Vermont Library Conference Workshop Proposals Due Nov. 1

Workshop proposals for the 2012 Vermont Library Conference are due to the conference committee by November 1.  There is no set theme as of yet, so proposals could be on any topic that might be of interest to academic, public and school librarians.  Please send your ideas and proposals to jnapier@kellogghubbard.org Let us know what you’d like to see and we’ll do our best to get it on the schedule!

Open Meeting Training for Trustees and Town Officials

Calling it the “Vermont Transparency Tour,” the Secretary of State’s office announced this week that it has scheduled a series of upcoming training sessions to educate local and state officials—as well as Vermonters—about our state’s open government laws covering public records and open meetings.

Read more

Free Online Education Opportunities for October 2011

Listed below are FREE programs Accessible Technology Coalition , ALA, American Management Association, Booklist, EDUCAUSE, GrantSpace, Idealware, Infopeople, Library Journal, Lyrasis,  Library Commission, School Library Journal, TechSoup, Texas State Library & Archives, University of Wyoming, and Webjunction will be webcasting during October.

Read more

Free RDA Cataloging Webinars

The American Library Association is hosting several free webinars about the new cataloging code, RDA (Resource Description and Access), which will be implemented within the next year. The webinar “Introducing the RDA Toolkit Virtual User Group” will be held on Wednesday October 5, 2011 and is designed for beginners who need an introduction to the new code and toolkit. “RDA Toolkit Essentials” will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 and is designed for those who already have some familiarity with RDA and would like to learn more. For information about the new code and webinars, refer to the RDA Toolkit website at:http://www.rdatoolkit.org/

Free Advocacy Training Opportunity: Turning the Page 2.0

A new session of PLA’s exciting advocacy training opportunity will soon be upon us. Please consider participating. Vermont Public Librarian Certification credit will be available.

Turning the Page 2.0 (TtP 2.0) is a free public library advocacy training course developed and presented by the Public Library Association (PLA) with generous support from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In this six-week, facilitated online course, library staff and supporters will learn how to create and tell their library’s story, deliver effective presentations, develop a compelling case for support, and build and sustain partnerships along the way.

Participants are encouraged to come with a specific, self-determined advocacy goal for their library. At the end of six weeks, you’ll have a complete Advocacy Work Plan to guide your efforts.

Read more

Book Giveaway at Midstate Library Service Center: Oct. 6-7

Dear Public and School Librarians,

The Mistate Library Service Center and the Northeast Regional Library have recently finished merging their collections into one.  Due to a large number of duplicates and a general need for weeding older titles, we have thousands of books looking for new homes.  On October 6th and 7th from 8am to 4pm MLSC (578 Paine Turnpike N, Berlin 05602) will be opening its doors to public and school librarians to take these discarded books.   Half of what are being given away are older adult titles, mostly fiction with some biography, and half children’s books, many of which are recent juvenile fiction.   Be sure to bring boxes or bags to help carry your books out.  If you have any questions please contact Jeremiah Kellogg at jeremiah.kellogg@state.vt.us or 802-828-2320.

Libri Foundation Disaster Relief Grants

Public Librarians (including school/public Community Libraries):

The Libri Foundation is offering a limited number of special non-matching BOOKS FOR CHILDREN grants to libraries serving rural communities (serving a population under 10,000 – and especially libraries serving fewer than 5,000 population)  affected by recent floods or other natural disasters. Library grant recipients will be able to select $700 worth of new, quality hardcover children’s books from a list provided by the Foundation.

Read more

FEMA Helps People With Disabilities Access Disaster Assistance

BURLINGTON, Vt – To help entire communities recover from Tropical Storm Irene’s flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Vermont Emergency Management are working to make sure people with disabilities and those with access and functional needs have equal access to disaster assistance programs.

Read more

2011 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access

Dear Library Director:

Since 2006, the American Library Association, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has conducted a national study of public library public access funding and technology. This Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study builds on previous studies conducted since 1994.

We thank you for your participation in the past, and hope that you will continue to participate in these important surveys. Last year, the study sampled and received responses from all states and the District of Columbia, however, the survey did not receive enough responses from four states for analysis purposes. Our goal for this year is full participation by all 50 states, which will provide the greatest impact for advocacy efforts at the local, state, and national levels.

Read more