VLA Newsletter

June 2001

 
 

Nominations for VLA Offices

The Nominating Committee is pleased to announce the following proposed slate of candidates for the positions of Vice President/President-Elect, Second Vice President, and Treasurer:

Vice President/President Elect:

Second Vice President: Treasurer: The nominees for Vice President/President Elect have submitted their biographical and position statements for publication in this issue of the VLA Newsletter. The candidates for Second Vice President and Treasurer were featured in the May issue. These professionals have the background experience and dedication to provide strong and creative leadership for our Association.
 
 

Midway: Reflections from the VLA President

I usually laugh when undergraduates tell me, "I always do my best work under pressure," but last week I had to admit that sometimes a very post-graduate like me could feel that way about a particular task. Susan Paddock, the organized and energetic chair of our Paraprofessional Forum, made it clear that my conference-opening remarks about VLA had to be quite succinct if they were not to impinge on the time of our gifted and anticipated keynote speaker, Anita Richmond Bunkley. With that charge and less sleep than I might have wished, I developed a list of four great successes of VLA during the past few years. With time to reflect, I have added a fifth success, and hope you will take a minute to think about them with me as I look back over the first half of my year as VLA president.

First, the Association, under the direction of Executive Director Linda Hahne and some remarkable past presidents, has turned financial disaster into unqualified success. This has been accomplished by hard work, attention to detail, and belief in the value of the organization. Dues continue to be one of the best bargains anywhere, and benefits to members grow each year.

Second, the Paraprofessional Forum has risen to national prominence, providing leadership opportunities for a very impressive portion of our membership and sponsoring what is arguably the best paraprofessional conference anywhere.

Third, our publications have retained and actually increased in quality as we have moved them to a digital environment. Our web page, http://www.vla.org, has proven to be one of our most valuable tools as well as a revenue producer with Jobline.

Fourth, VLA has taken the state’s leading role as library advocate. Our members have become adept at communicating with legislators and other officials, and Phil Abraham, our Legislative Liaison, has been funded each year with a combination of VLA money and donations from the public library sector. Our roles in working on UCITA and the JLARC study of the State Aid formula have been major by any definition, and lawmakers seem to accept us as the voice of libraries in Virginia.

In addition to the organizational strengths I recited to the paraprofessionals last week, an essential final point must be added: VLA members have consistently developed into leaders in the wide variety of pursuits that are connected with libraries of the 21st Century. The sound financial basis of VLA, consistent quality of our paraprofessional’s programs, the distinguished look and content of our publications, and the influence we exercise with Richmond and Washington all come out of the personal accomplishments of our members. Halfway through my year as leader I am overwhelmed by the talent and dedication of the members. I honor your success and thank you for all you continue to do for a cause worthy of our best.

--Cy Dillon, President, VLA
 
 

Statements by Candidates

Nominee for Vice President/President Elect:

Morel Fry has been the Administrative Services Librarian at Old Dominion University Library since 1986. Prior to that she worked for the Nebraska Library Commission as Director of Administrative Services (1982-1986), Coordinator of Planning, Evaluation and Research (1976-1982), and Mari Sandoz Network Coordinator (1972-1976). She holds an MLS from the University of Denver and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin. She has been active in VLA since 1986 serving on the Library Development and Cooperative Programs Committee (Chair 1995), Convention Conference Committees, and as Convention Chair (2000). She is also a member of ALA and is active on university committees.

Statement: Libraries work because of the people who work in them. And libraries and library services grow when the people who work in them have a chance to grow and develop. The programs and activities of the Virginia Library Association offer the most visible and achievable avenues for growth for librarians and staff. The chances for development that are available to the librarians and staff through the Association are exciting, and I depend on VLA for development opportunities.

The Association also offers a voice for librarians to our communities and it serves an important role in demonstrating our needs to our customers and to our funding agencies. The Association, as representative of over 1000 members, is much louder than just my voice and so I depend on VLA for advocacy.

