Feliciter Vol 54 No 2

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Library Technicians
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Vol. 54 No. 2 (2008)

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Volume 54 Number 2 • 2008
T of Contents
Features Columns
Theme: Library Technicians Feature Articles President’s Message
Guest Editor: Karen Hildebrandt Hitchhiking Across Cultures
Canada’s Public Libraries from the Classroom to the
Liaison: Terry Nikkel and Information Literacy Workplace
Training
Guest Editorial by Heidi Julien &
By Alvin Schrader 43
Library Technicians Cameron Hoffman 74
Speak Out From the Director’s Chair
by Karen Hildebrandt 52 Preserving Canada’s Going Green
Cultural Heritage: By Don Butcher 47
Theme Features CBC / Radio-Canada
Planning for IT
When Distance Gets in by Paul McCormick 78
Nurturing Creativity
the Way: Barriers to By Judith M. Umbach 48
Recruitment in Rural World Library and
and Remote Libraries Information Congress
by Emma Wood 54 74th IFLA General CLA at Work
Conference and Council From the CLA Task Force
File under Tango: Lifelong by Ingrid Parent 81 on Open Access
Learning for Library By Andrew Waller &
Technicians Heather Morrison 50
by Guy Robertson 57
Letter to the Editor 51
From Winnie the Pooh to
AACR2: The Application
Departments Book Reviews 83
of Technical Training in Index to Advertisers 77
a Changing Library 800 m Ahead: Small Public
Environment Libraries in Canada
by Tressa Harris 60 CLA Executive Council
The Town of Stonewall,
& Staff Contacts 90 Manitoba
Educational Requirement:
Library Technician By Ernie Ingles &
Diploma Carrie Chelsberg 86
by Deborah Kay 62
Just Do LIT: A Student
Perspective
by Melissa Poremba 65 Front Cover
Creating the Nova Scotia This month’s cover:
Association of Library © Pavel Losevsky
Technicians <http://www.dreamstime.com/Paha_l_info> |
by Erica Smith 68 Dreamstime.com
<http://www.dreamstime.com/> "
The Emergence of Library
Technician Programs in
Canada: A Brief History Cover Design: Beverly Bard
by Jean Weihs 70
Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 41
resident’s
P Message
Hitchhiking Across Cultures
from the Classroom
to the Workplace
Alvin Schrader
“I just got hired. Now what?” is a Success also depends on your ability One obvious difference between
familiar refrain for new graduates to listen: as Nelson Mandela once the two cultures is that employees
of our master’s and technician said, “leadership is about listening.” receive paycheques and benefits in
programs. Their question highlights Career success boils down to your return for performance, productivity
the challenges – and mysteries – skills of good leadership. and a regular work day. Students, on
of transitioning from the classroom the other hand, pay tuition, work
to the workplace. This column is Key differences flexible “student hours,” occasionally
dedicated to them. I have taught the Practicum pull “all-nighters,” and pursue their
Now, if you are still a student, field experience option in the MLIS own agendas.
before you read further, jot down the program at the University of Alberta Other key differences include:
first thoughts and feelings that come for many years, as well as the Leader-
to mind about your own impending ship and Management course. From • Service delivery: Rather than
transition from school to work. If these experiences, as well as from write academic papers about
you’re a graduate already, think back a review of the professional and service delivery, students must
to when you were just starting your research literature, it is clear to me apply classroom theory to
first job after graduation, and how it that the school-to-work transition is organizational practices when
felt in the first days and weeks. How a critical time in everyone’s career. they deliver services to clients.
long did it take before you began to This transition also deserves far more • Organizational goals alignment:
feel comfortable and productive? research than it has received to date.* Personal goals versus workplace
It’s important to remember we One way to gain deeper under- mission, vision, values, policies,
do not come fully formed out of standing of this transition is to procedures, priorities, outcomes
educational programs. Everyone approach the classroom and the and job descriptions within a
experiences a sharp learning curve, workplace as differing cultures – broader context of governance,
culture shock, and a gamut of the culture of the educational legalities and external relation-
emotional ups and downs. environment as experienced by the ships: how many students
Students are often very focused student versus the organizational have a mission statement or
on studying and grades, and as a environment as experienced by the a strategic plan – or a job
result some do not think much about new graduate. This conceptual description? In the workplace,
what it takes to be successful in the approach gives valuable clues about a complex and sometimes
workplace. They are unaware of the how to help new graduates navigate opposing mix of organizational
fact that training and expertise are between cultures with a minimum and personal priorities must fit
only part of the puzzle. The rest of anxiety, so that they will be able together.
depends on personal and people skills to get up to speed quickly and • Holistic performance expectations
– on your ability to communicate, contribute effectively in the work- and appraisal: The workplace
network and collaborate with people. place. evaluates the whole person in

L i n k i n g C a n a d a ' s I n f o r m a t i o n P r o f e s s i o n a l s
multiple roles, in contrast to the • Social complexity and relationship Tacit knowledge about a work-
emphasis in formal education on management: In the workplace, place culture is by definition
grades. The workplace focuses on the cultivation and maintenance never easily articulated into
both professional and personal of professional relationships and words, never static, and never
competencies – on emotional social interactions is ubiquitous, just one culture but rather
and ethical intelligence in while the classroom emphasis on multiple cultures in a state of
addition to intellectual and grades largely excludes consider- constant flux with each change
creative performance. ations of interpersonal skills and in staffing, resource allocation
• Multiple roles: In the workplace, emotional intelligence. and organizational priorities. It
there are many responsibilities • Social cohort: Students enter is through tacit knowledge and
and tasks. The student’s role is educational programs with a learning – through storytelling –
more straightforward: everything built-in cohort of other students, that new staff absorb how prac-
beyond grades is largely super- with most progressing through tice is experienced and delivered,
fluous to the diploma and their course of studies together. how communication works and
degree. In the workplace, however, it is how decisions are made.
• Unionization: Many workplaces likely that only one new graduate • Collaboration, teamwork and
are unionized, adding another will be hired at a time, and collegiality: These are essential
layer of complexity to both hier- perhaps only one or two per year skills for the workplace, whereas
archical and social relationships, even in larger institutions. individual learning and perform-
and introducing the concept of • Oral communication: In the work- ance are valued in the classroom
seniority and privilege. In contrast, place, oral communication in (in spite of group assignments,
students are relatively free and decision making and planning, which are essentially artificial
independent spirits, unless they giving and getting direction, and instituted without training
bump up against the educational and sharing information is the in team skills).
bureaucracy on account of day-to-day norm in supervisory • Workflow and cycle: Organiza-
failing grades, library overdues and co-worker relationships. tional cycles revolve around
or academic offences. Classroom assignments and 12-month budget planning as
• Structure and hierarchy: Workplace instructions, on the other hand, well as each staff member’s
authority and power relations must be written and distributed annual performance review,
are quite different from the flat at the start of each course, by while the classroom cycle is
reporting relationship between legal and ethical obligation, and bound by the four-month educa-
student and instructor. apart from classroom lectures the tional term and end-of-course
• Supervisory relationship: In organ- mode of functioning is textual. grades. Moreover, the classroom
izations, employee-supervisor • Tacit knowledge and learning: cycle finishes each term, while
relationships are ongoing. In Organizational culture – that the organizational cycle is
contrast, the relationship swirling amalgam of memories never-ending.
between student and instructor and stories, histories, traditions, • Lifelong learning: Some new
ends with the academic term. conventions, symbolism and graduates may think their
Moreover, delegation in the taboos – is by and large trans- learning is over once they get
workplace is encouraged, while in mitted informally through “water their diploma or degree, but
educational settings delegating cooler talk” and social gatherings, productivity and creativity in
responsibilities to other students the importance of which some the workplace demand lifelong
(or to the Internet) is viewed new graduates underestimate or learning and career path
rather dimly. even scorn as a waste of time. planning.
44 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

In a word, workplace culture Some key tasks and responsibil- • Develop a continuing education
thrives on leadership – on a chaotic ities for employers, supervisors and plan with periodic review and
combination of personal, managerial, co-workers are: updating.
supervisory and organizational
competencies that must be applied • Recognize that the new graduate And new graduates, if your
effectively at the local level. In is engaged in a steep and contin- supervisor doesn’t develop an
contrast, the classroom functions on uous learning curve of 6 to 12 orientation plan and checklist for
academic achievement measured months. This involves learning you, do your own! You should also
through written assignments that about three interrelated areas: the keep a daily journal, which will help
tend toward generic, theoretical job, the organization and the self. you become more self-reflective,
learning and knowledge. Instructors • Be aware of the vulnerability and ground your thoughts about personal
impart abstractions and generalities insecurities of the new graduate, and professional identity, and serve
in varying degrees, but they cannot as well as being sensitive and as a solid source of information for
teach the concrete realities of unique receptive to their enthusiasms your next job and its transitional
workplaces in particular places and and new ideas. Supervisors and phase. You can also develop a
times. The classroom is about intellect, co-workers should treat every 30-60-90 plan of what you anticipate
while the workplace is about leadership. idea as a good idea for the first might be your priorities and goals
six months! for each of your first three months;
Best practices • Help them with day-to-day for example, the first 30-day period
So, what should library staff do context, organizational vision, might be described as the steep
for new graduates, knowing about values, goals, historical roots learning phase, with a goal of
these differences between school and and evolution, local culture identifying and pursuing concrete
work? What are the best practices and background – or, as one actions for achieving such learning.
for integrating new staff into the new graduate described it, with An achievable 30-day goal might
organization and its culture? “weird politics.” be getting to know all of the other
While educators and associations • Develop a comprehensive, staff and beginning to cultivate
can play an important part in ongoing, gradual and systematic relationships and networks. In
preparing students for their workplace 6- to 12-month orientation each phase, set realistic goals, stay
roles, it is essential that employers, plan and checklist (described in positive, rejoice in what you are
supervisors and co-workers recognize business as “onboarding”) and applying from school and learning
that they have the most critical beware of information overload. on the job, absorb the workplace
responsibility in assisting the new • Establish a mentoring program, culture, explore issues before you
employee’s transition. Even before but make sure mentors also have act, and be patient with yourself.
the new employee arrives, in the training and are a good fit with Also, be sure to develop the
(frequently lengthy) lull between the new graduate. skills of imagining and visualizing,
job acceptance and actual start date, • Set up a weekly check-in with the self-confidence of recognizing
an employer should touch base in the new staff member. Regular that everyone has doubts and
some fashion with the new graduate feedback need not be long or gremlins, the conviction that you
just hired. For example, a card, formal – 20 minutes over coffee will not let fear defeat you, and
a small gift or a phone call will might do it. the passion that you will make a
reinforce how welcome the new • Ensure that the new graduate difference. Keep reminding yourself
employee is, and alleviate some of (like other staff) receives recog- that the organization hired you,
the inevitable anxiety experienced nition, praise and constructive so they obviously saw your potential.
in anticipation of starting work. feedback for improvement. It’s going to work out well!

