Looking ahead in 2009
W ith the retirement of CEO Lucy Pana in February, The Alberta Library is recruiting a new leader for the first time since the organization was created in 1997. We thank Lucy for her strategic leadership over the years, and for her role in creating an organization that has enormous growth potential.
My colleagues and I on the Executive "Our goal is to recruit a new CEO with the vision and energy to lead the organization to new levels." Selection Committee – which includes Linda Cook, Tom Hickerson and Mircea Panciuk – are committed to recruiting the best possible CEO who will work closely with members to achieve the vision and goals of the organization by effectively managing staff, budgets and other resources.
We have also contracted Ken Haycock and Associates to help ensure the most effective recruitment process possible. Established in 1991, Ken Haycock and Associates has extensive experience in recruiting, interviewing and selecting public and private sector professionals. Working together, our goal is to recruit a new CEO with the vision and energy to lead the organization to new levels.
I am also pleased to announce that Alberta Public Library Electronic Network Director, Karla Palichuk, has been appointed interim CEO. Karla’s years of experience will serve the organization well during the transition process, and I look forward to working closely with her.
While a new CEO will bring new energy and new ideas, The Alberta Library continues to be guided by its 2007 – 2011 Strategic Plan. The goals and strategies outlined in the plan provide a framework for the organization to grow and evolve, and positions the organization as a model of excellence.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. I appreciate your continuing support for The Alberta Library, particularly during this period of transition.
topLucy Pana looks back … and says farewell!
TAL Tales caught up with Lucy Pana just as she was preparing for retirement after more than a decade as The Alberta Library’s CEO.
On her last day at the office, Lucy Pana’s desk was clear for the first time in over a decade.
Where did it all start? How did you become involved in libraries and with TAL?
I was Director of the Libraries Branch in the early 1990’s, a time when the economy was in a downslide, when the Internet was just beginning to become a factor, and when the Alberta government was focused on eliminating its deficit. Libraries were in crisis. At the same time, a number of the library associations and agencies across the country were involved in examining the future of libraries in the 21st century. Pat Jobb, then Director of the Peace Library System, proposed that the Alberta library community needed to develop its own strategic plan for the delivery of library services. Libraries: ASAP was born to develop that plan. The Steering Committee was composed of representatives from all types of libraries, with Hazel Fry as its Chair. This was the first large collaboration initiated by the Alberta library community.
After four years of consultation, numerous meetings across the province, and the guidance of two superb consultants, “The Plan” called A Strategic Action Plan forInformation Services in Alberta was launched. It was only near the end of that process that the Steering Committee determined a new agency was needed to coordinate the implementation of the plan and that it would be managed and funded by the community. This entire remarkable process was carried out by volunteers, with cash and in-kind support from individuals, associations, vendors and contributions from Alberta Community Development, Alberta Advanced Education and Career Development and Alberta Education. There were literally hundreds of individuals involved, and the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated then is still very much in evidence today.
Ernie Ingles became the Chairperson of the next Steering Committee, which developed a business plan. Another series of consultations with key stakeholders led to the acceptance of the business plan and the creation of an Interim Board. The Interim Board established The Alberta Library as a legal entity, developed an inclusive governance model, developed the first service plan and hired its first Executive Director, which was me. My first workplace in this position was out of my den in my home!
Who had the most influence over your career?
The first person to influence my career path was Emily Woodward, Branch Librarian at the Prince of Wales Branch of the Regina Public Library. She hired me as a page when I was fourteen, and allowed me to help children with their homework and do children’s programming in addition to circulation and shelving books. I thought she was wonderful.
From my days in government, I have to credit Barbara Clubb and Joe Forsyth. They taught me to write concisely (believe it or not) and how to work collaboratively with our community. Pat Cavill taught me everything I know about advocacy. From Ernie Ingles, I learned to take risks and think out of the box. Pat Jobb and Hazel Fry taught me not to take myself too seriously, and that a good laugh is critical to maintaining your sanity during those awful moments we all have from time to time.
There are so many other people across the country that I have been privileged to work with who freely shared their expertise and who became friends, as well as colleagues.
What TAL accomplishments are you most proud of?
There have been many highlights over the years. However, I think the credibility we achieved as an organization with government and other library agencies across the country was and is extremely important and bodes well for TAL’s future.
What has been the most rewarding part during your time with The Alberta Library?
The people! I’ve worked with some of the brightest, most competent and fun staff anyone could possibly wish for.
What also warms my heart is the unwavering commitment to TAL, not only among the staff, but within the Alberta library community.
What is your most memorable moment at TAL?
Sitting in the bar at an Ottawa hotel at the CLA Conference with Dean Frey, Kathleen DeLong, and Punch Jackson working on the program for the first Netspeed. Al Gore’s name was mentioned as a potential keynote speaker!
