Tag Archives: Vermont Library Association Scholarship and Awards Committee

Nominations Due May 1 for 2025 Vermont Library Association Awards

Nominations are now open for four Vermont Library Association awards. They are:

The Birdie Award, created in March 2014 as a memorial to University of Vermont librarian Birdie MacLennan, and to honor outstanding librarians like her. This award is given to a Vermont librarian or recently retired librarian who has provided outstanding service in the field of technical services.

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

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. Nominees for the Sarah C. Hagar award must be working in a Vermont library and be a member of VLA. Examples of “outstanding service” include but are not limited to:

  • providing outstanding service in one’s field of expertise such as children’s services, reference, technical services, or administration.
  • providing professional library leadership in areas such as legislation, intellectual freedom, literacy, or writing.
  • encouraging community support for and involvement with the library at the local or state level.

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. Nominations may be submitted by any library trustee, library board, librarian, friends group member, or VLA member. Examples include but are not limited to:

  • seeking legislative action for programs that would benefit libraries throughout the state or region.
  • leadership to increase the quality of library service.
  • creating model programs to overcome a major local library problem.
  • promoting public awareness and building support for the library.
  • developing adequate physical facilities for a library.

Who inspires you? Acknowledge this individual by nominating them for a Vermont Library Association Award, using the following forms. Nominations are due by Thursday, May 1, 2025.

Honoring Retirees
Are you retiring or know a librarian who is? If that librarian is also a VLA member we want to honor them at the annual Vermont Library Conference. Email pcartier@vermontlaw.edu with their name, library, and position.

For more information, visit the Vermont Library Association Scholarship and Awards Committee webpage, or email Committee Chairperson Pamela Cartier at pcartier@vermontlaw.edu.

April 6, 2025 (sl)

 

Natacha Liuzzi, a smiling white woman with gray hair, and Erin Davison, a smiling white woman with curly hair, standing behind a stack of books.

Professional Development Grant Winners Fall 2022

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) Scholarship and Awards Committee is pleased to announce two winners for the Fall 2022 VLA Professional Development Grant.

Natacha Liuzzi (left in picture), Children’s Specialist at South Burlington Public Library, will attend “The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future,” a six-week Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) online course. The class will give participants a solid grounding in the history of the Newbery Medal and how it has changed over time; an opportunity to read, discuss, and consider past and present Newbery winners; a chance to talk to former Newbery Committee members and a Newbery author; and suggestions for programming using Newbery-winning books. The VLA grant will help defray the cost of the class.

Erin Davison, Youth Services Librarian at Norwich Public Library, will attend the New England Library Association (NELA) 2022 Annual Conference from October 23 through 25. The conference will give her the opportunity to connect with and learn from librarians in the region as she navigates rural librarianship for the first time in her career. The VLA grant will help defray the costs of the conference.

VLA’s Professional Development Grant, managed by the Scholarship and Awards Committee, provides the recipient with up to $250 for a professional development program such as a workshop, conference, or continuing education course. Applications are accepted twice a year (deadlines are May 1 and August 7), and priority is given by monetary need, library involvement, leadership, and commitment to Vermont libraries. Grant recipients are required to write a brief account of their professional development opportunity for VLA News, our quarterly email newsletter. For more information, and to apply, visit the Vermont Library Association Professional Development Grant webpage.