Sustained leadership investment in time and resources 49.7, 2007); as well as my chapter for
Some of the differences between that goes into the search and hiring a forthcoming 8Rs book entitled
academic and workplace cultures are process in the first place. The Future Is Now: Responses to
more important than others. In fact, The alternative to a smooth the 8Rs Canadian Library Human
the school-to-work transition integration is a rocky journey for Resource Study.
deserves a lot more research – all the some new graduates as they attempt
more so because of the 20-30 year to hitchhike across the shifting Many thanks to students and graduates
hiatus that has occurred in hiring for terrain from classroom culture to across Canada who have helped me
full-time permanent positions in our organizational life. shape these ideas, to my Graduate
field in Canada. Assistant Katie Edwards (MLIS 08)
Organizations must adopt * For more information, see the for her masterful editing skills, and to
sustained leadership strategies to be 8Rs research reports; “Jumping into my colleagues Ann Curry and Ali Shiri
exercised by all staff, so that new the Deep End” by Joanne Oud for close readings of earlier drafts.
staff integration and retention are as (Feliciter 51.2, 2005); and “The
secure and positive as possible and Transition from Higher Education
the new graduate’s sense of personal into Work: Tales of Cohesion and
and professional identity is nurtured. Fragmentation” by Rick Holden and
This is essential, given the huge John Hamblett (Education + Training

irector’s
D Chair
Going Green
Don Butcher
In October 2007, I attended the and convenient, but generates • The exhibitor package this year
annual conference of the association thousands of bottles that have to be was strictly electronic, saving
that I’m a member of, the Canadian gathered for recycling. Paper coffee paper by the tens of thousands
Society of Association Executives. cups are also convenient and come of sheets (thank you, exhibitors,
Yes, there is an association of people with lids for safety, but after a single for your enthusiasm!).
who run associations. use are tossed out and may not be • We source locally what we can,
There were sessions on every recyclable. The list goes on. to avoid shipping.
aspect of my job – governance,
business operations, leadership,
technology – and I duly planned
out what sessions to attend to
Bringing a thousand people
maximize value. When I had a gap
in my schedule I’d drop in on some-
together for four days is bound to
thing not strictly related to my role,
just to see what there was to see.
have an environmental impact.
“Creating serendipity” is what I call it.
One such session was on For the CLA conference, we’re • Ten dollars from each full
“greening” meetings: reducing the trying a few things to minimize our registration is going to Trees
environmental impact of meetings environmental impact while still Canada to fund tree-planting
and conferences. providing the best experience we can: as an offset against the carbon
I admit I had never thought produced by delegates travelling
through the environmental impact • Our conference bags have been to Vancouver.
of a meeting before. Sure, we’ve all reusable for years; this year, the
been returning name badges to the bag itself is eco-friendlier. If you are attending the confer-
registration desk for years. As an • We didn’t do the preliminary ence, please do your part. Perhaps
organizer, I’ve encouraged delegates program as a separate publica- carry your CLA travel mug and use it
to dress in layers because it is tion, but instead incorporated it for beverages. Book a shuttle from
impossible to get a meeting room into the last issue of Feliciter. the airport or coordinate travel with
at just the right temperature (what • We’re working with the venue a colleague so you can share a taxi.
is perfect for one person is too hot on ways to reduce energy use Bringing a thousand people
for a second and too cool for a and waste. together for four days is bound to
third: in fact, there is no “right” • We’re asking speakers to provide have an environmental impact.
temperature). handouts electronically in We’re working to minimize that
But there are impacts I’ve never advance so that delegates can impact, and with your help we can
considered. As organizers, we supply download them to their laptops all be just a little greener.
drinking water. Bottled water is safe or BlackBerrys.

lanning
P for IT
Nurturing Creativity
Judith M. Umbach
Creativity is the heart of every Stretching the boundaries Now these are amongst the most
organization. Many people who work Astonishingly, many technical popular services available. Also,
in and with Information Technology people come up with their greatest imaginative behind-the-scenes
are wonderfully creative, but their creativity during hallway conversa- technical improvements can actually
running stream of ideas is not neces- tions. Probably, in the hallway people translate into customer satisfaction
sarily productive. Without channels feel free from constraints, and good because other staff gain more time for
for exploring their creativity, people organizations find ways to capitalize front-line contact with customers.
may actually sabotage the organiza- on these brilliant moments. An Within this atmosphere of
tion by quietly pursuing their ideas internal blog or even a whiteboard willingness to encourage new ideas –
outside the attention of management. nearby could capture thoughts that not all of which need be accepted –
The organizational challenge is to can later be built into services and the more strategic issues will require
harness the creative spirit to fulfill programs. The key is to encourage the more traditional approach of
larger objectives. “graffiti” and playfulness. Unless an creating a task force or assigning the
A variety of approaches may be organization is seriously dysfunctional, project to skilled staff. If the library
needed to capture different types of staff will gradually build on each as a whole encourages the flourishing
ideas and energy. To kick-start a new other’s ideas, needing only enough of innovative solutions, the task force
openness to creativity, a seminar-type management support to feel free will think more widely in their
meeting can elicit and develop new in spending a little time on being planning. The involvement of others
ideas in a safe atmosphere. If many creative. may ensure a more holistic vision of
people are involved, breaking into While senior managers can and the end-state. The problem may be
small groups led by carefully selected should sometimes participate in the reconstructed into phases with fewer
facilitators will encourage discussion. free-form sessions, they also have and smaller challenges. The time
The facilitators should be people the responsibility of applying their frame for implementation may be
who have shown their own creativity creativity to larger strategic decisions. shortened by quick new processes.
and are comfortable with wide-ranging Collaborative conversations and Creativity is the most valuable
discussion. The goal of this early brainstorming-style discussions in and least expensive asset in any
session is to gain confidence in management meetings do encourage organization. At every level we have
generating and sharing ideas. The more spontaneous approaches to the obligation to nurture this asset
final portion of the session can begin age-old problems. both in others and in ourselves.
the process of consolidating thoughts Libraries remain fresh in their
into groups of like ideas. Subsequent approaches to customers only when CLA member Judith M. Umbach is
seminars can involve either the management stretches the boundaries the Chair of the Calgary Public Library
large group again, further prioritizing of the usual. Self-checkout and self- Board. She can be reached at
and refining the ideas, or can be pickup of holds were initially scary [email protected].
subdivided into sessions for staff policies because of the perceived
with skills particular to implementing need to trust library customers more.
the ideas.

Connect, engage, share, create
the public way
Public libraries build strong communities

cope491
at
CLA Work
From the CLA Task Force on Open Access
Andrew Waller &
Heather Morrison
This is the brief update on the work • CLA will provide for authors’ The members of the CLA Task
of the CLA Task Force on Open retention of copyright through Force on Open Access are:
Access (OA) and the activity of the the adoption of publisher-author
Canadian Library Association agreements that promote open
Donna Bourne-Tyson
regarding open access. access, such as creative commons
Olivier Charbonneau
The Task Force was formed in licensing.
Hilde Colenbrander
November 2006 and was given the • CLA will adopt an open commu-
Denise Koufogiannakis
mandate to develop a policy state- nications policy for all or almost
Halina de Maurivez
ment on OA in the CLA, including all CLA communications.
Greg Linnell
recommendations on policies and
practices to implement the policy The draft position statement is Heather Morrison
if adopted. Additionally, the Task currently in the consultation process. Jennifer Richard
Force was asked to draft a position CLA has a history of action on Kumiko Vezina
statement on OA in Canadian open access issues. For example, at the Andrew Waller
libraries. 2005 AGM, CLA members endorsed
The policy statement and a resolution on OA. CLA has also
recommendations were completed signed the Budapest Open Access The Task Force welcomes
in early 2007 and presented to CLA Initiative (www.soros.org/openaccess/). comments, questions, suggestions
Executive Council. In May, Council More recently, CLA has presented and ideas relating to OA and CLA
accepted the recommendations, strong positions on OA consultations and Canadian libraries. These would
which include: by the Social Sciences and Humanities be much appreciated.
Research Council, the Canadian More information about the
• Full and immediate open access Institutes of Health Research, and work of the Task Force can be found
for all CLA publications, with Libraries and Archives Canada (the on the CLA website at www.cla.ca/
the exception of Feliciter, which Canadian Digital Information AM/Template.cfm?Section=Open_
will be embargoed for one issue. Strategy). Access_Task_Force. Follow the link
Monographs will be considered At the CLA 2008 conference in at the bottom of the page to see the
for open access on an individual Vancouver, “Libraries & Publishing mandate document for the group and
basis. 3.0,” we will present an update on the recommendations report.
• CLA will actively encourage the activities of the Task Force and
its members to self-archive in on OA in general, particularly the Heather Morrison and Andrew Waller
institutional and/or subject Canadian situation. This session, are the co-conveners of the CLA Task
repositories and will investigate entitled “Open Access and Canadian Force on Open Access. Heather is
a partnership with E-LIS, the Libraries: Taking a Position,” will Project Coordinator at the British
Open Archive for Library and take place on Friday, May 23, from Columbia Electronic Library and
Information Science. 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Everyone is Andrew is Serials Librarian at the
welcome to attend. University of Calgary.

etter
L to the Editor PLEASE JOIN US!
CLA National Conference
& Trade Show
Karen Adams in Feliciter vol. 54 no. 1 skills (including knowing how to Vancouver, BC ~ May 21-24, 2008
(2008) quotes the report of the ALA catalogue) to function in a single
Committee on Accreditation. Most professional library, much less the
of the five recommendations are grounding in library theory needed
cosmetic, suggesting updates in to assist in planning future library
terminology. Particularly disturbing developments.
is number 2, which suggests the use
of the term “student learning J. McRee (Mac) Elrod
outcomes” for “educational results”, ([email protected])
without one word concerning Special Libraries Cataloguing
*what* those outcomes or results
should be. It matters not to me
which of these phrases is used, so
long as there is a specified body
of knowledge and skills a library
school should impart in order to be
accredited. Many current library
school graduates lack the practical
Partial solutions d on’t work.

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uest
G Editorial
Library Technicians Speak Out
Karen Hildebrandt
I’m not ”just” a library technician, I with CLA’s Library Technicians Canada to get together to network,
“am” a library technician. I’m proud Interest Group since 2004. In 2006 share ideas and experiences and, as
of what I do and I am proud of my our interest group initiated the one of my fellow LTIG members and
profession and of my occupation. Library Technician Award of Merit, conference junkies says, “In fact, it’s
I’m very thankful for the educa- which has been awarded twice now. that social event that is now the
tion I received through Grant
MacEwan College in Edmonton
and SAIT in Calgary (via distance
learning). My training and education I’m not “just” a library technician,
have made it possible for me to go
places I had never dreamed, take
paths I would never have had the
I “am” a library technician.
courage to explore and, most impor-
tant, provided an opportunity for me We recently initiated a conference highlight of the conference for me.
to become involved in professional bursary as well as producing a policy This is as close as we get to having
associations so that I in turn could and procedures for co-sponsorship a national gathering of library
give something back to my profession. opportunities with other library technicians!”
I am honoured to be Feliciter’s technician associations and interest I’d like to invite you to sit back
guest editor for this issue featuring groups in Canada. I have had the and catch a glimpse of the world
library technicians. I strongly believe pleasure of representing my fellow through the eyes of library technicians.
that everyone has an important role library technicians as a member of You will discover we are not “just”
in their organization and it is team- CLA’s President’s Council on the library technicians.
work that allows us to provide such 8Rs Study, as a member of the
outstanding service to our clients. recruitment subcommittee and as a Karen Hildebrandt is the Library
When we celebrate National Library member of the subcommittee for the Systems Coordinator at Concordia
Workers Day in October, we are Toolkit for Interns and Practicum University College of Alberta. She
recognizing the value of all library Students. graduated from Grant MacEwan
workers: our librarians, our library All these experiences have College’s Information Management
technicians, our library clerks and allowed me to meet so many inter- and Library Technician program in
assistants, and our library pages and esting people, and I can honestly say 1998. She is the current convenor of
shelvers. We rely on one another to that I have learned a lot from each the CLA Library Technicians Interest
get the job done, and that’s what a and every one of them. Group and a past president of the
team is all about. A highlight for library technicians Alberta Association of Library
I’ve been a member of the who attend the CLA conference is Technicians. Karen is in the midst of
Alberta Association of Library the Social Supper with their provin- taking courses to earn a Bachelor
Technicians since 1997 and have cial counterparts. It’s an opportunity Degree in Applied Human Service.
been actively involved as convenor for library technicians from across

