MnPALS Spring Event 2025: Ex Libris Day & MnPALS Spring Gathering

Spring Gathering 2025

MnPALS Spring Gathering 2025

Alert
Save the Date for 2026: April 10th at St Cloud State University
Info
Thank you for a great conference:
  1. Ex Libris Showcase: April 10, 2025 
  2. MnPALS Showcase: April 11, 2025
Location: Minnesota State Mankato's Edina campus (7700 France Ave, Edina, MN) & Online
Sessions: were held Hybrid, Virtual & In-Person.
Time Frame: running from approximately 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Code of Conduct

Attendees are expected to abide by The Consortium of MnPALS Libraries Code of Conduct during the event. 

Ex Libris Showcase - Thursday

  1. Morning Sessions:
    1. Learn about Alma/Primo from the MnPALS prospective presented by Ex Libris (Hybrid)
    2. In-person MnPALS members can choose to attend unconference discussions
  2. Afternoon Sessions: 
    1. Roadmap & Vision Sessions presented by Ex Libris (Hybrid)
  3. Lunch is provided by Ex Libris

Schedule & Session Details

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Coffee Hour/Networking
  1. Mode: Hybrid
  2. Audience: Everyone
  3. Description: Come hang out with a warm beverage and get to know your fellow attendees
    1. Coffee and nibbles will be available for In-Person attendees
9:00 am - 11:00 am: Alma/Primo from the MnPALS Perspective
  1. Description: Overview demo suitable for directors, deans, and decision makers
  2. Mode: Hybrid
  3. Audience:  Open to Everyone

9:00 am - 11:00 am: Unconference
  1. Description: Member lead Discussion
  2. Mode: In-Person
  3. Rooms:  515 & 519 on the fifth floor
    1. Use the North elevators to navigate to the sessions on the 5th floor. 
  4. Audience: MnPALS Members

11:00 am - 11:15 am: Break
BREAK

11:15 am - 12:00 pm: Rapido Roadmap & Vision Session
  1. Description: Overview of Rapido and where it's going in the future
  2. Mode: Hybrid
  3. Audience:  Open to Everyone
12:00 pm - 12:45 pm: Lunch
Sponsored by Ex Libris 

12:45 pm - 1:45 pm: Leganto Roadmap & Vision Session
  1. Description: Overview of Leganto and where it's going in the future
  2. Mode: Hybrid
  3. Audience:  Open to Everyone

1:45 pm - 3:30 pm: Roadmap & Vision Session (Specto, Primo NDE, Next-gen analytics & Roadmap 2025+)
  1. Description: Overview of Specto, Primo Next Discovery Experience, Next-gen Analytics, and Alma roadmap focus areas 2025 & beyond
  2. Mode: Hybrid
  3. Audience:  Open to Everyone

MnPALS Showcase - Friday

  1. Presentations by MnPALS members on a variety of topics
  2. Morning sessions will be hybrid
  3. The afternoon will be split into in-person and virtual tracks
  4. Lunch is on your own

Schedule & Session Details

8:30 am - 9:00 am: Coffee Hour/Informal Networking
  1. Mode: Virtual & In-Person
  2. Description: Hang out and share with a warm beverage to get to know your fellow attendees
    1. Coffee & Nibbles will be available for In-Person attendees

9:00 am - 10:00 am: Welcome/Consortium Update (Hybrid)
  1. Mode: Hybrid
  2. Presenter(s): Laura Bell
  3. Session Information: 
    1. Welcome
    2. Consortium Board Update
    3. Meet the Candidates - Board & Policy Group Reps
    4. COI updates