The Association provides a wonderful opportunity for networking and partnerships. I learn from others every time I attend a meeting or convention. I also have a lot of fun. So I also depend on VLA for chances to meet and enjoy my colleagues.

Since I depend so much on VLA, I feel that it my responsibility to give back to the Association and so I would appreciate a chance to do so as Vice President/President Elect.

Nominee for Vice President/President Elect:

Ruth E. Kifer is Associate University Librarian for Distributed Libraries (Johnson Center, Arlington Campus and Prince William Campus libraries) at George Mason University. She also is responsible for the management of the University Copyright Office and the University Web team responsible for the daily operations of the University Web Site. Before joining George Mason University in 1996, Ruth was Associate Director of Learning Resources for the Alexandria Campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Prior to working in Virginia libraries, Ruth held library management positions in Maryland community colleges and early in her career had experience in public libraries.

Ruth has been active in the Virginia Library Association, serving as Co-Chair of the Personnel Practices Forum (1997-1998), Co-Chair of the Administration and Management Forum (1998 – 1999), and Co-Chair of the Academic Section (1999 – 2000). In 2000 Ruth was appointed as the VLA Representative to the Virginia General Assembly Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) Subcommittee on the Uniform Computer Transactions Act (UCITA), which developed amendments to Virginia’s UCITA legislation. She is currently a member of the VLA Legislative Committee.

Ruth has served on various Virginia Community College System (VCCS) automation planning committees, served as the VCCS representative on the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) Collections Committee (1995-1996), chaired the VIVA Cooperative Collections Management Subcommittee for Allied Health (1996), and is currently a member of the VIVA Resource Sharing Committee. Most recently, Ruth was appointed as intern to the American Library Association Government Relations Committee for 2000-2001. Ruth currently volunteers as a computer literacy tutor for individuals with disabilities at her local public library.

Ruth has an MLS from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Information and Library Science, a JD from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a BS in Education from Slippery Rock State University in Pennsylvania.

Statement: As the 21st Century unfolds, libraries in the Commonwealth of Virginia and beyond face significant challenges. Issues facing libraries include: 1) public funding for libraries; 2) intellectual freedom and the World Wide Web; 3) limitations on Fair Use and other intellectual property matters; 4) information literacy initiatives; and 5) the growing digital divide. Librarians in all types of libraries must be informed and articulate regarding these concerns. Too often we identify only with the immediate constituencies to whom we serve and forget that all librarians share underlying values and commitments to the tenets of our profession.

I believe that the Virginia Library Association should place increased emphasis on the following priorities: 1) to disseminate information regarding legal, funding and political issues to all Virginia librarians and library staff; 2) to provide opportunities for librarians in all professional library associations to work together to provide the best possible advocacy for Virginia libraries; and 3) to educate the public using our libraries of the growing threats to open access to information within our political and legal institutions nationwide and within the Commonwealth.

Election

Ballots for the election of three new officers will be mailed to VLA members in August. For additional information, please contact Carolyn Barkley at (757) 431-3927; fax (757) 431-3018; email: cbarkley@city.virginia-beach.va.us.
 
 

Friends of Virginia Libraries: State Awards and New Officers

More than 50 members and guests gathered at the Hampton Public Library for the Annual Meeting of Friends of Virginia Libraries on April 27th. The highlight of the agenda was the presentation of awards.

The Friends of Williamsburg Regional Library was recognized in the Large Group Friends category for consistently returning more than $40,000 to support programming and material purchases in addition to attracting and acknowledging gifts and memorials through a variety of creative funds. In the Small Group Friends category, the Friends of Southside Regional Library received an Award of Excellence for their long-term success in attracting support and more than $500,000 in funding for construction of the new, state-of-the-art 15,000 square foot library facility in the Town of South Hill. The Southside Friends were also recognized for their traditional Arts & Crafts Fair and the "Taste & Tell Luncheon" which brings people together for the good of the community. An Award of Merit in the small group category was presented to Buckingham County Friends of the Library for their consistent funding of library building maintenance. An unusual multi-level program centered on the book Yonder Mountain, A Cherokee Legend, which created a bridge with schools and community groups, was recognized as well as a "Teen Read In" that encouraged and rewarded young readers.

