Category Archives: Public Libraries

Public Libraries Section & related news and events.

Upper Valley Library Tour November 15

On behalf of Traci Joy, director of Hartland Public Library and vice president of the Vermont Library Association’s Public Library Section, I would like to invite you to join us on a fun and exciting tour of Upper Valley libraries!  Said tour is to take place on Friday, November 15, (yes, short notice, I know, but you know how it is with these Vermont library directors [especially Traci and me], it’s like herding cats!  Wait, no, it’s more like having a cat as a comforting, purring companion who can give you a wifi password, reader’s advisory, and sew the stuffing back into your bean bag!)

Anyway, we’re going to kick off the 2024 Upper Valley Library Tour at Fairlee Library at 9:30 a.m. and eventually end up at Weathersfield Proctor at… some point.  Here is the order of our visits:

Fairlee Public Library. 221 US-5, Fairlee, VT 05045
Thetford Libraries (Latham Memorial Library), 16 Library Road, Thetford, VT 05074
Norwich Public Library, 368 Main St, Norwich, VT 05055
Hartland Public Library, 153 US-5, Hartland, VT 05048
Windsor Public Library, 43 State St, Windsor, VT 05089
Weathersfield Proctor Library, 5181 US-5, Ascutney, VT 05030

As former vice-president and now president of VLA’s Public Library Section, I’m a veteran of several library tours, and I can tell ya firsthand that it’s an excellent way to meet colleagues, explore libraries, and eat lunch in strange places!

Josh Worman
Director, Haston Library
Franklin, VT 05457
802-285-6505
librarian@franklinhastonlibraryvt.org

 

14 Vermont Libraries Awarded $15.9 Million in American Rescue Plan Act Monies

Fourteen Vermont public libraries will receive a total of $15.9 million in grant monies from the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The Vermont Department of Libraries, which is administering the monies, made the announcement in a press release on September 30, 2024. “The department conducted a needs assessment in 2023, which reflected a high need for maintenance, repairs, and modernization, including high-speed internet, in public library buildings, many of which are more than 100 years old,” said Vermont State Librarian and Commissioner of Libraries Catherine Delneo.  “Libraries serve as community hubs, and this money supports these crucial facilities and the Vermonters who will depend on them well into the future.” The funds were awarded through a highly competitive grant process open to all public libraries in Vermont.

The libraries awarded grants are:

Library: Alice M. Ward Memorial Library
City: Canaan
County: Essex
Award: $900,000
Project: Interior renovations for ADA compliance and improved patron centered useability; new HVAC system, new windows

Library: Arvin A. Brown Public Library
City: Richford
County: Franklin
Award: $174,502
Project: Renovations to increase useable library space, new HVAC system, electrical system updates, new windows, and interior renovations for ADA compliance

Library: Bennington Free Library
City: Bennington
County: Bennington
Award: $1,500,000
Project: Building envelope repairs with new windows and insulation, new HVAC system with electrical system updates

Library: Brandon Free Public Library Inc.
City: Brandon
County: Rutland
Award: $1,406,936
Project: Installation of four-story elevator with renovations and improvements for ADA compliance, repair or replace windows for energy efficiency

Library: Brooks Memorial Library
City: Brattleboro
County: Windham
Award: $1,472,501
Project: Asbestos abatement and building envelope repairs with interior and exterior renovations for ADA compliance

Library: Grand Isle Free Library
City: Grand Isle
County: Grand Isle
Award: $1,500,000
Project: New library building construction

Library: Groton Free Public Library
City: Groton
County: Caledonia
Award: $522,043
Project: Building expansion and envelope repairs with renovations for ADA compliance, new HVAC system

Library: Jeudevine Memorial Library
City: Hardwick
County: Caledonia
Award: $725,000
Project: Library expansion with two-story addition, four ADA compliant bathrooms, HVAC plumbing and electrical updates

Library: Johnson Public Library
City: Johnson
County: Lamoille
Award: $1,500,000
Project: Relocate building away from flood zone with new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Construct an addition to existing building. Renovations to egresses for ADA compliance

Library: Lawrence Memorial Library
City: Bristol
County: Addison
Award: $483,000
Project: New HVAC system, building envelope repairs for structural integrity, electrical and mechanical system updates

Library: Leach Public Library
City: Irasburg
County: Orleans
Award: $1,082,750
Project: Library expansion with two-story addition, new elevator, ADA compliant bathroom, and new HVAC system

