people in VT libraries
     
In This Issue
From the State Librarian
VT Represented at National Library Legislation Day
VTLIB to Award 5 Rural Library Conference Scholarships
VLA Encourages Library Visits with Passport to Libraries Program
Public Libraries Offer Summer Park Passes
Heroic Summer for Libraries, Teen Video Winners Announced
Librarians Connect Online, Share Adult Program Ideas
Community Financial Education Project Provides Free Resources, Trainings
VT Librarians Explore Early Learning at VELI Conference
Vermont Online Library Adds Middle School Resources
DCF Conference Inspires, 2015 Winning Book Celebrated
Crayons Run Away with Picture Book Award
Internet Interns Program Featured in American Libraries
VTLIB Staff Recognized at VLA Conference
State Law Librarian Honored
VTLIB to Close for Staff Appreciation Event: June 12
Little Red Henry book cover
New Titles for Children & Teens: May Video Review
Watch Online
Helpful Links
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topFrom the State Librarian

MartaReidVTStateLibrarian

As readers know, the Vermont legislative session which ended May 16 was one of the most difficult in recent memory. Health care policy, public school governance, child protection, and cleaning the waters of Lake Champlain were all on the front burner with multiple hearings and debate. And looming over all of this discussion was the need to reduce State spending to meet a whopping $113 million budget gap. In the final days there was a flurry of attention given to new taxing options and a focus on revenue, but the budget as passed necessarily put the ax to some critical programs across state government and was nothing to cheer about. Full article

VT Represented at

National Library Legislation Day 

National Library Legislation Day attendees
L-R: Howard Burrows, Martha Reid, Anna Bolognani

State Librarian Martha Reid was in Washington D.C. on May 4-5 to participate in National Library Legislation Day, an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association. Attended by librarians, library trustees, and library "friends" from across the U.S., the event includes one day of legislative briefings and a second day for scheduled visits to Congressional offices. This year Reid was joined by Anna Bolognani, Library Media and Technology Integration Specialist at Twin Valley Middle/High School in Whitingham (representing the Vermont School Library Association), and Howard Burrows, Trustee at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro and President of the Vermont Library Association's Library Trustee Section. Full article

VTLIB to Award 5 Rural Library

Conference Scholarships

The Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) is pleased to offer scholarships for up to five Vermont public library workers to attend the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas from September 30 - October 3, 2015. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to learn and share practical knowledge, skills, and connections with other rural library workers from across the country. Full article

ARSL logo

VLA Encourages Library Visits with
Passport to Libraries Program
Passport to VT Libraries This summer, the Vermont Library Association (VLA) is sponsoring a new program, Passport to Vermont Libraries, which will run from June 1 - September 1, 2015 at over 90 Vermont public and academic libraries. As an incentive to travel around the state and visit Vermont's many wonderful libraries, participating libraries will offer a "passport" to patrons and community members, which they can bring to other libraries to receive a stamp. At the end of the summer prizes will be given at each library in three age categories for the most libraries visited, and these winners will be entered in a statewide contest for a grand prize. Full article

Public Libraries Offer Summer Park Passes

This summer Vermonters will once again be able to borrow free passes from their local public libraries to visit Vermont state parks and Vermont's historic sites. This program was first introduced in 2009 and is co-sponsored by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB), the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation, and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. Full article

Heroic Summer for Libraries,

Teen Video Winners Announced

Every Hero Has a Story logo Vermont libraries will be celebrating heroes in 2015 using the themes established by the nationwide Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CSLP). The Vermont Department of Libraries is a CSLP member, working with a consortium of states to share ideas, expertise, and costs to produce a high-quality summer reading programs for all ages. Slogans for this summer's theme are "Every Hero Has a Story" (children), "Unmask" (teens), and "Escape the Ordinary" (adults). Full article

Librarians Connect Online,

Share Adult Program Ideas 

Exciting collaborations are underway in the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) webinar Adult Programs: Key to Community Engagement. In this five-hour workshop, led by Library Development Consultant Amy Howlett, public library staff throughout the state have been sharing their ideas and experiences with library programming for adults. Full article

Community Financial Education Project

Provides Free Resources, Trainings

CFPB logo Last spring, the Community Financial Education Project was launched by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in collaboration with partners including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the American Library Association, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. This project aims to provide librarians with financial education resources and tools, and to help libraries connect with local partners to increase financial literacy within their communities. Full article

