Northern Lights Library Network

05/29/2026

Lina Belar outside the Wadena County Historical Society

05/29/2026

Charlie Lindberg organizing the collection and uploading the Campbell School Elementary Collection to the Destiny Online Catalog.

05/29/2026

Life Achievement Award

Charlie Lindberg and Lina Belar

The Life Achievement Award from Northern Lights Library Network (NLLN) signifies a contribution to citizens in the NLLN region for a librarian who has given extraordinary service throughout a career. The award is given once a year or less, upon the recommendation of the Executive Director or member of the NLLN Governing Board. This year, the award goes to Charlie Lindberg and Lina Belar.

Charlie Lindberg

Charlie (Linda) Lindberg grew up in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, excelling at violin in the area youth orchestra. After graduating from high school, she attended Gustavas Adolphus College where she met the love of her life, Bill Lindberg. They both taught in suburban schools until moving to Bill’s family farm in Kennedy, Minnesota, in 1973. At that time, Charlie went to work to open the Hallock Public Library, which she supports to this day through board membership and the Library Friends, which over the years has raised funds to support the library well.

While raising her two sons, Charlie completed her Library Media Master’s degree from St. Cloud State University. She served as teacher and media specialist with Kittson Central School District for most of her career. At Kittson Central, Charlie began a STEM group and facilitated ongoing robotics training. She built a beautiful new library at Kittson Central and developed a refined collection that circulated frequently. An avid reader, Charlie was adept at advising her students in their reading choices.

Charlie was instrumental in bringing the NorthStar Library Consortium into existence at a time when school libraries needed online library catalogs. As a part of a Northern Lights Library Network (NLLN) team, Charlie visited libraries throughout the state to bring school library catalogs online. Today, over 100 rural libraries in the state belong to the NorthStar Library Consortium.

In addition to serving on the Hallock Library Board, Charlie served on the Northwest Regional Library Board (NWRL) and the NLLN Governing Board, often serving as an officer. Charlie’s thoughtful insights resulted in solid, valuable decision-making for libraries throughout the Northern Lights Library Network Region.

From 1973 to the present, Charlie has been a valued member of the library community in Minnesota. Her contributions to citizens in the region through library service are greatly appreciated, and recognition for this work is well-deserved.

Lina Belar

Lina Belar has served the Northern Lights Library Network (NLLN) region and the State of Minnesota for over fifty years. Early on, she was responsible for starting the In Their Own Words (ITOW) Museum in Perham, as well as the History Museum of East Otter Tail County. Lina also served as Executive Director of the Wadena County Historical Society. All three museums became special members of Northern Lights Library Network. Lina received her education at Columbia University.

The In Their Own Words Museum documents the oral histories of America’s veterans and provides a visual experience of wartime life. For instance, there is a WWI bunker that is true-to-life duplication of American soldiers’ combat experience in France. Lina was responsible for bringing the full electronic and physical reality of the museum to fruition, often contributing her own resources to make the museum a reality.

Lina is a distinguished poet, having published several books, including At the Crossroads and Rural Score. Her new book in press is Rift in the Universe. During the COVID pandemic, Lina facilitated the publication of poetry collections from Minnesota poets, Poems of Hope and Reassurance and More Poems of Hope and Reassurance. Her poems were translated in Slovenian and celebrated in a ceremony at the Triglav National Park, hosted by the government.
Lina has also published many articles in regional newspapers and contributed articles to the Minnesota Historical Society, including Little Round Hill Trading Site; Cadotte Trading Post; Joseph Reaume’s Trading Post.

In 1999, Lina received Perham Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award and in 2000, the Minnesota Library Association’s Distinguished Achievement Category II Award. Belar serves as Honorary Chair of the Heartland Symphony Orchestra. For many years, Lina served on the board of Northern Lights Library Network, representing Special Libraries in the region. She has always been kind-hearted and brilliant in her willingness to share ideas that bring humanity to our collective lived experience. Lina is deserving of this recognition for her outstanding work preserving Minnesota collections.

05/29/2026

AI Spark: Educatioin in the Age of AI
at the MSUM Foundation
on the Campus of Minnesota State University Moorhead
11th Street South, Moorhead
Thursday, August 6, 2026

Educators from PK-12 and higher education are invited to join Minnesota State Moorhead's Institute for Applied AI for a day-long training. Explore pedological approaches to AI education with hands on practical training. Breakout sessions will cover topics such as AI literacy, AI Agentic Architecture, and ethical AI Integration. CEUs are available. Lunch will be provided.

