If your library serves a community with a population under 5,000, it may be eligible to receive a grant from the Children’s Literacy Foundation – CliF. Suzanne Loring of CLiF asked me to share the following with you:

The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing a love of reading and writing among children throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. One of the ways CLiF supports children’s literacy is by awarding sponsorships of $2,000 in new, high-quality, hardcover books for children up to age 12 to rural public libraries that serve towns of fewer than 5,000 inhabitants. If your library receives a CLiF sponsorship, CLiF will travel to your town, deliver the books in person, and give a presentation to your town’s children about the joys of words, books, reading and writing. Libraries get to select their own books. Most CLiF book delivery celebrations take place at the local elementary school, so that every child in town may learn about what’s available at the local library.

If your library is interested in applying, please contact CLiF and ask for their simple 2-page application, or visit www.clifonline.org to download the document. Deadlines for applications are February 1 and August 1. Each year CLiF sponsors 24 rural public libraries. CLiF has already awarded sponsorships to 223 libraries, almost 60% of all the rural public libraries throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. If you visit our web site, you can see a map that shows all the libraries we’ve supported thus far. CLiF also provides similar sponsorships to bookmobiles and shelters. For more information, contact: Duncan McDougall – Executive Director, 802-244-0944; Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), 1536 Loomis Hill Rd., Waterbury Center, VT 05677; childrens.literacy@verizon.net

Libraries should have received a mailing via US Postal Service from Michael Chernick of the state Legislative Council.  It concerns restrooms and accessibility in public libraries around the state.  It is extremely important that you respond and return the form to Michael Chernick by October 1.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call him at 828-2208 or email mikec@leg.state.vt.us.

This is part of the study the Legislative Council and Joint Fiscal Office were directed to do by the General Assembly in connection with state support of public libraries.  Thank you for your help with this.

Marianne Kotch

Round 2 of 2007 Vermont Public Library Foundation –  Winnie Belle Learned Fund Grants

WINNIE BELLE LEARNED FUND

For Round 2 of the grants the goal is to help the small public libraries of Vermont foster literacy, love of learning, critical analysis and intellectual exploration in their communities, particularly among children of all ages and their families.   The Winnie Belle Learned Fund welcomes applications for grants which will foster these goals in ways that local communities envision for themselves, including but not limited to funding for collections, programming, other related activities and expenses for children and their families.

The Winnie Belle Learned Fund anticipates awarding on a competitive basis up to $20,000 in grants ranging from $500 to $2,500 to help public libraries enrich the intellectual lives of children and families in their communities.

For more information about Winnie Belle Learned, see:
http://www.libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/vplf/wblf.html

Grant guidelines and application forms are available at:
http://www.libraries.vermont.gov/libraries/vplf/vplf.html
 

Mock Caldecott Award Day

Friday, November 16 at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. In the morning Megan Lambert, from the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA will talk about the Whole Book Approach and the Caldecott Medal, and in the afternoon we will choose our favorite picture book of the year.  Everyone who registers early will receive a list of picture books to consider well before the program.

Here is the link for the registration form:
http://www.libraries.vermont.gov/LIBRARIES/CBEC/mockcaldecottregistration07.pdf

Registration is limited.

Grace Greene

Highlighting and documenting the experiences of WWII veterans

In conjunction with the newest Ken Burns PBS series, The War, the Vermont Department of Libraries and the Vermont Library Association are partnering with Vermont Public Television (VPT) and a coalition of local organizations to highlight and document the experiences of WWII veterans and their families. At a time when WWII veterans are dying at a rate of approximately 1,000/day nationally, the timing for this campaign couldn’t be better.  Premiering on PBS on September 23 with repeat broadcasts throughout the fall, The War is a seven-part series that examines the myriad ways in which the Second World War touched the lives of every family on every street in every town in America.

Beginning in September and throughout the fall, VPT and the “Vermont WWII Stories” coalition will sponsor:

* Screenings & Discussions
* Teacher Training Workshops
* Classroom Toolkik
* Online Story Collection Tool
* Expanded Programming on VPT  to highlight stories of Vermont veterans
* “In My Own Words,” – A series of spots on VPT (on-air and online http://www.vpt.org) telling the stories of Vermont veterans and their families
* Vermont’s only online, searchable database of WWII enlistees
* And More!      

We encourage you to get involved by preserving Vermont’s culture and heritage. Here’s how libraries can help:

In September, October and November, create special displays of WWII books and relevant materials; display project fliers, referring people to the VPT website for information on how they can become involved. VPT can provide fliers – electronic file or printed copies.

Working with your local historical society and other community organizations, host “Story Collecting Day” (or week) on Saturday, November 10 in conjunction with Veterans Day (November 11.) On this day community members come to the library and enter their stories using the online story collecting tool. Recruit local kids to staff a computer at the library during specific hours and help enter text, scan photos, etc. Look for the link to the project page at www.vpt.org 

Prior to September 23, host a preview screening and discussion with local veterans and their families. VPT can provide a one-hour clip reel in DVD format).

For more information, materials or to get involved, contact Elizabeth Ottinger, Community Outreach Director, Vermont Public Television, 802-654-3688, eottinger@vpt.org.

Marianne Kotch

The Red Clover Award Conference

Registration information is now online!  Deadline to register:  September 19.  This year’s conference features a rare appearance by author/illustrator Steve Jenkins (Actual Size, I See a Kookaburra! and many more award-winning picture books) and Horn Book editor-in-chief Roger Sutton.

