Call for Nominations: CLA-CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada

Dear colleagues,

The Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services (CASLIS), a division of the Canadian Library Association, is seeking nominations for the 2011 CLA-CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada.  Established in 1978 and first given in 1979, this Award recognizes and rewards excellence in the field of special librarianship by a CASLIS member.

The Award is granted to a CLA-CASLIS personal member based on consideration of CASLIS/CLA involvement and professional activities, including:

• Holding elected/appointed office
• Speaking at/organizing Divisional/Association workshops, conference programs, seminars etc.
• Undertaking special projects for CASLIS/CLA
• Representation of CASLIS/CLA to, or significant involvement with, other relevant professional associations
• Publication of professional paper(s), conducting original research etc.
• Demonstrated leadership and innovation in advancing special librarianship in Canada

Appropriate professional activities may include research, publishing, teaching, or significant participation in other related professional associations, while examples of Divisional activities include participation in activities benefiting CASLIS or CLA, leadership within CASLIS or CLA, or other noteworthy actions on behalf of CASLIS or CLA. Candidates must be members in good standing in CLA and have actively participated in the Association or Division.

Nominate a Colleague today:

• Nominations for the CLA-CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada must be accompanied by a supporting statement that outlines his/her professional career and the specific achievement(s) that merit granting of this award.
• Signatures of at least two CLA members must also support any nomination.
• All nominations and deliberations related to this award shall be considered confidential.

The award will be presented at the CLA-CASLIS Annual General Meeting, held during the CLA conference.

The deadline for nominations is Monday, February 28^th. Please take the time to nominate someone you have seen make a significant contribution to our profession.

Send nomination letters to:

Kimberly Silk, MLS
Data Librarian, Martin Prosperity Institute
101 College Street, Suite 420
Toronto, Ontario  M5G 1L7
Kimberly.Silk@martinprosperity.org

• Previous Winners

CLA Future Plan: A Message to CASLIS Members

Good afternoon CASLIS colleagues,

I hope this finds you well and warm.

The CLA Executive Council has posted a revised draft of the CLA Future Plan on the blog and I encourage each of you to have a look, share your thoughts and share the link with your colleagues with the same encouragement to participate.

In many respects this plan feels “incomplete” – we are not specifying exactly what kinds of groups, be they Advisory Committees or Networks, will come into being in the new structure, largely because at this point we cannot predict the emergence of any specific entity; our governance documents at present do not permit for the flexibility to make changes without adoption of a new plan; more over, to name any units explicitly in the plan could potentially create limitations in how our community thinks about all that the Canadian Library Association has been, is now, and can be in the future.

That future is still one we can, and must try to, create.

After all, it is out of concern for the future viability of the Association that the Council embarked on this restructuring process nearly one year ago.   Council determined in February 2010 that the status quo is no longer an option, and that without significant changes CLA itself is in jeopardy.  Our Plan seeks to achieve those changes.

I firmly believe that the Future Plan embodies a purpose, structure and approach to governance that is respectful of the Association’s traditions; that it incorporates a broad approach to advocacy that recognizes the importance of the individual library worker and supporter, regardless of role or education, in the success of every library in Canada; that it will permit for the flexibility needed to create a nimble and sustainable organization for years to come; and will enable the continuation of the very good work that is already undertaken by the many member volunteers working in conjunction with Association staff.

The Plan proposes significant changes; what hasn’t changed is that the Canadian Library Association will be what ever it’s members want it to be, just as it always has been. The work of the Association is done by individuals who want to come together to work towards a common goal.  Over the past 40 years hundreds and hundreds of our colleagues have built the CASLIS Division and its Chapters into a meaningful network that spans the country.  There is no reason to believe that the same interests and capabilities, even the same interested and capable people,  will disappear just because CASLIS will dissolve as part of moving forward with the Plan.

Please read the Plan with an open mind, thinking about what you want your CLA to be in the future and how you can help achieve it. We are not customers, receiving a product, but members engaging with our community.

