Youth Services Workshop and Networking Event planned for March 16

(Please note: Membership in VLA is not required to participate in this event.)

When: Friday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library - Central Library, 201 East Market Street, Charlottesville, VA (directions).
Plan to arrive beginning at 9:30 a.m., with the first session beginning at 10 a.m.

Cost: Free! Lunch is on your own.

Morning - 3, 45-minute sessions:

Kaleidoscope Sensory Storytimes for Preschool Children with Special Needs
Learn how Sensory Storytimes help special needs kids and their families feel welcomed in libraries, show how to interact with librarians and books, help children transition to regular programs, and provide safe spaces for those who may be too loud or impulsive to participate in other library activities.
Presenter: Gail Wellock, Fairfax County Library

Booktalking: An Essential Tool in Your Outreach Toolbox
How do you engage with students in a group setting to get them excited about books? With booktalks! Learn practical techniques for writing and presenting booktalks for students of all ages that will have your audience begging to check out those books.
Presenters: Angela Critics & R. Timothy Carrier, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library

Self-Directed Programming & Interactive Displays:
Learn more about passive programming beyond simple Make & Take projects. Explore how interactive displays and contests can help push your collection, encourage in-library engagement, and serve teens with limited transportation, time, and ability to attend traditional programming.
Presenter: Megan England, Jefferson-Madison Regional Library

Lunch

These sessions will be followed by an informal lunch. Brown bag it or pick up something from one of the local shops and hang out with Youth Services staff from around the state to share ideas.

Afternoon

The afternoon will be devoted to networking round tables, each with a different theme. Conversation prompts will help get the sharing of ideas started.

More information

Sign up at: https://goo.gl/forms/M7iE99krDcLzOBXA3

Questions: contact Angela Critics at [email protected]

Forum information: Learn more about the Youth Services Forum.

—Updated 2/22/2018

Are you InteresTED in Hearing What’s New With the Libraries of Northern Virginia?

Join us on Friday, February 23, 2018
1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Haymarket-Gainesville Community Library
14870 Lightner Road, Haymarket, VA 20169

Central Rappahannock Regional Library will be discussing 3D printers and maker spaces in their library system.
Loudoun Public Libraries will be sharing their experiences with the same topic.
Cindy Church of the Library of Virginia is coming to talk about the opioid crisis.
Alexandria Public Libraries will be talking about their new passport services.

Free program! All welcome!

Questions? Please contact Judith Rodriguez, Branch Administrator, Prince William County Public Library System, 703-792-8385

{VLA and VAASL} FURTHER ACTION REQUIRED: Oppose SB 261

Library staff and library supporters,

Last week, SB 261 passed through the Senate. Now is the time to let your Delegates, the Secretary of Education and Governor Ralph Northam know that you oppose legislation that negatively impacts students in the Commonwealth.

The title of the bill is Standards of Quality; staffing requirements, librarians and clerical personnel; it pertains specifically to public school librarians and aims to alter current staffing requirements. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT.

Show your opposition to this bill via email to your elected officials
Show your opposition to this bill by making a call to your elected officials. Here are talking points.
Show your opposition to this bill by Tweeting your elected official

CQEngage is provided by a partnership with the American Library Association. You will need to enter your contact information into the forms on the above links so that your emails, calls and tweets are targeted to your elected officials.

Thank you,

The Virginia Library Association and the Virginia Association of School Librarians

Lisa R. Varga, MLS
Executive Director
Virginia Library Association
P.O. Box 56312
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 689-0594 Fax: (757) 447-3478
[email protected]

2018 Member Benefit: Library of Congress Federal Credit Union (LCFCU) Membership

emailed to VLA members and posted to social media, 2/11/18

2018 VLA Awards: Call For Nominations

The Virginia Library Association is seeking nominees for our 2018 Awards now through April 1, 2018. Recognizing 2017 Achievements; Online Nominations Only. Questions? Contact Tina McPherson, Awards Committee Chair, at [email protected].

Nominations are being accepted for the following Awards:

Academic Innovator Award

Donna G. Cote Librarian of the Year

Friends of the Library Award

George Mason Award

Honorary Life Membership

Public Library Innovator Award

Trustee Library Award

Up and Comer Award

Each nominee must meet the criteria for the award for which they are nominated. Nomination forms and accompanying documentation must be submitted prior to 11:59 pm on April 1, 2018.

The Scholarship and Awards Banquet will be held at the VLA Annual Conference on Wednesday, September 24 at The Colonial Williamsburg Lodge. Tickets will be on sale when registration opens in June. If your nominee is selected, they will receive one complimentary ticket to the Scholarship and Awards Banquet.

2017 Award Winners at the VLA Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet.

2017 Banned Books Week Awards

Award Statement:Teresa Doherty

I am honored to announce the winners of this year's Banned Books Week display contest.

This year, we had submissions from 30 different libraries, including several branches of the same county or regional system; 27 public libraries and 3 academic libraries. There were lots of creative displays and opportunities for patron interaction with the ideas behind Banned Books Week - that words have power and our First Amendment freedom of speech is just as important now as when it was written.

The public library winner created what they called a: “Read-easy -- a speak-easy for Banned Books.” They had a “Read Between the Lines display” with crates and barrels spilling out streams of challenged book covers, with life size silhouettes of folks imbibing illicit books! Congratulations to Chesapeake Public Library, Dr. Clarence V Cuffee Branch.

The winning academic library used social media to promote their events and collaborated with the Campus Bookstore and Professors in the English literature, Linguistics and Speech Departments to organize a public reading of selections of classic Banned books. They also created a book display in the lobby, with books covered in paper burned at the edges. Congratulations to University of Mary Washington Library.