Schedule and Program Descriptions – Vermont Library Association

Scroll down for session descriptions, slides, and supporting materials.
8:00 – 9:00 Registration and breakfast (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
9:00 – 9:15 Welcoming remarks and awards (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
9:15 – 10:00 Keynote: Anne Galloway (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
10:00 – 4:30 Exhibit Hall and all-day coffee (Fireplace Lounge, 4th floor)
10:10 – 11:00 Session One

A conversation with keynote speaker Anne Galloway (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
Memory Cafes and Walking Each Other Home (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
Owning Your Health: Wellness Resources for Young Adults Ages 18-24 (Jost Foundation Room, 4th floor)
Data-Inspired Decision Making: The RIPL Effect (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
The 2019-2020 Red Clover list with art connections (Mildred Livak Room, 4th floor)

11:10 – 11:30 Session Two

Community Building through Historical and Archival Treasures (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
The New VLA Organization Chart (Jost Foundation Room, 4th floor)
Lake Lessons: Connecting Archives, STEAM, and Cultural Heritage Education (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
Let’s get down & dirty with weeding! (Mildred Livak Room, 4th floor)

11:30 – 1:00 Lunch and section meetings

11:40 – 12:10 College & Special Libraries (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
11:40 – 12:10 Green Mountain Library Consortium (GMLC) (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
12:30 – 1:00 Technical Services Section (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
12:30 – 1:00 Trustees & Friends Section (Mildred Livak Room, 4th floor)
12:30 – 1:00 Public Libraries and Youth Librarians* (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
*(Youth Librarians: please arrive at 12:20 for a brief meeting and stay to attend the Public Libraries section meeting at 12:30)

1:10 – 2:00 Session Three

Vermont History Resources for Everyone (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
An Introduction to the 2019-2020 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award List (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
Using Science-Based Practices to Foster Resilience and Create a Meaningful Life (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
Using Timelines to Teach and Create Dynamic Online Presentations (Howe Library Classroom; limited enrollment)
Creative Adult Programming (Mildred Livak Room, 4th floor)

2:10 – 3:00 Session Four

Start a Mental Health Conversation at Your Library (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
SCAMS – how to keep your community safe from internet fraudsters (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
Back to Billings: Relocating UVM Special Collections (Jost Foundation Room, 4th floor)
MIDD Reads: Putting a spotlight on beginning chapter books (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
Rapid Reviews (Mildred Livak Room, 4th floor)

3:00 – 4:00 Refreshments in Exhibit Hall (Fireplace Lounge, 4th floor)
3:15 – 3:45 VLA Annual Meeting and Elections (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
4:00 – 4:50 Session Five

Advocacy Bootcamp Vermont Style (Mansfield Dining Room, 2nd floor)
Green Mountain Book Award List 2019-2020 (Chittenden Bank Room, 4th floor)
Building Flourishing Communities (Jost Foundation Room, 4th floor)
Poets and Authors @ Your Library (Frank Livak Room, 4th floor)
Meet, Greet, and Updates from the Department of Libraries (Mildred Livak Room, 4th floor)

5:00 – 6:00 Reception at UVM’s historic Billings Library (7 minute walk. Exit at 2nd floor, follow signs past Howe Library, turn right and walk north on University Place)

