Vermont Dept. of Libraries News, No. 116, Spring 2000
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State of Vermont
Department of Libraries
N E W S
No. 116, Spring 2000
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"THE LAW OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES" DEBUTS
In January, the office of the Secretary of State and the Department of
Libraries jointly published "The Law of Public Libraries," written in
response to many questions about the powers and responsibilities of local
library trustees, town treasurers, town managers, etc. Last June,
Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz called a meeting to discuss many
issues surrounding municipal and incorporated public libraries. Public
librarians from Strafford, Brattleboro, and Rutland attended the meeting,
as did a trustee from Montgomery, the Townshend town treasurer, Marianne
Kotch from the Department of Libraries, and Assistant Attorney General
William Rice. All brought different perspectives to share on many
complicated issues.
After that meeting, Markowitz contacted attorney Paul Gillies to begin
work on a pamphlet that would clarify the laws relating to municipal and
incorporated libraries. Determining the most fundamental question - is a
given library municipal or incorporated - is crucial to determining which
laws apply to that library board's powers. "In some cases, trustees of
municipal libraries have more unfettered authority over running the public
library than incorporated library trustees - particularly as libraries
become municipal-incorporated hybrids," the pamphlet notes.
Through the summer and fall, drafts of the new pamphlet were reviewed
and revised by Gillies, Markowitz, State Librarian Sybil Brigham McShane,
Kotch, and other Department of Libraries staff. Public librarians and
trustees in the state, having heard about the effort, raised more questions
that helped fine tune the document which covers types of public libraries,
"who is in charge?" (including money and buildings), meetings of the board,
and by-laws and policies.
One issue could not wait until publication of the pamphlet, and in
December, 1999, the Secretary of State issued the following in her Opinions
of Opinions newsletter:
Town Manager cannot act in place of the Trustees of a
Municipal Library. Under 22 V.S.A. § 143, the trustees of a
municipal library have the full power to manage the public
library. This includes adopting bylaws, election of officers, and
choosing a director or head librarian. While a town manager's
powers are broad, under 24 V.S.A. § 1236 a town manager can not
decide issues which have been specifically given to a particular
municipal officer. Since the trustees have been given the full
power over the public library, a town manager cannot perform the
duties that the law has specifically given to the public library
trustees.
"The Law of Public Libraries" goes on to state that when an
"incorporated library asks the town to make library employees town
employees so that they can participate in the town's benefit plan these
employees will be covered by the town's personnel policy unless
specifically exempted." This implies that incorporated public library
trustees might have less control over personnel than those of municipal
libraries if those employees are town employees and if the town's personnel
policy does not specifically exempt library employees. Similar principles
apply to library buildings.
Copies of "The Law of Public Libraries" are available from the
Department of Libraries (828-3261 or email DOL_CENTRAL) and are also on the
Secretary of State's website: http://www.sec.state.vt.us.
STANDARDS PROGRAM INCLUDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Public libraries not meeting the Minimum Standards for Vermont Public
Libraries were offered an opportunity to receive the benefits of meeting
standards for the coming year while working on a Standards Action Plan. Of
the eight libraries that applied for standards this year and did not meet
them, three voiced interest in working with a Technical Assistance Team,
consisting of a member of the Board of Libraries, a consultant from the
Department of Libraries, and an area librarian. The team will meet with
the librarians and trustees of the three libraries to develop the Standards
Action Plan which will outline ways in which the libraries will meet
standards within the year.
The three libraries working with TATs this year are those in Guilford,
White River Junction, and Pawlet. Guilford's team includes Amy Howlett,
Joan Rahe, and Vivian Miles, while White River Junction's consists of
Marianne Kotch, Reeve Lindbergh, and Kathie Ludwig. Pawlet's team includes
Paula Davidson, Nancy Graff, and Carol Scott.
This year, 123 libraries meet either the 1986 or the 1998 versions of
the Minimum Standards. Libraries could meet either set as the 1998 version
has not completed the legislative Administrative Rules process. 68
libraries met the 1998 version this year. In addition, 16 libraries that
have achieved "Envisioning Excellence" status were able to use a "fast
track" application form. Following is a list of towns with libraries
meeting standards this year. Libraries meeting the 1998 version are marked
with an *.
