State Library ServicesLearning Support :

Public Library Accessibility & Construction Grant Program

Since 1995, 101 library buildings have benefited from competitive state dollar to local dollar matching accessibility grants totaling $5,900,241; local share has totaled $39,056,411. The actual overall matching ratio amounts to $1 state to $6.62 local.

Since 2005, six library buildings have benefited from dollar to dollar competitive construction matching grants totaling $1,583,249; local share has totaled $5,784,329. The actual overall matching ratio amounts to $1 state to $4.42 local. 

The 2008 legislature appropriated $1.5 million for the FY2009-2010 biennium. See the Grant Applications and Procedures section for current application information.

Current grant application information is available at the Grants and Aid section under Public Library Accessibility & Construction Grant Program.

State Library Services

The Minnesota state library agency is a division of the Minnesota Department of Education. The state library provides leadership and support to the Minnesota library community in planning, developing, and implementing high quality library and information services statewide.  The State Library Agency administers federal and state grants-in-aid programs for libraries and schools.  Staff contact information .

The State of Minnesota LSTA Five-Year Plan, 2008 - 2012

The new LSTA Five-Year Plan, 2008-2012 as adopted by the State Library Advisory Council on August 9, 2007, and approved at the federal level by the Institute of Museum and Library Services on October 1, 2007, is now available on the Department of Education website. Comments on the new plan can be forwarded to Suzanne Miller, State Librarian, suzanne.miller@state.mn.us or James Wroblewski, LSTA Grant Coordinator, jym.wroblewski@state.mn.us. 

The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library

A statewide public library service for eligible Minnesotans who cannot read standard print materials because of a visual, physical or reading disability. The library is located on the campus of the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind in Faribault, Minnesota. Remote services are provided statewide for qualified users via telephone or electronic mail. The Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library  services are available to the public Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

12th Public Library Association National Conference

The 12th bi-annual National Conference of the Public Library Association was held in Minneapolis at the Minneapolis Convention Center on March 25 through March 29, 2008.

Approximately 50 Minnesota librarians and individuals associated with Minnesota libraries moderated or presented at the event. Numerous other volunteers  contributed through staffing hospitality counters and preparing welcome packets

Added information on conference.

Libraries Connect Communities

"Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study 2006-2007 Report" has been published. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the American Library Association (ALA), the Study is part of a sustained effort to provide current information that describes access to computers and the Internet in U.S. public libraries. Quicker access to the American Library Association documents can be found by hitting  Executive Summary.

By clicking on the links on this page, you will leave the MDE web site. See our copyright notice for our disclaimer regarding these links. 

An Evaluation of the Minnesota Voluntary Certification Program

This report, conducted by Nancy Bolt and Jody Howard of Nancy Bolt and Associates, contains the results of an online survey, focus groups and individual interviews to determine the status of the Minnesota Voluntary Certification Program for Library Employees, concerns from participants and administrators associated with the program, the effectiveness of the program, and the value of the program to the libraries, staff and library users in the State of Minnesota. The report, An Evaluation of the Minnesota Voluntary Certification Program   and Recommendations were approved by the Minnesota State Library Advisory Council on February 8, 2007.

Cool Tool @ Your Library: the Research Project Calculator

Help students jump-start their research! Minnesota high school students can now benefit from another Cool Tool @ Your Library: The Research Project Calculator 

The tool assists students in breaking their research process into manageable steps. Based on the research process emphasized in the Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO) Information and Technology Literacy Standards, this new online calculator assists high school students in breaking their research process into five logical steps: Question, Gather, Conclude, Communication and Evaluate. The Research Project Calculator is located on the Electronic Library for Minnesota portal website at http://elm4you.org/research/

*By clicking on the link on this page, you will leave the MDE web site. See our copyright notice for our disclaimer regarding these links.

Making Libraries Stronger

The Urban Libraries Council (ULC) released a new report on public libraries and the role they play within their communities. The report Making Cities Stronger: Public Library Contributions to Local Economic Development is located on the Urban Libraries Council website at  http://www.urbanlibraries.org/files/making_cities_stronger.pdf

* By clicking on the link on this page, you will leave the MDE website. See our copyright notice for our disclaimer regarding these links.

Americans for Libraries Study

Americans for Libraries has released a new study on public attitudes about libraries. Long Overdue: A Fresh Look at Public and Leadership Attitudes About Libraries in the 21st Century re-emphasizes that libraries continue to hold a strongly respected position in our communities while noting that librarians must not take this for granted. Libraries must be able to show their value and role in strengthening and supporting contemporary values and addressing community issues and problems. This is certain to prompt further discussion in the weeks to come. 

The study is located at the following URL: http://www.lff.org/long_overdue061306.html 

*By clicking on the link on this page, you will leave the MDE web site. See our copyright notice for our disclaimer regarding these links.

2008-2011 Technology Planning Guide for MN School Districts and Charter Schools

Technology Planning Guide outlines criteria school districts, charter schools, nonpublic schools, and public libraries should address if they want to submit a plan to MDE for review and approval. Click here for more information

School Libraries/Media Centers Have Positive Impact On Student Achievement!

Nationally recognized research over the last twenty years demonstrates that quality school library media center programs support a strong educational system and promote higher student test scores. To find out more, click here