Session One, 10:10 – 11:00

A conversation with Anne Galloway
Continue the conversation with our keynote speaker, founder of VTDigger.org and executive director of the Vermont Journalism Trust.
Memory Cafes and Walking Each Other Home
Vincent Livoti (Department of Libraries), Barb Asen (Central Vermont Council on Aging), Pam MacPherson (poet, hospice activist), Margaret Woodruff (Charlotte Library)
The first half of this workshop will explore what Memory Cafes are, thematic programming ideas for cafes, free/low-cost resources for implementing a cafe in your community, as well as regional organizations to partner with. Vermont has an aging population with a range of specialized issues: from the cognitive to the physical, including social isolation. In response to this dynamic, the ABLE Library of Vermont began a partnership with the Central Vermont Council on Aging in fall 2017 to offer monthly memory cafes to our patrons, our local community members and all their caregivers. Memory Cafes provide a forum for addressing a variety of needs, and can effectively be integrated into regular programmatic offerings for adult populations in any library.
Poet and hospice activist Pam MacPherson, with Charlotte Library Director Margaret Woodruff, will then share a framework for facilitating a small-group discussion based on the book, “Walking Each Other Home: Conversations on Loving & Dying.” Taken from Ram Dass’s quote, “We are all just walking each other home,” this book shows us “how death gives us an unparalleled opening to cultivate gratitude, compassion, mindfulness, and an abiding joy in the simple beauty of living.” Community response has been so positive that Charlotte Public Library has repeated this four week discussion group three times this Spring!
Owning Your Health: Wellness Resources for Young Adults Ages 18-24
Stacy A. Wein (Copley Hospital), Betsy Merrill (Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital)
In the final years of high school, and in the years following, young adults ages 18 to 24 are embarking on the process of becoming independent. An important piece of that independence is taking responsibility for and making decisions about one’s own health. This session will introduce librarians interested in offering health education programming for older teens and young adults to the credible and trusted resources from the National Library of Medicine and some other partner organizations that can provide guidance to young adults as they begin to “own their health.” Participants will learn about the 8 dimensions of wellness, tools for evaluating online health information for credibility, as well as best practices for preparing and communicating with a health professional during a medical appointment.
Re-recording of original NNLM Webinar, March 2019, presented by Susan Halpin (YouTube video, 1:14:16)
Graphic Medicine (NLM Website)
Data-Inspired Decision Making: The RIPL Effect
Cory Stephenson (Moretown Memorial Library), Amy Grasmick (Kimball Public Library), Gizelle Guyette (Morristown Centennial Library), Sara Donegan (Carpenter Carse Library, Hinesburg)
As librarians in small and rural communities, it is easy to get caught up in daily operations with little time left to focus on “the big picture”. Join us as we share our stories and strategies learned for data-inspired decision making at the recent Research Institute for Public Libraries conference including:
– Using logic models and the cycle of evaluation as an ongoing process for decision making.
– Planning effective outreach to better understand your community’s needs.
– The art of data-inspired storytelling to gain and keep support of key stakeholders.
– Some practical tools and tips for implementing a data-informed way of operating.
Data-Inspired Decision Making: The RIPL Effect (Google Slides)
Session Notes (Google Drive Folder)
The 2019-2020 Red Clover list with art connections
Cass Mabbott (Department of Libraries), Beth Redford (Richmond Elementary School)
This presentation will give VLC attendees a chance to learn about the Red Clover books nominated for 2019-2020 by the Red Clover committee. In addition, attendees will see examples of art/craft projects they can do with kids to engage them with the books.
Red Clover 2019-2020 (Google Slides)

Session Two, 11:10 – 11:30

The New VLA Organization Chart
VLA President Cindy Weber (Stowe Free Library), VLA President-Elect Amy Olsen (Lanpher Memorial Library, Hyde Park)
The proposed reorganization is intended to provide a structure that will promote mentorship among board members, section leaders, committee chairs, representatives, roundtables, and the archivist. The hope is that the more active, supported, and familiar VLA members become, the more involved they will want to be and more comfortable they will feel taking on leadership roles. We hope that if the restructuring proposal is approved, it will help the membership by allowing for the board to elevate member priorities. With defined roundtables, there will be space for discussion of relevant topics. The proposal will be voted on by VLA members at the afternoon annual meeting.
Diagram of proposed VLA reorganization (PDF, 315 KB)
Let’s get down & dirty with weeding!
Kelly McCagg (Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester)
This session will teach you the essentials of maintaining a vibrant and current collection. From building a criteria that works for your library to ways to dispose of or re-purpose your deaccessions, everyone will walk away with new ideas and a renewed enthusiasm to weed.
Getting Down & Dirty With Weeding (PDF, 1 MB)
Community Building through Historical and Archival Treasures
Howard Burrows (Brooks Memorial Library, Brattleboro), Lissa Weinman (Brattleboro Words Project), Mary Ide (Brattleboro Words Project), Rachel Onuf (Vermont Historical Records Program)
When libraries serve as a local, public cultural center, they promote community-building — and thus community resilience. Encouraged by a National Endowment for the Humanities “Creating Humanities Communities’ matching grant to do just that, the Brooks Memorial Library, as part of the Brattleboro Words Project, has joined forces with local historical societies, writers groups, schools, museums, colleges and a local literary festival to use archival treasures and their stories to facilitate community participation in a ‘deep mapping’ of the history of writing in order to create illuminating audio tours of the greater Brattleboro area.
Community Building Through Historical and Archival Treasures (Google Slides)
Resilience Building through Gardening with Children — Apologies, this program has been cancelled. 4/30/19
April Zajko (April’s Teaching Tree)
Lake Lessons: Connecting Archives, STEAM, and Cultural Heritage Education
Alex Lehning (Cowie & Miner Research Library, Saint Albans Museum)
This presentation will review a collaborative and innovative educational program offered by a small special/research library and its community partners, bridging STEAM and cultural heritage education. Utilizing archival materials across disciplines and organizations, it will highlight the resiliency of place-based learning in a dynamic new context and approach. Alex Lehning will present practical building blocks for leading collaboration/project development across organizations as a small, non-profit special/research library, and offer insights and best practices. Audiences from public, school, academic/special, and especially small or rural settings may find ideas and inspiration for building a similar program within their organization/environment. It is intended to highlight the resiliency of inter/trans-disciplinary programming, collaborative community partnerships, access to under-utilized archival resources, and the dynamic benefits of connecting STEAM and cultural heritage topics to place-based education for the next generation of students and learners of all ages.

