October 2010
In this issue...
Inside The Alberta Library
This month, members of the library community – from recent graduates to seasoned administrators and trustees – will come together at NEXT: A Library Futures Symposium.
The symposium is an opportunity for community members to think about what libraries of the future will look like, the current trends that are most likely to affect libraries, and how they can think and act strategically to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
What do we hope to accomplish?
We want our discussions to lead to articulating an overall roadmap for the future of libraries across Alberta. We want the symposium to contribute to the vision of all libraries across the province. And also we want the symposium to inform the strategic planning process of The Alberta Library.
These goals aside, there are other compelling reasons to hold a library futures symposium.
We are a knowledge-based community, and we are charting a course in an increasingly information-based society. To be successful, we must build on our capacity to listen to the insights and expertise of our colleagues and stakeholders.
The quality of our engagement with each other will have a lot to do with our success as individuals, as organizations, and as communities. And that’s another important aspect of the symposium: it is designed to build connections and build community.
Speaking of building community, congratulations to Diana Davidson and her colleagues at Alberta Municipal Affairs Public Library Services Branch for their great work on creating a website for libraries at www.albertalibraries.ca, complete with e-newsletter and forum.
Congratulations also to Michael McDonnell and his team of volunteers who are currently building a library futures website at www.libraryfutures.ca.
And finally, welcome to our new Director of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network, Julia Reinhart. We’re thrilled to have Julia join us, and I know that her deep understanding of the library community and commitment to innovation and collaboration will be a tremendous asset.
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Julia Reinhart joins TAL as APLEN Director
On October 18th The Alberta Library welcomes Julia Reinhart as the new Director of the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network.
Julia is responsible for the planning, implementation and evaluation of APLEN and for some organization-wide services of The Alberta Library (TAL), including the TAL Card and Ask A Question. She also participates in TAL strategic and operational planning, policy development and management.
Since 2008, Julia has served as CEO of the Shortgrass Library System, headquartered in Medicine Hat. In addition to serving as Assistant Director – Public Services, and Public Services Librarian for Shortgrass Library System, her previous experience includes acting as Head Librarian for the Brooks Public Library and as a Library Manager with the London District Catholic School Board in Ontario.
TAL Tales spoke to Julia about her new role and a little about herself.
Julia on her travels
What interested you most about taking on the role of APLEN director?
I think one of the most appealing aspects of this role is that it will give me the opportunity to work with people dedicated to public libraries from across the province.
I believe one of the principle strengths of APLEN and TAL is the interconnectivity these organizations were created to facilitate between libraries. I am looking forward to making a solid contribution to keeping the network of connections that APLEN and TAL were originally founded on strong and flourishing.
What do you see as some of the biggest challenges coming up for APLEN?
Some of the biggest challenges for APLEN revolve around remaining knowledgeable about how technology is being used in public libraries and how it could potentially be used.
We need to look at library service as the driver and technology as a tool for the provision of enhanced service. We need to keep looking at the big picture and talking to libraries about what they want to be able to do with the technology to better serve their users. We also need to understand how front line staff are making use of the technology. How does this differ between libraries that serve populations of various sizes and how is it similar?
And of course there is the ever present challenge of how APLEN accomplishes all of this within the available resources.
What are some of the opportunities?
I think the opportunities lie in a review of where APLEN has come from, what its current programs are, how these can be enhanced or modified to reflect the current needs of the public library community, what additional programs are warranted based on need, and what we should be anticipating for the future.
APLEN needs to have an understanding of the direction public libraries are taking and act as a partner by leading the way in terms of how best to enhance the network.
Why do you think libraries are important?
Libraries are important because a library is one of the few remaining public spaces where people can come and go independently, pick and choose freely, learn something new or take in something at their leisure, and as a result we are all richer for the experience.
Who had the most influence over your career?
The person who had the most profound impact on my career was Dr. Harold Storlien, my predecessor and mentor at the Shortgrass Library System. He was a great teacher and leader who taught me that we all have untapped reserves of inner strength, that grace can be found in humility, that we need to laugh at ourselves, and that anything is possible if we are truly committed to working together.
What inspires you the most?
Long walks, good books, new places, great music, and happy people.
What is your favourite quote?
"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." John Wayne
What CD is currently spinning in your CD player or playing on your iPod?
This changes on a pretty frequent basis but currently I have a book on CD I am listening to entitled "Life Is What You Make It" by Peter Buffet. Some of the other CDs in the rotation include Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, The River in Reverse; Matthew Good's Vancouver; Pasajero by the Gipsy Kings; and the music from the motion picture “Once”.
What book is on your nightstand?
“The Plague” by Albert Camus. What I appreciate about this book is the way Camus uses the very bleak backdrop of a plague to explore many aspects of what it means to be human. Even though there are horrific events in the story, Camus tells it in such a matter of fact style that when you are reading it you can't help but believe in people's incredible capacity for compassion and that people have the potential to be at their very best during the worst of times.
