VLA Council Meeting Highlights, April 11, 2014

by Terry Long, VALL liaison to VLA Council 

·         Membership is showing strength as the renewal period has just begun - 773 members have renewed and there are 147 new members.

·         VLA’s new web site will go live by May 1.

·         Shari Henry is working on making the VLA Manual consistent with its by-laws.

·         Several council members participated in a conference call with Senator Warner. Kevin Smith said it went very well.

·         Phil Abraham, the VLA lobbyist spoke to the Council:

o   State Aid has fared well despite the current budget debacle in the General Assembly.

o   The budget impasse may affect public law libraries.

o   There are two different attorney general opinions on whether the government can continue to operate after July 1 if a budget has not passed.

o   John Ulmschneider, Legislative Committee co-chair, commended Phil’s good work on behalf of VLA.

·         VLA’s Paraprofessional Forum will be held May 18-20 in Richmond. Registration is open.

·         The Paraprofessional Forum is changing its name to Professional Associates Forum as they want to broaden their membership base to those working in libraries that are not librarians, i.e. financial staff, facilities managers, administrative assistants, etc. And, likewise, the Forum will provide programing of interest to them.

·         Ten VLA members have signed up to attend National Legislative Day May 5-6. VLA pays up to $300 per day for a member to attend.

·         VLA Annual Conference is October 22-24 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Williamsburg

o   Programs submissions will be reviewed and selections made mid-May.

o   28 vendors have already signed up.

o   Fundraising is going well, $5200 has been raised with a goal of $11,000.

o   Wednesday afternoon tours will be offered of Swem Library. Shuttle service will be provided.

o   The unconference will be held in the hotel atrium instead of a meeting room to be more accessible.

·         New Member mentoring program is going well. There will continue to be directed Twitter chats and a visit to a winery is planned.

·         The Leadership Development Academy had more applicants than places. It convenes in Staunton at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel from May 5-6. There will be 24 attendees.

·         The Library of Virginia is the host for the National Genealogical Conference, May 7-10. The conference is huge 2300 people are expected –according to the NGS web site all 6 downtown hotels are booked – they have also reserved rooms in many suburban hotels!  For the first time, the Library will be open one evening.

·         The Library of Virginia is conducting social media boot camps for public libraries to be held throughout the state in May.