Libraries

Public librarians can feel isolated, as if on islands, battered by the seas of change. We’ll explore ways libraries can build local capacity – in their communities and their libraries - by leveraging partnerships. Concepts discussed will include valuing the unique strengths in each of our libraries, capacity building as a reciprocal relationship between the library and its service community, and authentic partnership. Attendees will leave with two tools they can use immediately in their libraries.
MARGO GUSTINA Deputy Director, Southern Tier Library System Painted Post, NY she/her
Margo Gustina is an outspoken believer in the power of community to lead libraries toward more meaningful practice. As Deputy Director for the Southern Tier Library System, a cooperative which serves predominantly rural communities in New York State, Margo facilitates planning, funding, and governance conversations and processes.

The increasing cost of post-secondary education is a problem faced by students across our country. Although libraries do not have control over contributors such as rising tuition fees and student debt loads, they can provide some financial relief through their collections. Library collection policies have traditionally been designed to exclude textbooks as items that are purchased. However, in the age of digital, the reasoning behind many of these policies could be called to question. Is it time to begin looking at expanding the library’s role in supporting students with some required course materials? How can we design library collections to support the curricular needs of users, while also balancing shrinking budgets and ensuring the needs of our entire communities are met? Over two semesters, Okanagan College Library saved students more than $110,000 in textbook costs by purchasing electronic versions of required and recommended books through library suppliers and making them available through the Library. Learn about the project and the steps involved, what worked well, and what we would recommend others do differently. 

This PowerPoint is from a presentation at the 2019 ALC Conference in Jasper.
Rural library staff and their trustees too often doubt the impact that they can make with their limited resources.  They may not dream big enough, or they might play it safe because they are afraid of failing.  Conference sessions aimed at libraries of all sizes may not speak to rural library staff and trustees, because they often deliver library services with reduced access to resources (e.g. a lack of space, time, staff, money, volunteers and/or community members). Exploring the factors that have led to successes at some of Alberta’s littlest libraries, this session will share strategies that little libraries can use to build success in their own communities.  The presenters will be conducting a survey of small rural libraries, and will interview high-performing rural libraries to discover the secrets of their success.

PowerPoint presentation to Strathcona County Council on April 16, 2019:

• Strathcona County Library’s response to being displaced from the Strathcona County Community Centre by the parkade explosion on November, 6, 2018,
• its temporary locations,
• the support of the County and of the Alberta library community, and
• preparations to re-open to the public on May 8, 2019.

Power Point covering history, design, scheduling, statistics, collections and capacity, and philosophy of service.
 

What is participatory culture and what does it mean for libraries in the 21st century? Join GVPL staff and patrons who have been working to embrace this cultural transformation in meaningful ways at different levels of service and programming. Hear about some of our successes (as well as some experiences we've learned from!) and then brainstorm ways to promote increased participation in your own library.

Join several government librarians for an opportunity to learn about government libraries in British Columbia. The panel members will examine the transformations in their libraries as they discuss the services they are offering, how they are engaging their clients, special projects they are undertaking and the challenges they are facing. The session will conclude with a Q&A session.

TELŦIN TŦE WILNEW (TTW) is an award winning, blended delivery course, at Camosun College, which provides insight into an Indigenous worldview; describes the impact of colonization and how it affects students attending the college today; and guides participants in the development of new teaching and learning methods. (http://camosun.ca/about/teaching-learning/events/ttw.html)

The Legislative Library of BC will share what the library is about, what it offers the public, and what it means to offer services in a special library. The presentations cover:
• a scan of reference and research services and how they have changed to meet the transforming needs of our unique clients.
The session will conclude with a Q&A.

Research-a-thons are organized events where individuals with a shared interest come together to collaboratively answer a research question or build a research resource.
This spring, over 50 UVic law students, librarians, and lawyers came together at the UVic Law Library to collaborate on a student-led research project in support of the Environmental Law Centre’s mining law reform project. The presenters will share their experience hosting research-a-thons and will discuss lessons learned and tips for hosting a research-a-thon of your own.