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In This Issue
From the State Librarian
SCOOP Offers Discounts for VT Libraries
Libraries to Host Health Connect Information Sessions
New Community Radio Show About Public Libraries
Gale Upgrades to VT Online Library
VT Friends Raise Funds, Advocate for Libraries
Save the Date: Nov. 7 Trustees & Friends Conference
New Legislation: Serving Beer & Wine in Public Libraries
Public Legal Reference Shifts to Law School
Change to State of Vermont Email Addresses
Department of Libraries Announces New Hours
Department of Libraries Staff Changes
Denison Departs State Library
Another Kind of Hurricane cover
Watch Online
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topFrom the State Librarian

MartaReidVTStateLibrarian

Have you read Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee? If so, you may be one of the thousands of readers who pre-ordered the book from Amazon or your local bookstore. Or perhaps you are reading a library copy of the book. Or, like me, you haven't started the book yet, but plan to read it soon. Unless you have been in the wilderness (and perhaps you have been), you will have heard the swirl of conversation and early debate about this sequel to the beloved classic To Kill a Mockingbird and its central character Atticus Finch. It appears that Finch has fallen off the literary pedestal. Is he a racist? A product of his times? A good man with a serious character flaw? A fictional character who reflects the complexities and contradictions of being human? I expect that readers, critics, writers and educators will be discussing this book and debating these questions for a long time -- I surely hope so. Full article

SCOOP Offers Discounts for VT Libraries  

Beginning this month the Department of Libraries joined Maine and New Hampshire in the SCOOP library discount cooperative, which now offers to all Vermont school, academic, public and special libraries discounts from a selected list of vendors and jobbers on the purchase of books, multi-media materials, library supplies and equipment, and library furniture. The Department has mailed letters to all Vermont libraries with detailed information on how libraries can take advantage of these discounts. The new SCOOP contract will end on June 30, 2018. Full article  

Libraries to Host Health Connect  

Information Sessions 

vt health connect logo Vermont Health Connect (VHC) is reaching out to Vermont libraries to spread the word about health insurance options available to Vermont citizens. This public library campaign will help Vermonters understand their options for public health coverage and how to sign up. The VHC campaign begins with posters and brochures that will be mailed to public libraries. VHC will sponsor a free webinar on September 8 and librarians can register on the Department of Libraries Events Calendar. VHC will contact libraries across the state to sponsor local public information sessions, particularly in areas where greater numbers of residents are uninsured. Full article 

New Community Radio Show

About Public Libraries

Radio show logo Loona Brogan, Director of the Cutler Memorial Library (Plainfield) and also an employee at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library (Montpelier), has launched a community radio show about public libraries on WGDR/WGDH, Goddard College. Called "Free Accessories," the show airs on Mondays, 11:00 am to noon. Listeners can stream it from http://www.wgdr.org/listen-live/ or access a recording (minus the copyrighted musical interludes) on the day after broadcast via the show's SoundCloud page. Full article

Gale Upgrades to VT Online Library 

VT Online Library logo Library staff and Vermonters who use the outstanding Gale resources that are part of the Vermont Online Library (VOL) will want to take note of upgrades to select databases. Full article 

VT Friends Raise Funds, Advocate for Libraries

Love your library slogan Want to learn what local Friends of the Library groups are up to? The list of Vermont Friends groups has been updated for 2015. Forty-nine public libraries around the state contributed information about the fundraising and advocacy activities of their Friends groups. In addition to annual appeals and the ever-popular book sales and raffles, these volunteer organizations are making community connections and supporting their libraries by visiting farmer's markets, writing grants, and hosting whist parties, cookie walks, and garden tours. Funds raised have helped sponsor events such as author visits and Humanities Council speakers, or provided new furnishings, books, summer reading incentives, and music programs. Full article
 Save the Date: Nov. 7
Trustees & Friends Conference

