Sarah Rogers, Janet Clapp, Amy Olsen, Timmy Bullock Receive VLA 2025 Awards

Sarah Rogers, Janet Clapp, Amy Olsen, and Timmy Bullock were honored during the Vermont Library Association’s annual conference in May 2025, with annual awards presented by the Scholarship and Awards Committee. The paragraphs under their names are taken from the nomination submissions.

Birdie Award – Sarah Rogers
This past year Sarah Rogers, technical services librarian at Kellogg-Hubbard Library, negotiated being a new mom to a premature baby with her full-time job. As Kellogg-Hubbard’s technical services librarian, Sarah had significant responsibility for moving the library onto a new cataloging system, all while dealing with the changes from ongoing flood recovery. Her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment culminated in the cataloging of an extraordinary volume of materials, a testament to her profound expertise and dedication to accessibility for Kellogg-Hubbard’s patrons. Beyond her professional achievements, Sarah’s insightful nature and sharp intellect enrich our workplace, fostering a stimulating and engaging environment. Her value extends beyond the library, as she embraces her roles as a devoted mother and wife. We celebrate Sarah’s well-deserved honor and the significant contributions she makes to both the Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the wider world.

The Birdie Award was created in March 2014 as a memorial to University of Vermont librarian Birdie MacLennan to honor outstanding librarians who, like her, provide outstanding service in the field of technical services.

Green Mountain Award – Janet Clapp
Janet Clapp has spent a decade volunteering for some of the most time-intensive tasks in the Catamount Library Network, including serving on the board. She has led the efforts to clean up catalogs for all member libraries, and successfully onboards tiny libraries with idiosyncratic catalogs. She has done this all while contributing to the Vermont Library Associaiton by compiling, writing, and publishing its quarterly newsletter. Even with all this, she manages the entire adult collection at Rutland Free Library, while rotating through the Help Desk for 10+ hours a week and putting up with Director Randal Smathers. As Randal puts it, “Janet is the consummate professional who has put in thousands of hours of volunteer time to help the cause of libraries across the state, starting on day one and continuing to this day.” For her dedication to libraries throughout Vermont, we honor Janet Clapp.

The Green Mountain Award is given as the opportunity arises to individuals or organizations for distinguished service, support, or unusual contributions to a Vermont library or libraries.

Sarah C. Hagar Award – Amy Olsen
Amy Olsen is the director of the small, rural Lanpher Memorial Library in Hyde Park, but the reach of her work is anything but small. “Under her thoughtful leadership, the library has become a cornerstone of her town, a place where people of all ages feel welcome, supported, and inspired,” one of her nominators wrote. Amy has a gift for creating programming that uncannily reflects the needs and interests of the community. She has created early literacy programs and supported emotional and mental health through a Community Wish Tree and a Wind Phone. Amy is a fierce advocate for libraries and often speaks up about funding and support for libraries, in general, and for her colleagues who are addressing specific issues. She is a cheerleader for libraries and librarians, as well. Amy can be counted on to celebrate her peers’ achievements and to spread the word about them. But she is also a dynamic force within her community, as she partners with many organizations to provide literacy, entertainment, and wellness services throughout the town. The consensus of those who recommended her for this award is that as libraries face an unprecedented time of uncertainty, Amy Olsen is exactly the type of person to show us, by example, how to approach our challenges from a place of joy, love, and compassion.

The Sarah C. Hagar Award, named for the first president of the Vermont Library Association and a librarian at the Fletcher Free Library for 23 years until her death in 1908, is awarded each year for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont.

Trustee of the Year – Timmy Bullock
“If there is anything I’ve learned about Timmy over the years we’ve worked together it is that she approaches projects with her big heart and brilliant mind,” said John G. McCullough Library director Jennie Rozicki in her nomination letter. Timmy understood that McCullough Library’s previous funding levels were inadequate, ignoring both the basic needs of library staff and of the community. Thanks to Timmy’s efforts, the library now guarantees a sustainable wage to library professionals who are essential to the success of any library. Not only did she connect the library with a donor who could make a difference, she took the lead on an associated fundraising challenge. Her candor, persistent curiosity, willingness to develop new skills, meticulous attention to detail, and steadfast commitment to the delicate work of fundraising have been a tremendous benefit to this library and the people it serves. Read more about Timmy Bullock’s award in the Bennington Banner article McCullough Library trustee honored by Vermont Library Association.

