Category Archives: Events

Upcoming events of interest to the Vermont library community.

Vermont Independent Media Conversation: July 12th in Montpelier

Some great things are going on in media among us and around us here in the green mountains. It’s not surprising for us to have fertile ground to till in the area of independent media, but what if we stopped, just for a moment, to consider where we’re headed – together. Please join other interested people to do just that on the afternoon of July 12th in downtown Montpelier.

Are there opportunities, needs, desires we share? You are invited to an initial conversation – a brainstorming session, perhaps – to talk about the future and the now. And if you think there are others who should be invited, please pass along this invitation. All are welcome.

Vermont Independent Media Conversation
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Montpelier City Hall
1:30-4:00pm

Agenda in development
1. Introductions

2. Some questions to address:Does independence mean anarchy? How can independent Vermont media outlets work together?
What are the assets we currently share? How can independent media assist Vermont communities building and maintaining community links? How do we increase real news about communities? Can we move toward collaboration in creative ways?

3. What should our next steps be?

Want more information? Have questions? Email scottc@retn.org.
Or just show up and bring things up.

If you know anyone who should be invited to this conversation, please ask them to join us.

Scott Campitelli
Executive Director & Program Manager
RETN – Regional Educational Technology Network
http://www.retn.org
scottc@retn.org
ph – 802.654.7980 ext 26
media center at:
208 Flynn Avenue, Suite 2K
Burlington, Vermont

John Swan Lecture 2011 – Christopher M. Finan

The John Swan Intellectual Freedom Lecture will be held Thursday, August 25 at 4 pm in Killington. It will be held either at the Sherburne Library or the Killington Events Hall depending on the size of the audience. Chris Finan will speak about his book From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of Free Speech in America in which he speaks about VLA being the first sign of hope in the fight against the USA PATRIOT act. He just received the very prestigious Freedom to Read Foundation Roll of Honor Award of 2011 that will given during the Opening Session of ALA Annual  in New Orleans. More about Chris below:

Read more→

Louisa May Alcott Arrives @ Brownell Library, Essex Junction

On Wednesday, June 29, starting 5:45, Brownell Library invites everyone for Louisa May Alcott-style festivity, Louisa May Alcott:  Through Her Eyes.  For those who come even earlier, there is croquet on the lawn and games that readers recall from the Camp Laurence chapter of Little Women.  For instance, in Rigmarole, “One person begins a story, any nonsense [s/he] likes, and tells as long a s/he pleases, only taking care to stop short at some exciting point, when the next takes it up and does the same.”

Read more→

The Musical World of Jane Austen

Hello all in Vermont Libraries Land,

Our next Jane Austen in Vermont Gathering is on 5 June 2011 at Vermont College of Fine Arts Chapel in Montpelier. We are honored to present Dr. William Tortolano, Professor Emeritus of Fine Arts at Saint Michael’s College, in an organ recital and short lecture on “The Musical World of Jane Austen.”

It is open to the public, pay at the door: $10./ person; $5./ student. If you would like a flyer for posting in your library, please email me.

If any of you are in the area that weekend, please join us!

Best regards,
Deb Barnum
JASNA-Vermont Regional Coordinator

Jane Austen Society of North America: www.jasna.org
JASNA-Vermont:  JASNAVermont@gmail.com
blog: http://janeausteninvermont.wordpress.com

The National Digital Newspaper Program

Thursday, April 21, 5:00 pm
Special Collections Reading Room
Bailey/Howe Library, University of Vermont, Burlington

Deborah Thomas, Program Coordinator for the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP) at the Library of Congress, will talk about the effort to digitize historically significant newspapers from all over the United States and make them freely available through “Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers,” a web site hosted by the Library of Congress.

Read more→

National Library Week – Spread the Word


Vermont Library Association, Vermont School Library Association and Vermont Department of Libraries have partnered to create a state-wide advertising campaign during National Library Week which will kick off this Sunday April 10. Three ads will appear in all the regional papers this week.  Television commercials will run on WPTZ during the Today Show, WCAX during the 6-7 am news hour, will be available to all public access channels in Vermont and are posted on the VLA YouTube Channel.

Please help spread the word about the campaign and the great services you have to offer.

  • Contact your local public access channel and ask them to make sure run the Vermont libraries PSAs that are available through the public access consortium.

**Note: The article by Chris Bohjalian will appear in the Burlington Free Press and on his blog Sunday morning. The link to his blog article will go live Sunday morning.

Thank you for your help in getting the word out.

Marti Fiske, President, Vermont Library Association