From the President’s Desk ............................................................................... 2

From the Executive Director ............................................................................ 3

Not our first rodeo! News from CPL .................................................................... 5

FBI returns book catalogued in 1965 ................................................................... 6

EPL unveils new Aboriginal Collection ................................................................. 7

St. Albert Public Library gets Face(book) to Face(book) with 20s and 30s ....................... 8

Rural Information Services Initiative (RISE)........................................................... 9

“News from the School” ................................................................................ 10

Ex Libris Association ..................................................................................... 11

Contact us at LAA ........................................................................................ 12

Partnering up for a new fundraiser ................................................................... 13

People in the News ...................................................................................... 14

Forthcoming Events ...................................................................................... 16

Summer 2009 Issue 164

Library Assoc iat ion of A lberta, 80 Baker Cres NW, Calgary, AB T2L 1R4

www.laa.ca info@laa.ca 403.284.5818

Letter of

the LAA

Title INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Page 2 Letter of the LAA

From the President’s Desk

By Renée Reaume

Well, it’s September already! Where did the summer go? Over the last few months, LAA was involved in copyright consultations held with key stakeholders. We are fortunate to have LAA Past President Rick Leech as our copyright advisor and can also draw on the expertise of Rob Tiessen at the University of Calgary who is Chair of CLA’s Copyright Working Group. Both Rick and Rob were invited to attend roundtables held in Edmonton and Calgary this summer. There is still time for you to submit your input on copyright. Go to: http://copyright.econsultation.ca. The Pacific Northwest Library Association held its annual meeting in Missoula Montana and celebrated its 100th anniversary! It was great group of people at the conference and it reminded me a bit of what ALC is like. Next year’s PNLA conference will be in Victoria B.C. at the Empress Hotel. The theme for the 2010 conference is “No Library is an Island” and speaks to the need to collaborate effectively in difficult economic times. Speaking of PNLA, for those of you who have never joined PNLA or perhaps your membership has lapsed, you can (re)join for only $35.00 for the first year. The Partnership held its annual retreat this August. Of great interest is the Certification Pilot Project LAA is hosting. Over the next year, 45 participants will assist LAA on behalf of other provincial associations in developing and testing this continuing education certification program. Christine Sheppard and I had the opportunity this summer to visit Marigold Library System Headquarters and learn more about RISE (Rural Information Services initiativE). The RISE project is a grassroots initiative created by three library regions in Southern Alberta. Funding for RISE has come from Rural Alberta's Development Fund and via vigorous fundraising. The RISE Project will install video conferencing in 79 public libraries in Southern Alberta and in the three regional library system headquarters. The Project aims to increase rural quality of life by allowing communication with healthcare professionals, educators, families, libraries, entertainers, and others to take place via video conferencing. We held an LAA committee meeting using RISE and had a productive, cost effective meeting that saved all of us at least a half day in travel time, not to mention the expense. You can read more about RISE on page 9. LAA is thrilled to be able to offer you access to more support for your marketing efforts through Marketing 101: expanding your customer base. This document, prepared by Marigold Library System, is available on the LAA website at www.laa.ca Have a great fall and keep talking about libraries while leveraging other promotional activities and events. When your library coordinates its promotional activity/event with other initiatives such as Alberta Arts Days, public awareness doubles or even triples. Check out the media/press release templates and customizable posters at: http://culture.alberta.ca/artsdays/resources.aspx. Keep your displays up from Alberta Arts Days to help celebrate Canadian Library Month in October. Let’s keep libraries in the news by talking about your successful Summer Reading Program, Teen Reading Club, Alberta Arts Days (September), Open Access Week (October 19 to 23rd), and Canadian Library Month (October).

