people in Vermont libraries
     
In This Issue
Register for VLA Annual Conference, May 19
Ewins Joins Board of Libraries
New Freely Accessible VT Historic Newspapers Online
Basic Public Library Administration Course, May 27-June 4
Libraries, Community Partners Provide Summer Meals to VT Youth
2015 Call for Ashgate Library Grants
VPLF Offers Classical Connections Grants
Center for Cartoon Studies Offers Teen Scholarship
West Hartford Library Reopens
New Books in the Library Science Collection
New Titles for Children and Teens: April Video Review
Helpful Links
Stay Connected
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topRegister for VLA Annual Conference, May 19

Reveal Your Superpower poster The Vermont Library Association's (VLA) annual conference is right around the corner. Reveal Your Superpower! (Tights and Cape Optional) will take place on Tuesday, May 19th at Champlain College in Burlington. Scott Bonner, Director of the Ferguson (Missouri) Municipal Public Library, will deliver the keynote address. From project management apps to maker projects to data-driven advocacy, there are over two dozen workshops designed to meet the needs of library personnel throughout the state. A special pre-conference workshop, Everyone is Welcome: Tools for Confident and Safe Patron Interactions, will be held at Fletcher Free Library in Burlington on the afternoon of May 18th (2:00 - 5:00 pm). Visit the VLA website for the conference schedule, details, and registration: http://www.vermontlibraries.org/conference2015/.

Ewins Joins Board of Libraries  

Maxie Ewins

This spring the Vermont Board of Libraries welcomes its newest member, Maxie Ewins. A native of Berlin, Germany, Ewins received her Master of Library Science degree from Pratt Institute in New York. She served as library director in Montvale, New Jersey, and was the library director of the Fletcher Free Library (Burlington), Vermont's largest public library, for thirteen years. She is a building consultant for small and medium sized public libraries and a past president of the Vermont Library Association, as well as having served on a number of community boards in Vermont.

 

The Board of Libraries serves in an advisory capacity to the State Librarian; for more information, visit http://libraries.vermont.gov/about_us/board.

New Freely Accessible

VT Historic Newspapers Online 

Londnderry Sifter Isn't the Londonderry Sifter a great name for a newspaper? Soon readers will be able to find this and other newly digitized historic Vermont newspapers online. The Vermont Digital Newspaper Project (VTDNP) recently announced the titles, including the Londonderry Sifter, that will be digitized as part of the final phase of the Project. The new selections feature newspapers from various regions of the state, including titles from Barre, Rutland, Manchester, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. These newspapers will be online and freely available by mid-summer 2016. Full article
Basic Public Library Administration Course,
May 27-June 4
Basic Public Library Administration is one of the five-day "core" workshops offered on a rotating basis by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) as part of the Continuing Education program. The course covers a range of topics pertinent to running a Vermont public library, and is designed for individuals with little or no formal library training. Full article

Libraries, Community Partners Provide

Summer Meals to VT Youth 

Hunger Free VT logo Food is in when school is out! Thanks to the USDA's Summer Food Service Program, there are more than 270 locations around Vermont where kids 18 and under receive up to two nutritious meals/day at no cost. These summer meals are a vital resource for the 37,000+ Vermont children who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches during the school year. Libraries across the state have joined this program and report that pairing meals with activities has been a perfect combination. Full article 

2015 Call for Ashgate Library Grants
Ashgate logo Since 2000, Ashgate Publishing Company in Burlington has devoted a large portion of its annual charitable contributions budget to support libraries around the state. Ashgate is currently accepting applications for the 2015 Library Grant Program. Full article

VPLF Offers Classical Connections Grants 

Classical Connections is a grant opportunity for children's programming, offered through the Vermont Public Library Foundation (VPLF). The two-fold focus of the grant is to encourage collaboration between public libraries and schools, and to introduce middle school-age readers to classic literature. Full article

