Health Information Round Table (HIRT) Meeting

The newly formed Health Information Round Table (HIRT) will be holding its first general meeting on December 11th 1:00-3:30 PM in the Allen House on Vermont Technical College’s Randolph Campus.

VLA HIRT is a library group founded to discuss health-related information and services in Vermont’s public, academic and hospital Libraries, and to meet and network to identify topics, collaborations and needed resources.

The tentative agenda is :

  • Vermont Health Connect   – A panel discussion including representatives from Vermont Health Connect, Vermont public, academic and hospital Libraries.
  • Stephanie Friree, Outreach Coordinator with the National Network of Libraries of Medicine New England Region, will talk about “NLM Resources and Health Literacy”.
  •  VLA HIRT Meeting to discuss next topics of interest including planning a program for VLA in spring 2014.

Questions ? RSVP? Contact :   Jane Kearns or Marianne Burke.

VHS Library Open House Tuesday

The Leahy Library at the Vermont History Center in Barre will be having an open house for people interested in the library’s manuscript collections on Tuesday, October 15, from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Historian Jill Mudgett will be speaking at 5:30 on “Searching for Indian Joe: Using the collections of the VHS to teach college history.” We will have some selected manuscript collections available in the reading room to help generate ideas for research. Refreshments will be served (but not next to the manuscript collections!). Stop by and help us celebrate Archives Month, then visit one of Barre or Montpelier’s fine restaurants for dinner!

Vermont Public Library Trustees & Friends 2013 Annual Conference

Saturday November 2   9:00 am   —  3:00 pm
Vermont Statehouse State Street Montpelier, VT

Registration is now open: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/trustees (DEADLINE October 25)

Plan to join us at the Statehouse for an energy-filled day of inspiring and informative speakers and networking to help the board, staff and Friends with effective governance, fundraising,  advocacy, social media and more.

Keynote Speaker:
Stuart  Comstock-Gay, President and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation. 

  • Breakout sessions for trustees and friends (and librarians!) on a variety of topics throughout the day, including:
  • Paul Gillies on Vermont libraries and the law. One of the authors of The Law of Public Libraries, former Deputy Secretary of State and a Montpelier attorney, Mr. Gillies has many years’ experience in municipal law and is well-versed in topics of interest to public library trustees and directors.
  • Rob Fish of the Vermont Council on Rural Development and the Vermont Digital Economy Project on social media tools for libraries.
  • And wait, wait, don’t forget the Annual Trivia Contest with prizes!
  • And of course there will be coffee, lunch, networking with your peers from around the state and more.

    • 20% discount for each attendee when 3 or more attend from one library

    Read more→

    Vermont Public Library Trustees & Friends 2013 Annual Conference

    Saturday November 2   9:00 am   —  3:00 pm
    Vermont Statehouse State Street Montpelier, VT
    Registration is now open: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/trustees (DEADLINE October 25)
    Plan to join us at the Statehouse for an energy-filled day of inspiring and informative speakers and networking to help the board, staff and Friends with effective governance, fundraising,  advocacy, social media and more.
    Keynote Speaker:
    Stuart  Comstock-Gay, President and CEO of the Vermont Community Foundation. 

    • Breakout sessions for trustees and friends (and librarians!) on a variety of topics throughout the day, including:
    • Paul Gillies on Vermont libraries and the law. One of the authors of The Law of Public Libraries, former Deputy Secretary of State and a Montpelier attorney, Mr. Gillies has many years’ experience in municipal law and is well-versed in topics of interest to public library trustees and directors.
    • Rob Fish of the Vermont Council on Rural Development and the Vermont Digital Economy Project on social media tools for libraries.
  • And wait, wait, don’t forget the Annual Trivia Contest with prizes!
  • And of course there will be coffee, lunch, networking with your peers from around the state and more.

    • 20% discount for each attendee when 3 or more attend from one library
    Read more→

    UPDATE: Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

    This is an important message from the Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) about the public hearings that start today for the Vermont State Education Quality Standards. Secretary of Education Armando Vilaseca has stated that the language that VSLA proposed for the new standards will be included in the new document. Here are his exact words:

    “I wanted to make sure that the librarians that you all come in contact with understand that we agree that the current language of not including librarians in the initial rules was not correct. We (AOE) also agree with the language suggestions you and others made at our meeting.”

    This means that VSLA no longer needs librarians and library advocates to state their argument or plea to add wording to the Vermont Quality Education Standards.