Alburg Arlington *Bakersfield
*Barnet Barre and East Barre branch *Barton
Barton/Orleans Bennington *No. Bennington
Bradford *Brandon *Brattleboro
Brighton/Island Pond *Bristol *Burlington
*Cabot *Canaan Castleton
Cavendish Charlotte Chelsea
*Chester *Colchester *Craftsbury
Danville Derby Derby Line
Dorset *Dover *Enosburg
Essex *Essex Junction *Fairfax
*Fairfield *Fair Haven Fairlee
*Franklin Georgia *Grafton
Grand Isle *Greensboro Groton
Guilford (TAT) *Hartford *Quechee &
Wilder branch
*West Hartford White River Junction (TAT) Hartland
Highgate *Hinesburg *Hyde Park
*Jericho/Underhill & Jericho *Killington Lincoln
*South Londonderry *Lyndonville *Marshfield
*Middlebury Middletown Springs Milton
Montpelier *Morristown Newbury (Tenney)
*Newbury/Wells River New Haven Newport
*Northfield *North Hero *Norwich
Pawlet (TAT) Peacham Pittsford
*Plainfield Pomfret Poultney
*Proctor *Putney Randolph
Reading *Readsboro *Richford
*Richmond *Rochester *Rockingham
*South Royalton *Rutland *St. Albans
St. Johnsbury *Shelburne Shrewsbury
*South Burlington South Hero *Springfield
*Stamford *Stowe *Strafford
Swanton *Theford and Post Mills *Townshend
North Troy Tunbridge Vergennes
*Vernon *Waitsfield Wallingford
*Wardsboro Warren Washington
Waterbury & Waterbury Center Weathersfield *Westford
West Rutland Whitingham *Williamstown
*Williston Wilmington *Windsor
Winooski Wolcott Woodbury
*Woodstock
1998-99 STATISTICAL ROUNDUP
Vermont public library use and support showed some increases in the
past fiscal year. Total circulation in the state's 198 public libraries
rose slightly, as did total income and expenditures. Public libraries
were busy in other ways, as the following comparative chart shows:
State totals 1998-1999 (last year) 1997-98 (previous year)
Annual circulation 3,745,693 3,661,652
Number of visits 2,552,452 2,372,537
Number of reference transactions 326,335 324,604
Number of interlibrary loans received 41,713 42,681
Number of programs offered 10,173 9,339
Program attendance 174,911 165,540
Number of volunteer hours
in a typical week 2,730 2,667
Income/expenditures:
Local tax income $ 7,836,612 $ 7,496,764
Income from other local sources 3,545,159 3,618,764
Total local income $ 11,401,792 $ 11,133,331
Expended on salaries $ 5,938,602 $ 5,365,098
Expended on collections 1,781,660 1,666,752
Total operating expenses $ 10,944,195 $ 10,093,135
Some superlatives include:
* Libraries with the highest total circulation - Burlington - 252,043,
Montpelier - 194,835, Rutland - 175,656, Brattleboro - 163,530
* Libraries with the highest circulation per capita - Ludlow - 49.70,
Killington - 28.46, Greensboro - 25.42, North Hero - 21.51
* Libraries with the highest total number of visits - Burlington -
260,000, Montpelier - 249,792, Rutland - 141, 323, St. Albans - 141,323
* Libraries with the highest total number of visits per capita -
Killington - 29.30, Fairfax - 27.27, Readsboro - 27.30, Stowe - 26.51
* Libraries with the highest program attendance - Burlington - 18,029,
Bennington - 7,990, Essex Junction - 7,582, Middlebury - 6,489
* Libraries receiving the highest number of interlibrary loans -
Montpelier - 1,799, Brattleboro - 1,733, Rutland - 1,216, Canaan - 970
* Libraries supplying the highest number of interlibrary loans to
other libraries - Barre - 1,096, Essex Junction - 764, Brattleboro - 697,
Colchester - 638
* Libraries with the highest per capita tax support - Killington - $125.68,
Dover - $74.30, Stowe - $51.86, Essex Junction - $46.56
These statistics and many more are included in the 2000 Biennial
Report Supplement, compiled by Marianne Kotch and available from the
Department of Libraries, 109 State St., Montpelier 05609, 828-3261,
marianne.kotch@dol.state.vt.us.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES REPORT SUCCESSES
Besides the numbers showing increases in public library use and
support in 1998-99, Vermont libraries described positive results with
various collaborative and programming efforts. Here is a review of some of
the "Success Stories" included with this year's public library reports.
Community Collaborations:
Barre's Aldrich Public Library offered to serve as a summer lunch site
for kids downtown, with funding by the USDA via the Vermont Campaign to End
Childhood Hunger. Richford's library also collaborated with the Richford
Health Center and other community agencies to organize a five week summer
program for children, aged 0-18, which included sports, arts, stories, and
lunch.
Bringing the community together for what has become an annual July
party on the town green, the Charlotte Library's Friends group reports that
"friends and family gather and visit in a way that is similar to the
Homecoming events that were popular around the turn of the century."
Lincoln's Linda Norton noted that "the flood of 1998 had an impact on our
library and the ways they view the importance of the library," as community
members rose to the challenge of setting up a temporary library and
planning for a new building. Many Vermont libraries contributed to the
library's rebuilding its collection.
Libraries in Plainfield and Marshfield worked together on various
programs in Performing Poetry, Arts Sampler, and Growing with Mother Goose,
while the Morristown Centennial Library reports an up-swing in use by
literacy and special education tutors and their students. Readsboro's
Community Library held a week-long literacy fair with activities ranging
from BINGO for books to a grandparents' day.
Collections:
Carolyn Barnes of Colchester reported that "when I showed an elderly
patron the American history books on tape, he told us, 'I think I've died
and gone to heaven.'" Woodbury's Community Library has become the site of
the Master Gardener Reference Library for all students from Newport to
Randolph.
