Barbie STAFF
Co-Editors Selby Documents Librarian UVA Law Library 580 Massie Road Charlottesville, VA 22903-1789 [phone] [e-mail] Earlene Viano Library Assistant/Reference Hampton Public Library 4207 Victoria Blvd. Hampton, VA 23669-4243 [phone] [e-mail] Editorial Board Fran Freimarck Director Pamunkey Regional Library P.O. Box 119 Hanover, VA 23069 [phone] [e-mail] John Kneebone Director, Publications and Educational Services Library of Virginia 800 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219-8000 [phone] [e-mail] Nan Seamans Director of Instruction Virginia Tech, University Libraries Blacksburg, VA 24061-0434 [phone] [e-mail] Lydia C. Williams Longwood College Library Farmville, VA 23909 [phone] [e-mail] Antoinette Arsic Corporate Business Development Specialist/Librarian EER Systems, Inc. [phone] [e-mail] Molly Brennan Cox Librarian Floyd County High School 721 Baker St. Floyd, VA 24091 [phone] [e-mail] Editor, Virginia Books Julie A. Campbell Library of Virginia 800 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219-8000 [phone] [e-mail]
Virginia Libraries
July/August/September, 2001, Vol. 47, No. 3
COLUMNS
Barbie Selby and Earlene Viano Cy Dillon Julie A. Campbell, Ed. 2 3 24 Openers Presidents Column Virginia Books
FEATURES
Cynthia Wright Swaine 5 Developing, Marketing, and Evaluating Web-Based Library and Information Skills Tutorials Before You Visit Your Legislator Review Some Tips from the Advocacy Gurus VLA Paraprofessional Forums Ninth Annual Conference Report An Emory & Henry Discovery: An Interview with Robert Vejnar
Janet Justis
9 14 20
On the cover: VLAPF keynote speaker Anita Bunkley
Virginia Libraries is a quarterly journal published by the Virginia Library Association whose purpose is to develop, promote, and improve library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to advance literacy and learning and to ensure access to information in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The journal, distributed to the membership, is used as a vehicle for members to exchange information, ideas, and solutions to mutual problems in professional articles on current topics in the library and information eld. Views expressed in Virginia Libraries are not necessarily endorsed by the editor or editorial board. The Virginia Library Association (VLA) holds the copyright on all articles published in Virginia Libraries whether the articles appear in print or electronic format. Material may be reproduced for informational, educational, or recreational purposes provided the source of the material is cited. The print version of Virginia Libraries is designed by Lamp-Post Publicity in Meherrin, Virginia. The electronic version of Virginia Libraries is created by Virginia Techs Scholarly Communications Project and is available at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/VALibs or as a link from the Virginia Library Association web site at http://www.vla.org. Virginia Libraries is indexed in Library Literature, a database produced by the H.W. Wilson Company. Items for publication and editorial inquiries should be addressed to the editor. Inquiries regarding membership, subscriptions, advertising, or claims should be directed to VLA, P.O. Box 8277, Norfolk, VA 23503-0277. All personnel happenings and announcements should be sent to the VLA Newsletter, Helen Q. Sherman, Librarian, DTIC Technical Library, Defense Technical Information Center, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, Suite 0944, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218, [phone], fax [phone], email [e-mail]. Virginia Libraries is available by subscription at $20 per year. The guidelines for submissions to Virginia Libraries are found on page 4.
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OPENERS
New Words from New Editors
by Barbie Selby and Earlene Viano
triving to continue the tradition of publishing excellence insisted on by former editors Andrea Kross, Cy Dillon, and their predecessors, we are Barbie Selby and Earlene Viano, newly appointed co-editors of Virginia Libraries. BARBIES WORDS: I have been involved with VLA publications for some time. I became second editor of the VLA Newsletter in 1989. In addition to editing the Newsletter, I edited the VLA Shipping List, the Public Documents Forum newsletter, and served as Chair of the VLA Publications Committee. I am currently the Documents Librarian at the UVA Law Library. Though not a native Virginian, I have gained an appreciation for the history and literature of the Commonwealth through my work with both current and historical Virginia materials. I feel that through its publications, VLA can make a lasting contribution to library literature, especially that of Virginia libraries. EARLENES WORDS: I want to assist in spreading all the Virginia library news thats t to print so that Virginia libraries, armed with Virginia library information, will become leaders on the fast-changing library scene. I have been a Library Assistant and proud paraprofessional in the Reference Department of the Hampton Public Library for 12 years. My degree in English and my longtime love of libraries (ever since I got my rst library card 50 years ago from the Harford County Public Library in Bel Air, Maryland) have come together and sparked in
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me a desire to help the VLA tell its news to its members with enthusiasm and clarity. ***** Chief among this issues articles is one concerning reference, instruction, and distance-learning librarians wrestling with how best to incorporate the web into their teaching activities. Cynthia Wright
We are proud and happy to bring together writers and readers interested in Virginia and its libraries.
Swaine, Instruction Services Librarian at ODU, shares ODUs experience in creating, marketing, and evaluating its online tutorials. The ODU Library Instruction Team demonstrated a number of models, which can lead to a useful and wellused online tutorial. Useful was a word often heard on the lips of the 443 attendees at the 2001 VLA Paraprofessional Conference, who were asked, Challenge Yourself: Expand Your Horizons. From the accounts of the Conference included in this issue, it seems they did just that. Keynote speaker Anita Bunkley, author of several books, including Steppin Out with Attitude, particularly asked those present to believe in their dreams and seize those opportunities that help in meeting desired goals. The VLA Paraprofessional Forum, as an organization and as
individuals, has certainly displayed this sort of can-do spirit since its inception in 1979. Can-do was the attitude of Emory and Henry archivist Robert Vejnar. In August of last year he got a glimpse into the past when he discovered a box of Civil War newspapers the Abingdon Virginian stashed in his own Kelly Library. By means of a press release, Mr. Vejnar immediately began taking steps to make the papers available, as he states, to historians and scholars interested in a wide variety of topics. In his interview he talks about them at length. Dating from 1862 to 1864, the papers open a window, not only on the War Between the States but also on everyday life in southwest Virginia during the conict. Reducing conict and promoting fruitful communication with state legislators is the subject of Janet Justis article on advocacy. Full of practical tips and links, Ms. Justis, Government Information Reference Librarian at ODU, lays out the necessary WHO, HOW, and WHAT of approaching, questioning, and partnering with Virginias senators and congresspersons to advance the cause of Virginia libraries. ***** Finally, and again, we would like to thank Andrea Kross for her cache of wonderful articles, excellent preparation, and leadership during her time as Virginia Libraries editor. We would also like to thank Cy Dillon for appointing us co-editors and for his unagging interest in and enthusiasm for Virginia Libraries. VL
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PRESIDENTS COLUMN
Do Not Forget To Be a Part of It All
by Cy Dillon
You have to forget to begin to see. Then you remember. Remembering and forgetting get to be the same place. Dabney Stuart in Virginia or the premier public library systems, but I assure you they will all be represented by energetic and experienced librarians making presentations on subjects that concern them every day. Take a look at the preliminary program and see if you do not agree. The last few weeks have also invite the candidates to speak at our Annual Conference. We want the candidates to consider just where tax cuts should stop to preserve essential services such as libraries, and we want to hear the results of that consideration. Forgetful as I am, I have never forgotten that we have to pay for the amenities we want from government. We cannot afford to let our next Governor forget that simple fact, nor can we afford to let that Governor pass the bill along to a future ofce holder. With that in mind, VLA has joined with the Virginia Education Association and other public interest groups in the Virginia Coalition for Education Funding. State funding for all facets of education has failed to keep pace with what state law requires of local schools and libraries. It is time to stop the fancy bookkeeping and have the state pay its share for schools, libraries, and other core educational programs. VLA has also begun to develop a coalition of public interest groups to support better funding for the Library of Virginia. We have preliminary responses that indicate that a number of very large groups are willing to participate, and the VLA Legislative Committee is making plans to begin this effort in earnest long before the Legislature convenes in January. All this involvement has taken the time and efforts of a group of very talented and public spirited VLA members on the Legislative Committee and Executive Com-
I
really did almost forget just how talented VLA members are and just how broad and deep their interests range. Then I sat down with the Annual Conference Committee to review the concurrent sessions for this years program. I knew we had excellent keynote speakers. John Cole of The Center for the Book, historian Henry Weincek, and poet and short story writer Dabney Stuart were all carefully selected to provide memorable sessions that are particularly appropriate to our time and place. The special events offered by the Library of Virginia and by Chestereld County are also rst rate, and would be welcomed by any library association anywhere. Nevertheless, I had not expected the number and quality of sessions that will be offered by our own members. We will have the opportunity to learn about everything from antebellum plantation records to e-books, from serving young adults to preparing budgets, and from basic literacy to information literacy for academic librarians. In addition to the variety, the quality of the presenters strikes me as impressive. It will not do for me to try to name the best universities
It is time to stop the fancy bookkeeping and have the state pay its share for schools, libraries, and other core educational programs.
