VLA Newsletter November 2001

Bravo, Again!

Once again the VLA Annual Conference provided numerous opportunities for attendees to exchange ideas and to learn from each other. The Exhibit Hall was filled to capacity with vendors displaying architectural plans for library additions and new facilities; databases and other library technologies; book vendors; library furniture and ideas to encourage young readers. A full list of the vendors exhibiting at the conference was included in the VLA Conference Program. I hope that everyone attending the conference visited the Exhibit Hall at least once and took a moment to express your appreciation for their participation and support of VLA.

Two workshops were offered prior to the beginning of the 96^th Annual Conference. The Responding to the "A" Word: Using ACRL Standards to Create a Continuous Assessment Environment preconference was well attended (55 participants). The Program Planners Workshop provided an opportunity for new regional and sectional chairpersons to learn how to identify a program topic and plan for the program. In addition to the workshops, a bus tour to several new library facilities in the Richmond area was available (62 participants). The tour included opportunities to walk through the facilities and meet with the architects.

The concurrent sessions scheduled during the two days of the conference provided a wide variety of opportunities for attendees to learn and to exchange ideas. Along with two additional sessions on program planning, there were sessions on planning library spaces; developing partnerships with other agencies; responding to diversity initiatives; locating medical information for the consumer; and learning about new technologies for libraries. Other sessions provided opportunities to discuss and share ideas; explore areas of collaboration; and to learn about successful library programs around the state. The depth and breadth of the concurrent sessions made it difficult for me to choose which sessions to attend, and I’m sure that many attendees had the same problem.

The keynote speaker for the conference was Dr. John Cole, director of the Center for the Book. Dr. Cole spoke briefly about the history of the Library of Congress and the origins of the Center for the Book program. Forty-three states have Center for the Book programs and three more states are adding the program. The Center for the Book develops programs to encourage and to highlight the joy and importance of reading. Dr. Cole also spoke about the planning process for the National Book Festival, which he hopes will become an annual event.

The Jefferson Cup Breakfast and the Author Luncheon presented other opportunities to hear noted authors speak about writing and the influence of libraries on their lives. Jim Murphy received the 2001 Jefferson Cup award for Blizzard: The Storm That Changed America. His talk focused on finding the right topic, researching the topic and telling the story. Dabney Stuart, a noted Virginia author, spoke at the Author Luncheon. His readings included several poems (including tributes to his father) and a selection from a short story entitled "Bed and Breakfast" (from No Visible Means of Support). Henry Wiencek, author of The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White, spoke at the Closing Session. Mr. Wiencek spoke about his early introduction to libraries and his research process. He related that he was astonished at the open library system in Virginia and that as a resident of the state he had access to major research collections. Like many conference attendees, my list of reading for long winter nights has grown longer as a result of listening to these authors.

There were several opportunities for conference attendees to socialize with old and new acquaintances. The Friends of the Chesterfield County Library hosted a Barbecue Social at the La Prade Branch Library (one of the new facilities on the bus tour) Wednesday evening. The Library of Virginia and the Library of Virginia Foundation hosted a Dessert Social on Thursday evening at the Library of Virginia. The 2001 scholarship winners were announced during the event.

The 2001 Annual Conference provided a wealth of opportunities for all attendees. VLA members can look forward with great anticipation to VLA 2002: A Community of Partners in Williamsburg (October 16-18, 2002). Mark your calendars!!!

-Caryl Gray, Chair, Publications Committee
 
 

VLA 2001 Conference a Success

Who would have thought, especially after the horrendous events of September 11, that VLA would have the highest attendance at our Annual Conference ever recorded? Your Conference Committee worked hard, beginning in December of 2000, to put together a program that would appeal to all VLA members, and the numbers prove that we achieved our goal.

There were 713 registrants; 76 vendor booths sold, some with two or three vendors in the booth; 125 presenters and workshop leaders; and many volunteers who introduced speakers, handed out workshop evaluations and then collected them, and took tickets at the breakfast and lunch.