Being a member of the Canadian Library Association provides each of us the opportunities to work together on matters of national and international importance to the Canadian library community; it is a carrier of our values and principles, and is our voice as Canadian library workers and supporters.

Best wishes to all,

Robyn

Robyn Stockand
President, Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services (CASLIS)

 

Smart Business: Canadian Special Libraries Day

Thursday, October 28, 2010 has been declared Canadian Special Libraries Day in recognition of the value of special libraries to Canadian society, and the vital role played by over 1000 “special” librarians and information professionals across Canada who ensure that Canadian businesses, non-profits and government agencies are among the smartest in the world.

What is a “special” library?

Special libraries are information resource practices found within organizations with specialized information needs. Approximately 50% of the top 100 corporations on the Financial Post 500 list have libraries as well as the top law firms and consulting firms in Canada. Special libraries and special librarians are also found in all levels of government – from federal to provincial to municipal.

Special libraries, and special librarians, are EVERYWHERE!

What makes these librarians “special”?

Special libraries are staffed with highly skilled information managers who not only have a library-focused education, but often have also completed additional training in their specialized areas such as law, business administration and specific subject areas. With such robust backgrounds and expertise, these information professionals are well-positioned to help their organizations manage information overload. And they are dedicated to capturing content, organizing resources and ensuring that the right information is available at the right time, to the right people and in the right place to turn information into strategic decisions.

Smart business, indeed. Canadian Special Libraries Day – celebrate it!

Keith Walker
President, Canadian Library Association

Event in Toronto: Getting Ready for RDA

Monday, June 21, 2010, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Oakham House Conference Centre (Ryerson University), 55 Gould Street, Toronto

Register at
http://tinyurl.com/rda-toronto

Overview

Resource Description and Access (RDA) is the new cataloguing standard that replaces AACR2. RDA focuses on users and their information needs. Metadata created according to RDA instructions support improved resource discovery in the web environment.

This workshop will give an overview of the new standard and will look at the ways in which RDA maintains the relevancy of cataloguing in the networked web environment.

This session will also focus on the transition from AACR2 to RDA and will include a demonstration of the RDA Toolkit. Previous knowledge of RDA is not required.

Outline

Welcome and introductions

RDA 2010:

• What is going on in Canada and around the world
• Who is doing what,
• TSIG and LAC activities, including the TSIG survey

RDA framework:

• Structure, principles, basic concepts
• User tasks
• Entities, Attributes and Relationships
• Organization and structure of RDA

Principles:

• Data elements
• Core Elements
• Extensible framework

Changes from AACR2:

• Changes in instructions
• Changes in MARC 21 coding
• Examples

RDA Toolkit demo

RDA and the Future of Cataloguing

Discussion and wrap-up

Speakers:

Trina Grover is a member of the Canadian Committee on MARC (CCM). She has worked as a cataloguer at Ryerson University since 1995. She has developed and delivered cataloguing training for The MARC of Quality in the USA, Seneca College in Toronto and Red River College in Winnipeg.

Chris Oliver is the Chair of the Canadian Committee on Cataloguing (CCC). She has been a member of CCC since 1997 and this has given her the opportunity to be involved with the evolution of RDA from its early beginnings. She was also a member of the Joint Steering Committee’s Format Variation Working Group and Chair of the RDA Outreach Group. Chris has worked at the McGill University Library since 1989 where she is currently Coordinator of Cataloguing and Authorities.

Event Information and Registration

When:
Monday, June 21, 2010, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
(Registration starts at 8:00 am; program starts at 9:00 pm)

Where:
Oakham House Conference Centre, Ryerson University
55 Gould Street, Toronto

Cost:

• CLA Members: $200
• CLA Members – Students: $75
• CLA Members – New Professionals (working in the field for less than 2 years): $100
• CLA Members – Unemployed: $100
• Non-Members: $300
• Student Non-Members: $125
• Personal Members of Other Associations (SLA, OALT, OLA, etc): $250

Registration fee includes:

• Lunch
• Morning and afternoon breaks, and
• a copy of Chris Oliver’s forthcoming book Introducing RDA: A Guide to the Basics.