In Brattleboro, Jerry Carbone said that "our EBSCO web-based full-text
magazine service really caught fire with patrons searching from home or
office via the library's website as well as within the library. 7,192
searches were done in FY1999 with this source." Several libraries reported
life-changing events (e.g., finding one's birth mother or solving a health
problem) as the result of the library's internet service.
Grants/funding:
Several libraries received notable grants or had successful
fundraising campaigns. In Richford, 100 citizens were able to take guided
canoe trips sponsored by the library through grants from the Lake Champlain
Basin Program and the Vermont Dept. of Parks and Recreation. CliF
(Children's Literacy Foundation) grants generated publicity for libraries
in Canaan, Sharon, and Stamford, resulting in additional donations and
public support.
Essex Junction's Brownell Library capital campaign has nearly reached
its $175,000 goal for the its expansion project, while the St. Johnsbury
Athenaeum reached its $800,000 goal. A bond vote for $980,000 passed in
St.Albans for library expansion. Rockingham's Memorial Books Program
raised $5,205 from community donations.
Programming:
Cavendish's "after school programs have provided wonderful enrichment
opportunities for children and have brought many talented volunteers into
the library." Art projects, storytelling, and gardening are among the many
topics offered regularly. Milton's kids' after school club meets two times
a month with crafts and books, while Windsor's meets weekly. Craftsbury
Public Library held a successful parent/child book discussion program which
created special connections in families and brought new families into the
library. Libraries in Middletown Springs and Waterbury sponsored genealogy
programs, and more people than ever participated in "tax aid" provided by
RSVP in Pownal.
Greensboro Free Library reported that "contradances during the summer
brought many different ages and classes of people together [and were] one
of the few library programs well-attended by older teenagers." Fair Haven
Free Library held its first annual Holiday Open House in 1998, with
activities for all ages. Librarian Carol Scott said "it was the talk of
the town for months afterwards." Strafford's Town House Reading Series was
held every Wed. night in the summer and featured picnic dinners on the
commons with an author/reader.
Hinesburg's library started a toddler storytime which is now
well-attended and hired an adult services librarian who has developed a
number of popular adult programs. Many libraries reported successful
summer reading programs; others noted cooperative programs with Success by
Six have resulted in an increase in patronage.
Public Relations:
The Georgia Public Library sent home permission slips for first
graders to obtain library cards in April and delivered them to school
classes which offered an opportunity to tell more about library offerings.
Royalton librarian Elaina Griffith was pleased to find that in one
kindergarten class at her local school, 14 of 15 students "had contact with
the library at some point through personal family visits, story hour or day
care outreach before visiting the library on a class field trip."
New Westford librarian Natalie Morgan set up a booth at the town
Farmer's Market and made library materials available for checkout. In
Fairfax, the school phone system offers the opportunity to set up a
"Dial-a-story" featuring a volunteer - parents, teachers, library staff -
reading a short story. The Barnet Public Library offered its space to the
school when it had to close for an extended period due to physical plant
problems.
VERMONT COMMUNITY LIBRARY ADVOCACY PROJECT ENDS
The Department of Libraries' Community Library Advocacy Project,
assisted with a grant from the national advocacy group Libraries for the
Future and the Viburnum Foundation, wrapped up last fall with a workshop
for trustees and librarians in Killington. The project was designed to
help strengthen local libraries' advocacy efforts, and it provided several
continuing education opportunities for librarians, trustees, and local
citizens around the state.
The three public libraries involved in concentrated efforts to build
local advocacy skills were the Georgia Public Library, Windsor Public
Libraries, and Alice M. Ward Library in Canaan. Project coordinator
Marianne Kotch of the Department of Libraries worked with librarians and
trustees in Georgia and Canaan to start Friends of the Library groups and
with the existing Friends and trustees in Windsor to strengthen their
efforts to initiate a capital campaign. She was assisted by Doris Bass, a
consultant to Libraries for the Future, and LFF staff, notably Cynthia
Lopez. Jack Smith, a trustee from the Portland (ME) Public Library, was
the featured speaker at a workshop in Windsor last spring.
Another part of the project involved two statewide workshops to build
librarians' and trustees' public relations skills. The first of these was
held at last spring's Vermont Library Conference in Killington. New York
State Librarian Janet Martin Welch and Hobart/Smith College (NY) Librarian
Paul W. Crumlish presented highlights of the New York Library Association's
Public Awareness Project. This one hour program, highlighting the value of
stories in promoting the library and offering tips on dealing with
difficult questions, was so popular that Welch and Crumlish were asked to
return in the fall for an expanded program for librarians and trustees.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES USE CAT EXPRESS
This past February five Vermont public libraries began using OCLC's
CatExpress, a user friendly copy cataloging service available on the
Internet. The service is designed for libraries needing cataloging for
500-2000 titles per year. With the CatExpress Service a library can search
OCLC's database of over 43 million records, do copy cataloging, and add
local data such as call numbers, prices and notes. The following day the
library can download the records from OCLC's Product Services web site and
load them into the library's local automated system.
