In This Issue
From the State Librarian
Staff News
Letters about Literature
Spotlight On
Featured Article
Conference Recap
From
Youth Services Consultant

Sharon Colvin

 

2016 ARSL Conference
Scholarships 


 The Vermont Department of Libraries is pleased to once again offer five scholarships to Vermont public librarians to attend the Association for Rural & Small Libraries's annual conference. The 2016 conference will be held in Fargo, North Dakota from October 26-29. For more information and to apply, please visit
 this web page.


Join Our Mailing List

Stay Connected
on Social Media



Helpful Links 

top
From the State Librarian 
MartaReidVTStateLibrarian  
This month the Martha Canfield Memorial Library in Arlington celebrated its 20th anniversary of library service in their "new" building, and I was invited to speak on the "Future of Libraries." Despite the rainy day, the event was a delight and the program included speakers on the history of the library, public libraries today (as seen through the eyes of Vermont author and frequent visitor to libraries, Reeve Lindbergh), and a high school debate on the question: "Are public libraries relevant in the Digital Age?" 
 
In preparation for my talk, I took time to read and think about the current discussion of librarians and thought leaders on the future of public libraries. Contrary to what some people think, the future of our public libraries is not a "gloom and doom" outlook. In fact, it is a very exciting time to be a librarian because there is so much opportunity available with the expansion of digital resources, the wide range of information and reading resources, and a very robust ouput of writing: in print, in digital format, and self-published on the Internet. Libraries are very busy places which offer all kinds of learning opportunities: access to books (of course), online classes, on-site maker spaces, early literacy programs, one-on-one digital literacy assistance, STEAM programs (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and cultural enrichment.

Vermont Department of Libraries Staff News

Tess Adone, former Executive Assistant to the State Librarian, left her position to pursue other job opportunities.

Sheila Kearns recently resigned from her position as Information Technology Librarian after 17 years of service with the Department. During her tenure Sheila saw significant changes in library and information technology and worked on a variety of projects, including Vermont FiberConnect which brought high-speed broadband to 43 Vermont public libraries.
We wish them both the best in their new endeavors! 

Letters about Literature 2016
 
Left to right: First place winners Cearra O'Hern, Nina Borzekowski, and Mikaya Potvin.

On Friday, May 20, the Vermont Department of Libraries hosted seven Vermont students at the State House to honor their achievements in the 23rd Annual Letters about Literature contest.

 
 

Movies at the Library

 
With long lines, expensive tickets,  and inconsiderate theater mates, going to the movie theater isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Take a look at some libraries that are providing film experiences to their patrons- without the hassle.
 
Public Library Report
The FY 2015 Public Library Report was sent to libraries at the beginning of June. Read on for a snapshot of the state of Vermont's libraries.

Full article 

Conference Recap



April showers don't just bring flowers in May...they bring librarians out in droves to conferences all over the state! The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award conference, Vermont Library Association conference, and Dynamic Landscapes kept Vermont librarians busy.
  

ONLY COMPLETE ARTICLES BEYOND THIS POINT
Marty
From the Vermont State Librarian
 
This month the Martha Canfield Memorial Library in Arlington celebrated its 20th anniversary of library service in their "new" building, and I was invited to speak on the "Future of Libraries." Despite the rainy day, the event was a delight and the program included speakers on the history of the library, public libraries today (as seen through the eyes of Vermont author and frequent visitor to libraries, Reeve Lindbergh), and a high school debate on the question: "Are public libraries relevant in the Digital Age?"

In preparation for my talk, I took time to read and think about the current discussion of librarians and thought leaders on the future of public libraries. Contrary to what some people think, the future of our public libraries is not a "gloom and doom" outlook. In fact, it is a very exciting time to be a librarian because there is so much opportunity available with the expansion of digital resources, the wide range of information and reading resources, and a very robust ouput of writing: in print, in digital format, and self-published on the Internet. Libraries are very busy places which offer all kinds of learning opportunities: access to books (of course), online classes, on-site maker spaces, early literacy programs, one-on-one digital literacy assistance, STEAM programs (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), and cultural enrichment.