At the Opening Session, our keynote speaker Dr. John Y. Cole, gave us a brief history of the Library of Congress and explained the workings of the Center for the Book; Jim Murphy, the winner of the Jefferson Cup Award for his book Blizzard, spoke at breakfast and kept the crowd spellbound with details of how he conducts research and writes his books; at lunch, author and poet Dabney Stuart read from his poetry and short stories, in a voice that mesmerized us all; and Henry Wiencek told behind the scenes stories about the families involved in his book, The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White.

All of the authors expressed to our President, Cy Dillon, how much they enjoyed speaking to an audience of librarians - an audience that truly enjoys books and reading. They were all impressed with the attention given them by our members.

We had numerous sponsors, companies advertised in the conference program, and libraries and others donated useful items for inclusion in our conference bags. The Conference Committee is appreciative of each and every kind gift.

The individual workshops were well attended, and evaluations show that the conference attendees were pleased with the content. Pre-conference activities were well attended, as was the barbeque at the La Prade Library's new Mary Ann Harmon Building and the social at the Library of Virginia.

The overall conference evaluation is on the VLA Web site at http://www.vla.org. Each evaluation form completed and received by November 15 will be entered into a drawing for a two-night stay at the Williamsburg Marriott, the site of the 2002 Conference.

I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to the conference committee: Janet Baumgardner; Andrea Brown; Karen Dillon; Morel Fry; Jim Gwin; Louveller Luster; Pat McKay; John Moorman; Mary Fran Nash; Linda Gosnell Phillips; Carolyn Slagle; Bill Whitesides; and Lydia Williams. And of course, we could not have pulled this off without the able and constant assistance of VLA Executive Director, Linda Hahne.

At our 2001 Conference, "V@ Libraries: Where Readers Connect", VLA members made connections and learned much from each other. "Success" is a beautiful word!

--Harriett Edmunds, 2001 Conference Committee Chair
 
 

2001 VLA Council Report

Incoming and outgoing council members met for a luncheon and the final meeting of the 2001 VLA Council in the James River Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Select, Koger South Conference Center on October 17 with Cy Dillon, President, presiding. The minutes by Janis Augustine were approved as amended

Linda Hahne, Executive Director, reported that membership, currently totaling 1,149 members, was higher at this time of year due to the overlap of new 2002 memberships submitted with Annual Conference registrations. Membership renewal notices will be mailed to VLA members in November.

Linda summarized the treasurer’s report for 2001 and noted that with $215,296 actual income and $162,083 expenses, the association was wrapping up the year in good shape.

Carolyn Barkley expressed appreciation to her Nominating Committee and the candidates who ran for office. She announced the following winners of this year’s VLA election: Morel Fry, Vice President/President Elect; Harriett Edmunds, Second Vice President; and Andrew Morton, Treasurer.

Harriett Edmunds, 2001 Conference Committee Chair, said that she was delighted to be at the Conference, and she compared this first day as "getting ready to drive through the tunnel" on I-64 at Norfolk. She predicted "no roadblocks, no tickets, and light at the end of the tunnel on Friday afternoon." (Harriett, by the way, retained that same smile and enthusiasm on a very smooth trip through the last Conference function on Friday afternoon!) Harriett thanked her fellow conference committee members who met every month, starting in January, and communicated often via email and telephone. They had tried something new this year – highlighting something different about the Conference in every issue of the VLA Newsletter – and that worked well. John Moorman, who served on this year’s committee, will be chairing the 2002 Conference Committee.

Linda Hahne reported 692 Conference registrations on Wednesday morning and anticipated that on-site registrations would bring the number over 700. She noted that this was the largest attended Conference in many years. The committee even started running out of tags and tote bags – which was a "good problem" when it meant high attendance.

