Newsletter

VLA Newsletter ISSN 0896-0720 VOLUME XXII, NUMBER 5 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2008 VIRGINIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA Election Results The Nominating Committee is VIRGINIA LIBRARY ASSOCIATION pleased to announce that John Moorman has been elected as Vice President/President-elect of the Virginia Library Association for 2009 and Connie Gilman has been elected as VLA Secretary for 2009-2010. Jessica Schwab was elected ALA Councilor and will serve a three-year term. The Nominating Committee would like to thank all the candidates who stood for office this year. This is the first year that VLA conducted web-based voting in an effort to reduce costs and to help the environment. Electronic balloting resulted in increased membership participation over the past years. R.T. Smith, Janet Peery, Rita Dove, Helon Habila, and Wesley Hogan Habila, Peery, Hogan, and Smith Receive LVA Literary Awards The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the winners of the 11th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards honoring Virginia authors or, in the case of nonfiction, works on a Virginia subject. This year’s awards celebration was hosted by awardwinning Virginia author Adriana Trigiani. Awards categories were fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and literary lifetime achievement. Winners of the Library of Virginia’s Annual Literary Awards and the People’s Choice Awards receive a $3,500 prize and a handsome engraved crystal book. R.T. Smith is the recipient of the poetry prize for Outlaw Style: Poems, which the independent panel of judges hailed as offering a brooding understanding of both the riches and horrors of Southern culture. Smith is editor of Shenandoah: The Washington and Lee Review. In 2002, he received the Library’s poetry award for Messenger. The other poetry finalists were Blessings and Inclemencies by Constance Merritt and Littlefoot: A Poem by Charles Wright. The winner of the 2008 literary award for the best work of nonfiction is Wesley C. Hogan for Many Minds, One Heart: SNCC’s Dream for a New America. The book explores how the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee broke open the caste system in the American South and offers new insights into the internal dynamics of SNCC as well as the larger civil rights and Black Power movement. The judges felt that Many Minds, One Heart reminds us of the ongoing quest for democracy while highlighting its complexity and fragility. Hogan’s voluminous research and graceful style engaged the reader from beginning to end. Many Minds, One Heart also won the Lillian Smith Book Award and the Peace History Society’s Scott Bills Memorial Prize. Hogan is assistant professor of history and co-director of the Institute for the Study of Race Relations at Virginia State University. She and her family live in Richmond. The other finalists for the nonfiction prize were Barbara Kingsolver with 2 VLA Newsletter, August/September 2008 Steven L. Hopp and Camille Kingsolver for Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life and Peter Wallenstein for Cradle of America: Four Centuries of Virginia History. The judges also selected an honorable mention in the nonfiction category: What This Cruel War Was Over: Soldiers, Slavery, and the Civil War by Chandra Manning. For the first time since the inception of the Library of Virginia Literary Awards, two authors, Helon Habila and Janet Peery, are winners of the 2008 Library of Virginia Literary Award for the best work of fiction. The judges felt that the literary styles of Measuring Time by Helon Habila and What the Thunder Said by Janet Peery, though very different, were equally impressive and equally worthy of the award. Measuring Time plays with our conceptions of history, showing it as something lived and told rather than documented. In What the Thunder Said, the language and structure of the novel appear effortless. The narrative voice is authentic and evocative of the Depression during the dust bowl years and Peery’s prose is beautifully lyrical. Helon Habila teaches creative writing at George Mason University. His writing has won many honors, including the Caine Prize and the Commonwealth Writers Prize. Janet Peery teaches creative writing at Old Dominion University. Peery is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Whiting Writers Award, and an NEA Fellowship. Her first novel, The River Beyond the World, was a National Book Award Finalist for Fiction in 1996. This year’s other fiction finalist was The Rope Walk by Carrie Brown. Brown won the category in 2005 for Confinement and in 2001 for The Hatbox Baby. The winner of the People’s Choice Award in the fiction category is Puss ‘n Cahoots by Rita Mae Brown and in the nonfiction category, Unruly Americans by Woody Holton. The People’s Choice Awards are cosponsored by the Library of Virginia and James River Writers, a nonprofit Richmond-based writers’ organization. The finalists for these awards are selected by a panel of independent Virginia booksellers and librarians from the list of books nominated for the Library’s Literary Awards. Winners are decided by readers voting online and in libraries. Also honored at this year’s Literary Awards was Pamela Duncan Edwards for The Old House, winner of the second annual Whitney and Scott Cardozo Award for Children’s Literature. In selecting this book a juried panel reviewed 29 nominated titles from authors whose works focused on literature for children ages four through eight. Nominated titles with a publication date of 2007 were accepted from the greater mid-Atlantic region. The winner of this year’s Weinstein Poetry