Download - Vol 6, No 1 (2014)
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
President’s Report By Gwen Bird.
In my last Browser column I referenced upcoming
work to develop a new mission statement for our
Association. I’m pleased to report on both the
process and result of that work now. First things first—
here it is: Advancing BC Libraries Together. I hope
your response to this statement is as enthusiastic as
mine, and that of the many groups and individuals
who participated in our process to arrive at it. Let me
walk you through the process we took to get here, as
I think it provides a great example of BCLA members,
staff, and Board working together.
The 2012-2013 Board knew we wanted to follow
consideration of BCLA’s new strategic plan with
development of revised Mission, Vision, and Values
statements. The old ones were really showing their
age, now thought to be too long, and in need of
refreshing for prominent display on the Association’s
new website. We provided whiteboards and markers
in the registration area of the BC Libraries Conference
in spring 2013 and collected a substantial amount of
wide-ranging input from conference attendees on
words or phrases they’d like to see included in BCLA’s
mission, vision and values statements. The compiled
list of this input was discussed at a fall Board meeting,
where we noted key themes—collaboration,
connection, community, leadership. In addition,
there were many concepts less frequently
mentioned, but perhaps no less important to those
who contributed them—threads of privacy, freedom
of access, advocacy, activism, even “creative
destruction!” Following a thorough Board discussion,
a small subcommittee crafted several draft mission
and vision statements for consideration and these
were distributed to the chairs and convenors of all
Interest Groups, Sections and Committees. An in-
person consultation with representatives from a
dozen of these groups was held at the BCLA office in
late November. We had a good discussion that
evening, endorsing the selected mission statement
and a preferred vision statement. Input from those
unable to attend the meeting was accepted by
email and via one-on-one meetings on request.
The participation of the members at the group event
in November was highly rewarding for me as
President. Each representative there had consulted
with their constituents, came prepared to engage at
a strategic level, and we avoided devolving into a
group wordsmithing exercise (we’ve all been there!).
BCLA Executive Director Annette DeFaveri supplied
useful documents ahead of time, reminding
participants that a mission statement should be brief
and catchy—in the age of social media, we need a
shorter-than-tweetable phrase that grabs peoples’
attention and summarizes why we exist. The vision
statement, perhaps slightly longer, is an aspirational
statement that conveys where we want to be in the
future.
The group chose the selected mission statement as
the one that best conveys a strong sense of forward
momentum, collective effort, and the importance of
our library networks. We also discussed the fact that
the statement speaks of advancing libraries, whereas
many of our activities and benefits actually accrue to
library people (as individuals). After unpacking this
idea, we agreed that while the latter is true, the
reason we do what we do—indeed why we exist at
all—is because of the libraries themselves, including
the people who run them and work in them. As for
the vision statement, one concept that comes up in
each discussion of this is the idea of “full
membership,” that is, support from library workers at
all levels in all types of libraries everywhere in the
province.
When the proposed mission and vision statements
came back to the Board at our December meeting,
the mission was unanimously approved. We have a
bit more work to do fine-tuning the vision statement,
and we’re now also ready to move on to
consideration of the values that guide our work as an
association.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
So there you have it—the BC Library Association:
Advancing BC Libraries Together.
You’ll begin to see our new mission statement on
BCLA materials—the soon to be unveiled new
website, printed materials, and other official
communications from BCLA. Personally, I’m as
pleased with our process to get here as I am with our
bold and concise new mission statement. To my
mind, it represents the best of our group working
together, and it gave me a glimpse into the
wonderful support and even loyalty our members
have for this organization. I look forward to more of
this as we further consider the related vision and
values statements, and then continue to build
momentum toward our conference in a few short
months. Stay tuned!
Gwen Bird is the Executive Director of COPPUL,
the Council of Prairie and Pacific University
Libraries consortia.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 6 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
UFV Library and Information Technology
Program reunion By Christina Neigel.
For 33 years, the Library and Information Technology
program at UFV has been in operation. In November
and in partnership with UFV’s Alumni Relations, the
Library and Information Technology Department
held a reception to celebrate the hard work and
dedication of students, faculty, alumni, practicum
and site visit hosts, guest speakers and advisory
committee participants. Guests enjoyed moving
speeches, edible delicacies, and live music while
reconnecting with colleagues and friends. Over one
thousand dollars was raised to support the Pat Sifton
Leadership Endowment which supports program
students who demonstrate outstanding contributions
to the community.
