ALA in Chicago

Hello from Chicago! I am happy to share my first report from the ALA annual conference with you all. We received the news today that, despite the economic downturn, registrations for this conference have broken attendance records.

Our first council meeting is about to begin. On the agenda are a number of resolutions and reports. The ALA executive director reported on efforts to increase broadband throughout the country and to help libraries to claim some of the stimulus money available. One piece of news that Vermont librarians might find interesting is that the Washington Office will not be holding a library legislation day in Washington in 2010. Instead, because the ALA annual conference is in Washington, DC, there will be a rally on the mall with banners from each state on Tuesday. Vermont needs to decide what should be on their banner and let the ALA Washington Office know.

A traveling display that Vermont libraries might be interested in is “Harry Potter’s World”– information is at www.ala.org/harrypotter. A new publication available through PLA might also be on interest. 100 Best Books to Read in Kindergarten is available at www.store.ala.org. YA librarians may want to check out the Teens Top Ten List at www.ala.org/teenstopten.

Tonight I attend the 40^th Anniversary of the Freedom to Read Gala at the Art Institute of Chicago. More tomorrow!

Your ALA Councilor,

Nancy Wilson

Live Demos of Koha and Evergreen Open Source Library System

Posted on behalf of Mary White, Director of the Howe Library (Hanover, NH)

To all:

The Howe Library in Hanover, NH is seriously looking at Koha with LibLime and Evergreen with Equinox. We intend to send out our RFP in July and hope to make a decision in September.

With that in mind, we have made arrangements to have live demos at the Howe Library and wish to invite any NH and VT (and others) librarians that wish to come. It wasn’t easy to get them to come but we assured them that many libraries, not just the Howe Library, are interested.

Updated Library Use Calculator

The new version looks and works the same as the previous version, it’s just easier for libraries to implement. Instead of having to muck around with coding, libraries can now embed it in their website web 2.0-style, just by copy/pasting a bit of code (like a YouTube video).

http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/librarycalculator/

Brian Herzog is asking folks to “Please check out the new calculator, and
add it to your library website – let me know if you need help.”

http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/06/30/demonstrating-the-value-of-libraries

You can contact him here:
http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/contact

Application deadline for Hathaway Award (Vermont Historical Society)

Please note that the deadline for receiving nominations for the 2009 Hathaway Award is coming up fast on August 1. The Publications and Research Committee of the Vermont Historical Society would like you to think about potential candidates, and to encourage them or their representatives to submit an application. The Hathaway Award is given annually for an outstanding contribution to the field of Vermont history produced in the previous calendar year, and includes a $1,000 prize. Projects may include, but are not limited to, publications, exhibits, works of art, documentary films, radio programs, websites, and dramatic works. Additional information and the application (attached here) are available on the VHS website. If you have questions, please contact Alan Berolzheimer at 802-649-2857 or bercress@sover.net.

ACRL NEC Scholarly Communication 101 Workshop

What: Scholarly Communication 101 Workshop
Who: Sponsored by the ACRL NEC Scholarly Communication SIG
Where: Hosted by the Dartmouth College Library, Hanover NH
When: Thursday, July 23rd from 9:30AM-3:00PM

Description: This free workshop is for librarians, academic computing specialists, and faculty with a special interest in an introduction to these issues.

What you will learn:

Copy rights and author rights
Access and economics of scholarly publishing
Evolving models of scholarly and scientific publishing

VLA Awards for 2009

At the 2009 Vermont Library Conference, the Vermont Library Association presented awards to two outstanding Vermont librarians: Michael Roche and Amy Grasmick, and to one terrific trustee: Tina Rotella.

ALA Washington Office Webinar: Cracking the Congressional Code

Join us for an ALA Washington Office Webinar where Kristin Murphy (ALA Washington Office) and Stephanie Vance (Advocacy Guru), both survivors of Capitol Hill, explain many of the mysterious workings of Congress. Don’t know your appropriation from your authorization? Aren’t sure what a subcommittee markup is (or why you should care)? Wondering if a Continuing Resolution really is as boring as it sounds? This session will bring you up to speed on key Congressional activities, how they might impact libraries in the near future and, most important, what you can do about it. Come prepared to learn more about “Dear Colleagues,” “Cloture” and “Floor Proceedings” than you ever thought you would.

ACLU First Amendment Conference – Registration Deadline 6/23/09

MONTPELIER-“ The First Amendment is being asked to do more as technology transforms the way thoughts and beliefs are expressed, and free speech lines are questioned.

“Thought and Expression in a Changing World” is the topic of a day-long conference Monday, June 29 in South Burlington sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont.

Speakers will include Catherine Crump, an attorney with the National ACLU’s First Amendment Working Group, and Dan Barrett, staff attorney at the ACLU-VT. Other Vermont attorneys will participate on panels discussing specific cases and incidents, including recent controversies involving broadcast of the Al Jazeera-English channel on a local cable TV system and images placed on locally manufactured snowboards.

NELA Annual Conference

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Camila Alire, ALA President-Elect, will be joining us at the next New England Library Association (NELA) Annual Conference in October 2009. Dr. Alire will be leading a special ALA Forum on Sunday, October 18. Share your thoughts on how ALA should focus its efforts in the next five years. As her presidential initiatives, Dr. Alire will also be sharing her expertise and innovative ideas about Library Advocacy and Literacy in a presentation on Monday, October 19. View initiatives, biography and more on her official website.

SAVE THE DATE

“IT’S HAPPENING IN HARTFORD”
NELA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 18th 20, 2009
CONNECTICUT CONVENTION CENTER
NELA Annual Conference Preview

For those of you on Linkedin, a new networking group for the New England Library Association was started thanks to Joe Fox. Just type in NELA in the Search Groups field and you will find us. Please consider joining Linkedin and this new group to network and stay in touch with your fellow New England library workers.

NELA Counterparts 2009

This summer, the New England Library Association (NELA) presents a unique opportunity for all library workers to attend a mindful and meaningful mini-conference in the New England region. This is NELA Counterparts.

Counterparts 2009 is a two-day educational event for NELA members, state library association members, consortia members and any other interested persons. Scheduled for Thursday and Friday, July 16-17, 2009 on the Connecticut College (New London) campus.

For information on our Speaker, conference details and registration forms, please visit this link:
http://nelib.org/counterparts

Registrations will be accepted until June 30th. Confirmation, agenda and directions will be sent upon receipt of registration.