TAL Tales

 


Maureen Woods Joins TAL as CEO

 


Maureen Woods

 

 

 

 

 

On September 28th, The Alberta Library welcomes Maureen Woods as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Maureen joins TAL from the Fraser Valley Regional Library, where she was CEO. Prior to that she was the Director of Public Library Services Branch for the Province of British Columbia. She is from Saskatchewan, where she held many positions, including Provincial Librarian.

Maureen is no stranger to Alberta, or to The Alberta Library, having served as Director of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network. TAL Tales spoke to Maureen about her return to the province.

What interested you most about taking on the role of TAL’s CEO?
I have always liked Alberta and loved living in Edmonton. TAL, as an organization, is unique in Canada. It has the provincial mandate without the constraints of the provincial government.  This allows for broad scope and real responsiveness that is pretty exciting. I have worked with many of the players before and they are among the people that I like and respect the most in libraries in Canada. Finally TAL has a very strong reputation. Under the leadership of Lucy Pana and Karla Palichuk the organization has led the way for much of the collaborative work in libraries for the last decade. For me it was a real honour to be asked to assume this position. 

What do you see as the biggest challenges for the organization?
I see several challenges over the next while. For the members, the staff, the board and for me there will be a ‘getting acquainted’ period that is always fun but will have its moments, I’m sure. Change is always a challenge for an organization. Another large issue is the economy that at once results in increased use of our many services while threatening the budgets that sustain us. We will need to be clear, united and focused to meet challenges of the next few years.

What are some of the biggest opportunities?
Our willingness to cooperate will see us through difficult times. Our ability to solve problems collaboratively will support all libraries. 
The MLA’s report (on the future of public library service in Alberta) and subsequent task forces provide an amazing opportunity for partnership with the provincial government that is unique in Canada. This policy framework is an opportunity for TAL on many levels. Government has seriously contemplated its relationship with libraries and has decided to recommit. This puts us in a very strong position for future development and partnerships.

Having worked in other areas of the country, how does Alberta’s library community compare?
The Alberta library community is committed to exceptional service. The Alberta community is committed to cooperation which many jurisdictions are – however Alberta libraries invest their money and time into contributing to that cooperation through membership in TAL. Most provinces have goodwill and some shared services across library sectors. Alberta has a very strong partnership between the public and the post-secondary libraries which is evidenced by TAL and its many cross-jurisdictional decisions about cooperative services. 
I know that I am not alone in saying that when the Alberta library community members get together they are known to be the most fun! 

Who had the most influence over your library career?
There have been many people who have influenced my thinking over the years. Karen Adams, Lucy Pana, Maggie Macdonald, Karla Palichuk, Punch Jackson and Doug Poff are a few who have worked in Alberta and will be familiar to the TAL readers. But the one person that no matter where I am and what position I happen to hold that has influenced my thinking is Ron Yeo, the former director of the Regina Public Library. Ron passed away a number of years ago but he still sits on my shoulder most days. The wide-open mandate of the public library, the importance of literacy, hire good people and trust them, know what problem you are trying to solve, it has to be OK to make mistakes, respect the board and give them good information to make good decisions, and finally, if you can, take Friday afternoon to think, plan or just get to know the staff. These are all lessons that I learned from him in my first years as a librarian. Most of us who knew him well consider ourselves very fortunate.

What’s currently spinning in your CD player? What book is on your nightstand?
On my CD player is an old chestnut – Laura Nyro’s Gonna Take a Miracle.
On my nightstand are several books, including The Time Traveler’s Wife.

 

Inside The Alberta Library

 

From the Desk of Karla Palichuk

Over the past seven months it has been my privilege to serve as Acting Chief Executive Officer of The Alberta Library. I would like to thank the entire TAL community for providing me with support and encouragement.

In particular, thanks to former Board Chair Keith Walker, new Board Chair Maggie Macdonald, Ernie Ingles, Punch Jackson, Linda Duplessis and all of the Executive Committee members for their advice and assistance.

I also thank TAL’s management team and staff for their hard work and professionalism during a period of transition for the organization. I’m especially grateful to Dyan Perley for so capably filling in for me as Director of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network.

Among the most positive developments of the last few months is the creation of a cross-government committee created to implement the recommendations from the recent MLA report, Framework for the Future. The Alberta Library will play a key role in implementing a number of recommendations, including designing a province-wide technology plan that supports standardization and seamless access to library services. Stay tuned.

