.score.org/resources

The Pathways (core services, job seekers, small business and personal finance) presented in the Project Compass Workbook provide a wealth of resources and examples for developing services.  I will be spending time with the workbook and reviewing many of the examples to develop plans for our own services.

• Training on providing resources and information is available for library staff on Web Junction at www.webjunction.org/workforce-resources  including archived webinars, handouts and articles.                                     (Contact: Jennifer Peterson: petersoj@oclc.org )
•   The online version Project Compass Workforce Recovery Workshops  includes live links to resources.  This provides an easy way to review a wide variety of resources and examples.  

Marcia Anderson

Director

Grand Rapids Area Library

Then and Now: 2001 and 2011

On July 12, 2001, members of the ALS Governing Board, along with several local elected officials and ALS staff (above), broke ground on what would become the Arrowhead Library System headquarters building in Mountain Iron.


On October 21, 2011, the current members of the ALS Governing Board (above) gathered to celebrate another milestone, the final re-payment of all lease-revenue bonds used to finance the construction of the ALS building. The building and property are now completely owned by ALS. To mark the achievement, Beth Kelly, current President of the ALS Board, set fire to a symbolic "mortgage" (below).

(2011 photo credits: Jim Weikum and Jane Brissett)