Ten free registration passes are available for NLLN Members to attend AI Spark with the Promotion Code: "NLLN-26".

REGISTER HERE:

05/29/2026

Minnesota Libraries Read Together is calling on libraries to host an event on the date and time that works best for them, September 18, 19, or 20, 2026. Paired with Library Card Sign Up Month, September is the perfect time to celebrate libraries!

Host libraries will register as a site and host an event that best fits their space: inviting the community to read together, reading together while including passive programing, or partnering with their Friends group to have active programming with invited local officials.

Sign up to host at this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqTgNyYEIiBAn6fsstzvvJC069N_z0-G8zujv0GN7H4hjcjA/viewform

Save the date for the annual Minnesota Libraries Read Together, September 18, 19, or 20.

Register your Library to Host a Local Event We’re calling on libraries to host an event on the date and time that works best for them, September 18-20, 2026. Host libraries will register as a site and host an event that best fits their space: inviting the community to read together, reading togeth...

05/29/2026

All Are Welcome! Big Issues Summit
To register: https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2061260&group=

Please join librarians and library staff from around the state for the Big Issues Summit from 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. on June 22nd at the Brookdale Library. NLLN can sponsor librarians and library staff from the NLLN region who would like to attend with mileage and lodging. See:https://nlln.org/pdfs/NLLN-Scholarship-Application.pdf

This unconference is free and open to all.

From the Minnesota Library Association (MLA):

"This highly collaborative session invites participants to help shape the conversations, identify emerging challenges, and surface opportunities for statewide action. The Summit is intended as a starting point for conversation—a space to surface ideas, share perspectives, and explore possibilities together. We don't expect to solve every issue in one session. However, topics that show broad agreement and strong statewide relevance may help shape MLA's potential legislative priorities for the 2027 session."

Librarians work closely with Minnesotans and hear about needs and issues that affect us, regularly. Please join the conversation and bring to light the conversations you are having at the local level.

To register: https://www.mnlibraryassociation.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2061260&group=

Join library leaders, workers, and advocates from across Minnesota for an unconference‑style summit focused on the biggest issues facing our libraries and communities.

05/11/2026

22nd Annual AUGUST 11-13, 2026 • MAHNOMEN, MN

COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVEBRAIN DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE

United for Children

LOCATION: Shooting Star Casino Hotel & Event Center Mahnomen, MN

The Communities Collaborative Brain Development Conference is an educational conference dedicated to service providers, teachers, professionals, and parents. The conference’s goals are to bring together individuals, programs, and schools that work with children ages birth through school-age.

We are dedicated to sharing high quality up-to-date information and provide useful strategies to better serve children and families in our communities.

Visit our conference website at https://bit.ly/ccbdconference
PER PERSON: $170 per day OR $300 for 2 days 12th and 13th $50 (additional) for August 11th Pre-Conference

Tuesday, August 11th, 2026 4:30pm Conference Kickoff Light Refreshments,

5:00pm – 6:30pm Pre-conference Session The Importance of Anishinaabemowin Language and Culture“

August 12th, 2026 7:00am – 5:30pm Registration & Vendors Open 8:00am - 9:00am

Welcome & Opening Ceremony 9:00am - 10:30am

Opening Keynote Speaker Raelene Ostberg 10:45am – 12:15pm Breakout Session #1 (6 options)

12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch & Presentation

1:45pm – 3:15pm Breakout Session #2 (6 options)

3:30pm – 4:30pm Closing Keynote Speaker Chase Mielke
5:30pm Dinner
6:00pm Evening EntertainmentShayne Smith

Thursday, August 13th, 2026
7:00am – 2:00pm Registration Open
7:00am - 3:00pm Vendors Open
8:30am – 10:00am Opening Keynote SpeakerAlyssa Blask Campbell
10:30am – 12:00pm Breakout Session #3 (6 options)
12:15pm – 1:15pm Lunch
1:15pm – 2:45pm Closing Keynote Speaker Christophe Fox
2:45pm – 3:00pm Closing Ceremony

Raelene Ostberg, M.Ed.Speaker
Raelene Ostberg- National Keynote Speaker and the Founder of Thriving Together,LLC an international organization passionately committed to supporting earlychildhood educators in their vital mission of caring for and educating youngchildren. Raelene is an expert trainer for the states of MN, WI and NY. www.thriving-together.com

Chase Mielke M.Ed.SpeakerChase Mielke M.Ed. - an award-winning educator, writer, and speaker focusing onpreventing teacher burnout and increasing student engagement. He has traveled across the nation to speak with students andeducators on topics of resilience, mindset, applied neuroscience, and positive psychology.