The libraries, Brooks Memorial Library (Brattleboro), Fletcher Free
Library (Burlington), Brownell Library (Essex Junction), Ilsley Library
(Middlebury), and Rutland Free Library, have signed on with OCLC's
CatExpress as a consortia. The Department of Libraries is providing
partial payment for the service as part of the Card/MARC Service. With the
CatExpress Service libraries have more control over their cataloging
activities, have access to the world's largest cataloging database, and can
catalog according to their own time schedules. After one year the
libraries and DOL will review the costs and evaluate the service. For
information, call Lorraine Lanius at 828-3261.
WHY DOES A LIBRARY CATALOG NEED AUTHORITY CONTROL?
Patrons continue to visit and support libraries when they receive
fast, accurate and effective service. Yet many libraries today add records
with minimal cataloger review. Use of authority control can provide vast
improvement in the service patrons receive.
The key elements of authority control, good structure and consistency,
are essential to a good library catalog. Authority control is achieved by
using controlled vocabulary terms and showing the interrelationship of the
terms by means of cross-references. Authority work involves the creation
and determination of headings for names, corporate bodies, series, titles,
or subjects. Authority work also involves creating cross-references to
show the relationships between established headings and other headings a
user might be likely to use when searching. As an example, librarians
using authority control would check an authority file and would then know
to set up "Twain, Mark" as a heading instead of "Clemens, Samuel
Langhorne." Cross references would tell the user searching under "Clemens,
Samuel Langhorne" to check under the heading "Twain, Mark."
Authority control is an invaluable tool in the maintenance of a
successful library catalog. Authority control provides consistency which
is particularly important if a library obtains its cataloging from many
different sources. Authority control also brings together records with the
same access points and can in turn help in the formulation of effective
search strategies with good information retrieval as the end result.
Anyone who would like to learn more about authority control is
encouraged to take the new online workshop, "Implementing Authority
Control," which will be available online after July l, 2000. For
information, please call Lorraine Lanius at 828-3261 or send an email
message to lorraine.lanius@dol.state.vt.us.
IS WEB-BRAILLE THE ANSWER FOR ANY OF YOUR PATRONS?
For those following the path of emerging and changing computer-related
technologies, the introduction of Braille service through the internet will
not be surprising. For the rest of us, it is another small sign of the
interconnectedness of our society and the increasing ability of members of
the blidn community - through the use of adaptive technology - to
participate in a full and meaningful way.
The this newsletter goes to press, the Department of Libraries Special
Services Unit has registered its first patron planning to use Web-Braille,
the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped's
(NLS) new system for distributing Braille books to Braille readers via the
Internet. NLS has more than 2,600 grade 2 Braille books available for
download or online use by eligible individuals, libraries, and schools with
Braille embossers, refreshable Braille displays, and other Braille aware
devices. Users must provide their own equipment, an e-mail address, and
access to the Internet.
Registration for patrons wishing to use Web-Braille is fairly easy.
They must contact their NLS network library (in Vermont, that is the
Department's Special Services Unit). The network library registers patrons
online, providing patron names, user codes, passwords selected by patrons,
and patron e-mail addresses. Within 24 hours, NLS notifies patrons by
e-mail that they are registered and ready to use Web-Braille.
For individuals, Web-Braille will mean direct, easy access to more
than 2,600 (and growing) titles through the Internet, downloaded to their
personal computers to be read in several ways. For schools equipped to
handle Braille output on their computers, it will be a boon both to blind
students learning to read Braille and to their teachers. It may even boost
Braille literacy.
For more information about Web-Braille and who may qualify to use it,
call me at (802) 828-3273 or send e-mail to frank@dol.state.vt.us.
--S. Francis Woods
Special Services Consultant
VISUAL HANDICAPS: COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET
Eileen Keim, Supervisor, Library Services to Persons with Disabilities
Section at the New Hampshire State Library, recently wrote the following
article for The Once and Future Librarian, the NHSL online newsletter.
Because we have had many inquiries about exactly these issues, we are
reprinting it with permission.
Computers and the Internet have become a gateway to independence for
many people with disabilities. Can't get out? Doesn't matter - you can get
current news, buy new clothes, tour cities, meet new people, adopt a
virtual pet. You can download books - free, if in the public domain, and
for a fee if they're still covered by copyright. Unfortunately, many of
these opportunities are closed to people with visual handicaps because the
two best-known browsers, Netscape and Explorer, do not do a good job of
enlargement, or of turning pictures into code that can be run through
speech-generation software.
