Hello public librarians!

I am the public library representative on the VLA Board.  I’m putting together a panel discussion called Librarian as Social Worker, which was how I described my job after arriving at work and finding a young adult (who was a recently discharged veteran) sleeping on the library steps.  After discussions with colleagues, I realized I wasn’t alone in feeling overwhelmed by the increase in our patrons’ needs.  In the past year or so, patrons have needed more information relating to health and human services, rather than reader’s advisory.  Whether it’s a question about emergency heating assistance or a child you fear is being abused, librarians are increasingly working with patrons who are in crisis.

The panel will be made up of members of local and state agencies who will discuss their organizations and how librarians can best use their resources.  VT 211 will have a representative on each panel.  There will be time for Q & A.

Panels will be held at two locations: Friday April 9th at the Aldrich Public Library in Barre and Monday April 26th at the Hartland Public Library, 10:00 –1:00 PM (coffee at 9:30.)  Please bring a bag lunch.  I’m also looking for real-life examples to provide to the panelists.  RSVP to lucinda.walker@norwichlibrary.org or 802-649-1184.

Thanks,
Lucinda

Posted on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 at 1:46 pm in the Advocacy, Educational Ops, Public Libraries, Youth Librarians category.

Rock & Roll Library Tour! THE HIGH STRUNG are coming!

Are you looking for a high-energy, summer reading program?

For the past six years the quirky, carefree, energetic music of Detroit’s
The High Strung has been electrifying patrons across the nation with sunny three-part harmonies and witty, lyrical bravado. This year the guitars are roaming the country again, headed in your direction, and the show is only getting better.

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Posted on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at 1:10 am in the Public Libraries, Youth Librarians category.

There are so many fabulous librarians and trustees in Vermont that it is always hard to single out just one of each annually, but there are always ones who are extraordinary and deserved to be recognized statewide. Now is the time for you to think about who VLA should recognize this year at the Vermont Library Conference, and nominate those deserving colleagues.

• The 2010 Sarah C. Hagar Award which is for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont. Nominees must be working in a Vermont library and a member of VLA.

• The 2010 Trustee of the Year Award for achievement by a trustee on behalf of his or her library, either during the previous year or during his/her years of service.

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Posted on Monday, March 1st, 2010 at 11:20 am in the Awards, C&SL, Conferences, Public Libraries, Trustees, VLC, Youth Librarians category.

We are soliciting short lesson plans or supporting activities for a book we are writing for Library Instruction Publications. In this publication we plan to highlight activities that foster and encourage critical thinking as it relates to information literacy, film, and other video media.  These activities will focus on teaching conceptual and transferable information literacy competencies.  As teachers we appreciate and eagerly embrace instructional techniques and devices that engage students in the learning process. From our experience, we have observed that students are very receptive to the use of film and other visual media in instructional sessions. Since we teach information literacy courses, we know that many films contain excellent examples relating to essential components of the information literacy curriculum. In many of our classes, we utilize this medium to teach students the fundamental aspects of information literacy.  Each lesson plan or learning activity will follow the format previously used in the Active Learning Series. Authors will organize their lesson plans with sections titled Circumstances of the Instruction, Objectives of the Instruction, and Components of the Instruction. Supplementary materials such as handouts and worksheets will accompany the text. The book will include a Table of Contents as well as an index listing each type of activity for easy access.

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Posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 10:35 pm in the C&SL, News, Public Libraries, Youth Librarians category.

SPACE STILL AVAILABLE – REGISTER TODAY AT http://www.ala.org/oif/onlinetrainings

“Controversial Materials in the Library: Supporting Intellectual Freedom in Your Community”

OIF is partnering with the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF) to present three one-hour webinars in February for library trustees on the topic of controversial materials in library collections.

The webinars, entitled “Controversial Materials in the Library: Supporting Intellectual Freedom in Your Community,” are intended to help trustees understand the basics of intellectual freedom in libraries. They will cover information on collection development policies, procedures for handling challenges to library materials, and tips on responding to controversies that may arise. Angela Maycock, OIF Assistant Director, will lead the webinar series.

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Posted on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 3:58 pm in the ALA, Educational Ops, IFC, Public Libraries, Trustees category.

URGENT MESSAGE TO LIBRARY ADVOCATES:

Please call both of your U.S. Senators to ask each of them to request that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND),  include the hiring and retaining of librarians in the $18 billion “Jobs Bill” as well.

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Posted on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 12:26 pm in the ALA, Advocacy, Funding Ops, GRC, News, Public Libraries, Urgent Action, Youth Librarians category.

Call for Papers for Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve

The Routledge/Taylor & Francis peer-reviewed Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Electronic Reserve (JILDDER) has merged with Resource Sharing & Information Networks and is now accepting articles for  Summer and Fall 2010 publication.  Of particular interest to JILDDER are articles regarding resource sharing, unmediated borrowing, electronic reserve, cooperative collection development, shared virtual library services, digitization projects and other multi-library collaborative efforts including the following topics:

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Posted on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 12:20 pm in the C&SL, DOL, News, Public Libraries category.

From Resource Shelf:

From the Summary:

President Obama today released his FY2011 Budget Proposal to Congress, calling for a freeze to federal library funding under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), the primary source of federal funding for libraries.

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Posted on Monday, February 1st, 2010 at 3:24 pm in the News, Public Libraries, Youth Librarians category.

With the end of the year, American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (ALAOIF) is  compiling the yearly list of most frequently challenged books.  ALAOIF collects information for the  challenge database from media reports and from reports submitted by individuals especially State IFC chairs.  I would greatly appreciate if you could send me any information on challenges in your institution during 2009.    Challenges reported to ALA by individuals are kept confidential and any report can be cross-checked with existing entries in the database.  You may report challenges by filling out and submitting OIF’s database form (available at http://tinyurl.com/ya4ehpp) or you may simply email me the details of the incident and I can fill out a form on your behalf.  If you have any questions at all, please let me know.

Thank you for your help.
Gail Weymouth
VLA IFC chair
gail@sherburnelibrary.org

Posted on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 9:50 pm in the ALA, Advocacy, C&SL, IFC, Public Libraries category.

The South Burlington Community Library is seeking a dynamic and energetic Children’s Librarian to perform professional services in planning, implementing and managing a comprehensive program of children’s library services. This is a part-time (29 hrs/week) position. Work includes travel to community areas for outreach activities and driving the bookmobile during the summer months.

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Posted on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 1:21 pm in the Jobs, Public Libraries, Youth Librarians category.