Session Three, 1:10 – 2:00

Using Timelines to Teach and Create Dynamic Online Presentations
Daisy Benson (University of Vermont)
**This will be held next door in the Howe Library Classroom; attendance limited to 25**
Online timeline tools are easy to use ways to tell dynamic and visual stories. This hands-on workshop will provide you with an opportunity to learn about ways in which you can use online timeline tools in your teaching or in creating online exhibits or presentations. Examples of how librarians can use timelines will be shared as well as resources to aid in the creation of timelines. During the workshop participants will work together to create a simple timeline using a free online tool called Timeline JS.
Workshop Materials (website)
An Introduction to the 2019-2020 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award List
Cass Mabbott (Department of Libraries), Annie Brabazon (Grand Isle School), Rebecca Rupp (Swanton Public Library)
Join members of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award committee for an introduction to the 2019-2020 list of 30 nominees. Time permitting, we will answer questions about anything related to the books or the selection process.
Vermont History Resources for Everyone
Paul Carnahan (Vermont Historical Society)
Have you ever wondered what Vermont history resources are essential for a general collection? Wondered where your patrons can learn about Vermont history online? Join Vermont Historical Society librarian Paul Carnahan for a presentation on Vermont history resources for the modern public library.
Essential Vermont Histories (PDF, 110 KB)
Creative Adult Programming
Penny Cunningham and Katarzyna Janiga (Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester)
Learn about some of our unique adult programming and how it reaches different parts of Colchester’s population. FiberFest is a three-day fiber arts festival with demos by local craftspeople and the opportunity for our patrons to put a 21st century spin on traditional crafts. Our annual Louise Penny bus trip to the Eastern Townships in Quebec is one of our most popular and requested programs, and we are happy to share our expertise with libraries who may want to plan their own literary themed bus trips. Cooking the Books is our quarterly potluck lunch club which uses recipes from books that connect to a specific annual theme. These programs have brought new patrons to the library, fostered camaraderie, and taught our patrons new skills.
Creative Adult Programming (PPTX, 4 MB)
Using Science-Based Practices to Foster Resilience and Create a Meaningful Life
Emer Pond Feeney (Fletcher Free Library, Burlington)
How do we really, practically increase our own resilience – to the stresses of modern-day life and the increasing demands of our library work – and with the knowledge that there is potentially harder work ahead for us as community servants? This session outlines 3-4 specific practices which are scientifically known to foster resilience and create more meaningful lives. Inspired by the Greater Good in Action website of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, these practices will be geared towards creating resilience through regular stress reduction, mental preparation, and deepening of meaning in one’s life.
Using Science-Based Practices to Foster Resilience and Create a Meaningful Life (DOCX, 8 KB)