10:00 am - 10:15am: Break
BREAK
10:15 am - 10:45 am: Consortium Communication: Join Us! (Hybrid)
  1. Mode: Hybrid
  2. Presenter(s):
    1. Johnna Horton (PALS, Executive Director)
    2. Carmen Aslesen (University of St. Thomas, Digital Initiatives Librarian)
    3. Sara Carman (Librarian, Pine Technical & Community College)
    4. Michael Kirby (Librarian, Dakota County Technical College)
  3. Description: Are you looking for a way to get involved with the consortium that focuses on meeting people? This session will provide an overview of the work that the MnPALS Consortium Board Communication Sub-Group has been doing, get feedback about what we should work on next, and hopefully, inspire you to join us! No Board participation required.
10:45 am - 11:00 am: Minitex IMLS Update
Maggie Snow will present an update on IMLS funding and how it affects Minitex.
11:00 am - 11:45 am: Lightning Rounds (Hybrid)
  1. Mode: Hybrid
  2. Sessions Information: 
    1. Tracking Library instruction for Data Curation & Analysis - Shana Crandall (Century College Librarian)
      1. Description of how Century Library worked with our IT Department to create an electronic form for tracking library instruction and analyzing and manipulating data.
    2. Giving the Old Guard a New Life: Putting Reference Materials into Circulation - Sara Carman (Pine Technical & Community College, College Librarian)
      1. At Pine Technical & Community College the decision was made to significantly weed our reference collection, and to put the materials that are not weeded into the circulating collection. Join for a discussion on the place of physical reference in an electronic world!
    3. The tale of a collection reorganization: inspirational or cautionary? - Barb Bergman (Public Access Librarian, Minnesota State University, Mankato)
      1. The good, bad, and ugly of splitting a large children's book collection into multiple age level collections.
    4. Showcase materials in Primo - Brenda Besser (Inver Hills Community College, Librarian)
      1. Use the Featured Alma Collection in Primo to highlight new materials, displays, and other collections.
    5. AI for OER -- Discovering, Adapting & Creating Open Educational Resources - Katie Kuipers (St. Cloud State University, Affordability & Digital Initiatives Librarian)
      1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we discover, adapt, and create Open Educational Resources (OER)—but how can librarians support faculty in using these tools effectively? We will explore AI-powered OER discovery, content creation, and adaptation while addressing ethical considerations and licensing challenges. Learn practical strategies to guide faculty in leveraging AI for open education while maintaining quality and integrity.

11:45 am - 12:00 pm: After Lunch Logistics (In-Person)
  1. Mode: In-Person
  2. Description: Information about logistics after lunch 
11:45 am - 1:00 pm: Lunch (Virtual)
Lunch Break for Virtual Attendees 
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch (In-Person)
Lunch Break for In-person attendees. Lunch is not provided.
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm: Concurrent Sessions (In-Person)
  1. Mode: In-Person
  2. Session Information:
    1. Troubleshooting broken Unpaywall & OER links - William Straub, Systems & Digital Services Librarian; Alex Kent, Electronic Access Support Services Librarian 
      1. Room 519
      2. This presentation will discuss open-access resources with the goal of troubleshooting broken links. In particular, we will demo some examples of responding to Unpaywall issues, including presenting some strategies and various support tools available. The hope is to foster discussion on how other institutions are handling open-access resources and hybrid collections.
    2. Program Review: Lessons Learned & Room for Growth - Terrence Edwards, Ridgewater College, Librarian; Julie Benolken, Inver Hills Community College, Librarian; Shana Crandall, Century College, Librarian; Kari Oanes, Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Librarian; Keith Cich, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, Librarian; Etta Thornburg, PALS, Support & Training Librarian, moderator
      1. Edina Training Room (1st floor conference room)
      2. "Program review." Those words can cause anxiety in the hearts of librarians, especially when there is no clear process or format at the institution that accounts for libraries. Come to this panel presentation to find out how Ridgewater College took on the challenge of planning and conducting a program review that met the needs of the institution, while also keeping library best practices and unique considerations in mind. Hear the perspective of the evaluation process by the outside evaluators and their thoughts about how to apply a similar process to their libraries. The panel will share lessons learned and discuss possibilities for implementation at other small colleges.
    3. Outreach: A Team Effort - Bethel University Library: Brooke Ballantine (Instructional Services Librarian), Emma Dangers (Public Services Supervisor), Lyndi Fabbrini (Research Services Librarian), Ann Gannon (Administrative Assistant), Rhonda Gilbraith (Associate Director and Collection Development Librarian), Ruth Nordquist (Serials & Electronic Resources Specialist)
      1. Room 514
      2. We will be sharing how Bethel University Library's outreach committee functions & some of the ways we are seeking connection with various members of our community.
    4. Growing a MLLN: The story of the Minnesota Libraries Learning Network -Ann Kaste, Outreach and Instruction Librarian, Minitex; Johnna Horton, Executive Director of PALS, Minnesota State | PALS
      1. Room 517
      2. Join us to explore the exciting developments in the Minnesota Libraries Learning Network (MLLN) and the LevelUp initiative. This session will provide a bit of background on the LevelUpMN.org program and how it has been reinvigorated and reimagined by The MLLN Coordinating Council, a group of library leaders from Minitex, State Library Services, MNPALS, MLA, public libraries, academic library education programs, school libraries, academic libraries, and the MCMTs. The Council has come together to plan and create course content that is essential for all library professionals in MN. These courses will be available to anyone interested in the workings of libraries to register and work through at no cost, and participants will be able to share transcripts and certificates of their accomplishments with employers and on social platforms. We will review these current efforts and share plans for the future as we strengthen our amazing MN library community to be more inclusive and supportive of all library workers and their professional growth.
         