Linda explained that VLA had exceeded the contracted room block or number of hotel rooms to book during the Conference and, therefore, would not have to pay for the meeting space. In fact, the hotel had sold out and was trying to accommodate attendees by making reservations at other hotels and providing shuttle service back and forth.

Cy Dillon, VLA President, congratulated the "hard-working, dedicated" 2001 Council for having had a quorum at every meeting during the year. He encouraged members to share ideas with his fellow members of the 2002 Executive Committee - Iza Cieszynski, Morel Fry, Harriett Edmunds, Janis Augustine, Andrew Morton, and Linda Hahne.

Connie Gilman, Awards and Recognition Chair, presented gifts to outgoing President Cy Dillon, Second Vice President Ruth Arnold, and Treasurer Jeanette Friedman. Incoming President Iza Cieszynski recognized the 2002 Council members. Cy thanked the outgoing 2001 Council members, who received recognition certificates and VLA pins.

The VLA 2002 Council includes the following officers and chairs: President: Iza Cieszynski; President-elect: Morel Fry; Second Vice President: Harriett Edmunds; Secretary: Janis Augustine; Treasurer: Andrew Morton; Past President: Cy Dillon; Executive Director: Linda Hahne; Academic Library Section: Sharon Gunther; Administrative & Management Forum: Ruth Arnold; ALA Councilor: Mary Mayer-Hennelly; Awards & Recognition: Connie Gilman; Collection Management Forum: Ellen Wertman; Conference Committee: John Moorman; Continuing Education Committee: Laurie Preston and Gwen Vredevoogd; Foreign Relations: Skip Auld; Intellectual Freedom: Kirstin Steele; Legislative Committee: Sam Clay and Ann Friedman; Local History, Genealogy & Oral History Forum: Carolyn Barkley; Paraprofessional Forum: Mary Buckley; and Mari-Jana Phelps; Public Documents Forum: Mary Clark; Public Library Section: Donna Cote; Public Services Forum: Nancy Schafer; Publications Committee: Caryl Gray; Region II: Colette Macin and Jim Sanderson; Region V: Polly Kater and John Walsh; Region VI: Zanne Macdonald; Scholarship Committee: Marianne Ramsden; School Library: Barbara May and Ann Mathews; Technical Services & Technology Forum: Anne T. Davis and Peggie Barker; Trustee & Friends Forum: Theresa Hammond; Virginia Libraries Co-Editors: Barbie Selby and Earlene Viano; VLA Newsletter Editor: Helen Q. Sherman; Volunteer Management Forum: Carolyn Slagle; Webmaster: Steve Helm; and Youth Services Forum: Lisa Payne. The remaining positions will be filled later.

The complete minutes by the VLA Secretary are available online under the "Council" section at http://www.vla.org

--Helen Q. Sherman, Editor
 
 

2001 Conference Statistics Total attendees: 713 Including speakers: 119 Representing Public Libraries: 435 Academic: 173 Special: 55 School: 18 Other: 32 Attendance Full conference: 470 Wednesday only: 22 Thursday only: 130 Friday only: 91 Academic Preconference: 55 Bus Tour: 62 Jefferson Cup Breakfast: 138 Author Luncheon: 182 Barbeque Social: 164 Library of Virginia Social: 258 Exhibitors: 76 booths sold Scholarship Fund Gains: $1,315

 

A Great Start for 2002 Programs

The Continuing Education Committee, chaired by Barbara Rittinger, sponsored a Program Planner’s Preconference Workshop on October 17.  New and incumbent VLA committee chairs had the opportunity meet their CEC liaisons and to learn the process of developing VLA programs.

A panel discussion focused on the procedures for planning, financing, and advertising VLA programs. Linda Hahne, VLA Executive Director, offered her assistance and discussed the Program Expense Estimate Sheet and Reimbursement Request forms. Helen Q. Sherman, VLA Newsletter Editor, explained the procedure and deadline for submitting calendar entry information and master copies of flyers/inserts for inclusion in the Newsletter. Steve Helm, VLA Webmaster, discussed the different formats that he accepts for the VLA homepage and demonstrated the new online database of facilities available for VLA functions.

