As many of you may remember, NHLA and the NH State Library sponsored the first ever Small Libraries Summit back in April of 2010, and it was such a success, we’ve decided to sponsor it again for 2012. Even better, we are planning on expanding it so more librarians can come.

Specifically, we’re planning on holding a Summit meeting on Monday, April 2nd for librarians working in communities of 1,500 or fewer residents. Then, we plan to hold a second Summit meeting on Monday, April 16th for librarians working in communities between 1,500 and 3,000 residents. In both cases, we hope to be able to host about 70 librarians at the Local Government Center in Concord, NH.

More details will be announced in the future, but the Small Libraries Summit Committee would like you to save those dates in case you might want to attend.

If you have questions about the upcoming Summits, please send them to me.

Many thanks,
Steve Butzel, skbutzel@cityofportsmouth.com

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Steve Butzel at 3:11 PM | Permalink | No Comments

• Review NHLA Constitution and By-Laws and proposed changes/updates to be voted on by entire NHLA membership
• Hold Small Libraries Summit in spring 2012
• Plan/organize Annual Conference for spring 2013
• Continue to improve communications with membership
• Continue to fund continuing education workshops offered through the State Library
• Expand and promote the Specialists Network project
• Continue annual NHLA Board member visit to each NH Public Library Cooperative to solicit feedback about needs and to provide information about NHLA

Questions about these goals can be directed to 2012 NHLA President, Lori Fisher, at bfldirector@comcast.net.

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Amy Graves at 5:10 PM | Permalink | No Comments

Please click on the link below to access a pdf version of Michael York’s report to the NH House Finance Committee, submitted on 11/30/11.  This report was created in response to a NH legislative request to examine the possibility of reallocating federal funding away from the ILL van service to other unspecified areas.

State Librarian report to NH House 11 30 2011

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Lori Fisher at 2:44 PM | Permalink | No Comments

The New Hampshire Library Association was proud to honor Annie Donahue, Library Director of UNH-Manchester, as the 2011 recipient of the Ann Geisel Award of Merit at the NHLA Fall Business Meeting on November 4th.

Annie is also an Assistant Professor at UNHM, having taught history courses, plus research and reference skills to students for the past 15 years. She earned a BA in Humanities from UNH, an MLS from Southern Connecticut State College, and an ALM with a concentration in Celtic Studies from Harvard University. Annie is currently pursuing a doctorate in education from Plymouth State University.

Annie has been actively involved with NHLA since 1991, serving as President in 2007 and Spring Conference Committee Chairperson from 2008-2011.

Several librarians and co-workers shared words of praise:

“Annie validated the organization for all types of libraries in New Hampshire, engaging academic librarians, public librarians and school librarians to be part of one organization and to serve that organization together.”

“Annie, always prepared and organized, taught me that serving the NH library community is an important part of being a librarian. Working with Annie taught me that we have a lot to share with not only our patrons and students, but our peers as well…Annie may not know it, but she has served as a mentor to me. Thank you, Annie for helping me become a better librarian.”

“Annie has helped to create a work environment that is warm and inviting, while maintaining impeccable professionalism. I am truly honored and grateful to have her as my Director.”

The Ann Geisel Award of Merit is given to an individual, group or organizations that has made significant contributions to the New Hampshire Library Community.

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Amy Graves at 3:53 PM | Permalink | No Comments

CHILIS Annual Report/ November 2011

The 2011 Spring Conference was held in March at SNHU in Manchester. We have found this to be a great place for showcasing the performers for the Kids, Book and the Arts grant. This past year, we weren’t able to work around the college’s spring break, but found we were able to successfully work around classes in session. 155 people attended the conference.

At the Spring Conference, Gail Zachariah from the Keene Public Library was named the 2011 CHILIS Librarian of the Year. In her nominating letter, Gail’s director, Nancy Vincent, wrote, “Gail is at the heart of the library….She works tirelessly fueled only by her ever present cup of coffee. She is deeply, deeply committed to the idea of intellectual freedom and especially committed to the youth of our community. She is their advocate and support. She is intuitive to their needs and concerns, she knows hundreds of our teens and children intimately and they are moved by her compassion and care for them.”

