ALA Seeks $100 Million in Stimulus Funding As U.S. Libraries Face Critical Cutbacks, Closures

PRESS RELEASE

Washington – The American Library Association (ALA) is asking Congress for $100 million in stimulus funding to aid the nation’s working families during the current economic crisis. Aid is sought to stem the bleeding of critical library services that help Americans with job searches, small business development, financial literacy and other essential assistance in hard economic times.

Public libraries are facing the most severe cutbacks in decades as budget shortfalls hit cities, towns and rural areas across the country, according to the association. From Los Angeles to Boston, libraries are cutting hours and services; some are even facing the threat of closure at a time when their support is needed most.

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Public Library Salaries

As public libraries enter the budget writing season, the Personnel Committee of the Vermont Library Association urges library directors to take a hard look at staff salaries. Here are three points to keep in mind:

* Qualified library directors should be making at least $40,300 annually, or $19.38 per hour, as recommended by the Vermont Library Association Executive Board.
* If the library does not pay for medical insurance, offer compensatory leave or a lump sum payment instead.
* At a minimum, increase staff wages by the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) as set by the Social Security Administration annually in October. The increase for 2009 is 5.8%.

Check the budget memo below for more details. Share the information with library trustees as you build the annual budget.Read more→

For All Time (And in All Media?):Preserving Cultural Heritage in New England

For those of you working in, or simply interested in, preservation, consider registering for the New England Archivists Fall Meeting in Boston. Register by Friday, Halloween, to get the early registration price!

For All Time (And in All Media?):Preserving Cultural Heritage in New England

New England Archivists Fall 2008 Meeting
November 14-15, 2008
Simmons College, Boston, MA

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Library Services for 50+ Adults are Focus of New England Institute

Dear Public Library Colleagues,

I am including (below) an announcement for an upcoming Lifelong Access Libraries Leadership Institute focusing on Library Service for 50+ Adults to be held December 1-2 in Newton, Mass. Attendance is limited; interested libraries can apply to send a library director, library trustee or adult services librarian. Winning applicants will receive funding to cover travel, meals and lodging for one night. Details, and a link to the application form, are below. Application deadline: November 14, 2008.

The demographic projections for Vermont tell us that our population of older citizens will grow more rapidly than other age group. Services to seniors, including enrichment programming, will be more important than ever in our state’s public libraries.

I encourage all interested libraries to learn more about this opportunity and to consider submitting an application.

Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
Tel: (802) 828-3265
martha.reid@mail.dol.state.vt.us

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2008 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access – UPDATE

Hello everyone,

We’re getting close to the 60% response rate for this survey, but aren’t quite there, yet.  We’re really getting down to the wire, though.   The survey closes NOVEMBER 7, 2008, which is less than 2 weeks, now.

A minimum of 60% is required for the team to be able to analyze the state individually.  It is important to receive as many responses as possible from sampled libraries, as they were chosen for the sample specifically based on the proportionality of the various metropolitan areas and poverty levels in the state. Go to http://plinternetsurvey.org to complete your survey.

We’re doing much better than in past years.  Thank you to everyone who’s completed or nearly completed the survey.  Great job.

Thank you again for all of your help, and please contact me with any questions you may have.

Rob Geiszler
Vermont Department of Libraries

Salary Increases for VT Public Librarians

In October 2008, the Executive Board of the Vermont Library Association approved the following recommended minimum starting salary:

For a public library director with the Vermont Department of Libraries “Certificate of Public Librarianship,” the recommended minimum starting salary is $40,300, with a complete benefits package. For directors who work less than full time, the hourly wage is $19.38, with a pro-rated benefits package.

“Increasing Public Library Compensation: A How-To Guide for Vermont Libraries” is available at https://vermontlibraries.org//compensation5.07.pdf.

The Personnel Committee of the Vermont Library Association can help you review and study your library salaries and job descriptions. Contact committee chair Amy C. Grasmick at kimball_acg@hotmail.com or (802) 728-5073 for more information.

Vermont Library Trustee Association Conference

Hello-

A reminder that the Vermont Library Association Annual Trustee Conference is scheduled for November 8th at the Rutland Free Library. The agenda for the day will be an address from our new State Librarian, Martha Reid, presentation by Gail Weymouth, Chair of the VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee, and a special presentation by library consultant Lawrence Webster. Lawrence, as some of you may know, is an independent public library consultant specializing in communications, public relations, Friends, board development and strategic planning. Lawrence’s presentation will provide trustees and librarians with practical advice on securing strong community and financial support for their libraries. Advice especially critical in these tough economic times.

Please remember that this is the one annual event that VLA sponsors for public library trustees and we encourage as many trustees and library staff to attend.

If you have any questions, please contact me. Thank you

Michael Roche
Northeast Regional Library
23 Tilton Road
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
748-3428
Michael.roche@mail.dol.state.vt.us

Help Wanted: Vermont Library Conference

Check out the call for volunteers for the Vermont Library Conference that includes details about a range of ways to get involved, each with differing levels of commitment. 

Please consider volunteering since the support of many VLA members is a critical component of mounting our conference. By volunteering you make an important contribution to a major in-state continuing education opportunity for people who work in and provide support to Vermont libraries. Your work also creates a great opportunity to connect with other library staff, build your professional network, and learn about what’s happening at the state and regional level. If you’ve not been involved with VLA at the committee, planning or leadership level, participating in the planning and implementation of the Vermont Library Conference is a great way to start.  Just do it!

Judah Hamer

The 2009 Vermont Library Conference Needs Your Help!

Volunteers are needed to support work on the May, 2009 Vermont Library Conference.  Conference proposals are coming in, and we are lining up some great speakers and exciting events for May 12 & 13, 2009.  Our keynote, Marshall Keys, is ecstatic to speak to the librarians of Vermont about library advocacy – a topic more important now than ever.  It is our hope that the Vermont Library Conference is a meaningful, worthwhile, professional experience for all of Vermont’s librarians, library staff, boards, school boards, teachers, and administrators.  We hope to broaden our scope and invite all the people who make our jobs a reality.

 However, in order to put on a fantastic conference, we need your help.  We are operating with a much smaller conference planning committee than in years past, and have identified areas in which we need your support.  If you are interested in any of the jobs listed below, please contact me as soon as possible.  You will be given all the information you need to fill these jobs – please don’t feel like you can’t volunteer for lack of experience.  We will make sure you have all the support you need to do the job. If you have any questions about the conference, volunteering, or program proposals, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I look forward to hearing from many of you! Sincerely,http://www.vermontlibraryconference.org Barbara Doyle-Wilch

Director of Cultural Activities

Middlebury College

252 Columbus Smith Road

Salisbury, VT 05769

802-352-9315

bdoylewi@middlebury.edu

802-238-7608 cell

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