CLOSING KEYNOTE: August 12, 2026
In This Together: Strengthen Staff Culture with Purpose, Perspective and Positivity In today’s schools, isolation, overwhelm, and division are real challenges, but they don’t have to define yourschool climate. In this energizing keynote, award-winning educator and ASCD author Chase Mielke equips your staff with research-based strategies to build a more connected, collaborative, and purpose-driven culture.

Alyssa Blask Campbell, M.Ed. is a leading voice in emotional developmentand regulation, the founder of Seed & Sew, & CEO of Seed & Sew | BestsellingAuthor | Emotional Development Expert. Looking Beneath the Behavior, while being incredibly warm, accessible,and story-rich she is known for helping diverse audiences who wear many hats feel seen, understood, and supported in the complexity of caring for children across ages, settings, and roles.

Christophe Fox Mentalist & Mind Performance Expert; Consultant on Human Behavior& Perception.Christophe Fox is a mentalist and magician who blends live performancewith meaningful ideas to create memorable corporate experiences.

The Conference is made possible by the White Earth Child Care/EarlyChildhood Programs and the Communities Collaborative Committee.The committee is made up of White Earth RBC programs, White EarthTribal Council, White Earth Behavioral Health, Local School Districts,Northwest Foundation, Northern Light Library Network, MN Tribal Resources for Early Childhood Care (MNTRECC), Lakes and PrairiesCommunity Action (CAPLP), White Earth Tribal and Community College,and Shooting Star Casino.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Shooting Star Casino Hotel &Event Center for August 11th, 12th and 13th. When registering, please requestyour preference.

Hotel costs are at the participant’s expense.

Check-in is at 4pm and check-out is at 11am. You must call the hotel directly to makeyour hotel arrangements, call 218-935-2711 or 1-800-453-STAR. Referencebooking #237.HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
White Earth Child Care/Early Childhood Program • PO Box 221 • Ogema, MN 56569 Phone: 218-935-6253 • Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Visit our conference website at https://bit.ly/ccbdconference PER PERSON:$170 per day OR $300 for 2 days 12th and 13th $50 (additional) for August11th Pre-Conference

Registration is now open!! Don't Delay, Get Registered TODAY!! Click the button below to take you to the registration page!

05/11/2026

Kitchigami Regional Library Announces May 2026 Tour Featuring International Folk Music Ensemble Caleigh

Kitchigami Regional Library (KRLS) is proud to present a special multi-day musical tour across the region this May, featuring the acclaimed folk ensemble Caleigh. Titled “They Brought Their Songs: International Folk Music in Minnesota,” the tour celebrates the rich cultural heritage that has shaped Minnesota through music, storytelling, and shared traditions.

Tour Schedule:

Monday, May 11

11:30 AM — Crosslake Area Library
3:00 PM — Pequot Lakes Community Library
Tuesday, May 12

5:00 PM — Brainerd Public Library
Wednesday, May 13

1:30 PM — Margaret Welch Memorial Library
5:00 PM — Dale & Harriet Jones Walker Library
Thursday, May 14

4:00 PM — Cass Lake Community Library
Friday, May 15

2:00 PM — Bemidji Public Library
6:30 PM — Park Rapids Armory Arts & Events Center
Saturday, May 16

12:00 PM — Wadena City Library
3:30 PM — Menahga Senior Citizens Community Center
Tuesday, May 19

4:00 PM — Blackduck Senior Citizens Center
For more information, please contact your local Kitchigami Regional Library branch.

05/03/2026

Consider attending the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The Multicounty Multitype Library Systems confer scholarships to their library members. See:

https://annual2026.eventscribe.net/

and

https://www.mnmcmt.org/home

Minnesota's Multicounty Multitype Library Systems

05/03/2026

https://www.mnmcmt.org/tuition-support-for-media-specialists

Consider applying for a scholarship to become a media specialist in Minnesota. While the most recent application deadline ended April 16, it will open again later.