Call Your Senators NOW to Save $200 Million For Libraries

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED – CALL NOW TO SAVE $200 MILLION FOR Amendment to cut libraries out of broadband package in Senate stimulus bill

Take Action!

Calls to ALL Senators are needed IMMEDIATELY to protect $200 million for libraries, community computing centers and related institutions in the original language of the Senate stimulus bill, H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. We have just been advised that Senators Kent Conrad (ND-D) and Lindsey Graham (SC-R) are expected to introduce Senate Amendment 501 which would strip funding for libraries and broadband to put additional funding in FDIC. If introduced, the vote could take place this afternoon.

The message is: keep the $200 million for libraries and broadband in H.R. 1 – defeat amendment 501. Libraries provide information on jobs, employment skills, and all other types of job-seeking information. More people are using libraries during these difficult times and the demand for broadband is greater than ever.

Senator Patrick Leahy – http://leahy.senate.gov/

Senator Bernie Sanders – http://sanders.senate.gov/

Call for Nominations for Vermont Library Association Awards for 2009

There are so many fabulous 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 extraordinary and deserved to be recognized statewide. Now is the time for you to think about who VLA should recognize this year at the Vermont Library Conference, and nominate those deserving colleagues.

VLA is now accepting nominations for two awards:

1) The 2009 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.

2)The 2009 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.

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Free Computer Monitors

Ashgate Publishing Company in Burlington is giving away some older model computer monitors that are in great condition. They are available free of charge, but must be picked up at their office. Please contact Alyssa Stevens at Ashgate for further information. The monitors available are:

  • 2 – Proview PS920F-1 19″ CRT Monitor Purchased 2003-2004
  • 1 – Viewsonic E70 17″ CRT Monitor Purchased 2003
  • 3 – Viewsonic G90F-3 19″ CRT Monitor Purchased 2005
  • 1 – Princeton E0700 17″ CRT Monitor Purchased 2001

They are the bulkier models so they would need to be taken away as soon as possible as they are sitting on the floor in peoples offices.

Alyssa Stevens
Ashgate Publishing Co.
101 Cherry Street; Ste 420
Burlington, VT., 05401
www.ashgate.com
astevens@ashgate.com
802-865-7641 /fx 802-865-7847

NETSL Award 2009–Last Call for Nominations

Deadline for nominations is February 4, 2009

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 annual NETSL conference to be held on April 17, 2009 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

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Free Webinar: TechSoup for Public Libraries–Donated Software and More!

Through TechSoup.org, public libraries can receive brand-new software donated by top companies for use on public access computers. For example, Microsoft Office Pro 2007 is available for a $20 admin fee or Vista for a $10 admin fee.

Not only can you get donated software, you can get articles, a community forum, free webinars and more! Attend this webinar and learn how your library can benefit from everything that TechSoup has to offer.

Brenda Hough of TechSoup’s MaintainIT Project, will interview Becky Heil from Dubuque County Library in Farley, Iowa and Brett Fisher from Flathead Country Library in Kalispell, Montana to learn how they use TechSoup and what advice they’d give to people new to TechSoup.

Space is limited, sign up today!

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2009
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm Pacific (Noon Mountain/1 PM Central/2 PM Eastern)
Registration: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/1nzgwjy5d05wj
Information on TechSoup: http://www.techsoup.org/stock

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VT Libraries Listserv change

After much discussion over the course of the year, the VLA Board voted to change the default reply for the VTLibraries listserv to Reply to Sender.  Messages sent to the listserv will now automatically have a footer that more easily gives the listserv address so that anyone wishing to reply to the whole list (currently 271 people), can easily do so by simply copying and pasting the list address into the To: field of their message.  This change will eliminate accidental replies to the list intended only for the sender, but it still allows people to reply to everyone on the list if they so choose.   See instructions for joining the listserv if you are not yet on the list. 

ALA Councilor’s Report, Tuesday, January 27th

Tuesday is our busiest council day. We began the morning with our second council session which was taken up mostly with discussion of a report on e participation. A detailed survey and report was created encouraging more remote member participation. I expect that most of the report will be adopted and suggestions implemented after associated costs are determined. Another report which was discussed and adopted was Core Competencies of Librarianship.

Following the council meeting the chapter councilors from more than 30 states met to discuss state and ALA issues. Much of the discussion centered around communication between the Chicago Chapter Office and the ALA Washington Office particularly as it pertains to the inclusion of public libraries in the economic stimulus package. General sentiment seemed to be that states did not have much input into what ALA decided to lobby for in regards to public libraries. The discussion will continue.

After the chapter meeting I attended a council forum and spoke up about a resolution to require wireless capability in all conference hotels. I am particularly interested in this issue as I enjoy blogging at conferences. A lot of discussion took place about a resolution to encourage peace in the Middle East in order to preserve library resources from being destroyed in conflict zones.

Following the council forum I went directly to a chapter council reception at the Denver Public Library. The building is beautiful and the view from the seventh floor stunning. Most interesting was a round, hand-crafted table in a pyramid shaped meeting room which was where the G8 leaders met in 1997. We sat in the seats where Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, etc. sat and discussed world issues.

As always you may email me at readmorenow@gmail.com

 

Nancy Wilson