Energy Grants for Vermont Libraries Perhaps?
Hi All,
I saw this article in my Burlington Free Press feed today:
Grants to Help Communities Reduce Energy Use, Save Money
It got me thinking about all the libraries around the state who want/need to upgrade or build new, and maybe this kind of grant, which is a matching funds grant, could be help those project along and promote the cause of green libraries at the same time.
I happened to blog the session at the New England Library Association Conference about green architecture and my notes/summary can be found by linking to the NELA Conference Blog:
Leading by Example: Toward More Sustainable Communities
The session was great because it was with not only a green architect, but with two New England libraries in different phases of planning/construction. I checked the NELA Conference materials area but no one from this session posted their presentations. However, I’m sure if you ask the presenters, they’d probably be happy to share. The architect had some really beautiful slides of new libraries that would make your mouth water. If you’re not familiar with the green library movement, it’s pretty awesome and gaining in momentum. Check out some of the projects at the Green Libraries website:
I’m curious what people think about piggy-backing these kinds of projects, in part because I know very little about the grant process so I don’t know if it would work, but also because it seems like a really good time, what with our troubling economic times, to think creatively about how to lay hands to non-traditional revenue streams.
Helen Linda
Windsor County Breakfast
Legislators who attended:Â Steve Adams, Dick McCormack, Jim Masland, Mark Mitchell, Alice Nitka and Ernie Shand
Here was our agenda along with some notes:
Introductions and Welcome
Mary Danko : : Library Director, Weathersfield Proctor Library
Helen Bearse : : Patron, Weathersfield Proctor Library
Mary’s patron did not show up (she forgot!), but Mary was able to tell Helen’s story about how the library is impacting Helen’s young adult life. Translation: After reading “Twilight,†her reading took-off! Helen has read almost every YA book the library owns.
Confidentiality Statute
Debra Bullock Spackman : :Â Library Director, Norman Williams Library
Deb thanked the legislators for passing the Confidentiality Statute and asked for their continued support, especially since there are rumblings of repealing it. Deb also spoke about the
Library Funding Issues
Jeremiah Kellogg : : Regional Librarian & Consultant, VT. Dept. of Libraries
Debra Bullock Spackman : :Â Library Director, Norman Williams Library
Jeremiah spoke about how libraries creatively get money for operating expenses and for capital improvements – like bathrooms! Deb spoke about the bill for state funding that the legislators saw last year and that while we won’t be asking for money this year, to please keep us in mind in the near future. Mary piped in with the importance of DOL and all they do for libraries, especially her little library. And Deb added that big libraries need DOL, too!
Library Usage in Tough Economic Times
Elaine Caffrey : : Library Director, Hartland Public Library
Elaine talked about the value of libraries and had some great handouts for the attendees. Deb talked about how her library has had to have major cutbacks. Mary talked about how fuel and postage costs are greatly affecting some libraries.
Last Questions and Farewell
Alice Nitka asked if besides computer use, was book usage up as well? We all were able to respond yes. All the legislators were very positive about the mission of
**A personal note: This was my first legislative get-together that I ever attended and I hosted it! It was really quite easy, fun and very worthwhile. Thanks to everyone who made phone calls to their legislators. Any communication by librarians to their reps is great reminder to them that we are out there working hard for our communities.
Mary Danko
Weathersfield Proctor Library
5181 Route 5 : :
802.674.2863
Vermont Librarian needed as NERTCL Committee Member
As your New England Library Association (NELA) representative, I’ve been asked by the chair of the New England Roundtable of Teen and Children’s Librarians (NERTCL) to find a Vermonter to join the committee.
 Who is NERTCL? NERTCL is a group of librarians from all over New England who are dedicated to providing continuing education programs for librarians working with children and young adults through conferences and workshops. NERTCL sponsors the youth programs at the NELA Fall Conference and host an annual Spring Symposium comprised of a panel of children’s and teen authors and/or illustrators. NERTCL also hosts the Jordan Miller Storytelling Workshop on alternate years with the Massachusetts Library Association. At NERTCL meetings, members exchange news of library events and programs throughout New England; members benefit from the ideas and experiences of their colleagues.
Participation in this committee will require energy, enthusiasm, time committments, and travel to meetings throughout New England. Vermont is underrepresented in NELA committees so it would be nice if we could start interjecting this committee with all of the great stories, successes, and best practices of our state’s great children’s librarians.
