VLA COVID-19 Statements and Information
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Given the additional information VLA has received and has been monitoring from the CDC and the National Institute of Health, as well as statements this week from the American Library Association, the Association of College and Research Libraries and the Association of Rural and Small Libraries, we recommend that libraries in VA immediately suspend public operation. We suggest your staff put forth effort to educate and provide virtual and online services to your communities.
The Illinois Library Association has created this resource page with specific information from the National Institute of Health and the CDC about the length of time the virus might live on surfaces.
Here is information from the New York Library Association. VLA will be working to create pages with resources and other information shortly.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
The Virginia Library Association recognizes that choosing to close public libraries in the Commonwealth is a difficult decision, but one that must be made if we are to take the health, safety and well-being of all of our citizens seriously.
Libraries are community gathering places; the closures and cancellations around our state are intended to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The school closures mandated by Governor Ralph Northam will put an increased burden on public libraries and may, in all likelihood, contribute to the spread of the virus. The Governor today (Sunday, 3/15) has cancelled all events where 100 people or more will gather. Given the volume of people who pass through libraries at any given time, now is the time to begin a plan for closure.
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2020 VLA Annual Conference, DATE AND LOCATION CHANGED TO: October 21-23, Norfolk Waterside Marriott, Norfolk, VA
Call for Proposals NOW OPEN (DEADLINE April 15, 2020)
VLA provides three options for submissions.
What do I need to complete the Proposal Form?
- A VLA login. You do not need to be a member to have a login. You must log in to submit a proposal so that you are able to log back into the form and make changes in the future.
- Contact information for all speakers: name, email, and organization.
- Program title, description, learning objectives, and take-aways
- Level of the audience for the program
- Preferred program date and time
Proposals will be reviewed and presenters will be notified in June 2020. Requested session times and dates will be honored wherever possible. Up to two presenters per session will receive $75 off the conference registration fee. If you have any questions, please contact VLA Executive Director Lisa R. Varga at [email protected].
YOUR participation is what makes the VLA Annual Conference possible - we hope to hear from you!
Jennifer Resor-Whicker, 2020 VLA President, [email protected]
Adrian Whicker, 2020 VLA Conference Chair, [email protected]
Lisa Nickel, 2020 VLACRL Conference Within A Conference Chair, [email protected]
and the 2020 VLA Conference Committee
The Accidental Library Worker: VLA Professional Associates Forum 2020 Regional Workshop Tour
The Virginia Library Association Professional Associates Forum (VLAPAF) is bringing together library support staff from around the Commonwealth at workshops this Spring and Summer. Here is your chance to network with other library staff as part of our educational training series. The series is proudly sponsored by The Library of Congress Federal Credit Union (LCFCU).
Each workshop will feature a discussion of Cataloging/Technical Services/Collections, presentations about setting SMART goals (professionally and personally), roundtable discussions of topics relevant to YOU and a break for lunch, where you’ll be welcome to chat with others about your experiences working in your library. Did you plan to work in libraries? Were you looking for a change and just happened to come across library work? Are you are new to the library world? Your voice and experience matter. As part of our workshop, we’ll be looking for you to tell us what you want from continuing education experiences – since we will be hosting a conference in 2021 geared specifically to library support staff – and you can help shape the future of those events, Are you new to VLA? This is a great way to learn more about what other libraries are doing in VA. We encourage staff at academic, public, government, special and law libraries to attend. Registration for the workshops is now open. Cost is $20 for VLA members, $30 for non-VLA members. You will be able to specify dietary restrictions on the registration form. The Accidental Library Worker events are from 10 am-4 pm:
- March 4th: Longwood University
- April 6th: Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch, Norfolk Public Library <<POSTPONED, please contact [email protected] with questions.>>
- May 6th: Chinn Park Regional Library
- May 21st: Crozet Library
- July 15th: Washington County Library, Main Library Branch
- August 6th: Libbie Mill Library, Henrico County Libraries
Thank you in advance for your support of this program.
Sincerely,
Kristi Jerome, Longwood University: Chair, VLA Professional Associates Forum
Isaak Hopson, Virginia Commonwealth University: Co-Chair, VLA Professional Associates Forum
and the members of the VLA Professional Associates Forum Board