Center for Cartoon Studies

Offers Teen Scholarship

Center for Cartoon Studies scholarship logo

For the seventh year in a row, the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction has donated a full scholarship to the Department of Libraries so a Vermont teen can attend their one week workshop, "Create Comics," this summer. This full scholarship, worth $900, includes the workshop, supplies, morning/afternoon snacks, full lunch and evening student activities. Lodging is not included, but there is a very inexpensive hostel option at the nearby Hotel Coolidge. Any Vermont student age 16 or older (must be 16 years old by June 1, 2015) is eligible. The workshop will take place in White River Junction, VT July 20-24, 2015. Full article

West Hartford Library Reopens  

W. Hartford librarian
West Hartford assistant interim librarian Sandie Cary 
The West Hartford Library is open for business! Tropical Storm Irene swept through the village August 28, 2011, swamping the library and wrecking much of the collection. The West Hartford Library Board, Friends of the Library, Hartford officials, and many volunteers worked to plan and construct the new building, extending from the old foundation into a remarkable new space. The library is officially a community center -- and the community is really enjoying using it.
Full article

ONLY COMPLETE ARTICLES BEYOND THIS POINT
VTDNPNew Freely Accessible VT Historic Newspapers Online 

Isn't the Londonderry Sifter a great name for a newspaper? Soon readers will be able to find this and other newly digitized historic Vermont newspapers online.

 

The Vermont Digital Newspaper Project (VTDNP) recently announced the titles, including the Londonderry Sifter, that will be digitized as part of the final phase of the Project. The new selections feature newspapers from various regions of the state, including titles from Barre, Rutland, Manchester, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. These newspapers will be online and freely available by mid-summer 2016.

 

The VTDNP has already digitized over 250,000 pages of historic Vermont newspapers during its first two cycles. This third cycle will be the last for the federally funded project.

 

The titles currently in process are:

  • Orleans County Monitor (1913-1922)
  • Rutland Weekly Herald (1861-1873)
  • Brattleboro Reformer family (1879-1922)
  • Londonderry Sifter (1884-1921)
  • Manchester Journal (1861-1922)
  • Herald and News (1888-1910) (West Randolph, Orange County)
  • Barre Daily Times (1903-1922)
  • Bellows Falls Times (1856-1903)

Add these to the plethora of Vermont historical newspapers already digitized under the project, and it is clear that the VTDNP is an unqualified success. All of the titles already digitized can be accessed for free at Chronicling America. These include long runs of titles from Burlington, Brattleboro, Rutland, Bennington, St. Johnsbury, Montpelier, Middlebury, Morrisville, Barton, Woodstock, Bradford, Brandon, Guildhall, and other Vermont towns. There are over 250,000 pages of keyword searchable Vermont historic newspapers chronicling history as it happened in Vermont.

 

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libadminBasic Public Library Administration Course, May 27-June 4

Basic Public Library Administration is one of the five-day "core" workshops offered on a rotating basis by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) as part of the Continuing Education program. The course covers a range of topics pertinent to running a Vermont public library, and is designed for individuals with little or no formal library training.

 

This course will be held in two locations simultaneously, with morning meetings at the Midstate Library Service Center (Berlin) and the Rutland Free Library connected via videoconferencing equipment. Participants will also complete readings and other short assignments online between sessions. The course will be co-taught by VTLIB Consultants Rob Geiszler, Michael Roche, and Jeremiah Kellogg. In-person meetings will take place from 9:30 am - 12:00 pm on the following dates:

 

Wednesday, May 27

Friday, May 29

Monday, June 1

Wednesday, June 3

Thursday, June 4

 

Register online through the end of April. Visit the VTLIB Continuing Education website to learn about more upcoming workshops and webinars and other continuing education opportunities for Vermont library staff.



Food is in when school is out! Thanks to the USDA's Summer Food Service Program, there are more than 270 locations around Vermont where kids 18 and under receive up to two nutritious meals/day at no cost. These summer meals are a vital resource for the 37,000+ Vermont children who are eligible for free or reduced price lunches during the school year. Libraries across the state have joined this program and report that pairing meals with activities has been a perfect combination.

