For complete conference information, including presentations and registration, visit 2023 Vermont Library Conference.
Jill Abair is a teacher librarian at U-32 Middle and High School in East Montpelier.
Tricia Allen is the youth services librarian at Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury.
Liv Andersson is an author, lawyer, and former therapist, whose background has inspired her thrillers and mysteries. As Liv Andersson, she writes thrillers, including “Little Red House.” As Wendy Tyson, she is the author of several mystery series, including the Amazon bestselling Greenhouse Mystery Series. She and her husband live in Vermont, with their sons and three dogs.
Meg Boisseau Allison is a teacher librarian at U-32 Middle and High School in East Montpelier.
Joyce Yoo Babbitt, creator of the “1-2-3 Ready! Read! Review!” podcast, is the library media specialist for three elementary schools in the Windsor Central Supervisory Union.
Valerie Bang-Jensen is professor of education at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, where she earned the college’s Rathgeb Teaching Award. She has taught in K-6 classrooms and library programs in public and independent schools in the U.S. and Paris, and was the district elementary writing coordinator in Ithaca, New York.
Joe Bertelloni is the school library media specialist at Clarendon Elementary School in North Clarendon, and was a 2020 Vermont Outstanding Teacher.
Melody Bodette is contributing editor for Vermont Public’s “But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids,” and the co-author with Jane Lindholm of two “But Why” books. Melody, an award-winning news producer and reporter, has served in many roles in the Vermont Public newsroom since 2005.
Jason Broughton is the director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), a department of the Library of Congress. Previously, Broughton became the first African American to serve as Vermont State Librarian, where he engaged in strategic planning for the Department of Libraries and establishing a long-term vision for the State Library. For over a decade, Broughton held numerous library roles in South Carolina and Georgia, where he used his prior training as an educator to focus on such issues as workforce development and public outreach engagement.
Caitlin Classen is the librarian at Albert D. Lawton Intermediate School in Essex Junction.
Charles Dabritz is president of the Vermont School Library Association, and the school library media specialist at Lyman C Hunt Middle School in Burlington.
Mary Danko is director of Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, and co-chair of the Vermont Library Association’s Scholarships & Awards Committee.
Christina Deeley is a librarian at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg. She also is a chapter leader for Project LIT, “a monthly book club for students, teachers, and community members to come together in a culture of shared reading.”
Catherine Delneo is the State Librarian of Vermont. She brings more than 25 years of experience in library services to the role, most recently serving as chief of branches at the San Francisco Public Library, leading a team of more than 400 staff.
Linda Donigan is a children’s/young adult librarian at the Bennington Free Library.
Bree Drapa is the director of Westford Public Library. Bree was a member of the 2022 Association of Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Outstanding in Their Field Leadership Institute, and received a Vermont Library Association grant to attend the conference.
Trish Esden is the author of the Scandal Mountain Antique Mystery series from Crooked Lane Books. As Pat Esden, she writes contemporary fantasy that’s a touch dark and a bit sexy. Trish lives in Northern Vermont, where she deals in antiques with her husband, a profession she’s been involved with since her teens.
Lois Fein is the pre-K and kindergarten teacher at Reading Elementary School.
Genevieve Gallagher is a librarian at South Burlington High School.
Olivia Gatti is a librarian at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg.
Catherine Goldsmith is director of Starksboro Public Library, and vice president of the Public Libraries Section of the Vermont Library Association.
Dana Hart is director of Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury.
Catharine Hays is the director of Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vergennes.
Kristen Hindes is associate director for research, and instruction/interlibrary loan librarian of the Durick Library at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester.
Kate Hunter is the librarian at Orwell Free Library.
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup is executive director of Vermont Humanities. Since beginning his tenure in 2018, his focus has been building a deep emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion into the foundation of all their work. He holds degrees in dance and drama from Kenyon College in Ohio, and development studies from the London School of Economics.
Abby Johnson is a librarian at Cobleigh Public Library in Lyndonville, and a member of the 2022-23 Red Clover Book Award Committee.
Kelly Kendall is the children’s librarian at South Burlington Public Library.
Michele Kimpton is global senior director of The Palace Project, “a new division of Lyrasis, [supporting] public libraries in their mission to provide equitable access to digital content.” The platform is available to Vermont libraries at no charge through the Vermont Department of Libraries.
Stacey Knibloe is the senior training consultant for Gale, part of Cengage Group. Gale provides resources through the Vermont Department of Libraries for the Vermont Online Library (VOL), a curated collection of online information resources covering a broad range of subjects. VOL is available to Vermont citizens and students at no cost.
Keirstan Lague is a library assistant at Essex High School in Essex Junction.