Letter of the LAA Page 3

From the Executive Director

One of the many great parts of my job is to represent LAA to the Pacific Northwest Library Association (PNLA). LAA President Renée Reaume and I attended the 100th Anniversary PNLA Conference in Missoula in early August. The PNLA Board includes an executive committee and representatives of five states and two provinces: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. It holds three Board meetings a year, two in Federal Way, Washington (in a converted convent “retreat” centre at $107/weekend including food!), and one at the annual conference. Some of the Board members appear in the photo below, taken at the conference banquet. Over 250 delegates attended the Missoula conference and the conversations among them were pretty much the same as the ones we hear in library communities everywhere: funding for libraries is shrinking, school libraries and librarians are disappearing, the digital revolution is threatening the future of libraries, the use of “futuristic tools” to attract and retain customers, the challenges of providing service to libraries in remote areas, increased library use without increased resources, coffee shops and video games in libraries, copyright issues including fair dealing, digital locks and Internet service provider liability . . . the list goes on and on. But we also talked about the great and cool things happening in libraries: funding for public libraries in Alberta increased by 39% this year; in BC, Vancouver Sun reporters Suzanne Ahearne, Darah Hansen, Catherine Rolfsen and Denise Ryan, won the 2009 Peter Gzowski Literacy Award of Merit; the Washington Library Association and PNLA are collaborating on a joint conference in Victoria next August; the Idaho Library Association offers weekly "Speak Up!" library advocacy tips; Montana has issued specialty license plates that support, for a small fee, the Montana Library Association; six of Alaska’s libraries were Library Journal’s "star" libraries for 2009; and at the Oregon Library Association 2009 annual conference, attendees at “The World of Autism” session received a crash course in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and its implications for the library, providing an understanding of how ASD affects individuals and how to make the library a more comfortable place for ASD patrons. PNLA provides a forum for the members of its seven provinces and states to brag, complain, share, inspire, educate, entertain and network. The conference gave me great ideas for ALC and LAA, reinforced the power of joint efforts, and showed the versatility and resilience that permeates the library world. I’m so proud to be part of this vibrant community. Libraries rock! Which reminds me; don’t forget to mark your calendar with the ALC 2010 dates of April 29 to May 2. The theme? ALBERTA LIBRARIES ROCK!

By Christine Sheppard

Page 4 Letter of the LAA

Letter of the LAA Page 5

Not our first rodeo! News from CPL

By Tina Thomas

Every year CPL participates in the Calgary Stampede parade. This year the parade entry included “walking books”, the “booking bronco”, costumed literary characters, and a horse-drawn carriage that ferried CPL Director Gerry Meek and Board Chair Judith Umbach. CPL staff could also be found at another Calgary Stampede tradition, taking part in a number of Stampede breakfasts, where we handed out book bags containing bookmarks and pencils, signed up new customers for Library cards and the Summer Reading Adventure (see below) and made hundreds of community connections. From the Stampede to the Stampeders Grown men and libraries aren’t always an intuitive

coupling. As part of a marketing outreach program to entice gents through the doors, CPL has teamed up with the Calgary Stampeders to be part of their in-game promotions. The Calgary Public Library Obstacle Challenge gives fans a chance to compete to win an i-Pod during the breaks in the game and puts the Library out in front of a group we want to reach! Not just for kids anymore! CPL’s Summer Reading Adventure has been part of school holiday activities for thousands of children each year. This year, however, they are not the only ones having fun. Over 1000 adults have registered for the Adult Summer Reading Adventure which works the same way as the kids’ program. There are weekly prizes a grand prize as well. Whether it’s too hot to go outside, too rainy, or just right for the beach, the whole family can now participate and win from summer reading!

…and still growing! Construction has begun on a new and unique facility that is expected to serve as a model for future community-based wellness centres and it will include CPL’s newest branch library – Saddletowne Library. The $120M Genesis Centre of Community Wellness is slated to open in the fall of 2011 and as wells as the Library, it will house a branch of YMCA Calgary, a Social services centre, community gathering places and indoor/outdoor sports facilities.

"This is a unique project providing more than just vital recreation infrastructure," says Mayor Dave Bronconnier. "With its human services component, the Genesis Centre of Community Wellness will also offer a vast array of programs to support immigrants, youth, seniors, multicultural groups and others. These residents will be able to learn, share their traditions, get information and counseling, and create an even more vibrant community than what already exists." The Genesis Centre of Community Wellness sits on a 10-hectare site located near the Saddletowne Shopping Centre in the north east are of the City.

First time for everything The Calgary Public Library Foundation proudly presents the first annual Calgary Public Library Foundation Literary Awards to celebrate local author achievements and literary excellence on September 24th. With the aim of promoting the development of Alberta’s literary community, the Awards reflect the Calgary Public Library Foundation’s commitment to championing literacy and public library service in Calgary.