 

Meals are paid for and prepared by community sponsors while libraries advertise the program and provide a space for the food to be served. Many participating libraries schedule activities around the meals as an added incentive for families to participate. Last summer twenty-four libraries partnered with Hunger Free Vermont as meal sites, and interest continues to grow. To learn more about how this program might be a fit in your community, contact Derrick Lambert (Hunger Free Vermont) at 802-865-0255 or [email protected].

 

Want to find out where meals are already being served locally this summer? Dial 211 or text 'FOOD' to 877-877 to instantly locate the nearest meal site. These meals are absolutely free to all children 18 and under, so go ahead and accompany the children you serve to these sites, or make a special effort to inform families of this important program! Libraries interested in displaying or distributing information about summer meals for kids should contact Derrick Lambert at Hunger Free Vermont for assistance.

 

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 Ashgate2015 Call for Ashgate Library Grants  

Since 2000, Ashgate Publishing Company in Burlington has devoted a large portion of its annual charitable contributions budget to support libraries around the state. Ashgate is currently accepting applications for the 2015 Library Grant Program.

 

Through its library donations program, Ashgate makes grants available to public libraries in Vermont for special one-time projects and needs (as opposed to standard operating expenses and book budgets). The charitable donations committee encourages libraries to apply for grants that supplement other fundraising efforts. Libraries are also encouraged to team up with area libraries and apply for grants collectively, and to seek commitments of company-match grants whenever/wherever possible as well.

 

Some of the winners from this past year include:

  • $515 to the Montgomery Town Library to create a "Classics and Epic Sagas" Audio book CD Collection to replace their old cassettes. This was 100% of the requested grant. 
  • $293 to the Rutland Free Library for the purchase of an area rug for the children's area. This was 100% of the requested grant.
  • $500 to the Sherburne Memorial Library to purchase two telescopes with lenses to offer basic astronomy programs. This was 100% of the requested grant.
  • $500 to the Stowe Free Library to upgrade their baby and toddler book collection. This was 100% of the requested grant.
  • $1193 to the Lydia Taft Pratt Library (Dummerston) to install an electronic library management system. This was 80% of the requested grant.
  • $500 to Wilder Memorial Library to create a graphic novel fiction and non-fiction collection for 3rd-8th grade youth. This was 50% of the requested grant.

Ashgate's charitable donations committee decides what amount to donate to which library (full or partial grants), in consultation with the company's staff members. Ashgate does NOT make grants in support of:

  • Capital campaigns
  • Operating budgets
  • General collection development

Please note that there is NO formal grant application formGrant applications should take the form of a cover letter which:

  • Explains the nature of the project
  • Specifically addresses what population(s) will be served by the project
  • Addresses how they will be served
  • States the amount requested, with a budget if appropriate, or at least a justification for the amount
  • Provides a breakdown of the costs associated with the project.
  • States the time frame in which the project is scheduled to be completed
  • Describes any fund-raising that has already been done for the project or that is planned
  • Describes any community involvement/free labor that is being donated toward the project
  • Includes any photos that may be of assistance in the decision making process (if available)
  • Includes a current contact name/position as well as a current phone number and valid email address
  • Includes the library's web address

The application deadline is September 25, 2015. The grants will be awarded in late October. All applicants will be notified as to whether or not their application has been selected for funding. Please include an active, current library contact and email address with the grant request.

 

All applications should be emailed to [email protected] along with any/all photo attachments.

 

Questions should be submitted via email to Ally Berthiaume at [email protected].

 

To learn more about funding sources available to Vermont libraries, visit http://libraries.vermont.gov/services/grants.

 

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ccVPLF Offers Classical Connections Grants

Classical Connections is a grant opportunity for children's programming, offered through the Vermont Public Library Foundation (VPLF). The two-fold focus of the grant is to encourage collaboration between public libraries and schools, and to introduce middle school-age readers to classic literature.