Training Gaps Analysis - Librarians and Library Technicians/
Analyse des lacunes dans la formation destinée aux bibliothécaires
et aux bibliotechniciennes et bibliotechniciens
Published by: Cultural Human Resources Council/Conseil des ressources humaines
du secteur culturel and the Canadian Library Association
Prepared by: The 8Rs Research Team
While the previous 8Rs research revealed a number of critical issues facing libraries and
library workers, the purpose of the current study is to investigate questions around library
education-industry match, both for professionals (Master’s-level programs) and for para-
professionals (library technician programs). In presenting new data from the perspective
of educators and students, the study provides a unique opportunity to compare these
views and experiences with those previously gathered from administrators and other
practitioners. Hence, the report examines central questions of library education, and how the necessary competencies
(as stated by library employers) are being met by educational programs. In addition to profiling current students and
recent graduates, the report includes an analysis of library programs, student satisfaction and career interests, and
accessibility to library education.
A greater understanding of the potential gaps between libraries’ stated needs and those competencies students
are developing has the potential to facilitate greater communication and collaboration between the profession, the
paraprofession, and the education programs in Canada.
2006 • 236 pages • ISBN: 1-894236-40-8 • $59.95 (Soft Cover). Includes Searchable CD. (CLA members $53.95)
Item Code: 06-Training • Shipping, handling and taxes not included.
Order from: Canadian Library Association, 328 Frank Street, Ottawa, ON • (613) 232-9625, ext. 310
Fax (613) 563-9895 • [email protected]
heme
T Feature
When Distance Gets in the Way:
Barriers to Recruitment in
Rural and Remote Libraries
Emma Wood
In April 2007, at an informal annual northeast. In preparation for writing biggest barrier, in that it affects
general meeting of the Library and this article, I sent requests to library virtually all aspects of the hiring
Information Technicians and email discussion lists, asking people process. For many employers,
Assistants Interest Group, the to share their experiences in working thousands of kilometres of distance
directors of two rural northern or hiring within these types of hamper the ability to hold face-to-
libraries shared their conundrum: libraries. face interviews. According to Lane
they wanted desperately to hire
The responses were candid and Jackson, who has worked in a number
library technicians, but had had
heartfelt – and contradictory. Some of rural and northern libraries over
no luck in recruiting them. They
said they experienced consistently the last two decades, “Distance
needed suggestions on what they
could do to encourage a good pool high turnover and bad luck; others makes it near impossible to bring
of applicants. reported that libraries had no trouble people in for face-to-face interviews.
When we asked what these finding good employees. Few respon- In my experience, seldom do tele-
technicians would be doing, the dents offered suggestions for ways phone interviews work. You can
directors replied, “What wouldn’t to improve recruitment, but surely judge a lot by body language.”
they be doing?” After learning that education and awareness can’t hurt. Mary Jones* agrees. Interviewing
in small libraries, the division of With this aim, I share the anecdotes costs add up quickly, when travel,
tasks is much less politically charged I have collected from people who hotels, meals and car rentals are
– you never hear “That’s not in have first-hand experience. taken into account. In the end,
my job description” – the group of often a telephone interview must
us came up with this recruitment Distance creates challenges suffice, so the parties only meet in
slogan: “At this library, you can do What’s clear is that these person after the candidate is hired
everything... and we’ll let you!” libraries offer amazing opportunities and ready to work.
These sounded like dream jobs! for library workers looking to gain These somewhat atypical hiring
Our group couldn’t understand why valuable work experience, take on procedures can limit the ability to
employers, seeking to give library challenging work and experience establish a pool of qualified, desirable
technicians the chance to do parts of the country that are relatively candidates. Lane Jackson admits,
anything, were having trouble unknown to most of Canada’s popu- “It’s really hard to figure out why.
recruiting. There had to be more lation. However, they also struggle Sometimes the only people who
to this story. with obstacles inherent to the seem to be applying are not looking
A short while later, I read a geography: distance, availability of for a permanent position, but just
newspaper article1 about this very housing, remuneration differences for anything. They stay at the job for
issue, and noted that recruitment to and the costs of relocation. a very short time until something
remote rural libraries is a problem For northern, rural and remote better comes along.” According to
across Canada, especially in the libraries, distance seems to be the Mary Jones, “Once they find out

where we are located, we usually were contract jobs, it didn’t make experience find that working in a
end up with one or two people to sense to put my name on a months- small remote or northern library
interview. The ones that are still long waiting list for an apartment. I provides excellent opportunities for
interested seem to be ‘lost souls,’ ended up moving eight times in two career development. Jennifer Peters,
running away from something.” years. When I got a permanent job for one, was happily surprised to
For some respondents, successful I bought a condo – at lunch time!” learn that as a library technician at
staffing has been accomplished by
investing in the further training
and education of staff they already
employ. Mary Jones reports that her
library sees a higher retention rate ... many ambitious library workers
among staff who have participated
in distance education courses; and looking for challenges and valuable
she and two of her colleagues have
earned library diplomas or certificates experience find that working in a
with the financial assistance and
encouragement of their employer.
More than one respondent explained
small remote or northern library
that if turnover was low or recruitment
was not a problem, it was because in
provides excellent opportunities
small communities, close relationships
and word of mouth make it easy to
for career development.
find people who have the skills that
are needed.
Salary needs are another issue.
For people already living in remote On the other hand, Lane Jackson Inuvik Centennial Library, where
areas, securing enough hours can thinks the lower cost of living in she worked on contract for a year,
be a challenge. Government and rural areas might be a selling point everyone pitches in and helps with
academic libraries notwithstanding, for people who are willing to move whatever is necessary. She secured
the reality is that in many smaller away from urban centres. “If people the position before she graduated
towns, the library may not accom- only realized that in small towns, from her library technician program
modate a typical 40-hour work week, you can afford to buy a house, perhaps in Calgary and she moved the
which makes it potentially less more people would move to rural 3,500 km to Inuvik. She recalls her
attractive to out-of-town job seekers. locations.” All these sentiments echo time in the Northwest Territories
One respondent speculated that those identified in the 8Rs Study as fondly. “The North can offer
school and public libraries in small key recruitment barriers to replacing incredible opportunities because
centres do not pay enough to attract competencies lost by retiring senior most of the libraries are small.
an experienced librarian or parapro- librarians.2 You can wind up doing many
fessional. different aspects of library work, and
Difficulty securing suitable Opportunities and that can help you decide what you
housing can also be an obstacle. satisfactions are most interested in.”
Penny Smith* relates how frustrating Despite the apparent obstacles, Alison Hopkins, Territorial
it was trying to find accommodations many ambitious library workers Librarian for the Northwest Territories
in Yellowknife. “Because all the jobs looking for challenges and valuable Public Library Services, says library

technicians in her region have “First Nations people feel very that they may face long hours for
traditional duties such as cataloguing comfortable with silence and that is lower pay, and challenging work that
and “due to small staffs, end up one thing I had to learn… Humour sometimes comes with little praise.
doing all sorts of other stuff.” A also played a big role in working People working in one-person
technician on her staff gets to do with the librarians. It was important libraries may also be expected to
things that she’s not sure he’d be for them to feel comfortable with do grant applications, fundraising,
responsible for in a southern library. you.” As she had to work hard to library promotion and advocacy.
“He does system administrative win their trust, Brown found it Mary Jones emphasizes that
work, supervises and trains the especially rewarding that she was newcomers to the North should not
cataloguing and processing staff, does able to build up a valuable and expect a “big city” experience, but be
most of our collection development, trusting relationship with librarians open to all the different advantages
travels to public libraries, and does in the First Nations client group. that northern communities offer.
training and support work.” Similarly, “People are friendlier and care about
Jennifer Peters, who now works as a Do your homework their neighbours (though some may
library technician at SAIT, didn’t For those with a sense of adven- say they are nosy!)… It is wonderful
just work with the special collection ture and the willingness to take on to walk downtown and recognize and
she was hired to catalogue. Reference the challenge, here are a few pieces greet most of the residents.” Jennifer
and circulation, helping patrons with of advice. Since applying for a rural, Peters’ parting comments reinforce
computers, interlibrary loans, and remote or northern position means the notion that perception and state
weeding the regular collection were you’ll be adjusting not only to a new of mind matter above all: “I think
also part of her responsibilities. job, but also to a new place, Mary living in the North is like living
anywhere else. You need to have
a positive attitude and embrace it,
and you will enjoy yourself and your
... “due to small staffs, end up community.”
doing all sorts of other stuff.” Emma Wood is the library technician
at the Vancouver-based law firm
Alexander Holburn Beaudin & Lang
LLP. She serves on the LTAIG
committee and is also active with the
Based on her 10 years of experi- Jones encourages applicants to Vancouver Association of Law
ence as a consultant for the Ontario investigate the community beyond Libraries.
Library Services–North, Donna its position on a map. If faith is
Brown emphasizes that working with important to you, is your particular Notes
small northern libraries was satisfying religion practised there? Will you be * “Mary Jones” and “Penny Smith” are
because she could really sense the able to participate in your hobbies pseudonyms.
1. “Off the Books: Rural Libraries
difference her role made to each of and favourite pastimes? Jones suggests
Facing Recruitment Issues,” Alaska
them. “The most rewarding aspect of volunteering as one way to get to Highway News 7 (June 2007), p. A3.
the job was knowing that you were know fellow townspeople and make 2. Allison Sivak, “Rural/Remote
needed and that you could help the transition into the community. Libraries and the 8Rs Study,”
develop a library in the community.” At the same time, Donna Brown Feliciter 52:3 (2006), p. 120.
However, she describes the cultural cautions that in small northern
differences that she had to adapt to: libraries, applicants should be aware

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T Feature
File under Tango:
Lifelong Learning for Library Technicians
Guy Robertson © Photographer: Oleg Filipchuk <http://www.dreamstime.com/Leg_info>
Every workday morning, Lisa turns “The systems guy

on her fans with a song. Sometimes and I used to talk about
she sings a few bars of opera, some- voice tech during lunch
times a Raffi hit. At the sound of hours and breaks,” says
her voice, the air-conditioning Lisa. “He was fanatical
system in her Californian corporate about it. I got really
library switches on. Aside from interested in the practical
machines that pump cool air into applications, so I started
the stacks and reference areas, there reading articles about
are large fans everywhere. Some voice-activated systems
point toward work areas; others are in different workplaces.
dedicated to a server or photocopier I also took singing lessons
that might overheat. Lisa’s voice because I love music.
activates the entire system. At the Everything came together
end of the day, she turns it off by when I moved to
whispering a confidential code California, and now
into her cell phone, which sends a my library has better
command to the system. Instantly environmental controls
it shuts down. The fans stop than any other part of
moving and the air conditioning the company.”
falls silent. Lisa’s boss was so
impressed with her
Love and technology technical savvy that he
Voice activation (VA) technology married her.
isn’t new. What some people might “He used to come to
find astonishing is that Lisa, a library the library to cool down At night, she flings herself into the embrace of her latest
technician in her late fifties, developed and relax,” she says. “At partner. The next morning, she repairs the photocopier and
and installed her library’s VA system some point he told me weeds the periodicals. Some technicians have it all.
herself. She has no formal training that I had strong problem-
in engineering, and confesses that solving skills, and that I
she barely passed her high school should apply them in our manufac- matters all the time. He knows that I
science courses. Having graduated turing plant. But I refused to leave like applying what I learn to practical
in the early 1980s from SAIT’s the library. Our little joke is that he problems, and that learning to me is
library technician program, she married me so that he could use my like breathing.”
worked in Toronto for law firms, brain to solve the problems that arise
a hospital and a medical laboratory. on the shop floor and in the Cerebral workout
The laboratory’s systems analyst mechanical department. And it’s People like Lisa don’t stop
introduced her to VA technology. true that we talk about technical acquiring new knowledge and skills

"© Photographer: Frances Fruit <http://www.dreamstime.com/Ffranny_info>
employers. Others worry that a

lack of such courses might make
them appear complacent and out
of date.
“I think that economic down-
turns are inevitable,” says Linda,
who studied at two Quebec colleges
before earning her diploma in 1995
from Toronto’s Seneca College.
“If the competition for jobs gets
tough during a recession, applicants
will need more than a course in
DOS to look good. If you’ve done
nothing more than finished your
diploma, in some libraries you’ll
look inexperienced at best, and
unenthusiastic or unmotivated at
worst, and you won’t get the job.
That’s why I’ve taken continuing
You can take countless IT courses online, but you can't learn to tango by typing on a keyboard.
But you'll probably earn better money as an Oracle administrator, even if your back hurts ...
education courses in project manage-
ment and IT security.”
In Linda’s experience, there is
after they complete their library Abbotsford, BC, says that he takes one course that grabs the attention
technician diplomas. Their reasons courses in IT and Internet research of employers more than any other.
vary for becoming lifelong learners. to stay current. He complains that it “I’ve got two good jobs on the
Often they’re naturally curious, is easy to fall behind the times. basis of my training in photocopier
with a love of delving into different “I enjoyed my library tech maintenance. Once an employer
subjects. Some say that they need program,” he says. “But to be honest, finds out that you can get the library’s
to exercise their brains. it offered only a brief introduction photocopier up and running, you
“I’m studying Oracle because I to many areas. There was very have an automatic advantage over
believe that challenging material little time to cover certain topics. other job candidates. You know how
stimulates the mind and wards off I’ve spent the past couple of years frustrating it is when the copier
problems such as dementia and increasing my knowledge of the crashes? You might wait a couple of
depression,” says Anne, a graduate Internet. What I find interesting – days for repairs, unless the library
of Langara College’s Library and and nervous-making – is that I could technician just happens to know
Information Technician Program spend all of my time on it, and it’s how to turn the right switch and
in Vancouver. “I find courses in expanding at a fantastic rate. There adjust the paper feeder, and you’re
database administration exhausting, are other areas that I should be back in business without having
but they’re a wonderful break from looking into as well, but I have to to call in some vendor. Most
cataloguing. I come away from do things like eat and sleep.” photocopier breakdowns are easy to
the training sessions feeling as if fix, but most library employees don’t
I’ve strengthened my grey matter. Do you copy? know how to do much more than
If I’m wrong, at least I’ll have picked Career enhancement motivates load paper and push buttons on the
up useful skills that I could apply in library technicians to continue their control panel. I can catalogue,
jobs outside the library, if necessary.” studies after graduation. Some say answer reference questions, run a
Jim, a recent graduate of Fraser that taking additional courses can circulation counter and repair
Valley University College in impress current and prospective damaged bindings. But my job

