Highlights of the VLA Council Meeting:
• VLA’s finances are stable; ad income is up for Virginia Libraries and for programs.
• Membership has increased, even so, a survey will be sent to non-renewing members.
• May 8th is ALA Legislative Day in Washington; VLA members attending can be reimbursed by VLA for attending.
• There was much discussion on whether advertising from commercial sources should be allowed on VLA web site and listservs. As a result of the conversation, the executive committee will discuss further and report back to council.
• The VLA Paraprofessional Forum is May 19-21 at the Koger Center in Richmond. (I noticed Fred Dingledy from William & Mary’s Law Library is a speaker.)
• College and Research Libraries Forum’s spring program on research data will be at the Boar’s Head Inn in Charlottesville and will be underwritten entirely by Elsevier.
• The Leadership Academy will be held in Staunton this year.
• New Member socials have been successful in fostering connections. There is also a Facebook page for new members.
• The VLA Annual Conference will be held September 25-27 in Williamsburg. The programs will be selected in May. There will be no bags this year at registration; attendees will be encouraged to bring their own bags. This will be well publicized and contests will be held for oldest bag, nicest bag, etc.
• Clint Rudy from Portsmouth Public Library presented a report, Recommended Starting Salaries Policy Proposal.
