The VLA News is back in 2011 in a new email format. If you’d like to begin receiving the VLA News in your inbox, simply fill out the short form on the VLA website to opt-in:

Opt-in to VLA News – http://www.vermontlibraries.org/vla-news

You may also sign up by checking yes to “receiving the VLA newsletter via email” on your 2011 VLA Membership Form when you renew.

2011 VLA Membership Form – http://www.vermontlibraries.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2011VLAmembershipForm.pdf

The first issue of the VLA News will go out in early January, so don’t forget to renew your VLA membership so you can enjoy this member only benefit!

Happy New Year!

Helen Linda
VLA Editorial Committee Chair
vermontlibrariesnews@gmail.com

Cindy Weber
VLA Membership Committee Chair
cindy@williston.lib.vt.us

I am forwarding this message from the ALA Washington Office and hope that you will follow-up with calls to Congressman Welch’s office NOW asking that he support the Museum and Library Services Act. This bill will re-authorize the work the LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) federal funding that fuels so many library program across the country. LSTA funding is absolutely critical to quality public library support in Vermont.

LSTA in Vermont is used to support:

• DOL library consultant program for public libraries
• Summer reading program for children and teens
• Cooperative Interlibrary loan program with UVM so that citizens can borrow from UVM collections
• Vermont Automated Library System (VALS)
• Continuing education program for public library employees
• Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
• Resource sharing grants for public and academic libraries
• First Wednesday programs in nine public libraries
• Vermont Online Library databases

Ask Congressman Welch to support this bill for full reauthorization of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the LSTA funding. See below for more information.

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In our rural state, many libraries are staffed by a single staff person, or by a very small staff. This can make it a challenge to accomplish large projects within a short time period, have an extended vacation, or take advantage of a professional development opportunity. Also, those librarians who work part-time sometimes would like to expand their experience, network and income with additional work within their profession.

The Vermont Library Association (VLA), Green Mountain Library Consortium (GMLC) and Vermont Consortium of Academic Libraries (VCAL) are excited to introduce the Vermont Library Substitute Pool!

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Vermont librarians are welcome at the Citizens in a Connected Age workshop, December 11 at Castleton State College. A similar workshop will be given March 5, 2011 in Lyndonville. Vermont public librarians attending will receive 5 technology certification credits after completing an evaluation. Joanna Cummings of the Snelling Center for Government organized the workshop as the e-Vermont Community Coordinator. Libraries do not need to be part of the e-Vermont grant to attend.

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The New England Library Association is holding its annual conference in Burlington in October 2011. The NELA conference committee is busy making preparations and need help from some Vermonters to assistant in designing programs and making connections with Vermont’s resources.

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Hello, all you creative librarians: The Collaborative Summer Library Program and the Vermont Department of Libraries are co-sponsoring a teen video challenge to make a Public Service Announcement promoting reading, libraries and the 2011 summer program, “You are Here,” a theme designed to promote awareness of other cultures and places as well as individual differences. Please let your teens know about this opportunity. States all over the country will be participating in this CSLP challenge, and there will be a winning video for each state. That video will be used as one of the official teen PSAs for next summer. The creator of the video will win $250 from CSLP, and the public library with which he/she is affiliated, will get $100.

The entry form, rules, downloadable brochures and other information are all available here: http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/srp/childrenteen/teenvideocontest

The teens can work by themselves or as part of a library program. This is a great opportunity to showcase some Vermont talent!

Deadline for completing the video and getting the forms to me is: March 4, 2011