Mark your calendars! Vermont public library trustees and Friends will gather in Burlington on Saturday, November 7, 2015 for the annual Library Trustees and Friends Conference, co-sponsored by the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont Library Association. This year's conference will be held at Main Street Landing Conference Center on Lake Champlain's waterfront in Burlington. Keep an eye open for further announcements about speakers and registration information. All public library directors, trustees, and Friends members are encouraged to attend.
New Legislation:
Serving Beer & Wine in Public Libraries
beer mug Prior to the Vermont legislature's recent passage of Bill S.138, public libraries could serve alcoholic beverages at library events only under the umbrella of a licensed commercial catering business. Now the law has changed: Vermont public libraries and museums will be permitted to serve beer or wine at a "charitable or educational event" as long as they comply with the requirements of the new law and have an approved permit from the Liquor Control Board of the Vermont Department of Liquor Control (DLC). Libraries should take note that S.138 was passed in the latest legislative session and the new law has not yet been published in the Vermont Statutes. For the upcoming year libraries should anticipate a period of transition as DLC works through the new application, permitting and provisions as they apply to S.138. Full article

Public Legal Reference Shifts to Law School  

VT Law School seal The Vermont Legislature approved a new appropriation of $67,000 in the Department of Libraries' FY16 budget to be used as a pass-through grant to the Vermont Law School to provide legal reference service to the public. The appropriation was made as a result of the end of funding for the Law Library at the Vermont State Library. The grant funds will go to the Julien and Virginia Cornell Library at the Law School and will be used to purchase print and electronic legal resources and for staff to handle legal questions from Vermont attorneys, Vermont citizens, and Vermont libraries. The Law School will install an "Ask a Law Librarian" phone line to assist citizens and local libraries with questions and they expect to have this new program in place in September. Once these new services are up and running at the Law School, the Department of Libraries will help with getting the word out to Vermonters and to local libraries. Full article

 Change to State of Vermont Email Addresses
email All State of Vermont employee email addresses will change on Monday, July 27, 2015 from [email protected] to [email protected]. Email addressed to @state.vt.us addresses will continue to be delivered until August 2016. However, library staff and others who communicate via email with Department of Libraries staff or other state employees should be aware of this change and update their contact lists as needed.

Department of Libraries Announces New Hours 

Open sign The central offices of the Department of Libraries at 109 State Street in Montpelier remain open during regular business hours, Monday - Friday, 7:45 am - 4:30 pm. The main phone line (802) 828-3261 now uses an auto-attendant voice mail service with access to a Department staff directory. Full article

Department of Libraries Staff Changes 

As part of the restructuring process at the Department of Libraries, there have been some changes in staff assignments. FY16 budget reductions resulted in the elimination of four staff positions: (1) Law Librarian at the Vermont State Library (Montpelier), (2) Support Services Coordinator in the Office of the State Librarian (Montpelier), (3) Head Librarian, Special Services Unit and Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (Berlin), and (4) Program Services Clerk, Special Services Unit (Berlin). Other changes include: Full article

Denison Departs State Library 

Gerrie Denison Gerrie Denison, Head of Reference and Interlibrary Loan, will work her last day at the Department of Libraries on Friday, July 24. Gerrie joined the Department of Libraries in 2006 and has provided reference, information and statewide interlibrary loan services to state employees, the general public and Vermont libraries ever since. Gerrie has been the Department's contact for the Foundation Center and has provided training for librarians, non-profits, and the general public on researching grant funding sources in the Foundation Directory database. She has also taught classes on interlibrary loan and reference for public librarians. We will miss her fabulous research skills and her dedication to providing the best possible customer service. We wish her well as she plans the next steps in her career.


ONLY COMPLETE ARTICLES BEYOND THIS POINT

MartyFrom the Vermont State Librarian

Have you read Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee? If so, you may be one of the thousands of readers who pre-ordered the book from Amazon or your local bookstore. Or perhaps you are reading a library copy of the book. Or, like me, you haven't started the book yet, but plan to read it soon. Unless you have been in the wilderness (and perhaps you have been), you will have heard the swirl of conversation and early debate about this sequel to the beloved classic To Kill a Mockingbird and its central character Atticus Finch. It appears that Finch has fallen off the literary pedestal. Is he a racist? A product of his times? A good man with a serious character flaw? A fictional character who reflects the complexities and contradictions of being human? I expect that readers, critics, writers and educators will be discussing this book and debating these questions for a long time -- I surely hope so.