reminded me of the strength of library advocacy our organization has developed and maintained. The report of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission on funding state aid to public libraries in Virginia has to be viewed as an endorsement of the value of libraries to the state, and VLA members provided much of the information in the report. The full version of the study even includes a letter of endorsement from our association. VLA has also prepared a list of questions about libraries that will be sent to the candidates in this falls gubernatorial election. We will publish responses in an upcoming VLA Newsletter, and we will also
Cy Dillon is President of the Virginia Library Association and is Library Director at Stanley Library, Ferrum College.
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mittee. Their commitment is very much appreciated. It should be an interesting fall. A tight race for governor is shaping up. Another Virginia county is preparing to test the constitutionality of required total internet ltering in public libraries. Legislators and the new Governor are going to have to resolve budget priorities or the current majority in the General Assembly may well be branded a failure. Throw in a well-planned conference luring hundreds of VLA members into the political heart of Virginia, and it should be a season that even I can remember. Just be sure you do not forget to be a part of it all. VL
Guidelines for Submissions to Virginia Libraries
1. Virginia Libraries seeks to publish articles and reviews of interest to the library community in Virginia. Articles reporting research, library programs and events, and opinion pieces are all considered for publication. Queries are encouraged. Brief announcements and press releases should be directed to the VLA Newsletter. 2. While e-mail submissions are preferred (in the body of the message, or as text (.txt) attachments), manuscripts may be submitted as text les on 3.5-inch computer disks. VLA holds the copyright on all articles published in Virginia Libraries. Unpublished articles will be returned within one year. 3. Illustrations, particularly monochrome images and drawings, are encouraged and should be submitted whenever appropriate to accompany a manuscript. Illustrations will be returned if requested in advance. 4. The names, titles, afliations, addresses, and e-mail addresses of all authors should be included with each submission. Including this information constitutes agreement by the author(s) to have this information appear with the article and to be contacted by readers of Virginia Libraries. 5. Bibliographic notes should appear at the end of the manuscript and should conform to the latest edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. 6. Articles should be 750-3000 words. 7. Submit e-mail manuscripts to [e-mail]. 8. Virginia Libraries is published quarterly: Jan/Feb/Mar (no. 1); Apr/ May/June (no. 2); July/Aug/Sept (no. 3); and Oct/Nov/Dec (no. 4). Contact the editor for submission timelines. VL
2001 VLA Conference
October 1719, 2001 Holiday Inn Select, Koger South Conference Center Richmond, Virginia
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Developing, Marketing, and Evaluating Web-Based Library and Information Skills Tutorials
by Cynthia Wright Swaine
C
Needs
onfronted with an expanding distance learning program, a growing set of student expectations, and recent changes in general education requirements, the Library Instruction Team at Old Dominion University is addressing the related needs for new approaches to library instruction by creating a series of web-based tutorials.
With Old Dominion Universitys recent changes in general education requirements, more classes in communication skills and computer skills will be offered. These additional course sections translate into many more library instruction
Online tutorials are one important means of providing information skills instruction.
sessions as the new requirements apply to each new incoming freshman class.
Last year Old Dominion University had nearly 20,000 registrations in its TELETECHNET distance learning programs, serving off-campus students enrolled in twenty-six programs at four regional centers; military, hospital, and corporate sites; and community colleges. In addition to Virginia students, the university serves distance learners in Arizona, Washington, the Bahamas and beyond. Students have higher expectations than in the past about remote access to resources. Whether they live in dormitories on campus or in nearby apartments, whether they commute from another Hampton Roads city or take courses through the TELETECHNET distance learning programs, students want access anytime, anywhere.
to topics how to nd biographical information, how to nd book reviews, etc. The Research Assistance page also contained a search strategy tool, called Start Your Research Here!, that could be considered the librarys rst, although non-interactive, online tutorial. In addition, librarians prepared several web pages relevant to courses for which they had provided in-person library instruction. For example, a library web page for a graduate history course provided links to primary resources online as well as listing other locations of such material in the Old Dominion University Libraries and in the Hampton Roads region.
Preparation for tutorial development
Recognizing the three major evolving needs, the Library Instruction Team decided that developing tutorials, especially some geared toward students in high-enrollment, highly research-oriented distance learning programs and some geared toward teaching general research skills, would be the best response. They acknowledged that web-based tutorials would allow students to learn at their own pace and at the time of day they preferred.
Web-based research assistance already in place
Prior to the development of online tutorials, librarians created a number of subject-specic and how to guides on a Research Assistance web page. Bibliographers created guides to online resources in their areas of specialization, and reference librarians transformed their printed guides into web pages by adding resource links. A series of miscellaneous guides covered all of the usual how
Cynthia Wright Swaine is the Instruction Services Librarian at Old Dominion University and also serves as the librarys Distance Learning Coordinator. She may be reached at [e-mail].
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One librarian began developing the rst interactive tutorial, specically for the nursing program, and other reference librarians followed in her wake, with at least two additional tutorials debuting each academic year thereafter. Although the nursing tutorial was developed independently, using Netscape Composer and HTML, the other tutorials were done following a series of workshops on the principles of good instructional design and the use of Dreamweaver authoring software. Librarians learned about good web page design, the importance of immediate feedback, and the value of usability testing. After identifying programs most likely to benet from the tutorials, librarians began planning for tutorials in their areas of specialty. They made decisions about the skills that were most important to teach and how to teach them, about development time allotments, about the assistance that would be required, and about technical issues, such as whether or not to use frames. As tutorial development progressed, the librarians shared experiences, frustrations, and tips with each other in the Library Instruction Team meetings. They called upon library systems staff and others with expertise for help in problem solving. They also received help from paraprofessional reference staff with some of the detail work, such as making links from terms in the text to the glossaries and structuring the quiz feedback.
strategy pages was created it was enhanced with resource links. Finding and making appropriate links required less than a month. Although search strategy guides are generally seen as being a linear approach to instruction, this tutorial encourages students to move among the different sections in a non-linear fashion, depending upon their needs. The one completely new element was what the developer termed an idea generator, aimed at giving
The rst genuinely interactive tutorial came about through collaboration between a librarian and a faculty member.
students an easy way of choosing a topic for a paper or speech. The tutorial was marketed through yers to distance learning sites, library newsletters, faculty workshops, and a listing on Yahoo! During the spring semester of 2000, the tutorial received 23,186 page views and tallied 19,160 user sessions. It is clear that not all users are Old Dominion University students, however. Frequent feedback on the Idea Generator provides a constant source of new topics to add to that portion of the tutorial.
ing students and those enrolled in English composition classes. The latter group was included because of the projected continued expansion in the number of sections of English 111 and the possible extensive use of a tutorial in the future, in lieu of the traditional in-class session with a librarian. Development work was a high priority for four months for two librarians, with much additional technical support. Debuting in the spring semester of 1999, StarQuest includes sections on most aspects of library research, the Internet, and plagiarism. Features include quizzes with immediate feedback, a glossary, and a nal exam for which results are sent electronically to the instructor. A discussion forum and evaluation section were included but not actually used. The tutorial was promoted through the English Departments coordinator of composition, direct e-mail and snail mail to faculty, library newsletters, yers to distance learning sites, and faculty workshops. Spring semester of the year 2000 saw 1,046 page views and 863 user sessions. A study to compare skills acquired through an in-class session to skills acquired through the tutorial, as well as to skills acquired through a combination of the two methods, is being carried out this year. The rst semester results showed no signicant differences in student learning no matter which method was used.