Here are some of the browsers I pulled from the Web that might be
useful for the visually impaired:
* IBM's Home Page Reader, which works with Netscape and needs a separate
sound card and modem - but is multilingual. ($149.00)
http://www.austin.ibm.com/sns/hpr.html
* SimplyWeb98, runs on Internet Explorer 3.02, 4.01 or 5. (Free)
http://www.econointl.com/sw/
* MultiWeb has a large-print option as well as speech. (Free)
http://mis.deakin.edu.au/multiweb/
* Opera is the third most popular graphical browser - no speech output, but
many configuration options, including the ability to disable sites from
spawning new browser windows. It's downloadable shareware. ($35.00)
http://www.opera.com/
* And the reputed Cadillac of the specialized browser world, JAWS for
Windows, which retails for about $795.00 The current version includes a
synthesizer speaking seven languages, needs a quality sound card, and
installs from a CD. Developed by Henter-Joyce. http://www.hj.com
If you are aiming to make your library's computer services completely
accessible, you'll want to take a look at Dan Tobias' computer-browser
reviews at http://www.dantobias.com/webtips/brand-x.html. He'll point you
to a variety of browsers, including free talking web browsers, low-cost
shareware enlarging browsers, and high-cost "cadillac" browsers that do
everything but make the coffee. Blunt reviews, too! Unfortunately, he
doesn't mention the high-powered competitors to JAWSfW, so let me.
* Window-Eyes is $595. There is a download demo available at
http://www.frontiercomputing.on.ca/p-windoweyes.html
* Window Bridge 2000 is $795 + shipping from Syntha-Voice. Their site is
http://www.synthavoice.on.ca
* WinVision 97 is one of many interesting products from Artic Technology.
The version with both speech and magnification costs $790. There is a
40-minute downloadable demo at www.artictech.com/whywv97.htm and $19.95
will buy you a 30-day trial with all manuals. Should you then purchase,
the fee is deducted from the purchase price.
Many of the companies reviewed by Dan will let you have a free 30-day
demo. In case you're wondering why you should even consider specialized
browsers - well, first of all, many of us are getting older. Computer
screens and bifocals do not work together very well, and a choice of image
sizes can be a real help. Next are the community education aspects: your
demonstrations and training sessions will be more easily viewed, and there
are people who would never think about purchasing a computer until they
actually saw features they could use. Then there's the library principle of
the thing - Service for all.
**Cooperation Corner**
... ideas for working with other libraries and community organizations
around Vermont
HIDDEN TREASURES EMERGING ...
That was the beginning of a headline for a press release issued by the
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury recently. The press
release detailed the efforts of the St. Johnsbury Archives Collaborative,
"a unique three year partnership to catalog the documentary record of the
community." The town's public library, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, is an
active member of the Collaborative which has as its goal "to organize,
catalog, preserve, and make accessible the holdings of the Fairbanks
Museum, the St. Johnsbury Atheneaeum, St. Johnsbury Academy, and the Town
of St. Johnsbury." The St. Johnsbury Historical Soceity is also a partner
in the Collaborative which is being funded by a $143,191 grant from the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Treasures to be processed are "letters, diaries, account books, all
kinds of photographs, scrapbooks, personal papers, institutional records,
architectural drawings, and other materials." A Project Archivist has
surveyed the various collections and recently uncovered a valuable
photograph by William Henry Jackson, a pioneer photographer of the Western
landscape during the railroad expansion era. Community volunteers are
assisting with cataloging and preserving some of the treasures. The
Collaborative hopes to be able to employ a permanent professional archivist
after the three year grant runs out.
LIBRARY/LEGISLATIVE DAY, FEBRUARY 21 ...
Public librarians, trustees, and local legislators in Bennington,
Caledonia, Orleans, and Washington Counties met over coffee to discuss
library issues on February 21. Windham County libraries sponsored a
similar session March 6. Legislators were treated to news about what their
libraries are doing and what librarians and trustees are thinking about for
the future, including state funding for library construction and library
services, the potential closing of the Southeast Regional Library, and
statewide automation. The cooperative gatherings were suggested by the
Vermont Library Association Government Relations Committee as a way of
raising legislators' consciousness about local library services and
resources and the interconnectedness of Vermont libraries. Craftsbury
librarian Linda Wells, speaking for the CLONE group of librarians, said
that everyone left with "a greater appreciation of both sides and a
commitment to follow up on some of the issues discussed."
Legislators were invited to a public program sponsored by the
Franklin-Grand Isle Librarians, but that program was postponed due to
inclement weather. Vermont author and Board of Libraries member Reeve
Lindbergh was to speak at the program which will be rescheduled this
summer. A breakfast meeting of legislators, trustees, and staff at the
Burnham Memorial Library, Colchester, also served to strengthen ties and
promote awareness of library services and legislative issues.
COMING EVENTS
Tues., April 4 - VLA Public Library Section meeting on Readers'
Advisory, Brown Public Library, Northfield, 9:30 am. Contact: David
Clark, 388-4095.
Wed., April 5-Tues., April 11 - Cataloging & Organization of Library
Materials workshop, 9:30 am, Sherburne Library, Killington. Contact:
Grace Greene, 828-3261.
Wed., April 5 - Town Officers Education Conference, featuring
workshops for trustees, Lyndon State College, 8:00 am-3:00 pm. Fee TBA.
To register, contact: UVM Extension Service, 223-2389. For program
information, contact: Marianne Kotch, 828-2320. Repeats: Thurs., April
13, Rutland Holiday Inn; Tues., April 18, Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee; Mon.,
April 24, St. Michael's College, Colchester; Thurs., April 27, Mt. Snow
Resort.
