Vermont Library Association

Live Demos of Koha and Evergreen Open Source Library System

HelenL — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:34:48 +0000

Posted on behalf of Mary White, Director of the Howe Library (Hanover, NH)

To all:

The Howe Library in Hanover, NH is seriously looking at Koha with LibLime and Evergreen with Equinox. We intend to send out our RFP in July and hope to make a decision in September.

With that in mind, we have made arrangements to have live demos at the Howe Library and wish to invite any NH and VT (and others) librarians that wish to come. It wasn’t easy to get them to come but we assured them that many libraries, not just the Howe Library, are interested.

DATES:

Live demo of Koha with LibLime:
Thursday, July 23
9:30 – 11:30

Live demo of Evergreen with Equinox:
Thursday, August 13
9:30 – 11:30

DIRECTIONS and PARKING:
http://howelibrary.org/interior.php/pid/6/sid/41
Please, please DO NOT park in the library parking lot. Please use the parking garage diagonally across from the library. There is a slight fee for this parking.

COST:
Absolutely free. The Howe Library will serve coffee and munchies. If you want to donate a dollar to the coffee fund, that would be wonderful. Just pay for your parking in the garage.

MAKING A RESERVATION:
I will not ask anyone to respond to tell me that they are coming because I will drown in e-mails. The room we will be holding this seats 100 people easily. If more come, we will just get cozy. Legally it seats 177.

WHICH ENTRANCE?:
The library does not open until 10:00, so please enter via the REAR, LOWER ENTRANCE, which we will have unlocked for you. The meeting room (Mayer Room) is on that lower level.

Please spread the word about these two sessions. We look forward to hosting you.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
I have talked with Michael York a couple times about the Howe Library’s plans. As I said, we won’t be making a decision until September but will definitely be talking with the State Library before we make our final decision.

If we do jump ship and migrate to an open source ILS, we won’t make the switch until June 2010.

We had a web demo of Evergreen/Equinox a few weeks ago and were very impressed. By the time they do the live demo at the Howe Library, they will have their acquisitions module up and running. They are working with King County Library System on this.

I am on VACATION THIS WEEK, so please don’t email or call me until next week should you have any questions!

Thank you. We look forward to hosting many of you.

Mary White, Director
Howe Library
Hanover, NH
603-640-3251
mary.h.white@thehowe.org

Updated Library Use Calculator

HelenL — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:28:00 +0000

The new version looks and works the same as the previous version, it’s just easier for libraries to implement. Instead of having to muck around with coding, libraries can now embed it in their website web 2.0-style, just by copy/pasting a bit of code (like a YouTube video).

http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/librarycalculator/

Brian Herzog is asking folks to “Please check out the new calculator, and
add it to your library website – let me know if you need help.”

http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/2009/06/30/demonstrating-the-value-of-libraries

You can contact him here:
http://www.swissarmylibrarian.net/contact

Application deadline for Hathaway Award (Vermont Historical Society)

HelenL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:25:12 +0000

Please note that the deadline for receiving nominations for the 2009 Hathaway Award is coming up fast on August 1. The Publications and Research Committee of the Vermont Historical Society would like you to think about potential candidates, and to encourage them or their representatives to submit an application. The Hathaway Award is given annually for an outstanding contribution to the field of Vermont history produced in the previous calendar year, and includes a $1,000 prize. Projects may include, but are not limited to, publications, exhibits, works of art, documentary films, radio programs, websites, and dramatic works. Additional information and the application (attached here) are available on the VHS website. If you have questions, please contact Alan Berolzheimer at 802-649-2857 or bercress@sover.net.

ACRL NEC Scholarly Communication 101 Workshop

HelenL — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:58:26 +0000

What: Scholarly Communication 101 Workshop
Who: Sponsored by the ACRL NEC Scholarly Communication SIG
Where: Hosted by the Dartmouth College Library, Hanover NH
When: Thursday, July 23rd from 9:30AM-3:00PM

Description: This free workshop is for librarians, academic computing specialists, and faculty with a special interest in an introduction to these issues.

What you will learn:

Copy rights and author rights
Access and economics of scholarly publishing
Evolving models of scholarly and scientific publishing

The workshop includes lectures, interactive group exercises and opportunities to think about how you will take this information back to your institution. The day includes a hosted lunch and opportunities to meet people in the region with similar concerns and interests.

Please register by sending email to: Carolyn.Mills@uconn.edu with the following information:

Name

Institution

Phone

Any dietary preferences for lunch

Details of the workshop will be sent to you.

SchCom SIG Co-Chairs
Barbara DeFelice barbara.defelice@dartmouth.edu
Carolyn Mills Carolyn.Mills@uconn.edu

VLA Awards for 2009

GGreene — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:11:04 +0000

At the 2009 Vermont Library Conference, the Vermont Library Association presented awards to two outstanding Vermont librarians: Michael Roche and Amy Grasmick, and to one terrific trustee: Tina Rotella.

Michael Roche, the librarian at the Department of Libraries Northeast Regional Library and consultant for about 50 public libraries in the area, received the Sarah C. Hagar Award, given for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont. Many of the directors in his region wrote letters of nomination, all emphasizing his responsiveness, clear thinking and approachability. One librarian ended her letter with: “Michael is always there for us—answering the tough questions, advocating for better library service and sharing his wisdom, insight and experience.”