The Individual Award of Excellence was given to William L. Whitesides, Sr., retiring president of the Friends of Virginia Libraries, for his dedicated leadership and development of the organization.

The team who created "The Best of Friends Gift Shop" at the Hampton library – Caroline Sullivan and Iola Lawson, received the Individual Award of Merit for their tireless energy, effort and service in managing this highly successful business for the love of their library. Through their unselfish devotion and personal contribution, the Hampton Library has been able to raise and invest nearly $200,000 in quality programs and projects since 1987.

The following officers were elected to serve The Friends of Virginia Libraries in the year 2001-2002. Mary Ann Harmon, President, is the current Chair of the Library of Virginia and President of Chesterfield County Friends of the Library. Dan Hayworth of Norfolk has been elected Vice President Programs for FOVL. Jean Busboso, Vice President Membership, Madison County, is now a volunteer after a 25-year career as a professional librarian with Fairfax County. She also serves as a Trustee on the Fairfax County Retirement Board. Judy Anderson, elected Recording Secretary, is former Deputy Directory of Fairfax County Library Systems. Peta Patton from Abingdon will serve as Southwest Region Representative.

Featured speakers, Carol Adams, a consultant in the Library Development and Networking Division at the Library of Virginia, and John Halliday, Director of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library in Charlottesville, shared their vision of the future of E-books. Adams has been involved in researching the capabilities and resources of this new resource while Halliday shared the impact of the investment made by The Jefferson-Madison Friends of the Library in this emerging technology.

Established in 1993, The Friends of Virginia Libraries support and nurture the strength of local Friends who identify and work to develop an understanding and recognition for public and academic library resources within their local communities or colleges. For membership information, contact Jean Busboso at 703/691-1055.

For more information about The Friends of Virginia Libraries, contact Ann Sterling at (804) 285-8354.

-- Mary Ann Harmon, President, The Friends of Virginia Libraries
 
 

Intellectual Freedom Update

The intellectual freedom update column for this issue focuses on the Jefferson Muzzle Award, which is presented annually in April by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression in Charlottesville. The Jefferson Center is a nonpartisan, nonprofit group whose mission is to protect free expression in its many forms. The Center is sponsoring the free expression monument that is scheduled to be built in downtown Charlottesville.

Robert O’Neill, Director of the Center, says that many of the people who are cited have the best of intentions. "They honestly believe that some higher value or interest justifies inhibiting speech. We have the unhappy task of telling them why we feel they are wrong."

- Timothy L. Coggins, VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee
 
 

Virginia Tech Libraries: Winners of SOLINET Library Award

SOLINET’s Second Annual Outstanding Library Programs Award in the Continuing Education and Staff Development category was presented to the University Libraries Staff Training and Development Program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The Staff Training and Development Program at the Virginia Tech Libraries supports the full range of training needs for over 150 faculty and classified staff, operating with a limited budget and staff. The program includes workshops and training opportunities on topics ranging from hands-on sessions on various software packages, to personal development and wellness classes, making use of local experts from the faculty and community as well as commercial training services. Brenda Hendricks, Training Coordinator for University Libraries, accepted the award on behalf of the program at the SOLINET Annual Membership Meeting in Atlanta on May 4.

SOLINET’s Outstanding Library Programs Awards recognize the exceptional efforts of libraries in the Southeast that illustrate the benefits of library collaboration, serve as models of effectiveness, and/or advance the development of innovative programs. A committee of judges from SOLINET member institutions evaluate applications and nominations from all types of libraries across the Southeast. Founded in 1973, SOLINET is a non-profit membership organization serving more than 815 libraries of all types and sizes in ten Southeastern states and the Caribbean.

Congratulations to the Virginia Tech Libraries staff!

