Town Meeting Survey 2010 Deadline for Public Libraries

Public Library Directors:

We have extended the deadline for responding to the annual Town Meeting Results survey and you have until the end of the day on Friday, April 2 to get the results to us.

We have heard from only 89 public libraries so far. If your library has not yet responded, please fill out the electronic survey this week even if your town has not yet acted on your town budget. (There is a question for that in the survey.)

To find the online survey, click this link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V7QNCB9 and follow instructions for completing and submitting the survey electronically.

If you have questions or need any assistance completing the survey, please contact Renee Ancel, Executive Assistant to the State Librarian at:  (802) 828-3266 / renee.ancel@state.vt.us

We are aiming for 100% participation this year. Thanks for getting this information to us!

Martha Reid
State Librarian
Vermont Department of Libraries
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-0601
Tel: (802) 828-3265
Fax: (802) 828-2199
martha.reid@state.vt.us

VLTA Programs at 2010 Town Officers Educational Conferences

The Vermont Library Trustees Association (VLTA), the trustees section of the Vermont Library Association, in conjunction with the Department of Libraries will again offer a series of workshops for trustees and librarians during the spring Town Officers Educational Conferences.   TOECs are sponsored by the Vermont Institute for Government, with organizational help from the UVM Extension Service which will mail a registration packet to each library in spring, 2010.

To register for any of the TOECs, find the form online at http://2010toec.eventbrite.com/ $55 online cost includes morning coffee and lunch.  Many towns send carloads to the sessions.  Contact your town clerk for details.

Dates/ locations:
Monday, April 5-St. Michael’s College, Colchester
Thursday, April 8-Lyndon State College, Lyndonville
Tuesday, April 13-Lake Morey Resort Fairlee
Tuesday, April 20-Grand Summit, Mt. Snow
Wednesday, April 28-Holiday Inn & Conference Center, Rutland

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Librarian as Social Worker Panel Discussion

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

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

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

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.
Read more

LAST CALL for Nominations for Vermont Library Association Awards for 2010

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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Call for Proposals: Information Literacy through the Streets of Hollywood

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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Intellectual Freedom Webinars for Library Trustees

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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URGENT ACTION ALERT: Get Librarians into the “Jobs Bill”

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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URGENT ACTION ALERT: Get Librarians into the "Jobs Bill"

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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