If you are registering 6 or more participants from the same organization, please contact caslis.govlib@gmail.com to find out about a group rate.

Register at
http://tinyurl.com/rda-toronto

Registration deadline is June 17, 2010.

Payment by cheque will be taken at the door. Invoices will be sent to all workshop participants.

For more information, please contact caslis.govlib@gmail.com

Scent-Free Event – In consideration of those with allergies and respiratory problems, this is a scent-free event. Participants are asked to use unscented products in lieu of scented toiletries and detergents, and to refrain from wearing perfumes and colognes.

http://tinyurl.com/rda-toronto

Event in Ottawa – MLIS and LIT Student Mixer

CLA-CASLIS would like to welcome all MLIS and LIT students to Ottawa-Gatineau this summer!

We invite you to a mixer on Thursday, May 27th, 5:30 pm at D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub. Come out and meet your colleagues from programs across Canada.

Who? All MLIS and LIT students

Where? D’Arcy McGee’s Irish Pub – 44 Sparks St (at Elgin)

When? Thursday, May 27, 2010 – 5:30 pm

Cost? Free! Appetizers will be provided, but students are responsible for their own meals and drinks

More info? Contact caslis.ngn@gmail.com

Please RSVP at
http://tiny.cc/OttawaSummerMixer2010
by May 26th, so that we can inform the restaurant how many of us to expect.

Kristen Wurmann Named Recipient of CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada

(Ottawa, May 5, 2010) The Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des bibliothèques today announced that Kirsten Wurmann is this year’s recipient of the Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services (CASLIS) Award for Special Librarianship in Canada in recognition of her unique contributions to special librarianship with a focus on leadership in the area of law libraries and public legal education.

Awarded annually since 1979, the award is intended to recognize and reward those who have made an outstanding contribution to special librarianship in Canada through professional and/or Divisional activities.  Professional activities may include research, publishing, teaching, or significant participation in other related professional associations.

Kristen Wurmann, librarian at the Legal Resource Centre of Alberta, exemplifies the best of the profession in her dedication to the right of everyone in our society to know about, and have free access to, the law. Her unwavering commitment to enhancing quality of life by increasing legal literacy is evident in both her work and her extensive community involvement. In particular, she has demonstrated leadership and innovation by successfully advocating, and implementing, the use of technology to ensure that legal information reaches those with the greatest need to know, regardless of location or personal circumstances.

“We were impressed by the significant impact Kirsten makes in her profession and to society as a whole. She truly embodies the spirit of public service and the right to information, which are cornerstones of our profession. CASLIS is thrilled to have such a shining role model receive the 2010 CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship” stated Robyn Stockand, CASLIS President.

The Canadian Library Association / Association canadienne des bibliothèques is Canada’s largest national and broad-based library association, representing the interests of public, academic, school and special libraries, professional librarians and library workers, and all those concerned about enhancing the quality of life of Canadians through information and literacy.

State of the Association – Message from the CLA Executive Council to all CLA members

We would like to share with you preliminary details of some exciting changes that are going to take place at the Canadian Library Association. We met on 27-28 February for a facilitated session on strategic budgeting. CLA is in a situation where our revenues are not sufficient to provide all of the activities and services which our members expect and deserve. We have determined that structural changes must be made to the association in order to allow us to re-direct our financial and human resources so that CLA can fulfill its mandate more effectively.

This message outlines the points of discussion arising from our meeting, as well as the texts of the motions that were passed. President John Teskey has been charged with forming a Task Force to develop proposals for members to consider for adoption at the upcoming Annual General Meeting at the CLA Conference in Edmonton in June.

Everyone associated with CLA will be aware that the association has been in a tenuous financial position for years. The following chart is a very graphic representation of our budget situation over the past decade. We have projected deficit budgets in each of the past 10 years. While we have always managed to finish each year with a better than predicted outcome, we only were able to realize actual profits in four of those years, most recently in 2006.

