Call for nominations: AAAL Executive Committee positions

March 9, 2016UncategorizedAAAL

The AAAL Nominations Committee is seeking nominations for the following 2 AAAL Executive Committee positions, in preparation for elections which will take place at the Spring AGM.

Secretary/Treasurer

Responsibilities include: attending executive meetings, taking minutes of meetings and executive committee, keeping accurate records of AAAL accounts, submitting accounting records to auditors, submitting reports at each general meeting and biannual reports to the chair.

Director-at-Large

Responsibilities include: attending executive meetings, maintaining liaison with other library associations, calling for standing committee members as needed, conducting general meetings in Chair’s absence, submitting biannual reports to the chair, and performing other duties as assigned by the Chair.

To nominate a AAAL member or put forward your own name, please contact a member of the nominations committee (Samuel Cassady, Jane Duffy, or Isobel Rancier) by March 11, 2016. For more information, please refer to the AAAL Bylaws.

AAAL 7 Questions with Jane Duffy

March 3, 20167 QuestionsAAAL

March’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Jane Duffy, Librarian III, City Centre Library, MacEwan University.

1. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Trigonometry

2. If you could be any fictional character, who would you choose? Dame Philippa Talbot (In this House of Brede)

3. What is your proudest non-work related accomplishment? Quitting smoking 25 years ago.

4. What do you eat for breakfast? Eggs (scrambled or boiled)

5. What do you do when you’re not working? Walking my little Shih Tzu, Peter; reading

6. What is your favourite quote? “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverence the race that is set before us…” Hebrews 12:1

7. What is your favourite colour? Sunshine yellow

AAAL Call for Volunteers (extended): Mentorship Working Group

February 5, 2016UncategorizedAAAL

The AAAL Executive is looking for 3-4 members interested in exploring ways that the AAAL might better support mentorship opportunities among our members. The group will be tasked with reaching out to current library mentorship programs, conducting a review of literature on effective approaches to mentorship, and making a preliminary report or suggestions to the membership at the upcoming Spring AGM in Calgary on April 14.

If interested, please submit your name and a brief statement of interest to AAAL Co-Chairs Robyn Hall (hallr27@macewan.ca) and Sonya Betz (sonya.betz@ualberta.ca) by Thursday, February 18.

7 Questions with Shawna Murphy

February 1, 20167 QuestionsAAAL

February’s installment of 7 Questions With… AAAL Members features Shawna Murphy, Outreach librarian, Vera Bracken Library, Medicine Hat College.

1. When was the last time you were nervous? I’m often nervous, but I think that’s actually a good thing. I’m always trying new things so I never get too comfortable.

2. If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what would it be for? It would be a big old East Coast ceilidh. Fiddles, guitars, bodhrans, jam sessions, step dancing, and a huge house to fit everyone into! And it would be just because- you don’t need an excuse to have a party!

3. What is your best piece of career advice? I am still pretty new to this librarian thing, and I am much more qualified to listen to other, more experienced people’s advice than to give any myself. However, I guess what’s working for me is being adventurous, getting out of my comfort zone, trying new things, and being invested in my role(s). I know that’s all very cliche but I think being open and excited about what we do is absolutely the best way to learn and grow in this profession.

4. What is your favourite thing to binge watch? Battlestar Galactica, Once Upon a Time, and Downton Abbey (I couldn’t pick just one)

5.What is your proudest work-related accomplishment? In 2012 I spent 4 months in Bangalore, India, working as an intern with the Hippocampus Reading Foundation. I helped develop and implement an ESL story time program and a teacher training program for use in government school libraries and the Hippocampus Learning Centres set up in rural villages. I really enjoyed my time there and learned so much. It really opened my eyes to the positive impact libraries and librarians can have on the communities they serve.

6. What do you do when you’re not working? I like zumba, reading, knitting, baking, going for walks, traveling, and playing board games. I also love to dance. My favourite thing to do though is just hang out at home, watch Netflix with my husband, try new recipes, have friends over, and just generally enjoy life.

7. What is your favourite quote?
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
– Mary Oliver
https://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/133.html

Thank you to Augustana Workshop staff

January 18, 2016UncategorizedAAAL

The Augustana Information Literacy Workshops have, over the last 15 years, been exceptional opportunities for academic librarians from Alberta and beyond to learn from some of the most influential information literacy researchers and practitioners. But, more than that, the workshops have also provided a venue for academic librarians from Alberta to build a local community of practice. Each year, we have had an opportunity to connect (or reconnect) with our colleagues around the province, spend a day learning from each other, and to have conversations around our teaching.

To Nancy and Mel, and the rest of the staff at Augustana library, thank you for your commitment to information literacy, and for organizing topics, resources, and presenters to help us grow and connect in our profession. Your commitment and passion inspires librarians across the province!

– Posted on behalf of Red Deer College librarians and the many AAAL members who attended these workshops over the years…