Minnesota Library Association

06/01/2026

Well done!

06/01/2026

Check out the American Library Association's new advocacy tool. It makes it so easy to take action on behalf of libraries!

Show up for our libraries by advocating for the most important issues facing them in the federal government.

05/14/2026

The final day to pass a bill is Sunday, May 17 at midnight, so time is short. We’re in the final stretch of the legislative session, and a $1.2 billion bonding agreement is now on the table. As negotiations continue, it’s critical that library funding remains a priority. We need your help RIGHT NOW!

If you’ve reached out before, please do it again. These final days are when decisions are made, and repeated outreach makes a real difference.

We’re asking all library advocates to contact your legislators and urge them to support funding for public library construction and renovation projects in the final bonding bill. Strong library investments mean stronger communities, expanded access, and long-term benefits statewide.

Take action today using this easy tool:
https://app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-page?cid=mtp3cMsn2JxRQnKeLzcD7&lang=en

Thank you for your continued advocacy and commitment to Minnesota libraries. Your voice matters, especially right now.

Join the Library Bonding Final Push! campaign and make your voice heard.

05/05/2026

📢 **Call for Proposals: MLA 2026 Annual Conference!**

Have something worth sharing with the library community? **Now is the time to submit a session proposal!** 🙌

The **Minnesota Library Association's 2026 Annual Conference** is going virtual on **Thursday & Friday, October 8 & 9**, and this year's theme — *"Supporting Each Other, Sustaining the Work"* — is all about how we're learning, adapting, and strengthening our libraries and communities.

Whether you have an innovative idea, a best practice to share, a collaboration story, or a solution to a challenge your library has faced, **we want to hear from you!**

✅ **Single or multiple speakers welcome**
✅ **Panels, case studies, demos, interactive sessions & more**
✅ **All library types, sizes, and staff levels encouraged to apply**

📅 **Deadline: Friday, May 29, 2026**
⏱️ **Session length: 50 minutes**

Sometimes all it takes is a friendly nudge — so if you know a colleague who has something great to share, please tag them or pass this along! 👇

🔗 **Submit your proposal here:**
https://site.pheedloop.com/portal/event/EVERVTDEHVXZI/submission/CALTAC282PH5Q5W/application

05/01/2026

📚✨ **Be a Judge for the Minnesota Author Project 2026!** ✨📚

Do you love books and want to support Minnesota's indie authors? **We need judges!**

The **Minnesota Library Association** and libraries across the state are looking for librarians, educators, and booksellers to help evaluate independently published works in **Young Adult Fiction, Adult Fiction, and Communities Create** categories.

🌟 **Why judge?**
- Discover amazing local voices
- Help award **cash prizes** and meaningful recognition
- Support Minnesota's literary community

📅 Contest registration runs **April 1 – May 31, 2026**

👉 **Sign up to be a judge here:**
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScWsrLtVx02oW9RswJpTIcQOzRh3BN6zn2YChKuQTrNzKVf1w/viewform?pli=1

💬 Know a librarian, educator, or book-lover who'd be a great judge? Tag them below!

04/29/2026

There's a new local publisher. "The idea is not to publish writers who have been in prison," added MPWW executive director Mike Alberti, who sits on Lost Kite’s board of directors and its editorial board, "but instead to allow them to shape the literary landscape by acquiring and editing books."

Lost Kite Editions is officially launching with two releases by authors who are in prison. The press will not only publish a mix of books by incarcerated individuals and those who have never been incarcerated, but its editors will be similarly integrated

04/09/2026

📣 **Call for Proposals is OPEN for the 2026 MLA Annual Conference!**

Have something valuable to share with fellow library professionals? **Now is your time!** 🌟

The Minnesota Library Association's 2026 Annual Conference is going virtual on **Thursday & Friday, October 8 & 9**, and we want to hear from YOU! This year's theme is:

✨ *"Supporting Each Other, Sustaining the Work"* ✨

Whether you have innovative ideas, best practices, a story of successful collaboration, or a creative solution to a common challenge — **your voice matters** and your colleagues want to hear it!

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📋 **Quick Details:**
📅 Submission Deadline: **Friday, May 29, 2026**
⏱️ Session Length: **50 minutes**
🎤 Formats: Single speakers, panels, case studies, interactive activities, demos & more!

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💡 **Tips for a Strong Virtual Session:**
✅ Build in interactive elements (polls, Q&A, breakout discussions)
✅ Prepare digital handouts or takeaways for participants
✅ Keep accessibility in mind for all attendees

We welcome proposals from **staff at all levels, all library types, and all library sizes** — no experience required, just a great idea and a passion for sharing!

👉 **Submit your proposal here:** https://site.pheedloop.com/portal/event/EVERVTDEHVXZI/submission/CALTAC282PH5Q5W/application

Know someone with something great to share? Tag them below or send them this post! Sometimes all it takes is a friendly nudge from a colleague. 💙

04/07/2026

📚 Thank You, School Library Media Specialists! 📚
Today, we celebrate and thank our incredible School Library Media Specialists across Minnesota. Governor Walz officially proclaimed April 2, 2026, as School Library Media Specialist Day, recognizing the vital role you play in supporting literacy, learning, and curiosity in our school communities.https://mn.gov/governor/assets/04.03.26%20School%20Library%20Media%20Specialist%20Day_tcm1055-738430.pdf

04/06/2026

From Minnesota libraries to a national stage! 💙📖 So great to see our state association members attending the PLA Conference in Minneapolis last week. Learning, networking, and representing MN with pride! Also, special shoutout to the LGBTQIA+ Roundtable for hosting a very successful Queerbrarian Meetup!

04/01/2026

Please join us for the annual Day of Digital Humanities at Carleton College!

Day of DH is a FREE one-day conference where those engaged in digital scholarship in the upper Midwest (and beyond) can share their work, forge connections with other DH practitioners, and learn new concepts and skills.

Learn more, register, or submit a proposal at the link below.

10th Anniversary Conference | Friday, June 5, 2026 Please join us for the annual Day of Digital Humanities at Carleton College! Day of DH is a FREE one-day conference where those…