Category Archives: Advocacy

Advocacy Committee & Related News and Events

Vermont Library Freedom to Read Statement

Intellectual freedom is the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is one of the core values of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society; it promotes access to information and guides the defense against censorship.

In 1953, the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers jointly released The Freedom to Read Statement. This statement reminded us that, “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack” (ALA, 2004). Now, seventy years later, a resurgence of attacks on the freedom to read again threatens our democracy. Calls for book bans, the adoption of unconstitutional legislation, and campaigns to criminalize librarians for distributing materials protected by the First Amendment threaten our fundamental liberties.

Vermont librarians are joining together to emphatically reaffirm their commitment to the values expressed in the American Library Association’s intellectual freedom documents, including The Freedom to Read Statement. We believe all Vermonters deserve free access to materials that function as windows and mirrors, both reflecting individuals’ experiences and providing expanded, diverse views of the world (Bishop, 1990). We also believe that people are only truly free when they can read freely.

Jointly issued by the governing boards of the Vermont School Library Association and the Vermont Library Association, January 2024.

REFERENCES

American Library Association. “The Freedom To Read Statement.” ALA Advocacy, 2004,
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement

Bishop, Rudine Simms. “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, vol. 6, no. 3, 1990.
https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

Procedure for Developing a Vermont Library Association Issue Statement

1 – Any Vermont Library Association (VLA) member may propose that VLA develop a statement around an issue by emailing their suggestion to VLA’s executive committee. Executive committee member names and emails are on this page: https://vermontlibraries.org/about/directory

2 – The executive committee votes on this, assigns someone to draft the statement, and alerts the entire board and the person who submitted the suggestion that this is in progress. The board has three to five days to finalize the vote. If the executive committee votes not to write a statement on the suggested issue, the president will email the person who made the suggestion with the reason.

3 – Once the statement is drafted, it is reviewed by the entire board with suggestions to the author. The entire board has three to five days to comment on the draft.

4 – A second draft based on edits from the suggestions is shared with the entire membership for comment. The membership is given five to seven business days to comment on the draft.

5 – If there are no significant changes to the substance of the statement based on edits from the comment period then the statement is final. If there are significant changes to the substance of the statement based on edits from the comment period then the revised statement should be approved by a majority of the board. The board has three working days to approve.

6 – The final statement is emailed by the president to the digital communications coordinator/s (https://vermontlibraries.org/about/directory) for posting to VLA’s website and social media accounts; and to all current members. The board may decide to also issue a press release.

7 – These timelines are guidelines and may be adjusted due to unforeseen issues.

Informational press releases may be published by a variety of section leaders without prior approval.

Adopted by the Vermont Library Association Board of Trustees, November 2023

Vermont Library Association Statement on Critical Race Theory

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) ​stands firmly against any legislation that restricts or impedes any education on Racism, “Divisive” Concepts, Racial Injustice, Black American History, and Diversity Education in libraries and educational institutions. This includes any books, resources, curriculum, or programming that libraries provide. Furthermore, we believe that it is imperative to call attention to portions of our history that have been previously omitted, misrepresented, distorted or misstated.

VLA is committed to upholding intellectual freedom in all of our libraries: Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Academic Libraries. People must be able to access information without censorship and without fear that their intellectual inquiries are illegal. It is only through the vigorous upholding of freedoms of speech and inquiry that we can truly be a democratic nation that strives not only to understand its history, but to learn and become better from it.

Libraries and librarians have had a long history of upholding all forms of intellectual freedom. The current attacks and efforts to use legislation to suppress it are alarming, and are reaching unprecedented numbers throughout our country. Critical thinking and civil discourse for all points of view must be protected and encouraged in a democracy. Any attack on these tenets is an affront to the rights of all people and is intended to work against the values of equity, diversity and inclusion for which all libraries strive for.

VLA is committed to supporting our librarians and the communities they serve. We pledge to defend, assist, and stand with our members if and when they are challenged. Furthermore, we pledge to continue to educate our communities on the importance of holding sacred the freedoms that the United States of America was built on, not only as an inalienable right, but as foundational to our democracy and our efforts to be an example of a true, thriving democracy throughout the world.

The Vermont Library Association is in agreement with, and stands firmly with, the American Library Association’s Statement on Censorship of Information Addressing Racial Injustice, Black American History, and Diversity Education of August 18, 2021.