Description of the tutorials
Search strategy skills
The rst tutorial, Start Your Research Here!, was developed as an initial option for the delivery of library instruction to distance learners in 1994. The printed library handbook for these students included pages on research strategy. When the web-based version of the search
Nursing General library and Internet skills
The instruction services librarian and the humanities reference librarian collaborated on development of StarQuest, subtitled Success Tips for Academic Research, a tutorial designed to help students learn general library and Internet skills. Two target audiences were distance learnThe rst genuinely interactive tutorial came about through collaboration between a librarian and a faculty member in the College of Nursing and was launched in the fall of 1998. Using Information Sources: Nursing was designed to serve all Old Dominion University students doing nursing research, although the original focus was on one spe-
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cic course comprised of both onand off-campus students. Initial development took three months of intense work, then one month for revision each year afterward. Revisions took as long as they did because of the switch from SilverPlatters version of CINAHL to the Ovid version and the desire to include new elements. The tutorial includes interactive quizzes, a discussion forum, a glossary and guided searches of the CINAHL database. Initially, only the faculty member who collaborated with the librarian required her students to complete the tutorial; later, others followed suit. Approximately 100 nursing students completed the tutorial during the rst semester of availability, and 400 did so the following fall. In the spring semester of the year 2000, this tutorial had 995 page views and 473 user sessions. Marketing was carried out largely through a demonstration at an inservice training session for faculty. An evaluation page is included and has generated much favorable comment about the tutorial. In addition, the developer has received many e-mail messages of inquiry and appreciation through a contact link in the tutorial.
matic feedback on quizzes, an interesting feature is the certicate of completion a student can print and turn in to the instructor. Marketing was done exclusively after the tutorial was developed. Instructors of three courses now require students to take the tutorial. In the spring 2000 semester, 1,667 page views and 473 user sessions were tallied. Although an evaluation element was not built into the tutorial, a printed evaluation sheet was designed by the librarian and given to students by the instructor at the time of the end-of-semester course evaluation. Feedback has been very positive. FindLaw now provides a link to this tutorial under its section on resources for law students.
Education
Using Information Resources: Education, a tutorial for distance learning students enrolled in education courses, was rst used in the fall 2000 semester and follows the style of the earlier nursing and criminal justice tutorials. It is intended to be a basic tutorial covering standard library resources in the eld, including government, tests, and measurements information. Development took place over fteen months, with marketing to faculty accomplished primarily through one-to-one contacts and library newsletters. Plans for enhancement include the use of frames to allow students to try out live sessions on databases. Quizzes and an evaluation section are included in the tutorial.
pany and industry research skills. Thus, the latest tutorial to appear, in the fall of 2000, is titled Industry & Company Research. The tutorial is highly interactive, requiring students to accomplish tasks throughout, using a form that they print at the outset. Although the primary audience is rst- or second-year business students, it is thought that the tutorial will be helpful to MBA and predissertation students as well. During the four-month development process, the new business librarian discovered interests of the faculty she would be working with in collection development, reference, and instruction. The librarian encouraged faculty to try out the tutorial and provide feedback during the summer prior to its publication. This marketing technique proved successful and some instructors decided to include the tutorial as a course requirement for the fall.
New tutorials, new approaches
Development of science tutorials, including ones for psychology and biology, and enhancement of present tutorials with frames and personalized approaches, such as the use of photographs and audio messages, is now underway. A committee is being organized to develop guidelines and a template for future tutorials. The committee will review all such development projects to ensure standards and instructional objectives are being met.
Criminal justice
The criminal justice program is one of the largest distance learning programs consistently requiring library research and, thus, was a natural subject for the next tutorial. The social sciences reference librarian patterned Using Information Resources: Criminal Justice, rst made available in fall 1999, on the nursing tutorial. Development took two to three months of high priority work. The content of the seven chapters and the navigation devices is intentionally simple. The intended audience is both on- and off-campus undergraduate students. Besides the auto-
Conclusions
The Library Instruction Team reached a number of similar conclusions to those of other librarians who have developed tutorials. Among these conclusions are: The task of developing a good tutorial takes many hours. Immediate feedback is important to students.
Business
The business reference librarian concluded that the best approach to creating a tutorial to meet the needs of students in the College of Business, particularly those in marketing, management and accounting, would be to focus on com-
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Interactivity helps students stay alert and presumably learn better. Discussion forums do not seem to work well unless students are required to participate. However, our librarians discovered that contrary to current thought, collaboration between faculty and librarians from the outset to ensure tutorial use is not the only way to achieve success. The nursing tutorial was developed following the accepted practice of a single librarian/single faculty member collaboration. Industry and Company Research was developed with input from a handful of faculty members over time. Development of StarQuest was agreed upon in a meeting of key English composition faculty and the Library Instruction Team, but no interaction with adjunct instructors who would use it took place until the tutorial was nearly complete. The criminal justice tutorial was developed without any collaboration with faculty and marketed to them upon completion. No matter how collaboration took place or even whether collaboration took place, the Library Instruction Team found that an excellent tutorial based upon course or program needs can be successfully marketed and can become an important course component. Different approaches to development, marketing, and evaluation worked well, with no clear winner. It was also clear that both simple formats and more complex interactive ones can enhance learning, with some learners preferring one style or the other. The experience
level of the students, as well as the capabilities of the computers they use, has a lot to say about what style of tutorial delivery they nd most appealing. Some further conclusions include: Expert technical support proved to be invaluable, as did informal support from experienced colleagues. It is essential to do some usability testing, even if only a few subjects participate.
complemented by an array of webbased guides, librarian-developed course web pages, in-class instruction, and personal assistance.
Bibliography
Caspers, Jean S. Hands-on Instruction Across the Miles: Using a Web Tutorial to Teach the Literature Review Process. Research Strategies 16 (1999): 187-197. Dennis, Stephanie and Kelly Broughton. FALCON: an Interactive Library Instruction Tutorial. Reference Services Review 28 (2000): 31-38. Dewald, Nancy H. Transporting Good Library Instruction Practices into the Web Environment: an Analysis of Online Tutorials. Journal of Academic Librarianship 25 (1999): 26-32. Gray, David. Online at Your Own Pace: Web-Based Tutorials in Community College Libraries. Virginia Libraries 45 (1999): 9-10. Kesselman, Martin, Delphine Khanna, and Lourdes Vasquez. Web Authorware and CourseIntegrated Library Instruction. C&RL News 61 (2000): 387-390. Knowlton, Dave S., Heather M. Knowlton, and Camela Davis. The Whys and Hows of Online Discussion. Syllabus 13 (2000): 54-58. Old Dominion University Libraries, Tutorials [http://www.lib.odu.edu/ research]. VL
Different approaches to development, marketing, and evaluation worked well, with no clear winner.