The agenda featured a session on "Program Planning: Developing a Topic/Evaluating the Program" by Cal Shepard and Diane Brown from SOLINET. Both the presentation and the group work focused on selecting interesting program topics for the intended audience and developing a program evaluation for useful feedback.

CEC also scheduled two additional sessions by the same presenters for incoming Council members during the Annual Conference. "Program Planning Fundamentals: Start Your Engines!" covered the basic steps in planning the perfect program, such as conducting a needs assessment, determining the program content, designing the program, and dealing with inevitable disasters. "Program Presentation: Where the Rubber Meets the Road!"included program specifics, such as presentation methods, room arrangement, budgeting, registration, learning environment, and printed materials.

Participants were encouraged by CEC to use the ALA/CLENE guide, Program Planning: Tips for Librarians.

Watch your VLA calendar this year as this beneficial preparation combines with the talent and teamwork of our VLA members to present several interesting programs throughout the state during 2002.
 

VLA Awards & Recognition

Congratulations to these special individuals and groups who were recognized at the 2001 Annual Conference and in the program for their distinguished service to Virginia libraries!

Friends of the Library Award:

The Friends of the Newport News Public Library is receiving the Virginia Library Association’s Annual Friends of the Library Award for 2001. There are 273 dues paying members with a cadre of 46 active volunteers who participate in a variety of projects.

During calendar year 2000, the Friends of the Library donated over $15,000 to the Library System and funded the entire Summer Reading Program. In addition, the Friends purchased shelving, chairs, and CD cabinets for the libraries and fully funded all library system program events. Newport News Celebrates the Book also received $3,000 from the Friends to assist with the speaker’s costs for the Festival.

Future plans of the Friends include a $12,500 pledge towards the children’s collection of the Lee Hall Library Branch, and a $15,000 pledge to assist in the construction of a computer lab at the Virgil I. Grissom Library. The Friends will also be participating in the Library System’s development of a five-year public relations plan along with the Library Board of Trustees.

Trustee Award:

Marjorie Cooper is the recipient of the 2001 Virginia Library Association’s Annual Trustee Award. She was nominated by the Bedford Public Library System Board of Trustees for her 19 + years of service and guidance to the Library System. She served as a charter member of the first regional library board, was a Library Friends officer, a founding member of Citizens for Libraries, and served three terms as Library Board trustee. During her last term as a trustee, Ms. Cooper helped guide the planning, design, construction, and dedication of five newly built or remodeled and expanded libraries in Bedford County.

As an active member of the Citizens for Libraries, a committee organized to work for passage of a bond referendum, Marjorie Cooper raised money to produce a video and other promotional material, wrote letters, spoke to community groups, distributed literature, worked polling places, and sponsored promotional signs. The $7.1 million bond referendum, the first in Bedford County history, was decisively approved on November 5, 2000.

Marjorie Cooper has provided nearly two decades of continuous, dedicated, committed, effective service, advocacy, political acumen and wisdom to the development of library service in Moneta and throughout Bedford City and County.

Honorary Life Member:

Terry Sumey is the recipient of the Virginia Library Association’s Honorary Life Membership for 2001 after a vote of approval by members of the Association. He served for many years as Business Manager and Treasurer of Lynchburg College and currently operates two family businesses in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. Terry served as Treasurer of VLA for a two-year term, as Chair of the Finance Committee and Chair of the Trustee Section. He has also served libraries as a Board member and as Chairman of the Board of the Augusta County Library, as a Board member and Secretary of the Friends of Virginia Libraries, and as a Board member of the Staunton Talking Book Center.

Terry played an essential and unique role in bringing the Virginia Library Association to its present state as a thriving, active and effective association in excellent financial health. As Finance Committee Chair and later as Treasurer, Terry helped create and implement a strategic plan to completely restructure the association’s finances and management. He helped guide VLA through this difficult, but successful, transition. It is through his leadership that the Association is the vital and thriving organization it is today.