The best memories are all about the people – I have always found the library community to be incredibly collegial and collaborative. I wish you all the very best!
Becoming a Master Instructor
As librarians we are often called upon to present, train, and share information in an adult-learning setting, yet we are called upon to do so without the necessary tools or instructional training to help us build effective learning environments.
The Becoming a Master Instructor (BMI) training available through the auspices of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network, is based on the Master Instructor training that all NAIT instructors must attend. It is a three-day intensive program that offers theoretical and practical guidelines for all teaching, training, and sharing opportunities. I found the time spent in the BMI training to be exceedingly valuable. After taking both BMI 1 and BMI 2, I changed my approach to the training and conference presentations that I deliver. The course taught me practical skills, increased my confidence, and changed my approach to learning and to my audience. This is a hands-on-apply-as-you-learn program that teaches not only through presenting key concepts in class, but most importantly, by modeling in-class the essence of experiential learning.
The various modules that are covered in the training are: introduction to adult learning, learning outcome statements and objectives, experiential learning, active learning strategies, giving effective feedback, organizing course content, interpersonal communication, complaints and criticisms, and classroom management. Taking the Becoming a Master Instructor training helped me to focus my approach to all the training and presentations I do. When developing or revising a course it is key to have a plan, know your resources, appreciate how long it will take, and then, taking into account practical adult learning theory, build your presentation on your clearly-stated learning outcomes.
Key learnings I have applied to my training and teaching are to reduce the amount of content while increasing the time given to the audience to practice and process the information. Too often I had tried to cram in as much information into a given amount of time, not fully appreciating that it is better to present less content with the learner needs and styles of learning in mind, so that the learning objectives are successfully imparted and remembered by the student.
Give yourself the time needed to learn. Take the Becoming a Master Instructor training. For more information on the training please contact Karla Palichuk, Acting CEO, The Alberta Library.
Focus on information literacy
With The Alberta Library set to host an information literacy conference in Calgary on April 3rd, we talked to members of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library Information Literacy and Awareness Committee to find out more about why information literacy is increasingly important for everyone.
What is information literacy? Why is it important?
Nancy Goebel, University of Alberta Libraries (Augustana Campus): Information Literacy is defined by the Association of College and Research Libraries as "a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have theability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." Information literacy is a developmental process that should be built into the curricula at all levels of learning enabling people to actively engage in information seeking and evaluation in any progressively complex context.
The pace of information growth seems relentless. While finding information is perceived as easy, finding the "right" " Information literacy benefits both individuals and society."information requires the application of information literacy skills. Without these skills, seeking appropriate and legitimate information for a specific need can be an overwhelming experience. When a person is information literate, they are able to reflect on their information need and consider the most suitable process and resources to meet their need. Once appropriate information is located, the person is able to apply the information in ethical and relevant ways. This ultimately leads to a more sophisticated inquiry and process, allowing the person to contribute as a citizen more substantially and participate in informed decision-making.
Who benefits most from information literacy?
Michelle Edwards Thomson, Red Deer College Library and Shauna Rutherford, University of Calgary Library: I don’t think you can say any one particular group benefits the most from information literacy. It’s a truism to say we live in the information age, and being able to function effectively in this age requires information literacy skills. Of course, in post-secondary institutions we tie information literacy to academic success, but the benefits go far beyond the classroom or research library. People need information literacy skills to perform their jobs, to find health information for their families, to make decisions about which candidates to vote for, and to plan their next vacation destination. Information literacy benefits both individuals and society.
Why is information literacy important for the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library?
Michelle and Shauna: Research has shown that it’s not enough to simply provide the information resources. People need to be given skills and strategies to ensure these resources are found, accessed, and used effectively. You can buy the most high-end, sophisticated exercise equipment in the world, but you’re not going to get fit unless you know how to use it, and use it correctly. Through the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, we’ve provided access to a vast number of high quality scholarly resources, but unless our users have information literacy support, they aren’t going to be able to use those resources to their full potential.
What is the role of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library Information Literacy and Awareness Committee (LILAC)?
Michelle: LILAC committee members are librarians representing the spectrum of institutions involved in the LHCADL initiative, and each of us has a particular interest in information literacy. Our role is to liaise with the LHCADL institutions, to respond to the needs of member libraries regarding information literacy, and to provide support to library staff to help advance information literacy at their institutions. We’ve provided training to library staff to help them integrate the LHCADL resources into their reference and teaching practices. We have also created an Information Literacy Toolkit, where staff can both upload and download teaching materials to assist their patrons in using library collections. We’re interested in building a sense of community around information literacy among post-secondary libraries in the province, and many of our efforts are directed at this goal. Although every institution has its unique character, there are many common issues we face, and it would be great to be able to share ideas, innovations, and approaches.