Page 6 Letter of the LAA

FBI returns book catalogued in 1965

By Mary Jane Bilsland Early in July the FBI sent a package to Edmonton Public Library’s Information Services Division. In the package was a 1956 book – A Pictorial History of Indian Arts and Crafts. Catalogued in 1965, the book was kept in our storage area for some years. At some point, the book was requested from the closed stack area by James Brubaker. Once it was brought to the desk, Mr. Brubaker left the library with the item in hand. In 2006, James Brubaker, a Montana resident, was charged by the FBI for selling pages and entire books over the Internet, across the United States. A librarian from Western Washington State Library, Robert Lopresti caught the activity and enlisted help from friends to act as buyers of the items. The jig was up and Mr. Brubaker was arrested for the crime of selling stolen goods across state lines. Once the court case was completed, the FBI had to return goods to all libraries affect by Mr. Brubaker’s theft. EPL has just received the book from the FBI along with information about the notification service to see details about the court case and the sentence. From the US Department of Justice, a victim notification system has advised us that Mr. Brubaker is not eligible for parole, and we will be advised of any of his significant activities while incarcerated. Oh what they don’t teach you in library school!

Why E-Books Look So Ugly

As books make the leap from cellulose and ink to electronic pages, some editors worry that too much is being lost in translation. Typography, layout, illustrations and carefully thought-out covers are all being reduced to a uniform, black-on-gray template that looks the same whether you’re reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or the Federalist Papers.

“There’s a dearth of typographic expression in e-books today,” says Pablo Defendini, digital producer for Tor.com, the online arm of science fiction and fantasy publisher Tor Books. “Right now it’s just about taking a digital file and pushing it on to a e-book reader without much consideration for layout and flow of text.”

Read the article here.

Letter of the LAA Page 7

Pipe Ceremony at the Aboriginal Collection Unveiling ceremony held at the Stanley Milner A. Library on June 15th, 2009.

Celebrating the arts, literature and culture of the Aboriginal community – the EPL unveils its new Aboriginal Collection On June 15th, 2009 the Edmonton Public Library officially unveiled its new Aboriginal Collection. The new addition of the Aboriginal Collection is just one of many examples how the EPL is committed to broadening our reach, increasing our access and strengthening our capacity to serve Edmonton's many diverse communities. The unveiling ceremony was well attended and included a

Pipe Ceremony lead by Elder Jerry Wood

An opening song by the Amiskwaciy Academy Drummers with Elder Francis Whiskeyjack

Performances by Poet Marilyn Dumont and Olooraik, Inuit throat singers

There are now 11 EPL locations with diverse Aboriginal collections located in specific areas, including CDs, DVDs, children's materials, fiction and non-fiction materials as well as Aboriginal language collections. All branches carry Aboriginal materials. In addition there are a wide variety of Aboriginal programs featuring Aboriginal instructors or performers - featured across Edmonton, in all branches.

By Kathryn Nikolaychuk

Elder Francis Whiskeyjack with Amiskwaciy Academy Drummers at the Aboriginal

Collection Unveiling ceremony held at the Stanley Milner A. Library on June 15th, 2009.

EPL unveils new Aboriginal Collection

Now OPEN for 60 hours a week! The Edmonton Public Library (EPL) is now open 60 hours/ week across 16 branches. We have expanded our service hours to ensure our customers have better access to all the great resources, services and programs available at the Library. The additional hours of service are a direct result of the provincial funding increase for public libraries announced by Premier Ed Stelmach and Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ray Danyluk, on April 16, 2009. Anywhere from three to 13 hours of extended service have been added at the following branches: Abbottsfield, Calder, Capilano, Castle Downs, Highlands, Sprucewood and Strathcona.

Page 8 Letter of the LAA

St. Albert Public Library gets Face(book) to Face(book) with 20s

and 30s By Julie Collison In an effort to attract those 20 and 30 somethings who use the Library to borrow books but don’t seem to want to come to any of our programs (and of course to attract those who have managed to live their lives so far without being a Library member) St. Albert Public Library now has a Facebook page dedicated to seeking their views. Check it out on Facebook: 20s and 30s at St.Albert Public Library The idea is to get ideas – we are hoping that people will let us know what programs would attract them, what sorts of things are they interested in, what can we do to make this a place for them. We are also mixing the modern with the traditional. We have designed a postcard using the same look and feel as our new Facebook page which will be available in the community. We are also working on plans to start a 20s and 30s book discussion group. Our working name is subVERSEive. This is about reading books that are a little off of the beaten path, a little less mainstream and intriguing enough to spark interesting conversation and food for thought. We will let you know how we get on – and please share your own success stories with us.

“I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals.

