The Library of Michigan funds the licensing of subscription resources made available through the Michigan eLibrary, MeL.org, the statewide virtual library serving all Michigan residents and libraries of all types. The resources are available at no cost to the users and library organizations and can be accessed at any time online with an Internet connection. Geo-IP authentication can be used to ensure all users in the state can access without barriers.

The database content includes Britannica, PebbleGo, Gale, and WorldBook. Two Britannica databases, Britannica Fundamentals and Britannica School were acquired to support early literacy, homework help, and general research needs of K12 students and educators. Three Gale resources were licensed to supportK12, general business and public library research. Demographics Now is a business database with demographic data, Opposing Viewpoints in Context provides different point of view for K12 research to help develop critical thinking skills, and the Gale Virtual Reference Library provides a collection of general reference books on topics such as education, history, law, environment, science, religion and more. Capstone's PebbleGo modules, Animals and Social Studies were acquired to provide early literacy resources including read aloud narration, pronunciation tools and vocabulary building for early learners. The two Capstone resources increase reading materials both in classrooms and at home.  Three World Book resources were acquired to support the K12 learners and include World Book Early Learning, World Book Kids and a Spanish language resource Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos.

EBSCO A to Z is a listing of periodicals and MARC records to support the use of the subscription resources in the Michigan eLibrary. MeL users access this data to find alphabetical listings of periodical title and date coverage from the MeL website.

The Library of Michigan provides training on a wide variety of topics for public, school, and academic libraries and schools. The purpose is to keep libraries and schools informed on effective use of the MeL resources.

Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS);; provides training for MeL's subscription database content. Topics include how to use and access the eResources, tips and tricks, and further support information. MCLS had a focus on training the K-12 community with the training specialist for K-12 educators and librarians. These presentations were virtual and in-person at school districts prior to theCOVID-19 closures. Finally, there are eight on-demand courses for MeL are offered via EduPaths, a way for educators in Michigan to get professional development. These courses require users to register with EduPaths and they can be taken on demand any time.

Specific classes were:

MeL Business Basics - 60 minute virtual introduction to the MeL business eResources to help small business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses (35 total attendees, administered 1 time); MeL eResources for Public Libraries - 90 minute in person demonstration of how to navigate and search within the most popular MeL eResources for public libraries (4 total attendees, administered 1 time); Introduction to MeL eResources - 60 minute virtual introduction to MeL including the MeL library staff page and navigation of a few popular eResources (9 total attendees, administered 1 time); MeL Basics - 60 minute virtual demonstration of the content and features of several MeL eResources, including programming ideas to support their use (13 total attendees, administered 1 time).

Supporting Secondary Instruction Focused on eResources to support 6-12 grade students: Learning Express, Britannica School, Explora, Reference Centers and eJournals. (339 total attendees, administered 13 times); Supporting Elementary Instruction Focused on general eResources that support K-8 curriculum: Britannica School, NoveList K-8 Plus, Explora Elementary & Middle. (391 total attendees, administered 17times); Supporting K-12 Instruction Focused on general eResources that supportK-12 curriculum (MDE Academic Standards);: Britannica School, NoveList K-8Plus, Explora Elementary, Middle & High School, & Read It! (292 total attendees, administered 5 times); Supporting Elementary ELA Instruction Focused on the MeL eResources that support early literacy such as PebbleGo, eBooks and Explora Elementary. Also addresses eResources that can support the Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy. (34 total attendees, administered 1 time);Supporting Early Literacy Focused on the MeL eResources that support early literacy such as PebbleGo, eBooks and Explora Elementary. Also addresses eResources that can support the Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy. (26 total attendees, administered 3 times); An Equitable Choice for all K-12 Students Focus on libraries engaging and offering access to a wide range of resources with built-in accessibility support. MeL eResources featured: eBooks,Britannica, Explora, and PebbleGo. (42 total attendees, administered 1 time); SupportingK-12 ELA Instruction Focused on eResources that support K-12 ELA curriculum (MDE Academic Standards);: Britannica School, NoveList Plus, Explora Elementary, Middle & High School, eBook K-8 & High School Collections, Poetry & Short Story Reference Center, Literary Reference Center. (75 total attendees, administered 2 times);  Supporting K-5 Social Studies Instruction Focused on MeL eResources that support K-5 Social Studies instruction such as Explora Elementary, World Book Kids and Britannica School. (14 total attendees,administered 1 time);  Finding Publications in MeL Focused on using the Publication link within EBSCO eResources and using the eJournal search tool: Primary Search, Master FILE Complete, Education Source. (4 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting Secondary ELA Instruction Focused on eResources that support 6-12 ELA curriculum (MDE Academic Standards);: Britannica School, NoveList Plus, Explora Middle & High School, eBook K-8 & High School Collections, Poetry & Short Story Reference Center, Literary Reference Center. (20 total attendees,administered 3 times);  Supporting Kindergarten & Pre-Kindergarten Instruction Focused on early literacy eResources: World Book Early Learning, Britannica Fundamentals, and PebbleGo.(188 total attendees, administered 1 time);  Supporting Career, College, & Military Preparation - Secondary Focused on supporting the Michigan Career Development Model that infuses career exploration and preparation eResources: LearningExpress Library, eBooks, MAS Complete, and Britannica. (85 total attendees, administered 3 times);  Supporting K-3 Instruction Focused on the MeL eResources that support early literacy such as PebbleGo, eBooks and Explora Elementary. Also addresses eResources that can support the Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy. (42 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting Secondary Social Studies Instruction Focused on MeL eResources that support 6-12 Social Studies instruction such as Explora High School, Britannica High School, History Reference Center, MasterFILE Complete, and Middle Search Plus. (8 total attendees, administered 1 time); Stuff Your Virtual Book Bag with MeL eBooks & More Focused on how to create book bags for K-5 students using eBook K-8 Collection. Aligned books with K-3 social studies and K-3 science curriculum. (37 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting4-6 Instruction Focused on eResources for upper elementary and middle school students. Middle Search Plus, Britannica School, World Book Kids, and eBook K-8Collection are emphasized. (25 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting Essential #8 Focused on providing abundant reading material and reading opportunities in the classroom, explicit to Essential #8 in the Essential Instructional Practices in Literacy: Emphasis on eBook K-8 Collection, PebbleGo, and Primary Search. (37 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting Elementary Instruction with an Emphasis on Career Readiness Focused on supporting the Michigan Career Development Model for infusing career exploration eResources at the elementary level. Primary Search and eBook K-8 Collection are emphasized. (11 total attendees, administered 2 times); MeL eResources Q & A; Focused on learning about what eResources are available in MeL that might be beneficial for K-12 counselors. (26 total attendees, administered 1 time); Free eBooks, Images, Magazines,Video Clips, and More Focused on general eResources that support K-12 curriculum (MDE Academic Standards); Britannica School, NoveList, K-8 Plus, Explora Elementary, Middle & High School, Poetry & Short Story Reference Center, Hobbies &  Crafts Reference Center. (156 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting Career, College, Military Preparation, &Professional Learning Focused on supporting the Michigan Career Development Model that infuses career exploration and preparation eResources: LearningExpress Library, eBooks, MAS Complete, and Britannica. (17 total attendees, administered 1 time); Supporting K-12 Instruction: ELL Supports Available in MeL eResources Focused on eResources for K-12 students that have built-in accessibility, translation, and a world language focus: Britannica School, Explora, Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos, Referencia Latina, Recursos Para Hispanohablantes, and eBook Collections. (38 total attendees, administered 1 time).