Volunteer of the Year Award:

Anne Colby, the VLA Volunteer of the Year Recipient for 2001, has volunteered faithfully for the Loudoun County Libraries since 1989. Beginning as a volunteer in the office at the Leesburg Library a couple of times a week, her commitment and organizational skills led to her accepting the position of the Chair of the Book Sale Committee for the Loudoun County Foundation in 1996. In that position, she has recruited over 125 volunteers and keeps them energized through her enthusiasm and dedication to detail. The fruits of her efforts include a Baby Book Bag program, a dynamic Summer Reading Program, and numerous great adult programs.

Douglas Henderson, the Director of Loudoun County Library, characterized her as "tireless and unselfish." The Volunteer Management Forum also congratulates Anne for being selected as a 2001 Loudoun Outstanding Women Award Winner.
 

2001 VLA Scholarships

The VLA Scholarship Committee and the VLA membership were pleased to honor the three winners of the Virginia Library Association Scholarships at the Library of Virginia Social during the 2001 Annual Conference. All of these future librarians are currently enrolled in library science degree programs and were featured in the May 2001 issue of the VLA Newsletter.

Iris Taylor, the recipient of the VLAPF scholarship, currently works for the Library of Virginia as a Monograph Cataloger and serves as President of the LOV Staff Association. A student at Catholic University of America, she plans to work as a professional Cataloger or become a Law Librarian.

Merrill Chertok, who was awarded one of the VLA scholarships, is a paraprofessional Law Librarian at the Alexandria Law Library. She is already active in library and law associations and teaches a Continuing Legal Education class. Currently enrolled in the University of Wisconsin’s distance education program, she plans to focus on a career in law librarianship.

Zewdu Mantegbot, also a recipient of a VLA scholarship, works as a library assistant at the Arlington Public Library and is active in his community, organizing classes and serving as an interpreter for Ethiopian immigrants. A library student at Catholic University of America, he plans to work as a professional in a public library.

Congratulations to these outstanding and deserving scholarship recipients! Each received a $2,000 scholarship to apply to his or her master’s degree in library science. These three $2,000 scholarships were made available this year through the generosity of Blackwell North America, the George Mason Friends of the Library, and the VLA Paraprofessional Forum. The Scholarship Committee and the VLA membership gratefully acknowledges this continuing support.
 

Law Librarianship Fellow

The College of William & Mary School of Law in Williamsburg, Virginia, welcomes applications for the entering class of 2002 from highly qualified students with MLS degrees. If selected as a Law Librarianship Fellow, you will be granted a waiver of the out-of-state tuition supplement, which was more than $9,000 for the 2001-02 academic year. Additionally, Law Librarianship Fellows receive an annual stipend of $4,000. As a condition of the award, a Law Librarianship Fellow will work in the law library during his or her three years at W&M: ten hours a week during the 14 weeks of classes each semester, and four hours per week during the exam period. There may be opportunities for additional paid employment in the law library during the summer.

The application deadline for the 2002 entering class is March 1, 2002. For information about the admissions process, contact Associate Dean Faye Shealey at ffshea@wm.edu or (757) 221-3784. For further information about this opportunity contact Jim Heller, Law Library Director at heller@wm.edu or (757) 221-3252. For information about the W&M Law School, visit http://www.wm.edu/law.
 

Beta Phi Mu

The annual meeting and initiation usually held in Washington, D.C., in November by the local Iota Chapter of Beta Phi Mu, the international honor society of library science, has been postponed until mid-February, 2002. A notice will be sent to all members early next year.

If you joined Beta Phi Mu in another area, you are invited to reafilliate with the local Iota Chapter. Send your request to Vicki Emery at 7401 Rocky Ravine Drive, Fairfax Station, VA 22039 or to vemery@cox.it.com. Include the following information: name, home address and phone, employer, work address and phone, email address, and the name of the University where you received your degree and joined Beta Phi Mu.