I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.” - A. Whitney Brown

Letter of the LAA Page 9

Rural Information Services Initiative (RISE)

By Lauren Jessop on behalf of the RISE partners

The Rural Information Services Initiative (RISE) is a partnership between Chinook Arch Regional Library System, Marigold Regional Library System and Shortgrass Regional Library System. The project, which is funded by Rural Alberta’s Development Fund, the Public Library Development Initiative, The Alberta Library and other private sources, is installing video conferencing equipment in 78 public libraries throughout Southern Alberta, as well as the three library system headquarters. Using the Alberta SuperNet, RISE will enhance and add to existing services reaching more than 450,000 people in 89 rural municipalities throughout southern Alberta. The project aims to increase rural quality of life by allowing communication with healthcare professionals, educators, families, libraries, entertainers and others via video conferencing. In Phase One of RISE, video conference units were installed in 6 pilot libraries in each library system, as well as in each system headquarters. The project is now in Phase Two, which involves installing video conference solutions in the remaining 60 libraries. These installations are currently ongoing with completion scheduled for mid-September 2009. Despite being in relatively early stages of development, RISE has already allowed for the sharing of a variety of successful programs. To give an example: the Theodore Bradley Municipal Library in Stirling connected to a program on Tourette Syndrome put on by the Family and Community Resource Centre (Alberta Children’s Hospital). By connecting to this program from within the library, participants were spared the lengthy drive to Calgary and were instead able to participate over their lunch hour and to ask the doctor questions. As well as allowing patrons to connect with health professionals, the new video conference units have allowed them to participate in live sessions put on by the Royal Tyrrell Museum, NASA and the Helen Schuler Nature Centre in Lethbridge, to name only a few. The units have also been beneficial to library staff and managers who have used them to connect to staff training workshops and to various committee meetings. As we move forward with the project we expect to see the video conference units used in a variety of creative ways to provide information and enhanced services to our member libraries and their patrons. We’re all looking forward to the great video conference programs that will be presented in the coming months. If you have questions or comments about the RISE project, please contact Maggie Macdonald, CEO Chinook Arch Regional Library System by email at mmacdonald@chinookarch.ca or Lauren Jessop, RISE Consultant for Chinook Arch Regional Library System at ljessop@chinookarch.ca.

Page 10 Letter of the LAA

“News from the School”

By Dinesh Rathi and Heidi Julien

Welcome to our news from the School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS), University of Alberta. We encourage feedback from the community, and invite you to learn more about us by visiting our web page (www.slis.ualberta.ca). We are delighted to welcome 54 new MLIS students this Fall (2009). The incoming students will add to substantial diversity of the current cohort. This year SLIS will have students from Canada, China, Botswana, Brazil, Eritrea, Germany, Korea, and the U.S. As a group, the entering class will have disciplinary backgrounds including English, History (these two are most popular), Art History, Fine Arts, French, Classics, Agriculture, Psychology, Anthropology, Biblical Studies, Biology, Commerce, Comparative Literature, Education, Journalism, Philosophy and undergraduate studies in Library and Information Studies. In addition, our incoming students have knowledge of 19 different languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Punjabi, Scottish Gaelic, Polish, Russian, Latin, Setswana, Bangla, and Tigrinya. Such diversity always invigorates our classrooms and hallways! SLIS is increasingly energized by a range of new initiatives, many of which are highlighted in our SLIS News column on our website. Please visit often to keep abreast of what’s happening. Some examples include:

SLIS convocation was held on Thursday June 4, 2009. Dale Storie was presented with our Sarah Rebecca Reed Medal in Library and Information Studies at the pre-convocation lunch for graduating students and their guests, held on June 4. This medal is the School’s highest and most prestigious academic honour. It recognizes Dale’s outstanding performance in the program, as well as professional potential. This honour is accompanied by one year memberships in the Canadian Library Association and the Library Association of Alberta. Sincere congratulations to Dale Storie!

