Workforce Reduction at the Vermont Department of Libraries

To: The Vermont Library Community
From: Martha Reid, State Librarian
Date: March 17, 2009
Subject: Workforce Reduction at the Department of Libraries

The Department of Libraries has received calls and emails from many of you concerning state budget cuts. I hope this memo will help answer some of your questions and concerns:

Last Wednesday Secretary of Administration Neale F. Lunderville was joined by Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee, Human Services Secretary Rob Hofmann, and Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wood at a press briefing to discuss state workforce reduction proposals and the Administration’s counter offer to the Vermont State Employees Association (VSEA.) As you know, the proposed position cuts are spread across state government and will have serious effects on services to Vermont citizens. The total workforce reduction plan for the Department of Libraries includes the loss of 4 positions: 3 positions proposed for FY10 and 1 position in FY09.

Please note: this is not an announcement of regional library closings.

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Volunteer at the Vermont Library Conference!

As you all know, registration has opened for the 2009 Vermont Library Conference! Speaking Up! Advocacy for Libraries will be held on May 12 & 13 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center.

In order to make a great conference go smoothly, we are in need of a few extra volunteers to help on-site during the 2 days. From helping out with registration, assisting the bookseller, and making traffic flow, we have jobs small to large that we hope you can fill.

We are holding a VLC volunteer luncheon on Saturday, March 21st at the Sheraton. If you are serious about volunteering at the conference, please join us! RSVP to Sara Goldstein (sgoldstein@etsd.org) or Barbara Doyle-Wilch (bdoylewi@middlebury.edu) by Thursday, March 19th.

If you are interested in volunteering but unable to attend the luncheon, please contact us.

Thank you for your support – we look forward to a terrific conference this year!

Sincerely,

Barbara and Sara

Grant Opportunity Reminder from NEDCC

2009 NEH PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANT (PAG)
Application Deadline: May 14, 2009
NEDCC CAN OFFER SUPPORT FOR YOUR PAG APPLICATION

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH) will award PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE GRANTS (PAG) of up to $6,000 to small and mid-sized institutions for preservation planning and implementing small projects that strengthen collections care overall.

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WCAX interviews Williston library

Try to catch the WCAX (Channel 3) news tonight at 6 pm.  Darren Perron  and a film crew spent two hours at the Dorothy Alling Memorial Library this morning interviewing a Williston patron, Marty Reid and myself about library use during tough economic times.  Our patron, Tom LeBarge, had lost his job and used the library to work on and send out his resume and save money on recreational reading.  The good news is that he is now working again.  It will most likely run in the first 15 minutes.  If a “hotter” news story comes up it will run Monday night.  It will be archived on the WCAX website after the showing, www.wcax.com .

Showcase your library at VLC 2009!

Showcase your library at the “Celebrate Vermont Libraries” party at this year’s Vermont Library Conference

At this year’s conference in Burlington we are planning a big celebration of libraries from 5:30 – 7pm on Tues. May 12th (1st day of the conference). We need displays that will highlight the importance of all kinds of Vermont libraries for conference attendees and guests (legislators, gov’t officials, trustees, library friends, principals, etc.) to view while conversing with each other and enjoying food, drink, and music. We welcome all kinds of ideas that showcase the positive benefits of libraries and what libraries contribute to our communities, such as how libraries have touched the lives of someone, a child, a senior, a community group, visitors to our state, etc.

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Digital Video Production Workshop

Adults (ages 16 and up)

Saturday and Sunday, March 21 and 22, 10:00am-4:00pm

Spend a weekend with media professional Adam Walker who will immerse you in the digital video world and help you to promote your ideas with a video message. Learn about camera controls, different motion techniques, creative angles, tripods, lighting, and iMovie video editing software while creating a 1 minute public service announcement. Then, learn how to post your production onto the YouTube website to share with the world. At the end of the workshop, family and friends will be invited to see the finished products! Bring your own video camera or use one of ours. All other supplies included. Please come to class prepared with at least two ideas for your public service announcement and bring your own bag lunch. Check out www.dogooder.tv for inspiration.

$160 for non-members
$126 for members
http://www.helenday.com/education/adult-classes-sign-up#advideo

VLTA PROGRAMS AT 2009 Town Officers Educational Conferences

The Vermont Library Trustees Association (VLTA), the trustees section of the Vermont Library Association, in conjunction with the Department of Libraries will again offer a series of workshops for trustees and librarians during the spring Town Officers Educational Conferences. TOECs are sponsored by the Vermont Institute for Government, with organizational help from the UVM Extension Service which will mail a registration packet to each library in spring, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact your regional librarian.

To register for any of the TOECs, find the form online at http://regonline.com/2009toec $60 online cost includes morning coffee and lunch. Register online and save $5.00 per registrant!

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Times Argus Query: Do you circulate unusual items at your library?

Hello – I’m doing an informal poll of several libraries in Vermont to find out if many have unusual materials other than books and video/DVDs to check out. For example, I recently learned that Kellogg-Hubbard in Montpelier has a “kill-a-watt” electricity usage monitor that patrons can check out. I know many libraries have digital media players for circulation. What else is out there that’s unusual? It might be a story for the Rutland Herald and Times Argus’ Sunday book page, depending on what I learn.

If your library circulates nontraditional items, I’d love to hear about them and how long you’ve been doing it or any special challenges they pose. Thanks for your time.

Ruth Hare
Editor, Vermont Sunday Magazine section
The Rutland Herald and The Times Argus
(802) 479-0191, ext. 1152
ruth.hare@timesargus.com