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Public libraries are the doorway to information for you and your students.  The Twin Cities are lucky to have 9 public libraries supported by MELSA, the regional public library system.  The 9 libraries are funded by their local governments.  These libraries provide direct service to library users both in person and virtually.  They do the traditional library services -- loan books and other materials, maintain reference and research collections, do programming for youth and adults, answer reference questions of people seeking information or research help, recommend materials, etc.

MELSA provides training and networking for library staff, funds regional database purchases, and fosters cooperatie relationships among its 9 members.  Anyone with a valid library card can borrow materials from any library (any library in Minnesota, too) and then return those materials to the most convenient location.

In the Library 2.0 world, librarians have expanded their reach of online reference through IM and email, created blogs to reach out to patrons, encourage user-generated content such as patrons' book recommendations, and are looking to the future to see how public libraries will evolve and change to meet the needs of future library users.

Another role public libraries have filled is to help bridge the digital divide.  Almost 100% of American public libraries have high-speed public access to the internet.  Your students may use their local libraries not only for research , but for all internet-related activitiy.

As wonderful and resource-full public libraries are, they are not a substitute or replacement for school library media programs.  A school library meets the unique needs of the teachers and students in its building.  The media specialist builds the resource collection to respond to the curriculum and collaborates with teachers on research and other projects.  A cooperative relationship between school and public libraries brings the best of both to students and teachers.

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History of Libraries

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• Be sure you have an active public library card and PIN.  A PIN is necessary for remote access to many library resources and services.  Remember, once you have a card from a Minnesota public library, it is good at any public library in Minnesota!  And you can return most materials to any library location, too, and it will end up back at its "home".

• Explore your local public library's resources.  Or visit the new Central Library in Minneapolis!  Each library system offers different things; On your library's website look for . . .
  

* Downloadable audiobooks

* IM Reference

* Ask a Librarian

* Book Groups

* Book Lists

* Programs

* Databases with remote and/or in-library access

* Email notices

* Homework Help

* And much more!

• Use at least one service of your library beside borrowing materials.  If you have never requested a book to be put on hold, do that too.
  

• Be sure your students have ibrary cards and PINs and encourage them to explore their ibrary.  Need help?  Contact your local library.

• Invite your local public librarian to visit your classroom or media center to sign up students for ibrary cards, talk about pubic library resources, and/or role play ways to approach a librarian and ask for help.

• Include public library links on your Teacher Web Page for easy student access to reliable resources.

The MnLINK Gateway is a portal into nearly all of Minnesota's library resources.  The MnLINK Gateway provides libraries and community members access to online catalogs from over 20 Minnesota library systems and the Electronic Library for Minnesota (ELM).  This gateway allows the people of Minnesota to log in using their local library card and to request materials from around the state be delivered to their local library.  This expanded interlibrary loan brings the request process directly to the library user as they select items and place their "Get It" request onloine 24 hours a day.  The MnLINK Gateway is supported by your tax dollars.  It is one of many services provided to libraries by the MINITEX Library Information Network.

MnLINK offers both basic and advanced searching capabilities (using Boolean operators and fields to limit by language, reading level, and/or format or media).  You can save your searches and run them again later, search all libraries in MnLINK or just one or a few, create and save Search Profiles, search for peer-reviewed journals, and limit your search by date.  You can track your requests: each request will have a note of its location in the process (under library review, in process, at your local library, returned or not available through MnLINK, to name a few).  And, best of all -- the Get It! Button (Flash file).

Once you find an item you want, you click the Get It! Button.  This sends a request to the system to find an available copy of that particular item in a library.  You choose your pick-up location (your local public library branch, most likely) and the item is delivered there. 

• Watch the tutorials (scroll down) on how to use MnLINK.  The tutorials are broken down into short screencasts, so you can view only what you need.

• Search MnLink using either the basic or advanced search options.  Choose an item you want to use in class, a book you want to read, or a movie you want to watch. 
  

• Bookmark MnLINK so it is always at your fingertips!

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• What is your experience with public libraries and librarians?  Long-time user?  Scared away by a mean librarian in your youth?

• What would you improve about your library and its services?

• How do you use the public library to support your teaching?

• How will using MnLINK help your students?  Is timing an issue?

• How can you help students plan for ILL for completing their projects?

• Have you used MnLINK in the past?  What was your experience?