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 13th, 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.