SLIS is offering a wide variety of workshops/1-credit courses in Fall 2009 intended to meet the professional development needs of practicing information professionals and of SLIS students. Some of these workshop topics were requested by librarians, archivists, or records managers, while others were suggested by SLIS faculty members; all of these topics are of growing importance in the information world. The School is offering the following weekend workshops for library and information specialists interested in continuing education experiences in Fall 2009: Issues in Public Library Management - September 25, 26, 27; Information Security - October 16, 17, 18; Consumer Health Resources & Services - October 23, 24, 25; and Project Management - November 13, 14, 15. The cost of each workshop is $275.00, payable to the School of Library and Information Studies. All participants will receive a certificate of completion for the workshop. For more details visit http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/slis/workshops.cfm

For the first time in 15 years, SLIS will host a visitor supported by the University of Alberta Distinguished Visitor's Fund. Dr. Howard White, an eminent scholar in library and information science from Drexel University (Philadelphia, U.S.), has graciously accepted our invitation to visit the SLIS from October 5th to October 9th, 2009. Three talks by Dr. White are scheduled: one on applications of citation analysis in quantitative studies of science (12 noon on Monday October 5), one on library collection development (5 p.m. on Thursday October 8), and one on issues in information science (11a.m. on Wednesday October 7). A series of research conversations and consultation sessions with students, faculty and librarians are also planned. Mark your calendars to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to interact with an eminent library and information science scholar. Watch for details of these events to come. For more information about Dr. White, see http://www.ischool.drexel.edu/faculty/HUD.Web/HUD.html. For more information about his visit, contact SLIS Associate Professor Dr. Dangzhi Zhao at dzhao@ualberta.ca.

Letter of the LAA Page 11

Ex Libris Association

Ex Libris Association is the Canadian national association created for and by retired persons whose careers have been in libraries and information centres, archives, publishing, and related areas. The Association now has approximately 230 members across the country in all areas of librarianship in all types of library and information services – from St. John's to Victoria. We are encouraging increased activity in areas of the country beyond Southern Ontario. With the goal of keeping members up-to-date on library issues and current developments and with a special interest in Canadian library history, ELA sponsors an annual conference, seminars for students at faculties of library and information studies, tours of libraries, sessions at CLA and provincial conferences and other activities. Advocacy is a very important part of our work. We have written letters to oppose library closings and diminution of services. Twice a year we publish ELAN, our highly regarded newsletter, and we published The Morton Years: the Canadian Library Association, 1946-1971(1995) as well as A History of Education for Library and Information Studies in Canada (2004). Our current major project is the development of an historical database, Biographies of Librarians and Information Professionals in Canada. While we are not primarily a social group, most of us really enjoy keeping in touch with professional colleagues, as librarians are among the most interesting people around! Membership is very reasonable, $25 a year at the moment, and we encourage libraries to give gift memberships to their new retirees. People who have previously been active in the field and want to keep up with the profession will enjoy Ex Libris Association. Established in 1986, the Ex Libris Association is the only association of retired library staff in the world that is not part of another organization. For more information about us, please visit the ELA website at http://exlibris.ischool.utoronto.ca/. For membership applications go to http://exlibris.ischool.utoronto.ca/About/Member/Form1/form1.html. Send news items regarding libraries, library events, awards to senior librarians, retirements, obituaries, and senior appointments to Alvin Schrader, Prairies/Western Canada Regional Reporter, at alvin.schrader@ualberta.ca.

"Summer's lease hath all too short a date." - William Shakespeare

Page 12 Letter of the LAA

The next deadline for newsletter submissions is November 15, 2009. The Fall issue will be published by November 31. The editor welcomes articles and letters as well as your comments and suggestions. Please email to: Christine Sheppard Newsletter Editor christine.sheppard@shaw.ca

Next newsletter

submission date

November 15

Contact us at LAA

President: Renée Reaume: president@laa.ca Past President: Karla Palichuk: pastpresident@laa.ca (nominations & elections) 1st VP: Mary Jane Bilsland: 1stvicepresident@laa.ca (advocacy) 2nd VP: Diane Clark: 2ndvicepresident@laa.ca (continuing education) Treasurer: Julia Reinhart: treasurer@laa,ca Directors: Allison Inglis: director1@laa.ca (member services) Angie Mandeville: director2@laa.ca (SLIS liaison) Leeanne Morrow: director3@laa.ca (continuing education) Alice Swabey: director4@laa.ca (intellectual freedom) Special Director/Web Manager: Sona Kothari: webmanager@laa.ca Executive Director/Newsletter Editor: Christine Sheppard 403.284.5818 Info@laa.ca For full contact information, visit www.laa.ca

