Included in this issue is a ballot representing the proposed amendments to the VLA Bylaws which were described in the December issue of the VLA Newsletter. Please remember to mark your ballots and return them to Linda Hahne by February 27.

The Executive Committee met on December 3 and 4 for its annual planning retreat. Present at the meeting were Sandra Heinemann, Carolyn Barkley, Nancy Newins, Terry Sumey, Tom Hehman, and Linda Hahne. After reviewing the 1998 designated agenda and other events of the year, the committee discussed issues of interest and concern for 1999. Financial stability of VLA, continued advocacy efforts, the annual conference, continuing education programming, membership recruitment, and pay equity were among the topics addressed.

Treasurer Terry Sumey noted that VLA should have a total of one year’s operating budget in reserve and approximately $10,000 can be added for a total of $30,000 in reserve for 1999. The 1998 joint annual conference with VEMA was a financial and programmatic success, and the committee voted to approach VEMA about another joint venture in 2001. The committee also voted to extend the contract of the Legislative Liaison through the end of the 1999 General Assembly session.

The President asked Carolyn Barkley, Vice President/President-elect, to chair a committee to address membership recruitment and retention as well as ways to market the services of the association. This will involve region and section chairs and other selected participants in developing both short term activities and long term goals.

The committee developed an outline for a strategic plan for the next two years. Among the goals the Executive Committee and Council should pursue are improved membership support for the annual conference, increased membership, improved existing member services as well as the addition of new services, and identification of additional ways to recognize legislators who support the goals of VLA. These goals will be presented as part of the 1999 Designated Agenda which will be developed at the February Council meeting.

Last year, over 40 Virginia librarians and library supporters came to Washington D.C. for a National Legislative Day luncheon with their Congressman or members from their Congressional staffs. The day was a remarkable success and has continued to pay dividends to those who were able to forge closer alliances with their Representative.

This year, the Federal Legislation Committee of VLA will be hosting another lunch on May 4, 1999. If we are successful in creating even greater participation by Virginia librarians, trustees and supporters we will be able to keep the avenue of communication open and make that avenue even wider and more accessible. To help us learn more about current issues and how to be better advocates, the Washington Office of the American Library Association is sponsoring a FREE workshop on Monday, May 3.

These are challenging times for libraries. It's not just about the money anymore. Issues and federal policies are being forged almost daily that can and will effect our ability to deliver services. Whether it's issues about intellectual freedom, copyright and fair use, access to government information, or (yes) even funding for libraries and education - all have the ability to make our service better or worse.

Eleventh hour pleas from the Washington Office of ALA to make calls to our Congressional leaders are becoming almost commonplace as our nation works to address new issues in the information age. Those calls are easy when you have established a good relationship with your Congressman. No better time or place than over a meal in friendly company. LET'S DO LUNCH! Enclosed in this newsletter is a flyer to register for National Library Legislative Day activities. Please share it with your trustees and Friends and be sure to fill it out yourselves. See you in Washington!

The American Library Association developed the Spectrum Initiative to improve library service at the local level by attracting a more representative workforce. By offering scholarships to library students of color, the initiative seeks to help increase the ranks of underrepresented ethnic librarians within the profession. This year, the initiative will offer 50 scholarships of $5,000 each for library students to attend an ALA accredited library school. The application deadline for these scholarships is April 1, 1999. For more information about the Spectrum Initiative, please contact April Olinger at aolinger@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433 ext. 4276, or visit the Spectrum Initiative home page at http://www.ala.org/spectrum.

The Intellectual Freedom Committee is pleased to announce the winner of the 1998 Banned Books Week Display Contest, Noël Moyer of the David H. March Library, Episcopal High School in Alexandria. The Committee is also pleased to announce that the quality of entries this year resulted in the awarding of five honorable mention winners as well. They are Susan M. Ewald of Roanoke City Public Library, Ms. Susan Micklem of Staunton Public Library, Ms. Yvonne Schieberl of Chesterfield County Public Library, Ms. Susan Trask of the Marshall-Wythe Law Library, the College of William and Mary, and Ms. Kathie Wilkins, Ms. Darien Fisher-Duke, and Ms. Susan Little of the library, Mills E. Godwin High School, Richmond. We congratulate Ms. Moyer and the rest of the winners and thank them and all others who put up displays for celebrating the freedom to read in the Commonwealth.

With the theme of "Virginia Libraries: Values and Visions for the 21st Century," the Conference Committee plans a wide variety of programs for this year’s fall conference at The Homestead. Already confirmed on the schedule are ALA President Ann Symons, entertainers Robin and Linda Williams of NPR’s Prairie Home Companion fame, and author David Baldacci whose novel The Simple Truth is now on the New York Times bestseller list.

Experienced VLA conference goers can attest to The Homestead’s outstanding resort hospitality. The VLA price of $126 per person daily (double) and $199 (single) compares favorably with other conference locations because the price includes an attendee’s lodging, breakfast and dinner at the acclaimed hotel plus gratuities. With excellent leisure facilities and superb dining, The Homestead is the perfect conference site for spouses and guests.