Sat., April 8 - "A Day for Friends and their Librarians," Brown Public
Library, Northfield, 9:30 am. Lunch - $6. Contact: Marianne Kotch,
828-2320.
Sun., April 9-Sat., April 15 - National Library Week. Contact: ALA,
1-800-545-2433.
Sun., April 9 - "Vermont Voices," readings by Vermont writers, 2:00
pm, Fairfax Community Library. Sponsored by Franklin-Grand Isle
Librarians. Contact: Annette Goyne, 848-3312.
Thurs., April 13 - VLA CAYAL program with Patrick Jones, 9:30 am, Sir
Anthony Motel, Barre. Contact: Carol Aubut, 476-7550.
Fri., April 14 - "User-oriented Technical Services: All Things to All
People," sponsored by the New England Technical Services Librarians, Hogan
Campus Center, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, 9:00 am-3:00 pm.
Registration and lunch: $40 for NELA members. Contact: Penny Schroeder,
(207) 725-3134, email: pschroed@bowdoin.edu.
Tues., April 18 - Planning for Results, Group II, 9:30 am, Essex Free
Library. Repeats Wed., April 26, Whiting Library, Chester. Contact:
Marianne Kotch, 828-2320, marianne.kotch@dol.state.vt.us.
Wed., April 26 - Interlibrary Loan workshop for school librarians,
9:30 am, Rutland Free Library. Repeats Wed., May 31, Samuel Read Hall
Library, Lyndon State College. Instructor: Marjorie Zunder. Contact:
Mary Moore, 828-3261.
Mon., May 1 - Taking the Library on the Road workshop, 9:30 am,
Norwich Public Library. Contact: Grace Greene, 828-3261.
Tues., May 2 - Children's materials review session, 9:00 am, Midstate
Regional Library, Berlin. Repeats Wed., May 3 - Milton Public Library;
Thurs., May 4, Sherburne Library, Killington; Tues., May 9, Butterfield
Library, Westminster; Wed., May 10, Northeast Regional Library, St.
Johnsbury. Contact: Grace Greene, 828-3261.
Mon., May 8 - Grants Research workshop, 9:30-11:30 am, Dept. of
Libraries Law Library, 109 State St., Montpelier. Instructor: Ericka
Wittlieb, Foundation Center, NYC. Maximum: 15 participants. Contact:
Mary Moore, 828-3261.
Thurs., May 11 - Vermont Library Assn. board meeting, 9:30 am,
Midstate Regional Library, Berlin. Contact: Linda Brew, 656-2020.
Fri., May 12 - Born to Read workshop, 9:30 am, Brown Public Library,
Northfield. Repeats Mon., May 15 - Georgia Public Library; Tues., May 16,
Northeast Regional Library, St. Johnsbury; Thurs., May 18, Whiting Library,
Chester; Fri., May 19, Martha Canfield Memorial Library, Arlington.
Contact: Grace Greene, 828-3261.
Wed., May 24 & Thurs., May 25 - Annual Vermont Library Conference,
Radisson Hotel, Burlington. Contact: Susan Englese, 879-3076;
vlcsusan@aol.com.
Tues., May 30 - State holiday. Department of Libraries central
offices and regional libraries closed.
Wed., June 7-Tues., June 13 - Cataloging & Organization of Library
Materials workshop, 9:30 am, Northeast Regional Library, St. Johnsbury.
Contact: Grace Greene, 828-3261.
Thurs., June 15-Wed., June 21 - Collection Development workshop, 9:30
am, Whiting Library, Chester. Contact: Grace Greene, 828-3261.
Tues., July 4 - State holiday. Department of Libraries central
offices and regional libraries closed.
Fri., July 7-Tues., July 11 - American Library Assn. annual
conference, Chicago, IL Contact: ALA, 1-800-545-2433.
AVAILABLE ...
Resources ...
Computer security programs designed to help keep your PCs looking and
behaving as you want them. Single licenses and building licenses
available. For a brochure contact Fortres Grand Corp., PO Box 888,
Plymouth, IN 46563, 1-800-331-0372, http://www.fortres.com.
Ideas for school and public library projects from libraries in
Southeastern Massachusetts, at
http://www.semls.org/News/innovative_programs.htm.
Two new scholar-led reading discussion programs - "Humanity and the
New Genetics" and "Choices for the 21st Century: Defining Our Role in a
Changing World" - from the Vermont Center for the Book, 875-2751.
"Genetics" examines the biotech revolution and features four books.
"Choices" involves readings from an anthology which participants may keep.
Independent internet search engine reviews and rankings - at
http://www.searchiq.com/.
Planning and Building Libraries, a website created for architects,
librarians, design consultants, and students interested in library design
and construction - at http://www.slais.ubc.ca/architecture/index.html.
"Facts About Vermont Libraries," "Who to Call, or Who Wears What Hat?"
and "Vermont Public Library Statistics: 2000 Biennial Report Supplement" -
all free from Mary Moore, Department of Libraries, 828-3261,
mary.moore@dol.state.vt.us.
"Libraries & the Internet Toolkit," designed to assist librarians in
managing the Internet and educating the public about how to use it
effectively - available online at http://www.ala.org/internettoolkit.