During our facilitated session, we engaged in a very positive discussion, and considered a variety of options for the structural changes required to address the chronic deficit budgets. We worked from the premise that the association’s finances should be spent on serving its members, specifically, on investing in the priorities and programs that fulfill the CLA mission to “build the Canadian library and information community and advance its information professionals.” It was agreed that, for this year and forward, we must create a budget that both serves the best interests of the members and indicates that CLA is re-defining itself.

It was further agreed that the main focus of CLA’s activities should be to advocate for issues of cross-sectoral interest and national importance. In order to achieve this goal, we recognized that both the organizational structure and the budget need to be realigned to support the mission; maintaining the status quo is not an option. We need to build on our existing strengths, and concentrate our human and financial resources on those areas which CLA, as a national broad-based association, is uniquely positioned to advance.

At the meeting, Executive Council passed two motions:

Motion:

Whereas the current organizational structure of the Canadian Library Association is no longer financially viable, and

Whereas, Executive Council of the Canadian Library Association is responsible for the financial viability of the association, and

Whereas, national issues faced by the Canadian library community are of critical importance,

Therefore be it resolved that Executive Council commit itself to recreate CLA as an organization that can more effectively advance national issues critical to the Canadian library community, and

That President John Teskey form and chair a task force charged with developing a proposed structure responsive to the association’s financial and strategic challenges, and

That the task force present its findings and recommendations to the 2010 CLA AGM.

Moved by Ken Roberts; Seconded by André Gagnon; passed unanimously.

Motion:
To defer elections for CLA Executive positions and Division Executive positions until a decision is taken regarding the organization’s structure.

Moved by André Gagnon; Seconded by Pam Ryan; passed unanimously.

We are now taking steps on the actions stated in these motions. President Teskey is forming a Task Force; details of its composition will be made available as soon as all participants have confirmed. The elections for CLA Executive and Division Executive positions have been put on hold pending the presentation from the Task Force at the CLA AGM on 5 June.

Please note that CLA activities, including those of Divisions, Interest Groups, Committees, and other units, will be “business as usual” in as much as possible until June 30, 2010. The 2010 CLA National Conference in Edmonton will continue as planned, with a very strong professional program and some new innovations in the schedule of events.

We appreciate that members will have questions about the implications of these decisions; and we will address these as best we can. We ask for your patience while President Teskey’s Task Force completes its work on a new budget and organizational structure, and thank you in advance for your support.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact any member of Executive Council. Further information will be posted to the CLA website in the coming weeks, so please keep checking the site for updates.

We look forward to your continued engagement in CLA, and in the process of developing these changes. We are very excited about the possibilities for a new direction.

We hope you will attend the AGM in Edmonton to vote on the future of your Canadian Library Association.

CLA Executive Council

John Teskey, President ~ jteskey@unb.ca
Keith Walker, Vice-President ~ kwalker@mhc.ab.ca
Ken Roberts, Past President ~ kroberts@hpl.ca
Ingrid Langhammer, Treasurer ~ ingridlanghammer@shaw.ca
Linda Shantz-Keresztes, CASL President ~ ljshantzkere@cbe.ab.ca
Pam Ryan, CACUL President ~ pam.ryan@ualberta.ca
André Gagnon, CAPL President ~ andre@reginalibrary.ca
Robyn Stockand, CASLIS President ~ robyn.stockand@nbfinancial.com
Jan Harder, CLTA President ~ jan.harder@ottawa.ca
Victoria Owen, Councillor-at-Large ~ owen@utsc.utoronto.ca
Cheryl Stenström, Councillor-at-Large ~ cheryl.stenstron@gmail.com
Catherine Steeves, Councillor-at-Large ~ csteeves@uoguelph.ca

CLA 2010: CACUL / CASLIS Reception Cancelled

Hello CASLIS and CACUL members,

You’ll see in the CLA 2010 conference program there were plans to once again hold a joint CACUL / CASLIS Reception immediately following the Division Annual General Meetings on Friday, June 4th. However, an all-conference Welcome Reception, hosted by the Edmonton Public Library and the University of Alberta Libraries, has been scheduled for the same time as a late addition to the program.

We have elected to cancel the CACUL / CASLIS Reception at CLA 2010 to encourage all conference delegate to enjoy the Welcome Reception in Edmonton’s new stunning Art Gallery of Alberta. Existing conflicts on other evenings do not allow for rescheduling of the CACUL / CASLIS Reception but look for it again at CLA 2011 in Halifax!

See you in Edmonton!

Robyn Stockand (CASLIS President) and Pam Ryan (CACUL President)

CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada

Dear Colleagues,

The deadline for nominations for the CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada is approaching quickly, on Sunday, February 28^th. Please take the time to nominate someone you have seen make a significant contribution to our profession.

About the Award:
Awarded annually since 1979, the award is intended to recognize and reward those who have made an outstanding contribution to special librarianship in Canada through professional and/or Divisional activities.

Award Criteria:
Appropriate professional activities may include research, publishing, teaching, or significant participation in other related professional associations, while examples of Divisional activities include participation in activities benefiting CASLIS or CLA, leadership within CASLIS or CLA, or other noteworthy actions on behalf of CASLIS or CLA. Candidates must be members in good standing in CLA and have actively participated in the Association or Division.

Nominate a Colleague today:

• Nominations for the CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada must be accompanied by a supporting statement that outlines his/her professional career and the specific achievement(s) that merit granting of this award.
• Signatures of at least two CLA members must also support any nomination.
• All nominations and deliberations related to this award shall be considered confidential.

The award will be presented at the CASLIS Annual General Meeting, held during the CLA conference.

The closing date for nominations is February 28, 2010.

Send nomination letters to:

Kimberly Silk, MLS
Data Librarian, Martin Prosperity Institute
101 College Street, Suite 420
Toronto ON  M5G 1L7
Kimberly.Silk@martinprosperity.org
Office: 416-673-8586
Mobile: 416-721-8955

See also:

• Past recipients of the CASLIS Award for Special Librarianship in Canada

Event in Ottawa – Service Lifecycle Management: Pruning Gives Other Services Room to Grow

Thursday, March 4, 2010, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Ottawa Public Library Auditorium (120 Metcalfe)

To keep a healthy portfolio of services and programs all organizations, including information management functions and libraries, need to “prune” or divest those offerings no longer producing the desired results to make room for new programs & services.

Information intensive organizations, from records management to knowledge management functions, have a long history of adding without deleting new services, resulting in too many offerings, too much staff stress and too little focus on what’s really important for clients.

Rebecca guides you through a portfolio management process long used by service businesses for identifying those services critical for the organization, those to be phased out and those to be incubated, as well as approaches for managing the underlying decision-making and staff engagement.

About the Speaker
As a principal with Dysart & Jones, Rebecca Jones focuses on facilitating clients’ planning processes, problem-solving, and project management. Rebecca is known for having long advocated the application of business savvy to information services and knowledge management. She teaches continuing education and professional development courses with the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information, where she chairs the Professional Learning Centre’s Advisory Board.

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When: Thursday, March 4, 2010, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Where: Ottawa Public Library Auditorium (120 Metcalfe)

Cost:

• CLA Members: $35
• CLA Student Members: $10
• CLA Members New Professionals (working in the field for less than 2 years): $15
• Non-Members: $45
• Student Non-Members: $15
• Personal Members of Other IM Associations (SLA, ARMA, LANCR, OALT, etc): $40

Light refreshments will be served.

Register at
http://tinyurl.com/caslis-2010-03-04

Payment by cash or cheque will be taken at the door. Invoices can be arranged in advance of the event by e-mailing caslis.govlib@gmail.com.

For more information, please contact caslis.govlib@gmail.com

Scent-Free Event – In consideration of those with allergies and respiratory problems, this is a scent-free event. Participants are asked to use unscented products in lieu of scented toiletries and detergents, and to refrain from wearing perfumes and colognes.