In This Issue
 
A Note from the State Librarian
Scott Murphy

Hello from the Vermont State Librarian!
 
I hope you are finding the increased communications from VTLIB helpful. We will continue our "Office Hours" webinars series, regular email newsletters from VTLIB, and additional newsletters from the two divisions of VTLIB (Library Advancement and Information & Access). I will also periodically give updates to give insight into the work that is keeping me busy here in Montpelier.
 
VTLIB's Strategic Direction
In my December update, I mentioned our vision, as articulated in our Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) Five-Year Plan, but it bears repeating as it directs much of what we do here at VTLIB. This vision reflects the goals of our LSTA funders and the goals of Gov. Scott and the VT Legislature:
 
"The Vermont Department of Libraries will support Vermont libraries' ability to become hubs of lifelong learning, offering free, universal, and convenient access that will improve quality of life and strengthen our communities. Our services will help grow the Vermont economy, reinforce and support various approaches to literacy, and make library services more accessible to vulnerable and underserved populations."
 
Legislative Session
As the VT Legislative session progresses, I read the proposed bills and keep up-to-date on the discussions of the legislative committees and subcommittees. The State Librarian needs to know what our government discusses and to make sure VTLIB is present whenever legislation is considered that will affect libraries in VT. Increased visibility of me and my staff is essential so that our legislators see potential partnerships in state government with VTLIB, ways we can combine resources, and how libraries are integral to their communities. 
 
Partnerships
Just as you do in your communities, I work with my staff to create meaningful partnerships between VTLIB and other departments and agencies throughout state government. By leveraging these partnerships, we show the Governor and the Legislature the importance of VTLIB and libraries throughout Vermont. Our current efforts involve the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Corrections, and others.
 
FY19 Funding
Another important item in my daily work is securing funding for FY19. Part of this is talking with my staff about priorities, analyzing each expenditure, and making the challenging decisions that we all must make when we want to do more with a limited budget.
 
Mandates of State Statute
The VT State Statutes mandate that VTLIB provide a range of services to specific populations. I am discussing creative ways to provide services that may have been neglected in recent years with my staff-including serving the needs of state government and state institutions like correctional facilities. In addition, we are looking at ways to continue meeting the needs of public, school, and academic libraries throughout VT.
 
Upcoming VTLIB Move
As mentioned in my previous update, by July 1 st, 2018, all of VTLIB - including the staff, books, materials, and offices in Montpelier and Berlin - will need to be packed up and moved to our new location in the VT Historical Society building in Barre. This challenging task will take a great deal of planning between now and July. We are planning to hold an open house once we are settled in our new offices so that you can see the new digs and connect with VTLIB staff.
 
Feel free, as always, to reach out with questions. While I might direct you to one of my two Assistant State Librarians or other staff when appropriate, as they are the experts in many aspects of the important work of VTLIB, I do appreciate hearing from folks throughout VT.


ysSummer Reading Mania
Workshops & Grants

Preparations for a rockin' summer have already begun! Youth Services Consultant Cass Mabbott held two summer reading workshops in February- one in Bellows Falls and one in Waterbury- attended by youth services librarians from all over the state.


Topics discussed included the summer reading manual provided by our partner, the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP), as well as program ideas for little ones all the way up to teens. This summer's theme is "Libraries Rock!", so suggestions ranged from fun with rock music to fun with...well, rocks!

For a recap of these workshops as well as resources provided by our amazing presenters, visit this page on our website: http://bit.ly/2ozjm15
A video recording of Waterbury's workshop is forthcoming.

Don't forget that applications for summer performer grants to public libraries are still open! Go here for more information and to apply. We will also be accepting entries for our 2018 Teen Video Challenge through March 1 (entries must be postmarked no later than March 1 to be eligible.)

