VLA Public Library Collection Management Workshop 3/24/17

The first Technical Services & Technology Forum Public Library Collection Management workshop/discussion forum of 2017 will take place on March 24 at the South County Library of the Roanoke County Public Library system. The workshop/discussion, led by Ann Theis of Henrico County & Adrian Whicker of Roanoke County will run from 10:00 am-3:00 pm with a break for lunch (off-site, on your own- food is also available from Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea on site and optionally, we can order some GoPicnic meals). We will also have refreshments (chocolate/candy, in particular). Registration is required, however the event is free.

Topics to be covered will include: Selection & acquisitions; e-resources; collection management tools and analytics; collection analysis; moving collections; maintenance, and weeding; cataloging & technical services issues; local collection management considerations; consortial agreements; and other emerging issues. The registration form will provide you with the opportunity to let us know what topics you would like to discuss.

Registration form

And, if that's not enough, VLA NMRT's Region I Library Socializers and the Roanoke & New River Valley Library Association will be having an event at Twin Creeks Brewing Company in Vinton that afternoon at 5:30, so come out for the workshop and discussion and then stay over for some networking and socializing.

2017 VLA Conference, October 11-13 Hilton Norfolk The Main: Call for Proposals NOW OPEN

Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges

Call for Proposals NOW OPEN (DEADLINE March 15, 2017)

VLA provides two options for submissions.

VLA Session Proposal Form (45 minute sessions and/or poster sessions; sessions will be chosen by the 2017 VLA Conference Committee.); or
VLACRL Conference-Within-A-Conference Proposal Form (45 minute sessions and/or poster sessions; the VLA Chapter of the Association of College & Research Libraries will peer-review and crowdsource proposals.)

Library license plate initiative ends

We regret to announce that the Virginia Library Association did not receive the minimum number of license plate applications to establish an official library license plate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In order to justify the drafting of a bill in the General Assembly, we had hoped to have at least 300 applications by the beginning of December with the further hope that we would reach 450 by the time the bill would have been put to a vote. Unfortunately, though, we only received 150 pre-paid applications for a library license plate.

Starting in January, the VLA will begin the process of issuing refunds to all individuals who filled out a prepaid application. Any credit card payment made after December 1st will be refunded online while earlier credit card payments before that date and all check payments will receive refund checks after January 1st. If you would prefer to convert your prepayment into a tax-deductible donation to the 2017 VLA Scholarship Awards, please email Lisa R. Varga at [email protected] prior to January 1st.

Thank You Letter from VLA to Accomack County School Board

Earlier this week, VLA President Keith Weimer sent the letter below to Dr. Ronnie E. Holden, Chair of the Accomack County School Board. For more background on this letter, please see the links below to news stories.

December 12, 2016

Dr. Ronnie E. Holden, Chair
Accomack County School Board
23296 Courthouse Ave.
Accomac, VA 23301

Dear Dr. Holden,
On behalf of the Virginia Library Association, an organization that advocates for intellectual freedom and represents more than 1000 members from academic, public, special, and school libraries across the great Commonwealth of Virginia, I am writing to thank you for your board’s decision to reinstate The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird to the shelves of Accomack County Public Schools.

Virginia Library Association Concerns About Proposed Amendment to 8VAC-131-270

On November 22, VLA President Keith Weimer emailed Dr. Cynthia Cave, Assistant Superintendent, Policy & Communications of the Virginia Department of Education, regarding an Agenda item titled First Review of Proposed Amendments to the Regulations Governing Local School Boards and School Divisions (8VAC 20-720) Regarding Use of Sexually Explicit Instructional Materials (Proposed Stage). The document is available on the Virginia Department of Education website.

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