Hello Everyone,
Annually we ask you to participate in the National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access (it’ll roll around again in September.) You may wonder who uses this data and to what end? Here is some information for you that John Carlo Bertot, the survey administrator, has provided on the value of this information:
Effort supports public computing at 42 libraries and adult education sites
Montpelier, VT – Google has donated 100 computers and funding for software to Vermont public libraries and adult education sites.
Vermont State Librarian Martha Reid announced the gift, which is valued at nearly $25,000 combined.
“Our local libraries have become the hubs of connectivity in many communities and we are very pleased with this public private partnership,” said Governor Peter Shumlin. “This puts power in the hands of Vermonters seeking free access to the Internet and all the benefits – for education, employment opportunities and more – that offers.”
The donation, part of a larger effort by Google to donate surplus equipment from their offices, includes desktop computers and flat screen monitors, keyboards and mice, all completely refurbished and loaded with the latest software operating systems. None of the computers is more than three years old.
Greetings. I’d like to take this opportunity to invite anyone with an interest to join what we’re calling the VT Library Tech Club. It’s intended to be an informal group to discuss technology in libraries, to ask questions, share experiences, and collaborate within the state. We’re not assuming a particular level of experience with technology, just an interest in the topic. We’ve created a Google Group to give us a venue for communication – it’s located at https://groups.google.com/
In addition, I’d like to mention the Library Technology Unconference, which is taking place on Thursday, September 13th, from Noon-4:30 pm, in Berlin:
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), in collaboration with the ALA Public Programs Office, is accepting applications through September 25 for Muslim Journeys, a Bridging Cultures Bookshelf program. To apply, visit www.programminglibrarian.org/
In January 2013, up to 1,000 public libraries, community college and academic libraries, and state humanities councils will be selected to receive:
ALA has now made it easy for all of us to respond to email alerts that are sent out asking us to call our legislator on behalf of the most recent bill or action.. Text!
Here’s what to do:
Text “library” to 877877. You will receive a message back asking for your address. Send that info back. From now on, when there’s a legislative alert from ALA relating to library and information issues they will send you a text.
There is still room so please consider attending a workshop (or more) in July. Clicking on the workshop title will take you to the registration form.
Listed below are FREE programs American Management Association, Booklist, Colorado State Library, Georgia Library Association, Grantspace, Infopeople, Library Journal, National Library of Medicine, Nebraska Library Commission, Nonprofit Webinars, TechSoup, and WebJunction will be webcasting during July.
Call for grant applications from Vermont Town Libraries
Since the year 2000, Ashgate Publishing Company in Burlington has devoted a large portion of its annual charitable contributions budget to support libraries around the state.
In the wake of the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Irene, and in recognition of our role as a corporate citizen in this state, Ashgate UK made a special donation in late 2011 in support of Vermont and Vermonters: $2,500 for the Vermont Public Libraries Foundation and $1,000 to the Librarians Relief Fund.
Through its library donations program, Ashgate makes grants to public libraries in Vermont for special one-time projects and needs (as opposed to standard operating expenses and book budgets) as they arise. The charitable donations committee encourages libraries to apply for grants that supplement other fundraising efforts. Libraries are also encouraged to team up with other area libraries and apply for grants collectively. Examples of the grants made in recent years include:
My fabulous advisory committee (Cheryl Cox, Kathy Dulac, Amy McMullen, Hannah Peacock, Julie Pickett, Chris Poggi and Nancy Rumery) have updated the graded booklists we have on our website, from Kindergarten through Young Adult. Print them out, and hand them out to your patrons to make their selections just a bit easier.
They are on this page under “Graded booklists.” http://libraries.vermont.gov/
Grace
Hello from sunny Anaheim! I am happy to again be reporting from annual conference. At the first Council meeting we heard reports of task forces and committees. One report of particular interest was presented by the Digital Content & Libraries Working Group. This is the group that is working with ebook publishers. The group had an initial meeting with publishers in the spring and are now working to create business models and licensing agreements and to find ways to communicate the issues to the library community and the general public. ALA leaders have met with publishers twice more. They will continue to work to increase good access to e-resources.
I was lucky enough to score tickets for the first ever Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction Award presentation. Nominees for the award included Anne Enright, Karen Russell, Russell Banks, James Gleik, Robert Massie, and Manning Marable. Anne Enright won for her new book The Forgotten Waltz and Robert Massie won for Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman. ALA hopes this award will become the adult Newbery.
At our second Council meeting we passed a resolution encouraging support for school librarians.
It has been a great pleasure representing Vermont at ALA conferences for the past six years.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Wilson