The Trustee of the Year Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a trustee on behalf of their library, either during the previous year or during their years of service.

This Vermont Library Association (VLA) Scholarship and Awards Committee is charged with defining, overseeing, and funding scholarship opportunities for library professional development and overseeing VLA’s five awards. For more information, visit their webpage.

Vermont Library Association Annual Meeting June 5

Vermont Library Association members are invited to attend the organization’s annual meeting via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025. All members should have received the meeting link in an email. If you did not, please email VLA President Mary Danko at president@vermontlibraries.org

There are elections at this meeting. The following slate is proposed:

Vice President: Amy Williams
Secretary: Loren Polk

Take Action: Help Protect Institute of Museum and Library Services Funding

Vermonters through their local libraries directly benefit from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) funding. About one-third of the Vermont Department of Libraries budget, some $1.2 million in 2024, comes from IMLS grants. The department strategically distributes these funds to support youth and early literacy programming, supply digital resources like eBooks, eAudiobooks, and databases, and provide the statewide interlibrary loan system, among other services. IMLS was shut down and all grant funding halted following a March 14, 2025, Executive Order.

On May 1, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order to block the Trump administration’s dismantling of IMLS. The decision was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the largest union representing library workers.

Parallel to its efforts to preserve IMLS through litigation, ALA has mounted a campaign to secure funding for the agency in fiscal year 2026. ALA is asking advocates to request their members of Congress demonstrate their commitment to library funding by signing congressional “Dear Appropriator” letters in support of IMLS funding for FY2026. You can make this request using these online forms. Fill in the top portion with your name and contact information, and the form automatically adds your Senators and Representative. Deadline for this form is mid-May 2025:

Tell Your Senators: Sign the Dear Appropriator Letters

Tell Your Representatives: Sign the Dear Appropriator Letters

After mid-May 2025, you can write or call Vermont’s Congressional delegation and Governor Phil Scott directly, urging them to continue working for the restoration of IMLS.

Senator Bernie Sanders
332 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
info@berniesanders.com
202-224-5141
Fax: 202-228-0776.

Senator Peter Welch
124 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-4242
Fax: 802-651-1674

Representative Becca Balint
1510 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4115
Fax: 771-200-5791

Governor Phil Scott
Pavilion Building
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
802-828-3333
TTY: 800-649-6825
Fax: 802-828-3339

If you call you’ll likely reach voicemail, which is perfectly fine — leave a message! Here’s a sample script:

“Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a resident of [Your Town]. I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative/Governor] to oppose all efforts by the Trump administration to defund and abolish IMLS. IMLS is essential to Vermont libraries. It provides funding we rely on to support [briefly mention a local program or service]. This funding is critical to meeting the educational, economic, and community needs of Vermonters.”

Here are other ways to help bring attention to President Trump’s Executive Order that includes defunding the Institute of Museum and Library Services:

1 – Understand the Executive Order

Read the Executive Order (EO) itself so you’re informed about its content and implications: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/continuing-the-reduction-of-the-federal-bureaucracy/

The American Library Association has a great FAQ page to help understand the implications of the EO:
https://www.ala.org/faq-executive-order-targeting-imls

This American Libraries Magazine article gives a breakdown on the EO:
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/white-house-attacks-libraries/

2 – Read the Vermont Library Association’s (VLA) Statement in Response

VLA has issued a response outlining how this order would impact the Vermont Department of Libraries, the services they provide, and ultimately everyone in our communities. Read it and share it:
https://vermontlibraries.org/vermont-library-association-statement-of-support-of-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services

3 – Explore Action Items from EveryLibrary and ALA

Both EveryLibrary and the American Library Association (ALA) have created action platforms in response to this threat:

Sign the EveryLibrary petition: https://www.everylibrary.org/statementimls2025
Fill out the ALA’s “Show Up for Libraries” form, (https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=23577) be sure to personalize it — especially by describing how IMLS LSTA funding specifically supports your library and community.

