Part of the VLA Conference. More information here! College and Special Libraries, led by chair Chenfang Yang, Electronic Resources and Technology Librarian, Vermont Law School Julien and Virginia Cornell Library Green Mountain Library Consortium (GMLC), led by GMLC Board President Wendy Hysko, director, Brownell Library Public Libraries, led by Barbara Ball, director, Windsor Public Library Friends […]

Hosted by VLA President Kevin Unrath and VLA Vice President/President Elect Michael Roy. Current slate of candidates is: VP/President-Elect: Kelly McCagg, director, Burnham Memorial Library Secretary: Barbara Ball, director, Windsor Public Library Treasurer: Lisa Milchman, assistant director, Norwich Public Library Jessamyn West, VLA’s American Library Association Councilor, will present a technology overview of Slack, VLA […]

Learn how to use Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) combined with a justice, equity and inclusion lens to help libraries reflect and embrace diversity.  The panel will discuss the difference between cultural competence and cultural humility; who libraries are missing with their services, outreach, and management structure; and what pragmatic tools might be used to fill […]

Middlebury Library User Experience and Digital Scholarship Librarian Leanne Galletly will discuss the library’s six-month collaboration between library staff, college communications staff, and information technology services staff to completely redesign the library’s website. Although the new site launched in summer 2019, it will, by design, never be finished. Galletly will describe the phased approach to […]

Libraries are part of a unique moment in history, working to unite broad technology adoption, readily-available technical training, and widespread use of the internet, while supporting open and equitable access. Robert Cartolano and James English believe open standards and open source initiatives, like SimplyE, New York Public Library’s free, open-source e-reader app, allow all involved […]

As members of the Racial Equity Alliance of Lamoille (REAL) schools committee, Emily Nielsen and Amy Olsen will share the format created for using the book “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds as a community read.   Project details will include touchstones for respectful listening, themes for a close-read format, […]

From repair cafes to seed libraries, time exchanges to craft supply swaps, Vermont libraries can be the vanguard of promoting sustainability. Come learn what different libraries are doing, and how to incorporate these ideas into your own community.  Presented by Windsor Public Library Director Barbara Ball, Charlotte Public Library Director Margaret Woodruff, Carpenter-Carse Library Director […]

Paul Costello, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, will discuss the Vermont Proposition initiative to develop transformational goals designed to optimize the best of Vermont’s economy, environment, communities, and people. A VLA Conference event. More info here!

The University of Vermont’s Silver Special Collections Library transcription team will describe the project they undertook while working remotely during the pandemic. Using the 20th century diaries of Mary Jean Simpson, UVM Dean of Women from 1937 to 1953, they will discuss how they crafted the project guidelines, developed a shared workflow, and planned to make the […]

Lara Keenan, Vermont Department of Libraries’ statewide consultant for Governance and Management, invites you to reconsider the traditional view of strategic planning and see it as a process of meaningful community engagement that can energize the board and staff. Join her for a discussion of how COVID-19 has changed thoughts on the future of libraries […]

Ryan Dowd, executive director of the second largest homeless shelter in Illinois and author of the ALA book “The Librarian’s Guide to Homelessness,” explains the science behind burnout (hint: it is remarkably similar to trauma!). He will then present the research behind preventing or reducing burnout, with practical strategies for managers and non-managers. He will […]

Library leaders need a keen understanding of the emerging post-COVID social and political climate of their towns and cities in order to position their libraries for future funding success. This starts with the knowledge that funders are not always users — and that their decision to fund the library is not generally based on self-interest. […]