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Vermont Library Freedom to Read Statement

Intellectual freedom is the right of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. Intellectual freedom is one of the core values of the library profession and a basic right in our democratic society; it promotes access to information and guides the defense against censorship.

In 1953, the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers jointly released The Freedom to Read Statement. This statement reminded us that, “The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is continuously under attack” (ALA, 2004). Now, seventy years later, a resurgence of attacks on the freedom to read again threatens our democracy. Calls for book bans, the adoption of unconstitutional legislation, and campaigns to criminalize librarians for distributing materials protected by the First Amendment threaten our fundamental liberties.

Vermont librarians are joining together to emphatically reaffirm their commitment to the values expressed in the American Library Association’s intellectual freedom documents, including The Freedom to Read Statement. We believe all Vermonters deserve free access to materials that function as windows and mirrors, both reflecting individuals’ experiences and providing expanded, diverse views of the world (Bishop, 1990). We also believe that people are only truly free when they can read freely.

Jointly issued by the governing boards of the Vermont School Library Association and the Vermont Library Association, January 2024.

REFERENCES

American Library Association. “The Freedom To Read Statement.” ALA Advocacy, 2004,
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement

Bishop, Rudine Simms. “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors.” Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, vol. 6, no. 3, 1990.
https://scenicregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Mirrors-Windows-and-Sliding-Glass-Doors.pdf

Vermont Library Association Conference 2024 Call for Proposals

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) is seeking presenters for “Libraries Empowering Communities: Standing Together in Uncertain Times,” our 129th annual conference scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2024. Proposals are due by Monday, March 4, 2024.

Libraries are facing unprecedented challenges to our profession. Through this one-day conference, we seek ways to empower and connect our communities with resources, prepare to protect intellectual freedom, and offer solidarity from our smallest libraries to our biggest. Learning from each other is powerful and we hope you will share your expertise with fellow library professionals.

We seek presentations of varying topics, but especially encourage proposals on the topics suggested below and sessions that can be scaled to suit smaller and larger libraries.

Topic suggestions:

  • Intellectual Freedom
    • Banned books
    • Book and/or program challenges
    • Censorship
    • Privacy
  • Writing policies to prepare and protect our communities
  • Mitigating the effects of climate change on our collections,  buildings, communities
  • Providing services to unhoused populations/underserved populations
  • Practical ideas for smaller libraries
  • Protecting the self (e.g. self-care, managing stress, preventing burnout)

Sessions will be 50 minutes in length and will include:

  • Hands-on workshop with an activity / discussion
  • Traditional presentation with time for questions
  • Panel with best practices / case studies
  • Author talk with reading
  • Vendor presentations
  • Book Awards and VLA Awards
  • VLA Division roundtable discussions
  • Brief presentation of a single example or project as part of a longer program: 5 Minutes of Fame/Spark presentation

Please submit your proposal online using this form. If your proposal is accepted, the main presenter will receive free admission to the conference. The deadline for proposals is Monday, March 4, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Maria Avery, she/her
VLA 2024 Conference Planning Committee Co-Chair
Community Outreach Manager, University of Vermont Libraries
VLAConference24@vermontlibraries.org

Vermont Library Association 2024 Conference Set for May 20

Join the Vermont Library Association at our 2024 annual conference on Monday, May 20, at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center, 228 E Mountain Road, in Killington, Vermont.

This year’s conference title is Libraries Empowering Communities: Standing Together in Uncertain Times.

Save the date! We will share updates on our conference webpage and on our FacebookInstagram, and X account, as they become available.

Call for Proposals
We seek presentations of varying topics, but especially encourage proposals on the topics suggested on our Call for Proposals webpage and sessions that can be scaled to suit smaller and larger libraries. The deadline for proposals is Monday, March 4, 2024.

2024 Conference Planning Committee Co-Chairs
Dena Marger, she/her
Director, Lydia Taft Pratt Library
150 West Street
Dummerston, VT 05357
802-258-9878
VLAConference24@vermontlibraries.org

Maria Avery, she/her
Community Outreach Manager, University of Vermont Libraries
VLAConference24@vermontlibraries.org

2024 Conference Planning Committee Members
Oceana Wilson, she/her, Dean of the Library, Bennington College
Randal Smathers, he/him, Director, Rutland Free Library
Emma Parks, she/her, Library Support Senior and GIS Consultant, University of Vermont Dana Health Sciences Library
Mary Danko, she/her, Director, Fletcher Free Library
Cory Stephenson, she/her, Director, Moretown Memorial Library
Erin Davison, she/her, Youth Services Librarian, Norwich Public Library
Kelly L. McCagg, she/her, Director, Burnham Memorial Library
Susan Ujka Larson, she/they, Vermont Library Association Digital Communications

Last update January 22, 2024

VLA Executive Committee Seeks Member Input for Strategic Actions

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) Executive Committee will host a Zoom meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 26, to obtain input from VLA members for strategic actions in response to the Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont Final Report.

“This is an important moment for Vermont librarians to determine how best to use our time and resources in the coming years,” said VLA Vice President Mary Danko, director of Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, in an email to members. “We want to understand what your priorities are for you and your libraries.  Gathering information in a collaborative way will spark great conversation that will help to inform VLA’s Strategic Working Group Report Roadmap for the next few years.