Evaluations of the tutorials and assessment of learning are both important, but there seems to be no one best way to incorporate these elements. It is very important to update the tutorials whenever necessary and to look them over completely with an analytical eye at least once a year. A standards committee may be needed to ensure development of high quality products. Online tutorials are not the single answer to instruction for all students. They are one important means of providing information skills instruction, but should be
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Before You Visit Your Legislator Review Some Tips from the Advocacy Gurus
by Janet Justis
O
n April 30, 2001, approximately 650 librarians, trustees, and Friends of the Library attended briengs regarding legislation affecting libraries. Many of these advocates were reviewing the facts one last time before setting out to meet with their Congressperson or Senator on May 1st. For some it was a rst time experience and a bit intimidating. Stephanie Vance, a former Congressional aide who is now part of Advanced Consulting: The Advocacy Gurus, presented an excellent workshop for newcomers. Her energetic style and insiders knowledge of the legislative process were just what the novice needed to build condence and develop advocacy skills. Many thanks to the ALA Washington Ofce for including such an inspirational and practical workshop for new library advocates. Ms. Vance began the workshop with a fun quiz about politics and legislation. The audience was immediately engaged, and even the most veteran members were caught checking the Constitution for facts. She then asked participants to focus on three basic principles: What do you want? Whom do you ask? How do you follow up?
What Do You Want?
Youve come all the way to Washington so you must want something, right? Perhaps you want to make certain your legislator knows the key issues affecting libraries or perhaps you have specic concerns regarding changes in copyright legislation or LSTA funding? Be certain to ask for something specic.
Be certain to ask for something specic.
Know the Issues and Be Prepared!
The ALA Washington Ofce does a wonderful job of creating one-page brieng sheets on key issues and related legislation. If youre coming to brieng day you will receive these in your brieng day packet, but you can also nd them on the ALA web site at: http://www.ala.org/ washoff. From the Washington Ofces main page go to the Link to Issues list and pick your topic. Current issues include: Appropriations FY2002, LSTA reauthoriza-
tion, copyright, database protection, E-government, ESEA, and E-rate. Read the briefs, talking points, and updates to become familiar with the core issues and bills that have been introduced. Also prepare a local information packet about your library and stress what you do for the constituents of the district. Give the member or the aide a packet that highlights key issues but doesnt overwhelm. Ms. Vance gave several good examples of knowing the facts and stating your case. Take LSTA for example. This year the library community would like to see an increase in LSTA funding. The target amount is $350 million dollars. LSTA will also be up for reauthorization in 2002. Since formulas havent been revised since the 1970s, the library community would like to see a new $500 million base. Its important to know the difference between the activities surrounding the reauthorization of LSTA and the FY2002 appropriations requests. Use the bill number (if known) when speaking to staffers or members of Congress. At one point during a luncheon one member of Congress had heard the $350 million LSTA request so many times he joked, Okay, we got it; were slow. Find out if
Janet Justis is the Government Information Reference Librarian at Old Dominion University and a current member of the Legislation Committee of the Government Documents Round Table of ALA. She can be reached at [e-mail].
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VLA members Janet Justis, Marcy Sims, Mary Mayer Hennelly, Sally Reed, Carolyn Barkley, Lois Radford, MariJana Phelps, Olivia Osei-Sarfo, and Josie Shaffer join Congressman Edward L. Schrock and his aide for a picture.
Marcy Sims and Congressman Schrock share a laugh.
the bill has been introduced but needs cosponsors. Maybe your Senator can become a cosponsor. Find out if similar legislation has been introduced in the other chamber. If not, ask your Congressperson to introduce companion legislation. Be prepared to respond to late breaking news. Several of us had been tracking the NCLIS and GAO reports regarding possible changes in the federal depository library program for months. Until the last moment, we were uncertain if and when legislation would be introduced. The only real news had been the recent appropriations gures listed in the Bush Administrations budget. When we arrived in DC, Lynne Bradley of the Ofce of Government Relations had prepared a late breaking alert about the E-Government bill to be announced by Senators Lieberman and Burns on May 1st at 2:30 p.m. That meant reading the issue brief, going to Lynnes briengs, and quickly shifting schedules to make certain several of us could attend the press conference. Even though a bill number had not been assigned at the time of the announcement, we could nd out the basic principles of the bill because the Washington ofce had seen it and offered comments. We
also knew which library groups had offered their support, and ALA President Nancy Kranich expressed some of these thoughts at the press brieng. Even Senator Lieberman described the legislation as a work in progress a good sign that input could still be offered. [Update: bill number is S. 803.]
Whom Do You Ask? (or, How to Make the Most of 15 Minutes?)
Sometimes you are fortunate to be able to get 515 minutes with the Congressman or Senator, but other times you may be meeting with an aide. Ms. Vance demonstrated just how valuable 15 minutes are in the day of a member of Congress. She showed an actual schedule which began at 6:30 a.m. and
ended around 11:00 p.m. A typical day may include committee meetings, meetings with staff, called votes (which can come at any time), luncheons, meetings with constituents, receptions, more briengs, and travel to and from the district. Fifteen minutes is a luxury, so make the most of your time. To demonstrate how your visit with your legislator might go, Ms. Vance conducted several role-play situations. The rst was with an experienced advocate and showed that the legislator can still throw even the most experienced lobbyist a question that derails the limited time. In this case, she challenged the advocate with the controversial topic of ltering. Be prepared to handle controversial topics with diplomacy, and subtly refocus the
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conversation back to your issue. She then asked for a novice to come up. Brimming with overcondence, the individual soon found that she would literally have to follow the Congresswoman around as she dashed from her ofce to the Capitol to cast a vote. The novice was a good sport as she jogged around the room simulating the trip to the Capitol, and emphasizing that you may have to pitch your concerns without having the legislators undivided attention. The key is to remain composed. Hit the high points. Drive home the bill number (any dollar gures you know) and remain focused while jogging down the sidewalk in 80-degree heat in heels.
Mari-Jana Phelps of the Dumphries Neighborhood Library talks with her former employer, Congressman Frank R. Wolf.
Three short moments from my rst time lobbying (or, make the most of brief encounters)
I wanted to let Congressman X know that I care about full funding for the Federal Depository Library Program especially since the FDLP has faced budget cuts in the last few years. On three separate occasions I pitched the idea. During the morning I attended an awards ceremony and posed for a picture with the Congressman and other constituents of his District. After the photo, I simply leaned over and said, Congratulations on the Friends award. Wed love to explore a possible visit to Old Dominion University when youre in the district. His response was, Old Dominion is one of my favorite places. (the 30-second meeting) Later at the Virginia delegates luncheon, I got another opportunity to speak with the Congressman. Colleagues from other libraries in the area who knew the Congressman well were very generous in introducing me and opening a discussion about cooperative efforts in the area. Another small seed was planted to highlight federal deposi-
Unexpected Impact of VLA Legislative Day
Mari-Jana O. Phelps works at the Dumphries Neighborhood Library. From 1996 to 1997 she worked for Virginia Congressman Frank R. Wolf. She reports that she stays in touch with him and that he was great to work for. With her masters in Political Management its easy to understand why Congressman Wolf hired her, and why she enjoyed [her] time on the Hill so much. Mari-Jana attended her rst National Library Legislative Day in 2000. It, and the Virginia librarians in attendance, impressed her so much that she is pursuing a degree in library science. Mari-Jana says: I attended the NLLD in 2000 and was fascinated by all the smart librarians talking about smart things. That was why I decided, after my rst National Library Legislative Day, I wanted to expand my education some more and go to library school. I wanted to widen my knowledge and embrace a eld that had so many smart people fall in love with it. Coming back to NLLD in 2001 felt so much more special because I was enrolled in the School of Library and Information Science, The Catholic School of America under Dean Liebschers leadership. I was part of the crowd and loved it. My educational background includes a MA in Political Management so being in the library eld and at NLLD acting as ambassadors and lobbyists for our libraries felt just right. I know I will always participate in NLLD because it also offers me the unique opportunity to combine two degrees (one in works) that seem too different to combine. Mari-Jana took most of the pictures that accompany this article. Let us hope that her enthusiasm, both for libraries and for actively trying to inuence policy decisions in Washington, is contagious.