The Vermont Library Association is in agreement with, and stands firmly with, the American Library Association’s Statement on Book Censorship of November 29, 2021.

Additional resources on Critical Race Theory

PDF of this statement formatted as a press release.

Legislative Breakfast Materials!

The Vermont Library Association’s Government Relations committee has revised materials that libraries can use to host regional legislative breakfasts, as a way of outreaching to your representatives and senators in the Vermont statehouse and apprising them of the contributions libraries make to Vermont and Vermonters. You can find suggested instructions along with a sample invitation, agenda, press release, talking points, FAQ’s and more here:

Read more→

UPDATE: Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

This is an important message from the Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) about the public hearings that start today for the Vermont State Education Quality Standards. Secretary of Education Armando Vilaseca has stated that the language that VSLA proposed for the new standards will be included in the new document. Here are his exact words:

“I wanted to make sure that the librarians that you all come in contact with understand that we agree that the current language of not including librarians in the initial rules was not correct. We (AOE) also agree with the language suggestions you and others made at our meeting.”

This means that VSLA no longer needs librarians and library advocates to state their argument or plea to add wording to the Vermont Quality Education Standards.

If you do choose to come out and support school librarians in Vermont at the upcoming public hearings, here’s a supportive script:

My name is _____ and I work at _____School. I am representing the ___ librarians, ___ teachers, ___ parents and ___ community members that are here tonight. We would like tothank you for providing these important Education Quality Standards for the students in Vermont schools and for accepting the language that Vermont school librarians have suggested be included in the standards. We are happy that you have acknowledged our contributions to the Vermont education and we will continue to celebrate the good work we do with the students in our schools. Thank you.

Please keep it short and positive!

Call to Action! Advocacy for School Libraries & Librarians

The Vermont School Library Association (VSLA) needs your support! Please plan to attend one of the 3 public hearings about reinstating library language in the proposed Vermont Education Quality Standards. Stand up for Vermont students and their need for qualified professional librarians at their schools. Take colleagues with you, invite teachers, parents, and other community members who support the valuable work that school librarians do.  Add your voice to the public comments on this issue and ask others to add theirs.  This is how change will happen.

  • October 8, 6 p.m., Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Rd., Brattleboro, Multipurpose Room
  • October 17, 4 p.m., Lake Region Union High School, 317 Lake Region Rd., Orleans, Multipurpose Room
  • October 21, 4 p.m., Champlain Valley Union High School, 369 CVU Rd., Hinesburg, Room 140

If you have any questions, please contact VSLA President-Elect Denise Wentz.Thank you in advance for your part in this advocacy initiative!

CANCELLED – VT & NH Library Leadership Day

The joint VLA/NHLA Library Leadership Workshop featuring ALA-President Maureen Sullivan planned for May 6th in Manchester, NH has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict with Maureen’s calendar. At this time, there are no plans to reschedule this workshop. VLA and NHLA will continue to explore other partnership opportunities that will benefit our members by enriching our profession and strengthening our libraries.

Maureen Sullivan, ALA President and Simmons management guru, will once again lead a Vermont/New Hampshire Library Leadership Day. Save the date—Monday, May 6, 2013. This year the Manchester City Library in New Hampshire is hosting the event—so start thinking carpools. Library Leadership Day is sponsored by the Vermont Library Association and the New Hampshire Library Association.

Outreach Coordinator Meet & Greet

Hello Fellow Outreach Coordinators,

I am the Outreach Coordinator at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.  I’ve been thinking for quite a while that I’d love the opportunity to gather with other Outreach folks to find out how other libraries provide outreach and also to exchange ideas.  I am taking a page from the book of our children’s librarian, Jane Napier.  She coordinates a state-wide meeting of children’s librarians twice a year.  I am proposing to meet on Tuesday, October  9th, here at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier from 10 – 12:30.  We could continue the discussion over lunch at one of Montpelier’s fine eateries.

Please let me know if you can attend by September 28th.  My email is: khloutreach@kellogghubbard.org  or phone – 223.4665

Looking forward to meeting and exchanging ideas!

All the best,
Rachael Grossman

Vermont’s Digital Future Conference

Tuesday May 8, 2012 from
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Champlain College, South Willard Street, Burlington VT 05401

Broadband connections can open opportunities in all sectors and for all Vermonters. On May 8th, join leaders from around the state to set the path for using Internet technology to create jobs, strengthen our communities, reinvent schools and increase citizen participation.

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