Libraries in parts of Europe have embraced the concepts of play, discovery, and exploration in the library and are designing library facilities to enhance both traditional access to books and other resources, and the personal experience of library users by including learning space, inspiration space, meeting space, and performative space.
"Community hub" will be an increasingly important role of public libraries, bringing community members together to talk, learn, and create. We can expect over time a shift in the role of librarians and library staff from service providers (e.g., answering reference questions, checking out books) to "facilitators" who foster learning, community discussions, and content creation.

None of this will happen in libraries without adequate funding and public support, and the current state of library funding in America is not a happy one. So along with the future of libraries, another topic of discussion that is alive and well in the library world is that of sustainability, including economic sustainability. Librarian Rebekkah Smith Aldrich (www.sustainablelibraries.org) was in Vermont last month to speak at the Vermont Library Association conference about the need for librarians, library trustees, town officials, and citizens to look at all aspects of sustaining local libraries - designing "green" buildings, preparing for resilience in the face of natural disasters, developing community partnerships, and being good stewards of resources.
 
The future of public libraries can be bright, but only if we are always thinking ahead, remain flexible, experiment and take risks, keep close tabs with the changing needs of our local communities, and identify our strongest advocates. Libraries have always been about possibility - giving individuals and families the resources, spaces, and programs they need in order to explore, learn, dream big, and succeed. Not a bad formula for the libraries of the future.

Want more information? Contact me at [email protected].

Regards,
 
Marty Reid


letters
Letters about Literature


                    Letters about Literature winners                         State Librarian Reid, Mikaya Potvin, Secretary Holcombe
 
On Friday, May 20, the Vermont Department of Libraries hosted seven Vermont students at the State House in Montpelier to honor their achievements in the 23rd Annual Letters about Literature Contest. Our winners were congratulated by State Librarian Martha Reid and Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe, and then first-place winners read their winning letters to the audience.

Sponsored by the Library of Congress, this contest invites students in grades 4-12 to write a letter to an author about their work. Students first compete against other students in the state, and then the state winners go on to compete in the national contest.

Student entries are divided into three levels. Level 1 includes students in grades 4-6; level 2 grades 7-8; and level 3 grades 9-12. Five judges read all of the entries and chose a first-place winner for each level as well as one second-place winner in level 2 and several honorable mentions.

The first-place winner for level 1 was Killington Elementary School's Nina Borzekowski, a sixth-grader. She wrote a letter to Leon Leyson, the author of The Boy on the Wooden Box. As a young Jewish woman, Borzekowski spoke about how Leyson's Holocaust-centric book made her think more deeply about her heritage and how being Jewish is so different today than it was in the past.

The first-place winner for level 2 was Brattleboro Area Middle School's Cearra O' Hern, a seventh-grader. O'Hern's letter to R.J. Palacio about Wonder recounted O' Hern's changed perspective on individuality and bullying.

Finally, level 3' s first-place winner was Williamstown Middle/High School's Mikaya Potvin, a junior. Potvin wrote to Marie Lu, author of The Young Elites, and spoke about how the book forced her to reevaluate her self-image and relationships with others. The experience of reading the book left Potvin feeling more positive about herself and her place in the world. Isn't it incredible how books can do that?

The winners of the national contest will be announced later this summer, and preparations for the 24th annual contest will begin in the fall.

A special thank you to our judges: Amy Kolb Noyes, Lori Dolezal, Grace Greene, Julie Pickett, and Wendy Martin. 
 


dover
Spotlight On...Movies at the Library  

 
Movie theaters and libraries have a lot more in common than you might think. Hushed voices, comfy seats, and perhaps a couple (ahem) canoodling in the back row.

Vermont librarians recognized this connection long ago, and have always made good use of the motion picture public performance license that the Department of Libraries offers at no cost to all Vermont libraries . Six libraries in particular are proving that the local library is a great place to catch a flick. 

Double Feature

Do you remember when you fell in love with the movies? Steve LaRosa of the St. Albans Free Library remembers when his enchantment with classic films began, and that enchantment is something he wanted to share with others.

So, seven years ago he began a Classic Movie Night at the library and numbers have steadily grown from his very first movie night- a showing of "Casablanca" (audience of three people)- to a regular crowd of 16-20 movie goers. The series has become so popular that LaRosa began an annual film noir festival, in addition to his regular Classic film programming. The festival celebrates its seventh anniversary this month.