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tory issues including networking. (the 2-minute follow-up) Just as the Congressman and his aide were leaving the luncheon, I had a nal opportunity to say again what a pleasure it was to meet him and present him with my packet. It contained several of the ALA issue briefs, one of which supports full funding of the FDLP and my own short summary of depository activities at Old Dominion University. I mentioned that I knew he has lots to read already, but perhaps his aide would have time to review the packet. He smiled and said, I know, YOU want full funding of the FDLP. (the nal 3-minute follow-up)
How to Follow-Up?
Ms. Vance emphasized the importance of sending the aide or member of Congress a thank-you note. She stressed that she actually kept a stack of notes that she received for several years. We are all busy; but when someone sends us a thankyou for our attention or time, we appreciate it and so will the Congressperson. Its one more way to distinguish your issue from a mountain of requests by a variety of constituents. We may think and focus on library concerns, but thats just one more topic for a busy member.
Skip Auld, Master of the Ceremonies, and master planner for VLAs Federal Legislative Day.
ognition for our efforts. A brief ceremony creates an opportunity for a press event and adds a structured setting for stating your case. Remember youre asking for help, so offer appropriate thanks. The next time you contact the ofce they will remember you. Following the award, a tour of the facility or a demonstration of a project or event helps tie the need to the desired results. Show off your childrens reading program, demonstrate new computers that allow patrons to download information from Census 2000, show an exhibit of rare books and local history. Remind the member of Congress about the citizens who visited for tax forms or information on legislation affecting Social Security benets. If you want to be a bit creative and have more time, also ask if the member of Congress would like to contribute a brief statement or article for your newsletter. Or, better yet, ask your representative if you can prepare a brief statement that the member can read into the Congressional Record.
Arrange a Visit in the District (or, you dont always need to go to DC)
Sometimes a legislator is more relaxed when visiting in the district and has an opportunity to see your institution at work. Members of Congress want to know how your program serves their constituents. What difference does your library make in the district? What services do you offer? Share genuine stories of success. Ms. Vance offered a
valuable tip in planning a visit by explaining that there are scheduled working days in the district that are posted on the Senate and House web sites. She recommended you use Thomas web site (http:// thomas.loc.gov) to check for the times when your representative will be at home and available to discuss local needs. After checking the working days in the district on Thomas, contact the scheduling aide and set up a site visit for the member. Try to make this an event that might also acknowledge the legislators contributions/interests by creating an award and presenting it during the visit. We all like to receive rec-
Advanced Consulting: The Advocacy Gurus web site:
Dont worry if you missed the workshop on brieng day. Ms. Vance has posted her presentation on the web at http://advancedco.net. Key resources to view on the web site include: Advocacy Checklist
http://advancedco.net/checklist.htm
Advocacy FAQs
http://advancedco.net/advocacy_ faq.htm
Advocacy Tutorial
http://advancedco.net/demo_page.htm
E-newsletter
http://advancedco.net/whats_free!.htm
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VIRGINIA LIBRARIES
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Make certain to review the advocacy checklist and frequently asked questions before you meet with your legislator. Some of the key tips from the checklist include: Background research Message development General message delivery Effective meetings Effective written communications Effective phone calls Following up Knowing the dos and donts will help your visit be more productive and will eliminate the stress of rsttime efforts. Ms. Vance has also written a book, Government by the People: How to Communicate with Congress (1999), for new advocates that helps explain the process in simple and clear terms. Ordering information is available on the web site. You can
view the table of contents at http:// advancedco.net/book.htm. The checklist tips posted on the web site were taken from Ms. Vances book.
It was time for the thankyou notes and a pair of comfortable shoes.
Recap
When I reected on my day in Washington, I could easily empathize with my Congressman. I had gotten up at 5 a.m., left my hotel at 7 a.m. to catch a shuttle from the hotel to the metro, ridden the metro from Fairfax to Union Station, run several blocks to the Hart Building to see my representative
receive an award, attended more briengs, walked to the Rayburn Building for a luncheon and more informal meetings with members of Congress and their aides, walked to the Dirksen Building for the press conference where Senators Lieberman and Burns announced the E-Government legislation, sat in on more meetings, caught the train to Richmond, drove from Richmond to Norfolk, and rolled into my driveway around 11:45 p.m. I was tired, my head was spinning, and I had only been trying to pitch three ideas to a few members of Congress. They, on the other hand, had met with numerous groups on a variety of issues and would do it all again the next day. It was time for the thank-you notes and a pair of comfortable shoes. VL
Congressman Edward L. Schrock Receives the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. Award
Congressman Edward L. Schrock of the 2nd District of Virginia was honored in a ceremony on May 1st by The Friends of Libraries U.S.A (FOLUSA) for his long time contributions to libraries. Prior to joining the 107th Congress, Schrock served as President of the Friends of the Virginia Beach Public Library for 12 years, and was appointed to the Board of the Library of Virginia by former Governor Allen. During the morning awards ceremony and later at the Virginia delegations luncheon, congressman Schrock spoke of the importance of libraries in our childrens education. He described the following building blocks of education as secondary education representing the 2nd oor, elementary education representing the 1st oor, and the library as the basement or foundation for learning. Congressman Schrock spoke of his wife, Judys, commitment to teaching, noting the importance of developing critical skills in reading. Mrs. Schrock has been a kindergarten teacher in the Norfolk public school system since 1985. He spoke with pride about the Virginia Beach Public Library system noting that its easy to support those that you love.
Congressman Edward L. Schrock Receives the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. Award for his dedication to public libraries.
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VLA Paraprofessional Forums Ninth Annual Conference Report
T
he Paraprofessional Forum of the Virginia Library Association held its ninth annual two-day conference on May 2022, 2001, at the University of Richmond. Four hundred and fortythree library personnel from four states and the District of Columbia attended the conference. This years theme was Challenge Yourself: Expand Your Horizons, with Susan Paddock of Virginia Beach Central Library chairing the event. Three keynote speakers, twentyfour sessions, and ten discussion groups were offered to this years conference participants. The conference opened with a welcome reception on Sunday evening that provided everyone with an opportunity to sit back and enjoy good food, friends, and the lovely piano music provided by Jason Brannan who works at the Ashland Branch of the Pamunkey
Regional Library. The Monday night social, which everyone always looks forward to attending, was a huge success. With the help of DJ Ronnie Gilder from Richmond, and with the hard work and enthusiasm of Mary Fran Nash, who headed up the event, attendees enjoyed this evening lled with music and dancing. Door prizes and special gifts highlighted the social that centered on the Mardi Gras theme. In lieu of the social, some attendees attended the Ukrainian Egg Painting session
or one of the two Imaging Parties provided during the evening.
Monday Step Out with Attitude
The Monday morning general session opened with words of welcome from the VLAPF Chair, Susan Paddock, and two special guests. James R. Rettig, director of The University of Richmonds Boatwright Library, and Cy Dillon, VLA President, offered their greetings to conference attendees.
Above, these ladies are dancing the night away at the Monday evening social. Left, photographer Pierre Courtois captures Linda Hahne and Pat Richardson on lm at the registration table where they graciously handled all registrationrelated affairs during the two-day conference.
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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY PIERRE COURTOIS
Keynote speaker Sally Gardner Reed gives a powerful message on the topic of intellectual freedom.
Keynote speaker Anita Bunkley stresses to her audience that Attitude is Everything!
Tuesday Isnt Life FUN!!!
