2024 Core Forum

7:45amBus Departs Hilton8:00 – 8:45amTour of SPPL Mobile Library8:45-9:30amTour of George Latimer Central Library (SPPL)9:30amBus Departs George Latimer Central Library10:00 - 11:00amTour of Minneapolis Central Library11:00amBus Departs Minneapolis Central Library11:15amBus arrives back at Hilton

Saint Paul Public Library:
 
About the Mobile Library
 
Saint Paul Public Library's Mobile Library is a vibrant and dynamic community resource, bringing the rich offerings of the library directly to neighborhoods throughout the city. This innovative service is a testament to SPPL’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of location, can benefit from our vast collection of materials, resources, services, and programs. For many community members, the Mobile Library serves as their home library, and they rely on the vehicle’s visit for similar services found in a library building. By    meeting Saint Paul residents where they are, the Mobile Library fosters joy of discovery, supports lifelong learning, and strengthens community connections in all corners of Saint Paul.  
 
After more than 19 years traversing all corners of the city, the Bookmobile, as it was formerly called, reached the end of its useful library life. In August 2024, the SPPL replaced the old vehicle with a state-of-the-art vehicle—the Mobile Library—that provides new and expanded services based on community feedback.
 
The Mobile Library is more accessible, efficient, and better reflects Saint Paul’s rich diversity by offering books in multiple languages and displaying vibrant art. In addition to a revolving collection of books for borrowing, residents can participate in ever-changing programming for all ages and connect with a digital navigator to answer technology-related questions and get access to broadband internet. The vehicles wrapped with original artwork created by a community artist.
 
About the George Latimer Central Library and Nicholson Commons
 
One of Saint Paul's most historic structures, the George Latimer Central Library is the largest Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) housing approximately 350,000 materials in its collection and welcoming over 300,000 visitors annually.  
 
The building was built 1914-1917 for $1.5 million. Architect Electus Litchfield used Italian Renaissance Revival style design and was heavily influenced by New York’s J. P. Morgan Library (1906). Features include arched windows, Palladian style entrances, large stonework, balustrade surrounding the building, rondel features near the arched windows, use of classical columns and pilasters, and cornice capping the structure.  
 
The City of Saint Paul and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library have funded two major renovations of the building since its construction. A $15.9 million renovation 2000-2002 was designed by the architects at Meyer, Scherer, and Rockcastle (MSR). A $1.3 million renovation 2015-2016 was designed by Lawal Scott Erickson (LSE) Architects.  
 
On the second floor, the Nicholson Commons is one of the architectural highlights of the library. Featuring large, arched windows, angel friezes, and painted ceiling beams, the room originally served as the main reading room. In 2002, the room was endowed with a $1 million gift from local philanthropists Richard and Nancy Nicholson.  
 
In 2022, using the Nicholson endowment, SPPL worked with MSR to engage community members to create a plan for service, space, and user experience improvements to Nicolson Commons. Through community engagement they established the guiding principles of creating a space that is welcoming, empowering, and flexible.  
 
The first phase of improvements was completed in summer 2023, which include a reconfigured public computer area, the installation of additional electrical outlets, and updated meeting rooms for improved co-working experiences. There is designated reading, studying, and browsing areas with comfortable seating and improved lighting.
 
The next phase of this project is now underway focusing on additional study spaces on the main level of Nicholson Commons. The third phase will include repurposing the balcony for increased use and appreciation of its stunning views of the Mississippi River and Rice Park.  
 
Hennepin County Library:
 
About the Minneapolis Central Library
 
Minneapolis Public Library was founded in 1885 and opened in the city’s first public library building on 10th Street and Hennepin Avenue in 1889. In 1961, a larger and more modern building was constructed on the present-day location. The current building, opened in 2006, houses the largest collection of items in the Hennepin County Library system, along with the Cargill Gallery, a library-based gallery space committed to community-engaged group exhibits, the Teen Tech Center, special collections, an auditorium, and several meeting rooms. With over 600,000 visitors per year, the Minneapolis Central Library is an integral part of downtown Minneapolis.

Registration:
Core/MLA Members - $79
Non Members - $99

How can a renovation include marginalized and emerging communities? Can a larger collection actually limit inclusion? Learn techniques from the private sector - retail and restaurants - that help you understand the needs of diverse communities, plan space for inclusion, analyze circulation efficiency and avoid zone conflicts.