LaRosa has shown favorites such as "Inherit the Wind," "All about Eve," "East of Eden," and "His Girl Friday." "It can be frustrating at times when a good movie can't be played due to copyright, but most people are understanding of that," LaRosa says, and clearly, his selections are enjoyed by the many patrons who attend his events.

Driving three hours south will bring you to the Manchester Community Library  in Manchester Center, where librarian Cindy Waters and a library volunteer coordinate a classic movie series of their own. The "Greatest Generation Film Series" is held on the second Wednesday of each month at 2 p.m.
 
"A few of our library members who are seniors suggested that the library host more programming during the day 'for them'," Waters remembers. "We thought that a film series focused on classic films from the 1940s would hold appeal...many attendees recall seeing these films for the first time when they made their theater debuts."

Waters and her colleague weren't wrong. The film series has enjoyed steady attendance by local seniors and some savvy young people. The best part? The series has helped the library make partnerships with other local organizations. "Equinox Terrace, a local assisted living facility, donates refreshments for each film screening," Waters says. "[And] one month, Neighbor to Neighbor, an area non-profit that strives, among other goals, to engage isolated seniors and the disabled in community activities, hosted a luncheon for their recipients and caregivers right before the film screening, and then stayed to enjoy a Bogart/Bacall film classic."

It takes a village to show a movie!

 After-School Special 

Two other libraries have partnered with organizations in their communities to show films for the "younger set."

Hartland Public Library and Georgia Public Library encountered a question that plagues almost every small town-
how can we provide kids with fun, safe and quality activities when they aren't in school?

In Hartland, answering that question was as easy as providing a movie viewing experience at the library. "I think a lot of parents have really appreciated that there's always an activity at the library on early release days," says Amy Wisehart, library director.

About two and a half years ago, Wisehart partnered with Hartland Elementary School and Hartland Recreation Department, which provide after-school programs and care during breaks.
Students in the recreation program have a choice of staying at the recreation center or going to the library for popcorn and a movie- and Wisehart reports that 20-30 kids usually opt for the latter.
 
"We almost always show an animated movie, and more recent movies are the most popular," Wisehart shares, and she also notes that using the movie licensing company PR resources helps her choose movies that she knows will be well-received.

Georgia Public Library has taken a similar approach to summer breaks. They partnered with the local chapter of Building Bright Futures (BBF) to show films, and BBF provides the popcorn! Children and their families come to the library armed with blankets and pillows (some even in their pajamas!) and take advantage of a free movie, snack, and air-conditioning. And in the summer, what's better than that?

Local Flavor

According to librarian Marlene Stewart of the Montgomery Town Library, her community is "filled with avid readers, theater goers, and movie enthusiasts." The library's "Book to Film" series attracts community members who meet for a potluck dinner, discuss that month's book selection (titles in the past have included The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Mary Poppins) and then watch the film adaptation. Twelve to fifteen enthusiastic viewers regularly attend each week.

"Everyone is jazzed to sit down [together] and chat and chew!" Stewart shares.


But nothing can get movie-goers more jazzed than actually seeing themselves in a movie. This was the experience of several patrons of the Lanpher Memorial Library in Hyde Park in February of this year. Library director Amy Olsen teamed up with a local resident to put together a program centered around the film "Sweet Hearts Dance." The film was released in 1988 to almost no acclaim - except by the residents of Hyde Park, where the movie was filmed. The movie, featuring past and current A-listers such as Don Johnson, Elizabeth Perkins, Susan Sarandon, and Jeff Daniels, is a typical small-town romantic comedy. But for local residents whose neighbor sold leaves to the movie crew to use in the film's autumn scene, or whose child was featured dressed as a trick-or-treating hot dog, the film is anything but typical. "Many audience members had connections to the film, and there was plenty of time to share [experiences] ... how Susan Sarandon rolled her eyes to the extras [for example] ... everyone had a great time," Olsen recalls. And Bernie Sanders had a cameo appearance in the film.
 
Vermont libraries in rural areas are clearly using the movies for both entertainment and education. The next time you're itching to see a good film, check out your local library.




pubreport
FY 2015 Public Library Report Now Available

Each year the Department of Libraries collects statistics from Vermont public libraries and publishes the
Vermont Public Library Statistics Report. Print copies of the new report were mailed this month to all public libraries, and both the report and an Excel spreadsheet with the FY2015 data are now available on our website at:
http://libraries.vermont.gov/services/news/public_statistics. Readers can also find data collected in previous years at that site.