VT Librarians Explore Early Learning

at VELI Conference 

VELI attendees In late April, 61 public librarians from around the state attended a two-day Vermont Early Literacy Initiative (VELI) conference convened by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) and the Vermont Center for the Book (VCB). Librarians learned how to enrich their practice by incorporating important early literacy, early mathematics, and social-emotional development concepts and skills into their story hours and other traditional library programming for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers. They also learned how to recruit and provide programming to their communities' families, friends, and other caregivers. Full article 

Vermont Online Library

Adds Middle School Resources

VT Online Library logo

Gale Cengage, Inc. recently announced exciting upcoming changes to the resources for middle school students included in the Vermont Online Library (VOL), the online "library" of subscription-based content available to Vermonters of all ages. Product improvement includes the migration of Discovering Collection, Junior Reference Collection, Student Resource Center Jr., InfoTrac Junior Edition, and InfoTrac Junior Edition Graphic Edition to a new product called Research In Context. Full article

DCF Conference Inspires,

2015 Winning Book Celebrated 

conference session The thirteenth annual Dorothy Canfield Fisher (DCF) Award Conference took place on May 1 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. Librarians and teachers enjoyed engaging presentations from two speakers, children's book authors Steve Sheinkin and Tim Federle.  Full article

Crayons Run Away with Picture Book Award  

The Day the Crayons Quit

Vermont children have chosen The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, as the winner of this year's Red Clover Award, Vermont's picture book award for students in grades K-4. In this humorous story, a child named Duncan opens his box of crayons only to find that the crayons have run away, leaving letters explaining their grievances -- Blue is tired out, Yellow and Orange cannot agree, and Pink feels underutilized. Duncan has to do some quick thinking to make everyone happy and get things back on track! Full article

Internet Interns Program Featured

in American Libraries 

The May 2015 issue of American Libraries, the magazine of the American Library Association, has a feature story on the Internet Intern program of the Vermont Digital Economy Project. The Project, under the leadership of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), was made possible with a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration. Full article

VTLIB Staff Recognized at VLA Conference

Amy Howlett
Amy Howlett 
Congratulations to two stellar employees of the Department of Libraries: Amy Howlett, SE Vermont Library Consultant, and Mara Siegel, Continuing Education Coordinator, who received special awards from the Vermont Library Association (VLA). The awards were presented at the annual Vermont Library Association Conference at Champlain College on May 19. Full article

State Law Librarian Honored 

Paul Donovan receives award
L-R: Secretary of Administration Justin Johnson, Paul Donovan, Governor Peter Shumlin

Each year in May the State of Vermont sets aside a time for Staff Appreciation Week when each department presents appreciation awards to individual employees or department teams. This year's Department of Libraries Staff Appreciation Award was presented to State Law Librarian Paul Donovan.

 

VTLIB to Close for Staff Appreciation Event:

June 12  

The Vermont Department of Libraries will be closed on Friday, June 12 from noon-4:30 p.m. so that Department employees can attend a staff appreciation picnic. Closings that afternoon include the State Librarian's Office, the Vermont State Library (Montpelier), Midstate Library Service Center (Berlin), the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (Berlin), and the regional library consultant offices in St. Johnsbury, Bellows Falls, and Rutland. We'll be back in business the next Monday morning.


ONLY COMPLETE ARTICLES BEYOND THIS POINT

MartyFrom the Vermont State Librarian

As readers know, the Vermont legislative session which ended May 16 was one of the most difficult in recent memory. Health care policy, public school governance, child protection, and cleaning the waters of Lake Champlain were all on the front burner with multiple hearings and debate. And looming over all of this discussion was the need to reduce State spending to meet a whopping $113 million budget gap. In the final days there was a flurry of attention given to new taxing options and a focus on revenue, but the budget as passed necessarily put the ax to some critical programs across state government and was nothing to cheer about. 

 

The Department of Libraries did not fare well: our FY16 state appropriation of $2,342,682 is a reduction of $403,967 (-14.7%) from our current FY appropriation. The only good news came in the final days when the Legislature returned to our budget $67,000 that had been slated to be cut, the result of advocacy from the Board of Libraries and others. This $67,000 will be used as a pass-through grant to the Vermont Law School so that their library can take on legal reference services for the public. I am grateful to leaders in the House and Senate who recognized the essential need for public access to legal information and a trained law librarian -- and to the Law School for stepping up to the plate; it will help ease the pain of pending cuts to be made in services now provided at the State Library here in Montpelier.