A link to the registratio form may be found at:  http://www.mothergooseprograms.org. 
For more information, call or email Nancy, 802-875-2751, ext. 108, nancy@mothergooseprograms.org
Jewish Literature Book Discussion Programs

Several Vermont public libraries have hosted Jewish literature book discussion programs through the American Library Association.  ALA Public Programs Office and Nextbook just announced a new grant initiative for “Let’s Talk About It:  Jewish Literature – Identity and Imagination.”  Participating libraries host a five-part scholar-led discussion series featuring one of six themes.  ALA provides program materials, training, and other resources along with a $2,500 grant to help libraries host the programs. 
For more information, go to http://www.ala.org/publicprograms. 
The deadline for the grant application is Dec. 1, 2007. !

Marianne Kotch

Ideas for Senior programming [Theres Faust]

Did your library have a great program geared toward seniors that worked really well? Have you heard a great idea from another library about serving older patrons? I would love to hear these ideas, to share them at upcoming DOL workshops. Please email me. Thanks!

Teresa

Teresa R. Faust
Special Services Consultant, Vermont Department of Libraries
578 Paine Turnpike North, Berlin, VT 05602
802.828.3273     800.479.1711 (in state)
teresa.faust@mail.dol.state.vt.us

Youth Services Grant [Amy Howlett by way of http://library.med.utah.edu/blogs/BHIC/ ]

Disney Minnie Grants Available to Support Youth Service Projects
Deadline: August 30, 2007
The Walt Disney Company ( http://www.disney.com <http://www.disney.com/>  ) and Youth Service America ( http://www.ysa.org <http://www.ysa.org/>  ) have announced grants of up to $500 each to support youth-led service projects. These grants support youth (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), youth-leaders, and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, provided that they that engage younger youth (5-14) in planning and implementing the service. Service projects must take place between October 1 and November 26, 2007. Projects can address themes such as the environment, disaster relief, public health and awareness, community education, hunger, literacy, or any issue that youth identify as a community need. http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/10007919/YSA

Historic Preservation Grants  [Marianne Kotch]
Those of you interested in preserving your facilities may be eligible to apply for the 2008 State Historic Preservation Grant program.  In order to be eligible for matching grant for between $1,000 and $15,000, your building must be owned by a municipality or a nonprofit organization and must be listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in Vermont.  The deadline for grants is September 29, 2007 (postmark date) or October 2, 2007 (delivery date).    Packets went out early this month.  To request a packet, call the state Division for Historic Preservation at 828-3043.   You can also check their website at http://www.HistoricVermont.org

Core Competecies Webinar[Sheila Kearns]

The direct link to this info is
http://vt.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=15543)

Hour-long webinar: July 25, 11:00 AM PDT/2:00 PM EDT

Core Competencies for Library Staff
Free via WebJunction’s Live Space

In this one hour webinar, we will explore competencies for library staff-how defining core competencies builds a foundation for identifying skills and knowledge gaps and leads to targeted training that will help keep libraries viable in the 21st century.

Note:  Also an opportunity to experience the WebJunctions LiveClassroom environment on your own.

Outreach Conference [Grace Greene]

The Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF), in cooperation with the Department of Libraries and the NH State Library, is sponsoring a one day conference on outreach for public librarians and bookmobile folks on September 21 in White River Junction:

Taking It on the Road Outreach Conference for Bookmobile or Library Staff & Volunteers
Friday, September 21, 2007
Briggs Opera House – White River Junction, VT

Co-sponsored by the Children’s Literacy Foundation (CLiF),
New Hampshire State Library & Vermont Department of Libraries

This conference will provide support, inspiration and dozens of creative ideas to the staff and volunteers of bookmobiles and libraries across New Hampshire and Vermont.  Do you want to improve your library and bookmobile outreach activities? Then come join us! Our panelists are experts drawn from libraries and bookmobiles across the Twin States. Their ideas will simply be the starting point for a lively day of sharing stories about what works and what doesn’t. Come with stories, suggestions, and questions. The cost is $5 per person. Space is limited to the first 60 people to register.

For further information an registration details contact
Children’s Literacy Foundation • 1536 Loomis Hill Road • Waterbury Center, VT 05677
phone:  802/244-0944 email: childrens.literacy@verizon.net
To find out more about CLiF, visit www.clifonline.org <http://www.clifonline.org/>

Emerging Leaders[Marrianne Kotch]

The Emerging Leaders Initiative enables 120 new librarians to get on the fast track to ALA and professional leadership. Attendance at two conferences, mentoring, training, and leadership development.

For details go to:
http://wikis.ala.org/emergingleaders/index.php/2008_Emerging_Leaders_Program_Information

Through its library donations program, Ashgate makes grants to public libraries in Vermont for special one-time projects and needs (as opposed to standard operating expenses and book budgets) as they arise. Ashgate’s charitable donations committee decides what amount to donate to which library, in consultation with the company’s staff members. Ashgate does NOT make grants in support of capital campaigns, operating budgets, or general collection development.

There is NO formal grant application form. Grant applications should take the form of a cover letter which:
– explains the nature of the project
– specifically addresses what population(s) will be served by the project
– addresses how they will be served
– states the amount requested, with a budget if appropriate, or at least a justification for the amount
– states the time frame in which the project is scheduled to be completed.

For more information contact Allyssa Stevens at astevens@ashgate.com. Please review the guidelines above before calling. Completed proposals should be sent on or before June 30 to
Library Grants Committee
Ashgate Publishing Company
101 Cherry Street, Suite 420
Burlington VT 05401-4405

As always, DOL regional consultants and I are happy to help you think through possible projects and help you draft proposals. Good luck!