Statewide Cultural Heritage Damage Assessment

The Vermont Historical Society hopes this notification finds you safe and secure. The devastating effects of tropical storm Irene on our state, communities and neighbors are coming to light and we are all wondering where to even begin.Effective communication and collaboration will be imperative to setting in motion the important work that lay ahead.To that end, VHS will work diligently with the cultural heritage community throughout the state to:

  • Assess the damage to local historical societies, museums, and heritage organizations
  • Provide assistance and support through the Cultural Heritage and Art Recovery Team and approved professionals and services
  • Keep the affected organizations up to date and informed of services and aid available

If your organization or an organization you know of in a neighboring community has been impacted, please contact Jackie Calder, Curator at(802) 479-8514 or  jackie.calder@state.vt.us or Lisa Evans, League of Local Historical Societies and Museums Manager at (802) 479-8522 or lisa.evans@state.vt.us.

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Update on Libraries and Storm

Vermont Library Community,

I have received phone calls and emails from many of you and I am heartened by the community spirit of the Vermont library community and am inspired by your offers to help.

DOL staff members have been on the phone yesterday and today contacting libraries statewide to assess damage and needs following flooding. I am happy to report that most libraries are in fine shape. Some report water in the basement and damp carpets, but they are doing well.  Libraries in some of the hardest-hit areas, including Brattleboro and Wilmington, are in fine shape, though there is major devastation in those towns.

The West Hartford Public Library sustained major damage. The children’s department on the lower level was completely submerged by flooding and is a total disaster. The main level of the library has at least 4” of mud. Library Director Aileen Gillette believes that 60% of the library collection has been destroyed. I plan to make a visit to Hartford tomorrow.

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Post-Irene Message for Libraries

Greetings,

The Department of Libraries is closed today but DOL staff members are calling public libraries in the southern/central part of the state to assess damage. In some cases phone or internet service is not available.

If you have information to report about the status of your library (public/school/academic), please send that info to me at the email address below. We are compiling a spreadsheet of information about libraries. I am working from home today and you can also reach me via my cell phone at: 802-318-7889. We expect to be back in our offices tomorrow. Call us if you need any assistance or information.

At this point we know about significant flooding /damage in just one public library: West Hartford Public Library

There may be others.

Information for libraries who have damage/flooding:

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VOKAL Open House at Norwich Public Library

There will be a VOKAL Open House on Thursday, September 15 from 1-3pm at the Norwich Public Library in Norwich, VT for anyone interested in learning more about our VOKAL Koha system (a project of the Green Mountain Library Consortium). We will be giving a brief introduction about the VOKAL project, demonstrating the VOKAL Koha ILS and then have time for anyone with a laptop interested in trying it out.

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Universal Class is Coming September 1

Reminder to Public Libraries:

The Department of Libraries has signed a contract with Recorded Books to offer Universal Class at no cost to all Vermont Public Libraries beginning on September 1, 2011. All citizens of Vermont who have access to the services of a public library are eligible to use this online learning resource for free in the library or from remote sites.

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Vermont Library Conference Committee Accepting Proposals

Next year’s VLA conference will be held at St. Michael’s College on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Proposals for workshops are due to the conference committee by November 1. If you have an idea for a workshop or know of something you’d be interested in learning about, send ideas and proposals to Jane at jnapier@kellogghubbard.org

National Speaker on Digital Marketing and Privacy

Burlington Area Access TV Organizations Bring National Speaker on Digital Marketing and Privacy
Contact Lauren-Glenn Davitian, davitian@cctv.org 802-862-3966 x12

On Thursday, September 22, 2011 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Champlain College, Alumni Auditorium, Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy will speak on how marketers track online and digital footprints, threats to privacy and dramatic changes in the delivery of news, information and entertainment. Digital Media at the Crossroads: Content & Control in the Internet Era is free and open to the public. Chester explores the latest developments in technologically advanced personalized data targeting, the role of the leading online marketing companies, new approaches to policy, its impact on diverse and progressive media content, and implications for the future of democracy and human rights.

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Chris Finan speaks as the 2011 John Swan Lecturer

Vermont Library Association announces the 2011

John Swan Lecture for Intellectual Freedom

Featuring

Christopher Finan

 Author, President of ABFFE, Chair of National Coalition Anagaist Censorchip

President of American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE), member of the Media Coalition and member and chair of the board of the National Coalition Against Censorship, recipient of the 2011 Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Roll of Honor Award and 2008 winner of Eli Oboler Award speaking about his  book

 From the Palmer Raids to the Patriot Act: A History of the Fight for Free Speech in America

Thursday, August 25, 2011

4 p.m.

Sherburne Memorial Library     2998 River Road Killington,VT

Book signing and reception immediately following. 

Free and open to the public