Another one of the highlights of my time as Acting CEO was the opportunity to say a few words at the official opening of the spectacular new Grande Prairie Public Library in August. The new library is not only a jewel in the crown of the City of Grande Prairie, it is a jewel in the crown of Alberta. Congratulations to Laurie Harrison and all the staff and friends of Grande Prairie Public Library. Well done!

 


Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library Funding confirmed for 2009/2010

In August, Alberta Advanced Education and Technology Minister Doug Horner confirmed what department officials had indicated in the April budget. Funding for the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library has been set at $2.8 million for the 2009/2010 fiscal year.

“I appreciate the unique role that The Alberta Library plays and its commitment through the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library to making post-secondary education library resources accessible to as many learners as possible,” Minister Horner said. “Department staff will work with you to discuss ongoing issues associated with the LHCADL initiative, including matters associated with budget and funding.”

TAL Board Chair Maggie Macdonald said The Alberta Library had already moved to deal with the new fiscal reality, and had put a transition plan in place.

“Administering the initiative through The Alberta Library enabled us to strengthen relationships with our partners,” Maggie said. “We’re proud of the work that has been done to date, and the contribution of committees made up of TAL member library representatives. We believe the initiative has tremendous value for Albertans, and will continue to make a strong contribution to Campus Alberta.”

The transfer of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library to the University of Alberta is expected to be complete by the end of September.

 

 

 

 


Library Q and A - Ambrose University College Library

 

Sandy Ayer, Director of Library Services
What is your library’s biggest challenge? “Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is old and what is new.” How’s that for an opening? But this saying of Jesus captures well our chief challenge, as latter-day scribes, which is to maintain a balance between traditional resources, such as books, and the latest in electronic resources. Keeping up with the latest technological innovations is difficult for us because our staff is small and because we all wear a number of hats. The Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library (LHCADL) has been a great boon for our students and faculty, as it has been for those of all the smaller academic institutions in the province, and so we’re concerned about the implications of the 50% reduction in funding for that initiative—and all the more in light of the fact that we were right in the middle of cancelling a lot of our paper periodicals when we heard about the cuts.
What area is changing the fastest in your library? Technology, certainly. We need to learn the capabilities of our new printer/copier, while adjusting to Moodle, while learning SirsiDynix’s acquisitions module, while trying to determine whether our library should join Facebook. (Or whether that move would simply add to our workload without appreciably improving our communication with our primary clientele).
Looking back over the last five years, what idea are you most proud of? The decision to house all of our circulating collection (except media) on compact shelving. This decision was essentially dictated to us by the size of the library building to be built on our new campus in SW Calgary. With 15,000 square feet at our disposal, we knew that we couldn’t use conventional cantilever shelving and still have room for both collections and patrons. We moved into our new building last summer, and so far patrons have actually enjoyed cranking open compact shelves –I think it’s the sense of power they get! We also have enough room for 20 years of collection growth and a 250 per cent growth in the student body.
This brings me to an idea that we’re equally as proud of: trying to learn from the public libraries about service. We’ve developed a good working relationship with the Signal Hill Branch of Calgary Public Library and have tried to contextualize what we’ve learned from its staff (and other sources) to the academic library situation. We’ve tried to exploit the PR value of our library by advertising our collections and services in local community newsletters and by hosting public events in our facility. So far we’ve hosted three public events: a presentation on First Nations spirituality (which attracted about 60 people, many from our local neighborhood), an Ash Wednesday Service, and a graduation ceremony. Of course, it’s the space freed up by the compact shelving that has put us in a position to host such gatherings.
Where do you see the greatest opportunity for innovation over the next decade? Providing support for Ambrose’s distance learning offerings and developing closer relations with overseas libraries. As Ambrose expands its distance learning offerings, we will need to offer appropriate support, such as direct inter-library loans and e-reserves.
An example of our connection with overseas libraries is the 40 boxes of surplus books that we recently sent to a library in India.
I should also mention that, during my sabbatical this past semester, I had the opportunity to do library consulting for three libraries in Manila, Philippines; and for the library of the Faculté de Théologie Évangélique de Boma (FACTEB), in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We will likely have a continuing relationship with the latter institution. One of the possible joint projects that we could undertake would involve the Ambrose library collecting surplus French-language children’s books for distribution by FACTEB to schools in Boma (which currently have no library resources).
How does your library connect with your clients/library users?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Netspeed 2009

– Register now!

This year’s technology conference features a variety of presenters speaking on topics such as creating a mobile-ready library website, digitization, federated searching, Google, and more. The Alberta Library is especially pleased to welcome keynote speakers Margaret Mackey from the University of Alberta and Frank Work, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta.

Netspeed 2009 will be held in Calgary at the Carriage House Inn, October 21 – 23. View the program and register at www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca

/netspeed

 

 


Profile-Karen Labuik

 

This fall, Karen Labuik makes the transition from Assistant Director of Marigold Library System to a new role as Project Manager of RISE (the Rural Information Services Initiative). And she is as passionate as ever about libraries, books and the community as a whole.

What is your involvement with The Alberta Library?
I was fairly new to Alberta when the seeds for TAL were sprouting, and I was able to participate in some meetings and workshops. Coming from Saskatchewan, where co-operation is in our genes, I was so pleased to see the process of sharing and lowering boundaries get off the ground – and flourish. I was on the committee that explored e-reference models and then created Ask A Question. Also, I rarely turned down an invitation to serve on a committee or participate in a workshop or panel discussion.

What drew you to your profession?
I got my first library card when I was in Grade 2, and sometime during Grade 3, I just knew I would be a librarian. I spent many childhood Saturdays shellacking the covers of books and “volunteering” in the children’s library (I was probably a pain to Grace Crooks!) My first paying job in libraries was as a page in 1959.

What inspired you to join The Alberta Library Licensing Committee? What accomplishments on that committee are you most proud of?
It’s all about the right information to the right person at the right time. It’s important to me that our customers have valid, accurate, up-to-date information. And e-resources add a very marketable dimension to the services libraries provide. The Licensing Committee is fortunate to have had dedicated Licensing Librarians to give us guidance and support our work. I’m proud of the Committee’s co-operation with the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, and that negotiations for e-books/e-audio books are coming to fruition.

Who had the most influence over your career?
That’s tough! I’ve been inspired by so many librarians and learned so much from so many. Grace Crooks, the children’s librarian in Prince Albert, guided my reading (well, some of it) and let me feel that my shelving and filing were important tasks. Ken Jensen, Wapiti’s second director, took a chance and promoted me into a professional position when I was still working on my B.A. Don Meadows, Saskatchewan Provincial Librarian, always gave me good advice. Pat Cavill, my long-time friend and mentor, nurtured my interest and developing skills in all things under the heading of advocacy, and also encouraged me to take risks. And, Rowena Lunn, of course.

What major changes have you noticed during your time with The Alberta Library?
I’d say there are three biggies. First, co-operation among TAL members has grown hugely. I think TAL has created an environment that makes it easy for libraries to co-operate on non-TAL projects. APLEN and TAL brought us, especially rural libraries, into the 21st century with networking, TALOnline, NetSpeed and managing CAP. Last, but by no means least, TAL has given us terrific marketing campaigns that help us tell our story.

Why do you think libraries are important?
People have the right to be literate, to read what they want to read, and to have good information. Period.

What has been the most rewarding part of working with TAL? What have you enjoyed the most?
It is rewarding to be involved in an organization that respects its members – large libraries and small, public and academic, rural and urban – and works hard to help all libraries be the most connected and accessible they can be. At least one municipality joined Marigold because its residents wanted the TAL card and the databases – how cool is that? I enjoy the meetings and other opportunities to share with people from other libraries and get to know them better.

What is the best/most memorable item you ever borrowed from the library?
You’re asking a person who checks out and reads five or six books a week to name one? If I have to name just one, I’d say Three Cups of Tea. Greg Mortenson and what he’s doing for literacy, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan just blows me away. Who knows what changes we’ll see in the Middle East when there’s a generation of literate, educated women exerting influence on their husbands and children. I’d like to say he’s why I plan to teach English in Turkey after I retire, but I did make that decision before I read Three Cups of Tea.

What are you looking forward to next?
My detour through the 80 libraries in the RISE network is the only kind of “post-retirement” work that would keep me from Turkey … a town on the Mediterranean, or maybe a village in Kapadokya. So this recatalogued librarian is being reshelved as RISE Team Leader not only into the world of information and other programming by video-conference, but into the world that surrounds it – community planning with the libraries to make sure that RISE really does fill the community’s information and program needs.
The RISE network helps library boards and staff with meetings and training, and more importantly, the residents of our communities who now have a different way of getting information, hearing an author speak, participating in a lecture from a legal society based in Edmonton, learning about NASA firsthand from the space shuttle, or connecting a health care worker instead of driving a couple of hundred kilometres to Calgary. So people are accessing information and all that good stuff, and reducing their carbon footprint at the same time. How cool is that?

