Ebooks Minnesota News

Pink cupcake with a yellow "5" candle atop.

Ebooks Minnesota is celebrating 5 years

by Beth Staats
On February 28th of this year Ebooks Minnesota will be celebrating its 5th year as a Minitex program, thanks in part to MDE and State Library Services. What began as a pilot program in 2016 with just over 3,500 titles, has grown in scope and content to a whopping 11,000+ books. The best part is that it continues to grow.
Children's faces from around the world

Multicultural Children's Book Day is January 29th

by Beth Staats
January 29, 2021, is celebrated as Multicultural Children's Book Day, a day to "not only raise awareness for the kid’s books that celebrate diversity but to get more of these books into classrooms and libraries."
Image of Langston Hughes on front steps of a home in Harlem

Celebrate Black History Month with Ebooks Minnesota

by Beth Staats
From the Civil Rights Movement to Michelle Obama, from Rosa Parks to Langston Hughes, from the Buffalo Soldiers to Stokely Carmichael, African Americans have contributed to the United States in countless ways and we celebrate them in February, as we should every month of the year, with Black History Month.
Image of planet earth

Books about the earth and our environment

by Beth Staats
Are your students learning about planet Earth? Maybe they're writing a report on global warming or oceans and forests. Or maybe they're learning about the impact humans make on the environment and aspects of climate change. Ebooks Minnesota has many books about these and other topics surrounding planet Earth.
Martin Luther King Jr. speaking in front of microphone

Martin Luther King Jr.

by Beth Staats
Monday, January 18, 2021, is the 26th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy. We can read and learn about him while encouraging one another to work to improve our communities.
Father and son fishing at night

Diverse children's books in Ebooks Minnesota

by Beth Staats
Just as books are important to children, so too is diversity in children's books. Reading books about different cultures, religions, backgrounds, and people can help to instill love and inspire acceptance. This can happen anytime. During playtime, before bed, or anytime in between, a diverse book can be a great way to start the conversation and create a new way of thinking without children even realizing it.
Ebooks Minnesota logo

Ebooks MN: Pursuing what’s next

by Matt Lee
This fall Minitex conducted an environmental assessment of Ebooks MN, to take an intentional look at where the program stands within the context of the ebooks environment in Minnesota. The outcomes will help us pursue what’s next for Ebooks MN, including within a vendor RFP.
Several votive holders with candles burning inside.

Holidays: A Sampling from Around the World in Ebooks Minnesota

by Beth Staats
From America to Scandinavia to the Far East, people celebrate holidays with special rituals and festivities. Holidays are an essential part of any students learning. This curation, in Ebooks Minnesota, introduces them to diverse cultures, gives them a global perspective, and can help them make ELA and social studies connections.
Four Cuban girls smiling at camera

Countries of the world curation in Ebooks Minnesota

by Beth Staats
Do you have students working on a research paper or report about a country? If so, make sure they know that this collection of ebooks on countries of the world can be a great resource to them.
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Minnesota's statewide ebook collection for readers of all ages

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