Library: Middletown Springs Public Library
City: Middletown Springs
County: Rutland
Award: $1,293,384
Project: Renovate and upgrade library building infrastructure at new library site

Library: Salisbury Free Public Library
City: Salisbury
County: Addison
Award: $978,807
Project: Repair or replace HVAC system, new plumbing system, potable water, interior and exterior renovations for ADA compliance

Library: Wilder Memorial Library
City: Weston
County: Windsor
Award: $650,000
Project: Building expansion and envelope repairs, new HVAC and plumbing systems, electrical system updates, and new ADA compliant bathroom

 

 

 

 

Public Libraries Section Hosts Franklin County Library Tour

“Franklin County is chock full of wonderful public libraries,” said Catherine Goldsmith, president of the Vermont Library Association’s Public Libraries Section, and director of Starksboro Public Library. Goldsmith worked with Josh Worman, director of Haston Library, and the other libraries of FLARE — Franklin Libraries Are Really Excellent — to organize a tour of six Franklin County, Vermont, public libraries on Friday, Nov, 17, 2023.

The tour began at Enosburgh Public Library, and continued to Haston Library, Swanton Public Library, the Franklin/Grand Isle Bookmobile, St. Albans Free Library, and Fairfax Community Library. The following photos were provided by Josh Worman.

 

Enosburgh Public Library director Brenda Stanley (center) welcomes guests on the first stop of the tour.

Enosburgh Public Library director Brenda Stanley (center) welcomes guests on the first stop of the tour.

 

Tour participants gather in front of the Haston Library main desk.

Tour participants gather in front of the Haston Library main desk on the second stop of the tour.  Standing center is Kevin Unrath, Vermont Department of Libraries library consultant for library operations, who participated in the tour.

 

Swanton Public Library, the third stop on the tour, has a beautiful new mural outside the children’s area.

 

Hadley Priebe (right), executive director of the Franklin/Grand Isle Bookmobile (otherwise known as “Figgy”), explains the nuts and
bolts of running the service.

 

St. Albans Free Library director Becky Manahan tickles the ivories as Starksboro Public Library
director Catherine Goldsmith looks on. St. Albans library loans electric keyboards.

 

Last stop! Fairfax Community Library co-director Sue Wade talks to the assembled tour-goers about the challenges of running a community library.

Library tours provide library staff and library lovers the opportunity to see the buildings, meet the staff, and admire how these libraries do what Vermont libraries do, Goldsmith said.

VLA’s Public Libraries Section strives to extend the ability of libraries to provide equal access to and availability of literary and cultural resources by providing tools and resources to librarians. The section supports librarianship in the state through educational and social events.

Previous Tours:

Addison County Library Tour, September 30. 2022

Northeast Kingdom Library Tour, April 26, 2022

Franklin County Vermont Public Library Tour November 17

Franklin County is chock full of wonderful public libraries. Come see the buildings, meet the staff, and admire how these libraries do what Vermont libraries do. This is a great opportunity to meet other librarians and other library lovers. This Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, tour is organized by Josh Worman, director of Haston Library, and the other libraries of FLARE — Franklin Libraries Are Really Excellent. Youth librarians, you won’t want to miss the light-filled second floor spaces dedicated to youth at St. Albans Free Library.

10 a.m. Enosburgh Public Library
11 a.m.. Haston Library
12 p.m. Swanton Public Library
1 p.m. Lunch at St. Albans Free Library – BYO lunch or buy locally

2 p.m. St. Albans Free Library (with coffee bar – yay!)
3 p.m. Fairfax Community Library

Catherine Goldsmith
President, VLA Public Libraries Section
Director, Starksboro Public Library

Public Library Section Hosts Addison County Library Tour

Librarians from around Vermont gathered in Addison County on September 30 to tour four public libraries. “Last spring’s Vermont Library Association (VLA) library tour in the Northeast Kingdom was so much fun, we decided to do it again, this time in Addison County (mostly),” said Susan O’Connell, president of VLA’s Public Library Section and director of Craftsbury Public Library.

The group visited Starksboro Public Library in Starksboro Common, Russell Memorial Library in North Ferrisburgh, Bixby Memorial Free Library in Vergennes, and Charlotte Public Library (in Chittendon County).  Two of the libraries recently underwent expansion, one created a new teen space in an alcove, and two others have expanded their digital outreach to their communities.

Starksboro Public Library Director Catherine Goldsmith (far right) talks about the history of the library to tour participants.