Registration:
Core Members - $119
Minnesota Library Association Members - $119
Non-Members - $149

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the significance of preserving digital materials extends beyond merely storing bits and bytes; it is about safeguarding and providing access to our cultural heritage, scientific data, and governmental records for future generations. This introductory session on digital preservation aims to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of the principles, practices, and challenges of digital preservation. Through this session, attendees will gain insights into the strategies and technologies employed to ensure the long-term accessibility and usability of digital content.
Participants will leave the session with a solid understanding of the basics of digital preservation, awareness of the challenges faced in the field, and knowledge of the tools and strategies available to tackle these challenges. They will be equipped to begin thinking critically about digital preservation in their own contexts and how they might contribute to preserving digital heritage. This proposal outlines a session designed to introduce attendees to the foundational concepts of digital preservation, highlight the challenges faced, and explore practical solutions. It aims to cater to a broad audience, providing a valuable learning experience for those new to the field as well as offering insights for professionals looking to enhance their digital preservation strategies.

Registration:
Core Members - $119
Minnesota Library Association Members - $119
Non-Members - $149

The Somali Museum's mission emphasizes education, and we offer personalized tours of the Museum's collection for those who want an in-depth introduction to Somali culture. We welcome and encourage groups from schools, religious life centers, and community organizations, as well as individuals.

Registration:
Core/MLA Members - $79
Non Members - $79

If you’re in senior or middle management, you know the necessity of effective strategic planning and implementation, but what should you do if your go-to planning model doesn’t reflect our current trends and challenges? ALA’s For Results series has an enduring, widespread impact on elevating library services, but the foremost trends of EDI, operating in a divisive sociopolitical climate, and resetting after a global pandemic are absent in its 20-year-old text. Using the Strategic Planning for Results’ methodology as a starting point, we’ll explore:

• identifying and integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion into existing process and product;
• improving clarity of messaging and services to stakeholders and your broader community, starting with strategy;
• developing infrastructure to support ethics-affirming behavior with your staff; as well as
• connecting with community and capturing feedback to build inclusive service and facilities plans

Learn how these approaches can revitalize your planning and implementation process to meet the challenges of tomorrow, starting today. Don’t abandon your strategic planning model, adapt it!

Registration:
Core Members - $119
Minnesota Library Association Members - $119
Non-Members - $149

How can you have a greater impact in your community while staying focused on the needs of your core constituents? Have the information needs of your community changed following the COVID-19 pandemic and do you believe there are new ways that libraries of all types can work together to meet those needs? Do you know how your counterparts in academic, public, school, and special libraries are approaching the same leadership challenges you are?
In this workshop, colleagues representing different library types will present a model for community-facing collaboration on information issues of concern to local communities based on their successful work together. While this model is built on a foundation of existing collaboration, it is informed by a logic model that can be adapted for use in any local environment where partners across library types are committed to making a collective impact on information issues of concern to their community, e.g., health misinformation, voter misinformation. Participants in this workshop will be introduced to case studies in collaboration and strategies for collective impact on our community emerging both from traditional forms of library collaboration as well as our new focus on strategic investment on issues of concern in our shared service community.

Registration:
Core Members - $119
Minnesota Library Association Members - $119
Non-Members - $149

The tour will start with a visit to the Minnesota Library Access Center (MLAC), a high-density storage facility for Minnesota libraries that stores and makes available 1.6 million books and journals from across the state, and the adjacent storage for the University of Minnesota's Archives and Special Collections (ASC), which holds over 40,000 cubic feet of archival records, manuscripts, media collections, and more. Constructed in 2000, both storage areas are located in caverns below the University's Elmer L. Andersen Library.

To complete the tour, we’ll visit the University of Minnesota’s nearly-completed Collections Facility, a new high-density storage facility featuring 30 foot tall shelving that will hold approximately 3.3 million volumes. The nearly completed Collection Facility is scheduled to open for collections ingest in January 2025.

Meet: Meet in hotel lobby at 12:30pm

Registration:
Core/MLA Members - $79
Non Members - $99

Inspired by Books tours relate works of art to popular books, including The Seed Keeper by Diane Wilson, a local author.

Registration:
Core/MLA Members - $39
Non Members - $39

Join other conference attendees at Lumi, a restaurant serving Turkish and international cuisine with plenty of options for vegetarians and vegans. The restaurant is a 4 minute walk from the Hilton. 

If you are interested in signing up for this dine around, add it to your schedule and you’ll be sent a sign-up link a few days before the start of the conference. 

Join other conference attendees at nearby Sanjusan, a Japanese-Italian fusion restaurant serving small plates, pizza & pasta amid an industrial-chic vibe. The restaurant is a 7 minute walk from the Hilton. 

If you are interested in signing up for this dine around, add it to your schedule and you’ll be sent a sign-up link a few days before the start of the conference.