Summer Reading Program The 2012 SRP theme is a night theme following the slogan, “Dream Big—READ!” CSLP Manuals and Upstart supply catalogs were handed out at the Fall CHILIS Conference. Ann Hoey and Amy Lappin represented NH at the CSLP business meeting in Scottsdale, AZ in April. Many items were discussed and voted on at the meeting including the slogan for the 2013 Underground children’s theme, “Dig Into Reading.”

The Great Stone Face Committee has once again created a great list of 25 nominees for school year 2011-2012. The GSF Award spans grades 4-6, and maintains a standard of excellence in writing and kid appeal. The 2010-2011 GSF Award was presented to Avi for his book Murder at Midnight. A letter of appreciation from Avi can be found at http://www.nhlibrarians.org/chilis/.

Maze Runner by James Dashner was the recipient of the 2010-2011 Isinglass Award. The Isinglass Award Committee is chaired by Amy Inglis, Barrington Public Library. The purpose of the award is to encourage middle school level students to read for enjoyment and promote a life-long love of reading.

The 2011 Fall Conference was hosted by the Keene Public Library at the Keene Marriott on Thursday, October 20, 2011. Programs included presentations by NH author Lita Judge and the musical group, Hunt and Allison who sang and encouraged us all to use music in our library programs and story times. The day ended with a charming presentation by GSF winner, Avi, who flew in from Denver, attending our conference waiving his speaking fees. The 74-year old author has written 72 books and continues to write every day.

During the morning’s business meeting the 2011-2012 slate of officers was voted in. The current President is Kathy Tracy from the Tracy Memorial Library in New London. Our new Vice President is Gail Zachariah, Keene Public Library. Nancy Lang, Dunbarton Public Library, continues to serve as the CHILIS Treasurer. Yvette Couser, Merrimack Public Library, is our secretary. Amy Lappin, Lebanon Public Libraries is the Past President. 105 people attended the meeting.

Scholarships: This past year, CHILIS awarded $500 scholarships to members, Lisa Houde and Patty Falconer. Both were for reimbursement of tuition and materials towards MLS degrees.
The 2012 Spring Conference and KBA Performers Showcase will be held on March 8, 2012 at SHNU. The Summer Reading Committee has chosen 10 performers for the roster.

CHILIS Membership stands at a healthy 187 with 44 new members this year.

Respectfully submitted,
Amy Lappin, CHILIS President 2010-2011, Lebanon Public Libraries

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Amy Lappin at 12:45 PM | Permalink | No Comments

Due to high demand for the Library Management workshop, NHLA has added another session of the class on Tuesday, November 29 at the Howe Library in Hanover.  The all-day workshop will be taught by Mary White and is $10 for NHLA members and $20 for nonmembers.  To register for this workshop, go to the following page and click on Reference:

http://www.nh.gov/nhsl/training/

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Ann Hoey at 8:04 AM | Permalink | No Comments

Banned and challenged books week this year is being celebrated from September 24th through October 1st, 2011. The goal is to raise awareness about individuals’ freedom to read. Libraries across the country will showcase books that have been the target of censors, and will highlight First Amendment rights. For more information about Press Kits, events being held across the country, and even mugs, buttons, T-shirts, etc. for sale touting the cause, go to ALA’s Web site:
http://tinyurl.com/oc5cgv

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Diane Lynch at 12:21 PM | Permalink | No Comments

On June 29th, Molly Raphael, former director of libraries at Multnomah County Library in Portland, Ore. and the District of Columbia Public Library in Washington, D.C., began her term as 2011-2012 president of the American Library Association (ALA). You can learn more about her background here, http://ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pr.cfm?id=7642.

Some of Molly’s presidential initiatives/priorities include:

1. Advocacy
2. Diversity and Inclusiveness
3. Defending libraries’ core values

Read more details here, http://mollyraphael.org/?page_id=20.

The new President-Elect is Maureen Sullivan who some, or many of you may know. She faciliated the New England Library Leadership Symposium a few years ago and did an incredible job. Currently, she is a library consultant and a professor of practice in the Ph.D. program, Managerial Leadership in the Information Professions, at the Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science. She also was the 2010 Academic/Research Librarian of the Year as selected by the Association of College and Research Libraries. You can learn more about Maureen here, http://maureensullivan.org.

