Win a Trip to PLA 2012!

Create a 60 second video telling us about your library and what you would hope to get out of attending PLA 2012 and send it to us. One winner will receive a free registration, four nights hotel, and up to $500 reimbursement for travel to and from the conference. If your library submits the video, only one person from the library can receive the prize. The top five videos (determined by members of the PLA board and staff) will be posted to our Facebook page for voting. The video with the most votes on Facebook wins! All videos submitted will posted on our YouTube channel. Be creative! We look forward to seeing your videos! Submissions will be judged based on “clear, compelling, and creative video statements

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ALA Councilor's report–Part 2

On our second day of council we considered a number of resolutions including a Resolution Opposing the Research Works Act; a Resolution Opposing the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 (PIPA) and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA); Resolution on the Loss of Crucial Government Information. All three resolutions passed. If you want more information about these resolutions you may look at .http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/council/council_actions.
We are also passed the Resolution on Publishers and Practices Which Discriminate Against Library Users. This resolution opposes the discriminatory policies of publishers and distributors which adversely impact access to digital content by library users and will be used to clarify the ALA stand when speaking to publishers of digital content.
As my final mid-winter draws to a close I would like to thank you for the opportunity to work as your ALA Councilor. if you think this is a position you would be interested in please speak to me or any VLA board member. The first conference our new councilor would have to attend takes place in Seattle during January 2013.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Wilson

ALA Councilor's Report–Part 1

Hello from Dallas. I am very happy to again be reporting on activities at the midwinter meeting of the American Library Association. In this, my final year of serving as your councilor, I will continue to monitor national issues that impact Vermont.
At this conference we are considering a resolution taking a stance against the seemingly secret and arbitrary distribution of ebooks, video, and audio formats by publishers and distributors. The resolution is in draft form now but I hope to report today or tomorrow that we have crafted a strong national response to this practice that withholds content from our customers.
As far as regular ALA business goes, while revenues are down ALA recently purchased Neal- Schumann Publishing in order to expand the ALA publishing arm of the organization, which is actually a good revenue maker for the organization.
Please let me know if you have questions at readmorenow@gmail.com or 802-999-8391
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Wilson

Public Library Association 2012 Conference

The Public Library Association (PLA) is counting down to its biennial conference, PLA 2012, March 13-17, in Philadelphia. PLA 2012 Conference Bookended by Exciting Keynote Speakers Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Betty White! Early Bird Registration is now available!

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State Librarian “Tour” Visit Rescheduled in Rockingham

January 23, 1-3 p.m. (SNOW DATE: January 30, 1-3 p.m.)
Rockingham Free Library, Bellows Falls: http://rfpl.kohalibrary.com/

State Librarian Martha Reid will be at the Rockingham Free Public Library on January 23 to talk about current projects and activities at the Department of Libraries and to get feedback from the greater Vermont library community. Previous sessions have been great, with lots of good discussion. All are welcome –librarians/library staff, library trustees, and local officials — to attend this informal session. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so bring your questions and comments.

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State Librarian "Tour" Visit Rescheduled in Rockingham

January 23, 1-3 p.m. (SNOW DATE: January 30, 1-3 p.m.)
Rockingham Free Library, Bellows Falls: http://rfpl.kohalibrary.com/
State Librarian Martha Reid will be at the Rockingham Free Public Library on January 23 to talk about current projects and activities at the Department of Libraries and to get feedback from the greater Vermont library community. Previous sessions have been great, with lots of good discussion. All are welcome –librarians/library staff, library trustees, and local officials — to attend this informal session. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so bring your questions and comments.
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VOL/Gale Database Training 2/7 & 2/13

Please join the wonderful Stacey Knibloe from Gale for two webinars on the Vermont Online Library/Gale Databases. If you cannot attend on the day of the event, there will be an archive available.

To register, click on the webinar title. I will send the webinar access information and instructions to you the day before each session.

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VOL/Gale Database Training 2/7 & 2/13

Please join the wonderful Stacey Knibloe from Gale for two webinars on the Vermont Online Library/Gale Databases. If you cannot attend on the day of the event, there will be an archive available.
To register, click on the webinar title. I will send the webinar access information and instructions to you the day before each session.
Read more