NEXT Symposium 'part of a broader conversation'
With over 225 people coming to Edmonton from across the province for NEXT: A Library Futures Symposium on October 21 and 22, TAL CEO Clive Maishment says the keys to success of the event will be in getting results out to the library community as quickly as possible and fostering a broader conversation about the future.
While the final report from the symposium is scheduled for early in the new year, the results will be posted much faster than that.
“Once the results are transcribed, we will post everything – the raw data so to speak – on the web,” says Clive. “We want to be as transparent as possible. And we see the symposium as not just an end in itself, but as part of a broader conversation about the future. That’s a conversation that needs to happen right across the province, so people need to know what was said at the symposium in Edmonton.”
Clive says that the symposium, like The Alberta Library itself, is based on a fundamental belief about how decisions should be made.
“The symposium is based on the belief that the library community is filled with leaders and, whatever the issue, the community itself has the answers,” says Clive.
And for those who may think that there are more than enough issues to deal with in the present without taking time to think about the future, Clive has another perspective.
“While the NEXT Symposium is an opportunity to think about the future, it is ultimately designed to help us make better decisions today,” he says. “We know that the future is molded by the choices we make in the present.”
EPL shows election candidates the value of libraries
During election campaigns, many libraries take the opportunity to promote their value to candidates and elected officials. The Edmonton Public Library’s election strategy for the 2010 Municipal Election is an example of advocacy in action.
According to Tina Thomas, Director of Marketing, Communications and Fund Development, the primary focus of EPL’s election strategy was advocacy and educating candidates about why they should support EPL.
They did that by harnessing the power of testimonials, getting their customers to advocate for them, and providing meaningful statistics to show the impact the library has on the lives of Edmontonians.
The power of testimonials
EPL’s I (heart) EPL campaign is proof that customers really do want to share their stories about what the library means to them. In three weeks, EPL received 150 responses to their request for testimonials. Tina says they were thrilled with the “compelling, interesting stories” that Edmontonians from all walks of life shared.
Tina encourages other libraries that are considering a similar idea to go for it. She says, “library customers are happy to share their stories, so don’t be afraid to ask”. She also says that you don’t need that much information to make a powerful statement. EPL asked customers to keep their responses to less than 50 words (or 140 characters so it could be tweeted) and they were pleased with the quality of stories they had to choose from.
The testimonials will be used on EPL’s website, Facebook and Twitter, in brochures and presentations, and included in kits presented to candidates on nomination day. After the election the testimonials will live on in future fundraising and support efforts.
Showing support
Another component of the campaign was making it easy for library customers to show support for EPL. The library provided lawn signs, buttons and bumper stickers with the I (heart) epl message and provided graphics for people to add to their websites. Tina says their goal was to show candidates that their constituents love EPL and candidates should realize the importance that their constituents place on libraries. Judging by the number of bumper stickers and buttons already distributed (2000 of each were snapped up in three weeks) EPL has lots of supporters willing to show their love for the library.
Meaningful stats
One of the ways EPL educated candidates about the impact the library has on the community was by making statistics meaningful. Tina said they “took metrics and made them relate to real life”.
An example of what Tina means is the fact that EPL is the second most visited place in Edmonton with more visits than city recreation centres, Oilers, Eskimos, Capitals, Capital Ex, Fringe Festival, Heritage Days, Telus World of Science, Folk Music Festival and YMCA combined!
Tina says “it was difficult to gather the stats but well worth it. From the advocacy point of view, the project shows the impact of libraries tangibly.”
A good message for all libraries
The importance of showing your library’s value to candidates and elected officials is a message that all libraries can take to heart!
TAL Profile: Michelle Toombs, Director, Marigold Library System.
Michelle Toombs
What drew you to your profession?
“You should consider becoming a librarian when you grow up. It’s a clean job.” So said my grandmother, no doubt thinking of teachers, nurses and farm wives. I would like to think that a passion for social justice and equality may have had something to do with my fervent desire at an early age to become a librarian (first declaration at 5 years of age). Perhaps it was a calling. It has always been clear that having a library makes a difference in the quality of life in a community. When individuals succeed, so do communities. The remarkable part of this career choice was that my hometown did not have a public library while I was growing up, and I did not have access to a nearby public library. The Lomond Public Library was established while I was at university and later became part of the excellent Chinook Arch Library System.
Why do you think libraries are important?
A well-supported and innovative public library elevates the quality of life in a community; it reflects the vitality and well-being of a community. While the library is a gathering place and community focal point, its presence extends well beyond its walls. It fuels personal growth, economic impact, equity, competitive advantage and inclusion. The library is the social glue for a community.
Who had the most influence over your career?
During my 33 years of employment at Calgary Public Library, I had the good fortune to work with many inspiring leaders, including Anne Sawa who I always admired for her ability to simplify the problem. Asking the question “what is the problem that we are trying to solve here?” usually led to a better understanding of why we needed to or wanted to make a change.
