Looking for a Mentor? Want to Be a Mentor?

ALA has launched MentorConnect in ALA Connect so you can find or become a mentor.

MentorConnect (”MC”) allows ALA members to create mentoring profiles that highlight their expertise and experience. After they’ve joined MC, ALA members can search for a mentor using a variety of criteria (gender, type of library, ethnicity, etc.) and request mentorship. Once created, the mentorship is tracked within MC, with a space for providing and archiving feedback. The system will prompt mentors and mentorees every few months to ensure they are staying in touch.

To learn all about this new service, see Mentoring Starter Questions and Mentoring and MentorConnect FAQ at (http://www.students.ala.org/studentmemberblog/?p=344)

Don Wood
Program Officer
Chapter Relations Office
American Libraries Association
dwood@ala.org
1-800-545-2433, ext. 2429

New England Library Association Annual Conference

NEW ENGLAND LIBRARY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 18-20 2009 – CONNECTICUT CONVENTION CENTER

Annual Conference Offerings & Registration

NELA Membership Registration

Dear Colleagues,

I don’t want you to miss the next New England Library Association (NELA) Annual Conference this coming October 18 – 20. The fall is a busy time for us all but it is also a good chance to refresh and renew by planning time to attend the conference.

We offer many presentations, events and exhibitors that represent a variety of interests. Here are just a few:

Jane Austen for Smarties

Hello all, please post the information below in your libraries – all are welcome! [if you want a proper flyer in a pdf file for display, or if this does not come to you in a readable format, let me know, or if you want to be on our permanent mailing list – email me privately at books@bygonebooksvermont.com]

Thank you,
Best,
Deb Barnum
JASNA-Vermont

Bygone Books
PO Box 5034
Burlington VT 05402
802-343-2294

email: books@bygonebooksvermont.com
website: www.bygonebooksvermont.com
blog: http://bygonebooks.wordpress.com
JASNA-VT: http://janeausteninvermont.wordpress.com

Red Clover Conference is Coming!

The annual Red Clover conference will be held on October 7 at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee. David Wiesner, author/illustrator of three Caldecott winning titles will be the keynote speaker. Don’t miss it! For details and to register go to:

http://www.mothergooseprograms.org

Grants for Book Clubs Serving Underserved Teens

The American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) are now accepting applications for the next round of Great Stories CLUB grants. Electronic applications for the reading and discussion series will be accepted through Nov. 2 at www.ala.org/greatstories. Funding was provided for this program by Oprah’s Angel Network.

Great Tips & Discussions for Non-Profit Boards

http://www.blueavocado.org/node/429

Rob Geiszler
Regional Consultant
Vermont Department of Libraries
271 North Main Street
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 786-3839

Great Tips & Discussions for Non-Profit Boards

Blue Avacado is a newsletter for non-profit boards. I encourage librarians and board members to subscribe. Lots of good ideas are discussed. This happens to be a good article dealing with board members who don’t do anything. Share it with your board chair:
http://www.blueavocado.org/node/429
Rob Geiszler
Regional Consultant
Vermont Department of Libraries
271 North Main Street
Rutland, VT 05701
(802) 786-3839

Department of Libraries Submits ARRA Broadband Grant Application

The Vermont Department of Libraries has submitted an application for $601,753 in Federal grant funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program for Public Computing Centers. According to Martha Reid, State Librarian, the BTOP grant awards will be announced in November. “If we receive this grant award, thousands of Vermonters will have access to free computer training at a variety of locations around the state and four of our busiest public libraries will be able to purchase additional computers for public use.”

American Heritage Preservation Grants – Funding Available from IMLS and Bank of America

The Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) can help you apply for a preservation grant available from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation for your institution’s paper-based collections.

American Heritage Preservation Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $3,000 to assist in the preservation of endangered and fragile American art works, rare books, scientific specimens, and historical documents (photographs, maps, deeds, etc.). Objects should be of significance within the heritage of the community. Targeted to meet the needs of small to medium size organizations, these grants are available to fully fund projects in three areas: treatment of library, museum or archival collections; improvement of collections storage; and environmental improvement of collections.

Annual Board Retreat 2009

Vermont Library Association Board Retreat
August 5, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
St. Michael’s College

DRAFT MINUTES

Present: Marti Fiske (Vice-President/Presiding), Judah Hamer (Past President), Brenda Ellis (Past Secretary), Sharon Thayer (Membership chair), Kip Roberson (NELA – New England Library Assoc. Rep), Nancy Wilson (ALA Councilor); Larraby Fellows (outgoing CSL- College & Special Libraries), Jill Coffrin (Outgoing Youth Libraries Section), Jane Napier (President – YLS), Grace Greene (DOL/VLS Awards Committee), Amy Grasmick (Personnel), Lucinda Walker (Public Libraries), Helen Linda (Advocacy), Deb Bullock Spackman (Government Relations)

Meeting was called to order at 10:05 a.m.