Despite the many changes the program and the field
experience, the fantastic contributions of our
graduates would not be possible without the
commitment of our professional community. For this
reason, UFV’s Library and Information Technology
faculty and staff look forward to planning the next
celebration!
Christina Neigel is Associate Professor at UFV, Library
and Information Department.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
New technical services award By Janette McConville.
The BCLA Cataloguing and Technical Services
Interest Group (BCCATS) is very pleased to announce
the establishment of a new Technical Services Award
for BC libraries. This award recognizes an individual or
unit working in technical services that have
demonstrated excellence and/or made a difference
to users and colleagues in British Columbia in the
area of Technical Services.
Nomination criteria for the BCCATS Technical Services
Award will include at least some of the following:
Demonstrated impact on users, the library and/or
colleagues across BC
Demonstrated collaboration with colleagues or other
institutions
Worthy of inspiring similar efforts within the profession
Must have worked in B.C. within the past year
All nominations submitted by February 15, 2014 will be
considered by the BCCATS awards committee for the
current year’s awards.
Nomination forms are available on the Cataloguing
and Technical Services (BCCATS) webpage:
http://www.bcla.bc.ca/bccats/default.aspx#.UtCGD
hD9y1w
Nominations can be emailed to Janette McConville
Please note: Nominees or their institutions are
required to be BCLA members.
Janette McConville is the Chair of the BCLA
Cataloguing and Technical Services Interest Group.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
Technology and the academic librarian:
Emerging, merging, and changing the
game By Caitlin Bakker.
At Technology and the academic librarian:
Emerging, merging, and changing the game, ALPS’s
December 2013 meeting, a series of seven lightning
talks highlighted the role of the academic librarian in
using, assessing, and repurposing existing tools and in
the development of new tools to better engage and
meet user needs. For those unable to attend the
event, or who would like to revisit the content, a
recording of all lightning talks is available at
http://www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca/alps/.
Online instruction: Keeping it personal
In “Online Instruction: Keeping it Personal,” Ania
Dymarz (SFU) outlined her goal of creating a more
personalized learning experience for 280 students in a
first year Kinesiology course. As is the case with many
library instruction sessions, objectives included
familiarizing students with the physical library,
introducing students to library resources, and
teaching students how to evaluate those resources.
In addition to the number of students, in-person
library instruction was further complicated by the
renovations which were underway at the Bennett
Library at that time. As a result, an online module was
developed with the goal of helping students feel
more comfortable in a physical library space without
the benefit of being taught within that space.
Strategies included incorporating self-guided tours
and web-based assignments which would require
students to physically visit the library space to retrieve
print resources.
To use or not to use: Should academic libraries
be using Web 2.0 tools to engage students and
faculty?
Laura Thorne (UBC-Okanagan)’s “To use or not to
use: Should academic libraries be using Web 2.0 tools
to engage students and faculty?” presented the
results of a research study conducted between
December 2012 and April 2013 on the use of social
media in academic libraries. Defining social media as
internet applications that can be used to facilitate
two-way communications and knowledge
exchanges, Thorne and her collaborator, Sarah
Nicholson, investigated the effectiveness of social
media tools at one mid-sized academic library.
Through surveys, it was found that 74% of students felt
it would be worthwhile to engage with the library via
social media, but only 9% were doing so. Thorne and
Nicholson set out to explore the reasons behind this
discrepancy, including a lack of awareness and the
necessity of timely, relevant, and personalized
content. Despite the enthusiasm of the respondents,
it was clearly found that social media was seen as a
value-added service rather than a replacement for
more traditional reference and instruction services.
Teaching via Skype: The Rashomon Effect
Engaging a classroom of learners can be
challenging, but it may prove an even greater
challenge with a technological intermediary. Liaison
Librarian Holly Hendrigan (SFU Surrey) examined the
difference between the librarian and the faculty
instructor’s assessment of an online library session in
“Teaching via Skype: The Rashomon Effect.”
Hendrigan drew on her experience providing library
via Skype instruction for a graduate-level Education
course in Nanaimo. The session did not allow the
librarian to receive visual feedback from the students
or instructor and the librarian relied on the instructor
to advance slides, click hyperlinks, and enter search
terms. While the librarian felt that the session had
been less than ideal, the faculty member reported
that the students were fully engaged.