The Green Mountain Award went to Amy Grasmick, director of the Kimball Library in Randolph, “in appreciation for her courageous and principled defense of patron confidentiality,” in regards to the police investigation during the tragic Brooke Bennett case in June, 2008. When police demanded to seize the library’s computers, Grasmick, rightfully concerned about all the personal information on the computers and following the Board’s policy, stood firm that she could not hand them over without a court order. Eventually the police followed the correct procedures, and Grasmick willingly complied. Her actions showed courage, responsibility and adherence to the law—a good example for all librarians and citizens alike.

In addition to awards for librarians, VLA also gives out a trustee award, this year to Tina Rotella of the Rutland Free Library. In her nominating letter, Director Paula Baker cited Rotella’s amazing ability to do fundraising: “Through Tina’s goal setting, plans and leadership we have moved ahead dramatically. During her tenure our annual fund drive has increased net income by 300%….But beyond the money she has found for the library, she must be recognized for her ability to inspire a greater level of effort from all of us. Where there might be doubt, she is fearless. Where there is need she takes action.” Rotella is clearly an amazing asset for the Rutland Library.

ALA Washington Office Webinar: Cracking the Congressional Code

NWilson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:34:33 +0000

Join us for an ALA Washington Office Webinar where Kristin Murphy (ALA Washington Office) and Stephanie Vance (Advocacy Guru), both survivors of Capitol Hill, explain many of the mysterious workings of Congress. Don’t know your appropriation from your authorization? Aren’t sure what a subcommittee markup is (or why you should care)? Wondering if a Continuing Resolution really is as boring as it sounds? This session will bring you up to speed on key Congressional activities, how they might impact libraries in the near future and, most important, what you can do about it. Come prepared to learn more about “Dear Colleagues,” “Cloture” and “Floor Proceedings” than you ever thought you would.

ACLU First Amendment Conference – Registration Deadline 6/23/09

HelenL — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:26:45 +0000

MONTPELIER-“ The First Amendment is being asked to do more as technology transforms the way thoughts and beliefs are expressed, and free speech lines are questioned.

“Thought and Expression in a Changing World” is the topic of a day-long conference Monday, June 29 in South Burlington sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont.

Speakers will include Catherine Crump, an attorney with the National ACLU’s First Amendment Working Group, and Dan Barrett, staff attorney at the ACLU-VT. Other Vermont attorneys will participate on panels discussing specific cases and incidents, including recent controversies involving broadcast of the Al Jazeera-English channel on a local cable TV system and images placed on locally manufactured snowboards.

The morning session will begin with an overview of First Amendment rights, and how courts have ruled in recent free speech cases. The afternoon session will focus on freedom in cyberspace and challenges posed by digital technologies. A new state law on Coesexting will be examined, details of a U.S. District Court case involving laptop searches at the border with Canada will be discussed, and the issue of cyber-bullying and whether schools can discipline students for out-of-school conduct will be reviewed.

The conference is designed for citizens, policy-makers, attorneys, educators, and others who want to explore free speech rights in the digital age. Attorneys may earn four hours of Continuing Legal Education credits by attending.

The conference takes place at the Windjammer Conference Center at the Best Western Hotel on Williston Road in South Burlington and runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More information, including registration details, is available at www.acluvt.org or by calling the ACLU at 223-6304, x114. The registration deadline is June 23.

NELA Annual Conference

kroberson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:11:38 +0000

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Camila Alire, ALA President-Elect, will be joining us at the next New England Library Association (NELA) Annual Conference in October 2009. Dr. Alire will be leading a special ALA Forum on Sunday, October 18. Share your thoughts on how ALA should focus its efforts in the next five years. As her presidential initiatives, Dr. Alire will also be sharing her expertise and innovative ideas about Library Advocacy and Literacy in a presentation on Monday, October 19. View initiatives, biography and more on her official website.

SAVE THE DATE

“IT’S HAPPENING IN HARTFORD”
NELA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, OCTOBER 18th 20, 2009
CONNECTICUT CONVENTION CENTER
NELA Annual Conference Preview

For those of you on Linkedin, a new networking group for the New England Library Association was started thanks to Joe Fox. Just type in NELA in the Search Groups field and you will find us. Please consider joining Linkedin and this new group to network and stay in touch with your fellow New England library workers.

NELA Counterparts 2009

kroberson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:58:04 +0000

This summer, the New England Library Association (NELA) presents a unique opportunity for all library workers to attend a mindful and meaningful mini-conference in the New England region. This is NELA Counterparts.

Counterparts 2009 is a two-day educational event for NELA members, state library association members, consortia members and any other interested persons. Scheduled for Thursday and Friday, July 16-17, 2009 on the Connecticut College (New London) campus.

For information on our Speaker, conference details and registration forms, please visit this link:
http://nelib.org/counterparts

Registrations will be accepted until June 30th. Confirmation, agenda and directions will be sent upon receipt of registration.

Reference Round Table

HelenL — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:11:50 +0000

Friday, August 7, 1-4pm at Kreitzberg Library at Norwich University

Topic: How reference has changed in college and university libraries and online tools for tracking reference statistics.

The meeting will start with introductions and open discussion about how reference has changed in our libraries which will be followed by a panel discussion on online tools for tracking reference statistics. Please save the date, more details to come.