(Source: SOLINET Press Release)
 
 

Exhibition at The Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia is sponsoring the exhibition, Block Ink Paper: The Prints of J. J. Lankes & Charles W. Smith, which will run from June 4 through December 1, 2001. The exhibition will tion Services Librarian, Georgia Southern University, have developed the workbook and given numerous successful presentations around the country. The preconference will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2001, at the Holiday Inn Select Koger South in Richmond, Virginia, site of the VLA Conference. Mark your calendars and plan to attend the preconference. Registration details will be forthcoming in the conference program to be mailed out in the summer.

-- 2001 VLA Conference Committee
 
 

VLA Council Meeting Minutes

The agenda for the VLA Council meeting, scheduled for June 1 in Charlottesville, includes updates from major committees as well as reports from regions, sections, and forums. Stay informed by reading the secretary’s minutes of all VLA Council meetings on a regular basis. The minutes by Janis Augustine, VLA Secretary, may be viewed online under the "Council" section at http://www.vla.org.
 
 

Annual Conferences

ALA Annual Conference

This year the American Library Association (ALA) will celebrate its 125th anniversary, and the ALA 120th Annual Conference and Exhibition will be held June 16-19 in San Francisco, California. The keynote speaker for the opening session will be Robert B. Reich, author and editor, who also served as our nation’s 22nd Secretary of Labor. The Presidents’s Program, planned as a culmination of ALA President Nancy C. Kranich’s focus on libraries as the cornerstone of democracy, will feature as the keynote speaker Dr. Robert D. Putnam, author of Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. The speaker for the closing session will be Buffy Sainte-Marie, the Academy Award-winning songwriter, who developed the Cradleboard Teaching Project. For more information about the more than 2,000 conference discussion groups and programs on topics affecting libraries, visit the ALA homepage at http://www.ala.org.

SLA Annual Conference

The Special Libraries Association (SLA) will hold the 92nd SLA Annual Conference June 9-14 in San Antonio, Texas. The theme for this year’s conference will be 2001 – An Information Odyssey: Seizing the Competitive Advantage. Molly Ivins, the syndicated columnist and author, will share her witty views on political and social topics as the general session speaker while the humorist Dave Barry will entertain attendees during his keynote address for the closing session. SLA President Donna Scheeder will preside over the annual business meeting and the 2001 President’s Reception at San Antonio’s riverwalk. Conference sessions will be presented according to Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels and the following five tracks: Management, Information Technology, Positioning, Future Directions, and Networking. For detailed information about the sessions, events, CE courses and workshops at the 2001 Annual Conference, search the online conference database at http://www.sla.org.
 
 

People & Happenings
 
 

Jill Burr, Wahab Public Law Librarian, Virginia Beach Public Library, was installed as President of the Virginia Association of Law Libraries at their annual meeting in Richmond on April 27-28. Other officers of this 200-member chapter include Charles Oates, Regent University Law Library, vice president/president-elect; Donna Bausch, Norfolk Law Library, immediate past president; Cynthia Smith, McKandish Kaine, P.C. in Richmond, Secretary; Lyn Warmath, Hirschler, Fleischer, Weinberg, Cox & Allen in Richmond, treasurer; Barbie Selby, University of Virginia, director; and Alyssa Altschuler, Hunton & Williams in McLean, director.

Cherie Carl, was named Librarian of the Year by the Old Dominion University Libraries during their annual awards program. Cherie, a Reference and Research Services Librarian since 1998, has served students and faculty at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center and is credited with having established excellent working relationships with University staff members while maintaining a working connection with Old Dominion's main campus. According to the award citation, Cherie has made significant contributions to the library's support of the University's distance learning program. Cherie earned her BA in History and Government from Lynchburg College and her MSLS from the Catholic University of America.

Celestine DeLoatch was named Support Staff Member of the Year by the Old Dominion University Libraries during their awards program. Having worked in the Circulation Department of Perry Library since 1995, Celestine served as Office Services Assistant and Office Services Specialist before assuming her current role as Library Assistant. She is credited for her outstanding job performance as she expanded her duties to assist the library during staffing shortages, performing a multitude of tasks that included financial duties, reports, projects, and patron services. Celestine previously worked at Easter Virginia Medical School Library, the Norfolk State University Library and the Virginia Wesleyan College Library.