Letter of the LAA Page 13

Partnering up for a new fundraiser By Joan Urschel Question: What do Librarians and Rotarians have in common ? Answer: A fundraiser to benefit Strathcona’s youth ! The Rotary Club of Sherwood Park Centennial will be joining forces with Strathcona County Library and together are planning an event to raise money and support for their organizations. The first annual Fall Fest in the County is planned for October 16th. This partnership comes at a perfect time, as Strathcona County Library is in the initial stages of raising money for collections, furnishings and equipment for its new library, scheduled to open in the Community Centre in Centre in the Park on November 1, 2010. The Rotary Club, whose focus is on service and lending financial support to the youth in our community, sees this as an excellent opportunity to partner with an organization dedicated to providing direct services to this age group. The Rotary Club would like to provide a naming sponsorship to a section of the new library, the Career Centre, that would provide employment assistance and materials to support the vocational interests of the youth in the community. Both organizations have traditionally held fundraising galas in the fall, and are often asking the same people in the community to attend both events. Many people in Strathcona County have supported the library’s annual “Leather Bound” fundraiser each year. Just as many folks have attended the Rotary’s annual function. The new and combined event, renamed Fall Fest, will be a dinner, dance and auction, this year featuring Country recording artist Brett Kissel. Combining forces, and sharing the organization and planning of one big event, is an exciting alternative. This new partnership leads to an anticipated longer term relationship between two very committed community organizations, as they look ahead to an even bigger event in 2010.

"It is a sad moment when the first phlox appears. It is the amber

light indicating the end of the great burst of early summer and suggesting

that we must now start looking forward to autumn. Not that I

have any objection to autumn as a season, full of its own beauty; but I just cannot bear to see

another summer go, and I recoil from what the first

hint of autumn means." - Vita Sackville-West

Page 14 Letter of the LAA

People in the News

Peace Library System is very pleased to announce the hiring of our newest public Library Consultant, Jennifer Anderson. Jen was hired into a newly created consulting position, which was made possible thanks to the provincial operating grant increase to public libraries this year. Jen graduated this May from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with her master’s degree in Library and Information Studies. Though a new graduate, she has 11 years of prior experience working at a variety of responsibilities including circulation, reference, and technical services within public libraries in Manitoba, including Winnipeg Public Library.

Brenda Mathenia joined the University of Lethbridge Library in July 2009 as the new Associate University Librarian for Client Services and Facilities. Brenda comes to Lethbridge from the University of Nevada Reno (2005-2009) where she served as Head of the DeLaMare Engineering & Earth Sciences Library and Collections Development Librarian. Brenda has experience as a reference and instruction librarian at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana and served as a University Library Associate at the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library at the University of Michigan. Brenda holds a Master’s of Science in Information from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Urban Planning from Michigan State University . Christine Brown has returned to the University of Alberta Libraries after serving as Director of the Leduc Public Library since 2006. Effective May 19, 2009, Dr. Brown commenced her position as Head of the Rutherford Library located on the U of A main campus. Previous to her position at Leduc Public Library, Dr. Brown was Head of Circulation at the Rutherford Library, as well as Chair of the Circulation Task Force for the Libraries. Dr. Brown holds a Doctorate as well as a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Western Ontario and a BA Honours in Music History from Queen's University. Grant MacEwan College is sad to announce the retirement of our Library Director Joanne Kemp after 29 years of distinguished service to the College community. Joanne began her career at MacEwan in 1980 as Campus Librarian at the Mill Woods Learning Resources Centre. Joanne’s tireless energy and commitment to service led to a number of leadership positions over the years and since 2000, Joanne has held the position of Director, Learning and Instructional Services. Grant MacEwan College Library is pleased to announce that Debbie McGugan has been appointed to the position of Chief Librarian. Debbie has worked at the MacEwan Library for eleven years, serving as Reference Librarian, Chair of Reference and Research Services, and more recently as Associate Director of Learning and Instructional Services. Marigold Library System has announced the appointment of Michelle Toombs as Director, effective September 1st, 2009. Toombs is currently Calgary Public Library’s Customer Services Manager for the east sector of the City where she leads seven branches with more than 200 staff. During her time in Calgary, Toombs has been instrumental in raising the Library’s visibility and utility through community building initiatives and program partnerships to increase use and support. She is experienced in building strong communities and neighbourhoods through identifying and focusing on community assets and leveraging library resources for the benefit of residents. She has served on several community associations and not-for-profit boards where she has gained considerable experience in board governance, financial management and facilities and project management.

