First VALL Dine-Around

by Michele Gernhardt

It was a cool crisp evening. My husband reported for baby-sitting duty at 6:45 p.m., which meant I could potentially arrive fashionably late to the inaugural dining out event at Bertucci’s in Short Pump. The highways were blessedly free of traffic jams, but I was quite overwhelmed by the changes to the Short Pump area since my last visit. The dark sky and glaring lights made it nearly impossible to see the street signs. I whooped in excited relief when I spotted the bright red lettering sported on Bertucci’s tower. Without that beacon in the night sky, I would have been even later than my not-so-fashionable 25 minutes. I was greeted by 5 colleagues and a guest. Evelyn Campbell jokingly indicated that as the latest arrival I would be responsible for the check, which would include several glasses of wine and mixed drinks.

The seven of us enjoyed great bread, good food and excellent company for a couple hours. We shared library-related news and also got to know each other a little better as the evening progressed. Fred Dingledy ’s guest, Victoria , the only non-librarian at the table, was the only one to answer a ready reference question during the meal (the location of the 2012 AALL Annual Meeting). It was wonderful reconnecting with colleagues and making some new acquaintances as well. I finally got to meet Greg Stoner , who happens to work just down the street from me. Somehow in the midst of busy reference shifts and deadlines, I hadn’t met him before.

We were all far too stuffed for dessert, but were quick to agree to another get-together in the near future. Terri Long and Lara Dresser recommended Tarrant’s Café in downtown Richmond (http://www.tarrantscafe.org/). We plan to pick an evening in March. If you’d like to attend, feel free to post your avoid dates, or e-mail them to mgernhardt@hunton.com.

VALL Winter Meeting Registration

Registration for the Winter Meeting on Feb. 18 at Hunton & Williams in Richmond is now open. Please check the VALL Wiki for information and the registration form:

http://vall.pbworks.com/w/page/34706734/2011-Winter-Meeting

February 14 is the deadline ... don't wait too long!

VALL Dine-Around

The hustle and bustle of the holidays will be over ... it's time to spend time with your colleagues. Invite a friend from another library and join VALL in its inauguaral dutch treat dinners at:

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant
11721 West Broad Street
Short Pump Town Center
Richmond, VA 23233
http://www.bertuccis.com/

On January 12 at 7 pm.

RSVP to Evelyn Campbell at eve8camp@yahoo.com or simply comment on this posting below with your name and number in your party. Evelyn will make the reservation and will contact all those who have responded.

Online Reference Librarian: South University

Job Summary:
As the South University Online Reference Librarian, you will act as the liaison for all South University online programs, you will make online students and their needs the primary focus of your actions, with reference and research assistance, instruction, and other services to users in an online environment your main duty. Incumbent must assure that the EDMC philosophy: quality services to clients; development, growth, involvement, and recognition of employees; sound economic principles; and environment which is conducive to innovation, positive thinking and expansion - is considered in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of this position.

Key Job Elements:
· Provide reference and assist all patrons with development of research skills.
· Create, write and update library publications, such as manuals, guides, bookmarks, bibliographies, subject guides and other information literacy/library promotional materials.
· Supervise any ILL services offered and contribute content to library web site.
· Review existing collections for continued curriculum relevance.
· This position will require weekend and evening hours.
· This position is located in Savannah, GA.

Reports To: Director , University Libraries, South UniversityDirectly
Supervises: None
Interacts With: Library Directors, online faculty, students, and staff, student affairs, curriculum

Job Requirements/Knowledge:
· Master's Degree in Library, Information Science, or related from an ALA accredited school.
· 1+ years experience working in a library in a post-secondary institution.
· Held positions of increasingly responsible experience in the industry.
· Knowledge of subjects usually taught at a post-secondary institution
· Knowledge of integrated library systems, OCLC, MARC records and current technologies
· Strong computer skills and customer service orientation preferred. Experience delivering library research assistance, instruction, and other services to users in an online environment preferred.
· Experience developing online tutorials or other learning objects; experience with online course management systems; knowledge of current and emerging trends in online learning and knowledge and experience using web development applications is highly desirable.

