Library staff from all member institutions (https://aaal.ca/membership/membership-list) are invited to join us for the Alberta Association of Academic Libraries 2017 Spring Annual General Meeting at Bow Valley College in Calgary on Thursday, April 20.

Please register at http://tinyurl.com/aaal2017agm by Wednesday, April 12! Space is limited, so register soon.

A draft agenda and meeting package are posted at https://aaal.ca/events A final agenda with additional keynote and lightning strike details will be posted to the AAAL website no later than Monday, April 10.

Please also note that the workshop committee is inviting submissions of before and after pictures of library space redesign or construction projects.  We will put together a slideshow to be shown over the lunch break of everyone’s projects. Please submit photos along with the name of your institution, the title of the project and a brief description of what you achieved to Shawna Murphy (SMurphy@mhc.ab.ca) by Monday April 10 who will coordinate the presentation.

We look forward to seeing you in Calgary!

In September 2016 the newly formed Canadian Federation of Library Associations
(CFLA-FCAB), the national voice of Canada’s library community, unanimously
adopted and endorsed the “Prison Libraries Network: Right to Read” position
statement.
This Right to Read statement echoes recommendations set out in the most recent
report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator. In the report, the Office
recommends that Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) “update and renew inmate
libraries so that they are compliant with policy and comparable to the services,
materials, and technologies available in the communities.” This statement clearly
asserts the value of libraries and access to information resources in all correctional
institutions.
The Prison Libraries Network: Right to Read statement, originally approved by the
Canadian Library Association (CLA) January 2016 is now posted on the CFLA website.

Or click the attached PDF for the full statement: Prison Libraries Network Right to Read Statement

Call for Lightning Strike Sessions

The Alberta Association of Academic Libraries (AAAL) Spring 2017 Meeting will take place on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at Bow Valley College.

We will kick off the afternoon with a keynote related to library space design, which will be followed by our lightning strike talks.

We invite you to submit a proposal for a 20 minute talk (this includes time for questions) on something new or engaging that is happening in your library, or on a topic applicable to academic libraries in our province! 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 Monday, April 3, 2017.
• Need financial support to attend or present at the meeting? Apply for an AAAL Professional Development Award.

To complement our keynote presentation related to library space design, we also invite you to submit before and after pictures of your space or library redesign or construction project.  We will put together a slide show to be shown over the lunch break of everyone’s projects.  Include the name of your institution, the title of the project and a brief description of what you achieved. By Monday April 10, 2017, please submit these to Shawna Murphy (SMurphy@mhc.ab.ca) who will coordinate the presentation.

We hope to see you in Calgary in April!

AAAL Workshop Committee
Claudette Cloutier (UCalgary)
Shawna Murphy (MHC)
Trish Rosseel (UAlberta)

There are three exciting AAAL Executive positions up for election at the Spring 2017 AGM on Thursday, April 20, 2017 in Calgary.  If you’re looking for a new way to contribute to the Association or build your CV, please consider putting your name forward! You are also welcome to nominate a colleague from any AAAL member library.

If you are interested in being nominated for any of these positions, or would like further information about the positions, please contact any member of the AAAL Nominations Committee (Samuel Cassady, Jane Duffy, Isobel Rancier) before March 15, 2017. A brief Statement of Interest for each nominee will be sent out 2 weeks before the AGM in April.

Chair (one year position as of April 2017 – formerly a 2 year position)

• Conduct the Fall Meeting, Annual General Meeting, and Executive Committee meetings;
• Coordinate meetings: contact hosting institution; ensure Workshop Committee has activities planned;
• set date and agenda items;
• Act as spokesperson when representing AAAL to other associations, agencies & government departments;
• Coordinate with the AAAL Communications Committee to ensure members are aware of new and upcoming meetings.

Chair Elect (one year position as of April 2017 – to transition to Chair after one year)

• 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;
• Support and consult with the Chair as needed, sharing duties as the Chair sees fit;
• Conduct general meetings in Chair’s absence.

Membership Coordinator (2 year position)

• Maintain current membership records, files and forms for AAAL members and affiliates, along with participants in the Resource Sharing Agreement;
• Coordinate with the Secretary/Treasurer the collection of membership fees;
• Coordinate with the AAAL Communications Committee to ensure the website reflects current membership;
• Create and coordinate the distribution of post-meeting evaluations to membership.