Prize is David Wojahn, who teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University and directs its creative writing program. His first book, Icehouse Lights, won the prestigious Yale Series of Younger Poets prize. He is the author of six collections of poetry. He has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the Illinois Arts Council, the Indiana Arts Commission, and the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference. The Weinstein Prize winner is selected separately from the Library of Virginia’s Literary Awards by a special board of curators. The recipient of the 2008 Library of Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award is Rita Dove. A former Poet Laureate of the United States and Consultant in Poetry at the Library of Congress, Dove is the youngest person—and the first African-American—to receive this highest official honor in American letters. She held the position for two years. In 2004 Virginia Governor Mark Warner appointed her Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a two-year position. Dove is Commonwealth Professor of Poetry at the University of Virginia. She holds honorary doctoral degrees from more than 20 American universities. Among her many awards are the 1996 Heinz Award in the Arts and Humanities, the 1997 Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, the 2001 Duke Ellington Lifetime Achievement Award in the Literary Arts, and the 2006 Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service. Next year’s Literary Awards Celebration will be held on October 17, 2009. — Janice M. Hathcock, Library of Virginia VLA Council Highlights VLA Council met at the Northside Branch of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library on September 5, 2008 Executive Director’s Report Linda Hahne reported that VLA currently has 1034 members with 196 new members, 56 conference booths have been sold to date, Conference programs have been distributed, and elections continue until September 15. She requested members to keep their email addresses up to date. Treasurer’s Report Matt Todd reported that conference income is positive, Friends support is positive, scholarship income is positive, and investment income reflects the economic times. Robin Benke asked about recognition of contributions. Linda replied that thank you notes are sent, and there is no public recognition. Executive Committee Donna Cote reported that the Committee had reviewed unit reports yesterday. She offered her appreciation to each unit and their representatives for their work. VLA Council Unit chairs should submit Unit Reports by the Annual Conference, using the form supplied. Members are encouraged to promote responses to the committee interest form. Linda asked members to identify incoming chairs of each group so the Executive Committee can prepare the 2009 Council roster. Awards & Recognition Committee Lisa Broughman said her committee is ready to announce winners at the conference. Continuing Education Committee Heather Hannan is promoting the Committee Service Interest form to get more response for the Continuing Education Committee. She would like to capture training for sharing via YouTube. Donna said VLA is working on obtaining cameras for each region to share events. People will need training VLA Newsletter, August/September 2008 3 on using cameras. Heather would like to do delayed broadcasts of conference sessions. The Speakers’ Bureau database has not taken off this year, but she would like to pursue it next year. Donna said the Executive Committee discussed the program in a box idea from the Youth Services Forum and replicating this elsewhere. Nancy Bolt will be speaking on continuing education at the conference. Legislative Committee John Halliday reported for Bette Dillehay that the Legislative Committee met August 14th to draft the proposed Legislative Agenda for 2009. He distributed the agenda. John reviewed the 2008 session, acknowledging that VLA was not successful with two of three objectives. The committee will maintain its current structure. They reviewed the two public relations pieces used last year. The brochure was well designed and useful and will be continued, but the DVD was less successful and will not be used again. The CapWiz tool did not receive a fair trial, and the committee wants to try one more year before making recommendation to implement permanently. The committee wants to focus on reaching the 15 key people on Education and Finance Committees, and to focus on grassroots contacts with a weblink. State Aid is the biggest issue. John noted that public libraries receive less money today than they did ten years ago. Citizens must be involved to protest the Governor’s possible 15% cut. Steve Helm mentioned that CapWiz offers list management with opt out. He and Elizabeth Speigle can work together to enroll VLA members. Upon a motion by Art, seconded by Steve, Council unanimously adopted the Legislative Agenda. Membership Committee Karim Khan said he has received 260 responses to date to the membership survey. Training, networking, education, and the conference are reasons for joining VLA. He pointed out demographics of particular interest: youngest members are fewest, 68.9% have worked 11 yrs or longer. He will compile open-ended responses to share later. The committee will try to link new members and first-time attendees with box lunch buddies at the conference. All new members and first-timers will be invited to join seasoned attendees who will be encouraged to connect with them. Linda reminded Council that the purpose of the box lunch is to promote attendance at exhibits and to be certain to encourage new members to visit the