2008 National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access

Hello Friends,

As of this morning, only 16 sampled libraries have responded to the National Survey of Public Library Funding and Technology Access from Vermont, which is a 10.25% response rate. The survey will close November 7, which leaves 6 weeks left in the survey cycle this year.Â It sounds like quite a while, but it can sure fly by pretty quickly!Â Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1)Â Â Â Â Â The URL to complete the survey for is http://plinternetsurvey.org

2)Â Â Â Â Â They will not be able to analyze the state without at least a 60% response rate from libraries within the state.

To help Vermont libraries obtain grants from various national sources itâ€™s important to have this participation.

Rob Geiszler

Regional Consultant

Vermont Department of Libraries

271 North Main Street

Rutland, VT 05701

(802) 786-3839

Public Library Section News

Iâ€™d like to take this opportunity to â€œformallyâ€ introduce myself as the new Public Libraries Section (PLS) president of VLA. I look forward working with public librarians who have ideas or concerns that they would like to see addressed by VLA and assisting librarians in better serving their communities. My thanks to outgoing PLS president Peter Blodget of Latham Memorial Library for inviting me to become involved.

This autumn PLS will be sponsor a professional book discussion and how-to workshop on marketing libraries. Our goal is to present a step-by-step marketing plan you can use and promotional ideas from a book store marketing consultant and other librarians. Watch for details to be announced.

Also, please send me your ideas for workshops that you would like to have at the annual VLA conference. We are especially interested in hot topics or areas of service that have been underrepresented in previous conference offerings. If you can recommend, a speaker or let me know if you are willing to speak yourself.

Please contact me with any ideas or concerns that you may have. I look forward to hearing from you.

Marti Fiske, Director
Dorothy Alling Memorial Library
21 Library Lane
Williston, VT 05495
802-878-4918
marti@williston.lib.vt.us

Attorney General’s opinion and other new statute guidelines.(revised)

What follows is the gist of the Attorney Generalâ€™s opinion on the new confidentiality statute.

Public libraries must keep records of patrons 16 or older confidential unless the patron waives that right.
Public libraries have “limited discretion” expanding the scope of confidentiality of library records. The opinion says they must disclose the records of patrons under 16 if requested by parents.

Attorney General's opinion and other new statute guidelines.(revised)

What follows is the gist of the Attorney Generalâ€™s opinion on the new confidentiality statute.

Public libraries must keep records of patrons 16 or older confidential unless the patron waives that right.
Public libraries have “limited discretion” expanding the scope of confidentiality of library records. The opinion says they must disclose the records of patrons under 16 if requested by parents.

New Confidentiality Statute

Librarians have many questions about the new Confidentiality Statute that becomes effective July 1, 2008.

State Librarian, Sybil McShane asked the Attorney General to review the law in reference to existing statutes and in consideration of some of the questions we have. Once the AG’s office has reported back we will provide more specific guidelines for implementation to all VLA members, VT Libraries and Trustees. VLAIFC will offer policy writing workshops throughout the state for the above mentioned groups in the near future.

An updated sample public library privacy and confidentiality policy is available on the website as part of the Intellectual Freedom Toolkit. It can also be found at www.sherburnelibrary.org.

Keep watching the VLA website for more information.

Gail Weymouth

VLAIFC chair

802 422 9765

New librarians in Vermont public libraries

New public librarians in the last few months include the following. Send your public library additions to the list for a routine posting to Amy Howlett, amy.howlett@mail.dol.state.vt.us

Mary Wheeler, Cutler Memorial Library, Plainfield

Susan Smolinski, Arvin A. Brown Public library, Richford

Mary Moser Kashner, Pawlet Public Library

Thelma Georgeson, R. K. Kittay Public Library,Rupert

Michelle Hayes, children’s librarian,Whiting Library, Chester

Jane Napier, children’s librarian, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier

Melissa Worden, Lydia Taft Pratt Library, Dummers

Personnel Committee Meeting

The Personnel Committee is meeting

Monday, May 12th, 10am-noon at the Midstate Regional Library in BerlinÂ

to begin planning its next project: a survey of Vermont public librarians’ wages and benefits. The Committee welcomes volunteers to help draft, administer, and analyze the survey.

Â Contact Chair Amy C. Grasmick for more information:

Kimball Public Library
kimball_acg@hotmail.com
728-5073Â

Surveying your Preservation Needs

The Vermont Department of Libraries is pleased to offer a full-day (9:30-3:00) workshop, conducted by a preservation professional from the Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC), designed to help libraries identify, assess, prioritize, and address their preservation needs. It will be offered in four locations around the state. To register, click on the link below. You will find a full description of the workshop below the registration links. Please pass this along to your colleagues who may be interested. Please contact Mara Siegel (828-3261) if you have any questions.

Netflix

A colleague asked me what I thought about the use of Netflix to meet the DVD needs/demands of public library users.Â This person was interested in using the Netflix service as a way to provide titles that are either unattainable via inter-library loan or beyond the scope of the library’s collection.Â What do you think?Â If you’ve made use of Netflix in your library, please share your experience.Â Thanks!Â -Â Judah HamerÂ