Note: These platforms send auto-generated emails to elected officials, but you can make an even stronger impact by calling directly.

4 – Create a bookmark to put into all books that you lend through ILL that includes the following:

InterLibrary Loan is a service funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Please call Senator Welch (202-224-4242), Senator Sanders (202-224-5141), and Representative Balint (202-225-4115) and urge them to protect IMLS from President Trump’s cuts.

Thanks to New Hampshire librarians for this idea! If anyone creates one they can share, please do! Here are some sample bookmarks.

5 – Read Library Journal’s Roundup of Statements in Response to Executive Order Impacting the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):
https://www.infodocket.com/2025/03/17/roundup-statements-in-response-to-executive-order-impacting-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services-imls/

6 – Share this information with family, friends, and library patrons, and ask them to contact their Congressional representatives in support of IMLS.

This page was updated on May 3, 2025. (sl)

Vermont Library Association Leaves X (Twitter)

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) deactivated its social media site X (formerly Twitter), and archived its posts on the website at https://vermontlibraries.org/tweets/. The Digital Communications Team and the Executive Board determined that the benefits of being on X were outweighed by the negatives. VLA was active on Twitter from 2012 until November 2024. The archive displays VLA posts, but not replies to other’s posts.

VLA continues to post to:

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/VTLibraryAssociation/

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vlalib

LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/vermontlibraries/?viewAsMember=true

Flickr at https://www.flickr.com/photos/vermontlibraryassociation/

And occasionally to:

YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/vermontlibraries

Updated April 23, 2025 (sl)

VLA 2024 Graduate Student Scholarship Applications Due November 15

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) Scholarship & Awards Committee is accepting applications for the 2024 Graduate Student Scholarship. Up to $1,500 is available for VLA members pursuing an MLS or MLIS degree.

To be eligible, applicants must:

be enrolled in an MLS/MLIS program;
be an active VLA member;
live in Vermont and/or work in a Vermont library, and;
not have received a scholarship from VLA in the past two years.

The deadline for applications is November 15, 2024, with the scholarship sent to the institution for the spring 2025 semester. For complete details and to apply visit the VLA Graduate Student Scholarship webpage.

Civic Engagement, Voter Outreach, and Your Public Library

“We live in a democracy; it should never be dismissed as political when we empower, encourage, and enable participation in our democracy,” said Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas in the civic engagement and voter registration webinar co-hosted with the Vermont Department of Libraries.

The presentation provided guidelines and resources for voter outreach and civic engagement programming. “Civic engagement compliments the mission of the library, and centers the library as a community engaged center for civic engagement,” said Joy Worland, Vermont Department of Libraries Consultant for Continuing Education and Small and Rural Libraries.

Everything libraries do must be nonpartisan. “You want to invite people in, not alienate people,” Worland said. “The library is for everyone.”

“Time and time again I am reminded how important libraries and librarians are to the social and civic fabric of our towns, and the critical role you play in helping people connect with information and resources,” Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas said.

For those who could not attend or who want to revisit the presentation, the webinar recording is available here: Civic Engagement, Voter Outreach, and Your Public Library

For ease of access, resources mentioned in the webinar are listed below. The Vermont Department of Libraries presentation slides are posted at the end of the list.

NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY RESOURCES (September 17, 2024)
National Voter Registration Day Website

National Voter Registration Day 2024 Social Media Toolkit

Hashtags: #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #VoteReady

VERMONT SECRETARY OF STATE RESOURCES
Vermont Voter Registration Drive Information Flier

Vermont Voter Registration Drive “Your Voice, Your Vote” Request for Free Print Resources

Vermont’s My Voter Page, where people can check:
Voter registration status
Absentee ballot status
Mail-in application and ballot status
Poll location
Elected Officials
Registration information on file with the town office
Sample ballot for the upcoming election

Office of the Vermont Secretary of State Social Media Tookkit

Vermont Secretary of State Civics Program Resources

Office of the Secretary of State Social Media:
Instagram: @vtsecretaryofstate

Facebook: Vermont-Secretary-of-State

X (Formerly Twitter): @VermontSOS

Election Security in Vermont Video

ALA RESOURCES
Reader. Voter. Ready.