Web literacy standards and open badges
In “Web literacy standards and open badges,”
Cynthia Ng (CILS, Langara) described the potential
applicability of the open badges system for libraries
and library instruction. Badges can represent the
achievement of skills and be connected to
competencies, such as those outlined in Mozilla’s
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
web literacy standards (available at
www.webmaker.org).
While students are familiar with traditional forms of
self-advocacy such as resumes, open badges were
discussed as a means of enhancing the traditional
resume through a more robust web presence. As the
visible metadata includes the issuer, an institutional
affiliation has the potential to add prestige to the
badge.
Experimenting with shifting sands: UBC Library’s
Localized Open Online Course (LOOC)
partnership
UBC’s recent foray into the world of Localized Open
Online Courses, or LOOCs, was described by Erin
Fields. M101 was designed as a flexible learning
space focusing on developing digital literacy skills
from conducting research to synthesizing information
to creating content. It contains forums in which
participants are able to offer ratings and
commentary as a means of engagement and to
provide feedback on the design of the educational
units. It was noted in discussion that one benefit of
the LOOC may be as a professional development
tool for faculty and staff within the community.
It was found that there were some challenges
regarding understanding of intellectual property and
copyright law among participants. In response, a unit
was developed to serve as an orientation to some
basic principles of copyright. The possibility of
incorporating open badges is also under
consideration.
Flexible learning support for a first year business
course
In “Flexible learning support for a first year business
course,” Lindsay Ure (UBC) discussed a project in
which an online information sources tutorial was
created for a first-year business course. The business
context of the module was of the utmost importance
as in business there is not only less of an emphasis on
traditional scholarly resources, but also a very wide
variety of potential sources. One of the goals of the
project was to raise awareness of the variety of
resources available.
Four videos were developed focusing on credible
sources of information for research assignments,
career research, and on-the-job research, as well as
the various types of information sources, and how to
find and evaluate information. Videos were
embedded into quiz questions, which were made
available through the course management system.
As part of the course, pretest and posttest questions
were developed to help the librarian determine the
impact of previous library instruction, see how
students chose the best sources of information for
their research, and measure whether awareness of
information would improve after the tutorial.
Assessment of these pre and post-test questions
found no significant difference or, in the case of two
questions, negative results. It was noted that user
testing of questions during development may offer
further insight.
Qualitative data analysis support for researchers
Nicole White (SFU) described the Research
Commons’ recently introduced NVivo service, which
provides qualitative data analysis support for
graduate students and researchers. Essentially, NVivo
is a software package which helps to organize and
analyze unstructured qualitative data and allows the
user to test theories and identify trends.
To support the software, two graduate students have
been hired to act as peer facilitators. These students
had been using the software independently in their
own departments and therefore possessed significant
experience with the tools. Their responsibilities include
one-on-one consultations, responding to e-mail
inquiries, teaching workshops, and offering general
course-integrated instruction sessions.
White noted that there had been significant cross-
disciplinary interest in the software beyond the
anticipated social sciences which included
researchers in education, business, and applied
science, among other disciplines. Following the
deployment of the software, assessment has now
begun to examine who is using the software and how
the service may better meet user needs.
Caitlin Bakker is the Digital Initiatives Librarian at the
University of Northern British Columbia.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
Emily Carr Branch goes Uptown By Lynne Jordon.
The Greater Victoria Public Library (GVPL) started the
new year with a bang by opening the doors to its
newly relocated Emily Carr Branch at the Uptown
shopping complex in Saanich on January 6, 2014.
GVPL had identified the relocation of the branch as
the top priority in its 2010 facilities plan Making Space
for the Future. While a much-loved fixture in the
neighbourhood, the old branch suffered from lack of
elevator access between the two floors, was
landlocked between two major, one-ways roads and
had limited site parking. The inflexible space no
longer met staff and patrons’ needs. As a result,
branch usage dropped over the years.
When looking for a new site for the branch the
mantra was location, location, location. The Uptown
site is across the street from the old branch and,
fittingly, was the former site of the Town & Country
Shopping Plaza where the original Victoria-Saanich
Branch was in the 1960s. With thousands of people
visiting Uptown every day to shop, work and use
other services, it was the logical location for the
library.