Letter of the LAA Page 15

The RISE Project Management Team is pleased to announce that Karen Labuik has accepted the position of RISE Project Manager for an 18 month term. Karen plans to retire from Marigold early in the fall, after 50 years working in libraries in Saskatchewan, Texas and Alberta and will assume the Project Manager position at that time. Karen asks all of you with plans for a trip to Turkey to hold off for just a while as she takes advantage of an opportunity she couldn’t resist! Chinook Arch Regional Library System recently welcomed Lauren Jessop to their team as their new RISE consultant. A native Ontarian, Lauren is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a degree in history and in 2008 received her MLIS from the University of Western Ontario. Lauren has a passionate interest in public library service, with special interests in children’s services and building community partnerships. Ewa Piorko joined the SAIT Library as the new Technical Services Librarian on June 1. She comes to us from the University of Chicago where she worked as a Librarian with students at the Chicago, London and Singapore campuses of the Chicago Booth School of Business. Prior to that, she worked as a Media Librarian & Radio Archivist with the CBC in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ewa has a Master of Arts in European Studies from UBC and an MLIS from Dalhousie University. The Lethbridge Public Library Board has announced the appointment of Todd Gnissios, previously Associate Director for Branches and Outreach, as Acting Director and CEO of the Lethbridge Public Library. Gnissios replaces Keith Walker, who has decided to return to his former position as Director of Library Services at Medicine Hat College. The Library Board’s appointment of Todd Gnissios is indicative of the confidence the Board has in the talent of the Lethbridge Public Library staff. During this time of expansion and rapidly changing public library services, the Library Board looks forward to working closely with Todd Gnissios, staff, volunteers, the City and other stakeholders to realize the Lethbridge Public Library’s Vision to make the Library “the community’s choice for the pursuit of literacy, leisure, learning and innovation.” Wendy Merkley has joined the University of Lethbridge Library as the Associate University Librarian, Information Systems & Technical Services. Wendy has worked in a variety of library types and positions, most recently as the Manager of the RISE Project, and prior to that as the AUL for Information Systems at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The Alberta Library (TAL) has appointed Maureen Woods as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 28, 2009.Maureen has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Fraser Valley Regional Library, Director of Public Library Services Branch for the Province of British Columbia, Director of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network, and Provincial Librarian for Saskatchewan. TAL Board Chair Maggie Macdonald noted that Woods was selected after a national search process based on her successful record of leading complex organizations and working effectively with community members. Created in 1997, The Alberta Library is committed to barrier-free access for all Albertans to information, ideas and culture.

Congratulations to U of T alumnus Dr. Alvin Schrader (MLS ’75), who was a recipient of the 2009 Faculty of Information Alumni Association Jubilee Award. Dr. Schrader retired after 27 years in his illustrious career at SLIS at the U of A as a distinguished faculty member this spring. Not one to rest, he has taken on a new role as Director of Research at the University of Alberta Libraries. While a professor at U of A, he had researched topics such as intellectual freedom and censorship, philosophical foundations of library and information science, and professional education for library and information studies. His contributions, says his nominator and iSchool Senior Fellow, Wendy Newman, are many and will impact the field for many years to come. Dr. Schrader has served as the President of CLA, President of the Library Association of Alberta, and Director of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Alberta.

Page 16 Letter of the LAA

Forthcoming Events

2009

Sept. 24 – 25 Rural Libraries Conference Grande Prairie, AB. For information, visit www.peacelibrarysystem.ab.ca. Oct. 21-23 The 12th Annual Netspeed Conference Calgary, Alberta at the Carriage House Inn. For information, visit www.thealbertalibrary.ab.ca/netspeed

2010

February 24 – 27 Super Conference

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON. For information, visit www.accessola.com.

March 23 – 27 13th National Public Library Association Conference Portland, Oregon. For information, visit www.placonference.org.

April 22 - 24 British Columbia Library Association Conference Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. Penticton, BC. For information, visit

www.bcla.bc.ca. Apr. 29 – May 2 Alberta Library Conference. “Alberta Libraries Rock!” Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, AB. For information, visit www.albertalibraryconference.com. May 6 - 8 Saskatchewan Library Association Conference. Regina, SK. For information, visit www.lib.sk.ca. June 2 – 5 65th Annual Canadian Library Association Conference Edmonton, AB. For information, visit www.cla.ca. June 24 – 29 American Library Association Annual Conference Washington, DC. For information, visit www.ala.org. Aug. 11 - 13 Pacific Northwest Library Association & Washington Library Association Joint Conference. Victoria, BC. For information, visit www.pnla.org.