exhibits. Karim will collect information from units on their activities over the last year to share with new members. He asked that unit chairs determine what they would like new members to know about their groups so he can give an overview of what VLA has to offer in a concurrent session program about VLA. Donna reviewed a list of other recognitions of new members including a listing of new members in the VLA Newsletter. Nominating Committee Pat Howe encouraged members to submit their votes online by September 15. Linda is mailing paper ballots to members who have joined since voting began. Matt suggested that at some point, VLA should require that all communication be via email. Publications Committee Suzy has three additional members from Virginia Tech and Hollins. They plan to get the August newsletter out electronically. The June issue is the last to be printed. It will include an article about reasons for the change in format. She asked that members consider the frequency of issues and email her their thoughts about this. The current Virginia Libraries is a joint issue. Suzy will be pulling historical photos for use at the conference. Scholarship Committee Sandra Shell announced that the VLA Foundation is funding an additional scholarship this year. The recipient is Shari Henry of Chesterfield County Public Library. The winners of the two VLA Scholarships are Susan Paddock and Carol Jones. New applications should be submitted soon. The committee seeks baskets for fundraising at the conference. She would appreciate having themes in advance, and inventories to attach to baskets. Ad Hoc Tech Committee Lisa Varga reported that the committee’s first charge was electronic balloting, which has begun. The committee is working with the Publications Committee to ensure seamless electronic publishing of the VLA Newsletter via e-mail and onto the VLA website. They are converting many forms on the VLA website to fillable PDFs so that information to VLA is streamlined, consistent and easy for members. They procured a new server to host VLA’s website. College & Research Library Forum Luke Vilelle said ten attended a regional meeting at UVA, and 15 at Christopher Newport. They plan to continue these next year. They have posted the afternoon portion of the spring program online. They are sponsoring two programs at the conference. Paraprofessional Forum Willow Gale and Kathy Clevenger, co-chairs, attended. They had a post conference meeting in June to wrap up the May conference and begin preparations for next year. The form for concurrent session proposals included in the last newsletter was not the correct one. They would like to send a separate mailing, and perhaps extend the deadline for submissions to October 10. The form on the website is correct. Linda will post a message on the listserv. The Mini-Conference on September 26 will feature Nikki Giovanni, and a tour of the Virginia Tech library and the memorial to victims of the 2007 shooting. The Paraprofessional Forum Conference theme for 2009 is “The Neighborhood Library: Your Connection to the World.” The Forum will meet at the VLA Conference. Public Service Forum Tammy Hines is trying to recruit members. Youth Services Forum Sasha Matthews introduced incoming chair Jennifer Schultz. They are developing programs in a box to share with libraries which do not have dedicated children’s librarians. They will have wine and cheese at the conference for those interested in youth services. They need representatives from all but Region 3, even if they are virtual members. Public Library Section Steve Preston announced that the 4 VLA Newsletter, August/September 2008 section is sponsoring a tour of the John D. Rockefeller Research Library on Wednesday preceding the conference. Region V Karim announced that the Brown Bag luncheon on Web 2.0 in libraries, with an expert from GMU, will be held on October 1. Region V will take a field trip to the Library of Congress on November 5. They are trying to schedule Jim Rettig, ALA President, to speak in the spring. VALL Betty Johnson was introduced as the new VALL representative. Webmaster Steve asked for conference presentations to post on the website. Conference Update Morel stated that the Foundation hopes to continue scholarships in the future. She presented the Foundation’s plan to the Executive Committee and will work on it further. The Conference programs have been mailed. The Committee is working on ribbons and signs to recognize new members. Pat relayed a request from Lydia Williams, who is coordinating volunteers, that volunteers contact Lydia about their availability to introduce sessions. Heather also suggested that volunteers write about their sessions for Virginia Libraries. Morel reminded Council that the 2009 conference is scheduled for October 29-30 at the Williamsburg Marriott. Linda requested any updated unit information for the conference immediately. Other Business Donna and Linda thanked Council members with certificates of appreciation, VLA pins, and a luncheon. — Minutes prepared by Laurie Roberts, VLA Secretary — modified by Pat Howe, VLA Newsletter interim co-editor. VLA Membership Committee Report In 2007, the VLA Executive Council observed an overall decline in the level of membership in VLA. Pat Howe and Donna Cote asked the Membership Committee to explore why people join, remain in, and actively participate in VLA. Also, the committee was to develop initiatives to build and sustain increased membership and participation. At two meetings and through ongoing email exchanges, members of the committee set a three-part agenda to address this goal. 1) Develop and implement a survey of members. Although Committee members had numerous ideas about why people join VLA, we believed that a survey would give us strong information based on existing conditions. 