Comprehensive Fundraising - Make a Plan

These are tough economic times. Libraries need to be creative in their fundraising. To be effective, however, it’s important to have a good, overall plan for your fundraising. We’ll have a few speakers that are going to address the different types of fundraising, how to pursue it and how to sequence your activities, so that you get the most bang for your buck.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Rutland Free Library - July 31, 9:30-12:00

Introduction to Genealogy for Librarians

"My great, great, great grandmother was born in Vermont and I want to know everything you have about her." GASP!!... That statement sends a shiver of panic through every librarian who has ever heard it. If you’re one of those or you’d like to be well-armed when you DO face the question, this workshop is for you. You will receive an introduction to the basics of genealogical research and record keeping, followed by presentations to familiarize you with the
GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES AT THE DEPT. OF LIBRARIES, VERMONT STATE ARCHIVES, AND THE VERMONT HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Meg Page, from the VT Dept. of Libraries, will lead the introduction to genealogy portion and will fill you in on what resources for genealogical research the DOL has. Tanya Marshall, Deputy State Archivist, and Paul Carnahan, VT Historical Society Librarian, will introduce you to the parts of their collections that are of particular interest to people doing genealogical research.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - April 15, 9:30-3:00

Keeping it Simple: Small Library Cataloging Issues

A one-day informal workshop for librarians from small libraries. Topics to be discussed will include MARC for small libraries; new online cataloging tools; and hints, shortcuts and trends in small library cataloging. We’ll talk about the new Resource Description and Access as well. Please email questions ahead of time to: lorraine.lanius@mail.dol.state.vt.us or amy.howlett@mail.dol.state.vt.us. Also, bring any challenging items (such as AV materials including downloadable audio, DVDs, audiobooks, etc.) to be cataloged that have been in your backlog for a long time. Priority will be given to librarians from small libraries.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Hartland Public Library, July 1 - 9:30-3:00
Milton Public Library, July 8 - 9:30-3:00

Marketing for Libraries

Every Library has a story that can be developed into something the community will identify as unique and interesting. Creating a story or image the public will associate with the library is the core of marketing. Participants in this workshop will explore the components, strategies, and resources for marketing their library.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - September 25, 9:30-3:00

Materials Review

If you select children's and/or young adult books for your library, here's where you can learn about the best of the new titles for children from birth through young adult. You will hear reviews and examine the books to decide what is best for your library. In addition to the books that are reviewed orally, there will be many nonfiction books recommended by the review media, and books recommended by volunteer reviewers. There is a formal part to the program and then plenty of time to examine all the books.

There is no registration necessary.

Dates/ locations:   

March 31 ~ Milton Public Library
April 1 ~ Brown Public Library
April 7 ~ Northeast Regional Library, St. Johnsbury
April 9 ~ Kurn Hattin, Westminster
April 10 ~ Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington

Picturebook Storytime

In this three-day workshop we will discuss everything you need to know to do a successful picture book story hour: planning, book selection, activities, and implementation. Participants will be required to present two stories of their choosing to the class for feedback and idea sharing. This workshop will not cover traditional oral storytelling, but will include innovative as well as traditional methods of presentation. Both experienced and novice story hour presenters are welcome.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - September 9, 15, 17, 9:30-3:00

School-Aged Program Swap

Want some good, practical ideas for children’s programs that you can take back to your library and do right away? Whether you’re brand new or a veteran, this workshop is guaranteed to give you new ideas. This is a sharing workshop, not teaching, so your ticket of admission is one program idea for school aged children, written up and ready to present. We are looking for activities of all kinds: science, crafts, creative dramatics, gaming, book groups etc—anything EXCEPT storytimes... Everyone will present an idea, and there will be some hands-on activities For the purposes of this workshop, school aged children are kids in grades 1-6.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Aldrich Public Library, Barre - September 9, 9:30-3:00

Serving Boomers and Beyond

What’s the big deal about Boomers? That tidal wave of population is beginning to hit retirement age. Will that make a difference in how your library serves older adults? Perhaps it should. Teresa shares information from the Lifelong Access Libraries Institute.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Hartland Public Library - October 29, 9:30-3:00
Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - November 4, 9:30-3:00

Summer Reading Program - Be Creative

Creativity reigns this summer! Come be inspired to get those creative juices flowing so you can celebrate art, music, theater, dance, writing and the imagination. There will be ideas for programs for children and teens both arty and funny, plus suggestions for books, displays and decorations, and performers.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Brown Public Library, Northfield - March 18, 9:30-3:00
Fletcher Memorial Libary, Ludlow - March 25, 9:30-3:00

Summer Reading Program - Be Creative FOR ADULTS

Why should children have all the fun? The national summer reading theme, "Be Creative," is perfect for adults. We'll discuss logistics, local incentives, program ideas, displays, and how to tweak the familiar concepts of summer reading to involve adults in the community. Painting, poetry, arts and crafts, memoir—imagine the good times. We'll include ideas for intergenerational programs and the fifty plus crowd.

Program swap assignment: please send us a description (no more than one page) by February 27th of an adult program involving the creative arts at your library. Poetry open mic? Scrapbooking? Local writers support group? We know you have had some wonderful programs and some terrific ideas—so share them with your fellow librarians! We'll copy the pages and hand them out at the workshop. Send the page by February 27th to grace.greene@mail.dol.state.vt.us or

Children's Book Exhibit Center
VT Department of Libraries
109 State St
Montpelier VT 05609-0601

PS Even if you’re not doing a summer reading program, you can join us to review good program practices and get ideas for working with adults.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - March 5, 9:30-3:00

Team Building for Public Libraries

This workshop will focus on helping people understand what it takes to become an effective team player and what are the rewards for both the organization and the individual team members. Learn how to get more team play into your organization, develop a team culture by blending the talents and skills inherent in individual team members in order to realize our organizations ultimate purpose or mission.

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - October 8, 9:30-3:00

Town Officers' Education Conferences 2009

The Vermont Library Trustees Association (VLTA), the trustees section of the Vermont Library Association, in conjunction with the Department of Libraries will again offer a series of workshops for trustees and librarians during the spring Town Officers Educational Conferences. TOECs are sponsored by the Vermont Institute for Government, with organizational help from the UVM Extension Service which will mail a registration packet to each library in spring, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact your regional librarian.

To register for any of the TOECs, find the form online at http://regonline.com/2009toec    $60 online cost includes morning coffee and lunch.  Register online and save $5.00 per registrant!

Dates/ locations:     
April 09, 2009 ~ Lyndon State College, Lyndonville
April 13, 2009 ~ St Michael’s College, Colchester
April 28, 2009 ~ Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee
May 6, 2009 ~ Holiday Inn & Conference Center, Rutland

Using Statistical Information for Advocacy

When libraries seek funding and other support from their communities, granting agencies or from town and legislative bodies, potential donors or supporters want to be assured that their efforts are going to a good cause. How do you make the case for your library and for libraries in general. What are the sources of statistical information for making your case? How do you find them? How do you present this information? How will you have the maximum impact?

To register for the workshop, click on the link below:

Ilsley Library, Middlebury - April 24, 9:30-12:00