The 2010 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Survey (sometimes called the Plinter survey) funded by the American Library Association and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was opened to libraries for participation September 7, 2010. Libraries participating in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Opportunity Online Hardware Grant Program are required to participate in the survey, but all Vermont public libraries are encouraged to submit data.
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Tag Archives: VTlib
Best Small Library in America Award
If your library service area is under 25,000, consider applying for the Library Journal Best Small Library in America award. Entries must be postmarked November 5, 2010. The award is sponsored by LJ and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Prize: $15,000 cash award, a feature story in the February 1, 2011, Library Journal, membership and conference costs for two library representatives to attend the Public Library Association Biannual Conference in 2012 in Philadelphia, PA.
Full information: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA606273.html
A Day for Friends
We have just received word that the Day for Friends has been canceled. Friends are instead invited to attend The Vermont Library Trustee Association Annual Conference on Saturday,November 6, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. This year’s keynote speaker is Sally Gardner Reed, Director of the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF). Registration information will be available soon.
Library Support Staff Certification Funding Available
The Library Support Staff Certification (LSSC) Program is a national, voluntary certification program administered by the American Library Association-Allied Profession Association (ALA-APA). The LSSC Program is partially funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
The Library Support Staff Certification Program is now accepting applications for 55 subsidies of $200 from LSSC Candidates to enroll in and complete LSSC-approved courses. Candidates who receive a subsidy award will receive a $200 reimbursement after they pay for, and complete, an LSSC-approved course.
To apply for a subsidy, candidates must be accepted in the LSSC Program by September 15, 2010. Subsidy recipients must successfully complete one of LSSC’s Approved Courses by April 1, 2011.
Application information is available on the LSSC For Candidates page. Candidates must apply for the subsidy by September 15. The LSSC Program staff will select recipients using a random selection process and announce subsidy awards on September 27.
For more information, please contact LSSC Program staff.(lssc@ala.org).
Building Communities Grant Program – 4 Grants Available
The Building Communities Grants Programs consist of five grant programs established and funded by the Vermont Legislature to “help communities preserve important historic buildings and enhance community facilities”. All of these grant programs, with the exception of the Barn Grants, require that the applicant be a non-profit organization or municipality. The deadlines for all five occur in the fall, and selections are made by individual boards through an established selection process. All grants require a match; matching funds from local fundraising efforts are encouraged. The grants of interest to public libraries:
Historic Preservation Grant Program
www.HistoricVermont.org
Cultural Facilities Grant Program
www.vermontartscouncil.org
Recreational Facilities Grant Program
http://bgs.vermont.gov/formsandpublications
Human Services & Educational Facilities Grant Program
http://bgs.vermont.gov/formsandpublications
Vermont Online Survey Goes Out to Libraries
The Vermont Online Library (VOL) Committee will be sending out an electronic survey to libraries in the next week to gather information about what online products they would like see included in the Vermont Online Library (collection of information databases) in the next contract cycle, 2011-2015. The survey will be sent out to all Vermont school, public and academic libraries. All libraries should complete a survey, including libraries that currently do not subscribe to VOL. Only one person per library should return the survey. The deadline for completing the survey is August 27. The VOL Committee will review survey results before issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to vendors and making the final decisions about what online content will be included in VOL beginning in 2011.
Call for Papers: History of State Libraries
State Library Agencies: A Special Issue of Libraries & The Cultural Record
Libraries & The Cultural Record, a peer-reviewed journal of history published by the University of Texas Press, invites submissions for a special issue devoted to exploring historical perspectives on state library agencies in the United States. Contributors are encouraged to consider the topic in diverse ways. Possible themes might include (but are not limited to):
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:
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.
Book Mending Basics
Sign up for the free Book Mending course August 11 from 10 AM to 12 Noon at the Quechee Library. Ellen Allman discusses when to mend and when to discard or send to a professional. Bring books which need repairing and, if you have them, basic book mending materials for discussion. Sign up at Book Mending or use the Continuing Education Calendar on the DOL website, http://evanced.info/vtdol/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
Amy Howlett
VT Department of Libraries