 

Go Set a Watchman book cover This book, which has dominated the headlines during the week I am writing this column, strikes a nerve in America, and the timing of its publication is almost inspired. In a year when we have been witness to repeated instances of racial profiling and violence and the heated discussion and ultimate removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse, Watchman can do what all good literature does; it moves us to occupy another time and space and allows us to experience the events and emotions of others in order to gain new perspective and explore our own beliefs and feelings. Some books rock our world and we celebrate the fact that writers can do just that through their language, story, and characters.

 

This month Kent State University hosted an international conference, "Why the Humanities? Answers from the Cognitive and Neurosciences." It's a question that has been asked in many arenas and, according to the conference website, educators gathered in Ohio to explore "the contributions that humanities education makes to personal well being, responsible citizenship, and social justice." Among the "key cognitive and emotional capabilities" that are cited as important in humanities education (and, I would say, the reading of literature) are these: (1) Empathy, (2) Mind Reading, (3) Bias Correction, and (4) Self-Knowledge.

 

Librarians and readers of all ages know the transformative power of literature -- it's why we read. It's one reason why we value our local libraries and the diversity in their book collections. I haven't checked, but I assume that many Vermont libraries have purchased multiple copies of the new Harper Lee book to meet reader demand. I do know that some libraries have scheduled programming around this book, including displays, booklists, book discussions, and film screenings.

 

Summer is traditionally a time when readers choose "beach reading" fare and catch up on bestselling blockbusters. This year summer reading for many of us will also include Watchman and perhaps we will use some of our leisure hours by the lake or in the backyard to think more deeply about what makes us human -- about the ways we are both like and different from Atticus Finch, Scout, and the other characters in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, and about why that matters.

 

Happy reading!

 

Marty Reid 

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SCOOPSCOOP Offers Discounts for VT Libraries 

Beginning this month the Department of Libraries joined Maine and New Hampshire in the SCOOP library discount cooperative, which now offers to all Vermont school, academic, public and special libraries discounts from a selected list of vendors and jobbers on the purchase of books, multi-media materials, library supplies and equipment, and library furniture. The Department has mailed letters to all Vermont libraries with detailed information on how libraries can take advantage of these discounts. The new SCOOP contract will end on June 30, 2018.

 

Information about the SCOOP program, including the new SCOOP Catalog, is available on the Maine State Library website at: http://www.maine.gov/msl/mrls/services/scoop.htm.

 

A list of SCOOP vendors and a link to the SCOOP site can be found on the Department of Libraries' website at: http://libraries.vermont.gov/services/SCOOP.

 

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VHCLibraries to Host Health Connect Information Sessions  

Vermont Health Connect (VHC) is reaching out to Vermont libraries to spread the word about health insurance options available to Vermont citizens. This public library campaign will help Vermonters understand their options for public health coverage and how to sign up. The VHC campaign begins with posters and brochures that will be mailed to public libraries. VHC will sponsor a free webinar on September 8 and librarians can register on the Department of Libraries Events Calendar. VHC will contact libraries across the state to sponsor local public information sessions, particularly in areas where greater numbers of residents are uninsured.

 

VHC outreach schedule:

 

July: Posters and brochures mailed to all Vermont public libraries
September: Webinar for librarians, September 8
October: Public information event will be held at one selected library in each county. Additional events will be scheduled in Essex, Lamoille, Caledonia, Orleans, and Windham counties.
November: Vermont Health Connect open enrollment period begins.

 

For more information about this program, contact Jacqueline Rose: [email protected].


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radioNew Community Radio Show About Public Libraries

Loona Brogan, Director of the Cutler Memorial Library (Plainfield) and also an employee at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library (Montpelier), has launched a community radio show about public libraries on WGDR/WGDH, Goddard College. Called "Free Accessories," the show airs on Mondays, 11:00 am to noon. Listeners can stream it from http://www.wgdr.org/listen-live/ or access a recording (minus the copyrighted musical interludes) on the day after broadcast via the show's SoundCloud page.

 

The one-hour weekly episodes will feature discussions with librarians from around Vermont and beyond, recorded talks given by librarians, a featured musician's profile (with a sampling of work as musical interludes), book reviews, local library calendars and library programming information, and news of interest to the general public from Listen Up! Vermont, the Vermont Library Association, the American Library Association, the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, and the Department of Libraries. "How to say this author's name" and "Appyness" app reviews will also be regular features.

