From the Vermont State Librarian 

• Nearly one-third of Americans age 14 or older (roughly 77 million people) used a public library computer or wireless network to access the Internet;
• 40% of library computer users below the Federal poverty line reported that the public library was their sole access to computers and the Internet;
• 40% of the library computer users accessed library resources to help address career and employment;
• 42% used library computer resources to help them in their education and training needs;
• 37% (28 million people) used computer technology at their local libraries to access health and wellness information;
• 60% used a library's computer resources for social connection or entertainment;
• 63% of library computer users reported using these services to help others in their community.

• All but two respondents had visited their public library in the past year. 88% of respondents said they visited the library at least once a week;
• 86% had used a public access computer or the library wireless connection to access the Internet in the previous year;
• 59% accessed library resources remotely (from outside the library)  through a library website;
• 66% reported having regular Internet access somewhere other than the library;
• 40% reported that they had used a library computer or wireless Internet connection while out-of-town for business or pleasure;
• 67% of library public access computer or wireless users reported having received technology help from library staff or volunteers.

• Lack of high-speed Internet connectivity at home;
• Gaps in personal Internet access (e.g. moving to new location; power outage; home equipment not working)
• Household competition (especially among youth)
• For a change in scenery (e.g. job seekers; those who work at home)
• During a lunch break or while running errands
• As a supplement to the library catalog (checking book reviews, reading lists, etc.)

FCC Aims to Simplify E-rate, Expand Funding

• Cutting red tape by eliminating FCC rules that overlap with state and local contracting and technology planning requirements, while at the same time maintaining appropriate safeguards to mitigate potential waste, fraud, and abuse;
• Reducing the administrative burden on applicants by conforming the E-rate definition of "rural" to the Department of Education's definition and simplifying the way schools and public libraries calculate their discounts;
• Supporting online learning 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by allowing use of wireless internet access service away from school premises;
• Providing schools and libraries with more flexibility to choose the most cost-effective bandwidth solutions by allowing the leasing of unused capacity from municipalities and other entities;
• Expanding access to broadband in residential schools that serve populations facing unique challenges, such as Tribal schools or schools for children with physical, cognitive, or behavioral disabilities;
• Offering more schools and libraries the opportunity to use the most technologically advanced applications, including video streaming to the classroom and computer kiosks, by creating a new, predictable funding mechanism for internet connections;

Librarianship Certification Awards

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VT Librarians in the News

Congratulations to these Vermont librarians!
Daisy Benson, Bailey Howe Library, UVM
In late May, Daisy Benson was awarded the Glen Elder Faculty Leadership Award. The award recognizes the efforts of faculty members who go beyond what their jobs require to advance understanding of and/or improve climate on the UVM campus for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people and their allies. This may include the development of LGBTQ curriculum, volunteer service on committees, or work with students beyond the classroom.
 
The committee that selected Benson for the award picked her because of the activities she engaged in which benefited the LGBTQA efforts. Some of her activities included: working extensively with the Women's and Gender Studies Program, working with students and faculty throughout campus on research related to gender and sexuality, and promoting diversity and inclusiveness.
 
The awards committee was composed of UVM students, staff, and faculty and was sponsored by the LGBTQA Services Office.

Andrew Burkhardt, Champlain College Library
On June 8, 2010 LYRASIS announced the LYRASIS 2010 NextGen Librarian Award Winners.
Andrew Burkhardt, Emerging Technologies Librarian, Champlain College, Burlington, VT was one of the three librarians honored.

"The NextGen Librarian Award honors three librarians new to the library profession who demonstrate an innovative and fresh approach to the profession and are leaders in our rapidly changing world." 

From Andrew Burkhardt's nomination: "One of the greatest attributes that Andy brings to our library is balance.  His enthusiastic approach to technology is balanced by his careful consideration of whether that technology is truly useful."

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Borrow a Flip Video Camera

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New in the Library Science Collection

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