Organization

Mission Statement
The Minnesota Education Media Organization provides leadership and service by promoting professional growth, facilitating collaboration among its members, establishing standards, and advocating for 21st century learners.

Vision
For all Minnesota students and educators to be effective users of information and technology

Beliefs

• Literacy in all its forms is a fundamental life skill.
• Learners must have access to a broad range of resources and evolving technologies for fundamental 21st century learning.
• Student voluntary selection of reading materials from a diverse collection boosts achievement.
• Information and technology literacy, which we define as research process, reading and media literacy, responsible use, and technology skills, should be embedded in all content areas and integrated into learning.
• All educators must be skilled in the use of technologies to improve learning, information use and communication.
• School and district media and technology teams must collaborate in the areas of information and technology support and training to ensure increased learning and effective management.
• The principles of intellectual freedom must be preserved.

Organizational and member responsibilities

Leadership

2. MEMO Leaders should be responsible to the membership and members should actively participate in the work of the MEMO.
3. Visionary leaders that are capable of speaking out and implementing the MEMO mission should be developed and nurtured within the organization.
4. MEMO will offer leadership opportunities to all its members so that each member is an active leader in his/her community.

Professional Growth

2. MEMO members continue to learn and grow professionally.
3. MEMO members are professional development leaders in their organizations.
4. A primary function of MEMO is to provide professional development for all members.

Collaboration
MEMO is responsible for providing avenues for collaboration among educators, libraries and educational organizations to increase the effectiveness of its members.

Advocacy
MEMO will advocate for strong library media technology programs and services to colleagues, school leadership, community, governmental agencies, and legislators.

Special Interest Divisions (SIDs)

• District Level Media: This SID is designed to provide the opportunity for sharing common concerns related to media programs at the district level, some of which are budgeting, personnel hiring and evaluation, staff development, equiptment bidding, program planning and evaluation, policy writing, and defining media programs.

• Intellectual Freedom: This SID is designed to provide an opportunity for those interested in Intellectual freedom to work together and serve the media profession.

• Literature: This SID is designed to provide literature and reading for enjoyment among Minnesota students. The Literature SID is also a cosponsor of the Maud Hart Lovelace award.

• Media Educators: This SID is designed to provide a forum for educators of media generalists and media supervisors, to strengthen and promote college programs which educate people for the school media profession and to encourage professional development. Practitioners and other members of MEMO with an interest in preparation of media professionals are also encouraged to join this SID.

• Information Technology: This SID is designed to provide a forum for networking and inservice education for MEMO members interested in the promotion and utilization of all current forms of media software and hardware (video, telecommunications, computers, multi-media, etc.) as well as emerging technologies.

• Retired Media Professionals: This SID is designed to provide an avenue for retired media generalists, specialists, supervisors to keep in touch with the profession and with other media professionals, and to use their experience and expertise to serve the media profession and MEMO.
• Commercial: This SID is designed to provide an opportunity for representatives of commercial firms to work together and serve the media profession. The commercial division sponsors exhibits at conferences, workshops, and some regional meetings.