Session Four, 2:10 – 3:00

MIDD Reads: Putting a spotlight on beginning chapter books
Tricia Allen (Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury), Abby Adams (Shoreham Public Library and Shoreham Elementary School)
We’ve got the Red Clover list for picture books and Dorothy’s List for mid-grade chapter books – but what about the readers who fall in between? A team of librarians decided to fill this gap by creating and running MIDD Reads, a book list and reading program focused on beginning chapter books and series. In this presentation we will cover: How we worked together to create the MIDD reads lists and programs, the effect of this program in the school and public library (increased student engagement, increased usage of beginning chapter books and PreK family involvement/feedback), and recommended titles from the past two years as well as potential titles for 2019-2020.
MIDD Reads: Putting a spotlight on beginning chapter books (PDF, 4 MB)
MIDD Reads Handout (PDF, 4 MB)
Start a Mental Health Conversation at Your Library
Charlotte McCorkel (Howard Center), Susanna Kahn (Charlotte Library)
Rising rates of suicide, anxiety and depression as well as the stigma attached to mental health problems and the lack of mechanisms for communication indicate a critical need for a safe conversation space. Build resilience in your community by making the library a trusted space for mental health discussions and information access. Learn about programming ideas, publicity strategies, and helpful resources to get started with Charlotte McCorkel, who oversees crisis and intake programs at Howard Center.
Starting a Mental Health Conversation (PDF, 1 MB)
Rapid Reviews
Ernie Drown (Church of Christ, Dartmouth College), Emer Pond Feeney (Fletcher Free Library, Burlington), Allison Maynard (Pettee Memorial Library, Wilmington), Hannah Peacock (Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester), Lucinda Walker (Norwich Public Library), Joy Worland (Department of Libraries)
A panel of readers recommending their favorite titles from the previous year.
Rapid Reviews (DOCX, 19 KB)
Back to Billings: Relocating UVM Special Collections
Jeffrey Marshall, Chris Burns, and Prudence Doherty (Silver Special Collections Library, University of Vermont)
In August 2018, UVM Special Collections moved from its basement home in the Howe Library to the second and third floors of Billings, a nationally recognized architectural landmark that served as the campus library from 1885-1961. Special Collections librarians will talk about the opportunities and challenges they faced as they planned, moved, and reopened as the Silver Special Collections Library.
SCAMS – how to keep your community safe from internet fraudsters
Jessamyn West (Vermont Mutual Aid Society)
People who aren’t that great with computers are vulnerable to scams. Jessamyn West will discuss a talk she’s given at local senior centers about how people can protect themselves from internet scams. This is a simple program that librarians can repurpose for their own use, similar to her privacy talk from 2017. It gives libraries a pre-packaged program plus more information on scam vectors and advice on how to help people protect themselves.
Slides (website)

Session Five, 4:00 – 4:50

Poets and Authors @ Your Library
Kevin Unrath, moderator (Pierson Library, Shelburne), David Weinstock (Otter Creek Poets, Middlebury), Rick Bessette (Poet Laureate, Shelburne), Starr LaTronica (Brooks Memorial Library), Margot Mayor (Button Street Press and Vermont Authors Project)
David Weinstock has been leading poetry groups at the Ilsley Library in Middlebury for two decades. Rick Bessette has served as Shelburne’s first Poet Laureate since 2016. Learn the different ways these poets have helped their art flourish in their communities and how your community could grow local poetry too.
Author programs are a great way to increase patron engagement, inspire readers and support book creators. The Vermont Authors Project was established to provide tools to navigate the rich pool of talented authors and poets and the resources to promote their work in Vermont libraries, bookstores and festivals. A librarian experienced in planning and arranging author visits joins with a publicist to provide pointers on making the most of our valued Vermont authors in your collections and in your communities. Attendees will be encouraged to contribute to the conversation by sharing their success stories.
Building Flourishing Communities
Samantha Thomas (Northwestern Counseling and Support Services), Mary Pickener (Department of Health)
Libraries offer much needed connection in our busy world, connection to resources and to one another. Librarians and library staff have a special opportunity to leverage knowledge about early adversity to improve and enhance those connections. In this session participants will be introduced to the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, Neuroscience, and Resilience as they relate to connection and fostering thriving communities. The content will be tailored to librarians and library staff. Strategies to support patron experience at libraries will be offered and participants will be asked to reflect on how they will use this new information to enhance their patrons library experience and positively impact their community.
Building Flourishing Communities (PDF, 3 MB)
Information Sheet and Trainer List (PDF, 202 KB)
Advocacy Bootcamp Vermont Style
Amy McMullan (Hartland Public Library), Cindy Weber (Stowe Free Library), Margaret Woodruff (Charlotte Library)
Based on our training at the NELA Advocacy Bootcamp session last fall, we will give an overview of this new and dynamic way to engage with your community for outreach, fundraising and more. Advocacy Bootcamp urges attendees to re-think advocacy: to re-define the library community and expand the way we have been advocating for libraries. We will explore some of the brutal facts about our current environment, celebrate our assets, and offer practical tips to reclaim a moral sanction for the work we do and the support our communities deserve. This presentation is tailored to the Green Mountain State and the size and scope of our libraries.
Green Mountain Book Award List 2019-2020
Kelsey Psaute (Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester), Jory Hearst (Flying Pig Bookstore)
Join GMBA committee members for book talks of the list’s 15 books along with some announcements about award publicity and voting.
Green Mountain Book Award (website)
Meet, Greet, and Updates from the Department of Libraries
(Staff of the Department of Libraries)
This presentation will provide updates on projects, promotions, and state government. Department of Libraries staff will be on hand to receive questions as well seek input and feedback from participants.