Natacha Liuzzi, a smiling white woman with gray hair, and Erin Davison, a smiling white woman with curly hair, standing behind a stack of books.

Professional Development Grant Winners Fall 2022

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) Scholarship and Awards Committee is pleased to announce two winners for the Fall 2022 VLA Professional Development Grant.

Natacha Liuzzi (left in picture), Children’s Specialist at South Burlington Public Library, will attend “The Newbery Medal: Past, Present and Future,” a six-week Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) online course. The class will give participants a solid grounding in the history of the Newbery Medal and how it has changed over time; an opportunity to read, discuss, and consider past and present Newbery winners; a chance to talk to former Newbery Committee members and a Newbery author; and suggestions for programming using Newbery-winning books. The VLA grant will help defray the cost of the class.

Erin Davison, Youth Services Librarian at Norwich Public Library, will attend the New England Library Association (NELA) 2022 Annual Conference from October 23 through 25. The conference will give her the opportunity to connect with and learn from librarians in the region as she navigates rural librarianship for the first time in her career. The VLA grant will help defray the costs of the conference.

VLA’s Professional Development Grant, managed by the Scholarship and Awards Committee, provides the recipient with up to $250 for a professional development program such as a workshop, conference, or continuing education course. Applications are accepted twice a year (deadlines are May 1 and August 7), and priority is given by monetary need, library involvement, leadership, and commitment to Vermont libraries. Grant recipients are required to write a brief account of their professional development opportunity for VLA News, our quarterly email newsletter. For more information, and to apply, visit the Vermont Library Association Professional Development Grant webpage.

Vermont Library Association Small Logo

VLA Professional Development Grant Applications Open

The Vermont Library Association’s Scholarship and Awards Committee is accepting applications for the fall round of their professional development grant. Up to $250 is available to attend a workshop, a conference, or a continuing education course.  The deadline for applications is Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022, with the awardee notified by September 1. (Please note the deadline has been changed to August 14.)

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Be an active VLA member;
  • Live in Vermont and/or work in a Vermont library; and
  • Not have received a scholarship from VLA in the past two years.

For complete details and to apply, visit the VLA Professional Development Grant web page.

If you have additional questions, contact one of the Scholarship and Awards Committee co-chairs:
Pamela Cartier at clic@vermontlaw.edu

Mary Danko at mdanko@burlingtonvt.gov

VLA Covid-19 Vaccination Statement

A letter sent to Governor Phil Scott from the VLA Executive Board.

To the Honorable Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont:

Secretary Smith indicated at the press conference on February 2nd that Vermont is “open to discussions about what comes next” with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. In this spirit, the Executive Committee of the Vermont Library Association asks the State of Vermont to prioritize library workers alongside other front-line workers.Read more

2019 Vermont Library Association Friends and Trustees Section Feedback Survey

The Vermont Library Association (VLA) would like feedback from VT library trustees and members of Friends groups. We’d like to know how we can better serve you in your roles. We want to hear from you, even if you are not currently a VLA member.
We have created a quick 5-question survey where we are looking for your thoughts on VLA: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JWB78XX
This survey should take just 3-5 minutes. There’s no login required, and no names or library affiliations are collected.
Your participation is GREATLY appreciated, and will help us better serve all Vermont libraries.
Thank you!
Dana Rozycki
President, Friends and Trustees Section
Vermont Library Association
drozycki@rocketmail.com
914-235-3630

VLA Calls for Macmillan to Reverse Library eBook Embargo

Dear Mr. John Sargent,
The Vermont Library Association Calls for Macmillan to Reverse Library eBook Embargo
On July 25, Macmillan Publishers announced it would become the only major (Big 5) publisher
to limit eBook lending for U.S. libraries. Under its new licensing model, scheduled to begin November 1, 2019, a library may purchase one copy upon release of a new title in eBook format, after which the publisher will impose an eight-week embargo on additional copies of that title sold to libraries.
As American Library Association (ALA) President Wanda Brown asserted that same day, “Macmillan Publishers’ new model for library eBook lending will make it difficult for libraries to fulfill our central mission: ensuring access to information for all. Macmillan’s new policy is unacceptable.”
And Public Library Association (PLA) President Ramiro Salazar stated, “Access to digital content in libraries is more than a financial issue: it is an equity issue. We encourage Macmillan Publishers to reverse course before libraries and the people they serve are harmed.” Millions of people now use digital content as their preferred or only access to books, music, and movies. As a rural state, many Vermonters rely on digital content from their libraries. Digital content is portable, accessible to people with print disabilities, available anywhere 24/7, and brokered by libraries to provide diverse options to our diverse communities. Libraries not only pay for books; they market them. Lost marketing means lost publicity and sales for publishers and authors.
The Vermont Library Association joins the ALA in denouncing this measure and calling for Macmillan Publishers to cancel the embargo and restore full access to its complete eBook catalog upon release to the public.

  • Furthermore, the Vermont Library Association affirms the principles that:
  • All published works must be available for libraries to purchase and lend to library users.
  • Access to use of eBooks must equitably balance the rights and privileges of readers, authors and publishers.
  • Digital content must be accessible to all people, regardless of physical or reading disability.
  • Library patrons must be able to access digital content on the device of their choosing.
  • Reading records must remain private in the digital age.

Millions of pages of Vermont newspapers freely searchable online

screenshot of hte landing page at newspapers.com
Vermont residents have access to a free searchable archive of millions of pages of Vermont newspapers thanks to a partnership between the Department of Libraries and Vermont State Records and Archives Administration (VSARA). Here are simple steps to get set up
1. Sign up for a MyVermont.gov account at vermont.gov/myvermont.
2. Log in and fill out your profile information including your contact information in the upper righthand corner.
3. Follow the link from the Featured Link section to Newspapers.com
Let us know if you have any questions. Please share this with your patrons! Here is a four page PDF handout going through all the steps with screenshots. Read more

VLA Statement on Clovis-Carver Public Library shooting

The VLA sends condolences and strength to those closely affected by the tragic violence at the Clovis-Carver Public Library in New Mexico, including the wounded, the families of the victims, library staff,the community, and our colleagues in the New Mexico Library Association.
Joy Worland, VLA President

ALA condemns racism and violence in Charlottesville

CHICAGO – Today American Library Association President Jim Neal released the following statement regarding the weekend’s tragic violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“The ALA expresses our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those lost and injured during this weekend’s protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. We will not forget their efforts to enlighten and safeguard their communities from bigotry while opposing racist, anti-immigrant, anti-GLBTQ, and anti-Semitic violence. We stand in solidarity with the people of Virginia as well as anyone who protests hate and fights for equity, diversity and inclusion.Read more

Congratulations to Scott Murphy & Tom McMurdo!

“The VLA leadership would like to congratulate Scott Murphy and Tom McMurdo on their respective appointments as State Librarian and Assistant State Librarian. It has been exciting to see the work they both have already done reinvigorating the Department of Libraries. This bodes well for the future growth and strength of all Vermont libraries. We also appreciate the support they offer to the VLA and look forward to working together more.”
     Joy Worland, VLA President