1:00 pm - 1:45: Concurrent Sessions (Virtual)
  1. Mode: Virtual
  2. Session Information:
    1. Digital Preservation & You - Edward Warga, St. Cloud State University, Library Systems and Discovery Specialist.
      1. What is digital preservation and how might I do it? Great question! Allow me to present an overview of the DCC Digital Curation Lifecycle and a set of tools to use as you begin learning about and engaging with digital preservation. After that we will discuss where you are at with digital preservation and find out more about the MNPALS Digital Collections COI as a venue to continue this conversation.
    2. UAP Studies: The (re)Emergence of Academic Interest in a Once-Taboo Subject -Pete McDonnell, Systems & Circulation Librarian, A. C. Clark Library, Bemidji State University
      1. In 2017, a groundbreaking front page New York Times article on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP, aka UFOs) catapulted the UFO topic back into the mainstream and popular imagination, challenging longstanding taboos and skepticism. This shift, reinforced by subsequent governmental admissions, high-profile whistleblower hearings and recent legislative measures in Congress, has opened the door for academic engagement with the UAP phenomenon.

        As the cultural stigma lessens, UAP Studies are being reconsidered in light of multi- and interdisciplinary perspectives, and library archival collections that house UAP materials are also opening their doors, offering unprecedented access to scholars and the public alike.

        My talk will illuminate how the study of UAP has come out from the cultural “fringe”, and will pose such questions as:

        - Should UAPs/UFOs be studied in academia? How are they currently being studied?
        - Should the knowledge surrounding UAP be archived in libraries, and if so, how?
        - Is the study of UAPs considered fringe/pseudoscientific? If so, why?

        Come learn about the unique challenges of archiving, studying, and legitimizing such “spurned” knowledge in the academic space. Drawing from my professional and personal experience, I will briefly discuss the process of creating an online finding aid for UAP-related archives and materials. We'll also briefly examine how emerging fields like UAP Studies may potentially impact knowledge creation in academia and expose institutional bias.

1:45 pm - 2:00 pm: Break
Break
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm: Concurrent Sessions (In-Person)
  1. Mode: In-Person
  2. Session Information:
    1. A.I. : Current Uses, Issues, and Questions - Marcus Seraphine - Head Librarian , Jacob Frank Assistant Librarian- Dunwoody College of Technology
      1. Edina Training Room (1st floor conference room)
      2. We will talk about how patrons at our library use A.I., and ethical issues of A.I. more broadly.
    2. Book Chat - Johnna Horton, Executive Director of PALS
      1. Room 517
      2. Come talk books, podcasts, movies, TV shows with your library colleagues!
    3. eBooks Behind the Scenes - Randi Madison, Century Community College, Librarian; Kari Oanes, Minnesota State Community and Technical College; Brenda Besser, Inver Hills Community College; Katie Hagen, St. Catherine University
      1. Room 519
      2. All libraries deal with ebooks, and we know it’s not easy. Join us as a panel of librarians from small, medium, and large libraries discuss how to wrangle those resources. Consider this session a potential mutual support group as we grapple with the changes instigated by Clarivate.
    4. "Most viewers think city fairly treated on 'Mary Tyler Moore'": Public opinion polls and other digitization projects at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library - Laura Bell, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Librarian; Molly Niehls, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Librarian; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Library Director
      1. Room 514
      2. The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library’s (LRL) recent digitization projects have served many purposes. They have increased access to unique collections, added functionality to essential research tools, preserved and documented the work of the Legislature, and of course have freed up shelf space. One of our most unique projects this year was digitizing the LRL’s public opinion poll collection. This collection consisted of a series of news clippings from the late 1960s to present, filed in 24 three-inch binders. Each binder had its own distinct topical index. After digitizing the clippings themselves, we created a centralized database and consolidated the unwieldy topical indexes. This presentation will provide a brief overview of the project from start to finish, and will include some fun finds along the way. Presenters will also highlight a few other recent LRL projects, including a new legislative photo archive and House and Senate Journal archive project.

