VLA Public Libraries Calendar Project

DEADLINE EXTENDED!

We invite your participation in creating a full-color wall calendar that celebrates, educates about, and fund raises for our Vermont public libraries.

A home-grown venture, the 2012 VLA Public Libraries Calendar Project arose from the desire to spread the word about all that our vibrant libraries have to offer. Our Calendar Project team includes Marti Fiske, Vermont Library Association (vermontlibraries.org) president and head librarian of Williston’s Dorothy Alling Memorial Library; Marcy Kass, award-winning Williston graphic designer (marcykassdesign.com) and library trustee at the DAML; and Andy Duback, Williston-based, award-winning photographer (andyduback.com). The calendar will be printed in Vermont as well.

Each month will showcase a different library, hopefully one from each county in Vermont. Along with a spacious and inviting calendar, each month will feature:

For more information and submit the survey online (by 1/24/11 1/26/11) please go to http://marcykassdesign.com/vlacalendarproject/index.html

NETSL Award – Call for Nominations

Is there a technical services librarian in your life who has inspired you? Do you have a colleague who has tackled today’s challenges in technical services and triumphed? Do you know a person who leads the way in innovation, collaboration, or data integration? Is there someone you know who puts the service in technical services? If you know of a person who merits any or all of these descriptions, please tell us. We ask you to include documents of support along with the name of your nominee. The requirements are outlined below. The successful nominee will be presented with the award at the NETSL Annual Spring Conference 2020 Vision: A New Decade for Technical Services, Friday, April 8, 2011 , at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. Details of the conference can be found at http://nela.camp9.org/netsl/conference

Deadline for nominations is Friday, February 18, 2011

Public Library PSAs from ALA

ALA just launched Our Authors, Our Advocates , four authors’ free Facebook, Twitter and PSAs to use in spreading the word about how important libraries are. Download all or one at http://www.ourauthorsouradvocates.org.

For Friends, don’t forget Paula Poundstone’s PSA at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/altaff/about/news/poundstone/index.cfm.

Vermont Library Substitute Pool Update

We now have 55 participants in the Vermont Library Substitute Pool (VLSP) representing every county in the state! If you are a person interested in making yourself available to work as a temp or sub in a library, feel free to fill out the Vermont Library Substitute Pool Sign-Up Form hosted at the Vermont Library Association website. Libraries with a staffing need are able to request a single log in to access the VLSP. Email vermontlibrarieswebmaster@gmail.com with the name and email address of your library representative.

If you currently have access to the VLSP list for your institution, I am delighted to announce that I have worked out some bugs in the spreadsheet and it now has proper column headers so that you know what data is in what field. Apologies for the confusion! I think you will find the whole thing much easier to use now.

To sort alphabetically by the column that contains the information you want most, simply right click on the lettered column header above the information of interest and select either “Sort Sheet A-Z” or “Sort Sheet Z-A”. For example, if you want to sort by “County”, that information is held in column “G”. There is also a pull down menu that appears when you roll over the lettered column header and you can sort using that as well.

In addition, we have a new field that allows participants to list the Automated Library Systems, such as Follett or Koha, that they have experience with if they choose to provide that information. All current participants were notified of the change and allowed the opportunity amend their entries with that information. You will see it there now if it has been provided.

Call for Nominations for Vermont Library Association Awards for 2011

There are so many excellent librarians and trustees in Vermont that it is always hard to single out just one of each annually, but there are always ones who are truly extraordinary and deserve to be recognized statewide. Now is the time for you to think about who VLA should recognize this year at the Vermont Library Association Conference, and nominate those deserving colleagues.

VLA is now accepting nominations for two awards:

The 2011 Sarah C. Hagar Award which is for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont. Nominees must be working in a Vermont library and a member of VLA.
The 2011 Trustee of the Year Award for achievement by a trustee on behalf of his or her library, either during the previous year or during his/her years of service.

Sign Up for the VLA News via Email!

The VLA News is back in 2011 in a new email format. If you’d like to begin receiving the VLA News in your inbox, simply fill out the short form on the VLA website to opt-in:

Opt-in to VLA News – https://vermontlibraries.org//vla-news

You may also sign up by checking yes to “receiving the VLA newsletter via email” on your 2011 VLA Membership Form when you renew.

2011 VLA Membership Form – https://vermontlibraries.org/-content/uploads/2010/12/2011VLAmembershipForm.pdf

The first issue of the VLA News will go out in early January, so don’t forget to renew your VLA membership so you can enjoy this member only benefit!

Happy New Year!

Helen Linda
VLA Editorial Committee Chair
vermontlibrariesnews@gmail.com

Cindy Weber
VLA Membership Committee Chair
cindy@williston.lib.vt.us

URGENT! Call your Representative and tell them to Support the Museum and Library Services Act!

I am forwarding this message from the ALA Washington Office and hope that you will follow-up with calls to Congressman Welch’s office NOW asking that he support the Museum and Library Services Act. This bill will re-authorize the work the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) federal funding that fuels so many library program across the country. LSTA funding is absolutely critical to quality public library support in Vermont.

LSTA in Vermont is used to support:

DOL library consultant program for public libraries
Summer reading program for children and teens
Cooperative Interlibrary loan program with UVM so that citizens can borrow from UVM collections
Vermont Automated Library System (VALS)
Continuing education program for public library employees
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Resource sharing grants for public and academic libraries
First Wednesday programs in nine public libraries
Vermont Online Library databases

Ask Congressman Welch to support this bill for full reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the LSTA funding. See below for more information.

Rockingham Free Public Library – Bellows Falls, VT (Windham County)

Join our friendly, experienced team and never be bored! We have many opportunities for volunteers here in our beautiful 100-year-old Carnegie Library. All the usual tasks of shelving, shelf-reading and book donations; programs and publicity assistance, general clerical and cleaning.
We also have need of volunteers with experience in cataloging, book processing and…. fundraising!

Call or email:
Wendy O’Connell
rockpub@sover.net
802-463-4270

Check Out the Vermont Library Substitute Pool

In our rural state, many libraries are staffed by a single staff person, or by a very small staff. This can make it a challenge to accomplish large projects within a short time period, have an extended vacation, or take advantage of a professional development opportunity. Also, those librarians who work part-time sometimes would like to expand their experience, network and income with additional work within their profession.

The Vermont Library Association (VLA), Green Mountain Library Consortium (GMLC) and Vermont Consortium of Academic Libraries (VCAL) are excited to introduce the Vermont Library Substitute Pool!

E-Vermont Citizens in a Connected Age Workshop

Vermont librarians are welcome at the Citizens in a Connected Age workshop, December 11 at Castleton State College. A similar workshop will be given March 5, 2011 in Lyndonville. Vermont public librarians attending will receive 5 technology certification credits after completing an evaluation. Joanna Cummings of the Snelling Center for Government organized the workshop as the e-Vermont Community Coordinator. Libraries do not need to be part of the e-Vermont grant to attend.