A submission form for conference session proposals is included in this newsletter. We need and welcome the participation of VLA members as presenters at the fall conference. Please contact Linda Hahne or me (757/664-7328; mmayerhe@vlsa.edu) with questions or ideas. And mark your calendars now for October 28-30 at The Homestead.

--Mary Mayer-Hennelly, Conference Committee Chair.

The VLA Nominating Committee is seeking nominations for election to the position of ALA Chapter Councilor. As an affiliated Chapter of the American Library Association, VLA may elect one member to serve a four year term on ALA Council, starting at the conclusion of the 1999 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans.

The VLA Chapter Councilor participates in the deliberations of ALA Council and votes on issues which come before the Council. This representative also serves as a voting member of VLA Council and acts as a liaison between VLA and ALA, reporting on matters affecting VLA or requiring action by VLA.

A brief position statement and biographical information must accompany each nomination. Self-nominations are welcome.

Deadline for nominations is April 1, 1999.

Please send to:

Tom Hehman

Chair, VLA Nominating Committee

Bedford Public Library System

321 N. Bridge St.

Bedford, VA 24523

540-586-8911, x32

FAX 540-586-8875

thehman@vsla.edu

Participants are being sought for a seminar offering a chance to study the history of librarianship at England’s world-renowned Bodleian Library. The program is sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science and the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library and its department for continuing education. "Libraries and Librarianship: Past, Present and Future" is a two-week seminar that will trace Bodleian Library’s past and chart the future of information and technology. Participants may earn three hours of graduate credit from UNC-CH for attending the May 16-29 seminar. The series will be supplemented by visits to Oxford College libraries, the British Library in London and to the headquarters of Oxford University Press and Blackwell’s, the booksellers. Registrations must be postmarked by March 31, 1999. For further information, call (919) 962-8366 or fax to (919) 962-8071, send an e-mail to oxford@ils.unc.edu, or visit the web site at www.ils.unc.edu/ils/continuing_ed/oxford.

The Special Libraries Association and the Association of Research Libraries will offer a new interactive program called "De-mystifying the Licensing of Electronic Resources" on Thursday, March 4, 1999 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The distance learning event will explore the elements of a license agreement, legal implications of adhering to a license, copyright and other areas of law, user and access terms, and legal terms. Formats include a live satellite broadcast, pre- and post- broadcast workshops, informative group discussion, and supplementary materials before and after the program. Participants will earn .3 Continuing Education Units for completion of this program. Live broadcasts have been scheduled for several sites including Washington, D.C. Registrations must be received by February 25, 1999. Registration forms and more information are available on the SLA web site at http://www.sla.org/professional/license.html or by calling (202) 234-4700 ext. 649.

The Special Libraries Association chapters representing Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida/Caribbean invite you to attend the first South Atlantic Regional SLA conference. The conference will be held in historic Charleston, South Carolina, on March 11-13, 1999. The Lightsey Conference Center at the College of Charleston will be the site of "Networking 2000." Scheduled are two days of concurrent sessions designed to increase attendees' technical and professional knowledge and to promote networking. Professional development courses and local tours will be offered on Saturday. For more details, visit the conference web site at http://www.angelfire.com/sc/slaconf/sla.html

Linda Gosnell Phillips has accepted the position of Supervising Librarian/Youth Services with the Pamunkey Regional Library System. Her MLS is from Simmons College in Boston and her B.A. in English (American Literature) is from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She was previously with the Henrico County Public Library System.

Several key appointments have been made at the National Sporting Library. Kenneth Y. Tomlinson will succeed Peter Winants as president and director of the Library. Jacqueline B. Mars was appointed vice chairman of the board. Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone, Robert H. Smith and James Cummins were elected to the board, and Elizabeth R. Manierre was appointed exhibitions coordinator.

Senator Stanley C. Walker, President Pro Tem of the Virginia Senate, was honored at the Pretlow Branch Library in Norfolk on November 16, 1998. Stephen C. Story, trustee chair for the Norfolk Public Library, presented Senator Walker with a commendation placing him on the VLA legislative honor roll. Others present included Senator Yvonne Miller of Norfolk, board members of the Friends of the Norfolk Public Library, trustees and staff. Senator Walker, a well known advocate of education, has been a strong supporter of public library state aid and of the Norfolk library system.

All MediaOne cable television subscribers in the city of Richmond now have expanded viewing opportunities by selecting Channel 45, the Richmond Public Library’s public access station which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Channel 45 provides information on weekly library activities, hours of operation and special events at each of the system’s 10 locations, as well as a variety of cultural arts segments.

VLA Council meetings will be held in Charlottesville at the Northside Library on February 12, April 9, June 11, and September 10.

National Library Legislative Day

Washington, D.C.

Sponsor: Region 2

Place: Lynchburg

Contact: Lorry Risinger

(804) 847-1565, ext. 225

Friends of Virginia Libraries (FOVL) Annual Meeting

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Place: Bedford Public Library

Contact: Bill Whitesides

VLA Annual Conference

The Homestead