The new branch is a marked departure from the old
branch with bright, modern fixtures and flexible
space. Much of the building design is inspired by the
library’s namesake with the interior featuring
reproductions of two of Emily Carr’s paintings, Odds &
Ends and Blue Sky, courtesy of the Art Gallery of
Greater Victoria, and the outdoor reading garden
including plantings mentioned in her writings on
wildflowers.
New technologies are front and centre at the branch
including an innovative, made-at-GVPL solution for
self-checkouts. The new self-checkouts use
touchscreen tablets and a scanner at a fraction of
the cost of standard library self-checkouts. Patrons
have the option to scan their physical library card,
enter their library card number or scan the library
card barcode from a smartphone. They can pay
their fines instantly using Visa or Mastercard and can
choose to have their receipt emailed to them
thereby saving paper.
The Emily Carr Branch is also the first GVPL site to use
to an automated materials handling system for self-
check in. Staff have nicknamed the machine Aggie,
and she is already proving her value by freeing up
staff from materials processing so they can spend
more time helping patrons and getting library
materials on the shelves more quickly. Aggie has also
proved to be great entertainment for patrons who
enjoy watching their items travel down the conveyor
belt!
Other key features of the new branch include:
Stunning views and lots of natural light for reading.
A modern space with flexible furnishings, including
collapsible tables, chairs on wheels and mobile
shelving, which can be easily reconfigured
depending on programming and patron needs.
Outdoor reading garden.
GVPL CEO Maureen Sawa and Saanich Mayor
Frank Leonard at the official ribbon cutting
ceremony. Photo by Susie Jones, GVPL.
Flexible seating and lots of natural light at the new
Emily Carr Branch at Uptown. Photo by Susie
Jones, GVPL.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
Emily Carr Branch construction team. Left to right:
Kate Phelan, Wensley Architects, Vancouver Office;
Jen Chapman Story, Story Construction; Stewart Story,
Story Construction; Doug Wong, Wensley Architects,
Victoria Office; Lynne Jordon, Greater Victoria Public
Library; ArieVanderhoeven; Heather Kallos, Heather
Kallos Interior Design. Missing: Von Bishop, District of
Saanich. Photo by Susie Jones, GVPL.
Interactive
children’s learning
panels purchased
with a grant from
IslandLink
Federation.
Adjusted hours to
accommodate a
Monday opening,
which has been
long desired by
the community.
Although it is early days, the new branch is
demonstrating that if you build it, they will come. On
opening day, more than 1,100 people visited the
branch, which is one of four Saanich branches. The
branch also welcomed many new members who
signed up for library cards. “People do vote with their
feet and this is clearly where they want us to be,” said
GVPL CEO Maureen Sawa.
Lynne Jordon is the Deputy CEO & Director, Strategic
Development at the Greater Victoria Public Library.
Lynne is responsible for facilities and strategic
planning, and the oversight of collections and
technical services. Emily Carr Branch relocation is the
third building project she has completed at GVPL.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
A Librarians’ Conversation for SFU Public Square’s Community Summit By Phil Hall, Janis McKenzie, Christina Neigel, Kevin Stranack, Jenny Wile, Maryann Kempthorne.
