Category Archives: Uncategorized

Vermont Library Association hosts tour of four Addison County libraries on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

Addison County Library Tour

Last spring’s VLA library tour in the Northeast Kingdom was so much fun that we are doing it again, this time in Addison County (mostly). Here are the details:
Friday, Sept. 30, 2022
Lunch in Vergennes
We also plan to follow up with a librarian happy hour afterwards at a nearby brewery for those who want to enjoy the camaraderie of fellow librarians for a bit longer.
While you are welcome to show up no matter what, it would be helpful to get a gauge of how many people we might be planning to have along for the tour. If you plan to attend, please send an email to director@craftsburypubliclibrary.org. And if you don’t plan to attend, and haven’t RSVPed, but decide at the last minute that you can’t bear to miss the fun, we will still be happy to have you! There is no cost for this tour, and library staff, trustees, and volunteers are welcome to attend.
Susan O’Connell

Library Media Specialist, Long-term Sub – U-32 (Montpelier, VT)

Washington Central Unified Union School District is seeking an enthusiastic educator to fill a long-term substitute position in the U-32 Library during a teacher’s 4-6 week leave of absence from early February to mid-March 2022. Please note that during this time, there is a school vacation (2/21-3/1), and school will be closed.  See here for more details and the job posting.

Please consider if you are retired or even if your license has expired: an emergency license can be applied for with the right candidate.  Please reach out to others who might be interested – we will consider candidates with other educational certifications and experiences other than library/media.

A love of young people, a willingness to learn, a positive attitude, and a collaborative approach are essential.

– Posted 1/18/22

VLAC21 Award Winners

Every year at the annual conference, the Vermont Library Association presents five awards for outstanding service to and support of the state’s libraries. This year, we did something a little different.  Rather than ask people to nominate for our usual awards, we invited them to name their own awards. The results were entertaining and heartfelt.

The winners were announced during the conference, “Emerging Energized,” held online May 25, 26, 27, and June 1 and 2.  You can watch the awards ceremony recording here.

And the winners are…Read more→

Library Director – Cutler Memorial Library (Plainfield, VT)

Cutler Memorial Library seeks a Library Director to manage the daily operations of the library and create and implement library services and collections that meet the changing needs of town residents. The Library Director will maintain appropriate information technology, prepare and maintain the library’s annual budget, supervise staff and volunteers, and work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library to raise funds and represent the library in the local community.

The Library Director sets the tone and direction for all library programming and operations with an open, inclusive, and collaborative spirit. This individual is responsible for maintaining strong connections throughout the Plainfield community and for working with all stakeholders to ensure that the library is a welcoming and valuable community resource.

Minimum qualifications desired: College degree, with some preference given to candidates with graduate work. An MLS degree would be an asset but is not required for this position. The successful candidate will be able and willing to pursue certification through the Vermont Department of Libraries. Candidates should have some work or volunteer experience in libraries, with some preference given to those with public library experience. The successful candidate will be an excellent multi-tasker with strong organizational and communication skills, as well as someone who can work collaboratively and well with a volunteer board of directors.

This is a part-time position for approximately 20 hours per week.

To apply, please send a resume and a cover letter to Jen Carlo, Library Trustee and Search Committee Lead, at carlojennifer@hotmail.com. Screening of applications starts immediately and continues until the position is filled, although first consideration will be given to candidates who apply by Monday, August 31.

Cutler Memorial Library is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

– Posted September 7, 2020

VLA COVID-19 Statement

The Vermont Library Association Executive Board would like to commend Vermont Libraries for showing leadership in their communities by making the decisions to close to the public during this difficult time, while encouraging others to take this action if they have not already done so, until such a time when library workers and our communities are no longer at risk of contracting or spreading the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Closing library doors is different than how libraries typically serve our communities in times of crisis and emergency; however, we recognize that this circumstance requires us to consider the safety and well-being of library workers and the communities we serve in new an unprecedented ways to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

VLA Executive Board would like to encourage libraries to continue doing what they can to serve their communities in whatever capacity they are able, while maintaining safe practices and make decisions based on latest guidelines, reliable information and data. This includes, but it not limited to: offering WiFi hotspots, controlling social distance, controlling how best to quarantine and clean materials, looking into and promoting digital services, and using technology and social media creatively to bring people together.

In this challenging and uncertain time, we hope you will continue to communicate with and inform your communities about what local libraries are able to offer.

VLA Executive Board supports the statements from the American Library Association (ALA) Executive Board in support of libraries and library workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and from the New England Library Association.

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2020/03/ala-executive-board-recommends-closing-libraries-public

http://nelib.org/nela-public-statement-on-public-library-closures/

VLA will work with the Vermont Department of Libraries to help advocate for the needs of VT Libraries, and for getting information to Libraries as updates are made available.

Be Safe, Stay Well, Take Care of Yourselves,

VLA Executive Board
Amy Olsen, President
Kevin Unrath, Vice President
Cindy Weber, Past President
Marie Schmukal, Secretary
Susan Smolinsky, Treasurer

Message from VLA President Amy Olsen

Dear Vermont Library Association Members,

I write to you with humble, heavy heart.

This past week has been very difficult and stressful with fast changing information, decisions, and uncertainty. I wish I were able to provide guidance to you all. I feel that I am inventing the wheel in my own community. I’m so proud of the responses that I’m reading over the listserv. So glad to be part of this supportive and understanding group of community leaders. The struggle to be the place for people to find comfort and community and keep our community safe is not easy. Sometimes the best way to serve is to not offer that place for social interaction.

I will be sending out another letter with some other VLA updates soon, but in the meantime, please remember to be gentle with yourselves. If you need someone to listen, I’m happy to offer that.

The Lanpher Library will be closed soon, but at this time I plan to be there working 802-888-4628 vermontlibrariespresident@gmail.com hydeparklibrary@yahoo.com

With Care,

Amy Olsen
President, VLA

Library Director – Petersburgh Public Library (Rensselaer County, NY)

The Petersburgh Public Library, a municipal library serving a population of approximately 1,500 residents
in Eastern Rensselaer County, is accepting applications for the position of Library Director. The Library
Director works under the general direction of the Library Board of Trustees and is responsible for day-to-
day operations of the library.
The Board is seeking a creative and energetic person with administrative experience. Library experience
will be considered a plus. The position requires a two year college degree or equivalent.
This is a part-time position working twenty-six hours per week with a starting salary of $24,000 per
annum. The position will start August 5, 2019.
Please send a cover letter, resume and the names and contact information for three professional
references by the submission deadline of July 8th . Submissions via US mail should be addressed to JOB
SEARCH, Petersburgh Public Library, PO Box 250, Petersburgh, NY 12138. Submissions via email should
be sent to jobsearch@petersburghpubliclibrary.org
[For a detailed job description, go to: www.petersburghpubliclibrary.org] – Posted June 9, 2019