 

During this time the Department has been working with Bill Wilson of Himmel & Wilson Library Consultants to help us as we make changes in our organizational structure and set future direction. Bill was in Vermont last month and met individually with all Department employees, with groups of stakeholders, and with a large group of Vermont librarians; since his visit he has also interviewed by phone all members of the Board of Libraries. This information-gathering is the first step in a process which we expect will be completed by early fall. As I consider where we will take $470,000+ in cuts to our existing services and programs, and as I talk with members of my staff and get further input from our stakeholders and librarians, I will use the information that Himmel & Wilson has collected in making my final FY16 budget decisions.

 

There was other legislation of interest to the Department and libraries, and here are two such items:

  • Geographic Naming of transportation entities (state roads, bridges, etc.) will move to the Transportation Board. The Board of Libraries will continue to name natural features, such as mountains, lakes and rivers. 10 V.S.A. � 152
  • "Public library or museum permit": a permit granted by the Liquor Control Board permitting a public library or museum to serve malt beverages or vinous beverages, or both, by the glass to the public for a period of not more than six hours during an event held for a charitable or educational purpose, provided that the event is approved by the local licensing authority. A permit holder may purchase malt beverages or vinous beverages directly from a licensed retailer. A permit holder shall be subject to the provisions of this title and the rules of the Board regarding the service of alcoholic beverages. A request for a permit shall be submitted to the Department in a form required by the Department at least five days prior to the event and shall be accompanied by the permit fee required by subdivision 231(a)(24) of this title. As used in this section, "public library" has the same meaning as in 22 V.S.A. � 101 and "museum" has the same meaning as in 27 V.S.A. � 1151." Journal of the House, May 16, 2015, p. 2170.

Other bills to be examined more closely address workforce and job training, statewide videoconferencing, local economic development, K12 education, early childhood, Health Connect, and Higher Education, but one important takeaway from this legislative session is that Vermont libraries need to have an effective advocacy network. Fortunately, we have that capacity with our state library associations, the Vermont Library Association and the Vermont School Library Association, which were active during this past session. I look forward to working with them in the coming months, as FY17 budget preparation will soon begin and the budget outlook for next year is not encouraging. This underscores the need for the Department of Libraries and libraries across the state to show the impact of what we do for Vermonters. I like the phrase that the South Burlington Community Library is using in their current community strategic planning events: "Make Some Noise!" Let's hear it for libraries!

 

Regards,

 

Marty Reid 

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NLLDVT Represented at National Library Legislation Day 

State Librarian Martha Reid was in Washington D.C. on May 4-5 to participate in National Library Legislation Day, an annual event sponsored by the American Library Association. Attended by librarians, library trustees, and library "friends" from across the U.S., the event includes one day of legislative briefings and a second day for scheduled visits to Congressional offices. This year Reid was joined by Anna Bolognani, Library Media and Technology Integration Specialist at Twin Valley Middle/High School in Whitingham (representing the Vermont School Library Association), and Howard Burrows, Trustee at the Brooks Memorial Library in Brattleboro and President of the Vermont Library Association's Library Trustee Section.

 

The Vermont group met with aides in the offices of Congressman Peter Welch and Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders to talk about a number of issues of interest to libraries, including: Net Neutrality, the U.S.A. Freedom Act (privacy and surveillance law reform), copyright law, the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), and inclusion of dedicated funding for school library programs in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

 

While in Washington, Reid also attended the day-long meeting of Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA). At that meeting, COSLA members met with represesentatives from the American Library Association, Public Library Association, Government Printing Office, the Aspen Institute, the Federal Communications Commission, and USAC, which administers the federal E-rate program for schools and libraries.

 

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ARSLVTLIB to Award 5 Rural Library Conference Scholarships  

The Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) is pleased to offer scholarships for up to five Vermont public library workers to attend the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas from September 30 - October 3, 2015. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to learn and share practical knowledge, skills, and connections with other rural library workers from across the country.