Peter Langella is a librarian at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, and a part-time faculty member of the University of Vermont’s education department. Peter received the Vermont School Library Association’s “Outstanding School Librarian Award” in 2020.
Jane Lindholm is the creator, host, and executive producer of Vermont Public’s “But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids,” which she started in 2016. From 2007 until March 2021, she was host and editor of “Vermont Edition.” Along with Melody Bodette, Jane has co-authored two “But Why” books.
Natacha Liuzzi is the children’s specialist at South Burlington Public Library.
Bonnie Lord is the youth services librarian at Dorothy Alling Memorial Library in Williston.
Katie Mack is a ninth grade humanities teacher at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg.
Wendy Martin is an early literacy associate at Vermont Humanities. In addition to producing professional development opportunities for early childhood educators, she works closely with public librarians through the Vermont Early Literacy Initiative.
Karen McCalla is the librarian and technology specialist at Mill River Union High School in Clarendon, a position she has held since 2002. In 2022, she was named Vermont’s Teacher of the Year. Karen also coaches robotics for upper elementary, middle, and high school students.
Elizabeth McKinstry is a training and programming librarian at Springfield City Library in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Tom McMurdo is Assistant State Librarian for Information & Access with the Vermont Department of Libraries.
TJ Mead is a wellness teacher (a hybrid physical education and personal health teacher) in the ninth grade core program at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg.
Coco Moseley is director of Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol.
Andrea Murray is founder and principal architect with Vermont Integrated Architecture, P.C. Her projects include Pierson Library in Shelburne.
Brooke Nadzam is chair of the 2022-23 Green Mountain Book Award Committee, and the librarian at Williamstown Middle and HIgh School.
Megan Nedzinski is a partner and project architect with Vermont Integrated Architecture, P.C. Her projects include Pierson Library in Shelburne.
Ryan Newswanger is director of programs at Vermont Humanities. In addition to managing the programs team, Ryan also produces the “Before Your Time” podcast series in collaboration with the Vermont Historical Society, and “The Portable Humanist” podcast series.
Alex O’Brien is the English Language Learners (ELL) teacher at Rick Marcotte Central School in South Burlington.
Carole Oglesby is the librarian at Malletts Bay School in Colchester. The school is a third through fifth grade elementary school, and also home to Colchester’s Early Education program, including Essential Early Education and free family playgroups.
Rachel Onuf is director of the Vermont Historical Records Program (VHRP), whose mission “is to improve public access to and engagement with historical records, and to encourage and facilitate collaborative efforts among Vermont’s historical records repositories.”
Susan Piccoli is the librarian at Woodstock High School and Middle School. In 2021, she received the Vermont Humanities’ Victor R. Swenson Award, which “recognizes a Vermont educator who exemplifies excellence in the teaching of the humanities.”
Rebecca Rupp, chair of the 2022-23 Golden Dome Book Award Committee, is the author of more than a dozen nonfiction and fantasy books for middle-grade readers, and education books for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers.
Janette Shaffer is Assistant State Librarian for Library Advancement with the Vermont Department of Libraries.
Wendy Sharkey is head of circulation at Bennington Free Library.
April Shaw is the Government Services and Reference Librarian at the Vermont Department of Libraries.
Beth Shelley is the library media specialist at Westford School.
Angela Smith is the librarian at Bethel Elementary School and White River Valley Middle School in Bethel.
Rebecca Sofferman is the librarian at Colchester Middle School.
Tanya Lee Stone is known for telling little-known true stories of extraordinary people who have shaped our world, and has threaded themes of female empowerment throughout her body of award-winning work for nearly 20 years. Stone is the author of the Sibert Medal winning “Almost Astronauts,” NAACP Image Award winning “Courage Has No Color,” and Golden Kite Award winning “The Good, the Bad, and the Barbie,” among many other children’s and young adult titles. She is the program director of the Professional Writing Program at Champlain College in Burlington.
Megan Sutton is librarian and technology integrationist at Weybridge Elementary School.
Gail Trede is the director of Bradford Public Library.
Liz von Nagy is director of library media services at Essex High School in Essex Junction.
Julia von Ranson is the youth services librarian at the Putney Public Library.
Kristin Urie is the librarian at the John Woodruff Simpson Memorial Library in Craftsbury.
Shannon Walters is the teacher librarian at Burlington High School.
Emily Wood is the librarian at Richmond Elementary School.
Margaret Woodruff is director of Charlotte Public Library, and chair of the Vermont Library Association’s Government Relations & Advocacy Committee.
Joy Worland is Library Consultant for Continuing Education and Small and Rural Libraries with the Vermont Department of Libraries.
For complete conference information, including presentations and registration, visit 2023 Vermont Library Conference.
Last update April 1, 2023 (sl)