This month we’re very pleased to feature Theresa Remtulla, Collections Technician at Mount Royal University, for our 7 Question feature.

1. What is something interesting you learned in the last month?

Because I work in a library, I am always learning something new.  Last month, I was reviewing our current library workflows so that we can plan for the implementation of our new library software, ALMA.  

2. When was the last time you were nervous?

The last time I was really nervous was when I presented RDA for beginners at the AALT conference, 2017.  

3. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose?

Arya Stark from Game of Thrones

I love Arya Stark’s character in Game of Thrones because she is strong, fearless, brave and independent.   

4. What is your best piece of career advice?

The best piece of career advice I can give is to continue to learn throughout your career. Develop your skills by seeking professional development opportunities, taking courses, attending conferences, participating on committees and within library associations.  

5. What is your favourite thing to binge watch?

The Gilmore Girls

6. Who inspires you?

Strong leaders inspire me. People who challenge, promote, encourage, mentor and set examples in their own life.  

7. What do you do when you’re not working?

When I’m not working, I am spending time with my kids, husband and family.  I find time to exercise and I volunteer within the Ismaili community.   I also spend time volunteering for the Alberta Association of Library Technicians.  Belonging to an association gives the added benefit of learning about other libraries, sharing and promoting what library technicians do, connecting with others within the library field and continually growing within my profession.  

The AAAL is seeking nominations for the following 2 AAAL Executive Committee positions, in preparation for elections taking place at the Spring Annual General Meeting on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Mount Royal University in Calgary.  To nominate an AAAL member or put your own name forward for either of these positions, please email any member of the AAAL Nominations Committee with a brief statement of interest (Robyn Hall, Sonya Betz, and Geoff Owens).

The deadline for nominations is Monday, March 12, 2018.

Chair-elect (2 year term: first year as AAAL Chair-elect, and second year as AAAL Chair)
Responsibilities include:

• Maintain liaison with other library associations and external organizations, and ensure news and updates of interest to the association are reported at the Fall Meeting, Annual General Meeting, and via the AAAL blog and social media;
• Call for standing committee members as needed and ensure standing committee positions are filled;
• Conduct general meetings in Chair’s absence;
• Perform other duties as designated by the Chair;
• Submit written bi-annual reports to the Chair for inclusion in meeting packages three weeks prior to Fall and Annual General Meetings
• Attend Executive Meetings.

Secretary/Treasurer (2 year position)
Responsibilities include:

• Take minutes of meetings and distribute such through the AAAL listserv and/or by posting to the AAAL website;
• Take minutes of Executive Committee meetings and distribute to the executive;
• Keep accurate records of AAAL accounts;
• Submit Treasurer’s report at each general meeting;
• Submit accounting records to the Auditors annually and submit the audited statement to the provincial government;
• Submit written bi-annual reports to the Chair for inclusion in meeting packages three weeks prior to Fall and Annual General Meetings;
• Collect membership fees.

The Alberta Association of Academic Libraries (AAAL) Spring 2018 Meeting will take place on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at the Riddell Library and Learning Centre at Mount Royal University in Calgary. Save the date!

We invite you to submit a proposal for a 20 minute talk (this includes time for questions) on how your staff, your libraries and/or your constituents engage with information.  What new program, service or space are you and your library providing to your user community?  What new technologies or tools are you using to improve how you, your library, or your users get things done?

• Looking for ideas on what to present? Check out past AAAL Lightning Strike presentations.
• Wondering how we’ll select sessions? Take a look at our new rubric and use it to prepare your proposal.
• Submit your proposal online by Friday March 16, 2018
• Need financial support to attend or present at the meeting? Apply for an AAAL Professional Development Award.

Looking forward to seeing all of you in Calgary in April.

AAAL Workshop Committee
Claudette Cloutier (UCalgary)
Angie Mandeville (UAlberta)
Shawna Murphy (MHC)

Hello AAAL members,

Thank you to those who attended the Fall 2017 meeting held at NorQuest College in Edmonton. If we missed you this time, we hope you can join us for the Spring 2018 meeting at Mount Royal University’s new Riddell Library and Learning Centre. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, April 12, 2018.

Whether you attended last week’s meeting or not, we would appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This short survey will take 3-5 minutes of your time and assist us in planning engaging and relevant AAAL meetings. Thank you in advance for your time.

Sincerely,

The AAAL Executive + Committee Members

The Canadian Association of Professional Academic Librarians (CAPAL) is now accepting proposals for the 2018 Conference. The conference will be held in conjunction with Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, 29-31 May, 2018.

Papers presented might relate to aspects of the following themes (though they need not be limited to them):

• Challenges to academic status for librarians
• The identity of academic librarians in uncertain times
• Challenging racism in Canadian universities
• The role of academic librarians in the changing academic library environment and culture
• The ways in which professionalism intersects with race and gender, and how it may reinforce institutional power dynamics
• Challenges to academic freedom and intellectual freedom
• Challenges to academic integrity in a “fake news” and anti-science world
• The roles and responsibilities of academic librarians in Reconciliation
• Resisting the corporatization of universities and academic libraries
• Confronting barriers to diversity in academic libraries

For full conference details, please see the attached call for proposals.

CAPAL18 CFP

~ AAAL Communications Committee