2024 Vermont Library Conference Schedule

8 a.m. Check-in, main lobby, Killington Grand Hotel Resort and Conference Center

Stop by the check-in table on the left side of the main lobby to get your name tag, conference materials, and complementary raffle tickets. The conference proceedings will be held on the lower level of the hotel. There are both stairs and elevators near the registration table. The registration tables will be staffed throughout the morning for folks to pick up conference materials and enter for door prizes.

8 – 9 a.m. Breakfast – Oscar Wilde Ballroom (conference center level)

8:30 – 8:55 a.m. Welcome & Awards Presentation, Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Vermont Library Association President Oceana Wilson, Vermont State Librarian Catherine Delneo, Vermont Dept of Libraries Library Consultant Joy Worland

8:55 – 9:30 a.m. Keynote Address, Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Emily Drabinski, American Library Association President and Associate Professor in the Queens (N.Y.) College School of Library and Information Studies

9:40 – 10:30 a.m. Breakout Session One

Oscar Wilde I&II: Writing and Implementing Safety and Security Policies for the Changing Vermont Library – Emer P. Feeney, Fletcher Free Library

Oscar Wild III: The worst challenge is the one you’re not ready for Randal Smathers, Rutland Free Library, Joy Worland Vermont Department of Libraries, Polly Lynn Mikula

Northstar I: UVM Extension Master Gardeners: Your Library’s Super-Source for Programming, Reference and Sustainability Barbara Ball, Windsor Library

Northstar II: Empowerment Through Access: An Update on the Statewide Shared Digital Collection Jillian Scarson, Lyrasis – Tara Carpenter.

Escapade: Fact or Fiction? The Evidence Behind Popular Health Beliefs Laura Haines & Denise Hersey, University of Vermont Libraries

Gateway I: Red Clover Beyond the Classroom Hannah Fjeld, Liv Perry, Kate Lucia, Abby Adams Gateway II: Young Adult Diverse Books Book Club Takes Last Night at the Telegraph Club to Boston Susan Piccoli, Woodstock Union High/Middle School Library

Northstar Prefunction: Libraries and Front Porch Forum: Stories and Practical Tips for Making the Most of Your FPF – Jason Van Driesche – Front Porch Forum, Bree Drapa – Westford Public Library, Paula Davidson – Greensboro Free Library, Wendy McIntosh- Lincoln Library

10:40 – 11:30 a.m.. Breakout Session Two

Oscar I&II: Recruiting and Equipping Volunteers in Vermont Public Libraries Christine Walton, Hayley Martin

Oscar Wilde III: The Golden Dome Book List: Something for Everyone  – Rebecca Rupp, Sacha Krawcyzk, Nicole Westbom, Courtney Bowen, Emily Mandeville-Houle, Hannah Peacock

Northstar I: Active Threat Familiarization William McSalis, State of Vermont Northstar II: Rising Waters, Rising Challenges: Navigating Disaster Recovery in Libraries Dan Groberg & Carolyn Picazio, Kellogg-Hubbard Library

Escapade: Intellectual Freedom: Practical Policies for Public Libraries Mary Danko, Fletcher Free Library, Amy Olsen, Lanpher Memorial Library

Gateway I: Career and Professional Development Resources for Your Patrons April Shaw, Vermont Department of Libraries

Gateway II: Small Budgets, Big Feelings – let’s talk about it Catherine Goldsmith, Starksboro Public Library, Josh Worman, Haston Library

11:40 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. Breakout Session Three (Section Meetings & Roundtables)

Oscar Wilde I&II: Public Libraries Section

Oscar Wilde III: Youth Services Roundtable

Northstar I: Intellectual Freedom Committee

Northstar II: Technical Services Roundtable

Escapade: Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Committee

Gateway I: Friends & Trustees Section

Gateway II: Government Relations & Advocacy Committee

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch, Oscar Wilde Ballroom, including a Drag Queen Story Hour presentation by Emoji Nightmare

1:30 – 1:55 p.m. Networking and Exhibit Hall

Take this time to meet and chat with librarians from around the state and make sure to visit our amazing exhibitors in the lower lobby and the Oscar Wilde promenade just outside of the ballroom.