2) Since VLA’s Annual Conference is a highlight of VLA activity each year, recommend a set of conferencerelated activities that would encourage new membership and increased participation. 3) Develop a marketing strategy for the library community based on the results of the survey. This would include brochures and building the perceived value of VLA membership through available channels such as emerging technologies and personal networking. 2008 Membership Survey The link for the survey was sent to 832 email addresses with 271 members completing the survey. This represents a response rate of 32.57%. The complete results can be viewed at http://tinyurl. com/46ncft. The survey was comprised of 19 questions including some demographics, but many with opportunities for thoughtful, free text responses. The demographic questions revealed a number of interesting facts. Although 70% of the respondents had celebrated their 46th birthday, we are nonetheless attracting new members. The survey showed that 45% of the respondents joined within the past 5 years. Region 3, which covers Hampton Roads and the Peninsula, led the regions in survey participation. Thirty-one percent of the respondents were from academic libraries, and 60% from public libraries. Only 22% of the respondents described themselves as front line staff, and 70% of the respondents have an MLS degree. Conference Activities During the 2008 Conference, a number of Membership Committee recommendations were initiated. First time conference attendees and new members sported a ribbon on their badges. Posters listing names of “First Time Attendees” and “New Members” were displayed at the Registration Desk. There was also a “Welcome to the Virginia Library Association” session presented just after lunch on Thursday. Presenters focused on the positive impact VLA has on Virginia’s libraries and on opportunities for members to participate in the VLA Forums and Committees. Marketing Membership — More to Come! Another recommendation of the committee will premiere in the first VLA Newsletter of 2009. A “New Members Spotlight” will recognize new members of VLA. The Membership Committee also intends to use the thousands of free text comments from the 2008 Membership Survey to create new recruitment tools targeted at specific groups of potential members. Although the Membership Committee has drawn its participants from the VLA Council, we hope that general members who wish to gain experience creating persuasive marketing, working remotely with a dynamic and diverse group of library staff, and building a larger, more active VLA, would consider joining us! Please email Karim Khan (karim.khan@loudoun.gov). Thanks to the following committee members from 2007 and 2008: Lucinda Munger, Jessica Schwab, Dora Rowe, Becky Russell, Robert Turner, Pat Howe, Sandra Shell, Stella Pool, Marianne Ramsden, Art Bykonen, Libby Lewis, and especially “honorary MemCommer” Cindy Church for the awesome help with the survey. — Karim Khan (Loudoun County Public Library) and Marianne Ramsden (Jefferson Madison Regional Library) VLA Newsletter, August/September 2008 5 Notes from the Scholarship Committee The Scholarship Committee is an active committee whose members strive to fulfill the purpose of the committee: “To provide financial support to Association members who seek to advance their education in the field of librarianship.” Many people throughout Virginia have benefited from the scholarships since their beginning in 1991. The majority of past recipients have continued or obtained jobs in Virginia libraries where they offer excellent customer service to the citizens of Virginia. Many have maintained their VLA membership and are actively involved in the organization. In its beginnings, the scholarship program was able to obtain corporate sponsorship to provide funding. During the years, these sponsorships have been discontinued for many reasons, the most evident being the economy. As a result, VLA as an organization has taken on the financial responsibility. Each year the scholarship committee sponsors two fund-raisers. We seek themed baskets from all over the state. Each year, these baskets are distributed through raffles held at the VLA Paraprofessional Forum Conference held in the spring and the fall conference of VLA. We are quite thankful, that for the past several years, proceeds from these raffles have raised enough money to help fund the scholarships. The success of the raffles is a result of individuals, Friends groups, libraries, and vendors creating wonderful and varied baskets. The baskets have been anything from the all-time favorite of chocolate to reading, holiday, seasonal, car care, wine, and many more. Conference attendees always eagerly check out the many offerings and then generously purchase tickets. A big thank you goes out to everyone who has been and will be involved with our scholarship baskets! The scholarship committee is a great committee on which to serve. Members serve two year terms. The Committee meets in person once a year to select the recipients of the scholarships. The Committee is also in charge of the raffle table at the fall conference. During the remainder of the year, all other business is routinely handled via email. If you are interested in joining our committee or if you have questions, please contact Scholarship Committee Chair, Sandra Shell at sshell@brrl.lib.lva.us. — Sandra Shell, Scholarship Committee Chair Drexel University and a BA in History from Penn State. Chris has been employed at the University Libraries at George