Federal Funding for Libraries: A Message from ALA

Colleagues,
I am fowarding this letter from ALA President Roberta Stevens. You don’t need to be an ALA member to know the danger that library funding faces in the U.S. Congress, or to take action. The legislation passed in the House for FFY2011 especially targets school library funding. Now it’s on to the Senate.

Our Senators are supportive of libraries, but it is important that they hear from Vermonters about the need for maintaining current levels of funding for LSTA and for the Improving Literacy through School Libraries program.

Read below for more information — and spread the word to contact Senators today.

Thanks,
Marty

Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
802-828-3265

Jackson Gillman in Vermont for NELA Conference

We are excited to have Jackson Gillman coming to the NELA Conference (cosponsored by VLA) in Burlington on Monday, October 3. He will be presenting a program on Rudyard Kipling in Vermont.

Jackson wanted me to pass along that while in VT, he would be willing to present programs at Vermont libraries who are interested. If he has more than one program he can also lower the travel costs to libraries.

His web site is: http://www.jacksongillman.com/ if you are interested in contacting him about the many programs in his repertoire.

Looking For Retirees

The VLA Awards committee is looking for names of librarians who have retired or who are planning to retire this year so we can honor them at the annual conference in May. The criteria are:

Must be a member of VLA
Must have worked in Vermont libraries for 10 years or more
Must be retiring, not just switching jobs.

If you know anyone who fits these criteria, please send me their name and their library affiliation. Thanks so much for your help!

Grace Worcester Greene
Chair, VLA Awards Committee Youth Services Consultant
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
Tel.: 802-828-6954
Fax: 802-828-1481
Email: grace.greene@state.vt.us

Jane Austen’s London in Fact & Fiction

Hello all in Vermont Libraries Land,

I append the flyer for our next Jane Austen in Vermont Gathering on March 27^th, 2011 at Champlain College – we will be presenting an armchair journey though Jane Austen’s London in Fact & Fiction. Please post this in your library or pass along to any patrons who are interested in Jane Austen. It is free and open to the public.

If you want a proper flyer with graphics, please email me separately… and if any of you are in the area that weekend, please join us on our tour through Regency London!

Jane Austen’s London in Fact & Fiction

Hello all in Vermont Libraries Land,
I append the flyer for our next Jane Austen in Vermont Gathering on March 27^th, 2011 at Champlain College – we will be presenting an armchair journey though Jane Austen’s London in Fact & Fiction. Please post this in your library or pass along to any patrons who are interested in Jane Austen. It is free and open to the public.
If you want a proper flyer with graphics, please email me separately… and if any of you are in the area that weekend, please join us on our tour through Regency London!
Read more→

New Vermont Library Conference Website is LIVE!

The new Vermont Library Association Conference website is up and running! Thanks to Sam Maskell!!! It’s time to print out the registration form and fill it out. Early registration prices are good through April 1 and it promises to be a conference that we’ll be talking about for a long time to come. Our keynoter is infamous for having people walk out on his lectures. We can’t wait to hear what he has to say! And please fill in the workshop sheet and return it as well. It helps us to know which rooms to use for what workshops. You can always change your mind the day of the conference.

www.vermontlibraryconference.org

San Jose SLIS Offers Free Online Career Resources

The San Jose School of Library and Information Science recently launched a career development website, designed to help information professionals be more successful in today’s challenging and rapidly evolving job market.

The free online resource is aimed at helping new Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals, as well as experienced LIS practitioners who want tips and ideas for refining their career pathway.

The site offers insight into a myriad of career opportunities, emerging trends in the field, and effective job search strategies. Site visitors can learn more about professional networking, interviewing techniques, and resume tips. They can also browse LIS job listing sites and other career resources specifically for information professionals.

We invite you to visit the site and explore its resources: http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/resources/career_development/

ACRL-NEC Vermont Virtual Conference

Want to attend ACRL-NEC this year, but can’t make it down to Worcester, MA? Want to network with other Vermont librarians? Tough economic times making travel difficult?

Then join us for the ACRL-NEC Vermont Virtual Conference on May 13th! REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Join other Vermont librarians at Norwich University in Northfield, VT to attend and participate in the ACRL-NEC conference virtually. In addition to watching the regional conference streamed live you’ll be able to meet with other Vermont librarians and talk about topics related to the theme Creative Collaborations: Remake, Remix, Remodel.

We Need You! Get Involved with Snap Shot Day!

Vermont Library Association, Vermont School Library Association and Vermont Department of Libraries have joined forces to create a multi-media advertising campaign for Vermont’s libraries. The campaign includes television commercials and newspaper ads to be released during National Library Week (April 10-16) and state-wide Snap Shot Day during March and April.

We are ready to launch Snap Shot Day statewide and WE NEED YOU! ALL types of libraries are encouraged to participate. Snap Shot Day is a great way for you to show your clients and your funders exactly what happens at your library during a day.

Exploring New Paths to Your Roots

Thursday, April 7, 2011
Marriott Springfield, 2 Boland Way, Springfield, Massachusetts

Librarians’ and Teachers’ Day provides the opportunity for professionals to learn how genealogy can serve them in their dual roles as curators of their unique collections and as ambassadors of genealogy resources for their schools and libraries.

Librarians’ and Teachers’ Day is directed at librarians, teachers and local history curators who may or may not be genealogists. Learning a few new genealogical skills could be the way to broaden your library’s patron base, excite your students and showcase parts of your local history collection that may not have seen the light of day for decades.