Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Broadband Assessment Project Survey: Please return by January 16, 2009

I am writing to inform you about a new project sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, part of their effort to improve high-quality technology services in public libraries. Please read this letter about how you will provide important information regarding Internet connectivity in your library.

This is a new survey, and is different from other surveys and questionnaires you have received concerning Internet service in your library.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently launched the Broadband Assessment Project, a nationwide effort to collect detailed information about Internet connections in all public libraries in the United States. Information gathered in this effort will help the Foundation and its partners raise awareness of the need for high-quality Internet in public libraries and how to meet this need.

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The National Endowment for the Humanities “Small Grants to Libraries” program brings humanities public programming to libraries across the country. This current grant program provides financial support to libraries for the planning, arranging, administering, and promoting of the traveling exhibition, “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War.”

Deadline for grants: January 30, 2009.

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As part of an information gathering exercise for the ALA Washington Office, I need to know if there are any “shovel ready” library construction projects in our state. If your library is planning such a project (renovation or new construction) and you are far enough in the planning that you could start building in the near future, I want to hear from you. I am especially interested in public libraries, but want to hear about other library projects, too.

When the Obama administration begins to look for projects to “put people to work” we want to be able to suggest the idea of library construction.

I need to know:

• Name of library and contact person/info;
• Kind of project (new building; addition; renovation, etc.);
• Estimated cost of project;
• Expected start date for construction.
• Even if you have already contracted with an architect or builder, I’d like to know about your plans.

Please contact me immediately so I can compile a list.

Marty
_____________________________
Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
Tel: (802) 828-3265
Fax: (802) 828-2199
martha.reid@mail.dol.state.vt.us

New England Technical Services Librarians (NETSL) Executive Board is seeking nominations for its annual NETSL Award for Excellence in Library Technical Services.

The NETSL Award recognizes and honors significant New England-based contributions to the field of library technical services. Contributions may have been made in New England by librarians from throughout the United States, or nationally by librarians residing in New England, through publications, service, or innovations in practice. The NETSL Executive Board members select a recipient at their February meeting based on nominations received. The Board reserves the right to suspend the Award for a year if no suitable candidate is nominated.

The next NETSL Award will be presented at the annual NETSL Spring Conference, April 17, 2009, at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

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A representative from each organization is needed immediately to fill the positions of the 2010 Vermont Library Conference co-chairs-in-training. We realize these positions require a commitment of time and attention, and this year we have implemented stipends for the co-chairs and co-chairs-in-training. Planning for the 2010 conference must begin now. Without a co-chair-in-training from each organization in place by Friday, December 19th, the 2010 conference will be canceled. The two boards will then begin discussions on how our organizations can continue to provide invaluable professional and networking opportunities for all Vermont librarians.

Please contact Judah Hamer or Sue Monmaney by December 19th if you are interested in serving as a 2010 VLC co-chair.

Sincerely,

Judah Hamer:  jshamer@gmail.com
Sue Monmaney:  susanm@mpsvt.org

Our Vermont Library Conference web site was just posted, thanks to Jessica Allard and Larraby Fellows…Hurrah! Check it out:

http://www.vermontlibraryconference.org

We will be adding to the site regularly so come often and invite your friends and co-workers to also check it out.

Send any additions or corrections to Jessica Allard, Larraby Fellows or me.

Barbara Doyle-Wilch

There was a great story yesterday on NBC about library use in hard economic times.

The Green Mountain Book Award (GMBA) is once again partnering with the Young Writer’s Project (YWP). For this partnership to be a success we need your help. Teachers, librarians and parents: encourage your students to get involved!

The Young Writers Project (www.youngwritersproject.org) is an interactive website (wiki) where “writers share ideas, comment on each other’s work, learn from mentors and professionals and connect with the world”. Click on their “about us” link to learn all about this amazing website for teens who love to write, want to discuss their work and to learn more about the writing process.

Geoff Gevalt of YWP has put our 2008-2009 GMBA list front and center on their website. Just head to: youngwritersproject.org/GMBA

From there you can access the GMBA forum and link to additional resources about Vermont’s teen book award. The forum offers reviews of the titles and encourages students to comment on the 2008-2009 list. Be sure to remind students who have read 3 nominated titles to vote for their favorite in the spring of 2009.

Once you’re there, check out all that the Young Writers Project has to offer. It’s a great website with many exciting writing opportunities.

Greetings,

The new edition of the DOL News is now available on the Vermont Department of Libraries website at: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/news

This issue is being distributed as an electronic document and will be mailed only to public libraries lacking email accounts.

Please be sure that copies get to Library Trustees and others in your library organization.

Marty
—–
Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
Tel: (802) 828-3265
Fax: (802) 828-2199
martha.reid@mail.dol.state.vt.us

The Vermont Arts Council is again participating in the project of the National Endowment of the Arts called The Big Read. The book chosen for 2009 is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, a searing indictment of censorship. The Council will provide schools and libraries with ten copies of Fahrenheit 451 plus teacher’s guides, audio guides, and a supply of reader’s guides. (If you want to order more copies of the book, the Arts Council has a very affordable source.)

Each school or library can determine how to best use this opportunity and resources. Since the project spans January-May 2009, the book can be integrated into your programming anytime this winter.

For more information, or to sign up see: http://vermontartscouncil.org/Community/TheBigRead/tabid/702/Default.aspx

A tip: the email on the site for the contact person, Lindy Harty, has a period at the end which you have to remove to make the email work.

Theresa Faust adds that the Vermont Department of Libraries has Fahrenheit 451 in both large print and talking book formats!

Jessamyn West adds: “New Hampshire read this book last year. So anyone needing extra copies of the book can go ask a NH library. They made a little blog for the project http://bigreadnh.blogspot.com/”

Also Debra Edmands tell me that for either $5 or $10 plus shipping, a library may rent 15 copies of this book for a 2 month period from Talking About Books. See www.talkingaboutbooks.com for more info.

Grace Worcester Greene
Children’s Services Consultant
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609
802-828-6954
Fax: 802-828-1481
grace.greene@mail.dol.state.vt.us