To request meeting access, please visit this link: https://zoom.us/j/94960309666?pwd=b0ZwQWIyL1NUaTBOQ1cwY2RmT0gyQT09#success

If you cannot attend the Zoom meeting, you may provide input in a Google doc that the executive committee will email to members at the end of January. If you are not a VLA member you can join at any time at our membership page.

The Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont submitted their final report to the Vermont General Assembly on November 1, 2023.

The group was formed in 2021 when the Vermont State Legislature passed Act 66 (S.115) “relating to making miscellaneous changes in education laws”, which was signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 7, 2021. The group was charged with studying the state’s libraries with the goal of strengthening and supporting libraries of all sizes and improving library services for the public.

See also: Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont Final Report

 

Public Libraries Section Hosts Franklin County Library Tour

“Franklin County is chock full of wonderful public libraries,” said Catherine Goldsmith, president of the Vermont Library Association’s Public Libraries Section, and director of Starksboro Public Library. Goldsmith worked with Josh Worman, director of Haston Library, and the other libraries of FLARE — Franklin Libraries Are Really Excellent — to organize a tour of six Franklin County, Vermont, public libraries on Friday, Nov, 17, 2023.

The tour began at Enosburgh Public Library, and continued to Haston Library, Swanton Public Library, the Franklin/Grand Isle Bookmobile, St. Albans Free Library, and Fairfax Community Library. The following photos were provided by Josh Worman.

 

Enosburgh Public Library director Brenda Stanley (center) welcomes guests on the first stop of the tour.

Enosburgh Public Library director Brenda Stanley (center) welcomes guests on the first stop of the tour.

 

Tour participants gather in front of the Haston Library main desk.

Tour participants gather in front of the Haston Library main desk on the second stop of the tour.  Standing center is Kevin Unrath, Vermont Department of Libraries library consultant for library operations, who participated in the tour.

 

Swanton Public Library, the third stop on the tour, has a beautiful new mural outside the children’s area.

 

Hadley Priebe (right), executive director of the Franklin/Grand Isle Bookmobile (otherwise known as “Figgy”), explains the nuts and
bolts of running the service.

 

St. Albans Free Library director Becky Manahan tickles the ivories as Starksboro Public Library
director Catherine Goldsmith looks on. St. Albans library loans electric keyboards.

 

Last stop! Fairfax Community Library co-director Sue Wade talks to the assembled tour-goers about the challenges of running a community library.

Library tours provide library staff and library lovers the opportunity to see the buildings, meet the staff, and admire how these libraries do what Vermont libraries do, Goldsmith said.

VLA’s Public Libraries Section strives to extend the ability of libraries to provide equal access to and availability of literary and cultural resources by providing tools and resources to librarians. The section supports librarianship in the state through educational and social events.

Previous Tours:

Addison County Library Tour, September 30. 2022

Northeast Kingdom Library Tour, April 26, 2022

Procedure for Developing a Vermont Library Association Issue Statement

1 – Any Vermont Library Association (VLA) member may propose that VLA develop a statement around an issue by emailing their suggestion to VLA’s executive committee. Executive committee member names and emails are on this page: https://vermontlibraries.org/about/directory

2 – The executive committee votes on this, assigns someone to draft the statement, and alerts the entire board and the person who submitted the suggestion that this is in progress. The board has three to five days to finalize the vote. If the executive committee votes not to write a statement on the suggested issue, the president will email the person who made the suggestion with the reason.

3 – Once the statement is drafted, it is reviewed by the entire board with suggestions to the author. The entire board has three to five days to comment on the draft.

4 – A second draft based on edits from the suggestions is shared with the entire membership for comment. The membership is given five to seven business days to comment on the draft.

5 – If there are no significant changes to the substance of the statement based on edits from the comment period then the statement is final. If there are significant changes to the substance of the statement based on edits from the comment period then the revised statement should be approved by a majority of the board. The board has three working days to approve.

6 – The final statement is emailed by the president to the digital communications coordinator/s (https://vermontlibraries.org/about/directory) for posting to VLA’s website and social media accounts; and to all current members. The board may decide to also issue a press release.

7 – These timelines are guidelines and may be adjusted due to unforeseen issues.

Informational press releases may be published by a variety of section leaders without prior approval.

Adopted by the Vermont Library Association Board of Trustees, November 2023

Franklin County Vermont Public Library Tour November 17

Franklin County is chock full of wonderful public libraries. Come see the buildings, meet the staff, and admire how these libraries do what Vermont libraries do. This is a great opportunity to meet other librarians and other library lovers. This Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, tour is organized by Josh Worman, director of Haston Library, and the other libraries of FLARE — Franklin Libraries Are Really Excellent. Youth librarians, you won’t want to miss the light-filled second floor spaces dedicated to youth at St. Albans Free Library.

