Thinking of a Wine and Cheese Reception in Your Library? Think Again.

High on the list of things which cheer a librarian's heart is the vision of an evening reception at their library with a noted author or an engaging speaker, attended by a large group of community notables and library patrons, noshing on brie and bacon-wrapped melon balls and sipping fine wine, and fully warmed by a generous spirit.  Imagine, also, the sound of a record-player needle being scraped unceremoniously off the Mozart background music as an investigator from the Liquor Control Department informs the director that the law is being broken by serving wine. 

Is the hallowed tradition of wine-and-cheese receptions facing a new threat?  Not really; but the Department of Liquor Control is raising awareness that, in the words of Licensing Director Bill Goggins, "There are only two places you can serve liquor in this State: your own home, and a licensed establishment."  This is not a new law or regulation, but the question has recently come to the attention of the Department of Libraries.  Art galleries, libraries and other not-for-profits need to know that the task of the Department of Liquor Control is, well, to control liquor, and this means licensing all people who distribute liquor outside a private residence.  What should library directors do?  They might want to swap out the wine with good old Vermont apple cider, or they can hire a licensed caterer to serve wine (presumably fine Vermont wine) to their guests.  Heed the words of Ecclesiastes 9:7, which read, "Go to it then...drink your wine with a cheerful heart..." - just make sure it's served by a caterer! 

Vermont Public Library Foundation Offers Grants for Youth Services

Applications for the 2011 Winnie Belle Learned grants (Vermont Public Library Foundation) are now available. The deadline for submitting applications is January 21, 2011.

Grant funds are available to support children's and young adult services in Vermont public libraries.  Proposed grant projects may include collection development, programming, or other services to youth and their families. The Winnie Belle Learned grant program is made possible by generous donations from Dr. Burnett Rawson of Essex Junction who set up this special fund in honor of his benefactress, Winnie Belle Learned, a Vermont educator.  The goal of this general grant program is to help libraries in Vermont foster literacy, love of learning, critical analysis, and intellectual exploration in their communities among children and teens. For complete guidelines and the application form, please visit:  http://libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/vplf

Please Note: the Winnie Belle Learned grant guidelines have been revised for 2011. Applicants may now apply for specific grant awards up to $2,500.

The Winnie Belle Learned Fund is also supporting the Early Literacy Initiative that the Department of Libraries and the Vermont Center for the Book launched in May. Thirty Vermont public libraries are now participating in the first year of this initiative; additional libraries will participate in 2011. As a result of this initiative, the Vermont Public Library Foundation will sponsor only one general Winnie Belle Learned grant program in 2011.

Early Learning Initiative Training for Librarians

By Amy Kolb Noyes, Freelance Reporter

 This year the Vermont Center for the Book teamed up with the Vermont Department of Libraries to offer formal Early Literacy Training for librarians from 30 public libraries around the state, giving them tools to share their knowledge with parents and caregivers in their local communities. The librarians took part in a two-day Early Learning Initiative (ELI) workshop presented last spring. On Monday, November 8, they reconvened in Montpelier to share the successes and challenges they had encountered in implementing the program in their communities through the summer and early fall.

Sally Anderson, Executive Director of the Vermont Center for the Book and Grace Worcester Greene, Youth Services Consultant at the Vermont Department of Libraries, both noted that ELI is not intended to dramatically change what librarians are doing in storytime programs for preschoolers. Rather, ELI helps librarians to inject early literacy terminology into the read-aloud experiences they are already providing. In addition, the ELI techniques give parents the tools to continue these learning experiences at home and for caregivers the information needed to enrich the literacy experiences they provide. "ELI helps us understand the educational value of story time," explained Huntington Public Library's Wendy de Forest. "It gives us a better understanding of why we do what we've always done." Woodbury Community Library's Bob Joly agreed saying that his ELI training has allowed him to "do a better job doing what I already do."

The Early Learning Initiative language covers six early literacy skills identified by groups such as the National Research Council and the American Library Association, including: Print Motivation, Vocabulary, Print Awareness, Narrative Skills, Phonological Awareness, and Letter Knowledge. "Print Motivation" focuses on finding books that pique a child's interest and reading these books frequently. "Vocabulary" includes naming things for a child - not just in books, but wherever one might be with a child. "Print Awareness" involves showing children how to use books - illustrating the correct way to hold a book and turn its pages. "Narrative" skills include creative storytelling and pretending. "Phonological Awareness" refers to play with the sounds in words, like rhyming and singing. And finally, "Letter Knowledge" includes

learning how to identify alphabetical letters when they appear in print.

"It's not that we're changing what we're doing, it's that we're sharing the language with parents," said Pam Tallmadge, of Colchester's Burnham Memorial Library. "And then the parents have that language that they'll be hearing when their children enter school."

And ELI is making a difference for young families in Vermont. Several librarians shared success stories from their work over the summer. One mother in a Head Start program thanked the local librarian for showing her how to talk to her baby. A father said he got involved in the program because no one read to him as a child and he wanted to learn the best books and techniques to foster a love of reading in his children.

In addition to the ELI training, participating libraries receive sets of new books for their library, and additional sets of books to share with parents and care providers in their communities. Libraries were chosen for the program via a competitive grant process conducted by the Vermont Department of Libraries. The program is funded by the Vermont Center for the Book through a Henderson Foundation grant and the Winnie Belle Learned Fund of the Vermont Public Library Foundation. The Vermont Public Library Foundation will make available a second round of grants for the Early Literacy Initiative program in 2011. Grace Greene estimates that 25-30 new libraries will be able to participate next year. For more information contact Grace Greene at 802-828-6954 / grace.greene@state.vt.us