About VLA

Our Mission

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) is an educational organization working to develop, promote, and improve library and information services and librarianship in the state of Vermont.

Our History

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) was organized in 1893 (as calculated by the terms of office of our Presidents). The first VLA President was Sarah C. Hagar, librarian of the Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, from 1893-June 1903. VLA has been a chapter of the American Library Association since 1956.

According to the earliest extant constitution, dated 1894-1895, membership in the VLA was open to any interested party with 25¢ for dues. The first dues increase, voted on by the membership at the 1905 annual meeting, raised the assessment to 50¢ a year. Our first honorary membership was awarded to Dr. James Hulme Canfield, librarian of Columbia University and father of Vermont author Dorothy Canfield Fisher, in 1907. Honorary membership was not awarded again until October 1950.

From: Geary, Kathleen A. “Vermont Library Association.” Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science. Vol. 32. New York: Marcel Decker, Inc., 1981.

The VLA Archives are held by the Vermont Historical Society.

Upcoming Board Meetings

Meetings are held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of every other month.

Some of What We Do

Check out our current initiatives

Host the annual Vermont Library Conference each spring.

Our sections and committees provide continuing education events throughout the year.

Organize fun networking opportunities for librarians and library lovers.

Advocate for libraries and librarians with state and local government.

Publish the VLA News, our quarterly newsletter.

Represent your interests on regional and national library association boards.

Connect temps and subs with potential employers through the Vermont Library Substitute Pool.

Honor our outstanding members with association awards.

Research salary compensation and provide help in seeking adequate compensation for librarians and staff.

Administer the John Swan Intellectual Freedom Fund and coordinate its lecture series.

VLA Past Presidents

2021-22 — Mike Roy, Middlebury Libraries, Middlebury

2020-21 — Kevin Unrath, Pierson Library, Shelburne

2019-20 — Amy Olsen, Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park

2018-19 – Cindy Weber, Stowe Free Library, Stowe

2017-18 – Joy Worland, Joslin Memorial Library , Waitsfield

2016-17 – Margaret Woodruff, Charlotte Public Library, Charlotte

2015-16 – Virgil Fuller, Chelsea Public Library, Chelsea

2014-15 – Toni Fortini Josey, Independent Library Professional, Colchester

2013-14 – Amber Billey, Bailey/Howe Library, UVM, Burlington

2012-13 – Deborah Gadwah-Lambert, Alice M. Ward Memorial Library, Canaan

2011-12 – Joseph Farara, Willey Library, Johnson State College, Johnson

2010-11 – Marti Fiske, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston

2009-10 – John Payne, Durick Library, St. Michael’s College, Colchester

2008-09 – Judah Hamer, Rutland Free Library, Rutland

2007-08 – Barbara Doyle-Wilch, Davis Family Library, Middlebury College, Middlebury

2006-07 – Lisa Von Kann, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, St. Johnsbury

2005-06 – Daisy Benson, Bailey/Howe Library, UVM, Burlington

2004-05 – David Clark, Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury

2003-04 – Ellen Hall, Kreitzberg Library, Norwich University, Northfield

1973-1974 – Ann Turner, Kreitzberg Library, Norwich University, Northfield

Last updated August 7, 2022.