If you walked into a local community group and presented yourself as a librarian, what could you offer them? Do you think they would find you useful? Do you have any value to add to their struggles to define their community's political, economic, and cultural future? Could you do this without a physical collection? Without a building? Even without an institution? Since September 2013, the authors, a group of Metro Vancouver librarians, has been struggling with these questions and we don't have all the answers but we do have lots of ideas and more questions and we thank SFU Public Square for starting the conversation. Members of the group held a “Community Conversation” on Sept. 9, 2013; part of the SFU Public Square “100 Community Conversations”1 program. We called it a “Librarian’s Conversation” and discussed how we can help communities determine and achieve their future goals. In particular we talked about what librarians’ roles are to support communities that wish to inform themselves about the economic and cultural changes within their own region, the province, and, ultimately, the world. The group reported back to SFU Public Square and participated at the SFU Community Summit on B.C’.s Economic Future. A Discussion Guide2 authored for the SFU Public Square seeded the Community Conversations. Although the report was somewhat narrow and top-down in its outlook, it succeeded in giving us fodder for our conversation. Christina Neigel commented, the Discussion Guide “...frankly, reduces a number of complex phenomenon to an eerily government-like agenda.” [and] …. “ it shelves social issues under the broader notion of the 'economy’”. With that kind of colouring-outside-the-lines, our conversation was spirited, wide-ranging and energizing. The SFU Public Square asked us to submit a “Note Takers Report” back to them using a highly-structured online form with sections titled: “Hopes and Concerns for BC’s Economic Future”, “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats” [for the BC Economy], “Top Actions for BC’s Economic Future” and “Additional Actions to Address Social Equity”. Because of the complexity of the issues, the
documentation process and the short time frame, we felt that we have more questions than answers about BC’s economic future. We tried to record the results of our conversation more or less under the headings they requested (with some omissions). What follows is substantially as we reported back to SFU Public Square (with some additions based on our further conversations). We want to say again that this is not a complete discussion, nor a complete recommendation, but represents merely the beginning of a discussion. We hope for feedback and further participation. Hopes and Concerns (for BC’s Economic Future)
Hopes
We hope that all British Columbians have equal access to resources that help inform their economic choices and the choices of their respective communities. Having access to a range of useful, respectful information sources that take advantage of the speed, breadth, and socializing effect of networked resources assists in informed decision making. In addition, all British Columbians, in all socio-economic situations, require access to public spaces and opportunities to connect with their communities in a range of physical and online arenas. Both resources and forums help counteract the effects of the “filter bubble" and "echo chambers", caused by the algorithms and practices that exist in social media and news media sites which suggest or promote like-minded information. Echo chambers that limit our results lists to what an algorithm decides we want to see contribute to reduced community understanding and participation by reducing the variety of viewpoints and open dialogues. The effects of such bubbles and chambers have been observed in BC politics and discourse as tangibly as weak voter participation and a profound shift in household spending and debt management. Librarians can help British Columbians facilitate the free flow of political discourse and action and through a community driven selection of educational tools. Through providing tools for individuals and collectives to have an informed participation in our communities
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
British Columbians can more easily lay claim to their economy. Using a breadth of tools and expertise, librarians help communities make effective informed decisions and take action. We hope that British Columbians will continue to have access to diverse information sources and will continue to use it in ways that foster their own education and creativity. Concerns
Information seekers are increasingly given fewer and less interactive information sources. As mentioned above, Google, Facebook and other social media and searching software purposely narrow the focus of searches and enforce similar interests thereby cutting down on the range opinions and viewpoints. In addition, the range of information sources regularly used differs with age, education, and socio-economic status. Community responsibility and success depends on informed and engaged constituents who can make meaningful and relevant choices about their role in the broader spheres of governance. However, those who access fewer information sources are likely to receive a less rounded perspective on the subjects that affect BC’s future. There is a broad-based assumption that the deluge of online and traditional media is a) easily available to all and b) used meaningfully and effectively by all. However, it has been observed by this professional group that many continue to restrict their sources to mainstream “old-media”, receiving limited, if any, news and discussion about their local communities especially if they do not live in the urban areas. Increasingly, B.C.’s citizens, especially those with less free time to seek out sources, even if they use online interactive media for information sources, may fall into the trap of only receiving information that sustains a more limited world view (coined in terms of the Echo Chamber or Filter Bubble effect). All of these scenarios hamper the pursuit of collective, consensual, solutions that improve the development of an equitable economy. Top Actions for BC’s Economic Future
[Just as the framework and guide from SFU marked the beginning of a conversation, so are these “top” actions which were part of the SFU Notetakers Form. We hope they spur more lively discussion and welcome other points of views. These are some actions that came out of the discussion.] 1. Close the “gap” in economics discussions that remove politics and political power from the