Bill Assistant Fiege, Director of Alumni Relations at Longwood College, closed out the conference in good form. He won the hearts of one and all when he tossed candy bars into the audience and opened his message, Isnt Life FUN!!!, with a brief juggling act. Combining humor with observations based on personal and professional experiences, Mr. Fiege encouraged us to incorporate fun into our busy lives where we juggle work, family, a social life, and extra curricula activities. He suggested that we focus on the positive and that we not allow ourselves to become consumed with the people and situations that make us unhappy. In order to be a good juggler of all that life throws our way, Mr. Fiege said that we must learn to get the pace just right, and in so doing, we will nd peace and happiness. For the grand nale, Susan Paddock and Bill Fiege joined forces in giving away the rafe baskets and the Moss print. Once again, the VLAPF board members generously donated some unique and eye-catching baskets for the scholarship rafe. The print, which was the most popular prize, was donated by the P. Buckley Moss Society of Staunton, Virginia, and was
Anita Bunkley, author of several books including Steppin Out With Attitude and The Yellow Rose of Texas, was the keynote speaker on Monday morning. Using some of her own experiences as examples, she shared how she had turned her dream of being a successful writer into a reality. Ms. Bunkley challenged those in the audience to believe in their dreams and to seize those opportunities that will help in meeting desired goals. She stated that with the right attitude and persistence it is possible to beat the odds. Her advice is to never give up Winners fall down, but this does not signal the end of the race; what is important is how quickly you get up. Conference attendees were inspired by Ms. Bunkleys message which encouraged each of us to step out with attitude.
Bill Fiege, Tuesdays closing keynote speaker, proves that actions do speak louder than words as he uses his talent of juggling to reinforce his message, Isnt Life FUN!!!
Tuesday Reed on Intellectual Freedom
Sally Gardner Reed, Director of Libraries for the Norfolk Public Library, was the keynote speaker on Tuesday morning. Ms. Reed has
authored several books and written countless articles on library-related topics. Her most recent publications are Making the Case for Your Library and Library Volunteers: Worth the Effort. Ms. Reeds keynote address focused on the issue of intellectual freedom in the United States. Ms. Reed reviewed some of the milestones in history that have impacted intellectual freedom. She then reminded us that censorship is still an issue that must be dealt with, especially with the new challenges that have arisen due to the Internet. She encouraged us to be aware of issues that threaten the rights afforded us by the First Amendment and to be champions for intellectual freedom.
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framed compliments of Christophers Fine Arts and Framing of Farmville, Virginia. Virginia Carver of Alexandria, Virginia, was the lucky winner of the print. The variety of outstanding rafe prizes and the generosity of conference attendees who purchased tickets resulted in another successful scholarship rafe.
educational scholarship sponsored by the Paraprofessional Forum was awarded to Iris Taylor who works at The Library of Virginia. The recognition of Iris as recipient of this award was a memorable event for the VLAPF board members who have all worked diligently to earn money in order to sponsor this scholarship. Two very special ladies were recognized during the Tuesday morning session. E. A. Mayo, a recent retiree of Hampden-Sydney College, and Susan McFaden, a recent retiree of the Fairfax County Library System, were recognized for all the years of service they have given to the Virginia Library Association and for their outstanding leadership within the Paraprofessional Forum. VLA President Cy Dillon presented each of them with a special inscribed plate on behalf of VLA and the Paraprofessional Forum.
Awards
The Paraprofessional Forum presented several awards during this years conference. Jason Brannon of the Ashland branch of the Pamunkey Regional Library received the VLAPF Award. The award provided Jason with the opportunity of attending the conference by providing funds that paid all conference expenses. He received a special framed commemorative certificate during the Monday opening session. Lydia Williams, Archives Manager at the Longwood College Library, was named Outstanding Paraprofessional of the Year. She was recognized during the Monday opening session and awarded a framed certicate and an engraved pewter box in honor of her accomplishments as a library paraprofessional. On Tuesday morning, the VLA
Top left, VLAPF Chair Susan Paddock with E.A. Mayo and Sue McFaden, who each received a special recognition during the conference. Center, Mary Buckley and Mari-Jana Phelps, incoming co-chairs, present a special gift to this years chair, Susan Paddock, on behalf of the entire VLAPF Executive Board. Above, VLA President Cy Dillon and VLAPF Chair Susan Paddock presented Iris Taylor of The Library of Virginia with the VLA scholarship sponsored by the VLAPF.
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2002 Conference Tomorrows Libraries Are We Ready?
The 2002 conference theme is Tomorrows Libraries Are We Ready? Mark your calendars for May 1922, and make plans to join your friends and colleagues at the University of Richmond for the VLA Paraprofessional Forums tenth annual conference. The co-chairs for the 2002 conference will be Mary Buckley of the George Mason University and Mari-Jana Phelps of the Dumfries Neighborhood Library.
Above, the musical talent of Jason Brannan compliments the welcome reception. Left, the ever-faithful New York ladies, who attend the VLAPF conference every year, enjoy the Sunday evening welcome reception. From left to right: Donna Hanna, Sharon Figueroa, Ruth Oberg, and Sheila Hallahan.
Highlights of VLAPF Sessions
Building Staff Morale
The task of building staff morale has been addressed and expressed in many ways, but Dan Connole of the Arlington County Department of Libraries has developed a creative and fresh look at the traditional staff morale building tactics. On May 21, 2001, during the VLAPF Conference at the University of Richmond, Dan presented the outcome of his successful staff building endeavors. The Dan Connole recipe for staff morale calls for a pinch of work, a dash of obligation, a tablespoon of backlogged tasks, and a cup of humor. With his mixture of essential ingredients, Connole has managed to cook up some great morale boosting, work-related projects! One such project entailed a contest to see who had the oldest piece of worthless information. And the winner was: A computer cheat-sheet that was over ten years old. Not only was the cheat-sheet outdated it was for a system that was no longer in use! Dan Connole presented an informative, humorous, and practical session. His ideas and suggestions were inspiring for anyone looking for new and exciting ways to enhance morale in the workplace. Bridget Clark fall in love with books and reading. Using props, music, drama, and movement, they demonstrated how to take a story or poem and bring it to life in the heart and mind of the child. Whether it is an old standby, such as a Mother Goose rhyme, or something newer such as a pop-up book, Ms. Daniels and Ms. Lawson convinced us that it is possible to magically transform a book into more than just words and pictures on a page it can become a catalyst for expanding the imagination of a child. Lydia Williams
Adding Pizzazz to Storytime
Diane Daniels and Ann Lawson, who are both involved with childrens and youth services at the Lynchburg Public Library, presented 90 minutes of non-stop ideas that may be used to entice children to
The Basics of Digitizing
Felicia Johnson, Assistant Director of the Special Collections Digital Center at the University of Virginia,
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shared the basics of digitizing. She began her presentation by reviewing the reasons for digitizing a collection. She stated that prior to plunging into a project it is important to write up the immediate and long-term goals and to consider the audience and usage of the digitized data. Ms. Johnson discussed equipment, software, and le formats. She covered issues related to resolution, quality control, and manageability. By covering all the basics, Ms. Johnson made her audience aware of just what is involved in the planning, scanning, and archiving of digitized materials. Lydia Williams
Muriel Miller Branch, Virginia author and educator, presents An Authors Information Gateway to Historys Secrets.
Dr. John Lubans, Senior Manager at Duke Universitys Perkins Library, presents a two-part program on leadership.
Left, conference attendees are very attentive as they enjoy one of the many sessions provided during the conference. Below, Diane Daniels and Ann Lawson of the Lynchburg Public Library encouraged audience participation as they shared ways to connect children and books.