security is guaranteed by jammed While dancing can ease back most comfortable furniture possible,
and overheated photocopiers.” pain, Lynne’s interior design expertise including armchairs with soft cushions.
soothes sore eyes. Having graduated “Functional design has its place
First and last tango in tech from Nova Scotia Community in libraries, but it needn’t be taken
services College in the mid-90s, she worked to extremes,” she says. “Limited
Practicality is admirable, but in the United States, Britain and budgets don’t have to lead to interiors
many library technicians pursue Japan before settling with her family that have the ambience of a peniten-
studies seemingly unrelated to their in Vancouver. She developed an tiary. I think that we’re due for a new
jobs. For example, Arlene has taken interest in interior design and started trend in library interior design, one
dance lessons for almost two decades. taking courses. At present she works that emphasizes comfort and fun as
She is possibly the only library in a law firm, and gets involved in well as utility. I want to be a part of
technician in Canadian history design projects on the side. that trend.”
to have won an award in a tango “The recent housing boom has Library technicians have no
competition. offered me lots of opportunities to obvious stereotype, and appear to be
“I’ve taken jazz dance and tap, work in design,” she says. “I don’t what they are only in libraries and
but I swear by Arthur Murray,” she have a professional designation, at related organizations. You can’t look
says. “Ballroom dancing is great least not yet. But there’s still enormous at a crowd scene in a movie and
exercise. You meet all sorts of people. amounts of work to be done, with identify the library technicians
The dance contests are exciting, construction moving ahead in most moonlighting as extras. But they
especially when you win a trophy. neighbourhoods of Vancouver.” could be there, having taken acting
But the main advantage to me is lessons and hired agents. Or they
the improvement of my posture.” Reference greens and could tango past your window when
Arlene started to suffer from browns you least expect it, demonstrating
pain in her neck and lower back as Eventually Lynne would like perfect posture all the way. They
a student at Winnipeg’s Red River to work on library interiors with could perform in your local opera
Community College in the late architects and other library planners. chorus, having taken voice lessons.
1970s. Physiotherapy and painkillers She believes that she can offer a Or they could sing a little Raffi and
offered temporary relief, but it wasn’t practical perspective on what a chill you out. It’s all a matter of
until her dance instructor insisted library interior should contain, lifelong learning.
that she straighten up that she felt particularly its colour coordination.
better. “Drab is the only way to describe Guy Robertson teaches Library History
“My instructor used to drive his many library interiors,” she says. and Records Management in the
knuckle into the small of my back to “There are branch libraries that have Library and Information Technician
get me to stand straight. He’d growl colour schemes more appropriate Program at Langara College in
at me if I let my head droop. The to hospital wards, and carpeting Vancouver. Off campus, he is a
workout he gave me was tougher that an undertaker would find consultant in emergency management
than many aerobics programs and depressing. So many librarians figure and disaster planning to organizations
made me a lot stronger. Many of that drabness is the only option, in a variety of sectors. He would like
the people that I work with in my and it’s not.” to thank acquaintances, colleagues
public library have chronic bad Lynne does not espouse psyche- and former students for their advice.
backs. I’d be as miserable as they are, delic ornamentation or wild blasts of To protect his interviewees’ privacy,
if it weren’t for the tango and the colour for the reference area. Rather, he has changed the names of persons
foxtrot. You may laugh, but ballroom she recommends natural shades – quoted.
dancing has vastly improved my con- greens, browns, yellows and subdued
ditioning. I haven’t taken a sick day reds – for many interiors, along with
in years, so my employer has derived natural lighting whenever possible.
benefits from Arthur Murray too.” She unashamedly promotes the

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T Feature
From Winnie the Pooh to AACR2:
The Application of Technical
Training in a Changing Library Environment
Tressa Harris
When my daughter was 10 months version of library software that had Acknowledging current issues and
old, she accidentally ate part of the just been installed. Upon my return, trends was an important component
title page of her Pooh and Friends I began the daunting task of learning of the program. Having the context
book. After burping her (yes, she the new system. Fortunately, the with which to explore what was
was okay), I considered how I should curriculum at the community college only a concept in school is the
catalogue a book with a partially where I received my training had culmination of my learning process.
chewed title and statement of emphasized many different software
responsibility. Certainly, there had applications, so I was accustomed to Expanding my role
to be a rule for this somewhere. I learning new programs. I had also Library technician graduates
made a mental note to consult developed a solid cataloguing foun- could potentially be doing anything
AACR2 when I returned to work. dation through their intensive from balancing the library’s budget
My maternity leave was nearing courses. Within a few weeks, I was to leading storytime for a group of
completion and I would be resuming rattling off MARC coding tags like preschoolers, so it was important to
my position as a cataloguing library they were my daughter’s height and understand how all the different
technician at a small university weight measurements. library units functioned. The organ-
library. The cataloguing department had izers of the program had had the
I anticipated continuing where I also begun outsourcing a selection foresight to recognize that students
had left off at work with renewed of books to be catalogued off-site. needed to be cross-trained in a variety
vigour, but my expectations were These “shelf ready” books eliminated of practical disciplines, as well as
unrealistic. During my absence, the the need for classification, coding have daily labs to reinforce classroom
library was revitalized by a newly and processing by local cataloguers. theory. This aspect of the curriculum
appointed administrator, so it looked In a small cataloguing department, had particular relevance for me on the
and functioned very differently. I was concerned about future impli- afternoon of my return. Surprisingly, I
While other staff had the luxury of a cations if the project was expanded was asked by the new director to
gradual period of adjustment, I was and we relinquished more local expand my job duties to include
forced to respond to a year’s worth bibliographic control. But the impact reference work.
of changes in an instant. What of outsourcing has been favourable I’ve been blindsided before.
would the consequences be, and how thus far, first because it has allowed My daughter had recently poked
could I rely on my library technician more time to spend on original me in the eye, sending me to the
training to help me adjust? cataloguing and secondly because it emergency room with a scratched
has given me the opportunity to cornea. It was unexpected and it was
The cataloguing department work on other projects. painful. In the same way, having to
evolves Outsourcing is not a new suddenly redefine my position and
While I was at home adjusting to phenomenon in libraries. In fact, I take on new responsibilities was
my new role as a mother, co-workers remember the topic being discussed unexpected, but this time the pain
struggled with learning the upgraded during my library technician training. quickly subsided. I had enjoyed

reference work in the past, so the new federated search tool that be invaluable, not only in cataloguing,
entering public services again was allows users to search multiple but also in reference.
an attractive option. It afforded me resources simultaneously. There
the opportunity to learn new skills was no shortage of technological Conclusion
and also allowed me to add variety advances, making the learning Much like my daughter learning
to my normal routine. After all, process continuous as more new how to walk, I was tentative about
if the library wasn’t resistant to resources began to emerge. returning to work after such a long
change, it just made sense that absence and learning how to use
I needed to follow suit and change Cataloguing and reference new technologies. However, by being
along with it. collide flexible and taking “baby steps,”
I was presumptuous to believe I overcame my apprehensiveness.
Technology meets that my dual roles of cataloguer and The knowledge gained from
trepidation reference assistant were mutually the library technician program has
The biggest change to the exclusive and wouldn’t overlap. helped me adapt to an ever-changing
library was the creation of a learning
commons. During my absence, the
reference area was transformed into an
attractive working space in order to The knowledge gained from the library
facilitate the delivery of technology
and library resources in a user-friendly technician program has helped me
environment. As part of my new
position, I would be required to help adapt to an ever-changing library
demystify technology for students
and have it work in conjunction environment infused with new
with their research pursuits.
On maternity leave, my exposure challenges.
to the constantly changing world of
technology was limited to opening a
Facebook account. The key to my While helping a student at the library environment infused with
success at the reference desk would reference desk recently, I realized just new challenges. Courses may have
be to move past my fears and learn how interrelated these departments come and gone over the years, but
the new technologies. I accomplished are. The student was researching an the methodologies have remained
this through shadowing librarians obscure World War I battle, which the same. Ultimately, having a
and staff, doing tutorials and asking just happened to be the subject of a strong foundation of library skills
lots of questions. The training needed video I had catalogued the previous has allowed me to become more
to be fast, as the new term was day. I was able to quickly retrieve invested in my career.
beginning and fresh-faced, eager appropriate resources for his topic
students would soon be descending because I knew the specifics of the Tressa Harris ([email protected]) is a
upon the library. battle, such as its location and the Cataloguing and Reference Assistant at
I discovered some applications generals involved. the Ward Chipman Library, University
had been upgraded, such as the Likewise in cataloguing, I’m of New Brunswick, in Saint John.
enhanced MS Office 2007. Other always conscious of the importance She received her LT training at the
resources, such as Ref Works, were of access points, particularly Library Nova Scotia Community College.
unfamiliar to me and required some of Congress Subject Headings, for She is happy to report that her daughter
time to learn. A few new resources retrieval purposes. The exposure to is no longer eating books, but has
also appeared, like Single Search, these subject headings has proven to moved on to bananas and applesauce.

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T Feature
Educational Requirement:
Library Technician Diploma
Deborah Kay
Are you ever puzzled about what Job responsibilities certainly are job responsibilities
the educational requirements should Library technician programs in that the diploma program has not
be for a job in your library? Is a Canada prepare their graduates to prepared the technician to perform.
master’s degree required? Is formal perform the skills required for the These responsibilities are those
library education necessary? This day-to-day operations of a library. that involve research, planning,
article explores what your library The library technician, equipped development, design and leadership.
can expect when the educational with applied knowledge, is immedi- The research report Training Gaps
requirement is a library technician ately able to work on tasks in your Analysis: Librarians and Library
diploma. library: acquiring materials, ordering Technicians found that the majority
and receiving, or subscribing and of responsibilities in administration
Library technician programs checking-in for serials; charging and and management are performed by
The diploma awarded to library discharging items for circulation; or those with the master’s degree.3 In
technicians in Canada is the result borrowing materials and obtaining school libraries, teacher-librarians
of successfully completing a two-year copies through interlibrary loans provide curriculum leadership.
program, usually offered through a and document delivery. Some of the best insights into
college. In Quebec, CEPEGs offer The everyday operations that the job responsibilities of library
three-year programs. Currently, technicians are prepared to perform technicians are provided by those
there are 17 library technician extend to all areas of public and who possess both the diploma and
programs in Canada (a complete list technical services. Students take master’s.4
is available on the CLA website at courses in acquisitions, cataloguing, The library technician programs
www.cla.ca/infonation). The name circulation, interlibrary loan, library prepare graduates to work in all areas
of the diploma and the program instruction, library programming, of your library and to do so regardless
are the same, with the majority of reference and serials. What is critical of the type of library. This breadth
programs granting a Library and is not the area of the tasks, but the of skills ensures that technicians’
Information Technology diploma. In nature of the tasks. Cataloguing has job responsibilities can change and
Ontario, a Library and Information been increasingly added to techni- evolve. A technician whose respon-
Technician diploma is awarded. cians’ job responsibilities as it has sibilities may first have included
The curriculum for the diploma become more technical and less circulation can be given reference
is based on the Guidelines for the interpretative.2 Reference responsi- responsibilities. A cataloguing
Education of Library Technicians, bilities are appropriate when the technician can take on reference
developed through the Canadian library’s responses to requests use responsibilities. The possibilities are
Library Association. A key compo- commonly available resources. endless. As conditions change in
nent of the courses leading to Since formal library education your library, so too can the job
the diploma is their skill-based includes the master’s program as responsibilities of those with library
nature.1 well as the diploma program, there technician diplomas. The skills are