If you are interested in participating, please contact the chair of the NERTCL committee, April Mazza, at (508)358-2308 or amazza@minlib.net. For further information on the NERTCL committee, check out their website at http://www.nelib.org/nertcl/index.htm.
 Thanks,
Kip M. Roberson, VT NELA Representative
ALA Office of Itellectual Freedom looking for challenged books
"OIF Seeks Reports of Book Challenges in 2008" http://blogs.ala.org/oif.php?p=2980&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 With the end of the year approaching, the Office for Intellectual Freedom will be compiling our yearly list of most frequently challenged books. We collect information for our challenge database from newspapers and reports submitted by individuals and, while we know that many challenges are never reported, we strive to be as comprehensive as possible in our records. We would greatly appreciate if you could send us any information on challenges in your library or school from 2008.
Help NEEDED for 2009 and 2010 Vermont Library Conferences!
Over the past few years the planning and preparation that makes the Vermont Library Conference a major continuing education opportunity for library staffs across the state have been carried out by relatively small teams of VLA and VSLA members whose hard work has compensated for there never quite being enough hands available for the amount of work involved in this project. In the past couple of years it has been extremely difficult for the VLA board to fill leadership and other positions key to mounting the Conference.Read more→
3M/NMRT Professional Development Grant for ALA Annual Conference
APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR 3M/NMRT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
Deadline: December 15, 2008
Members of ALA’s New Members Round Table (NMRT) can apply to receive a grant, sponsored by 3M Library Systems, which will cover expenses to attend the ALA Annual Conference, July 9-15, 2009, in Chicago, IL.
Want to read about the ALA experiences of last year’s winners? Take a look at the August 2008 issue of Footnotes at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/nmrt/news/footnotes/august2008/index.cfm. You will see how professionally rewarding attending an ALA conference can be.
Adirondack Author Creates a Science Reference Website
I spoke at the Vermont Library Association Conference a couple years back and at that time was developing a science reference website for K-8.  The site has just received the American Library Association inclusion in their 2008 Great Web Sites for Kids.
I hoped librarians in Vermont might share it with their teachers and students if it is helpful. It’s called the Exploring Nature Educational Resource.  http://www.
I hope you find it useful for a science supplement.
Best wishes,
Sheri Amsel
Exploring Nature Educational Resource
Shirley Olofson Memorial Award for ALA Annual Conference
Are you looking for funds to help pay for your trip to  ALA Annual 2009 in Chicago? Apply by December 15, 2008 for the Shirley Olofson Memorial Award and you may receive a $1000 check to help defray the cost of attendance!
Applicants must:
1. Be a member of ALA and NMRT
2. Be active in the library profession
3. Show promise or activity in the area of professional development
4. Have valid financial need
5. Have attended no more than five ALA annual conferences
To apply, please visit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/
awolofson/Shirley_Olofson_
Jane Austen Society Vermont Birthday Tea
Hi all,
I append the information on the JASNA-Vermont Birthday Tea, December 7, 2008, 2-5, at the Champlain College Hauke Conference Center. This is in plain text, no graphics. If anyone would like the flyer in a pdf file or a plain word document for displaying in your library (which we would very much appreciate!), please email me privately and I will forward the attachments to you directly.
If any of you will be in the Burlington area that weekend, we would love to have some of you (and your patrons!) join us … there will be a English Country Dancing with live music, an English Afternoon Tea and as always, good conversation! Regency dress encouraged (not required), dancing strongly encouraged!
If questions, or to RSVP, please contact me at bygone.books@verizon.net or 802-864-0517
NELINET Launches New Web Site Using Open Source Platform
SOUTHBOROUGH, MA, November 13, 2008 – For the past few years NELINET, a non-profit library consortium serving New England, has been championing the benefits of open source software to the library community. The rise of interest in open source solutions in the library world reflects the needs of many organizations to easily develop customized and cost effective solutions for everything from integrated library systems to web sites.
NELINET is truly committed to the open-source movement. To underscore this commitment, NELINET just launched its new web site (www.nelinet.net) powered by the Drupal, the open source Web 2.0 content management/portal system. NELINET Executive Director Arnold Hirshon is excited for what the future of open source offers for libraries. “By developing our new website with Drupal, we are able to show our members the possibilities of what you can do with open source software – even those who have limited resources – and advance a key strategic objective of providing our members with technologies that enable them to work together as a community and exchange ideas.”