Proposals for ACRL 14th National Conference
Contributed papers, panel sessions, preconferences, and workshops are due May 12, 2008. The ACRL 14th National Conference, to be held in Seattle, March 12-15, 2009, will offer a forum for an exciting and energizing exchange of ideas on research, practices, developments, and visions in the field of academic and research librarianship. The conference theme, “Pushing the Edge: Explore, Engage, Extend,” reflects the promise and the challenge of the Northwest. The ACRL National Conference Executive Committee invites submitters to send their edgiest, most “out-there” proposals, to help make ACRL 2009 a truly groundbreaking conference.
Proposals are sought for a variety of formats including contributed papers, panel sessions, preconferences, workshops, poster sessions, and roundtable discussions. Deadlines for proposal submissions are as follows:
May 12, 2008 – Contributed papers, panel sessions, preconferences, and workshops
- October 20, 2008 – Poster sessions
- November 23, 2008 – Roundtable discussions
Updated Slate for VLA Election
We have found a candidate to run for Vice-President / President elect. John Payne of St. Michael’s has agreed to run.  A revised ballot can be found here : official-warning.pdf. As always, additional nominations for all open offices may be taken from the floor. – Brenda Ellis, VLA Secretary
Vermont Telecommunications Authority
In early March, several librarians made a presentation to the VT Telecom Authority about the expanding role of libraries in providing public access to technology and high-speed Internet services. The mission of VTA is, in part, to ensure “that all residences and business in all regions of the state have access to affordable broadband services not later than the end of the year 2010.â€
The committee was thrilled to hear the presentation, and we hope it is a start of a conversation about our need for additional resources to meet increasing demands for services. A handout prepared for the meeting can be found here, Connecting the Unconnected.
CAYAL Meeting April 17th
Hello Youth Librarians,
 For those of you not yet initiated into the cozy inner circle of our CAYAL distribution list family (just ask), Jill Coffrin and I invite you to scenic Colchester for our spring CAYAL MEETING, to be held Thursday, April 17th, from 2-4 PM at the Colchester Meeting House adjacent to the Burnham Memorial Library.Read more→
Surveying your Preservation Needs
The Vermont Department of Libraries is pleased to offer a full-day (9:30-3:00) workshop, conducted by a preservation professional from the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC), designed to help libraries identify, assess, prioritize, and address their preservation needs. It will be offered in four locations around the state. To register, click on the link below. You will find a full description of the workshop below the registration links. Please pass this along to your colleagues who may be interested. Please contact Mara Siegel (828-3261) if you have any questions.
VLA Public Librarians’ Salary Survey
The Personnel Committee of the Vermont Library Association recently published its new report, “Salaries and Benefits: A Survey of Vermont Academic Librarians.”
In response to numerous inquiries, the Committee invites interested librarians to participate in writing, administering, analyzing, and reporting the results of a survey of Vermont public librarians’ salaries and benefits.
Please contact me by March 31st if you want to come on board.
Amy C. Grasmick
Chair, VLA Personnel Committee
Director, Kimball Public Library
67 North Main Street
Randolph, VT 05060
kimball_acg@hotmail.com
728-5073
VLA Public Librarians' Salary Survey
The Personnel Committee of the Vermont Library Association recently published its new report, “Salaries and Benefits: A Survey of Vermont Academic Librarians.”
In response to numerous inquiries, the Committee invites interested librarians to participate in writing, administering, analyzing, and reporting the results of a survey of Vermont public librarians’ salaries and benefits.
Please contact me by March 31st if you want to come on board.
Amy C. Grasmick
Chair, VLA Personnel Committee
Director, Kimball Public Library
67 North Main Street
Randolph, VT 05060
kimball_acg@hotmail.com
728-5073
Free Flickr accounts for libraries via TechSoup
TechSoup has partnered with Flickr to offer Flickr pro accounts to qualifying non-profits as well as Canadian libraries. What this means for Vermont libraries is nearly-free (small TechSoup admin cost) photo sharing and hosting for libraries and/or their patrons and friends.Read more→
YALSA Surveys –Pass It On!
 From Barbara Doyle-Wilch on behalf of Don Wood :
    If you are a young adult librarian, this is for you: YALSA is collecting survey feedback to help guide future programs and services developed for library workers who serve teens. If you have teens nearby, please encourage them to take the brief online anonymous surveymonkey survey, available through March 31st, that pertains to their technology needs. The best way to get there is through the YALSA webpage: http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa. Please note that the survey is for teens, not adults. Check it out!