10 a.m. Enosburgh Public Library
11 a.m.. Haston Library
12 p.m. Swanton Public Library
1 p.m. Lunch at St. Albans Free Library – BYO lunch or buy locally

2 p.m. St. Albans Free Library (with coffee bar – yay!)
3 p.m. Fairfax Community Library

Catherine Goldsmith
President, VLA Public Libraries Section
Director, Starksboro Public Library

Submit Your College and Special Libraries Section 2024 Conference Proposal

The Vermont Library Association College and Special Libraries Section hopes to host an online conference in the spring of 2024, and we need YOUR participation to make it happen! The application process is quick and easy. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

– Has your organization recently gone through some changes? – – How have you managed those?
– Have you redefined roles in your library? What does that look like?
– What is your organization or library’s position on using AI for educational purposes?
– What new approaches has your library taken to enhance equitable access for your patrons?
– Are there new tools you’ve found that helped you streamline a process, enhance the functionality of your library website or catalog, etc?

Please complete the proposal form online by Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.

Thank you,
Sarah Scully (she/her)
President, College and Special Libraries Section, Vermont Library Association
Electronic Resources & Technology Librarian
Cornell Library at Vermont Law and Graduate School
South Royalton, Vermont

Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont Final Report

The Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont submitted their final report to the Vermont General Assembly on November 1, 2023.

The group was formed in 2021 when the Vermont State Legislature passed Act 66 (S.115) “relating to making miscellaneous changes in education laws”, which was signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 7, 2021. The group was charged with studying the state’s libraries with the goal of strengthening and supporting libraries of all sizes and improving library services for the public.

The 939-page report is available on the Vermont General Assembly website at Working Group on the Status of Libraries in Vermont. It covers facilities, technology, collections, programming, inclusive and accessible services, intellectual freedom, library structures and organizations, staffing, continuing education, emergency preparedness, safety, and social services.

“Not only will the report start important conversations among municipal and library leaders, but it will also serve as a reference about the invaluable services libraries provide in this state for many years to come,” said State Librarian and Commissioner of Libraries Catherine Delneo, who chaired the working group. “It is an important mirror for the library community that provides context for decision makers, library workers, and the Vermonters we serve.”

The members of the working group were:

Maria Avery, MA, Community Outreach Manager, University of Vermont Libraries (Burlington), Academic Library Representative

Jeannette Bair, Retired, Former Director of Rochester Public Library (Rochester), Public Library Representative

Meg Boisseau Allison, M.Ed., High School Librarian, U-32 High School (Montpelier), Past President (2020-2023) and Legislative Concerns Chair (2023-2026) of the Vermont School Library Association

Catherine Delneo, MLS, Working Group Chair, State Librarian and Commissioner of the Department of Libraries (Barre)

Denise Hersey, MA, MLS, Director, Dana Health Sciences Library, University of Vermont (Burlington), Academic Library Representative

Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup, MScm, Executive Director, Vermont Humanities (Montpelier)

Andy Kolovos, MLS, PhD, Associate Director and Archivist, Vermont Folklife (Middlebury), Trustee, Brownell Library (Essex Junction), Friends and Trustees Section Representative, Vermont Library Association

Kelly McCagg, MLS, CPLA Director, Burnham Memorial Library (Colchester), Vice President (2021-2022), President (2022-2023), and Past President (2023-2024) of the Vermont Library Association

Karen McCalla, MLS, Teacher Librarian, Mill River Union Middle/High School (North Clarendon), Representative, Vermont School Library Association

Susan O’Connell, MLSm Director, Craftsbury Public Library (Craftsbury), Public Library Representative

Wendy Sharkey, MSc, MLS, (Expected December 2023) Head of Circulation Department, IT, and Cataloging, Bennington Free Library, Public Library Representative

See also: VLA Executive Committee Seeks Member Input for Strategic Actions

Last update January 16, 2024

Vermont Library Association green and white logo, and American Library Association red, blue, and white logo.

ALA Donates $3,500 to Assist Vermont Libraries Damaged by Floods, Encourages More Donations

Catastrophic flooding in July 2023 impacted the state of Vermont, including many libraries. Seventeen public libraries suffered damage to their buildings and loss of resources. Thanks to support from American Library Association (ALA) members and other library supporters around the country, the ALA Disaster Relief Fund is sending $3,500 to the Vermont Library Association (VLA) to disburse to those libraries hardest hit and in need of financial assistance.

Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier, the state capitol, suffered major damage to infrastructure and was not open to the public for several months. Staff provided curbside pickup of library materials and provided internet access outside the building.

Johnson Public Library is providing library services from its temporary location in the Johnson Masonic Temple, while work on the library building continues. Post-flood building repairs at the Johnson Public Library building include heating, electrical, flooring, and insulation installation.

Water flooded the South Londonderry Free Library through both the roof and the basement during the storms. The library continued service to the public despite having on-going repairs.

“ALA thanks the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont Library Association for their support and assistance to library staff and the communities they serve,” said Michael Dowling, director of the ALA Chapter Relations Office, in a press release.

The American Library Association’s Disaster Relief Fund provides monies to libraries in the U.S. and around the world that have been damaged or destroyed due to natural or man-made disasters. Donations to Vermont libraries can be made on the ALA Disaster Relief Fund web page. Please type “Vermont” in the tribute line.

The American Library Association is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services.

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