Talking Points on Vinous Beverages in Libraries

Dear Vermont librarians,

You may be hearing about a couple of bills currently under discussion in the legislature, concerning serving vinous beverages in libraries. The Vt. Library Association’s Government Relations committee is working with the bills’ sponsors, state librarian Martha Reid, and other interested parties to stay on top of discussion about the bills as they evolve, and to advocate for their basic premise: to make it easier and more cost effective for libraries to serve beer and wine at special events.

We’ve prepared a briefing to help any of you who might encounter questions (see below, or access via Google drive here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B66Bw7BuIUTeN0FaeUJDVlBMRFk/edit?usp=sharing). We’ll continue to keep you posted on the bills as discussion evolves. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Selene Colburn
Chair, Vermont Library Association’s Government Relations Committee

H.385 and  S.226 Legislative Brief (2014)

Read more→

Dorothy Canfield Fisher (DCF) Conference

Registration is now open for the Dorothy Canfield Fisher conference to be held in Stowe on Friday, May 2. The keynote speaker will be Gary Schmidt, author of Wednesday Wars, Okay for Now and Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, among others. The endnote will be given by Jo Knowles, Vermont author of several young adult novels and a middle grade novel, See You at Harry’s, which is on the current DCF list. More information and the registration form can be found here: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/cbec/dcf/dcfconference

Remember, VLA members receive a discount on the conference, so renew your membership today: https://vermontlibraries.org//membership

Also, I am pleased to announce that the Friends of DCF are again giving scholarships to the conference, so if you would like to attend, but cannot afford it, fill out the application also at the link above, and you may get lucky!

 

Press Release: John Swan Lecture with Dawn Sova

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Press Contact: Raymond Brior
Phone: 802-635-1495
Email: Raymond.Brior@jsc.edu

January 14, 2014,

Vermont Library Association with the Department of Libraries presents The Bi-Annual John Swan Intellectual Freedom Lecture with Dawn Sova

Monday, January 27, 2014 at the Pavilion Auditorium

109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
6:00-8:00 PM Free and Open to the Public

Read more→

Call For Proposals – Vermont Library Conference

It’s time to submit your proposals for the Vermont Library Conference on May 20th at St. Michael’s College. The theme our conference this year is Story Time : Advocate, Celebrate and BE HEARD with Keynote Speaker Marci Merola, Director of ALA’s Office for Library Advocacy! We want to hear your library advocacy success stories.

  • What kind of advocacy has your library done?
  • Have you completed any unique or innovative projects that got the attention of your patrons or trustees?
  • Do you have exciting ideas that you just want to share?

Then submit a proposal today! Presentation proposals are due by Feb. 14, 2014. To submit a proposal fill out this form: http://bit.ly/VLC2014_submissions

Don’t forget that all presenters get into the conference for free! The committee will be reviewing submissions on Feb. 15th, so late submissions will not be accepted. Thank you in advanced for all your great ideas!

Cheers,
The VLC Committee

Vermont Library Conference

SAVE THE DATE for the 2014 Vermont Library Conference on Tuesday, May 20th at St. Michael’s College! Mark your calendars!

Get ready for the most exciting annual library event in Vermont! Folks passionate about libraries from across the Green Mountain State will gather to share ideas, network, and celebrate our important work. More information coming soon!

VLA Technical Services Section Meeting

Save The Date! The VLA Technical Services Section formerly the Cataloging Roundtable) will be meeting on January 15th, 2014 from 10:00-noon at Midstate Regional Library in Berlin.

Please email section president Christine Webb (cwebb@burlingtonvt.gov) with topics you’d like to discuss.

Library Advisory Council of the Special Services Unit Meeting

What do your visually-impaired patrons want from your library? What do you as a public librarian want from Special Services?

The Library Advisory Council of the Special Services Unit will discuss these issues at its next meeting, Thursday, Nov. 21, 10am to noon, at the Vermont Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired building, 60 Kimball Ave. (near Comcast), South Burlington.

Public librarians are invited to attend, or to send questions or comments to Amy Olsen, Lanpher Memorial Library, hyde_park@vals.state.vt.us.

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!