there, which gives your library great hours do not include the out-of-class requirement for a library position,
flexibility. time required for readings, assignments as opposed to the library technician
and studying. Mohawk College diploma. The position may, for
Minimal training advises students that the workload example, require problem-solving
The library technician comes to for each subject offered through or analytical abilities. The library
your library knowing about libraries. distance education is 10 to 15 hours wants to ensure that the candidate
Despite the emphasis on skills-based per week. Needless to say, no library has these skills and consequently
learning in the library technician can duplicate the number of hours decides that the library skills can be
programs, graduates also learn about of training provided by a library trained. The decision is mistakenly
libraries – the roles of libraries, the technician program. seen as an either-or situation. Many
ethics of libraries, and the various
types of libraries. With this knowledge,
the technicians understand their
own responsibilities and the service
needs that they will be providing.
Recent research found that 39% of
They see their work as part of the
larger library operations.
current students and 45% of recent
The library technician arrives graduates from library technician
at your library with the necessary
library skills and knowledge, so only programs across Canada possessed
orientation to your local policies
and procedures is required. This isn’t degrees.5
the case if you opt for a candidate
without formal library training.
For someone who isn’t an educator,
undertaking such training seems a Some job candidates without with library technician diplomas
daunting, if not impossible, task. formal library education will have also have university degrees, which
One impetus for the development of library experience. They may even arguably provide them with those
library technician programs was to have held the job title of library problem-solving or analytical abilities.
free libraries from this responsibility. technician in another library. Are Recent research found that 39% of
How many hours are required these candidates like those with the current students and 45% of recent
to train a candidate without formal library technician diploma? While graduates from library technician
library education? A graduate of the this experience may mean they programs across Canada possessed
Library and Information Technician will not require extensive training degrees.5
Program at Seneca College completes initially, it is highly unlikely that
28 subjects, of which 23 are classified they will have the breadth of library Complete package
as library-specific. Three field place- skills or the general knowledge of So your library can expect a
ments are included in the library- libraries that are provided through great deal when the educational
specific subjects. In terms of hours, a the library technician diploma. requirement of a job is the library
student participates in approximately technician diploma. Your library
840 classroom hours (20 subjects, University education acquires an individual who is ready
times three hours per week, times 14 Some libraries, especially to perform the skill-based library
weeks per subject), plus 210 field university libraries, prefer to make a operations immediately with minimal
placement hours. Note that these university degree the educational training, understands the roles of

REGISTER NOW!
your library and the issues it faces, by the 8Rs Research Team CLA National Conference
and is prepared to undertake new job (Ottawa: Cultural Human Resources & Trade Show
responsibilities as required. Council, 2006), pp. 212-213,
www.culturalhrc.ca/research/CHRC Vancouver, BC
_Librarians_and_Library_Tech_TG May 21-24, 2008
Deborah Kay is the Coordinator of A-summary-en.pdf.
and a professor in the Library and 4. Susan Barker, “A Technician Goes
Information Technician Program at to Library School: Some Thoughts
Seneca College, Toronto. on the Process of Becoming a
Librarian,” COLAJ: Canadian
Online Library and Archives Journal
Notes
1, no. 2 [2007],
1. Frances Davidson-Arnott and
http://library.queensu.ca/law/COLAJ
Deborah Kay, “Library Technician
/librarytech.pdf; Jennifer Peters-Lise,
Programs: Skills-oriented Parapro-
“Transitioning from Library
fessional Education,” Library Trends
Technician to Librarian,”
46 (1998), pp. 541-547. Although
http://people.senecac.on.ca/jennifer.
the content has evolved, the skill-
peters-lise/.
based examples still apply.
5. Training Gaps Analysis, Executive
2. Jean Weihs, “Library Technicians in
Summary, 8Rs Research Team, p. 8.
Technical Services,” Technicalities 24
(2004), p. 9.
3. Training Gaps Analysis: Librarians
and Library Technicians, submitted
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heme
T Feature
Just Do LIT: A Student Perspective
Melissa Poremba
“Why would you want to do that?” librarian supported by adequate print and electronic resources;
was the question I frequently library technical/clerical staff in a subject analysis and classification;
encountered when I decided to well-funded school library, a steadily library financial management and
enroll in the Library and Information increasing number of school boards budgeting; inventory control and
Technician (LIT) diploma program have decided they cannot afford such maintenance; acquisitions; classifying
at Mohawk College in Hamilton, “luxuries.”1 I felt that even if I were with LCC; serials; human relations
Ontario. I was dismayed to learn that fortunate enough to find employment and supervision; client services;
my reasons for selecting this program as a teacher-librarian, I was not indexing and abstracting; communi-
puzzled some and disappointed others. adequately trained to undertake the cations; archives; and government
I had just finished investing a full operation of a school library information. Students can tailor
good deal of time, effort and money without the support of a technician. their program if they are seeking
obtaining teacher-librarianship In fact, research indicates that a lack employment in a specific type of
qualifications through a university of clerical/technical library staff has a library. For example, someone wishing
faculty of education. This program negative impact on student learning.2 to work in the education system
of studies is designed to prepare the Wishing to provide the best might select school libraries; children’s
teacher-librarian to collaborate with possible library experience for services and issues; youth services
classroom teachers in the design and students, I decided to complement and issues; multimedia; and genre
delivery of information literacy my teacher-librarianship qualifica- fiction and readers’ advisory.
instruction and initiatives. In order tions by obtaining an LIT diploma. For many, the most interesting
to concentrate on these tasks, the Several teacher-librarians felt it yet difficult are the three Information
teacher-librarian should be supported would be a poor use of my time, Work (reference) courses. In my
in the technical aspects of the school but after one year in the technician previous teacher-librarianship program
library operation by additional staff program I can confidently state that I learned how to teach students to
such as a library technician. Thus, it has been a very worthwhile pursuit search for and evaluate information;
the teacher-librarian and the library and that I have learned much more however, the LIT Information Work
technician are intended to be two than even I expected. courses challenged me to further
distinct, yet equally essential ingredi- practise and refine my own skills in
ents in the offering of a successful LIT courses locating the most reliable resources
school library program. The main goal of the LIT diploma in the most effective manner.
program is to provide practical Having experienced the same frustra-
Staffing issues training for performing skilled tasks tions my students will encounter in
Despite energetic lobbying by in a library. At Mohawk College, navigating the overwhelming
concerned parents and professionals, the diploma requires the successful amount of information available to
and clear research indicating that completion of 23 required and 4 them in both print and electronic
students’ academic performance is optional courses, including informa- form, I am confident I will be a more
enhanced by a qualified teacher- tion work (reference); cataloguing enlightened teacher.

Technology the field. Being up-to-date on the see how former secondary students
Initially, I elected to become a newest technology is essential for cope with the facilities, databases,
distance education student because, those wishing to work in any library. e-reserves, journals, and Library of
as is typical of today’s library Congress system of a university or
technician student, I am older and Focus on current practices college. As both school and public
was looking for a flexible program I’ve found that even the academic libraries often serve the same students,
that would allow me to study while courses have a very practical compo- they share many of the same issues.
meeting my work and family com- nent. We are regularly required to It would be helpful for a teacher-
mitments. This method of delivery visit libraries, evaluate services, librarian to see the different approach
has the added benefit of forcing me compare catalogue features, report taken by a public library and how it
to become technologically literate on circulation and acquisition complements the service of a school
because I am learning, studying and modules, assess programs and suggest library. Since professional teacher-
communicating in an electronic our own variations, explore library librarianship associations such as
environment. Our virtual classroom is websites, research emerging library IFLA and CASL specify that their
enriched through the contributions technologies and software, and analyze members are expected to engage in
partnerships, these field work place-
ments could provide opportunities
to make valuable connections and
gain respect for the conditions under
Being up-to-date on the newest which other information professionals
technology is essential for those work.3

Canadian institutions offering an
wishing to work in any library. LIT diploma are required to establish

an advisory committee comprising
representatives from potential
employers, library associations, local
university library programs (graduate
of classmates not only from across the offerings of library vendors and and education) and graduates in
Canada but from across the world, suppliers. All the instructors are order to advise and monitor the
from the United States to the professional librarians with extensive program.4 The result is that “the
United Arab Emirates. experience in the field. Further, since curriculum changes continuously to
In addition to courses on word many of my classmates are currently reflect the latest developments in
processing and spreadsheets, personal working or volunteering in libraries, the working world.”5 In Mohawk’s
computer support and database they bring a wealth of personal program, courses are frequently
design, the most progressive offering skills and realistic concerns to our added, revised or dropped, especially
at Mohawk is Electronic Publishing. electronic discussion forums. in the area of information technology.
This required course covers topics Mandatory field work placements
such as wikis, blogs, presentation in different types of libraries enable LIT program information
software (PowerPoint), screen capture us to understand how each type fits Although I entered the Library
(SnagIt, Camtasia), web design into the “big picture” of information and Information Technician Program
(Dreamweaver), gaming (Second services. Spending a few weeks in an to supplement my teacher-librarianship
Life), social networking (Facebook) academic library, for example, could education, it has opened many other
and creative commons. It is adjusted be very instructive for a high school career possibilities for me. School,
every term to cover new topics in teacher-librarian, permitting her to public, academic and special libraries

are only some of the many employers Notes Teacher-Librarianship in Canada

interested in LIT graduates; opportu- 1. Ken Haycock, The Crisis in Canada’s and Canadian School Library
nities exist in publishing, bookselling, School Libraries: The Case for Reform Association [now Canadian
and Re-Investment (Toronto: Association for School Libraries],
database management, consulting
Association of Canadian Publishers, “Students= Information Literacy
and library vendors. I recently spoke Needs in the 21st Century:
2003), p. 10.
with a professional librarian who 2. Marlene Asselin, Jennifer L. Branch Competencies for Teacher-
took several LIT cataloguing courses and Dianne Oberg, eds., Achieving Librarians,” Nov. 1997,
to supplement her MLIS studies. Information Literacy: Standards for www.cla.ca/casl/literacyneeds.html
So whether you already have School Library Programs in Canada (accessed Dec. 31, 2007), sec. 2.4.
(Ottawa: Canadian Association for 4. Canadian Library Association Task
another type of library training or are
School Libraries, 2003), p. 19. Force on the Professional Review
new to considering the information Process for Library Technicians in
3. International Federation of Library
profession, I encourage you to Associations and Institutions, Canada, Guidelines for the Education
visit CLA’s Info*Nation site School Libraries and Resource of Library Technicians (Ottawa:
www.cla.ca/infonation/libtech.htm Centers Section, “IFLA/UNESCO Canadian Library Association,
to investigate the 18 LIT programs School Library Manifesto: The 1991), pp. 15-16.
offered across Canada. There are School Library in Teaching and 5. Frances Davidson-Arnott, “Library
Learning for All,” www.ifla.org/ Technician Education at Seneca
many delivery options available:
VII/s11/pubs/manifest.htm (accessed College,” Library Mosaics, vol. 14,
English/French; full/part-time; on no. 3 (May-June 2003), p. 11.
Dec. 31, 2007); Association for
campus/distance; complete diploma
/select courses only; regular/coopera-
tive; and standard/accelerated (for
those with a university background).
The Alberta Association of Library
Technicians has a series of job • 250,000 tracks of music – classical, jazz, world,
profiles and career video clips historical recordings … includes CD notes,
educational guides, podcasts and much more.:
illustrating the amazing work being new content added continuously
done by library technicians at
www.aalt.org/careers/jobprofiles.html.
Given my very positive experience
when it comes to Library and Infor- • 40,000+ sheet music editions from Universal
mation Technician studies, my only Edition, Josef Weinberger, Oxford University
Press, Schott … new content added continuously
question is not “Why would you want
to do that?” but rather “Why don’t
more people want to do LIT?”
• 1,300+ great works of literature … classic novels,
Melissa Poremba (Hons BA, B.Math, plays and poetry, from medieval times to the
twentieth century … Children's Classics, Classic
B.Ed) is currently a student in the LIT Fiction, Shakespeare's Plays …
diploma program at Mohawk College • Many texts available to follow on screen or printout
in Hamilton. She is simultaneously … an excellent ESL tool.
completing the Part III (Specialist) • Yearly Subscriptions / MAC & PC compatible
course in School Librarianship • Remote and onsite access included
through Nipissing University, having FREE TRIAL SUBSCRIPTIONS
earned Parts I and II at the University Raymond Bisha 416-491-2600 [email protected]
of Western Ontario.

heme
T Feature
Creating the Nova Scotia Association
of Library Technicians
Erica Smith
The past year has been an extremely Making decisions Once the new executive was
exciting time for library technicians The easy part was deciding to introduced, the by-laws were put
in Nova Scotia. create the association; the difficult forth for discussion and voting.
Starting an association from part came afterward. First we needed After some discussion, the by-laws
scratch is a daunting and scary task. a mission statement, purpose and, of were passed. The Nova Scotia
NSALT began when a small group course, by-laws. The by-laws were Association of Library Technicians
of library technicians got together the hardest part – deciding how to had an executive and by-laws.
to discuss issues they were facing in structure the association, what type Now the real work began.
their libraries. Everyone lamented of executive to have, how often
that there was no outlet or support to meet, and how to fit in all the Membership and promotion
for their specific concerns. Where do small pieces of the bigger puzzle. We The new executive began a
we go? Who do we talk to? Where looked to other library technicians’ membership drive immediately.
do we find support? Who really associations in the United States We realized that we needed to get
understands what we face on a daily and Canada to see how they were the word out about our association
basis? These were the questions structured. We looked very closely and what we could offer library
being asked. To this group of library at their by-laws. We knew that we technicians across the province.
technicians the answer seemed didn’t have to reinvent the wheel. Our first priority was to set up a
simple… form an association for After much discussion and many website. The NSALT website
library technicians. revisions, we finally had a document http://users.eastlink.ca/~ericasmith
I spoke with different members of to present at our first annual general provides current information about
the Nova Scotia library community meeting in March 2007. the association and the Nova Scotia
about a possible library technicians’ The AGM took place on March library community. As well as a
association. What I wanted to get 12, 2007, in Halifax. A press release website, we also have a blog
was a feeling for how this new associ- went out at the end of February http://nsalt.blogspot.com which,
ation would be received. My talks inviting all interested parties to I am pleased to say, is widely read
were both interesting and positive. attend. The association was officially and provides us with a great
I spoke with library technicians and introduced to a group of 30 library communication tool.
librarians alike. The end result was assistants, library technicians and One important issue that came
that everyone felt that the time was librarians. These people represented out of the informal discussion held
right – there was a great need for this government, special and school after the AGM was employer support
association. Letters of introduction libraries. for library technicians. Many library
were sent to the presidents of the The first item on the agenda technicians were looking to NSALT
two provincial library associations was to elect an inaugural executive. to work with and educate employers
(APLA and NSLA) because I felt They are: about the professional development
that it was important to foster a Erica Smith – President needs of library technicians. There-
good working relationship with Erin Purcell – Vice-President fore, we aimed our membership
these associations right from the Patricia Madden – Secretary drive at the employers first and sent
beginning. Jo-Ann Johnson – Treasurer membership letters to all libraries

employing library technicians listed every minute and am so proud to say Library Technician program and has
in the Directory of Nova Scotia I am a member of NSALT. been working in a variety of libraries for
Libraries http://dnsl.ednet.ns.ca/. 19 years. Erica is currently employed
To date, we have 10 institutional Erica Smith is the President of the with the Halifax Regional School Board
members. Nova Scotia Association of Library at a school in Hubley, NS. She is also
The membership drive then Technicians. She is a graduate of the the CLA LTIG Library Technician
turned its focus on individuals. We Nova Scotia Community College Award of Merit recipient for 2007.
continue to send membership letters
to individual library technicians.
As of the writing of this article, we
have 66 personal members.
Roxanne MacMillan stepped
forward to take on the job of
nature.com nature.com
is life science is physical science
newsletter editor. We publish a
quarterly newsletter, which is also
available online through our website.
Topics covered have included profiles
of Nova Scotia library technicians
in a variety of libraries, editorial
wit and wisdom from Roxanne,
conference information, impressions
of the new waterfront campus of
Nova Scotia Community College,
our participation in the Run for the
Cure, letters to the editor and
updates from the President. Each It’s all in your
issue is more interesting (and longer)
than the last. Our fall issue contained Provide your library users with access to nature.com with a NPG
advertising for the first time. We site license and select from the highest quality research and
reviews journals across science and medicine. Your site license
currently have four advertisers and
includes:
appreciate their continued support.
At this point we are focused on • C OUNTER–compliant usage reports
• remote access authentication
promoting the association and the • promotion tools
role of library technicians in Nova • simple administration
Scotia. We have created an NSALT • flexibility to select the titles you want
• customer services
poster, which is available on our • post-cancellation rights
website. This poster is being sent to • Librarian Gateway
libraries around Nova Scotia. Work
Meet us in Vancouver at CLA 2008 - Booth 26.
has begun on a different poster, one
promoting the role of the library
technician, and we hope to have T: +1 800 221 2123 | E: [email protected] | W: www.nature.com/libraries
this second poster ready soon.
To be part of creating a new
library association has been a
rewarding experience. I truly value

heme
T Feature
The Emergence of Library Technician
Programs in Canada: A Brief History
Jean Weihs
The early years1 community colleges, library technician of library staffs. The 1966 CLA
In 1962, 16 students graduated programs are small in comparison to conference passed a resolution setting
from a one-year program at the the colleges’ more popular programs, up a committee to develop standards
Manitoba Institute of Technology and administrators sometimes believe for the training of library technicians.
in Winnipeg, the first educational that the small numbers do not justify The committee’s guidelines recom-
institution in Canada to offer formal the needed expensive technology. mended that 50% of the curriculum
training for library technicians. Marketing the program to prospective should be devoted to general academic
Four years later, in 1966, another students can be difficult and time- studies “directed towards broadening
one-year program was started at the consuming and usually requires the the student’s academic experience,
Vancouver City College, and in the help of the institution’s administrative education, and enhancing his career
same year the first two-year program staff, not always forthcoming for a development”; 25% to 30% would be
was launched at Lakehead University small program. dedicated to practical job-related
in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The next Some programs had difficulty technical subjects; and 20% to 25%
year, 1967, was a big year for the attracting high-level students. While to related technical subjects, such as
expansion of library technician some closings can be attributed to a knowledge of the production of
training, when five two-year programs problems attracting students or simple media, the routine mainte-
were started in Ontario and one in problems in finding jobs for students, nance of audio-visual equipment, an
Alberta. there are cases where neither situation introduction to data processing, and
Eventually all programs were two was a factor and yet the programs office procedures with stress on a
years in length, and over time many still closed, despite support from “reasonable competency” in typing.
programs developed extension courses the library community. The reasons The guidelines also required
and/or distance learning, and it for such closings are a matter of field placement periods of at least
became possible to obtain a diploma conjecture, but it is possible that 10 student days each year in a library
by these part-time methods. Some some library technician programs outside the students’ educational
programs also offered fast track lacked political clout, perhaps because institutions and one in which the
programs for students with previous of the size of the programs, and did students had not worked previously.
post-secondary education. not capture the imagination or the The field placement was to be super-
Since 1962, 29 programs have attention of senior administrators in vised by a competent staff member,
been established in seven provinces, many institutions. who was to make regular reports to
but by 2007 only 15 of these were the program director. In turn, the
still offered.2 The reasons for the CLA’s active role students would report to, and discuss
closing of programs are complex and The Canadian Library Association their field placement experiences
differ with each program. Universities played an active role in guiding the with, the program director.
closed their programs, at least in content of the training programs’ The guidelines also urged the
part, because nondegree programs curriculum in order to ensure that establishment of “a Local Advisory
no longer fit their mandate. At graduates would be useful members Committee made up of representatives

from the principal libraries and meetings, subcommittees, and issues universities – Lakehead and
library services including public, to discuss. The standards were still Concordia – offered something more
school, special and academic libraries evolving, and the position of library than a library technician diploma,
of the area … appointed by the technicians was not always well but both programs were closed for
college administration.” In addition, understood within the profession. different reasons. There was some
the guidelines recommended that the
appropriate ministry or department
in each province establish a provincial
committee.3 (The Ontario provincial
committee did very effective work
The 1966 CLA conference passed a
for several years, but faded away
when the chair of the committee was
resolution setting up a committee
transferred to other tasks. I do not
remember whether other provinces
to develop standards for the training
had provincial committees.) of library technicians.
CLA also funded the visits of
John Marshall, a professor at the
University of Toronto School of
Library Science and the committee’s Thus, communication was necessary controversy in the library profession
chair, to advise educational adminis- for support and development. By about an undergraduate degree in
trations on the implementation of the mid-1980s, the CLA committee library science, many believing that
the guidelines, and for several years had disbanded and fewer program there was no place in libraries for a
he monitored the institutions’ coordinators attended CLA category of staff between the profes-
adherence. conferences or met with each other. sional librarian and the technician.
Because a new level of compe- In the past decade or more there
tency was being introduced into has been far less communication Impact on university
libraries, it was important for each between programs in different programs
program to graduate potential staff provinces. The cause of this situation One of the significant effects of
members with similar skills. Library may lie in the decrease in funding the introduction of library technicians
administrators needed to know available for travel, coupled with as part of library staffing was the
exactly the skill level that could be pressures of too much work, but it change in the curricula of the faculties
expected of a library technician. might also be a result of maturing of librarianship in Canadian univer-
As library technicians became programs having less need for external sities. The universities omitted
recognized as a legitimate part of support. from their curricula the work that
library staffs, this conformity in technicians would now be trained
curriculum became less important. Specialized programs to do and upgraded their courses to
From the late 1960s to the late Students were not trained for a include more professional and
1980s, library technician instructors, particular type of library. The only theoretical skills.
particularly the directors or coordi- exception to this was the library Universities also became able to
nators, were in frequent contact with technician program at Sheridan suggest to applicants not qualified for
each other. The Canadian Library College of Applied Arts and admission to graduate programs that
Association Committee on Library Technology, which for several years library technician programs might
Technicians (Role and Education) had an optional stream for the staff be an excellent way of entering the
provided a focus, with regular of health sciences libraries. Two library world, which led to many

valuable contributions to the library of programs’ names to something when a technician rather than a
world that might otherwise have that reflected the computer age, librarian supervised them. They also
been lost. such as “Library and Information realized that they would have to
Technician Program” or “Library and qualify as a library technician if they
Student admissions Information Technology Program.” wished to improve their own career
The feminist movement in the Initially, generic computer skills prospects.4
1960s encouraged many homemakers courses were added to the programs, Unfortunately, some institutions
to join the workforce, and in the and the content of cataloguing and public libraries are still reluctant
1970s and early 1980s many programs courses was adjusted to include to hire library technicians. They
had more mature students than MARC coding and the searching prefer to hire untrained staff, often
recent high school graduates. Many of specified databases for copy university graduates, and train these
of these older students were well cataloguing. Eventually, computer- recruits in-house – a time-consuming
educated with all or part of a univer- accessed resources were added, and expensive task. In-house trained
sity degree, college diploma or other starting with CD-ROM technology staff members are limited in their
professional qualifications. In the and moving into Internet tools. ability to change jobs because they
early years, there was also a “hippie There has been a dramatic increase do not have the broad knowledge
wave” when it was fashionable to go in the amount of class time spent in of library procedures that graduate
into a situation that did not involve computer-equipped classrooms. library technicians possess.
the profit motive. There were few Part-time evening studies still
male students, and sometimes there flourish in some colleges but have Jean Weihs was Director/Coordinator
weren’t any. been abandoned in others in favour for the Seneca College of Applied Arts
With some exceptions, attracting of Internet-based independent and Technology Library Techniques
a good number of well-qualified learning. Several programs operate Program from 1968 to 1986.
students has long been a problem. exclusively as independent learning,
People with experience working in and others offer distance learning as Notes
libraries, such as public library pages an alternative to in-class studies. 1. This article is based on a
or mother volunteers in school presentation given at the 2007
libraries, have always been the Honour the pioneers Canadian Library Association
greatest source of applicants. Early library technician graduates conference. For a more complete
Libraries lack glamour for many deserve a place of honour in the treatment of this subject, see
students graduating from high history of library technicians because “A History of Library Technician
school, despite the fact that each many faced general hostility and Programs in Canada,” by Jean
year most library technician programs overcame that hostility by proving Weihs and Frances Davidson-
entertain more job offers than there their value. Many librarians welcomed Arnott, in A History of Education
are graduates, and the fact that technicians because they freed for Library and Information Studies
more glamorous programs, such as librarians from routine tasks, which in Canada, published by the
television production, have many created time to do work more suited Ex Libris Association as a special
students and few job openings. to librarians’ skills. Some librarians, issue of ELAN, the Ex Libris
however, feared that they would be Association newsletter. Copies
Impact of computer replaced or that they would be forced of the special issue and the
technology to return to university to take more accompanying chronologies
The most visible impact of advanced courses. The hostility of can be obtained by writing to
computer technology on the library clerical staff lasted longer. Many felt Ex Libris Association, c/o
technician programs was the change that their positions were downgraded Faculty of Information Studies,