What do you see as the biggest barriers to information literacy? Why?
Judy Vogt, University of Lethbridge Library: The biggest barrier to information literacy is not having access to information. Thanks to the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library this is less of a reality for students in most Alberta post-secondary institutions who now have access to a wide range of information research tools. Students are not always aware of the resources available to them nor do they always recognize their need for information, so well-trained staff at information service points is crucial in teaching information literacy skills.
Institutional barriers may include reluctance on the part of instructors to provide class time for library instruction or to collaborate with librarians to integrate information literacy components into the curriculum. Barriers on the part of librarians include inadequate time and resources required to engage with faculty, to prepare and present information literacy classes and to participate in ongoing professional development activities.
Library directors play a critical role in breaking down these barriers by promoting the information literacy goals of the library to the broader community, and by providing an environment that allows academic librarians to be active participants and leaders in the educational process.
What is involved in implementing information literacy? What kinds of questions should libraries be asking themselves about information literacy?
Elaine Fabbro, Athabasca University Library: A number of things are involved in implementing information literacy in a library. Finding out how library staff define information literacy is important, because it can help to establish a base on which to build your information literacy program. It can be useful to evaluate existing services and training to see if an information literacy need is filled by them. This can also help you identify areas where you need to develop additional services or training sessions. If you want to build a formal information literacy program, it can be useful to garner institutional support, because this can help in the promotion of the program. Information literacy instruction is delivered in a number of different ways, so try to determine what would work best for your particular environment. For example, in an academic setting, information literacy can be embedded into the institution’s curriculum, but at a public library this is not appropriate. Assessment is also important – how well did the learner understand what you taught? Are there ways to improve the sessions so that better outcomes can be achieved next time?
What is the LILAC Toolkit? Who does it benefit?
Alice Swabey, Mount Royal College Library: The LILAC Toolkit is a freely available online database that contains a variety of instructional materials to support information literacy. The Toolkit items have been created by librarians and have been made available under a Creative Commons license, which means anyone is welcome to use and modify them to his or her own instructional needs. The Toolkit primarily benefits people engaged in information literacy-related teaching activities, and is meant to be used in conjunction with the resources licensed through the LHCADL initiative.
What are some of the best information literacy tools you’ve come across?
Alice: There are too many great things in the toolkit to single out just a few! The toolkit includes items in numerous formats, and on various topics. Some examples are assignments for assessing research skills, online streaming videos on the impact of information literacy programs on students, how-to guides for various citation styles and PowerPoint presentations for teaching them, guides for searching databases and planning research strategies, and an online tutorial to guide students through the research process – just to name a few!
How are you spreading the word about information literacy?
Christina Wilson, Director of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, The Alberta Library: Since its inception, LILAC members have visited campus libraries, attended meetings and presented at conferences and workshops within Alberta and beyond to promote the resources available through the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library, including the LILAC Toolkit materials which support their use.
We’re really excited about LILAC’s upcoming Information Literacy Symposium on April 3, 2009. There will be a number of sessions on information literacy practices, assessment, training approaches and more. It’s a great opportunity to meet your library colleagues and to discover what innovative projects are occurring right here in our own province. The Symposium is one step towards creating a community of interest around information literacy in Alberta’s post-secondary library sector.
To get the word out about the Information Literacy Toolkit , LILAC has sponsored a contest to encourage library staff from the post-secondary library community to submit or nominate instructional materials that help learners, faculty and researchers make the most of the LHCADL resources. The contest aims to build up the Toolkit with even more helpful resources. It also recognizes the collaborative efforts of the library community.
If you would like to know more about LILAC’s information literacy plans, the Toolkit or the Toolkit Contest, please contact Christina Wilson, Director of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library.
Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library Information Literacy and Awareness (LILAC) Committee members (clockwise from left) Shauna Rutherford, Alice Swabey, Judy Vogt, Nancy Goebel, Christina Wilson, Michelle Edwards Thomson, Kat Marlowe and Elaine Fabbro. Absent: Karen Hering.
TAL Profile
What is your involvement with The Alberta Library?
Rowena Lunn
I am a Board member representing Marigold Library System and a member of the TAL Advocacy Committee. I was on the Executive Committee for a number of years also, plus other committees and work teams.
What drew you to your profession?
My Grade 12 career recommendation gave Librarian as the third choice, but at that time my response was “Who on earth would ever want to be a librarian?” So I can’t really say it was a lifelong dream. However, I did have a library (Black Stallion series, plus Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys) in our front porch when I was growing up in small town Alberta. Ten years later (I had a few gap years) a group of university classmates in an American History class were discussing what they were going to do “next year” and one of them mentioned that he had applied for library school. It sounded like a good idea, so I submitted my application. So that career recommendation was right after all!
Who had the most influence over you career?
