About Us
Established in 1979 under Minnesota Statutes 134.351-134.353, the Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange (CMLE) is one of seven multicounty, multitype library systems in the state, funded by State Library Services within the Department of Education. CMLE serves a diverse membership comprising academic, public, school, and special libraries across 12 counties: Aitkin, Benton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright.
CMLE is committed to strengthening library services across the region by partnering with members to deliver meaningful support, foster collaboration, and drive innovation. Through professional development, member scholarships, consulting services, grant opportunities, and onsite visits, CMLE helps libraries enhance their impact and better serve their communities. From advocacy to educational programming, we’re here to support the success of all library types across our 12-county region.
Mission
Fostering collaboration, communication, and resource sharing among our 270+ member libraries to strengthen library services across Central Minnesota.
Vision
Empowering our member libraries to deliver exceptional service to their communities through research, advocacy, education, and strong professional networks.
Goals
Our Team
Mark Schmitz
Executive Director
mschmitz@cmle.org
(320) 255-3236 ext. 307
Cell:
Melissa Brechon
Interim Executive Director
melissa@cmle.org
(952) 221-4946
Cell:
Bethany Drake
Director of Operations
bdrake@cmle.org
(320) 255-3236 ext. 312
Cell:
Vicky Molitor
Director of Finance
vmolitor@cmle.org
(320) 255-3236 ext. 311
Cell:
Bonnie Hedlund
Grant Coordinator
bhedlund@cmle.org
(320) 267-9557
Cell:
Jen Nord
Finance & Board of Directors Coordinator
jnord@cmle.org
(320) 255-3236 ext. 321
Cell:
Kaelan Nelson
Marketing & Communications Manager
knelson@cmle.org
(320) 255-3236 ext. 306
Cell:
Chris Hoeschen
IT Manager
choeschen@cmle.org
(320) 255-3236 ext. 310
Cell: