Dear NELLS particpants,

I just wanted to update you on Jean Amaral, one of our accomplished participants at last summer's NELLS program, who won 5K by being selected for one of the ten national "Love My Librarian" awards.  As I was perusing the  letters to the Editor in the Union Leader  newspaper yesterday (do hate to admit it), I spotted this letter: "Antioch Librarian Donated Her  Award prize to School."  So here is the full story -- KUDOS to Jean for all of her good work and magnificent deeds.

Hope all is well ...

Best,

Shirley Barron

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Antioch librarian donated her award prize to school

To the Editors: I was pleased to see the Union Leader cover Antioch University librarian Jean Amaral’s selection by the New York Times and the Carnegie Corporation as one of the 10 best- loved and respected librarians in the country (“A Loved Librarian

Gets Her Due, Dec.21. 2008). Now the whole state of New Hampshire knows what the students and faculty of Antioch University New England in Keene have known for three years. Jean Amaral is an energetic, mission-driven librarian with a commitment to service that is unparalleled in American higher education.

The Union Leader’s report did leave out one important fact, though. Jean is donating her $5,000 award to Antioch. That’s right, after being selected for this national “I Love My Librarian” award, out of more than 3,200 ap plications from across the coun try, Jean immediately contacted Antioch New England President David Caruso and said she would like to donate her award money to support student scholarships.

As she went on to say in an open letter to the Antioch com munity after she was selected for this award: “The feeling is mutual! ... I just wish this were an I Love My Library award because I know that this award could eas ily have gone to any of my library colleagues.”

She’s right. Antioch New

England is that blessed with an incredible library staff.

STEVE CHASE

Antioch University New England

Keene

(FROM UNION LEADER LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 1/5/09 pg A7)

----- Original Message -----

Congratulations to Jean Ameral NYT I Love My Librarian Award Winner

Congratulations to Jean on beign a 2008 winner of the NYT I Love My Librarian Award. the full nominatino can be read at www.ilovelibraries.org/lovemylibrarian/nominations/jean_amaral.pdf

NELLS in Connecticut Libraries

Hope you all are planning to share your NELLS experiences with your states. Your enthusiasm will keep NELLS going for others by generating onging support.

The Connecticut participants published their stories in Connecticut Libraries with an introduction by Connecticut NELA rep Mary Etter. to see the articles go to www.connecticutlibrary association.org  and click on current issue. Julian's article is in the September issue.

Hope to see you all soon at NELA in Manchester.

Cheryl

NELLS Table at NELA banquet - Sun 10/19/08

I'm trying to set up a table at the NELA banquet on Sunday night, October 19th in Manchester, NH  for the NELLS grads if there are enough people planning on attending to do that. If you are planning to attend will you plese let Cheryl know at cbryan@semls.org ?

Also there is a NELLS program at NELA on Monday mornign at 8:30 on job searching with a panel discussion with Bertha Chandler, Assistant Director for Human Resources at Cambridge Public Library, Betsy Bray, former Director of the Cora J. Belden Library in Connecticut, and Cheryl Bryan, former Director of the Brewster Ladies Library in Massachusetts, all are experienced in hiring form both sides of the desk.

Vermont NELLS Reunion  - 10/6/08

All the Vermont NELLS participants and mentors from both NELLS groups will be getting together in October to discuss how we can be the most help/use/butt-kicking element in Vermont libraries. When our current group spoke together at NELLS, there was a lot of confusion about how the State Agency and the VLA are supposed to work together, as well as questions about areas of improvement for VLA / VLA members. The previous NELLS attendees who have been on the front lines longer will have a lot of insight. We also invited the current president of VLA and the new state librarian to attend. VLA president Judah Hamar is delighted to attend, and unfortunately State Librarian Marty Reid is unable to attend due to a prior engagement, but both NELLS mentors also work for and represent VT DOL, so we have no doubt that the discussions will be faithfully recorded.  Plus it should be a lot of fun! Any questions from anyone, please feel free to email Helen at celestihel@gmail.com

BBC article on Internet future

Interesting article maybe there is hope see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7613201.stm