University of Toronto, structure differs from programs in 4. Many years before this, librarians
140 St. George Street, Toronto, the rest of Canada. Information with a graduate degree in library
ON, M5S 3G6 ($5 plus $2 about these programs is given in science faced similar hostility
postage and handling, plus $1 the ELAN special issue, and they from people who had received a
for the chronologies). Both the are included in the chronologies C Certificate from the Province
special issue and the chronologies on the Ex Libris Association of Ontario qualifying them to
of all the programs that were website. work in libraries. Although the
established are available at 3. John Marshall, Summary of a University of Toronto started its
www.exlibris.fis.utoronto.ca. Survey of Library Technician Bachelor of Library Science
2. This number includes Quebec Programs in Canada, 5th rev. ed. Program in 1936, I still felt some
programs. Due to time constraints, (Ottawa: Canadian Library of this hostility after my 1953
I did not discuss the Quebec Association, 1973). Also graduation.
programs in my presentation published in Feliciter 20 (April
or in this article because their 1973, Supplement), 3, pp. 7-10.
Out Front with Stephen Abram

A Guide for Information Leaders
Judith A. Siess and Jonathan Lorig
ALA Editions
“When Stephen Abram has something to say, particularly about ideas and
innovation in our field, you can bet it will be worth paying attention to.”
— Luke Rosenberger, Technology Librarian
North Harris Montgomery Community College, Texas
Tap into the insights of one of the world’s leading library visionaries. Stephen
Abram has the knack for seeing and expressing the obvious long before most
people become aware of the issue. Although he’s one of the most prolific
writers and speakers in the industry, this is the first time his writings have been
collected in one volume.
Addressing the many audiences within the library profession –public, school,
and special libraries, vendors, corporate librarians, and technology specialists –
Abram offers a clear-sighted overview of the complexities of the information
landscape in the 21st century.
To organize the multitude of his writings and audiences, articles are collected
under four key themes:
* Advocacy – Reiterating the value and importance of libraries and librarians
* Technology – Mastering technology in service to library users
* Communities and Generations – Understanding the changing face and needs of the audiences
* The Future – Synthesizing massive amounts of information across all library disciplines gives rise to uncanny
predictions for the future of libraries
Complete with extensive bibliography of Abram’s works and recommended reading list, this paradigm-shifting volume
gives perspective on the future of the library profession, challenges preconceptions, and helps librarians stay ahead of the
learning curve.
92 pages • 6” X 9” • Softcover • ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0932-4 • ISBN-10: 0-8389-0932-9 • © 2007
Non-member price: $40.00 • Member price: $36.00 (Shipping, handling and taxes are not included)

eature
F Article
Canada’s Public Libraries
and Information Literacy Training
Heidi Julien &
Cameron Hoffman
Over the past several years, Canada’s recreational needs. Another 2. What are the views of staff about
public libraries have faced increasing challenge altogether comes from information literacy instruction
pressures to provide information within the public library, as some in the public library?
literacy training to their users. These staff feel conflicted about providing 3. How are library customers using
pressures are mainly due to the information literacy training, as public library Internet access
growing amount of information that this work historically has not been stations?
is electronically available and the considered a primary role of the 4. How have library customers
near-universal nature of online public library. developed information literacy
communication. Additional pressures Related to these role conflicts skills?
for training come from a growing are the technological challenges that 5. How do library customers experi-
understanding about the importance public libraries have faced, such as ence being information literate?
of research skills and the need to migrating information sources to the
access information that is relevant Web and trying to identify relevant, The study comprised two phases.
to decision making in daily life. effective and engaging services in The first involved a written survey
These types of pressures are related the context of Web 2.0. Canadians that was distributed to 836 urban
to the evolution of the Internet as expect that information technology and rural public libraries throughout
a set of various social media. The will continue to be a significant Canada. Survey results showed that
world of blogs and YouTube and the aspect of the new economy and that information literacy training remains
culture of Wikipedia compels us all the public library will continue to a comparatively minor priority in
to be active information finders and provide Internet access. the nation’s public libraries. While
content makers – and perhaps active informal one-on-one guidance occurs
citizens in democratic society. A study in two phases at reference or customer services
In this time of a social Internet How have public libraries desks, there is little formal instruction
and its related demands for an responded to the increased needs and given. In addition, there is a lack of
information-literate citizenry, public demands for training opportunities dedicated funding, trained staff and
libraries contend with various for the public? This was the central physical space for training activities.
challenges: they lack the financial question explored in a recently The second phase of the study,
and material resources to provide completed study examining the which is the focus of this article,
training while balancing that role role of Canada’s public libraries in involved site visits to five Canadian
with a range of other community information literacy skills training. public libraries – institutions of
functions, such as providing a social The questions guiding the study were: varying size located throughout the
gathering space, developing early country – where customers were
childhood and adult reading literacy, 1. What information literacy observed accessing the Internet at
supporting adult education and instruction is occurring in library computers. Photographs were
lifelong learning, and supporting Canadian public libraries? taken of publicly available library

computers and Internet access The observations in this study the Internet, only one individual
stations. This part of the study also also revealed that men generally mentioned the potential of asking
involved 25 interviews with library make greater use of public library staff for help.
customers and 28 interviews with computers than women, and that a Assessing their information
library staff. The identities of the high proportion of library users – up literacy skills, most customers said
five libraries, as well as of their to two-thirds – appeared to be under they were experienced and confident
customers and staff, have been kept the age of 30. In the large urban using the Internet. Most felt that
confidential. centres visited in this study, library they were information literate, and
Each library in this study provided customers represented a diversity of did not think that a lack of skills
standard library services, including ethnicities, and visible minorities had been a barrier to accessing
the circulation of print and audio- were proportionally overrepresented information online. Some reported
visual materials and information/ compared with the overall Canadian no particular feelings about having
reference services. As well, each population. information literacy skills, describing
library provided Internet access for
the public, including community
residents and non-residents.
Listening to customers
Systematic and recorded obser-
From this study, it is apparent that
vations revealed that most library some public libraries are embracing
customers were using the Internet in
public libraries for communications this training role, while others are
purposes (n=78) such as email,
chat rooms, online dating services, more hesitant.
bulletin boards and instant messaging;
and for entertainment purposes
(n=43) such as gaming and viewing
music videos. The observations
and photographs revealed that the Customer interviews revealed them as “part of everyday life [like]
physical surroundings generally did that users’ average annual income brushing your teeth.” Others felt
not encourage patrons to inhabit was lower than the Canadian average: more positive about being informa-
the space for long. Uncomfortable 10 of 25 participants reported an tion literate; they indicated that
(or non-existent) seating was the income under $20,000 per year. they felt superior to others, were
norm, and customers got little Only five customers reported that empowered and had a sense of
privacy. With respect to information they had Internet access at home, personal control.
literacy skills training, two of the and another 10 said that they
libraries visited had dedicated space accessed the Internet at work, at a Listening to staff
for instructional purposes: a large seniors’ centre, at a community The library staff interviewed
urban library had large teaching centre or at Internet cafés. Customers (librarians and library technicians/
labs fully equipped with computers, said that they used the computers at assistants) viewed information
and a library serving a small city had public libraries because Internet literacy training as a significant role
developed a small training lab in access was freely available. When of the public library. Many of the
cooperation with a local community asked about why the public library staff respondents talked about how
organization. was chosen as a place to go to access customers have expressed a need for

Acknowledgments particularly to facilitate lifelong for customers who underwent training,

Some of the findings reported learning, and as “public parents” as reported by library staff, included
here were presented in poster (e.g., helping customers to avoid increased confidence, self-esteem,
form at the 2006 conference of controversial websites). self-sufficiency and motivation.
the American Association for Library staff identified various Library staff noted that the world
Information Science and challenges in their training role: seemed to open up for customers
Technology. The fine assistance • broader societal challenges who learned better searching skills.
of Janice Banser, Claire Banton, (e.g., the pervasiveness of media A number of staff reported that
Reegan Breu, Sarah Polkinghorne, that require careful evaluation, because of information literacy
Ina Smith and Michelle Whitehead and digital divide issues); training, some customers were able
was truly appreciated during all • institutional challenges within to find permanent shelter or employ-
stages of this study. In addition, libraries (such as marketing, ment, or strengthen family ties
sincere thanks for the generous staffing, budgeting and time through email.
participation of Canada’s public constraints, as well as planning The participants in this study
libraries, especially those libraries priorities); revealed a great deal about the role
that opened their doors to us for • infrastructural problems within of public libraries in information
observations and interviews. library buildings (such as demand literacy training in Canada. The
Finally, special recognition is due for IT access exceeding resources); largest urban library visited appears
to the library staff and customers and to be leading the way, demonstrating
who shared their time and • pedagogical challenges related unusual dedication to its training
thoughts in interviews. This to training. role. All the libraries in the study
research was supported by the Library staff believed that most provided Internet access to diverse
Social Sciences and Humanities customers have low levels of infor- groups of people: the young and the
Research Council of Canada. mation literacy skills, a finding old, the economically advantaged and
clearly at odds with the view of the disadvantaged, long-time residents
customers themselves. A possible of the community and newcomers
information literacy training that explanation for this discrepancy and visitors. These libraries provide
moves beyond traditional reference may be the relatively sophisticated Internet and information access to
desk encounters in which library understanding that library staff people with little or no technological
staff give answers without a defined have of information literacy skills. means – such as having no Internet
training moment. Library staff Customers may be pleased by locating access at home or work or being
indicated that customers are interested some information and negotiating temporarily away from where they
in and are requesting training, computers to access email and usually have computer access – or to
especially on advanced Internet entertainment websites, with little people who are socially marginalized
searching, catalogue use, database realization of the limits of their skills. in other ways, such as new Canadians
use, and software such as Microsoft in large urban centres.
Word. Benefits of training Interestingly, the study showed
Library staff also spoke about the What library staff and customers that customers are mostly training
significance of the role of the public did agree upon, however, was that themselves, developing their infor-
librarian as an information literacy there was a range of benefits for mation literacy skills through personal
provider. Many of the staff inter- those customers who took training, experience and seeking help from
viewed consider themselves to have including increased computer literacy informal personal sources, such as
a teaching role, acting as agents and improved searching and evalua- friends and family, rather than
of empowerment for customers, tion skills. Other positive outcomes through formal library training.

None of the customers interviewed some in the library community must Cameron is interested in public
in this study mentioned seeking the be convinced that this role is a perceptions of information literacy
help of library staff, although the legitimate one and that training and using emerging technologies to
library staff interviewed believe that efforts must be resourced. As well, teach library/research skills. He is a
customers do receive a great deal citizens must be convinced that graduate of the University of Alberta
of informal information literacy libraries can legitimately fulfill this School of Library and Information
training. role. Full citizenship in the informa- Studies and was a language arts
This study revealed that people tion society may depend on it. teacher in Alberta prior to his career
who did not attend post-secondary in librarianship.
educational institutions, which Dr. Heidi Julien is Associate Professor
typically provide at least a minimum in the School of Library and Information Further Reading
level of information literacy skills Studies at the University of Alberta. Julien, Heidi, and Cameron
training for students, have few places Heidi holds a B.Ed and MLIS from the Hoffman. “Information Literacy
to turn for training. If Canadians are University of Alberta, and a PhD from Training in Canada’s Public
to participate fully in the digital the University of Western Ontario. Her Libraries.” Library Quarterly
age, if they are to efficiently access, research interests include information 78(1) (2008), in press.
evaluate and appropriately use behaviour and information literacy. Julien, Heidi, and Reegan Breu.
information to inform their decision She teaches in the reference area in the “Instructional Practices in
making, then they require training MLIS program at Alberta. Canadian Public Libraries.”
in information literacy skills. Time Library & Information Science
spent using computers and surfing Cameron Hoffman is the Information Research 27(3) (2005): 281-301.
the Internet may or may not develop Literacy Librarian at Concordia
these skills – more likely, this kind of University Libraries in Montreal.
computer exposure and experience
develops user confidence rather
than actual skills. However, for some INDEX TO ADVERTISERS
people, the increased sense of ASSOCIATIONS, INSTITUTES & EDUCATION
community and self-efficacy that Canadian Pediatric Society (www.cps.ca) ........................................................ OBC
accompanies Internet use may be a CLA (www.cla.ca) ....................................................... IFC, 51, 53, 64, 73, 85, IBC,
CUPE (www.cupe.ca) ............................................................................................ 49
strong starting point for development
TEACH Magazine ([email protected]) .............................................................. 64
of more sophisticated skills. That
opening presents an opportunity for INFORMATION PROVIDERS
public libraries to fully embrace a Proquest (www.info.csa.com/casillustrata) .............................................................. 39
significant training role.
From this study, it is apparent ONLINE RESEARCH SERVICES
that some public libraries are EBSCO Canada Ltd. (www.ebsco.com) .................................................................. 51
embracing this training role, while nature.com (www.nature.com/libraries) .................................................................. 69
others are more hesitant. It is also
PUBLISHERS & DISTRIBUTORS
clear that such training requires Grey House Publishing Canada (www.greyhouse.ca) ............................................ 42
more than encouragement and John Wiley & Sons (www.wiley.ca) ...................................................................... 53
providing computer hardware. The Naxos Online Music Library (www.AboutNaxosMusicLibrary.com) .................... 67
interviews with library staff show Wild Cards Inc. (www.wildcards.ca) ...................................................................... 46
that not everyone is approaching
the teaching role with enthusiasm;

eature
F Article
Preserving Canada’s Cultural Heritage:
CBC / Radio-Canada
Paul McCormick
The Canadian Broadcasting Act sets out the current