Mason University since 2004. Newport News Public Library System is offering the following programs: Great American Tour de Nerdfighting 2008 Award-winning author John Green and his brother, Hank, will appear 4-7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 9, at Menchville High School to sing, sign books and CDs, and more. Co-sponsored by the Newport News Public Library System and Newport News Public Schools, the event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. The event also will include door prizes, free giveaways, gift exchanges, conversations about books that Nerdfighters have read together, and surprise guest appearances. John Green is a young adult novelist and the author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines and the soon-to-be released Paper Towns. His brother Hank is founder and editor of EcoGeek.org and costar of the TV show “The G Word.” Together, they are the vlogbrothers, one of the most popular channels on YouTube. Beginning Genealogy Using the Virginiana Room: Gregg Grunow, Virginiana Room librarian, will present an overview of the print and electronic genealogical information and resources available in the Virginiana Room of the Main Street Library, including an indepth tour. The workshop is 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Main Street Library. The overview will be held in the Meeting Room before moving into the Virginiana Room. Registration is required. For additional programs and to register: www.nngov.com/library/custom/ onlinereg or call the Main Street Library at 757-591-4858. — Karen L. Gill, Community Relations and Programs Coordinator, Newport News Public Library System People & Events Marc Brodsky is the new Public Services and Reference Archivist in Special Collections at Virginia Tech’s Newman Library. He earned an MSLS from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and did graduate work in history at Cornell University. His BA is from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA. Prior to arriving at Virginia Tech, he enjoyed careers in scholarly bookselling and university press publishing. Heather Moorefield-Lang has joined the Newman Library at Virginia Tech as the Education and Applied Social Sciences Librarian. She earned her BA in Education and MLIS from UNC-Greensboro, and her Doctorate in Education from UNC-Chapel Hill. Before coming to Blacksburg, she worked as a middle school media specialist and theater teacher in the North Carolina Schools. Allison Scripa has joined the Carol M. Newman Library at Virginia Tech as a College Librarian for Science. She has a BS in Zoology and recently earned her MS in Information Science from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Patrick Tomlin is the new Art and Architecture Librarian at Virginia Tech. He earned an MSLS at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and holds an MA in Art History from Florida State University. Prior to his appointment, he served as the Carolina Academic Library Associate at the Joseph C. Sloane Art Library, UNC-CH. — Ana Dubnjakovic, College Librarian for Performing Arts and Foreign Languages, Virginia Tech Christopher Dixon is the new Coordinator for Assessment, Planning and Organizational Development in the University Libraries at George Mason University. He earned an MLIS from 6 VLA Newsletter, August/September 2008 Calendar November 5, 2008 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Library of Congress Field Trip Sponsor: Region V Contact: Karim Khan (karim.khan@loudoun.gov) 703-771-5461 January 23–28, 2009 ALA Mid-Winter Meeting Denver, CO January 30, 2009 VLA Council Meeting JMRL Northside Branch, Charlottesville April 3, 2009 VLA Council Meeting JMRL Northside Branch, Charlottesville April 12–18, 2009 National Library Week “Worlds connect @ your library” May 11–12, 2009 National Library Legislative Day (NLLD) Washington, DC. May 17–19, 2009 VLA ParaProfessional Forum Conference “The Neighborhood Library: Your Connection to the World” Holiday Inn Select/Koger South Conference Center, Richmond Sponsor: VLAPF Contact: Kathy Clevenger (kclevenger@cclva.org) 540-825-8691 Willow Gale (willow@jmrl.org) 434-979-7151, ext. 501 June 12, 2009 VLA Council Meeting JMRL Northside Branch, Charlottesville September 11, 2009 VLA Council Meeting JMRL Northside Branch, Charlottesville October 29–30, 2009 VLA Annual Conference Williamsburg Marriott, Williamsburg VLA Newsletter Published monthly except January and July and included with membership in the Association. Deadline for submission of material is the 15th of the month prior to the issue. Views expressed in the VLA Newsletter are not necessarily endorsed by the editor. Robin Benke ................President John Moorman ...........Vice President/ President-elect Caryl Gray ...................Second Vice President Donna Cote .................Past President Connie Gilman ...........Secretary Matthew Todd .............Treasurer Interim Editors (for submissions): Pat Howe and Lydia Williams Greenwood Library, Longwood University 201 High Street Farmville, VA 23909-1897 howepa@longwood.edu williamslc@longwood.edu (Prefer submissions via email) Executive Director (for change of address): Linda Hahne Virginia Library Association P.O. Box 8277 Norfolk, VA 23503-0277 (757) 583-0041 fax (757) 583-5041; email lhahne@coastalnet.com. URL: http://www.vla.org • Virginia Library Association Jobline. To learn of job openings in Virginia, visit the VLA web site at www.vla.org. To have openings listed, send information to: Virginia Library Association, P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503-0277, fax (757) 583-5041. There will be a $75.00 fee for each listing.