Save the date! Videoconferencing in Libraries

More information coming soon.

Within Reach: A live videoconference connecting all parts of Vermont to each other and the world.

September 21, 2010
1:45 – 3:45 pm
At all VIT sites

Learn how videoconferencing brings the world to your library. Be prepared to be excited and engaged by the possibilities that videoconferencing affords.

Learn about funding opportunities. Discover how you can take advantage of available sources including help with grant writing.

Learn about videoconferencing from a librarian who has been connected for years. Meet with inspiration from Wilma Kakie Glover-Koomson The reference librarian/IT manager Haverstraw King’s Daughter Public Library, Garnerville, New York.

Learn about the connection to the Library of Congress. Experience how programs will benefit your community from Judy Graves, Digital Projects Coordinator- Library of Congress.

Come discover how the future for your library is… Within Reach.

*For directions to the VIT sites visit www.vitlink.org

Circle of Learning Scholarship

Application information is now available for Circle of Learning scholarships, designed for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are interested in earning a Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree.  The program is a partnership between the San Jose School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) and the American Indian Library Association (AILA), and is made possible by a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

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Enter to win a $250 grant to buy library books

We Love New England Libraries!

Sisters in Crime-New England members know the difficulties that New England libraries face these days, and we want to help.
Enter to win a $250 grant to buy library books. Just send us a photo of an exhibit of at least three books by authors who are members of Sisters in Crime-New England. Your library will be entered for our quarterly drawings for a $250 check—PLUS autographed books from our SinC-NE members! Get details at www.sincne.org.

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Enter to win a $250 grant to buy library books.

Sisters in Crime-New England members know the difficulties that New England libraries face these days, and we want to help. Enter to win a $250 grant to buy library books. Just send us a photo of an exhibit of at least three books by authors who are members of Sisters in Crime-New England. Your library will be entered for our quarterly drawings for a $250 check—PLUS autographed books from our SinC-NE members! Get details at www.sincne.org.

Who are we? We’re Sisters in Crime-New England, the regional chapter of the nationwide organization, Sisters in Crime.

In 1986, women wrote 40% of the mysteries and got 15% of the reviews in the New York Times. That year Sisters in Crime was founded to “combat discrimination against women in the mystery field, to raise awareness of the contributions of female authors, and to promote the professional advancement of women who write mysteries.” We are authors, agents, booksellers, editors, librarians, critics, and readers. Brothers in Crime are welcome. The national organization now boasts over 3000 members, including authors, fans, librarians, booksellers, and pre-published writers.

The New England chapter, Scarlet Letters, holds educational meetings for its more than 170 members, writers, readers and mystery fans at various locations throughout the year, and offers networking advice and support to published and pre-published mystery authors. The chapter also offers a Speakers Bureau that can provide individual speakers or groups of writers for libraries and other interested organizations. To find out more about our Speakers Bureau, click here.

This year we’ve added something new: the New England Library Lottery. We’re so excited about the national Sisters in Crime “We Love Libraries” $1,000 monthly lottery that we’ve decided to add a New England version.

All a library has to do to enter is send us a photo of an exhibit of at least three books by authors who are members of Sisters in Crime-New England and the library will be entered for one of our quarterly drawings for a $250 check—PLUS autographed books from our SinC-NE members! You can find a link to SinC-NE’s published members as well as other details on our website, www.sincne.org.

The prize must be used to purchase books, but won’t be restricted to the mystery genre or to those by Sisters in Crime members. What’s more, any New England library scheduling a SinC-NE Speakers Bureau event will be entered in all the quarterly drawings an additional 10 times. The first drawing will be held on September 1st.

A library can use the same photo for the national SinC lottery, so there will be two chances to win! For more information about the national contest, see We Love Libraries.

SinC-NE will be sending this announcement to all New England libraries, and we hope that you will encourage them to enter. And if you have any ideas for other ways that Sisters in Crime-New England and New England libraries can work together, please let me know!

Sheila Connolly, Library Liaison
Sisters in Crime-New England
sheila328@aol.com

Public Library Funding and Technology Access Survey Follow-Up

Hello Everyone,

Ever wonder if the time you take to complete surveys is of any benefit?  Is it worth it? Does this effort just disappear?

Last fall you probably completed the “Public Library Funding and Technology Access Survey,” sometimes called the “Plinter Survey.” It took some time to do.  Remember all those questions about whether you offer public internet access or do you have a maintenance schedule for your computers or what factors influence your decisions about adding computers or how do you receive IT support?

The results are out.  Here’s the announcement from John Bertot, who’s the guy who created and administered the survey:

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Vermont Libraries Included in Broadband Grant Award

Good news!

The Department of Libraries is happy to confirm that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration yesterday awarded a $33.4 million grant to deploy a fiber optic network across the state of Vermont. The grant award will go to the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA) as part of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

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Department of Libraries is Partner on e-Vermont Program

Vermont Library Community,

Good news! The Vermont Council on Rural Development received word last week that they have won a federal stimulus grant in the NTIA Sustained Broadband Adoption program. The Department of Libraries is a partner in this grant project which will help 24 rural Vermont communities develop and use online and e-services. The program includes funds for public libraries in these 24 communities. You can read the full press release below. The 24 communities will be chosen through an application process. Public libraries that want their communities to be considered for this program should contact VCRD at 802-223-6091 or by email at info@vtrural.org

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2010 Woman's Day Magazine Library Contest

Libraries have until May 9 to promote Woman’s Day magazine’s newest initiative, “why the library is important to my community.” The American Library Association (ALA) and Woman’s Day are looking for stories that showcase the importance and value of libraries within the communities they serve.
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The Vermont Arts Council announces the FY2011 Grant Deadlines and Grantseeker Workshops

Know WHEN to apply:

Artists: Creation Grants deadline: May 3, 2010
Organizations and Schools: Arts Learning Grants deadline: June 1, 2010
Community Orgs: Community Arts Grants deadline: June 1, 2010

Learn HOW to apply:

The Arts Council has scheduled two workshops to provide information to artists, educators and organizations seeking Arts Council grant funding. The sessions are free of charge and include information on available grants, the application process, and other Council programs.

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