2 – 2:50 p.m. Breakout Session Four

Oscar Wilde I&II: Spark Presentations (Group One)

a) We did a diversity audit! And here’s what we learned – Melissa Huston, Fletcher Free Library

b) Using CANDID to maximize your grant funding – Mary Danko, Fletcher Free Library

c) Murder Mystery Take Home Kits –  Burnham Memorial Library staff

d) VT Kit Club – Fletcher Free Library staff

e) Partnering for expanding community services – Emer Feeney, Fletcher Free Library

f) VTLIB is here for YOU! – April Shaw, Vermont Department of Libraries

Oscar Wilde III: Breaking Down Barriers: Empowering You to Serve Marginalized Populations – Kelly McCagg, Burnham Memorial Library.

Northstar I: Creating Dyslexic-Positive Libraries Susan Whitehead, University of Vermont Libraries & Nicole Westbom

Northstar II: Climate Action: Small steps, big impact Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, Mid-Hudson Library System, Margaret Woodruff, Charlotte Library Kate Hunter, Orwell Free Library

Escapade: Scam Awareness and Prevention Toolkit: Guidance for Libraries Crystal Baldwin, Liza Dates, Sheri Rockcastle

Gateway I: Grant Writing for Beginners Trisha Ingalls, Leach Public Library Gateway II: Policy 101 Kevin Unrath, Vermont Department of Libraries

Northstar Prefunction: Center for Rural Studies Vendor Presentation, University of Vermont

2:50 – 3:20 p.m. Coffee Break and Exhibit Hall

Coffee and sweet treats will be available in the Oscar Wilde promenade just outside the ballroom and in the lower lobby area.

3:20 – 4 p.m. Breakout Session Five

Oscar Wilde I&II: Creating a Share & Repair Library of Things Suzanne Krohn, Richmond Free Library

Oscar Wilde III: Recognizing Stress, Employing Self Care and Avoiding Burnout in Today’s Library Landscape Nicole Klett, Essex High School Library

Northstar I: Inclusive Libraries: Making Your Library and Programming More Accessible Karen Gravlin, Vermont Department of Libraries

Northstar II: Small Libraries, Big Ideas: Creative Approaches to Children’s Programming in Small Settings – Amy Olsen – Lanpher Memorial Library, Brenda Stanley – Enosburgh Public Library, Amy McMullen – Cavendish Fletcher Community Library, Gail Trede – Bradford Public Library

Escapade: Spark Presentations (Group Two)

a) Fun & Friendly Competition: Trivia Night 101 – Meg Malone, Colchester Library

b) Embracing Diversity: Innovate and Create Together – Liz von Nagy & Keirstan Lague, Essex High School Library

c) Making Space in Vermont: New NASA Grant to Support Vermont Public Libraries – Ellen Brennan, Vermont Space Grant Consortium

d) Libraries as a Place to Connect: Telemedicine Access in Vermont Community Spaces – Emma Parks, University of Vermont Libraries

e) Brick by Brick: Building Empowered Communities through Lego Robotics – Mary Neffinger, Bixby Memorial Free Library

Gateway I: Why Patron Privacy Matters and How You Can Protect It – Trina Magi, University of Vermont Libraries

Gateway II: Working Group Round Table Report on the Status of Vermont Libraries – Mary Danko, Fletcher Free Library

4:10 – 5 p.m.  Breakout Session Six

Oscar Wilde I&II: Rapid Reviews – Marie Schmukal, Warren Public Library

Oscar Wilde III: Connecting Through Creativity: Using Art in the Library As A Self-Care Tool – Paul McAllister, Essex High School Library/Center for Technology

Northstar I: Facing Homelessness: A Rural Library Perspective – Bree Drapa, Westford Public Library, and Lauren Curry

Northstar II: Turning the Page: Gen Z and Millennials Rewrite Library Engagement – Molly Nesselrodt, Stowe Free Library, and  Michaela Lavelle, Quechee/Wilder Libraries

Escapade: America’s 250th in Vermont: Preparing to Commemorate – Israel “Izzy” Provoncha, Catherine Delneo, Jonah Spivak, Meg Mallory, Phil Holland, Victoria Sample

Gateway I: Storytime Share – Tricia Allen, Ilsley Public Library.

5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Post-conference gathering at Sherburne Memorial Library, 2998 River Road Fork, Killington

Related Pages:
2024 Vermont Library Conference Home Page

2024 Conference Session Descriptions

2024 Conference Speaker Bios

Vermont Library Association Past Conferences Archive

Last update May 10, 2024