Grant$ for Paraprofessionals
Pat Howe, Head of Technical Services at Longwood College, presented a session that included all the essential information needed by an individual seeking a grant. She covered information on developing an idea for a grant, getting organized for action, establishing contact with a funding source, and writing a proposal. She also provided information on the processes of budgeting and administering the grant money, and on evaluating the project. She provided a list of funding resources and some other tools that will be useful in launching a
proposal. Ms. Howe provided information that will be invaluable to anyone planning to write a grant to
help nance professional and educational needs. Lydia Williams
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Peter Abresch, Donna Andrews, and Ann McMillan were three members of the panel of mystery writers who discussed how they do it, how they started, and what they learned along the way.
Basic Records Management and Disaster Planning for Records
John Breeden, Manager of the Records Analysis Section, a part of the Records Management and Imaging Services Division of the Library of Virginia, discussed the basics of records management and disaster planning for records. Mr. Breeden talked about the services provided by The Library of Virginia to State institutions in regard to public records. He discussed the objectives of a records management program, which are to support the administrative needs of public ofcials and citizens, to ensure that records of historical value are preserved and that nonessential records are disposed of in a manner and within a timeframe that is systematic throughout the state, and to protect your institution from possible litigation. Prior to discussing disaster preparedness, we took a look at some records disasters in Virginia. These pictures reinforced the message that each institution should have a disaster plan in place. Mr. Breeden provided some tips on what to include in such a plan. He stated that it is important to be prepared for emergencies, but that it is just as important to assess the vulnerabilities in your building and to take steps that may prevent a disaster or reduce the impact of a disaster. Lydia Williams
Winners of the scholarship rafe baskets posed for a group photograph before taking off for home after Tuesdays closing session.
Copyright: What Is Fair Use?
On Monday, May 21, Rosemary Chase facilitated one of several afternoon sessions titled Copyright: What is fair use? She talked about how important it is to obtain copyright permissions for electronic and print reserves. There were 45 active participants who stressed an interest in having the workshop offered again next year. The workshop was a huge success and Rosemary was well received. Rosemary A. Chase, Copyright Ofcer, George Mason University, has been active in the eld of obtaining permissions for the use of out-of-print books and other materials for the classroom since 1988. She was instrumental in estab-
lishing George Masons Copyright Assistance Program, which was one of the rst full-service copyright clearance centers in higher education. In 1993, she designed and administered a national survey to track copyright clearance practices in higher education. She was also active in the early stages of the implementation of the electronic reserves initiative on her campus. Currently, Rosemary is a member of the Copyright Policy Task Force and the Web Steering Committee at George Mason University. Her latest mission is to provide a tutorial for students to outline their rights and responsibilities as students and citizens. Cynthia Bentley VL
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An Emory & Henry Discovery
An Interview with Robert Vejnar
s last autumns press release stated, Emory & Henry College library ofcials have discovered a set of Civil War era newspapers that historians and appraisers have called rare and valuable. The newspapers consist of 142 issues of the Abingdon Virginian, which had been set aside in an acidfree box in E&Hs Kelly Library. They date from October 3, 1862 to December 9, 1864, when it ceased publication due to lack of paper. The dates place the papers within the timeframe of the Civil War, 18611865. Printing of the weekly newspaper, which still operates, resumed in December 1865. For historians, this is a very important discovery, asserted Russell L. Martin III, a curator of newspapers for the American Antiquarian Society. Long runs of newspapers from that era in the region from Winchester, Virginia, to Bristol, Virginia, are very rare. E&Hs archivist Robert Vejnar discovered the newspapers in August of last year and began a process to have them appraised and secured. Prior to his discovery, only nine issues of the Abingdon Virginian were known to exist. Though fragile, the newspapers are in good condition. What follows is a series of questions Mr. Vejnar kindly agreed to answer regarding this exciting nd.
A
Robert J. Vejnar with his nd of 142 issues of the Civil War era Abingdon Virginian.
the surrounding community from October 1862 to July 1864.
VL What is special about what they contain? the RV The local news isthat most special. Remember I havent
had a chance to really examine them myself. I will do so early this summer in preparation for a talk I have to give during the Highlands Festival here in August. Some of the stories Ive found have already been mentioned in a Richmond TimesDispatch article: the list of deserters, rumors of pending Yankee attacks, and the demise of Braxton Braggs army in Kentucky. Im certain more interesting things will surface once we go through them thoroughly.
How will this nd impact VL of Civil War history? the eld will let RV Iquestion. others speak toa this I already have list of six or seven scholars (plus countless amateur genealogists and historians) who want to look at them, so I guess the newspapers will be helpful in some way. The day the story hit the Associated Press wire I had a Ph.D. student from Mississippi State University call to inquire when the microlm would be ready. He told me that if the lm were ready before the autumn of 2001, he would like to come to Emory to do research on the papers. It seems hes attending a conference later in 2001 and would change his paper topic as a result of getting access to the newspapers.
VL Why are these papers important? as we know, theres no RV As farconsistent record of what other
went on here in Abingdon and
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The Draughon Professor of Southern History at Auburn University in Alabama, Dr. Kenneth W. Noe, had this to say: This is truly a major nd that promises to advance historical studies of Southwest Virginia. I think that is the key point. These newspapers will shed light on the effect the war had on this region. Russell L. Martin III, curator of newspapers for the American Antiquarian Society, had this to say: As you know, these issues are exceedingly rare. Only a handful of Civil War issues are known to have survived for this title. Duke University holds four issues from 1862 and one from 1864. Your run of 142 issues is therefore a tremendous leap forward. In a broader context, long runs of 19th-century Virginia newspapers printed beyond the Blue Ridge are always hard to nd. So, for regional history as well as Civil War history, this le is one of the most exciting discoveries Ive heard about in years. Dr. Martin also said that our collection of the Abingdon Virginian is of national signicance. (do other VL How rare/unique are they which libraries have them too ones)? As stated above, Duke University holds ve issues from the Civil War period. A further search on OCLC indicates that the Library of Congress holds three issues from that period. The current editor of the Abingdon Virginian indicates that they have at least one issue (and maybe a few more, but he wont say) from the War. Thus, as far as we know, only nine Civil War issues of the Abingdon Virginian exist.
from last week, last month, and last year are kept. Fortunately, and I say that because otherwise they might have gotten stolen, the newspapers were not cataloged. Of course, in the late 19th century, nothing was terribly special about having Civil War newspapers in the library, so no one would have paid that much attention to them.
They also will send their copies out on interlibrary loan. As soon as I get nal approval, were thinking of putting them onto CD-ROMs, too.
VL What are the preservation issues surrounding these newspapers? not too RV Theresnow. The much to worry about newspapers are
in an acid-free box in a very secure room, along with a machine that helps eliminate mold. Since the paper itself is mostly rag content, theyre in very good shape, and should be around for a couple of hundred years if not longer. They are now brought out only on special occasions. E&H and the LVA have several microlm copies for regular use, and a silver master is in the vault at the LVA. The LVAs conservation lab had to do a minimal amount of preservation work on them: a few pages were slightly torn, and on a few the bottom on the paper had curled somewhat. them/ VL Has anyone come to look at generwhat interest have they ated? As yet no one has come to examine them, although several will undoubtedly travel to Emory this summer to research them. For security reasons I did not permit anyone to look through them until I had them microlmed. The announcement of the nd came out on 13 September 2000 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. I had lots of calls for about three weeks after that, but I told all concerned that the originals would not be available for research. However, anyone could come here to use the microlm once it was ready. The American Antiquarian Society was quite interested in doing the lming, as was the Library of Virginia. I thought it best to keep the newspapers in Virginia for the lming, and decided to send them to the LVA. However it took until early December before the negotiations were settled, and I actually
VL How were they discovered? RV They were discovered when I went by the newspaper racks
one day and began looking through
I realized their importance when I opened the box.
the boxes I was rather inquisitive that day. I opened the box that contained the papers, and I guess one could say that I was stunned. I couldnt believe that I was looking at Civil War era newspapers! Needless to say, I moved them to Special Collections. it take for VL How long didyoud found you to realize that something valuable? I realized their importance when I opened the box, although I was really shocked to see the high appraisal amount I really didnt know newspapers could be so valuable. Thats when I did some investigating and discovered just how rare some Southern Civil War imprints are.
