Category Archives: News

News of interest to the Vermont library community

Attorney General’s opinion and other new statute guidelines.(revised)

What follows is the gist of the Attorney General’s opinion on the new confidentiality statute.

  1. Public libraries must keep records of patrons 16 or older confidential unless the patron waives that right.
  2. Public libraries have “limited discretion” expanding the scope of confidentiality of library records. The opinion says they must disclose the records of patrons under 16 if requested by parents.

    3. Read more→

Attorney General's opinion and other new statute guidelines.(revised)

What follows is the gist of the Attorney General’s opinion on the new confidentiality statute.

  1. Public libraries must keep records of patrons 16 or older confidential unless the patron waives that right.
  2. Public libraries have “limited discretion” expanding the scope of confidentiality of library records. The opinion says they must disclose the records of patrons under 16 if requested by parents.

    3. Read more→

New Confidentiality Statute

Librarians have many questions about the new Confidentiality Statute that becomes effective July 1, 2008.

State Librarian, Sybil McShane asked the Attorney General to review the law in reference to existing statutes and in consideration of some of the questions we have. Once the AG’s office has reported back we will provide more specific guidelines for implementation to all VLA members, VT Libraries and Trustees. VLAIFC will offer policy writing workshops throughout the state for the above mentioned groups in the near future.

An updated sample public library privacy and confidentiality policy is available on the website as part of the Intellectual Freedom Toolkit. It can also be found at www.sherburnelibrary.org.

Keep watching the VLA website for more information.

Gail Weymouth

VLAIFC chair

802 422 9765

New librarians in Vermont public libraries

New public librarians in the last few months include the following. Send your public library additions to the list for a routine posting to Amy Howlett, amy.howlett@mail.dol.state.vt.us

Mary Wheeler, Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield

Susan Smolinski, Arvin A. Brown Public library, Richford

Mary Moser Kashner, Pawlet Public Library

Thelma Georgeson, R. K. Kittay Public Library,Rupert

Michelle Hayes, children’s librarian,Whiting Library, Chester

Jane Napier, children’s librarian, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier

Célina Houlné, director, Rockingham Free Public Library, Bellows Falls

Melissa Worden, Lydia Taft Pratt Library, Dummers

VLA 2008 Annual Meeting Highlights

The VLA Annual Meeting took place on May 13, 2008 at the Vermont Library Conference in Burlington. The results of the election are:

  • Vice-President/President Elect – (1 year each) John Payne

  • Treasurer (2 years) – Wynne Browne

  • NELA Representative (2 years) Kip Roberson

The approved minutes of the May 2007 Annual Meeting and the Year End Budget Report 2007 have been posted (under Publications – Meeting minutes). The ballot for the Proposed Constitution and Bylaws changes will go out next week. Those members with email addresses on file will receive their ballot electronically. All other members will be sent a paper ballot. The deadline to vote is June 10th. VLA sections will be posting their annual reports soon if they have not done so already. The Government Relations Committee Report and the Intellectual Freedom Committee Report have already posted theirs.

Updated Slate for VLA Election

We have found a candidate to run for Vice-President / President elect.  John Payne of St. Michael’s has agreed to run.  A revised ballot can be found here : official-warning.pdf.  As always, additional nominations for all open offices may be taken from the floor.  – Brenda Ellis, VLA Secretary