All posts by AAAL

Fall Meeting: November 19!

October 29, 2015UncategorizedAAAL

Greetings AAAL members,

With snowstorms threatening and midterms looming it must be time for our AAAL Fall 2015 Meeting!

This year we will be meeting in Edmonton, at MacEwan University, City Centre Campus on Thursday, November 19. All events will take place in Room 9-207 (Robbins Health Learning Centre, 2nd Floor).

Thanks to the dedicated work of the AAAL Workshop Committee and members of the Executive, we have a busy day of networking and learning planned, including our AAAL business meeting in the morning, and a full slate of presentations in the afternoon. Lunch, as always, will be provided by the AAAL. We are excited to close the day with a keynote talk from Michael McNally, Assistant Professor at the U of A, about the role of academic libraries in the open educational resources (OER) movement.

For details, please see the draft agenda on the AAAL website at https://aaal.ca/events/.

Please register at http://tinyurl.com/aaalrsvp by November 10! Space is limited, so register early.

Special Resolution: Bylaw Amendments
As an added treat, this year we are also proposing a special resolution to amend the AAAL’s Bylaws. We will be voting on proposed bylaw changes at the upcoming meeting, and are distributing the details of proposed changes three weeks in advance as per our current bylaws. Feedback is invited on these changes – please respond by November 12. Detailed information will be distributed via the AAAL Listserv.

We look forward to seeing you at MacEwan University on November 19!
Robyn Hall and Sonya Betz, AAAL Co-Chairs

AAAL Professional Development Award – Now accepting submissions until Oct. 28

October 14, 2015UncategorizedAAAL

The deadline has been extended to Sunday, November 1, 2015.

The Alberta Association of Academic Libraries (AAAL) is now accepting applications for its professional development award.

$500.00 will be made available yearly to Library Staff & Library Professionals from AAAL member institutions. Library students are also eligible to apply.

Application details are available here: Professional Development Award_Fall 2015 (PDF). The deadline for submissions is ~~October 28, 2015~~ November 1, 2015.

The Professional Development Committee looks forward to receiving many applications!

Open Access Week 2015 Events in Alberta

October 13, 2015UncategorizedAAAL

This year, Open Access Week falls on October 19-25. There are a variety of events happening around Alberta including:

University of Alberta: Scholarly Communication in the Digital Era. Talk by Vincent Larivière. Wednesday, October 24, 10AM, University of Alberta ECHA L1-490.
Mount Royal University:
- Kill the Academic Journal? Sorry and Please! Talk by Gerald Beasley, Vice Provost and Chief Librarian (UofA). Monday, October 19, 11AM, room T107.
- Promoting Progressive Approaches to Open Access. Talk by Richard Hayman (Digital Initiatives Librarian, MRU). Wednesday, October 21, 10AM, room T107.
- Open Educational Resources in the Western Canadian Post-Secondary Context. Talk by Cari Merkley, Erika Smith, Eric Queenan (OER Working Group, MRU), Thursday, October 22, 11AM, room T104.
Foothills Library Association: Open Access Open Mic Night. Tuesday, October 20, 6PM, Joyce on 4th, Calgary.
Concordia University of Edmonton: Knowledge Without Borders: The Open Access Movement’s Impact on the Flow of Information. Talk by Robyn Hall (MacEwan) and Dan Mirau (Concordia). Wednesday, October 21, 12PM, HAC 208.
University of Lethbridge: Doing Science in the Open. Talk by Dr. Rosie Redfield. Wednesday, October 21, 3PM, University of Lethbridge Library.
MacEwan University/ Edmonton Public Library: Special screening of The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz. Tuesday, October 27, 6PM, Stanley Milner Library Theatre.

Hosting a local event for OA Week not listed above? Email Robyn Hall (hallr27@macewan.ca)

7 Questions with Debbie Feisst

October 1, 20157 QuestionsAAAL

October’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Debbie Feisst, Digitization Librarian (acting), University of Alberta Libraries .

1. What is something interesting you learned in the last month? Being 9 months into a 1 year position as Digitization Librarian, I am learning something new every day! Delving into project management, dealing with vendors, digital asset management and current standards and best practices in metadata. However, just last night my six year old and I learned that some sharks have live births and some ‘lay’ eggs. How did I not know this?!

2. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad, but it turned out to be for the best? I missed the application deadline to apply for the MLIS at UBC, thereby eventually applying to U of Alberta. Which eventually led to me meeting my husband. Which eventually led to you thinking, “awwww.”

3. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? Every Single Song from Weezer’s Blue Album. As long as it’s the Extended Bonus Disc edition.

4. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Max, of the Wild Things. I always wanted to hear what a Wild Rumpus sounded like. Plus, in the end he still got to eat his supper.

5. What would you name the autobiography of your life? I Got It Done, and Mostly Correct

6. What is your best piece of career advice? Start with the hard stuff first. This was actually my Dad’s advice to me growing up, and it has never failed me.

7. What is your favourite quote?
That it will never come again
Is what makes life so sweet.
– Emily Dickinson

7 Questions with Nicole Palanuk

September 1, 20157 QuestionsAAAL

September’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members Nicole Palanuk, Manager, Library Instruction & Service at Yellowhead Tribal College.

1. What is something interesting you learned in the last month? I recently returned from the International Indigenous Librarians Forum held at the University of Manitoba. One of the things I learned from the Elders was about language. They spoke about the tie between language and identity — when you lose your language you lose who you are. Using another community’s language changes the way your ideas and thoughts are expressed because there are concepts that cannot be translated. So knowing your own language is really important to maintaining your identity.

2. What is your favourite colour? Red. I love to wear red outfits and red accessories.

3. What is your best piece of career advice?
Don’t be afraid to move! I’m originally from Ontario but I moved to Alberta for work. Sometimes your dream job may not be in the city you live in right now.

4. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would love to learn how to do graphic design.

5. What is your favourite thing to binge watch? Dr Who or Once Upon A Time

6. What is your proudest non-work related accomplishment? When I was in my early 20s I climbed Mt. Fuji. It was really difficult but the experience of viewing the sunset from the top of the mountain was worth it.

7. What is your favourite quote? The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.