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm: Concurrent Sessions (Virtual)
  1. Mode: Virtual
  2. Session Information:
    1. PALS Optimization Services: An Introduction - Carrie Curie, PALS, Electronic Access Lead Librarian
      1. In January 2025, PALS started offering PALS Optimization Services. Come learn about the goals of our project, included services, and more!
    2. User Authentication in a Changing Landscape : Part Two - Tom Tran, Systems Librarian, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Lisa Baures, Reference/Instruction/College of Business Liaison Librarian, Minnesota State University, Mankato
      1. With implementation of Microsoft Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), the deployment of the SAML protocol has improved security, facilitated the enforcement of security policies, improved user experience, and reduced password fatigue. By using a single set of credentials to authenticate, students, faculty and staff now access resources and services with a single sign-on. This has resulted in some issues associated with IP validation and EZproxy being resolved, but not all. It is therefore important to identify what has changed, what has not changed, and what are the new challenges to providing access. As in our presentation last year, for illustrative purposes business databases will serve as a point of reference.

 

Attendee Stats: 

Notes
Final Numbers:
Thursday: 91 total
Virtual: 26          In-Person: 65

Friday: 110 total
Virtual: 41          In-Person: 69

We had a total of 124 unique folks from 39 different institutions attend the event across both days. 


Thursday Recordings:

Presenters: Kaitlyn O'Malley & Lauren Wojcik with assistance from Raymond Porter & Diane Perry.

Alma/Primo

  1. Recording part 1
  2. Recording part 2
  3. No slides available

Rapido

  1. Recording
  2. No slides available

Signature Success Program

  1. Recording
  2. Slides

Leganto

  1. Recording
  2. Syllabus Assistant Demo
  3. Slides

NDE

  1. Recording
  2. Slides

Specto

  1. Recording
  2. Slides

Rialto

  1. Recording
  2. No slides available

Friday Recordings, Slides & Resources:

Transcripts are provided for recorded sessions, session descriptions can be found in the day's schedule.
Please note: Sound issues occurred during the first block of presentations (RFP & Board Update).  

RFP Update & Board Update

  1. Recording
    1. Please note: sound issues make the recording unintelligible at points.
  2. Transcript
    1. Plain Text
    2. Timestamped Word doc
  3. RFP Update
    1. Presenters: Pam Gladis & Jon Neilson
    2. Slides
  1. Board Welcome
    1. Presenter: Laura Bell
    2. Slides
Consortia Communication: Join Us!
  1. Presenter(s):
    1. Johnna Horton (PALS, Executive Director)
    2. Carmen Aslesen (University of St. Thomas, Digital Initiatives Librarian)
    3. Sara Carman (Librarian, Pine Technical & Community College)
    4. Michael Kirby (Librarian, Dakota County Technical College)
  2. Slides
  3. Recording
  4. Transcript
    1. Plain Text
    2. Timestamped Word Doc

Minitex IMLS Update

  1. Presenter: Maggie Snow
  2. Recording
  3. Transcript
    1. Plain Text
    2. Timestamped Word Doc
  4. Resources:
    1. Each fall library directors receive a report on the cost savings for using the Cooperative Purchasing Program. Last year Minnesota libraries saved over $3M, not including the statewide databases.
    2. The public libraries created a folder containing flyers and images for ILL support.
    3. MLA's Advocacy Page includes templates and scripts for contacting elected officials. 
    4. IMLS Grants to States Impact on Minnesota Libraries