The MeL classes include MeL: Intro to Michigan's Best Kept FREE Secret (30 minutes); - this course is an introduction to MeL, the eResources MeL provides, and how MeL can help educators MeL: Supporting Early Literacy (45 minutes); - this course guides users through the MeL eResources that can help support early literacy MeL: What Every Educator Should Know (30 minutes); - this course guides users through the Educators page on MeL.org, showing how to embed the eResources available through MeL into their own classroom, building or district website, allowing for the customization of an eLearning environment for easy student access MeL: Career, College, & Military Preparation (45 minutes); - this course guides uses through the MeL eResources that support career, military and college preparation MeL: K-5 Social Studies (45 minutes); - this course guides users through the MeL eResources that support K-5 grade students in learning about social studies MeL: 6-12 Social Studies (60 minutes); - this course is designed to connect teachers content in the MeL eResources that can support each of the disciplines (civics & government, economics, geography, and history);within the Michigan 6-12 social studies curriculum standards MeL: K-5 Science(45 minutes); - this course is designed to connect teachers to content in the MeL eResources that can support each of the disciplines (physical science, life sciences, earth and space sciences, engineering, and technology); within the Michigan K-5 science curriculum standards MeL: 4-7 English Language Arts (30minutes); - this course is designed to connect teachers to content in the MeL eResources that can support each of the Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening Standards found in the Michigan K-12 Standards for English Language Arts.

Overall total presentations - 76

Overall total attendance - 2509

In 2021, building on providing more online training for library staff, LM developed the MeL Maven Badge course The MeL Maven Badge is a six-part, asynchronous online learning experience. 

The Badge’s goal is to alleviate training stress for library directors and provide easily accessible information literacy and eResource learning for front line staff. The Badge bakes professional skills-building into this training and uses narrative to model behavior and set aspirational goals for learners in training environments. The course includes 15 original short animations.

The Badge models a service standard with real-world reference situations like solving a Pinterest fail, providing research services for the city’s 5-year-plan to create a more walkable community, and locating historical data for the DDA about parking meters. The MeL Maven Badge is freely available at https://mel.org. In under a month, the MeL Maven Badge became the third most viewed online learning content provided by LM to Michigan library staff.

LM also contracted for graphic design for topical social media graphics, training materials, a virtual bookbag and informational handouts that were distributed to public libraries and school districts. The materials distributed included a youth programming guide, an adult programming guide, a promotions toolkit with information on how to use the social media graphics to promote MeL materials, a literacy training infographic, and an educational bookmark on information literacy. Printed samples were mailed and all materials are available electronically on the MeL site.  

These materials were developed during the year and as of yet, LM does not have outcome data for the use of them