Public library statistical information is collected annually by all U.S. state library agencies and sent to the (federal) Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which in turn publishes a national report on public libraries. The most recent Public Libraries in the United States Survey (Fiscal Year 2013) includes data from 97% of the public libraries across the country.
This year's Vermont report includes data collected from 152 of the state's 183 public libraries. The report provides data for individual libraries, as well as statewide totals, and is a useful resource for librarians, library trustees, local town officials, policymakers, and citizens.

Here are some highlights from the FY2015 Report:  
3,139,692: number of visits made to Vermont public libraries
4,126,018: number of items circulated (not including e-books/digital content)
     24,191: number of library programs (for all ages)
   365,190: total library program attendance
     $30.38: statewide per capita local tax appropriation
     $39.09: statewide per capita total library operating expenditures
 
Libraries with the highest total circulation of (physical) items
Fletcher Free Library (Burlington): 354,025
Kellogg-Hubbard Library (Montpelier): 266,946
Ilsley Public Library (Middlebury): 176,980
Brooks Memorial Library (Brattleboro): 174,649
 
Libraries with the highest total number of visits, per capita*
Pawlet Public Library: 26.22
Ilsley Public Library (Middlebury): 20.96
Sherburne Memorial Library (Killington): 20.44
Norman Williams Public Library (Woodstock): 17.36
*Based on library's service population

Libraries with the largest book collections
Fletcher Free Library (Burlington): 125,348 volumes
Rutland Free Library: 77,042 volumes
Brooks Memorial Library (Brattleboro): 73,417 volumes
Ilsley Public Library (Middlebury): 67,789 volumes
 

 



conrecap
Conference Recap

   

***Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Conference***

The Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Conference took place on Friday, May 6 at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee. This annual conference provides resources and professional development to librarians and teachers implementing the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award in their libraries and schools. The Friends of Dorothy Canfield Fisher, the Vermont Department of Libraries, and the reading and conference committees worked together to plan an engaging event.

This year, the conference began with an incredible keynote presentation by author Cynthia Lord. Lord won the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award in 2008 for her book Rules, which was also a Newbery Honor Book.

 
Cynthia Lord giving her keynote presentation.

The conference then offered several workshops including a presentation of the 2016-2017 list of Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award nominees and a discussion with Vermont Public Radio's Amy Kolb Noyes.

The day ended with an endnote presentation by graphic novelist Gareth Hinds. Hinds has found his niche adapting classic literature such as The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and Beowulf into graphic novels that are accessible to kids and young adults. He spoke about his childhood as a budding artist and about his artistic process.


Gareth Hinds showing a drawing from his childhood.

We hope that you will join us at next year's conference in Stowe!

***Vermont Library Association Conference***

The Vermont Library Association's 122nd annual conference was held on Wednesday, May 18 at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort in Stowe. 
 
This outstanding conference offered a schedule of over  twenty workshops from which attendees could choose including legal reference services at the Vermont Law School, library camps, use of social media, library service to disabled patrons, and more!

The day's keynote speaker was New York librarian Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, a leader in the national discussion on sustainability and libraries. Sustainable libraries are "green," responsive to the needs of the communities they serve, and innovative in merging new technology and digital resources with book collections and other traditional library services.

Rebekkah Smith Aldrich. (Photo by VLA)


***Dynamic Landscapes Conference***

Vita-Learn and the Vermont School Library Association teamed up once again to present the Dynamic Landscapes conference at Champlain College in Burlington on May 23 & 24. This two-day conference brought speakers and presenters from all over the country together to inspire Vermont educators and librarians to use technology in creative ways with their students.

 
Matthew Winner at Dynamic Landscapes. (Photo by Shannon DeSantis)

Matthew Winner (also known as The Busy Librarian) and Common Sense Media's Jeff Mao were keynote speakers at the event. Winner gave a presentation entitled "Be the Hero" and Mao spoke about "Common Sense for Today's Classroom."

Over 100 workshops were offered over the course of the two days and attendees could visit the conference's vendors and the Innovation Lounge, where Vermont students displayed projects they created in their libraries and classrooms. 
Back to Top

Vermont Department of Libraries | 109 State Street | Montpelier | VT | 05609