Vermont Digital Collections Survey

Dear Vermont Librarians,

I am a student at Southern Connecticut State University and a staff member at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro, Vermont who is completing a research project for a Masters of Information and Library Science degree.

My thesis is titled “CREATING DIGITAL COLLECTIONS IN VERMONT’S PUBLIC LIBRARIES” and it investigates how small, rural cultural organizations, specifically public libraries in Vermont, can create effective and low-cost digital collections.

I am asking for your participation in a quick survey I have developed and posted online. The survey should take you no more than 15 minutes to complete.

Vermont Early Literacy Initiative Newsletter

The third edition of the quarterly VELI newsletter is now up on our website: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/cbec/eli

Edited by VLA Vice President Debbi Gadwah-Lambert, the director of the Alice Ward library in Canaan, the newsletter is chock full of ideas for early literacy storytimes, new information on brain development, resources to help you with your early literacy programs and more. This time there are contributions from Beth Reynolds of Norwich, Erna Deutsch of Essex Junction and Jill Coffrin of Williston.

Library Snapshot Day (Any Day April 10 – 16)

Taking place during National Library Week (April 10 – 16), Library Snapshot Day is a great way of documenting all the vital services libraries provide to the citizens of Vermont. For more information, please visit: www.vtlibraryday.wordpress.com
The more libraries we have participating, the better our final statistics will be! So be sure to join us for this exciting initiative! We look forward to getting a vision of Vermont libraries!

Vermont Library Conference 2012

This Ain’t Your Mama’s Library
Creating a New Generation of Library Services for a New Generation of Library Users
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
St Michael’s College, Colchester, Vermont

This year will feature a keynote address by Michelle Gorman and a Book Cart Drill Team Competition. For more information on programming, visit the Conference Website at http://www.vermontlibraryconference.org/

Center for Cartoon Studies Scholarship for a Teen Cartoonist

For the fourth year in a row, the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction has donated a full scholarship to the Department of Libraries so a Vermont teen can attend their one week workshop, “Create Comics,” this summer. This full scholarship, worth $900, includes the workshop, supplies, morning and afternoon snacks, lunch and evening student activities. Lodging is not included, but there is a very inexpensive hostel option at the nearby Hotel Coolidge. Any Vermont student age 16 or older (must be 16 years old by June 1, 2012) is eligible. The workshop will take place in White River Junction, VT July 16-20, 2012.

Librarian Relief Fund – Now Accepting Applications

The Vermont Library Association is now accepting applications for the Librarian Relief Fund. The deadline to apply is February 15th, 2012. Please contact VLA President Joe Farara with any questions, Joseph.Farara@jsc.edu.

Librarian Relief Fund Application (PDF)
Librarian Relief Fund Application (DOC)

The Vermont Library Association Librarian Relief Fund assists librarians who suffered personal property damages as a result of Hurricane Irene. Many of our colleagues need support beyond what is offered them by governmental agencies, so please donate generously to their cause.

Spring Preservation Workshops Presented by NEDCC – Register Now!

NEDCC Spring 2012 Preservation Workshops – Seats are Going Fast!

Full-day, in-person workshops on preservation topics. The Spring 2012 series includes three workshops on the care and digitization of photographs, as well as hands-on workshops on basic book repair and creating custom protective enclosures.

For more information: http://bit.ly/spwk12

Day For Friends

Vermont Friends of the Library, get out your calendars. May 5, a Saturday, is this year’s Day for Friends. We’ll meet at the amazing Axinn Center at the Starr Library at Middlebury College. Register now at http://evanced.info/vtdol/evanced/eventcalendar.asp for this no cost, information-packed day. Based on feedback from last year, topics include:

Social networking for Friends (Facebook? Twitter? Tumblr? Google-alert?)
Your Questions Answered Anonymously! (Please send those questions to me now!)
Growing the Friends membership
Making the Ask

Please help DOL with an Important LSTA Evaluation Survey

To: Vermont librarians and library staff (especially directors, youth services staff, and those involved in collections, programming and resource sharing in academic, public and school libraries),

As you probably know, the Library Services and Technology Act’s (LSTA) program provides federal funds to each state library agency, including the Vermont Department of Libraries (DOL). The amount of funding received by Vermont is based on a population-driven formula; in FFY2011 the DOL received $929,254. In order to qualify for these funds, each state is required to submit a plan every five years that outlines how this funding will be used within the state to fulfill specific purposes outlined in the Museum and Library Services Act. You can read the Vermont LSTA 5-Year Plan, 2008-2012 at:
http://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/lsta/vtlsta5yrplan2008-2012.pdf

White House Petition on School Libraries!

Please take a moment to sign this important petition which specifically asks the Obama administration to “ensure that every child in America has access to an effective school library program.” 25,000 signatures are required in order for this petition to be viewed by White House staff, no later than February 4, 2012.