Libraries and Voter Engagement

2024 Election Collaboration Toolkit

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC): Register Parents and Caregivers to Vote at Storytime

BOOK LISTS
Denver Public Library Voting Books for Adults

Denver Public Library Books on Voting for Teens

Social Justice Books: Voting Rights (Children, Youth, and Adults)

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RESOURCES
Vote 411

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES PRESENTATION SLIDES

Vermont Secretary of State Presentation Slides presented by Robyn Palmer, Director of Civic and Voter Engagement.

Written and compiled by Susan Ujka Larson, MLIS (she/they), VLA Digital Communications Volunteer
Last update September 7, 2024

Vermont Libraries Receive American Library Association Disaster Relief Funds

Two Vermont libraries significantly damaged by flooding in July 2023 received money through the American Library Association (ALA) Disaster Relief Fund. Ainsworth Public Library in Williamstown and Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier each received a $2,200 grant to be used for repairs.

“Kellogg-Hubbard Library suffered nearly $1.5 million in damage from last July’s floods, with all of our mechanical systems destroyed,” said Dan Groberg, executive director of Kellogg-Hubbard.

Flood waters cover the ground around Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, VT, on July 11, 2023.

Flood waters surround Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, VT, on July 11, 2023. Photo provided by Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Piles of trash outside Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, VT, following destructive flooding in July 2023.

Piles of trash outside Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, VT, following disastrous flooding in July 2023. Photo provided by Kellogg-Hubbard Library.

Ainsworth Public Library’s basement flooded. “In addition to our furnace, we lost about $25,000 in books, supplies, electronics, and furniture,” said director Sarah Snow. That amount does not include the cost of cleanup. “We had to hire professionals to remove everything from the basement because of hazardous materials there,” she said.

“The American Library Association promoted the needs of Vermont libraries through the ALA Disaster Relief Fund, and managed the many generous donations that came from all over the country,” said Vermont Library Association (VLA) vice president/president elect Mary Danko, director of Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. VLA managed the administration of the grants.

“We are so grateful for the support of VLA and libraries across the United States in helping us restore and upgrade our historic building so that we can better serve our community and be more climate resilient,” said Groberg.

The American Library Association’s Disaster Relief Fund provides money to libraries in the U.S. and around the world that have been damaged or destroyed due to natural or man-made disasters. Donations to Vermont libraries are still being accepted through the ALA Disaster Relief Fund web page. Please type “Vermont” in the tribute line.

Note: At the time of this writing, Vermont libraries are assessing flood damage caused by Hurricane Beryl’s remnants on July 10 and 11, 2024. The Vermont Department of Libraries is asking libraries impacted to report the level of damage using this online form: https://forms.office.com/g/U1su9yeiGU

By Susan Larson, MLIS, VLA Digital Communications Volunteer

2024 Fall Professional Development Grant Applications Due August 1

Applications are due by Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, for the next round of Vermont Library Association Professional Development Grants. Up to $250 is available for VLA members to attend a professional development program such as a workshop, conference, or continuing education course. Priority is given by monetary need, library involvement, leadership, and commitment to Vermont libraries.

To be eligible, applicants must:
– Be an active VLA member;
– Live in Vermont and/or work in a Vermont library; and
– Have not received a scholarship from VLA in the past two years.

Winners will be notified on September 1. Grant recipients are required to write a brief account of their professional development opportunity for VLA News, our quarterly email newsletter.

Please visit our VLA Professional Development Grant web page for complete details and the application.

Vermont Library Conference 2024 Presentation PDFs

Libraries Empowering Communities: Standing Together in Uncertain Times was the theme of the Vermont Library Association’s 2024 annual conference, held on Monday, May 20, at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center in Killington, Vermont. Following in alphabetical order by title are presentations made available to us by the speakers. Click the link to view and/or download the pdf.