 

For more information, or to suggest topics for future programs, contact Loona Brogan at [email protected]. Brogan hopes "this will provide a venue for digital media savvy librarians, in particular, to connect with each other wherever they are."  Check out the radio show's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/freeaccessoriesradio.

 

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VOLGale Upgrades to VT Online Library

Library staff and Vermonters who use the outstanding Gale resources that are part of the Vermont Online Library (VOL) will want to take note of upgrades to select databases.

 

Business Insights: Essential

On August 7, Gale will "retire" some of their legacy business products, including the Business & Company ASAP and General Business File databases. All content in these legacy products is also included in the more comprehensive Business Insights: Essential, which is now part of VOL (and will remain), so rather than losing any content, users will have access to additional business periodical content as part of this change.

 

Research In Context

In May,Gale launched a new product called Research In Context (for middle school students)which is now available via the Vermont Online Library. This product is the result of the migration of Discovering Collection, Junior Reference Collection, Student Resource Center Jr., InfoTrac Junior Edition, and InfoTrac Junior Edition Graphic Edition to the new Research In Context.

 

For now, libraries have access to both Research In Context and the products in the "old" configuration, but because Gale will remove the older products on October 1, libraries need to update their links prior to that date. For more information, check out the Gale FAQ: www.gale.com/researchincontext.

 

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Want to learn what local Friends of the Library groups are up to? The list of Vermont Friends groups has been updated for 2015. Forty-nine public libraries around the state contributed information about the fundraising and advocacy activities of their Friends groups. In addition to annual appeals and the ever-popular book sales and raffles, these volunteer organizations are making community connections and supporting their libraries by visiting farmer's markets, writing grants, and hosting whist parties, cookie walks, and garden tours. Funds raised have helped sponsor events such as author visits and Humanities Council speakers, or provided new furnishings, books, summer reading incentives, and music programs.

 

Each entry includes contact information, as well as examples of recent successes or goals. The list can be found on the Trustees and Friends page of the Department of Libraries website along with several other resources of interest to Friends groups -- including how to get one started. Another opportunity for Friends to connect with peers is the annual Trustees and Friends Conference, coming up on November 7.

 

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legislationNew Legislation: Serving Beer & Wine in Public Libraries  

Prior to the Vermont legislature's recent passage of Bill S.138, public libraries could serve alcoholic beverages at library events only under the umbrella of a licensed commercial catering business. Now the law has changed: Vermont public libraries and museums will be permitted to serve beer or wine at a "charitable or educational event" as long as they comply with the requirements of the new law and have an approved permit from the Liquor Control Board of the Vermont Department of Liquor Control (DLC). Libraries should take note that S.138 was passed in the latest legislative session and the new law has not yet been published in the Vermont Statutes. For the upcoming year libraries should anticipate a period of transition as DLC works through the new application, permitting and provisions as they apply to S.138.

 

Bill S.138: Economic development; commerce and trade; natural resources; liquor control

(Section 39)

 

"'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 [of Liquor Control/DLC] 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."

 

Bill S.138 states that a library wishing to serve "malt beverages or vinous beverages" (beer or wine) must complete and submit an application to the DLC. The application requires the library to be in compliance with the following:

  • Each licensee shall ensure that every employee who is involved in the preparation, sale, service or solicitation of alcoholic beverages must complete a training program offered or approved by the DLC. The training seminar can either be taken online for $25.00 or in person for free at one of the classes offered around the state. Each licensee shall maintain written documentation, signed by each employee trained. For more information on the seminars, contact Angela Newland: [email protected].
  • No licensee shall permit an individual less than eighteen years of age to be involved in the preparation, sale or service of alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption, either on a paid or voluntary basis.
  • No licensee that sells or distributes malt or vinous beverages to the public may accept free malt or vinous beverages, services, monetary payments or other things of value from a manufacturer, nor purchase malt or vinous beverages below the uniform price charged by the bottler or wholesale dealer. Only malt and vinous beverages purchased on invoice from a licensed wholesale dealer may be used.
  • No licensee shall allow consumption of alcoholic beverages in any open area or in connection with licensed premises, without first obtaining an outside consumption permit from the local control commissioners and approval of the State Liquor Control Board. It was also the legislative intent for libraries and museums to serve alcohol only at their place of business. Anywhere other than that specific location would require a licensed caterer to furnish and serve the alcohol.
  • Any licensee that is serving alcoholic beverages for on-premise consumption shall post in a prominent place where alcoholic beverages are served, a sign with the words: "Do You Have a Designated Driver?"