Pat Cavill had the most influence over my career. She was a colleague in Saskatchewan and then my boss in Alberta. I still look to her for inspiration.
What major changes have you noticed during your time with The Alberta Library?
The enormous growth of the organization as libraries came to realize that working together makes everyone stronger. We had a dream and it has been more than fulfilled with the success of the organization.
Why do you think libraries are important?
Public space for the public good. Often, libraries are the only public space in rural communities.
What has been the most rewarding part of working with TAL? What have you enjoyed the most?
The most rewarding part of working with TAL has been coming to know the colleagues in other types of libraries. I certainly knew and had contact with the people in public libraries, but TAL gave me the contact with colleagues in academic and special libraries. I have enjoyed working on the committees, project teams and working groups the most; plus the small group discussions at Board meetings are always fun. It was also great working with Lucy Pana – we were Library School classmates, then colleagues when she was at the Branch. I was delighted when she came back to libraries.
What is the most memorable item you ever borrowed from the library?
Three Musketeers – for some reason that book really stuck with me.
Library Q & A – NorQuest College Library
What is your library’s biggest current challenge?
Let’s start with the most immediate challenge facing the library - space. Not the “final frontier”, but physical space. A shortage of square footage is affecting the entire College, so within this context we are trying to figure out how to reorganize, restructure and reapply the existing library space to work better for our students and staff.
This is what happens when you grow. There are currently over 4,300 fulltime equivalent students at NorQuest, split between our Westmount Campus and our Main Campus, which itself is now spread over four downtown buildings. The Westmount Campus is home to the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program and the library there specializes in English as a Second Language (ESL). Downtown we also have language training (Adult Literacy and ESL Intensive) as well as programming in Academic Upgrading, Health and Human Services and Business and Industry Careers. The library serves all program areas. The breadth of the subject matter must cross many literacy levels and this creates a complex collection environment. The collection is growing to meet the demands of enrolment growth and new program development. The collection needs physical space to grow. In my mind, this is the most immediate and thus the biggest challenge at the moment.
What area is changing the fastest in your library?
There are so many! The entire College is transitioning. The College is expanding and diversifying its services and program offerings. Keeping up with new program development, increasing number of students and differing methods of course delivery keeps the library hopping.
The area changing the fastest is response to distance and rural delivery of NorQuest programs. The library is rising to this challenge by piloting an “embedded librarian” to assist students taking NorQuest courses managed through distance instruction tools (currently Blackboard). We are also implementing Instant Messaging technologies to respond more effectively to students located off campus (i.e.: Meebo reference service).
Another change perhaps more unique to NorQuest is in our students themselves. There is an ebb and flow to international crises that dictates the next cultural stream coming to Canada, Edmonton and NorQuest. Every war or natural disaster brings new customs, backgrounds, languages and issues to our student body.
As a complement to the ebb and flow of world events we also note that students in general are arriving at the College with stronger technical skills than they had five years ago, but technical skill does not necessarily equate to information literacy skill. Operating a cell phone and an iPod while reviewing a Facebook site all at once doesn’t beget improved critical thinking. It just means you can multitask in a technical world. The “gadget generation” may end up being the fastest changing feature to influence our library.
What idea are you most proud of over the last five years?
A single event? That’s hard, so here are our top five.
- The establishment of the Family Reading Centre. Many students come to us as adults with families at home. The Family Reading Centre was built from a substantial monetary donation and continues to grow. Its purpose is to support literacy at home, starting with the student’s children. Students are borrowing these materials in droves and enjoy reading to their children at home.
- In the past five years, through concerted effort, library instruction has increase by 100 per cent, to over 20,000 instruction interactions in a year.
- In 2007 NorQuest library staff received the College award for Employee Success.
- Participation in the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library and calculated acquisition of e-books has dramatically increased student access to information.
- The library catalogue goes pictographic…with book cover images through Syndetics.
Where do you see the most opportunity for innovation over the next decade?
Perhaps the biggest opportunity lies in distance delivery to students outside the urban core. NorQuest is committed to opening learner pathways through flexible learning alternatives such as distance education, developing regional learning hubs, and rural delivery programs. The library’s challenge and opportunity will be to discover ways to provide seamless service to students outside the core campus. This must be more than “responsive”. This is an opportunity for the library to be proactively strategic in establishing support systems to students in rural and regional settings.
How does your library stay in touch with your library users?
Recently, the library led a user assessment of NorQuest’s Learner Centre, which is an integrated service combining tutorial services, educational technologies, learning support services and the library. We designed five separate surveys specially designed for students on campus, students off campus, students at Westmount campus, faculty and staff.
The surveys provided incredible insight and valuable information. We are currently using the results of this assessment to structure our three year strategic plan.
NorQuest College Library Family Reading Centre.