Starksboro Public Library Director Catherine Goldsmith (far right) talks about the history of the library to tour participants.

 

Group of women standing in a library room with bookshelves and books.

Tour participants in Russell Memorial Library’s new building, which opened in October 2021.

 

Bixby Memorial Free Library Director Catherine Hays (center) greets VLA tour participants on the steps of the library in Vergennes.

Bixby Memorial Free Library Director Catherine Hays (center) greets VLA tour participants on the steps of the library in Vergennes.

 


The Vermont Library Association’s Public Libraries Section strives to extend the ability of libraries to provide equal access to and availability of literary and cultural resources by providing tools and resources to librarians. The section supports librarianship in the state through educational and social events.

Geek The Library!

Have you heard of “Geek the Library”?
It’s an awareness campaign for public libraries, from OCLC and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It is also coming to a close soon and we’d like all Vermont public libraries to learn about it and consider participating.
We are very happy to have Jennifer Powell of Geek the Library coming to Vermont to offer 2 sessions about Geek, April 30.
The first session will be held at the Dorothy Alling  Memorial Library in Williston  from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The second session that day will be Brown Public Library in Northfield from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
What is a “Geek the Library” campaign?

  • Geek the Library provides materials and ideas for your local campaigns but you are not required to do any particular activities – you can customize for your town and library. Even very small libraries can use the campaign and integrate it in simple ways to build awareness.
  • You need not have completed Turning the Page or other advocacy training in order to effectively use the campaign – 11 Vermont libraries have or are currently participating in Geek with or without other training. However, if you have completed Turning the Page, this is a terrific place to start in working community awareness of your library with very little project creation on your own.
  • This is a fun campaign, asking for nothing, but building awareness of all the library can offer the community and bringing them in to the conversation.

If your library decides to join the Geek the Library campaign you will receive:

  • Free planning resources-event strategy, gathering and organizing local information
  • Help with local advertising and events
  • Resources to download artwork and print marketing materials, as well as resources to resize templates or other materials, if needed.
  • GTL Web page that can be adopted for your individual library
  • Free PR and promotional material
  • Access to GTL database that includes marketing, data and other resources

To register for the workshops:
Geek the Library – Williston April 30, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, Williston from 10:00 to 12:00
Geek the Library – Northfield April 30, Brown Public Library, Northfield from 2:00 to 4:00
If you cannot attend one of the two half-day workshops but would like to participate in or to learn more about the “Geek the Library” campaign, please go to:

  1. Visit http://get.geekthelibrary.org/what-is-geek-the-library/

Remember that you can always join Geek the Library campaign on your own and still attend the workshop and talk to Jenny from Geek campaign.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Michael.roche@state.vt.us (802-748-3428)  or Christine.friese@state.vt.us  (802-828-2714) to discuss Geek the Library.

Last Call – Vermont Library Technology Unconference 4/9/14

What are you doing next Wednesday? Here’s an idea:
Register for the 2014 Vermont Library Tech Unconference!
Wednesday, April 9, from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at Midstate Library Service Center in Berlin.
This is the second time that we’ve held the event; some of you may have attended the first one, back in September of 2012. The intention is to bring together library staff members from across the state to talk about their work with technology, both strategies and challenges. All levels of skill are welcome. Come hear what other libraries are doing, and share your ideas!
Read more→

Green Mountain Library Constortium Seeks Volunteer Listen Up! Vermont Coordinator

Spread the word! Contact the GMLC Executive Director if you’re interested at gmlced@gmail.com
Duties of the Listen Up! Vermont Selection Committee Coordinator:

  1. Ensure new content appears in the collection on a regular basis
  2. Ensure that the Listen Up! Vermont collection spending remains in budget (given by GMLC ED)
  3. Ensure that all purchases conform with the Green Mountain Library Consortium Selection Policy
  4. Ensure that the Listen Up! Vermont collection is meeting the needs of its users – for example, noting popular titles and subjects and maintaining a reasonably low wait period for titles
  5. Responsibly spend any grant funds procured for content, maintaining a record of purchases for grant reporting
  6. Ensure that the cataloging for the content on the Listen Up! Vermont site meets our state and consortium’s appropriate guidelines, including the proper cataloging of Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Green Mountain Book Award, and Red Clover titles
  7. Organizes and facilitates the Listen Up! Vermont Selection Committee’s meetings, communications, and purchases, including periodic updates of the “Staff Picks” Collection
  8. Recruits members for the Listen Up! Vermont Selection Committee, if necessary