 

All of the attendees from last year's conference in Tacoma, Washington returned with very positive feedback, and highly recommend that the Department continue to offer conference grants to their colleagues. As one of last year's participants reported, "Hearing from and talking with librarians from rural areas who share the same challenges, budgets, and amount of staffing that we do was incredibly valuable. Presenters and colleagues shared doable ideas. I felt 'at home,' a feeling I don't experience at conferences where presenters are from libraries with big budgets and large staffing."

 

Applicant requirements:

  • Have an MLS, or Vermont Public Librarian Certification, or be actively working toward certification
  • Not have attended an ARSL conference in the past five years
  • Agree to write a one-page article for the November VTLIB newsletter
  • Agree to report on the conference within 12 months at a VTLIB workshop or webinar (date to be determined)
  • Receive prior approval from the Library Director (when applicable) and the Chair of the Library Board of Trustees (or designee) to attend the conference
Library Directors, public service staff, and youth services staff are especially encouraged to apply.

 

Scholarships of $1400 per attendee will be awarded to recipients who plan to attend both the three-day conference and a one-day preconference workshop. Scholarship funds may be used for membership, airfare, mileage, parking, hotel, ground transportation, conference registration and meals. Attendees will be required to submit receipts for all costs covered by the scholarship.  

 

Applicants must use the official ARSL Conference Scholarship Application. Deadline for submission is June 12, 2015 (postmark date). Scanned application forms with required signatures will be accepted via email. VTLIB will announce winners on June 19, 2015.

 

For information about the conference please go to: http://arsl.info/category/conferences/2015-conference/.

 

For scholarship information, contact Michael Roche at: [email protected], 802-748-3428, or Brittney Wilson at [email protected], 802-828-3266.

 

Looking for another scholarship opportunity? ARSL provides three annual scholarships. For more information visit: http://arsl.info/annual-conference-awards-calendar/award-scholarship-info/.

 

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passportVLA Encourages Library Visits with Passport to Libraries Program 

This summer, the Vermont Library Association (VLA) is sponsoring a new program, Passport to Vermont Libraries, which will run from June 1 - September 1, 2015 at over 90 Vermont public and academic libraries. As an incentive to travel around the state and visit Vermont's many wonderful libraries, participating libraries will offer a "passport" to patrons and community members, which they can bring to other libraries to receive a stamp. At the end of the summer prizes will be given at each library in three age categories for the most libraries visited, and these winners will be entered in a statewide contest for a grand prize.

 

VLA is providing participating libraries with passports and a printable list of libraries. Community members will be able to pick up these materials at their local library or print them out on their own.

 

For more information about the program, including an FAQ for patrons and links to lists and maps of Vermont libraries, visit http://www.vermontlibraries.org/passport/. There is also a Facebook page where patrons are encouraged to share stories from their travels. This is a great opportunity for Vermonters to visit and celebrate our state's libraries. Vermont has more public libraries per capita than any other state. Each one is unique and visitors will see a wide variety of architecture, programs and library collections.


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passesPublic Libraries Offer Summer Park Passes

This summer Vermonters will once again be able to borrow free passes from their local public libraries to visit Vermont state parks and Vermont's historic sites. This program was first introduced in 2009 and is co-sponsored by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB), the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation, and the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

 

The 2015 State Parks/Historic Parks Pass program begins this month when parks and historic sites open. The program will end when the parks and sites close for the summer/fall; that date varies according to individual park/site rules.

 

Earlier this month the Department of Libraries mailed ONE pass for state parks and ONE pass for historic sites to each public library. Each pass has a retail value of $80.00; libraries may purchase additional passes at the discounted rate of $40.00 each.

 

Over the years, this program has proven to be very popular and gives Vermont families a chance to visit some of our state's most interesting and beautiful places at no cost. VTLIB thanks the Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation and the Division for Historic Preservation for their continued support of this program.

 

Traveling to a state park or historic site this summer? Bring a public library passport and stop at one or more libraries along the way to get it stamped!

 

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SRPHeroic Summer for Libraries, Teen Video Winners Announced

Vermont libraries will be celebrating heroes in 2015 using the themes established by the nationwide Collaborative Summer Reading Program (CSLP). The Vermont Department of Libraries is a CSLP member, working with a consortium of states to share ideas, expertise, and costs to produce a high-quality summer reading programs for all ages. Slogans for this summer's theme are "Every Hero Has a Story" (children), "Unmask" (teens), and "Escape the Ordinary" (adults).


