Open for Business!
Midstate Regional Library, in Berlin, is open to librarians on Tuesdays by appointment. To schedule an appointment, please send an e-mail to Vance Asselin.
([email protected])
During these appointments you can check out books for your library, and select giveaway books if your library is eligible.
|
2018 Teen Video Challenge
Know any creative
VT teens aged 13-18?
Encourage them to participate in the
2018 VT Teen Video Challenge!
Teens are asked to make a 30-90 second video promoting libraries and the 2018 summer reading theme "Libraries Rock!"
The winner(s) of the challenge will receive
$100 and their sponsoring public library will receive a prize as well.
For more information, visit our website:
|
Stay Connected
on Social Media
|
|
|
Vermont Department of Libraries Staff News
The Department of Libraries welcomes Jason Broughton,
our new Assistant State Librarian for Library Advancement!
Jason recently worked at Live Oak Public Libraries, in Savannah, Georgia in a variety of roles such as the Assistant Director of Public Services, Interim Library Director, and Director of Library Support Services. Prior to working in Savannah, GA, he worked at the South Carolina State Library, where he was hired as a workforce development trainer, helping libraries assist with workforce development programming for users such as the unemployed & hard to employ to find jobs, brushing up on skills using various library services and pursuit of GED's using library resources. While working at the South Carolina State Library he obtained his Master's in Library & Information Science from the University of South Carolina. He also holds a Master's in Public Administration from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor's of Biology Education from Florida A&M University / Florida State University.
He loves weightlifting, being a foodie, and of course books. Mostly a combination of contemporary fiction and classic non-fiction like Howard Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People, with a few unique cookbooks throw in from time to time. (He's also is known for his competitive baking skills and may bake a cake or two for his coworkers!)
He has been honored to have been awarded an American Library Association Spectrum Scholarship in 2013. Upon graduating with his MLIS he was recognized by Library Journal as a 2015 Mover & Shaker in the educator division for his work in workforce development. In 2016 he was accepted & completed the 2016 American Library Association Emerging Leader Program.
Current professional organizations are the American Library Association; Association for Library Services to Children, currently serves on the Public Awareness Committee; Library Leadership and Management Association; Public Library Association; and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
|
|
Networking: Our library consultants have been busy traveling around the state and visiting libraries, directors, and trustees. These same consultants have also been busy attending and facilitating conferences throughout the Fall such as the COSLINE Conference, NELA Conference, and the Trustees and Friends Conference. There was a time when we, at the main library, wondered if we'd see the
consultants again before Spring. We'll be glad to have them closer to home over the next few months as they get to know and work closely with the new Assistant State Librarian for Library Advancement, Jason Broughton (see his introduction above!)
CLOVER: With the new CLOVER inter-library loan system in place, Tom McMurdo, Assistant State Librarian for Information and Access, and Librarian April Shaw, have been holding training sessions this month for librarians. These sessions have been well attended, and should build a strong CLOVER support system going forward.
-> Did you know? Librarian April Shaw would love to answer your CLOVER questions in-depth! Schedule an appointment with her by email ( [email protected]) or by calling 802-828-2735.
|
|
Vermont Health Connect Open Enrollment
Do you need health insurance? Vermont Health Connect's Open Enrollment period runs November 1 through December 15, 2017-and if you don't have health insurance, or would like to make a change to
your existing health plan, Open Enrollment is the time to do it.
Depending on your income, you may also qualify for significant reductions to your health insurance premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs, meaning that you can sign up for great health care that won't break the bank. Not sure what plan is best for you? Try the Plan Comparison Tool, available at:
http://info.healthconnect.vermont.gov/tax_credit_calculator.
There are three ways to enroll: visit Vermont Health Connect online at vermonthealthconnect.gov, call them at 855-899-9600, or visit an in-person assister. Just be sure to confirm your plan before December 15!
If you don't have access to a computer, your local public library can provide access to one, or point you in the right direction!
|
On the Road with Cass
Youth Services Consultant Cass Mabbott had another busy month of travel! Here's what she had to say about her most recent experience:
"I had the honor of representing Vermont at the National Forum on Transforming Teen Services Through Continuing Education earlier this month in Louisville, Kentucky. This was a special forum for state youth consultants from 50 states, along with Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Advisory Committee members and other facilitators. The focus of the forum was on public library programming and services to teens that meet the identified emotional, social, and learning needs of today's teens. This is the beginning of a year-long training for state consultants that will result in specific training for all of Vermont's public library staff who work with teens. More information can be found
here
. The graphic below sums up part of our discussion at the forum. Rest assured, I will be sharing with you more information and trainings on teen services in the future."
|
Bringing Resources to Light
Join us each month as we illuminate a fantastic resource from Vermont Online Library. This episode:
Have you told your patrons about the amazing, free, instructor-led online classes at
Universal Class? Patrons can have access to over 500 classes, including:
- Marine Biology 101
- Management Essentials
- Comprehensive Medical Terminology
- Intro to Commodity, Options, and Futures Markets
- Learn HTML
- Paranormal Romance Writing
- How to Write a Grant Proposal
- ESL Classes
- Anger Management
- Soap Making
- End of Life Care
Each of these classes is absolutely free with a Vermont library card, and each is led by an instructor who gives grades and offers feedback. Patrons can earn continuing-education credits and certificates for completed courses. Classes are self-paced, so patrons can complete them on their own time.
Patrons who have explored other free, self-guided online courses may enjoy the fact that
Universal Class gives them the opportunity to interact with their instructor. They are not left alone to flounder as they dive into a new world of learning.
Libraries offer many resources to their patrons. Consider surprising patrons by telling them about the
Universal Class - available for free from your library through Vermont Online Library!
|
|
| |
|