My first boss at Calgary Public Library, Barbara Lake, taught me the value of responsive customer service and that my needs and preferences as an employee should always be secondary to the needs and preferences of our customers.
What major changes have you noticed in your time in the library community?
Training on day one of my first librarian’s job was a five-minute lesson to operate the Regiscope -- that was how we circulated our materials in the mid 1970s. Inter-branch deliveries were a new innovation at the time. The changes since then have been profound.
To stay in the sustainability game, public libraries retained and adapted traditional services and invented new ones, especially virtual and online convenience, to reach as many people as possible. I am most impressed with how libraries near and far have shared information and collaborated to develop standards and share resources, innovations and expertise.
In the coming years, videoconferencing provides an enormous opportunity to leverage our strengths while saving tax dollars. Participating in the RISE project (Chinook Arch, Shortgrass and Marigold regional library systems) has been an amazing experience because we are literally watching history in the making as active participants.
What has been the most rewarding part of working with the library community? What have you enjoyed the most?
Becoming the Director of Marigold Library System is the culmination of my library career of 34 years because it brings together my love of rural Alberta and my love of libraries. Everyone I come into contact with at Marigold and throughout the library community in Alberta is enthusiastic about and committed to developing and providing the best possible library experience.
Working in management, cataloguing, IT, circulation and special projects, and finally as a sector manager at Calgary Public Library, before coming to Marigold provided a great background for the diversity and opportunity that I love in this Director’s position. Calgary Public Library will always hold a special place in my heart.
What is the best/most memorable item you ever borrowed from the library?
There are too many gems to pick just one. Two titles that come immediately to mind include Conrad Richter’s Awakening Land, which has remained in my consciousness as one of my favorite books of all time, and Country Roads of Alberta, which taught me that there are many treasures in our backyard. I have joyful memories of opening boxes of books which arrived regularly from the Extension Library (U of A) while I was attending grade school; this led to the discovery of many unexpected journeys and secret passages. Favorite titles included Lorna Doone, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Rob Roy and Pride and Prejudice.
Tell us something about yourself that might surprise others in the library community.
Since my husband and I took up ballroom dancing about six years ago, I have learned that some things require complete concentration and are still hard to master regardless of what we see on Dancing with the Stars. I have also learned that there are valuable lessons to be learned about leading and following that can be applied to one’s work and personal life. Leaders must be decisive and intuitive, look after their partners and have a good sense of their surroundings so they do not collide with people. Followers must be prepared to follow, be responsive to the leaders’ signals and “have good tone” to make the partnership a success.
Since I started to make the daily journey to Strathmore where the Marigold Headquarters is located, I have gained a love for country music that matches my enthusiasm for two-step, double shuffle and west coast swing.
What is your involvement with The Alberta Library?
In 2008, I was appointed to be Calgary Public Library’s representative to the APLEN Technology Training Committee, a rewarding assignment that involved meeting visionary librarians from all over Alberta. I have been a TAL Director since September 2009 when I became the Director of Marigold Library System.
Athabasca University Library Q & A
Steve Schafer, Director Library Services at Athabasca University Library, shares what's new.
Distance and online education has matured over the past number of years. Information abounds. Technology is advancing. Information literacy skills are a greater necessity. Students entering post-secondary education are native internet users and have tremendous expectations. AU Library’s great challenge is to continue to provide excellent resources and services to its users.
What area is changing fastest in your library?
The provision of library resources and services to our faculty, staff, and students is the priority. The ways and means of accomplishing this are diverse and they are changing. Collections now are comprised of onsite and online formats. Technologies vary. The location of our students is worldwide, and the expectations of our users are great. So given the task, we have a huge role to play in helping our users achieve their educational goals.
What idea are you most proud of over the past five years?
AU Library was one of the first Alberta libraries to grapple with compatibility issues surrounding the use of mobile devices. We have some successes, and we continue to participate in the development and usage of mobile technologies in support of the provision of library resources and services. The AU Library website is fully compatible with mobile devices. AU Library has been involved in mLearn and mLibraries conferences over the past years. mLibraries 3 is scheduled to be held in Queensland Australia in May, 2011.
AU Library has developed the Digital Reading Room (DRR), which is an effective application for providing electronic reserves.
AU has significantly increased its capacity in digitization and has undertaken a number of digitization projects. We are keen to undertake our first project using our new 3d-scanner.
Where do you see the most opportunity for innovation over the next decade?
The greatest opportunity for innovation over the next decade is in the area of useful and meaningful applications (both human and technological) to support research. While increasing numbers of online resources continue to abound and while costs to these continue to increase, there will be great opportunities for libraries to have a key role in scholarly communication, digital preservation, and open access. It will be essential for libraries to incorporate new ideas and embrace new technologies to support teaching, learning, and research.
How does your library stay in touch with clients / library users?
AU Library strives to have a presence in all AU courses and programs. We work closely with faculty and staff in the early stages of course development, so that the delivery of our courses and the support to students in courses is in place. We strive to keep the AU Library web page accurate and up to date.