Resources for summer programming are available on the Department of Libraries website and the CSLP website. Among these resources are videos created as part of CSLP's annual Teen Video Challenge. This challenge is a national competition for teens to get involved with reading and their public library's summer reading program. Winning videos were selected at the state level to be recognized as an official CSLP Teen Video Challenge winner for 2015. Twenty-six states and over one hundred teens participated in the creation of this year's winning videos.

 

14-year-old Ella Staats from Burlington created Vermont's winning video, "Power." To view all of this year's winners, please visit CSLP's website at http://www.cslpreads.org/programs/teen-program/teen-video-challenge/. These videos can be used by all public libraries to promote summer reading nationwide.

 

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adultLibrarians Connect Online, Share Adult Program Ideas

Exciting collaborations are underway in the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) webinar Adult Programs: Key to Community Engagement. In this five-hour workshop, led by Library Development Consultant Amy Howlett, public library staff throughout the state have been sharing their ideas and experiences with library programming for adults.

 

The first assignment, to share three examples of low-cost programs that each library has held or hopes to try, generated a fruitful list of suggestions and sparked discussion about what worked and what didn't. Workshop participants have been making connections with other libraries that have held successful programs and exchanging advice on marketing, attracting new audiences, finding presenters, and ways to learn about community interests. Other topics covered have included partnering with organizations such as the Vermont Humanities Council and Vermont PBS, and using a public performance movie license to show movies.

 

Circulation of non-traditional items, such as craft kits, gardening tools, and park passes, is a growing area of interest for many libraries. Inspired by the Sacramento Public Library's "Library of Things," the class has been creating a list of ideas for items to loan, It goes out and it's not a book, as well as possible sources of funding and program tie-ins. Some of the more unusual possibilities include a wattage use reader, cookie cutters, snow shoes, and a chicken plucker.

 

Library staff enjoy the convenience of jumping into a discussion from home or desk. They add to discussions and read files offline before each week's virtual meeting. Other VTLIB consultants are using the same online platform, Canvas, to provide assignments, files, and discussions for the upcoming core workshop Basic Public Library Administration.

 

To learn about upcoming classes and webinars from the Department of Libraries, visit the VTLIB Continuing Education website.

 

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cfpbCommunity Financial Education Project Provides Free Resources, Trainings

Last spring, the Community Financial Education Project was launched by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in collaboration with partners including the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the American Library Association, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. This project aims to provide librarians with financial education resources and tools, and to help libraries connect with local partners to increase financial literacy within their communities.

 

The list of available resources has been growing steadily over the past year, and libraries can find a wealth of information, including program ideas and marketing materials, online for free: http://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/financial-education-tools-for-libraries-from-CFPB.html.

 

CFPB also offers monthly webinars to train library staff on how to discuss financial education topics with patrons. Each 30-40 minute webinar covers basic financial education topics. Archived and upcoming sessions are listed on this page: http://www.consumerfinance.gov/library-resources/librarian-training/. Programs offered in the past include Community education project with libraries and How to promote your financial education program. Watch for "Library financial empowerment showcase," coming up in September.

 

Libraries across the state provided materials and programs to mark Money Smart Week during the week of April 18 - 25. The Department of Libraries is gathering feedback on recent financially-focused programs held by Vermont libraries. Libraries should contact Library Development Consultant Rob Geiszler at [email protected] or (802) 786-3839 to share feedback about their events and programs.

 

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VELIVT Librarians Explore Early Learning at VELI Conference
In late April, 61 public librarians from around the state attended a two-day Vermont Early Literacy Initiative (VELI) conference convened by the Vermont Department of Libraries (VTLIB) and the Vermont Center for the Book (VCB). Librarians learned how to enrich their practice by incorporating important early literacy, early mathematics, and social-emotional development concepts and skills into their story hours and other traditional library programming for parents and caregivers of infants and toddlers. They also learned how to recruit and provide programming to their communities' families, friends, and other caregivers.

 

The VELI partnership between VTLIB and VCB began in 2010 with 25 libraries. Each year a training conference centers on providing training, books, and hands-on learning materials to librarians, parents, and caregivers. After VELI training, Vermont public librarians have the necessary tools to work with children, families, and caregivers to ensure that all children enter school ready to learn. "Research on early literacy and brain development has shown that it is never too early to prepare children for school and lifelong learning," said Martha Reid, State Librarian. "Our public librarians are in unique positions to provide young children, parents and childcare providers with the resources and material that researchers say are crucial to school success."