Lightening Rounds

  1. Recording
  2. Transcript
    1. Plain Text
    2. Timestamped Word Doc
  1. Tracking Library instruction for Data Curation & Analysis - Shana Crandall (Century College Librarian)
    1. Description of how Century Library worked with our IT Department to create an electronic form for tracking library instruction and analyzing and manipulating data.
  2. Giving the Old Guard a New Life: Putting Reference Materials into Circulation - Sara Carman (Pine Technical & Community College, College Librarian)
    1. At Pine Technical & Community College the decision was made to significantly weed our reference collection, and to put the materials that are not weeded into the circulating collection. Join for a discussion on the place of physical reference in an electronic world!
    2. Slides
  3. The tale of a collection reorganization: inspirational or cautionary? - Barb Bergman (Public Access Librarian, Minnesota State University, Mankato)
    1. The good, bad, and ugly of splitting a large children's book collection into multiple age level collections.
    2. Slides
  4. Showcase materials in Primo - Brenda Besser (Inver Hills Community College, Librarian)
    1. Use the Featured Alma Collection in Primo to highlight new materials, displays, and other collections.
  5. AI for OER -- Discovering, Adapting & Creating Open Educational Resources - Katie Kuipers (St. Cloud State University, Affordability & Digital Initiatives Librarian)
    1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we discover, adapt, and create Open Educational Resources (OER)—but how can librarians support faculty in using these tools effectively? We will explore AI-powered OER discovery, content creation, and adaptation while addressing ethical considerations and licensing challenges. Learn practical strategies to guide faculty in leveraging AI for open education while maintaining quality and integrity.
    2. Slides


Troubleshooting broken Unpaywall & OER links
  1. Presenters: William Straub, Systems & Digital Services Librarian; Alex Kent, Electronic Access Support Services Librarian 
  2. Slides

Program Review: Lessons Learned & Room for Growth

  1. Panel: Terrence Edwards, Ridgewater College, Librarian; Julie Benolken, Inver Hills Community College, Librarian; Shana Crandall, Century College, Librarian; Kari Oanes, Minnesota State Community & Technical College, Librarian; Keith Cich, Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College, Librarian; Etta Thornburg, PALS, Support & Training Librarian, moderator
  2. No slides or recording

Outreach: A Team Effort

  1. Presenters: Bethel University Library: Brooke Ballantine (Instructional Services Librarian), Emma Dangers (Public Services Supervisor), Lyndi Fabbrini (Research Services Librarian), Ann Gannon (Administrative Assistant), Rhonda Gilbraith (Associate Director and Collection Development Librarian), Ruth Nordquist (Serials & Electronic Resources Specialist)
  2. Slides

Growing a MLLN: The story of the Minnesota Libraries Learning Network

  1. Presenters: Ann Kaste, Outreach and Instruction Librarian, Minitex; Johnna Horton, Executive Director of PALS, Minnesota State | PALS
  2. Slides

Digital Preservation & You

  1. Presenter: Edward Warga, St. Cloud State University, Library Systems and Discovery Specialist..
  2. Slides
  3. Transcript
    1. Plain Text
    2. Time stamped word doc
  4. Recording

UAP Studies: The (re)Emergence of Academic Interest in a Once-Taboo Subject

    1. Presenter: Pete McDonnell, Systems & Circulation Librarian, A. C. Clark Library, Bemidji State University
    2. Slides
    3. Transcript
      1. Plain Text
      2. Time stamped word doc
    4. Recording

    A.I. : Current Uses, Issues, and Questions 

    1. Presenters: Marcus Seraphine - Head Librarian , Jacob Frank Assistant Librarian- Dunwoody College of Technology
    2. Slides

    Book Chat

    1. Facilitator: Johnna Horton, Executive Director of PALS
    2. Login to the Discussion forum for the list of recommendations

      eBooks Behind the Scenes

      1. Panel: Randi Madison, Century Community College, Librarian; Kari Oanes, Minnesota State Community and Technical College; Brenda Besser, Inver Hills Community College; Katie Hagen, St. Catherine University
      2. No slides or recording.


      "Most viewers think city fairly treated on 'Mary Tyler Moore'": Public opinion polls and other digitization projects at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library

      1. Presenters: Laura Bell, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Librarian; Molly Niehls, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Librarian; Elizabeth Lincoln, Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Library Director
      2. Slides

      PALS Optimization Services: An Introduction

      1. Presenter: Carrie Curie, PALS, Electronic Access Lead Librarian
      2. Slides
      3. Transcript
        1. Plain Text
        2. Time stamped word doc
      4. Recording

      User Authentication in a Changing Landscape : Part Two

      1. Presenters: Tom Tran, Systems Librarian, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Lisa Baures, Reference/Instruction/College of Business Liaison Librarian, Minnesota State University, Mankato
      2. Slides
      3. Transcript
        1. Plain Text
        2. Time stamped word doc
      4. Recording




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