Skills:
· Fiscal and personnel management expertise.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
· Strong interpersonal skills with both peer and subordinate personnel.
· Superior organizational skills

Abilities:
· Work effectively a team member to insure that departmental goals are met.
· Ability to work well within the principles and practices of collection development.
· Ability to teach information literacy skills
· Comfort level with expanding and contracting sphere of influence as required at times by the role.
· Ability to frequently lift 10 to 15 pounds.

For immediate consideration, please email your CV in MS Word format to: kasawyer@southuniversity.edu. Please include your salary history in the body of the
email.

Welcome, Meredith Duval!

Meredith is the newest reference librarian at McGuireWoods in Richmond. Previously she was with Troutman Sanders in Washington, DC.

She grew up in Chicopee, MA and moved to Maine to attend Colby College. Meredith graduated from Boston College Law School in 2009 and Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science in May 2010.

She met her fiance, Kevin O'Brien, while in law school, and they decided to move back to Richmond which is Kevin's hometown.

Meredith lives in the Museum District with her cat, Mr. Man, and enjoys running marathons in her spare time. "My dad is my marathon running partner so that's fun too," Meredith said. Her most memorable marathon was the Stowe Marathon in picturesque Vermont.

And when she is not running marathoms, she is not above indulging in other types of running ... for instance the "Mud Run" in Richmond in May (see photo of a mud-splattered Meredith with fiance Kevin).

Message from the President

Dear VALLers,

It is with a deep appreciation that I write to commend our members for turning out en masse for the recently held annual meeting.

I see a rekindling of interest in the association as exemplified by the high attendance. Our association is not only active, but continues to respond to the challenges of our members. In this regard, we realized the importance of effective information dissemination and have used that to a successful end in re-energizing the membership base.

We also realized that times are hard and responded accordingly by amending our bylaws so that our association does not place too much demands on the members. In all of these my gratitude goes to the members and committee chairs who continue to give their time and talent so that our association remains strong.

As a dynamic association, we do not content with doing just the things that make us visible and viable. To the contrary, we step up to the challenge by doing the things that will continue to mark us information experts and managers, focusing always on the best interests of our members.

To this end, we will continue to use our Listserve, Blog and Wiki to help members with research problems and bring job opportunities to our members. We will also continue to expand our efforts at attracting new members, while at the same time promoting mentorship for the younger members in building successful career paths.

Just recently, too, we have come up with a social program that will enable members to network from time to time on a rotational informal basis. In all of these, I applaud the vision of some members and committee chairs who continue to volunteer their time and creative minds to our association. On a final note, there is still room for improvements. With your help and commitment we will continue to make our association great.

Thank you.

Anthony Brown C. Ikwueme

VALL Annual Meeting Oct. 29, 2010

VALL President Tony Ikwueme opening the annual meeting

It was a crisp sunny morning ... one of those beautiful Fall days in Charlottesville when about forty members met at the University of Virginia for the association's annual meeting.

Members enjoyed a continental breakfast courtesy of the LexisNexis Librarian Relations Group before trooping into the first program, The Googlization of Everything which was presented by UVA Associate Professor Siva Vaidhyanathan. It was a scintillating, highly informative program which made you look at Google in a whole new perspective. If anyone ever thought Google was their friend, this program dispelled that notion.

As one VALL member said, "I could have listened to him all day long."

VALL members who missed this opportunity to hear Vaidhyanathan speak, will have an opportunity to read The Googlization of Everything which is scheduled to be published in early 2011.

Siva Vaidhyanathan entertaining and scaring VALL members with the workings of Google

Vaidhyanathan's program was followed by Reference 2010: The Sky is Falling and a New Day Dawns. Ben Doherty and Kent Olson from UVA's Law Library played the characters of Gloom and Doom, and took us through various adverse reference scenarios (the Sky is Falling) and offered a different view of the situation (a New Day Dawns).

Ben Doherty and Kent Olson masquerading as Gloom and Doom

VALL members being deGooglized

After a delicious lunch (courtesy of West) members went into the business meeting where all the proposed amendments were unanimously approved.

The next VALL meeting will be the Winter Meeting in 2011. Stay tuned for more information!