For further information about Beta Phi Mu, please contact Iota Chapter president Kee Malesky at kmalsky@npr.org

(Source: DC/SLA Chapter Notes)
 
 

People & Happenings

The 4^th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards Honoring Virginia Authors & Friends announced the following winners: The Hatbox Baby by Carrie Brown, fiction winner; Princes of Ireland, Planters of Maryland: A Carroll Saga, 1500-1782 by Ronald Hoffman, non-fiction winner; Cenotaph: Poems by Eric Pankey, poetry winner; Booker T. Washington, Lifetime Achievement Award; and Sun Trust Foundation, 2001 Philanthropic Award.
 

Karen S. Chafin has accepted the position of Assistant Director for Public Services at the Wyllie Library of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Karen was previously Catalog Librarian at UVA-Wise. She received her BA in Education with a minor in Library Science from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise in 1990. Karen earned her MS in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1999.
 

The Virginia Coalition for Open Government’s third annual statewide conference will be held on November 30 at the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond. "Access 2001: Information Lockdown?" will explore new ways to balance security, privacy, and freedom of information. Cy Dillon, Ferrum Library, will participate in the panel, "September 11: The End of Open Government?" For conference information, contact VCOG at (540) 353-8264.
 

On September 9, 2001, the Board of Supervisors of Chesterfield County named the new La Prade Branch Library building for Mary Ann Harmon, stating that she was honored for "her extraordinary support of our library, the Library of Virginia and all Virginia public libraries." A member of the Friends of the Chesterfield Library since 1985, Mary Ann has served as the group’s president since 1986. She received the Virginia Public Library Directors Association Award for Outstanding Library Friends in 1999 and was named Library Ambassador in 2000 by the Friends of the Chesterfield Library for her leadership and devotion to public library service. (Source: The Library of Virginia)
 

Mary Mayer-Hennelly has been appointed the new Associate Dean for Learning Resource Services at the Tidewater Community College where she will oversee all library operations at the community college's four sites. Prior to October 26, she was the Support Administrator, previously called the Assistant Director, at Norfolk Public Library. Mary earned her BA from the University of Massachusetts, MLS from McGill University, and MPA from Old Dominion University.
 

Monticello Avenue, the community information network for Charlottesville and Albemarle County and a division of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, received a silver award in the Local Government category among the 2001 Governor's Technology Awards. The award was presented by Virginia Secretary of Technology, Donald Upson, at the Commonwealth of Virginia Information Symposium at Virginia Military Institute on September 25, 2001. Upson said, "The awards honor outstanding achievements and recognize successful technology programs and projects in the public and private sectors throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia." The network promotes civic use of the World Wide Web by assisting community organizations in establishing Web pages, educating residents about the resources available online, and organizing the growing amount of electronic community information. The network was started as a cooperative project between the library, Albemarle County, City of Charlottesville, and University of Virginia.
 
 

Calendar

VLA Council Meetings
The VLA Council Meetings for 2002 will be held
February 1, April 5, June 7, and September 6, 2002
Place: Northside Branch Library, Charlottesville

November 16, 2001
Bring Them In – Bring Them Back
Sponsor: Region III
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m.
Place: Williamsburg Regional Library
Contact: Colette Macin (757) 823-8796, cpmacin@nsu.edu
Jim Sanderson (757) 886-7896

Library of Virginia Board Meetings
November 19, 2001
January 25, March 18, & June 10, 2002
Place: Richmond

January 24, 2002
VLA Legislative Day

October 16-18, 2002
VLA Annual Conference
Place: Williamsburg Marriott, Williamsburg
 

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
(The editor prefers submissions via email with Word attachments.  Deadline for submission of material is the 15th of the month prior to the issue.)

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
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11/1/2001
HQS