To meet all requirements under the new law, libraries should begin the permitting process by downloading and completing an application, submitting it to the Town/City Clerk with the appropriate fee ($20), and waiting for approval and a permit. The time required for approval and permit will depend on each individual application, so libraries would be wise to file an application as far ahead of an event as possible. The official library and museum permit application form will soon be available on the Department of Liquor Control's website.

 

For additional questions about S.138 or license requirements, libraries should contact the DLC:

 

Department of Liquor Control

http://liquorcontrol.vermont.gov/

 

Vermont Department of Liquor Control Forms

http://liquorcontrol.vermont.gov/licensing/forms

 

Questions about the Vermont Department of Liquor Control Training Seminars

Angela Newland: [email protected]

 

Vermont Laws and Statutes Related To Alcohol and Tobacco

http://liquorcontrol.vermont.gov/enforcement/laws

 

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legalPublic Legal Reference Shifts to Law School   

The Vermont Legislature approved a new appropriation of $67,000 in the Department of Libraries' FY16 budget to be used as a pass-through grant to the Vermont Law School to provide legal reference service to the public. The appropriation was made as a result of the end of funding for the Law Library at the Vermont State Library. The grant funds will go to the Julien and Virginia Cornell Library at the Law School and will be used to purchase print and electronic legal resources and for staff to handle legal questions from Vermont attorneys, Vermont citizens, and Vermont libraries. The Law School will install an "Ask a Law Librarian" phone line to assist citizens and local libraries with questions and they expect to have this new program in place in September. Once these new services are up and running at the Law School, the Department of Libraries will help with getting the word out to Vermonters and to local libraries.

 

The State Library in Montpelier will retain part of its existing print law collection, and will continue to add Vermont law materials and legislative history as part of the state documents collection. However, the State Library has ended most legal reference service and will no longer have staff or public access to the Westlaw legal databases.

 

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newhoursDepartment of Libraries Announces New Hours

The central offices of the Department of Libraries at 109 State Street in Montpelier remain open during regular business hours, Monday - Friday, 7:45 am - 4:30 pm. The main phone line (802) 828-3261 now uses an auto-attendant voice mail service with access to a Department staff directory.

 

Beginning July 1, the Vermont State Library, located on the 2nd floor of the Pavilion Building at 109 State Street in Montpelier, has new hours: Monday-Thursday, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm. The Library is closed on Fridays. For reference service, or for more information about the State Library and its collections, call (802) 828-3268 during these new hours of operation.

 

Beginning August 1, the Midstate Library Service Center (MLSC) and the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (Special Services Unit) in Berlin will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm. The MLSC building will be accessible outside of those hours for scheduled meetings, programs, and continuing education classes. Libraries may schedule visits outside regular hours by special appointment by calling the Midstate Library at (802) 828-2320 or the Special Services Unit at (802) 828-3273 / 1-800-479-1711.

 

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staffDepartment of Libraries Staff Changes

As part of the restructuring process at the Department of Libraries, there have been some changes in staff assignments. FY16 budget reductions resulted in the elimination of four staff positions: (1) Law Librarian at the Vermont State Library (Montpelier), (2) Support Services Coordinator in the Office of the State Librarian (Montpelier), (3) Head Librarian, Special Services Unit and Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (Berlin), and (4) Program Services Clerk, Special Services Unit (Berlin). Other changes include:

 

Michael Roche has moved from his office in St. Johnsbury to the Midstate Library Service Center (MLSC) in Berlin. Michael will now manage the MLSC and the Special Services Unit, including the Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped. He will continue to provide services as a Library Consultant. We will post Michael's new phone number on the Department website once the new phone line has been installed.

 

Mara Siegel is now working full-time in Montpelier and is the new Head of Interlibrary Loan Services. She will continue her work as Continuing Education Coordinator and will provide back-up reference service at the State Library. Mara's phone number is (802) 828-2727.

 

Jeremiah Kellogg will move this month from the Midstate Library Service Center to Montpelier where he will work part of his time as a reference librarian at the State Library. Jeremiah will continue his work as a Library Consultant. Jeremiah's new telephone number will be (802) 828-2734.

 

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