 

During the conference librarians were given the necessary information and tools to help transform story hours and traditional programming into standards-based, engaging and interactive learning experiences and to provide family programs and trainings for community childcare providers.

 

"The goal of VELI is to ensure that public librarians intentionally incorporate literacy, mathematics, and social-emotional development vocabulary, content and skills into all of their interactions with children and families," said Sally Anderson, Executive Director for the Vermont Center for the Book. "Interest from public libraries continues to grow each year, which means that children all across Vermont are being reached in meaningful ways."

 

Day one of this year's conference was an intensive training for 30 new VELI libraries. On the second day, all VELI libraries were invited to attend and learn more about the Family, Friends and Neighbor Network (FFN) of informal childcare providers and how to provide programming and resources for those caregivers. Librarians received VELI Librarian Manuals, picture books, hands-on learning materials (thanks to funding provided by Vermont Birth to Three) and programming ideas.

 

Since VELI began in 2010:

  • 83 librarians have been trained in early and preschool literacy and preschool mathematics
  • 1,060 families were reached through programs, impacting over 2,000 children
  • 530 child-care providers were trained and received books and materials to use with over 2,500 children in their care
  • Thousands of children and parents who attended story times in a VELI library received information and guidance in the areas of early and preschool literacy and preschool mathematics

More information about VELI is available on the VTLIB website, including a list of participating libraries.

 

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VOLVermont Online Library Adds Middle School Resources

Gale Cengage, Inc. recently announced exciting upcoming changes to the resources for middle school students included in the Vermont Online Library (VOL), the online "library" of subscription-based content available to Vermonters of all ages. Product improvement includes the migration of Discovering Collection, Junior Reference Collection, Student Resource Center Jr., InfoTrac Junior Edition, and InfoTrac Junior Edition Graphic Edition to a new product called Research In Context.

 

Research In Context, designed for middle school students in grades 6-8, will include Discovering Collection, Junior Reference Collection, Student Resource Center Jr., InfoTrac Junior Edition, and InfoTrac Junior Edition Graphic Edition. Currently only the two latter databases are included in the Vermont Online Library. This means that at no additional cost, VOL member libraries will have access to all five resources included in the single product Research in Context.

 

Gale has created a landing page with images of the product and valuable information including a FAQ, which can be viewed at www.gale.com/researchincontext.

 

Research In Context will be available at the end of May.

 

The Vermont Online Library is available to Vermont citizens and students via their local academic, public and school libraries -- and they can access VOL from anywhere via the Internet to read full-text magazine and newspaper articles, find health, business, career, and job-seeking information, explore the Chilton's car repair databases, and use the PowerSpeak online foreign language learning program. In 2015, the Vermont Online Library is available from 24 academic libraries, 117 public libraries, and 148 school libraries. Visit http://www.vtonlinelib.org/ or call a local library for more information.

 

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DCFDCF Conference Inspires, 2015 Winning Book Celebrated 

The thirteenth annual Dorothy Canfield Fisher (DCF) Award Conference took place on May 1 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. Librarians and teachers enjoyed engaging presentations from two speakers, children's book authors Steve Sheinkin and Tim Federle.

 

Sheinkin, a recipient of many awards for non-fiction and author of current DCF nominee The Port Chicago 50, kicked things off with a thought-provoking keynote about discovering and giving voice to the lesser-known stories of history. Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever, a DCF selection from this past year, rounded out the day with an energizing talk about the power of educators to make a difference in children's lives. A common theme that emerged was the importance of sharing stories that have often been marginalized or gone unheard.

 

Through a variety of workshops, conference participants gathered dozens of ideas on how to engage students in grades 4-8 with the books on the new DCF list, introduce nonfiction and classical literature, run a book club, get kids writing, and much more. Handouts from several sessions are available on the DCF website along with many other materials to support DCF programming in libraries and schools.

 

2015 DCF Book Award Winner 

 

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, the 2015 winner, will be celebrated at an award ceremony on Saturday, June 13. Author Chris Grabenstein will travel to Vermont to accept the award, meet students, and sign copies of his books. For event details and to RSVP, visit http://libraries.vermont.gov/blog.