Have fun this summer, and don't forget to register for our other youth services workshops coming up soon:

New Library Listservs
Make sure to subscribe! email_laptop.jpg

Did you know that VTLIB manages four listservs for the library community? And if so, did you hear that their addresses have changed as of Feb. 5? Here are the updated addresses:
 
  • LibILL - [email protected] - Focuses on Interlibrary Loan topics, and the state's CLOVER system.
  • LibStaff - [email protected] - Covers all non-ILL related questions for staff at Vermont libraries, as well as VTLIB workshops and newsletters.
  • LibTrustFriend - [email protected] - Provides a place for trustees, friends, and the directors who work with them to ask questions and share info.
  • LibVTYAC - [email protected] - Serves Vermont youth services staff, as well as other staff who work with children and young adults.
 
To subscribe, contact Josh at [email protected]!


                                 Continuing Education Opportunities
Opportunities for March and April

VTLIB has a busy spring ahead! Take a look at the following continuing education opportunities being offered in March and April, including an overview of the Certificate of Public Librarianship and continuing education as a whole, as well as workshops by three of our fabulous consultants!



      
  • Cass Mabbott, Youth Services Consultant, will be holding Storytime Refresher, Materials Review, and Afterschool workshops in March and April. Read this article above for more information!
  • On March 8th at 2:00 p.m., Jason Broughton will be offering an overview webinar about the Certificate for Public Librarianship as part of our Office Hours webinars (no registration required): http://bit.ly/2BOTaIh  
  • On April 2nd at 11:00 a.m., Jason will be offering a Continuing Education overview webinar about how the Continuing Education program will be working this year as part of our Office Hours webinars (no registration required): http://bit.ly/2BOTaIh 
  • On April 3rd and 5th, Vincent Livoti, Consultant for Special Populations, will be holding a Financial Literacy in Your Library: Frameworks, Resources, and Conversation workshop at Manchester Community Library on 4/3 and at St. Albans Free Library on 4/5 (both from 10am-3pm.) Both are free, but registration is required. Find a description for this workshop here.
  • On April 12th from 9:30 - 12:30 at the Midstate Library Service Center in Berlin, Lara Keenan, Consultant for Governance and Management, will be offering a Public Library Directors 101: Training for New (and Newish) Directors workshop (FREE - registration required).Find a description for this workshop here.

 

  
ATTN: State Employees
Free Audiobooks & eBooks with RB Digital

The Department of Libraries is pleased to announce that we will now be offering access to Recorded Books' RB Digital to all Vermont State Employees.

Through this site state employees can access more
than 30,000 au dio and eBooks. Available titles range from current and popular fiction, nonfiction, Pimsleur language learning books, and more! Functioning like an online library, all titles can be borrowed for a period of three weeks, and you can place holds on titles that are currently checked out so that you can borrow them later. Titles can be accessed from your computer using their website or desktop apps, and apps are available for most mobile devices. State Employees will need to register with the State Library card. If you do not have one you can request a card here.
 
To register for an account, learn more about RB Digital, or to browse the titles available visit http://vermontstate.rbdigital.com/.  If you have any questions, please contact April Shaw ( [email protected]).


Bringing Resources to Light
Gale Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection

Join us each month as we illuminate a fantastic resource from Vermont Online Library. This episode: Gale Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection ( http://www.vtonlinelib.org/career.php and click on "Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection").

Do you have secret (or not-so-secret) armchair travelers in your community? Do travel books to far-off lands fly off your shelves? Is your community interested in the Ecotourism movement? If so, be sure to check out the Gale Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection.

You can explore the development of niche Ecotourism movements in Russia, Australia, Sweden, Nigeria, and more. A search for "Airbnb" brings up articles examining this sharing-economy phenomenon and its effects around the world. Articles about "Adventure Tourism" explore the "rush" of risky adventure-seekers. With a quick search in the Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection, you can show your patrons yet another way their library provides more than they might expect!

Libraries offer many resources to their patrons. Consider surprising patrons by telling them about the Hospitality, Tourism, and Leisure Collection - available for free from your library through Vermont Online Library!