The Library of Congress online web catalog is now available at
http://catalog.loc.gov/. The catalog containing approximately 12 million
records representing the vast collection held by the Library of Congress.
The catalog may be searched by subject, name (personal, corporate or
meeting), call number, title or serial title. Keyword searches and Boolean
operator searches are also available to the user.
Continuing Education ...
"Nonprofit Management & Leadership Workshops" 2000 spring catalog from
TAP-VT - free - from the Vermont Community Fdn., PO Box 30, Middlebury
05753, 388-3355. Workshops cover such topics as grant writing,
fundraising, and board-director relations.
CHANGES TO VERMONT LIBRARY DIRECTORY, 1999
#9 New trustee chair: Alice Rydjeski
#21 New librarian: Joanne Pariseau
#39 Hours: M 2:30-4:30 pm, W 3:30-5:30 pm
#55 New trustee chair: Veronica Johnson, 257-7143
#75 New trustee chair: Jean Mallary, 276-3316
#79 Acting librarian: Kay Weed, 467-3328
#76 New librarian: Ray Holland
#137 Library phone no.: 462-2763
#182 Hours: Tu 9 am-5 pm, W 3:30-7:30 pm, Th 1-5 pm, F 2-7 pm,
Sa 10 am-1 pm
#202 Library address: P.O. Box 9, Guildhall 05905
Hours: W 2-3, 6-8 pm
#237 Library address: 2238 Main St., Isle La Motte 05463
#224 New librarian: Lucie Fortin
#237 New librarian: Jeannine Bruley, ilmlib@together.net
#262 Library name: Gilman Community Library
Trustee chair: Giselle Hallee, 892-7707
#238 Library address: P.O. Box 330, East Middlebury 05740
#315 Library closed
#321 Library address: P.O. Box 208, Newfane 05345
#331 Library address: 10 Cross St., Northfield 05663
#344A New library: Stevens School of Peacham, 1510 Bailey
Hazen Rd., Peacham 05862; 592-3194; VUC: P31E;
L: Joseph Golden
#372 New librarian: Susan Slack
#404 Library phone no.: 584-3880
Trustee chair: Jennifer Nelson, 584-3296
#405 Library address: 2025 Gilfallan Rd., S. Ryegate 05069
#411 New librarian: Sandra Zelazo
#421 New librarian: Lucinda Desautels, 352-4588
#477 Library address: P.O. Box 9, Tunbridge 05077
#528 Library address: c/o Tammy Wilbur, 91 Murray Rd.,
Whiting 05778
#566 New librarian: Ray Holland
YOUTH SERVICES NEWS
by Grace W. Greene
Children's Services Consultant
828-3261
BORN TO READ ...
By now all public libraries should be aware of the Born to Read
campaign sponsored by the Vermont Business Roundtable. Here's a summary of
the main points:
* all babies born in Vermont in the year 2000 will receive a bag of books
from their doctor at their six month well baby visit (so the bags will be
given in July, 2000 - June, 2001).
* in the bag will be a coupon to take to their local public library to
redeem for a copy of MAX'S BATH by Rosemary Wells.
* the Department of Libraries is purchasing thousands of copies of MAX'S
BATH and giving them to the public libraries to distribute.
* the best way to get your library's allotment of books is to ATTEND ONE OF
THE BORN TO READ WORKSHOPS scheduled for May (see "Coming Events").
* two giant teddy bear books are also being given to all public libraries
for prizes and programs this summer. They will be distributed at the Born
to Read workshops.
We are working out a plan to serve those families who live in Vermont, but
go to a doctor in another state. If your library is a border town, let me
know how many babies this would effect in your town. Other questions?
Please ask!
CAMEL'S HUMP RADIO ...
Vermont Public Radio is producing a new children's book show, Camel's
Hump Radio, which had its debut March 16 at 7:00 p.m. with a reading of
PUCK OF POOK'S HILL. The show will normally be broadcast on Saturday
mornings, beginning in April. Some of the books to be featured this first
season are OWLS IN THE FAMILY (read by Outreach for Earth Stewardship's
Eveleen Cecchini), HOLES (read by Cornelius Hogan), and CHARLIE AND THE
CHOCOLATE FACTORY (read by Madeleine Kamman). Philip Baruth will be the
host. In addition, the Camel's Hump Radio website will feature information
on the books, word puzzles, bibliographies, etc. Let your public know
about this great new resource!
MATERIALS REVIEW SESSIONS ...
Need some help selecting books for children and young adults? Then
plan to attend the materials review sessions co-sponsored by the Department
of Libraries and the Department of Education. Each time, we review orally
about 150 books, and also take hundreds of other recommended by our
volunteer reviewers and the review media. It's also a fabulous way to hear
the latest news and to network! The dates for the spring sessions are
listed in the "Coming Events" section of this newsletter, but it's not too
late to pencil the fall, 2000, dates in on your calendars:
Tuesday, October 24 Midstate Regional Library
Wednesday, October 25 Milton Public Library
Thursday, October 26 Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington
Wednesday, November 1 Butterfield Library, Westminster
Thursday, November 2 Northeast Regional Library, St. Johnsbury
Each session begins at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about four hours. Bring a lunch
so you aren't starving by the end!