 

Don't miss Dorothy's List on Vermont Public Radio! Listen to the May 11 episode online to hear an interview with Chris Grabenstein and get a preview of the 2015-16 list from Youth Services Consultant Sharon Colvin and award committee chair Hannah Peacock.

 

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RCCrayons Run Away with Picture Book Award  

Vermont children have chosen The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, as the winner of this year's Red Clover Award, Vermont's picture book award for students in grades K-4. In this humorous story, a child named Duncan opens his box of crayons only to find that the crayons have run away, leaving letters explaining their grievances -- Blue is tired out, Yellow and Orange cannot agree, and Pink feels underutilized. Duncan has to do some quick thinking to make everyone happy and get things back on track!

 

Over 20,800 children cast votes this year through 175 schools and four public libraries. The full voting tally is available on the website of the Vermont Center for the Book.

 

Author Drew Daywalt will be the keynote speaker at the 2015 Red Clover conference on October 7 at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT.

 

For more information about the Red Clover Award, including lists of all current and past nominees, visit the Red Clover Award page on the Department of Libraries website.

 

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internsInternet Interns Program Featured in American Libraries  

The May 2015 issue of American Libraries, the magazine of the American Library Association, has a feature story on the Internet Intern program of the Vermont Digital Economy Project. The Project, under the leadership of the Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), was made possible with a $1.8 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration.

 

The article, "Vermont Libraries Weather the Digital Literacy Storm," (on pages 18-19 of the May issue) reports on the success of the Internet Intern program which placed student interns in 24 public libraries around the state to assist citizens with learning computer and digital skills. The Internet Intern progam was a collaboration between the Department of Libraries and the Community College of Vermont (CCV), which designed curriculum to teach basic computer skills and trained CCV student interns.

 

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VLAawardsVTLIB Staff Recognized at VLA Conference

Congratulations to two stellar employees of the Department of Libraries: Amy Howlett, SE Vermont Library Consultant, and Mara Siegel, Continuing Education Coordinator, who received special awards from the Vermont Library Association (VLA). The awards were presented at the annual Vermont Library Association Conference at Champlain College on May 19.

 

Green Mountain Award presentation
L-R: Susan O'Connell, Mara Siegel,
VLA President Toni Josey
(Photos by Amy Wisehart) 

The VLA Green Mountain Award, given to individuals or organizations for distinguished service, support, or unusual contributions to a Vermont library or libraries, was presented to Mara Siegel and Susan O'Connell, Director of the Craftsbury Public Library, for their outstanding work (and two successful Vermont Community Foundation grants) to bring maker-space programming to public libraries, and introducing innovation and leadership for Vermont libraries to enhance out-of-school learning for Vermonters of all ages. Their work has included collaboration with UVM, the VT Agency of Commerce, VT Makers, SparkFun and others.

 

The VLA Sarah C. Hager Award, named for the first president of VLA and a librarian at the Fletcher Free Library for 23 years until her death in 1908, is awarded each year for outstanding service in or significant contribution to the field of librarianship in Vermont. This award was presented to Amy Howlett in recognition of her distinguished service to libraries across the state, a long list of accomplishments, and a remarkable body of work at the Department of Libraries and with librarians and library trustees in our public libraries. Amy began her career at the Department of Libraries in 1978 and we salute her for her passion for libraries, her high standards of excellence, her intelligence and wealth of great ideas, her upbeat attitude and the enthusiasm she brings to work every day.

 

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DonovanState Law Librarian Honored

Each year in May the State of Vermont sets aside a time for Staff Appreciation Week when each department presents appreciation awards to individual employees or department teams. This year's Department of Libraries Staff Appreciation Award was presented to State Law Librarian Paul Donovan.

 

Paul has worked at the Vermont State Library for 38 years and for 17 years has served as State Law Librarian. Paul's work is also his passion; he has provided legal resources and research to the Judiciary, Attorney General's office, the Vermont legal community, prison inmates, the general public, and libraries statewide and is known for his expertise and knowledge in law and legislative history. An advocate for public access to legal information, Paul's training of local librarians in legal reference has helped countless citizens. His contributions have earned him widespread respect and the affection of his co-workers. On May 5 Paul attended the "Outstanding State Employees" luncheon with the Governor and received a plaque honoring his work. Congratulations, Paul!

 

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