What follows is the gist of the Attorney General’s opinion on the new confidentiality statute.

1. Public libraries must keep records of patrons 16 or older confidential unless the patron waives that right.
2. Public libraries have “limited discretion” expanding the scope of confidentiality of library records. The opinion says they must disclose the records of patrons under 16 if requested by parents.

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Librarians have many questions about the new Confidentiality Statute that becomes effective July 1, 2008.

State Librarian, Sybil McShane asked the Attorney General to review the law in reference to existing statutes and in consideration of some of the questions we have. Once the AG’s office has reported back we will provide more specific guidelines for implementation to all VLA members, VT Libraries and Trustees. VLAIFC will offer policy writing workshops throughout the state for the above mentioned groups in the near future.

An updated sample public library privacy and confidentiality policy is available on the website as part of the Intellectual Freedom Toolkit. It can also be found at www.sherburnelibrary.org.

Keep watching the VLA website for more information.

Gail Weymouth

VLAIFC chair

802 422 9765

Check here for resources, news, and events relating to Vermont’s special and academic libraries:  C&SL Wiki

Date: Wednesday, August 20, from 1-4 pm
Location: Durick Library at Saint Michael’s College in Colchester.

The topic is Innovations in Reference service and in Promotion of reference service in light of the national trend of declining reference statistics

RSVP to Michele McCaffrey by August 1. More details to come as well as parking information, directions, etc.

Michele R. McCaffrey
Reference & Instruction Librarian/Reference Coordinator
Durick Library, St. Michael’s College
Box L, One Winooski Park
Colchester, VT 05439
mmccaffrey@smcvt.edu
802-654-2411

Secretary of Administration Mike Smith announced that Martha Reid of South Burlington has accepted the position of State Librarian.  A copy of the press release may be found here:
http://www.libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/misc/appt.pdf

New public librarians in the last few months include the following. Send your public library additions to the list for a routine posting to Amy Howlett, amy.howlett@mail.dol.state.vt.us

Mary Wheeler, Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield

Susan Smolinski, Arvin A. Brown Public library, Richford

Mary Moser Kashner, Pawlet Public Library

Thelma Georgeson, R. K. Kittay Public Library,Rupert

Michelle Hayes, children’s librarian,Whiting Library, Chester

Jane Napier, children’s librarian, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier

Célina Houlné, director, Rockingham Free Public Library, Bellows Falls

Melissa Worden, Lydia Taft Pratt Library, Dummers