BIBLIOGRAPHIES ONLINE ...
Check out the list of librarians' resources on the Department's
website for a nice surprise. Almost every
bibliography we have available can now be downloaded. Getting our handouts
has never been so easy! Thanks go to Pam Scott and Sheila Kearns for all
the hours of work this required. (Choose DOL Children's Services
Publications, and then Bibliographies, Resources and Traveling Exhibits.)
DCF/RED CLOVER AWARD NEWS ...
In late March all public and school libraries should receive a packet
containing information about Vermont's two child selected book awards.
Included will be:
* the Red Clover Masterlist for 2000-2001
* the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Masterlist for 2000-2001
* the DCF voting form for this year (deadline April 14)
We are interested in your feedback on our first-ever DCF manual. Did you
use it? What did you like or dislike? Should we do it again? Please fill
out the evaluation form in the manual and mail it back.
2000 NEWBERY AND CALDECOTT AWARDS ...
The American Library Association announced these winners at its
Midwinter Conference:
Newbery Medal: BUD, NOT BUDDY by Christopher Paul Curtis (Delacorte, 1999)
Honor books: GETTING NEAR TO BABY by Audrey Couloumbis (Putnam, 1999)
26 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE by Tomie dePaola (Putnam's Sons, 1999)
OUR ONLY MAY AMELIA by Jennifer L. Holm (HarperCollins, 1999)
Caldecott Medal: JOSEPH HAD A LITTLE OVERCOAT by Simms Taback (Viking,
1999)
Honor books: SECTOR 7 by David Weisner (Clarion, 1999)
THE UGLY DUCKLING adapted by Jerry Pinkney (Morrow, 1999)
WHEN SOPHIE GET ANGRY - REALLY, REALLY ANGRY by Molly Bang
(Blue Sky Press, 1999)
A CHILD'S CALENDAR by John Updike; illustrated by Trina
Schart Hyman (Holiday House, 1999)
Newbery Medalist Curtis was also given the Coretta Scott King Author
Award, which recognizes excellence by African-American authors; the
Illustrator Award went to Brian Pinkney, illustrator of IN THE TIME OF THE
DRUMS, written by Kim L. Siegelson. (Jump at the Sun, 1999)
BETWEEN THE LIONS ...
Check out the new PBS series about reading, "Between the Lions" which
premieres on April 3 on Vermont Public Television. The show, aimed at
children 4 - 7 who are learning to read, uses a mix of music, stories,
animation, live action, and puppetry to emphasize the joys of reading and
teach skills. For more information, go to http://www.pbskids.org/lions
COURSES IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS ...
Two courses about children's books will offered by Saint Michael's
College this summer. In THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK: BETWEEN THE COVERS (3 cr.),
Bonnie Christensen will teach students how to transfer ideas and concepts
into picture books. By exploring the relationship of text and visual
images, reflecting on current trends in children's literature, and
discussing the history and business of printing and bookmaking,
participants will come away with a thorough experience investigating the
illustrated book. This class will run Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.,
July 17 - July 28.
CURRENT TRENDS IN PUBLISHING CHILDREN'S BOOKS (3 cr.), taught by Anita
Silvey, Mon. & Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., July 7, 10, 21, 24, and 31,
will focus on aspects of children's book publishing from the unsolicited
manuscript to the finished product with attention drawn to current trends
in the industry. A brief history of children's book publishing will be
included, but emphasis will be on contemporary books and issues.
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STATE OF VERMONT
AGENCY OF ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES
Sybil Brigham McShane, State Librarian . . . . . . . . . 828-3265
Library & Information Services Division
Marjorie D. Zunder, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . 828-3261
Paul Donovan, Head, Law & Documents Unit . . . . . 828-3261
Lorraine Lanius, Head, Technical Services Unit . . 828-3261
S. Francis Woods, Head, Special Services Unit. . . 828-3273
Public Library Support Services Division
Marianne Kotch, Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 828-2320
Grace Greene, Children's Services Consultant . . . 828-3261
Paula Davidson, Midstate Regional Library (Berlin) 828-2320
Michael Roche, Northeast Regional Library (St. Johnsbury)748-3428
Amy Howlett, Southeast Regional Library (Dummerston)257-2810
Vermont Automated Libraries System (VALS)
Sheila M. Kearns, Information Technology Manager . . 828-3261
Robert Longe, Information Technology Specialist . 828-3261
Editor: Marianne Kotch
VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARIES
109 STATE ST.
MONTPELIER, VT 05609
http://dol.state.vt.us
Howard B. Dean, M.D., Governor
Sybil Brigham McShane, State Librarian
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News is published four times each year by the Vermont Department of
Libraries and is distributed to all Vermont libraries, trustee chairs,
state legislators, and other who care about Vermont libraries. News is
available upon request in Braille, in large print, or on disk. Call
828-3261. NEWS is a federal-state program under the Library Services and
Technology Act.
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