 

 

 

 

 


Licensing – leveraging resources across the province

By Christa Foley, TAL Licensing Librarian and Christina Wilson, LHCADL Director
TAL negotiates and administers license agreements for electronic resources for its member libraries.  The Subscriptions Alberta Universal Core is a suite of resources available through The Alberta Library that offers member libraries access to substantial cost savings on key databases.

In addition, TAL offers over 85 other resources, available as optional subscriptions covering a wide range of content, including everything from genealogy resources, popular magazines, and music to scholarly journals. The most recent additions to TAL's list of subscription offerings include Tell Me More language learning database, Multi-lingual Health Databases, ConsumerReports.org, and Recorded Books from OCLC on NetLibrary. In addition to subscription content databases, TAL also negotiates subscription based tools such as federated search products, and bibliographic citation tools that are of importance to member libraries.  The newest federated search product TAL is now offering to member libraries is EBSCOhost Integrated Search.

TAL investigates products for negotiations that have a wider appeal to as many member libraries as possible, promoting barrier-free access to information, ideas and culture. TAL also works with other library consortia across Canada to collaboratively license electronic resources. TAL diligently negotiates with a variety of vendors to ensure that TAL members are given the best available pricing as a result of TAL’s consortia negotiations.

The result of TAL licensing for the library is significant savings on electronic resources, anywhere from 10 per cent to 25 per cent or more, as well as significantly reduced staff time in negotiations. In addition to serving the member public, special, and academic libraries, TAL also negotiates licenses for the Online Reference Centre which serves the K-12 school sector and the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library.

TAL has efficient, knowledgeable staff working on behalf of Alberta's libraries and is available to provide licensing services to member libraries. Licensing staff work with designated staff members within each library to provide licensing services.

While TAL staff identifies and investigates products that are potentially useful for member libraries, it is always important that TAL licensing staff receive feedback and is made aware of the resources that are needed within its member libraries as well. This is to ensure TAL is focusing on the needed resources, delivering the appropriate opportunities that will lead to the maximum cost savings through participation for our member libraries and benefit the end users.

When a member library chooses to subscribe to a resource offered through TAL, libraries are encouraged to contact TAL directly for information on subscribing, and every attempt is made to ensure the ordering process is convenient for member libraries. The TAL website is a useful place to consult and see what electronic resources are available through TAL. The website can be found at www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/services/licensing.html

TAL licensing staff works with the Licensing Service Committee who provides feedback for the direction on licensing with a particular focus on the TAL Universal Core. The Licensing Service Committee is comprised of members that are representative of the libraries TAL serves; public libraries including regional library systems, special libraries and academic libraries.
More information about the TAL Licensing Service Committee, including the Committee Terms of Reference can be found at www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/committees.html.

For more information about TAL licensing, including a list of products available through TAL, check out the TAL website at www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/services/licensing.html

The Alberta Library thanks Christina Wilson for serving as the Director of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library. Christina's last day is September 30th. On behalf of the library community, we wish her well.

 


Licensing Service Committee

 


Books and beyond returns to break stereotypes

It’s back! The Books and beyond campaign returns in October to continue to break stereotypes and show Albertans the incredible range of resources available at their local library. Aimed primarily at 18 – 35 year-olds, Books and beyond shows how real Albertans use libraries in their everyday lives.

The award-winning TV spots will again run on Global TV, while radio ads will run in non-urban markets. This year the ads will have even greater frequency and reach throughout the province. A new, more engaging online campaign has been created, and a more interactive website is under construction. New posters will also be distributed across the province.

The campaign shows how people use not only books, but CDs, DVDs, the Internet and library programs in their everyday lives.

“The campaign created some buzz last year, and a number of people said it’s not the kind of campaign they expect from libraries,” says Karla Palichuk. “That’s exactly the kind of reaction we’re looking for, and something we want to build on this year. Our goal is to reach people who haven’t been to a library for while, and maybe aren’t familiar with the range of services. We have a good story to tell.”

For more information about Books and beyond, email kmclaughlin@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca.

 


 


 

Celebrating Libraries-Canadian Library Month


We all know libraries are amazing, and Canadian Library Month allows us to dedicate all of October to telling the rest of the world!Your Library, Your World continues as the theme for CLM 2009.

Visit www.cla.ca/clm09 and click on Tools for a variety of promotional items including a backgrounder, declaration, activity ideas, poster, and bookmark all for download. On the website you can also post your library’s events and see how other libraries across the country are celebrating.

If you would like to link to the CLM site, please feel free to right click on the Your Library, Your World image shown here and select “save as”. You can then post the image on your library’s website and link to the Canadian Library Month site.