Tina Scott recently joined the staff of the Portsmouth Public Library as Library Systems Administrator. Prior to her move to Virginia, Tina lived in Buffalo, NY, where she was an Estimator/Assistant Manager of Information Systems at a manufacturing company. Tina received her Masters in Library Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

The Reed Bill passed the Senate, marking a victory for America’s children. The Reed School Libraries Amendment to the Reading First Act (part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) passed in the Senate with a vote of 69-30. (Source: ALAWON : American Library Association Washington Office Newsline. Volume 10, Number 40, May 16, 2001. http://www.ala.org/washoff/alawon)

Inda Walker has accepted the position as Fiscal Assistant in Circulation at the Old Dominion University Libraries in Norfolk, VA, effective April 25th. Inda previously worked 12 years at Norfolk Southern in a variety of positions. Most recently, Inda was Office Manager/Staff Assistant for Department and Direct Support to Senior Vice President for Planning. She has a BA in Business Management from Virginia Wesleyan College.

The University of Virginia Library's Electronic Text Center (Etext), which operates one of the world's largest public e-book libraries, worked this past semester with Microsoft Corporation and electronic course material publisher Xanedu to provide two UVA classes --one an English seminar, the other religious studies --the tools needed to read materials as interactive e-books. The students used compact, handheld personal computers to read most of their assigned reading materials as e-books. "This experiment may prove a useful first step in determining what role e-books should play in education's future," said David Seaman, Etext Center Director. The UVA Library Electronic Text Center, founded in 1992, provides Internet access to humanities-related texts. Further information is available at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu. (Source: University of Virginia Library Press Release)
 
 

Calendar

VLA Council Meetings for 2001

Charlottesville on June 1 and September 7.
 
 

June 1, 2001: Deadline for Submission

Concurrent Session Proposal for 2001 VLA Conference

Contact: Linda Hahne (757 583-0041, lhahne@coastalnet.com
 
 

August 3, 2001

Government Information Sampler

Sponsor: Public Documents Forum

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (insert)

Place: Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Abingdon

Contact: Barbie Selby (804) 942-3504, bselby@virginia.edu
 
 

September 21, 2001

Bookless Storytelling Encore

Sponsor: Region II and Youth Services Forum

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Place: Lynchburg Public Library, Lynchburg

Contact: Lorry Risinger (804) 847-1565, ext 225, risindl@ci.lynchburg.va.us
 
 

September 21, 2001

Remote Concerns: Reaching Our Users through Remote Technologies

Sponsor: VLA Region V's Annual Meeting

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (insert)

Place: Freedom Forum, Roslyn, Virginia

Contact: Polly Khater (703) 993-2445, khater@gmu.edu
 
 

September 28, 2001

Paraprofessional Fall Mini Conference

Sponsor: VLAPF

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Location: SW VA Higher Education Center, Abingdon

Contacts: Joan Taylor (540) 676-6233, jtaylor@wcpl.net

R. Todd Eastridge (540) 676-6233, teastridge@wcpl.net
 
 

October 13, 2001

10th Annual Celebration of Children’s Literature: Historical Books

Sponsor: UVA School of Continuing & Professional Studies

Time: 8:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (insert)

Location: SWVHEC, Abingdon
 
 

October 17-19, 2001

VLA Annual Conference

Place: Holiday Inn Select Koger South Conference Center, Richmond
 
 

VLA Officers:
 
Cy Dillon President
Iza Cieszynski President Elect
Ruth Arnold Second Vice President
Carolyn Barkley Past President
Janis Augustine Secretary
Jeanette Friedman Treasurer

 

Editor: Helen Q. Sherman, Librarian, DTIC Technical Library, Defense Technical Information Center, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 0944, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218 (703) 767-8180, fax (703) 767-8179, email hsherman@dtic.mil

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

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6/1/2001