equation. Although a framework is helpful for dialogue, illustrating a variety of interpretations of BCs economy and acknowledging the politics that create it would engender a more informed discussion. 2. Empower local decision makers to investigate the more complex attitudes, conditions, and experiences of their communities by acknowledging that their communities do not have a voice that is clearly heard through conventional communications and practices because those conventions ignore the inequities of access that are the product of uneven socio-economic status. 3. Identify, from the community’s perspective, what is missing from top-down institutionally driven processes, by providing more frequent and authentic discourse through online and physical public spaces. What are the questions that they want to ask and answer? 4. Ask all the communities in BC: what are the next steps they want to take to re-make their futures? This could be framed in ways that have specific relevance to individual communities. For example, when faced with profound economic decisions driving the future of a community, investigating how communities view their relationships with other communities at a grassroots level will better inform political process. 5. Encourage and support (financially) local governments to host regular and varied forms of activities that invite civic engagement that goes beyond entertainment and offers communities ways of exploring their own future from diverse perspectives. Additional Actions to Address Social Equity
This Conversation process is very top-down. While we appreciate the efforts of SFU Public Square in initiating this discourse, The Discussion Guide doesn’t necessarily reflect the nature of BC economy now and ignores the significant issue of "politics". It is an “aspirational” document but, like many documents of this nature, validates itself by defending the points of view of the institutions that traditionally dominate provincial discourse and decision-making. We have to get past this because our communities are going to move past it - with or without the mainstream institutions. In other words, there are ways of looking at the possibilities and challenges of our future that are not framed in terms of economics. While economics is an important and necessary consideration for implementing decisions, it reduces
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
our 'conversations' to a narrow view of how to face the future and limits innovative thinking. Our group believes that the BC economy is still heavily dependent upon resource industries3. The services sector that features so prominently in the Guide’s economic analysis, including (especially) the Finance, Insurance, and Real estate industry, figures prominently because many of its functions exist to support the resource industry. The recent BC election, especially the winning campaign, with its focus on “Jobs and Growth” and featuring key resource developments such as LNG export, echoes this predomination of resources in BC. Resource extraction is a permanent alteration to our environmental 'bank account' - a withdrawal that cannot be later returned and, for this very reason, communities need to be making very careful and informed decisions about this practice. This is hard to achieve when individual citizens feel disconnected because they are only invited into public discourse in polarized ways - proponents or critical activists. As evidenced by their continued support of public libraries, British Columbians simply want an opportunity to explore, reflect and influence decisions in ways that protect the livelihood and future of their families. But opportunities and encouragement are limited. We believe that actions to address social equity, as well as economic improvement, must address the diversity of place in BC. Every city, town, and village must recognize themselves in those actions. They must be broad and show that they can lead to increased economic equality for anyone anywhere. So how do we get there? Perhaps we should look to social actions in the past. For example, the roots of adult education are radical and are about communities defining their needs and empowering themselves. Here is where institutions can return the spirit of power back to communities. In this case we are thinking of libraries because we are librarians: in their current and historical roles, libraries support free unfettered expression and provide a mental space for dialogue and discourse. In reality, all provincial institutions should have a part in the solution but we are not going to solve economic problems until we understand how these institutions, even libraries, have a history of class bias and that this bias persists as a result of flawed “consultation processes” in the history of this province and the institutions within it.
So how do we do this?
We ask the community what kind of radical actions they need and want. It is a classic community development question. Institutions in BC (in which we include libraries and our own profession) often engage in the arrogant practice of “consulting” rather than fostering and aiding unfettered communication in a non-institutionally-prescribed way. For example, without soliciting opinions of BC communities, the “100 Community Conversations” asked them questions based on an economic analysis that may not include them. As a result, we have asked them to literally try to think of solutions within the “filter bubble” that is that analysis. When we do this, community members will not recognize themselves or their neighbours in the stories offered to describe those solutions and we will have alienation where we wanted participation. In follow-up discussions among the authors (and additional librarians) throughout the fall of 2013, we identified the need to engage library practitioners and professionals individually and not just as a result of their institutional employment. Perhaps this is our radical moment in the discipline of librarianship: we want to challenge library practitioners to individually answer their own question: “What can I do for you today?” We want to look at whether librarianship adds value to communities in a future where we may not have the collections and facilities that have traditionally backed us up. For “next steps”, in addition to the traditional professional events and discourse of librarianship, we want to stage participatory events and ask practitioners to propose ways that they can add value to communities based on their own professional abilities and outlook. Notes: 1. http://www.sfu.ca/publicsquare/community-summit/2013summit/community-conversations.html 2. http://www.sfu.ca/content/dam/sfu/publicsquare/ summit2013/files/summit2013-discussionGuide-FIN-WEB.pdf 3. http://www.vancouversun.com/business/ Christy+Clark+says+budget+black+resource+sector+powers+economy/9418106/story.html
Phil Hall has been a librarian serving various communities in BC for the past 26 years; Janis McKenzie is Head, Information
and Instruction at SFU Library; Christina Neigel is Associate Professor at UFV, Library and Information Department; Kevin
Stranack is Coordinator of Community Services and Learning (Open Source Projects) at SFU Library; Jenny Wile is
Manager, Information Services at Surrey Public Library; Maryann Kempthorne is Access & Learning Specialist at BC
Libraries Cooperative.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
The Feature Effect: Library Technicians embracing Collections Promotion By Michelle Ward.