    If you do choose to come out and support school librarians in Vermont at the upcoming public hearings, here’s a supportive script:

    My name is _____ and I work at _____School. I am representing the ___ librarians, ___ teachers, ___ parents and ___ community members that are here tonight. We would like tothank you for providing these important Education Quality Standards for the students in Vermont schools and for accepting the language that Vermont school librarians have suggested be included in the standards. We are happy that you have acknowledged our contributions to the Vermont education and we will continue to celebrate the good work we do with the students in our schools. Thank you.

    Please keep it short and positive!

    UPDATE: Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

    This is an important message from the Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) about the public hearings that start today for the Vermont State Education Quality Standards. Secretary of Education Armando Vilaseca has stated that the language that VSLA proposed for the new standards will be included in the new document. Here are his exact words:
    “I wanted to make sure that the librarians that you all come in contact with understand that we agree that the current language of not including librarians in the initial rules was not correct. We (AOE) also agree with the language suggestions you and others made at our meeting.”
    This means that VSLA no longer needs librarians and library advocates to state their argument or plea to add wording to the Vermont Quality Education Standards.
    If you do choose to come out and support school librarians in Vermont at the upcoming public hearings, here’s a supportive script:

    My name is _____ and I work at _____School. I am representing the ___ librarians, ___ teachers, ___ parents and ___ community members that are here tonight. We would like tothank you for providing these important Education Quality Standards for the students in Vermont schools and for accepting the language that Vermont school librarians have suggested be included in the standards. We are happy that you have acknowledged our contributions to the Vermont education and we will continue to celebrate the good work we do with the students in our schools. Thank you.
    Please keep it short and positive!

    The State of Small and Rural Libraries in the United States (IMLS)

    New report out from IMLS about the state of small and rural libraries in the US.
    http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/Brief2013_05.pdf

    Some highlights include:

    • Small and rural libraries make up the majority of public library systems in the United States (80.5%).
    • Vermont has the highest percentage of small libraries in the United States (98.7%).
    • Small and rural libraries continue to provide substantial electronic and digital resources for patrons through access to e-books and publicly accessible computer terminals.
    • Although per capita revenue has decreased over the past three years, visitation and circulation has increased for both small and rural libraries.

    Vermont Libraries On The Air

    Listening alert!

    Monday, October 7 was the first in a series of programs on VPR’s Vermont Edition called: Dorothy’s List: A Monthly Series for Young Readers.

    Tune in to hear these discussions featuring authors, young readers and books which are part of Vermont’s Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award program, sponsored by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTlib).

    From the VPR website @ http://digital.vpr.net/post/dorothys-list-monthly-series-young-readers :

    “We’ll visit schools and libraries around Vermont to hear what kids have to say about the books. We’ll also speak with the authors – and let the kids ask the questions. So grab a book and join us for Dorothy’s List: A Monthly Series for Young Readers. It’s not your parents’ book club!”

    For more about the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children’s Book Award: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/cbec/dcf

    Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

    The Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) needs your support! Please plan to attend one of the 3 public hearings about reinstating library language in the proposed Vermont Education Quality Standards. Stand up for Vermont students and their need for qualified professional librarians at their schools. Take colleagues with you, invite teachers, parents, and other community members who support the valuable work that school librarians do.  Add your voice to the public comments on this issue and ask others to add theirs.  This is how change will happen.

    • October 8, 6 p.m., Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Rd., Brattleboro, Multipurpose Room
    • October 17, 4 p.m., Lake Region Union High School, 317 Lake Region Rd., Orleans, Multipurpose Room
    • October 21, 4 p.m., Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg, Room 140

    If you have any questions, please contact VSLA President-Elect Denise Wentz.Thank you in advance for your part in this advocacy initiative!

    Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

    The Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) needs your support! Please plan to attend one of the 3 public hearings about reinstating library language in the proposed Vermont Education Quality Standards. Stand up for Vermont students and their need for qualified professional librarians at their schools. Take colleagues with you, invite teachers, parents, and other community members who support the valuable work that school librarians do.  Add your voice to the public comments on this issue and ask others to add theirs.  This is how change will happen.

    • October 8, 6 p.m., Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Rd., Brattleboro, Multipurpose Room
    • October 17, 4 p.m., Lake Region Union High School, 317 Lake Region Rd., Orleans, Multipurpose Room
    • October 21, 4 p.m., Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg, Room 140

    If you have any questions, please contact VSLA President-Elect Denise Wentz.Thank you in advance for your part in this advocacy initiative!