BlogJunction Vermont
A blog by the VT Dept. of Libraries to communicate with the VT library community
Library Facilities Survey
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
The winners of this year’s 2007 Vermont awards are:
Red Clover: The Great Fuzz Frenzy by Janet Stevens
Dorothy Canfield Fisher: Flush by Carl Hiaasen.
No word yet on whether Mr. Hiaasen will come to Vermont, but we are trying!
Green Mountain Book Award (GMBA) voting is due on April 30–don’t forget!!