At Okanagan College, library technicians are encouraged to derive displays in our campus libraries as a longstanding strategy to promote services, facilities and collections. New item arrivals are a standard display at each library. In addition, at the start of every term to ensure a continuous turnover of feature displays, each library develops a “loose” schedule of themes based on cultural holidays and important events. Priority is given to campus events such as student orientations, and link-ups with student-driven events; e.g. Student Union celebration of International Women’s Day which in Kelowna is collaboratively sited out front of the library. Library visits with display tie-ins to entice non-traditional students into the library are encouraged; e.g. carpentry & woodworking for the Trades. Library staff react to impromptu opportunities to build features around controversial issues; e.g. in Penticton, Idle No More. Most importantly, public services staff are ideally placed to see topic demands and to raise ideas for features that promote collections relevant to coursework. Increasingly these features are more proactive and ambitious. The context being the impetus of new programming at campuses, the building of supporting collections, changing circulation patterns, the transformation of collections from print to digital and more integrated contact between the Library and student learning; e.g. librarian-led research skills sessions. Supervising campus librarians, subject liaison librarians and faculty are now bringing ideas to the staff for displays to promote collections at the level of courses and timed to coincide with assignments and instruction. Smaller campus libraries conduct displays both in and beyond the library. Penticton staff defy cramped space in the Library with innovative bulletin board features. Permanent lockable display units have been devoted to library features in the main office foyer in Salmon Arm and at campus building entrances in Penticton where, for example, resources for new programming in sustainable construction technology have been highlighted. Vernon staff even took their efforts beyond the campus for an Okanagan College information event
at a local hockey arena. With help from colleagues at several campus libraries, staff scanned book covers and title pages of article publications by OC faculty that were converted to posters promoting both collections and faculty expertise.
Vernon Library Technician Karen Friesen proudly promoting the poster display of OC authors’ works.
Close up of Okanagan College Authors’ Display.
The Kelowna library benefits from a large foyer space through which users must enter the library to reach service points. Mobile display units can be pushed between the foyer and the student “hot-spot” of the Information Commons. In conjunction with Remembrance Day in November 2013, a multi-department collaboration called
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
Canadians at War & as Peacekeepers promoted books, e-books and media from across our collections in support of Canadian history courses and featured unique military maps loaned from the private collection of an Okanagan College Geography professor, as well as military personnel gear loaned by a History professor and the family of a library staffer. Media publicity has brought the attention of the community to the library collection and faculty expertise.
Geography Professor Terence Day & History Professor Howard Hisdal discuss the finer points of their collaboration with the Kelowna library.
Military map featured in the Kelowna library.
Features are expanding across time and campuses. A Kelowna display featuring new titles for GEOG201 Food & Society and its specific book review assignment took on an extended life as professors in
Women Studies and University Writing adopted the theme in their assignments. The display became a travelling-show as the theme was picked up at two other campuses. In Fall 2013 the course was run at a second campus with the two professors involved requesting the feature. Library staff collaborated on a shared simultaneous feature at both libraries. The diversity of our collections is now more visibly promoted across our campuses. A Library technician from Salmon Arm expresses a commitment shared with her colleagues: “Displays of items are fun to do and involve research, creativity and relevancy.” Supervising librarians comment that these features are a definite strategy for job enrichment for our library technicians and clerks. Supervisors and subject librarians provide general guidance on focus and content, and help with curatorial aspects such as faculty co-ordination and publicity, but the rest is laid open for the staff to derive. Skill sets developed by staff include: • research skills in the selection of relevant and
diverse sources with the scope to express their intellectual input;
• creativity with the design of posters, signage, layout and the sourcing of props;
• technological skills with scanning, • creation of Prezi media shows to use on a digital
monitor within the display zone; • administrative tasks such as spread-sheeting lists
for archival purposes on the shared Library network,
• and tracking the circulation of display items using their ILS circulation module skills.