 

Started in 2011 by Margaret Woodruff and Cheryl Sloan of the Charlotte Public Library and Heidi Huestis of the Charlotte Central School library, Classical Connections was developed in response to a challenge from community member Alex Kroll to encourage middle schoolers to read and enjoy the classics. Mr. Kroll provided the funding, and the three librarians designed a week of activities, books, art, and writing to enrich the readings.

 

Over the past four years, the Charlotte librarians have created curriculum guides for pairing four classic works with modern titles: Shakespeare and Gary Schmidt's The Wednesday Wars; mythology and Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief; Oliver Twist and Katherine Paterson's Jip: His Story; and The Time Machine and Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan. These materials are available on the Classical Connections website and grant seekers are invited to use these project ideas or create their own.

 

Applications for 2015 are due on May 15. This year VPLF is offering up to five grants of $500 each. 

 

Visit http://libraries.vermont.gov/about_us/vplf/grant for the application form, program guides, and additional information.

 

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ccsCenter for Cartoon Studies Offers Teen Scholarship

For the seventh year in a row, the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction has donated a full scholarship to the Department of Libraries so a Vermont teen can attend their one week workshop, "Create Comics," this summer. This full scholarship, worth $900, includes the workshop, supplies, morning/afternoon snacks, full lunch and evening student activities. Lodging is not included, but there is a very inexpensive hostel option at the nearby Hotel Coolidge. Any Vermont student age 16 or older (must be 16 years old by June 1, 2015) is eligible. The workshop will take place in White River Junction, VT July 20-24, 2015.

 

Students interested in the scholarship should apply through their local school or public library. The only entry requirements are: (1) that the student is a Vermonter and at least 16 years old, and (2) the applicant has the ability to attend the entire workshop in July.

 

The contest will be conducted through the library (school or public) and librarians will be responsible for returning the entry forms to the Department of Libraries by May 4, 2015. VTLIB will hold a drawing and will let the winning student's librarian know the results by May 15. The entry form can be found on the Department of Libraries website: http://libraries.vermont.gov/blog11.

 

For more information about this workshop visit:

http://www.cartoonstudies.org/index.php/programs/summer-workshops/.

 

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reopenWest Hartford Library Reopens
The West Hartford Library is open for business! Tropical Storm Irene swept through the village August 28, 2011, swamping the library and wrecking much of the collection. The West Hartford Library Board, Friends of the Library, Hartford officials, and many volunteers worked to plan and construct the new building, extending from the old foundation into a remarkable new space. The library is officially a community center -- and the community is really enjoying using it.

 

West Hartford children's room
(photos by Arthur Peale, trustee)

Nadine Hodgdon and Sandie Cary of neighboring Hartford Library are the West Hartford interim staff, while the Library Board advertises for a new director. Hodgdon has booked a kickoff event for the summer reading program. She reports hearing from visitors weekly how much they like having the library open again. Though there is still work to be done -- new books to be ordered and cataloged, grants written for ceiling fans, and so on -- community members are eager to help and the newly reopened library is off to a strong start.   

West Hartford Library

802-295-7992

[email protected]   

Hours:

Monday - Noon to 6:00

Wednesday - 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Friday - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

 

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libsciNew in the Library Science Collection at the Vermont State Library 

These titles may be borrowed through interlibrary loan.

 

Arndt, Theresa S. Getting Started with Demand-Driven Acquisitions for e-Books: A LITA Guide. ALA TechSource, 2015.

 

Higgins, Colin. Cataloging and Managing Film and Video Collections: A Guide to Using RDA and MARC 21. ALA Editions, 2015.

 

The Library Innovation Toolkit: Ideas, Strategies, and Programs. Edited by Anthony Molaro and Leah L. White; foreword by R. David Lankes. ALA Editions, 2015.

 

Tidal, Junior. Usability and the Mobile Web: A LITA Guide. ALA TechSource, 2015.

 

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