TAL is working with the Canadian Library Association to distribute CLM posters and bookmarks to post-secondary institutions (Alberta Municipal Affairs will distribute material to public libraries). If your post-secondary library has not received its Canadian Library Month promotional materials, please contact kmclaughlin@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca.



Welcome to new TAL staff members

Trinh Thai joined The Alberta Library as Manager of Finance and Human Resources. Prior to working at The Alberta Library, Trinh spent the last four years as a Senior Accountant at Landmark Homes, a well-established residential home builder of Alberta. In addition, she worked with certified accounting firm Ellis Govenlock, an assoiate partner of Allen and Associates Certified Accountants, the Alberta Library's auditor. Trinh is married and a proud mom of a very high energy toddler.  Besides taking care of her son and walking her miniature American Eskimo, she enjoys spending time golfing and gardening. Contact Trinh at TThai@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca

Lauren De Bruin is APLEN's new Training Librarian. Lauren has been working in the Alberta library community since 2006. She has worked with training and developmental processes since the beginning of her career, and is excited to be carrying on this work as Training Librarian. Lauren has both a Masters of Library and Information Studies and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta. During her non-working hours, Lauren enjoys an active life with the local arts community and is a performing member of the Edmonton Bellydance Ensemble. Contact Lauren at LDeBruin@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca

Katie McLaughlin is The Alberta Library’s new Communications Coordinator. Katie is a graduate of Grant MacEwan College’s Public Relations program and worked most recently for the City of Edmonton Communications. Katie has also been a weekly pop culture discussion  panelist on City TV’s Breakfast Television. Katie is an animal lover who enjoys doing Bikram yoga and taking in the local music scene in her spare time. Contact Katie at KMcLaughlin@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca

 

 


Online Reference Centre-a fresh approach to learning

What’s New for 2009/2010

The Online Reference Centre continues to be a success story for The Alberta Library, in partnership with Alberta Education, and remains unique in Canada. Alberta public libraries are valued key players in helping to raise awareness and promote the use of the ORC resources for students, teachers and parents.

In the fall 2008, the School Library Services Initiative project was launched at Alberta Education.The project focus is to review and make recommendations, along with the development of accountability procedures, which would allow Alberta schools to take steps towards revitalizing their libraries. This has been an exciting project that renews the value and respect for the role school libraries play in students’ learning.

The ORC resources support Alberta Programs of Study for K to12 and are great places to direct these students. Resources are available at all times and can be accessed from school, home and library computers.

Here are five things public librarians need to know to help students and teachers find and use ORC resources for 2009/2010:

1. All schools are now automatically authenticated to www.learnalberta.ca. Accessing the website from school will reveal the username and password required. Principals receive an e-mail announcing the new password each September, but no longer receive a mailed letter with this information.

2. Teachers can now set up their own “My Workspace” at www.learnalberta.ca to collect and organize resources they find on the site. This is designed to save search time and assist with teaching in an electronic environment. Please note: Teachers must provide their Alberta teaching certificate number to set up the “My Workspace” folder. Other authorized visitors (e.g. student teachers, teacher assistants, library staff, etc.) can create a personal account but they must have their school jurisdiction username and password to set up the account.

3. Due to a budget shortfall some resources in the ORC were not renewed for this school year. The following resources make up the ORC content for 2009/2010:

*ORC licensed resources include the following:

*ORC provides free links to the following resources in English & French:

4. Bookflix and Culturgrams are new to the ORC resources this year. Bookflix is a collection of eBooks from Scholastic of paired fiction and non-fiction video that provide interactive read-along options for grades K to three. Culturgrams provides information on countries of the world for K to 12, including recipes, interviews, maps, flags, anthems, and much more.

5. A session highlighting six digital tools available to teachers will be presented at the Netspeed conference in Calgary, Oct 21 to 23, 2009. Please consult the Netspeed program for further details.

If you have any questions related to the ORC and its resources, please contact Diane GallowaySolowan, ORC Coordinator: dgs@thealbertalibrary.ab.ca or call 780-414-0805 ext 229.

 


TAL a-Twitter

 

 

 

 

 

The Alberta Library is now on Twitter! Follow us at http://twitter.com/Alberta_Library .
TAL has found Twitter as a great way to provide information to the library community about TAL services, announcements and information of interest to libraries. For more information on how Twitter and other social networking sites can help your library communicate, check out the APLEN 5 Minute Guides at www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/5minguides.html.