Enhanced teamwork and collaboration are valuable results as staff will pool their individual skills and value each other’s areas of strength to create the best feature they can. The power of the features is in presenting libraries whose staff and services are vibrant, learner-focused and engaged with faculty, and the scope and diversity of our Library collections are out-there!
Michelle Ward is Kelowna Campus Librarian at
Okanagan College.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 6 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
UFV Library and Information Technology
Program reunion By Christina Neigel.
For 33 years, the Library and Information Technology
program at UFV has been in operation. In November
and in partnership with UFV’s Alumni Relations, the
Library and Information Technology Department
held a reception to celebrate the hard work and
dedication of students, faculty, alumni, practicum
and site visit hosts, guest speakers and advisory
committee participants. Guests enjoyed moving
speeches, edible delicacies, and live music while
reconnecting with colleagues and friends. Over one
thousand dollars was raised to support the Pat Sifton
Leadership Endowment which supports program
students who demonstrate outstanding contributions
to the community.
Despite the many changes the program and the field
experience, the fantastic contributions of our
graduates would not be possible without the
commitment of our professional community. For this
reason, UFV’s Library and Information Technology
faculty and staff look forward to planning the next
celebration!
Christina Neigel is Associate Professor at UFV, Library
and Information Department.
BCLA Browser: Linking the Library Landscape Volume 6, no. 1 (2014)
http://bclabrowser.ca ISSN 1918-6118
>Hello, World! 2014 BC Library Conference By Shirley Lew & Baharak Yousefi.
On behalf of the 2014 BC Library Conference
Planning Committee, it is our pleasure and privilege
to share with you our unbridled enthusiasm for this
year’s conference program. As announced in the
call for proposals last fall, this year’s conference
theme is >Hello, World! which we hope captures a
sense of optimism, creativity, exploration, and
engagement with the world.
From the beginning, we hoped for speakers,
presentations, and conversations which capture and
honour our library communities in their richest
diversity. We believe that we will be able to mobilize
our best energies when we take inspiration and
guidance from the many, not the few, and we are
thrilled with the results. With the call for proposals, we
asked for submissions that responded to one of the
five conference themes: access, evidence,
community, place, and work. We also approached
people outside of the library world who have
valuable things to share in these areas. The response
from both these groups was tremendous. From the
library community, we received thirty percent more
submissions this year. From those outside of the library
world, we were met with immediate enthusiasm and
willingness to share their work with us and to forge
new relationships and alliances with the library
community. The response buoyed our spirits and
indicated to us the reserve of potential we have yet
to explore.
We are blown away, humbled, and delighted that
Ivan Coyote, Marian Bantjes, and Arundhati Roy will
be featured as the 2014 BCLC keynote speakers. For
us, their work, while greatly varied, represents an
opportunity to seek new orientations and to gain new
eyes. Among the invited speakers, we are privileged
to have a variety of perspectives such as Dethe Elza,
an Aesthetic Programmer who has worked with
Mozilla, Michael Heeney, Architect and Principal at
Bing Thom Architects and Susan Downs, the dynamic
Chief Librarian of truly innovative Innisfil Public Library
in Ontario.
In the past year, at BCLC and other library conferences,
symposiums, and colloquia, our community has gathered
to ask questions and summon inspiration: Are we there
yet? Do we have five years to live? What is your big idea
for libraries in communities? These are good questions
and have resulted in many great conversations. We hope
that you will keep asking questions and summoning
inspiration at this year’s conference and, most of all, we
hope that we can broaden the conversation and allow
for a diversity of voices and perspectives from both inside
and outside of libraries.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Vancouver and
hope that you will find BCLC 2014 to be a professionally
and personally energizing and rewarding experience. It is
our greatest hope that this year’s conference will
reconvene us as a collective who share a passion for the
future of libraries and the sessions and conversations will
be equal parts reflective, frank, creative, and forward
looking.
Shirley Lew is Coordinator, Library Systems & Technical
Services at VCC in Vancouver and the Co-Chair of
Program Planning Committee for BCLC 2014.
Baharak Yousefi is Head of SFU's Fraser Library in
Surrey and BCLC 2014 Conference Chair.
Baharak Yousefi Shirley Lew Photo by Lachlan Murray