RV
RV
RV
VL RV
How did they get lost or to what degree were they lost? I guess I would say that they got lost when no one realized their importance and simply placed them in a box on a rack behind the circulation desk where newspapers
taken VL What steps have been to the to make them accessible public? Ive worked with the Library of Virginia to get them microlmed. I now have several microlm copies for use here, and they have several for use in Richmond.
RV
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delivered them to the LVA on 13 December. With a collection this valuable and rare, I could not in good conscience let just any old microlm company do the work. It had to be done by an institution with excellent security and a real desire to see the job done correctly this is why it came down to choosing between the LVA and the American Antiquarian Society. Although the papers are in excellent shape, the LVA still had to do a small bit of conservation work on them before they went to its lab. The lming was completed by sometime in February, but the reels of lm went through a quality control check before I could get them. The rst lming did not pass the control check, so the papers were lmed a second time. The second lming passed the check. It took until April 2001 before the second lming and quality control check were completed, and I traveled to Richmond to pick up the newspapers and microlm on 24 April. Overall, we are quite pleased with the nal product, the Library of Virginia and its microlm lab, and especially Errol Somay (the director of the Virginia Newspaper Project) really did a fantastic job. Emory & Henry couldnt be more pleased. By the way, the LVA will keep a master copy of the lm in its vault. The LVA will also have several user copies of the microlm. The regional interest has been great. Many amateur historians and genealogists have expressed an interest in examining them, as have several colleges and universities in the area. By the way, the news regarding the nd appeared in the following newspapers: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Roanoke Times, Bristol Herald Courier, Daily Press, Washington Times, Winston-Salem Journal, Fairfax Journal, and the Indianapolis Star. The story also went out on the Associated Press newswire, but I havent been able to determine
how many newspapers across the country picked up the story. It evidently got picked up by at least one newspaper in California and one in Mississippi, because I subsequently received calls from both places.
VL What advice would you give other archivists who locate treasures
that may be hidden in their archives, on how to handle them and how to handle the publicity? First of all, make certain you have informed your senior administrators what is about to
RV
I used this event to draw attention to the need for greater security for our special collections area.
happen, and make sure you have their approval rst. They, the president and dean in my case, are after all totally responsible for the institution, and they should be kept informed if the institution is about to make headlines. In my case, we, the library director and I, had a meeting with the president and dean several days before the press release went out. We informed them of what we had. I made sure to show them the appraisal amount it doesnt hurt to have large dollar signs in there as attention grabbers and the potential for publicity for both the college and the archives. We asked for their approval to go ahead with the press release, and they gave it. Next, and before the press release goes out, make certain your newly found treasure is in a secure room with limited access. I used this event to draw attention to the need for greater security for our special collections area. After the administrators saw the appraisal amount, there was no problem getting all
the locks changed and the number of keys to the room limited. Be extremely careful when showing off the treasures to the press. I made certain that the papers were in another secure room and ready for the press when they arrived. I did this as an added security measure because I didnt want anyone outside the organization to see exactly where the papers were kept. As far as dealing with the publicity, it all goes away after about three weeks. However, in those three weeks, all sorts of people come out of the woodwork. Some are academics, some are folks wanting to know if you can appraise their copy of the Declaration of Independence (this really did happen to me), and others just want to know if you by chance saw a reference in the newspapers to their great-great grandfather who fought at the battle of ________ (you can ll in the blank) and was in Abingdon sometime during the War of Northern Aggression. I guess the key is to follow the golden rule and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I tried to answer their questions as best I could, but if I didnt know the answer I simply told them that Im sorry, but I dont know. And of course, do all of the interviews or speaking engagements you possibly can. I did a couple of local news broadcasts, a couple of print interviews, and I gave a talk to a local civic group. In August Ill give a presentation at the Highlands Festival here. In essence, enjoy it while you can because in all probability you will never be this famous again.
VL What interest should they generate? in regional RV Anyone interested during the or social history
Civil War years should certainly be interested in them. I would also think that students/scholars interested in the eld of journalism or journalism history would be interested, too. When one contemplates
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all that was going on in the nation and region at that time, its amazing to me that the editors of the Abingdon Virginian were able to stay focused and keep the paper coming out on a weekly basis. I dont know of too many editors today that have to worry about paper shortages, severed lines of communication, or the threat of invading troops!
VL What has been the reaction of the community? I can RV Well, from whatquite tell, the community is excited.
Many want to get at the microlm a.s.a.p. Im now known by some in Abingdon as that man that found those newspapers. Several have wanted to purchase microlm copies, and others cant wait until the CD-ROMs are out.
Mr. Vejnar concluded his remarks with the following acknowledgments. say again instruRV Let me the LibraryhowVirginia mental of was in all of this. I couldnt have done this without their help. I want especially to thank Errol Somay and his Virginia Newspaper Project staff, Richard Harrington and his microlm staff, and Dr. Edward D. C. Campbell, Jr., who is the Director of Collection Management Services at the LVA. The Commonwealth of Virginia, especially the legislature and governor, should count themselves fortunate that such talented and industrious people are working so hard to help preserve the states history. All of the above named individuals, along with their respective departments, deserve a big fat raise and a pat on the back. They also need to hear job well done. VL
VL What else do you have hidden? told reporter who asked RV As Isame aquestion, absolutely the
nothing! Ive found everything here there is to nd! As one can imagine, the last thing this small college, tucked away as it is in the foothills of Southwest Virginia, needs is to have treasure hunters lurking through our buildings. No, Ive found everything. Theres nothing more to nd (I think you see what Im trying to avoid taking place here).
VL What have you learned from this experience? publicity is RV Ive learned that an archivist the best thing
could hope for outside of a check for $1 million. The administration, alumni, and faculty all know about the archives now. In fact several people are so interested that they want to know how they can help (monetarily) improve the archives.
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VIRGINIA LIBRARIES
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Virginia Books
Reviews prepared by staff members of the Library of Virginia Julie A. Campbell, Editor
Edward L. Bond, Damned Souls in a Tobacco Colony: Religion in SeventeenthCentury Virginia. Macon, Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2001. xi + 330 pp. $35.00 (hardcover). This book is the rst serious study of the religious life of seventeenthcentury Virginia. Unlike most previous writers, the author began with the assumption that religious beliefs were important to the colonists and that their beliefs and practices had important consequences for the development of the colony. His inquiry identies the roots of those beliefs and traces the implications of those practices. Unlike the mother country, Virginia harbored relatively little religious prejudice and experienced almost no sectarian violence and repression. Unlike some other colonies, Virginia did not burn witches or banish dissenters to the wilderness. While the ramications of the Reformation were still being worked out elsewhere, often with violent consequences for minority sects, the Virginians learned how to live together more or less peacefully and not demand so much doctrinal uniformity as to produce resentment or generate hostility. Instead, even without intending to, they gradually developed a political culture that fostered religious liberty,
which was one of the most important concepts that the Virginians of the Revolutionary generation contributed to the rest of us. The title harkens back to the old view and to the often-quoted exclamation of an English bureaucrat
Souls! Damn your Souls! Make Tobacco.
who responded to a plea that more be done to nurture the religious life of the colony and to save the souls of the colonists: Souls! Damn your Souls! Make Tobacco. Although that attitude may have come from England, the Virginians, as Edward L. Bond shows clearly in this important new book, took very good care of themselves, indeed, and not only saved their souls but made tobacco and prospered materially. reviewed by Brent Tarter, Assistant Director, Division of Publications an...