VLA Council Meeting, June 13, 2014

Submitted by Terry Long, VALL Representative to VLA Council

 

·         VLA’s finances are in good shape. Recent VLA sponsored conferences have made small profits. The endowment has made a modest gain.

·         The Fundraising Committee has raised a little over half the amount needed for the annual VLA Conference.

·         ALA’s Legislative Day had 14 Virginians participating. They met with the staff of 11 legislators and actually met with one member of the House of Representatives, Rob Whitman.

·         With the state budget that passed in early hours of June 13^th, the state aid to libraries will stay at 2014 level.

·         The Professional Development Endowment plans to make $100 disbursements for attendance at VLA meeting. Information on applying will be made later.

·         VLA annual meeting

o   Keynoters have been set

o   Dine arounds will be offered as  a way to network and experience a new restaurant venue

o   Thursday there will be a casino night for all registrants.

o   Tours of Swem Library will be offered.

·         The Virginia Paraprofessional Forum is now officially, Virginia Professional Association Forum so as to include other staff in the library setting.

·         The New Members Forum’s mentoring program is flourishing. Also, there are two social events planned for the summer.

·         ALA is considering eliminating the mid-winter meeting to cut costs. Members of the VLA Council who have attended mid-winter meetings think they are valuable as they are smaller gatherings and more work of the association can be accomplished; therefore, they should not be eliminated.  Jessie Scalph, Virginia’s ALA Councilor, thinks they should divest themselves of the publishing business.

·         Library of Virginia asks for you to go to their website and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award or, ballots are available at the public libraries.