PRESENTATIONS

Brick by Brick: Building Empowered Communities through LEGO Robotics
Presented by Mary Neffinger.

Career and Professional Development Resources for Your Patrons
Presented by April Shaw, Vermont Department of Libraries Government Services and Reference Librarian.

Creating a Share and Repair Library of Things
Presented by Suzanne Krohn (she/they), Richmond Free Library outreach and programming assistant.

Empowerment Through Access: An Update on the Statewide Shared Digital Collection
Presented by Jillian Scarson, Palace Project Partner Success Leader, and Lauren Kelley, Vermont Department of Libraries Technical Services Librarian

Fun & Friendly Competition: Trivia Night 101
Presented by Meg Malone (she/her), Burnham Memorial Library (Colchester) Young Adult Services Librarian and Interlibrary Loan Coordinator.

Keynote Address (on YouTube)
Presented by Emily Drabinski, American Library Association 2023-24 president. Her presentation begins at 22:30 in the recording.

Making Space in Vermont: A New NASA Grant to Support Vermont Public Libraries
Presented by Ellen Brennan, program administrator for the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and NASA’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Recognizing Stress, Employing Self Care, and Avoiding Burnout in Today’s Library Landscape
Presented by Nicole Klett, assistant librarian at Essex High School CTE Library, and a board-certified health and wellness coach.

Red Clover: Beyond the Classroom
Presented by Hannah Fjeld, Liv Perry, Kate Lucia, and Abby Adams.

Vermont Golden Dome Books Awarded and Nominated for 2024
Presented by the Golden Dome Book Award Committee.

Why Patron Privacy Matters and How You Can Protect It
Presented by Trina Magi, award-winning librarian at the University of Vermont Howe Memorial Library.

Young Adult Diverse Books Book Club Takes “Last Night at the Telegraph Club” to Boston
Presented by Susan Piccoli, Woodstock High School and Middle School librarian, and 2021 Vermont Humanities Victor R. Swenson Award recipient.

Other VLA Conference Resources:

2024 Vermont Library Conference Home Page

2024 Vermont Library Conference Session Descriptions

2024 Vermont Library Conference Speaker Bios

2024 Vermont Library Conference Presentation PDFs

Vermont Library Association Conference Committee

Vermont Library Association Past Conferences Archive

Last update June 27, 2024 (sl)

The Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont Receives 2024 Green Mountain Award

The Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont received the Vermont Library Association’s 2024 Green Mountain Award, which recognizes outstanding service, support, or exceptional contributions to Vermont libraries.

“The final, comprehensive report authored by the group lays out a series of important recommendations which are already resulting in significant legislative discussion at the Statehouse,” said VLA President Oceana Wilson in presenting the award.

Vermont Department of Libraries State Librarian and Library Commissioner Catherine Delneo served as the Working Group’s Chair, and Assistant State Librarian Tom McMurdo served as chair prior to her tenure. Other members of the group were:

Kelly McCagg – Vermont Library Association President (2022-2023) and Past President (2023-2024), and Director of Burnham Memorial Library
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup – Executive Director of the Vermont Humanities Council
Jeannette Bair – Public Library Representative, Retired Director, Rochester Public Library
Susan O’Connell – Public Library Representative, Director, Craftsbury Public Library
Wendy Sharkey – Public Library Representative, Director, Bennington Free Library
Meg Allison – Past-President, Legislative Concerns Chair, Vermont School Library Association, Librarian, U32 High School, Montpelier
Karen McCalla – Vermont School Library Association Representative, Teacher Librarian, Mill River Union Middle/High School, North Clarendon
Maria Avery – Academic Library Representative, University of Vermont Libraries, Burlington
Denise Hersey – Academic Library Representative, Director, Dana Health Sciences Library, University of Vermont, Burlington
Andy Kolovos – Friends and Trustees Section Representative, Vermont Library Association, Trustee, Brownell Library, Associate Director and Archivist, Vermont Folklife, Middlebury

Thank you to Jonathan Clark of the Vermont Department of Libraries for the photo of members of the working group receiving the award at VLA’s May 2024 conference.

Last update June 12, 2024