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Steve Butzel at 2:20 PM | Permalink | No Comments

Greetings from your ALA Councilor, Steve Butzel. Here is my report form the 2011 ALA Annual Conference which was held in New Orleans, LA this past week.

Given the numerous Council and Chapter meetings I am required to attend, I didn’t get to many programs at Annual, but I did enjoy attending the General Opening Session which was keynoted by Dan Savage. Also at the opening session, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced they had donated $300,000 to the ALA Spectrum Presidential Initiative which raises money for ALA’s national diversity and recruitment efforts. More info available here, http://spectrum.ala.org/. Of the $300,000, $100,000 will be used as matching funds.

There were four resolutions that came forward to Council in advance of Annual.  All four were eventually passed. The four resolutions were:

1. Resolution to Recognize ALA Conference Services and Gale Cengage Learning for Providing Shuttle Bus Service Accommodating Attendees with Disabilities

• I voted in favor of the resolution.

2. Resolution on Out of School Time Library Programs

• This resolution called for support from national and local government bodies (as well as funding) for library programs designed to continue the learning opportunities available to youngsters beyond the school day. I voted in favor of the resolution.

3. Resolution to Protect Library User Confidentiality in Self Serve Hold Practices

• This resolution generated the most discussion both in Council Forum and on the Council floor. Debate centered around the tension between theory and practice. The Intellectual Freedom Committee (which brought the resolution forward) listened to feedback and accepted a lot of input from the Public Library Association. As a result, a revised version of their original resolution passed with only a few dissenters.  I voted in favor of the resolution.

4. Resolution on Revised Guidelines for the ALA Intern Program

• I voted in favor of the resolution.

There were a few resolutions that came from the ALA Membership Meeting to Council.  Two resolutions dealt with WikiLeaks, and a third was a related resolution on Bradley Manning.  The first resolution was rejected by a close vote, and the other two did not come to an official vote because quorum had been lost.

An important report was given to the Council by the ALA Presidential Task Force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content. The report included a series of action items including allocating $200,000 to sustain staff efforts to address issues surrounding promoting equitable access to electronic content. The need for urgent action on this issue prevailed in discussion and in the vote, and the report was referred to ALA’s Executive Council.

ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels reported to the Council that on June 1, 2011, ALA held its first Virtual Town Hall Meeting which drew as many as 530 attendees from across the country and from around the world.  Questions submitted by attendees and a polling feature helped make this an interesting and successful virtual meeting.  Fiels indicated that Virtual Town Hall Meetings will become a regular feature of ALA.  He also warned that ALA will be dealing with the trend towards privatization of public libraries and developing initiatives to discourage this move away from public governance of libraries.

Finally, although attendance was lower than that of many other conferences in more heavily populated sites such as Chicago and Washington, it was markedly higher than the New Orleans Conference of 2006 and gave witness to the restored confidence in the City five years after the devastation of Katrina.

Please contact me if you would like more details about any of this, skbutzel@cityofportsmouth.com

Thanks,
Steve

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Steve Butzel at 9:49 AM | Permalink | No Comments

With all that is happening in our profession and related industries concerning e-content, I wanted to let you know about an important new task force that was recently started by ALA. It is the Presidential Task Force on Equitable Access to Electronic Content (EQUACC), and it was created to study challenges and recommend potential solutions in libraries for improved electronic content access, distribution and preservation systems.

The charge calls on the Task Force to work collaboratively with the Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP) Advisory Committee’s E-book Task Force, another member group working exclusively on e-books. The OITP E-book Task Force’s focus is studying the public policy implications of the growing e-book marketplace and will provide informational and educational materials to the membership. In addition, both the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) and the Urban Libraries Council (ULC) also are working on these issues, and the plan is to work collaboratively with them as well.

I am hoping I will be able to attend a meeting held by the EQUACC Task Force at ALA in a few weeks, http://connect.ala.org/node/138504, but my responsibilities as councilor may prevent me from going. Either way, I’ll keep you abreast of developments.

I know it’s difficult to keep up with all the committees, divisions & acronyms within ALA, but I thought this one, EQUACC, was important for you to know about. Let me know if you have questions. You can also visit the task force’s website, http://www.equacc.ala.org.

Categories: NHLA

Posted by Steve Butzel at 6:40 PM | Permalink | No Comments