Corporation / Radio-Canada is the mandate. Among other things,
focus of the latest in this series of the Act states that the program-
articles examining the infrastructure ming of Canada’s national
that supports long-term access and public broadcaster should be
preservation of Canada’s cultural predominantly and distinctively
heritage in its various dimensions. Canadian; reflect Canada and
From the first national radio its regions to national and
broadcast on July 1, 1927, marking the regional audiences, while serving
Diamond Jubilee of Confederation the special needs of those regions;
(the oldest item in its collections), to actively contribute to the flow and
its current array of radio, television exchange of cultural expression
and online regional, national and in English and in French,
international broadcasting, CBC / reflecting the different needs
Radio-Canada is an incredible and circumstances of each official
national resource. language community, including
Established as a federal Crown the particular needs and circum- J. Frank Willis (Moose River, Nova Scotia Mining Disaster
corporation in 1936 with the stances of English and French April 20, 1936) Frank Willis & technician Arleigh Canning
broadcast live from the scene every half hour for
Canadian Broadcasting Act, CBC / linguistic minorities; contribute 56 consecutive hours to all 58 Canadian radio stations,
Radio-Canada replaced the earlier to shared national consciousness to 650 American station & to the BBC until the survivors
Canadian Radio Broadcasting and identity; and reflect the were brought to the surface.
Commission and CN Railway’s multicultural and multiracial its past. Beginning in the late 1990s,
CN Radio. The 1991 Broadcasting nature of Canada. stimulated in part by the Fading Away
report, which led to the creation of
Investment in the
future
While Parliament was
explicit about what was to
be produced, it was silent
on the subject of preserving
this national resource.
Fortunately, the Corporation
has recognized the vital role
that its previous productions
The Happy Gang, 1940s
Hockey Night in Canada play in ongoing programming CBC Still Photo Collection
CBC Still Photo Collection
and the necessity of preserving

completed. The organiza-

tions responsible for
acquisition, maintenance
and preservation have
largely been pulled
together in the Libraries,
Archives and Documen-
The Friendly Giant

The Journal
Friendly (Bob Homme) with Jerome and Rusty
Barbara Frum
CBC Still Photo Collection
CBC Still Photo Collection/Fred Phipps
the AV Preservation Trust, the Betacam or high-compres-

Board of Directors has recognized sion digital SX), cans of
the strategic value of the CBC’s assets films, digital files, CD-Rs
and the need to ensure that these are and the contents of the
catalogued and preserved. Music Library, the CBC
Canada: a People’s History
There are a number of key parts CBC Still Photo Collection Reference Library and the
to this story, beginning with the CBC Museum.
major investment in vaults – built in tation Department for CBC and the
Toronto at the Canadian Broadcasting Médiathèque et Archives for Radio- Gems in the vaults
Centre, in Montreal and in other Canada. The Libraries, Archives and While CBC / Radio-Canada
locations across the country – to Documentation Department has as does not have a complete collection
hold materials at temperatures and its mandate “to collect, catalogue, of all productions (and actively
humidity levels appropriate for long- preserve and facilitate access to and encourages the donation of older
term preservation. In Toronto alone, re-use of the CBC’s media assets, edi- materials), these major conservation,
some 20 collection facilities were torial resources and business records.” digital conversion and cataloguing
consolidated into one when the The Board of Directors’ Archives projects have uncovered major gems.
Canadian Broadcasting Centre was Project, followed by other projects These include lost film footage of
and ongoing support, has led to the Glenn Gould playing in Ottawa,
transfer of thousands of broadcasts Shania Twain before she was Shania
(radio since 1936, television since Twain, and Mike Myers in an early
1952) to digital formats, rehousing, CBC program, as well as early footage
restoration and cataloguing for internal shot at Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where
access for employees across the country filming is no longer permitted.
via the Corporation’s intranet. The CBC / Radio-Canada can point
collection consists of almost three with pride to important restoration
million items: photos, photo negatives, projects, such as pulling together
slides, boxes of archival materials, all elements of Glenn Gould
Mike Myers and David Ferry
cassettes, one-inch video reels and programming. It restored filmmaker
Range Ryder and the Calgary Kid in the
Adventure of the Dinosaur Badlands, 1978 two-inch video/audio reels and digital Allan King’s CBC films (Warrendale,
CBC Still Photo Collection audio tapes (DATs), videotapes (digital Skidrow) and other materials when

Archives Canada and with own set of challenges. Nevertheless,

provincial archives for some in a special examination report in
regionally produced materials. 2005, the Office of the Auditor
A preservation policy, called the General of Canada concluded that
Program Information and Image with respect to Canada’s visual and
Asset Management Policy, com- audio legacy, it was “satisfied that
plements a strong disaster plan. the Corporation has appropriate
Preservation of the present and systems and practices for preserving
the past through this ongoing Canadian cultural heritage.”
investment has become a key For those interested in learning
element in more about preservation at CBC /
how CBC / Radio-Canada, there are large
Radio-Canada websites (with different content)
Above – Glenn Gould on Bach,
is moving devoted to preservation at
Photography Date: January 25 & 26, 1962 forward in the http://archives.cbc.ca/index.asp?ID
Broadcast Date: April 8, 1962 Internet age. Lan=1 (English) and http://archives.
CBC Still Photo Collection/Dale Barnes
There are of radio-canada.ca/index.asp?IDLan=0
Right – Introducing Janet (Jim Carrey, 1981) course many (French). Electronic newsletters are
CBC Still Photo Collection/Fred Phipps
challenges. The also available in English and French.
acquisition of Visitors to these sites can take virtual
he was honoured by the Toronto current produc- tours, including audio and video
International Film Festival’s tions is just one clips, of archives related to radio,
Canadian Retrospective. Other example. The current programming visual resources, arts and entertain-
examples include recent programs on of music, comedy, news and current ment, sports and film.
the 1995 Quebec referendum, the affairs on English radio alone repre-
recent anniversaries of the Orchestre sents some 135 hours each week to be Paul McCormick is a consultant based
symphonique de Montréal and the captured, preserved and catalogued. in Ottawa. He was formerly Director
Montreal Canadiens hockey team, Rights have taken on enormous General of the Published Heritage
and the restoration of Frank Willis’s importance, particularly as more and Branch at Library and Archives
broadcast from 1936 of the Moose more programs are produced with Canada and Director General of the
River Mine disaster in Nova Scotia private sector partners who retain Strategic Policy and Planning Branch
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-70- the rights. This means that CBC / at the National Library of Canada.
672-3860-11/disasters_tragedies/ Radio-Canada does not necessarily He can be reached at
moose-river/, the first live coverage have responsibility for the ongoing [email protected].
of a news event in North America conservation of these materials or
(which was also honoured as a has to negotiate rights. Changes in
MasterWork by the AV Preservation technology are also a major challenge,
Trust). as production formats continue
Practices supporting the produc- to evolve and as more and more
tion of preservation masters and the equipment becomes obsolete. CBC /
storage of copies offsite in secure Radio-Canada is beta testing a deep
facilities are also important to the archive with significantly improved
Corporation’s strategy. Deposit agree- compression. The substantial amount
ments are in place with Library and of regional programming presents its

eature
F Article
World Library and Information Congress
74th IFLA General Conference and Council
Ingrid Parent
WELCOME TO QUEBEC CITY IN AUGUST 2008
Dear Canadian colleagues,
I am so pleased and so proud to tell you a little bit about the

next IFLA World Library and Information Congress to be held
in beautiful Quebec City, Canada, from August 10 to 14, 2008.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Libraries without borders:
navigating towards global understanding”. Quebec and Canada
are truly at the crossroads of peoples and traditions.
The Aboriginal, French, English and multicultural streams in

our diverse heritage influence Canada’s development and
relations with the rest of the world. You will experience all
these traditions during your visit to the region. You will see
how our libraries and archives are serving a range of users in
innovative ways. The programs that the IFLA professional
sections are sponsoring also focus on library activities and
services in a world without borders, because information today
is all around us, accessible in ways that were unheard of only
a few decades ago.
And the professional content of the conference is not the only

attraction; the people you will meet from over 120 countries will
enrich your experience and understanding. The entertainment
that will be provided will showcase the richness of traditional
and contemporary Quebec and Canadian culture, and will
highlight the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City.
It will be a personal and a professional experience that you will not soon forget!
I hope to see you in great numbers in August in Quebec City.
Ingrid Parent
Assistant Deputy Minister
Documentary Heritage Collection Sector
Library and Archives Canada
Member of IFLA’s Governing Board

BIENVENUE À QUÉBEC EN AOÛT 2008
Chers collègues canadiens,
C’est avec fierté et un très grand plaisir que je vous donne

quelques détails sur le prochain congrès mondial des biblio-
thèques et de l’information organisé par l’IFLA et qui se
tiendra dans la magnifique ville de Québec au Canada,
du 10 au 14 août 2008.
Cette année le congrès se réunit sur le thème des « Bibliothèques

sans frontières : naviguer vers une compréhension mondiale ».
Le Québec et le Canada constituent un réel carrefour de
peuples et de traditions. Les composantes autochtone, française,
anglaise et multiculturelle de notre patrimoine fort divers
influencent le développement du Canada et ses relations avec
le reste du monde. À l’occasion de votre visite de cette région,
vous aurez la possibilité de connaître ces traditions. Vous
examinerez également les méthodes novatrices employées
par nos archives et nos bibliothèques pour desservir une
multiplicité d’usagers. Les programmes parrainés par les sections
professionnelles de l’IFLA font aussi la part belle aux activités
et services des bibliothèques dans un monde sans frontières,
car aujourd’hui l’information se trouve partout, accessible
par des moyens inconcevables il y a seulement quelques
décennies.
Au-delà du contenu professionnel, cet évènement offre

également la possibilité de rencontrer des participants venus
de plus de 120 pays, une excellente occasion d’enrichir votre expérience et votre compréhension. Le programme
des activités se veut également une vitrine de la richesse culturelle québécoise et canadienne, traditionnelle et
contemporaine, et il se centrera sur la commémoration du 400e anniversaire de la fondation de la ville de Québec.
J’espère vous voir en grand nombre à Québec au mois d’août.
Ingrid Parent
Membre du conseil d’administration

ook
B Reviews
Collaborative Strategies for Teaching
Reading Comprehension: Maximizing
worked with are librarians first and
teachers second. The opposite may
The goal of this monograph, intended
as a textbook for library and informa-
Your Impact be true in Canada. If, for example, tion science courses, is to introduce
Judi Moreillon. Chicago, IL: American there are teacher-librarians in the the rapidly evolving and changing
Library Association, 2007. 170 pp., elementary school in Saskatchewan world of law librarianship. It also
US $38.00 (non-members of ALA), or Ontario, they are teachers first. endeavours to answer the following
US $34.20 (members), soft cover, Unfortunately, in many schools questions: What is law librarianship?
ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0929-4; teacher-librarian positions simply Why become a law librarian? How
ISBN-10: 0-8389-0929-9 don’t exist, although the reading do you become a law librarian? What
comprehension program described in are the qualifications needed? How
this book does. Schools have been does law librarianship interrelate
known to arrange their book rooms with the legal world? What are the
(notably, not called the library) so opportunities for professional growth?
that the materials used by the students The target audience is students
reinforce the specific strategies out- in the programs of library and infor-
lined in this publication. mation science, as well as individuals
This book should be available who teach law librarianship courses.
in library schools and in College of Knowledge of law as a subject is not
Education libraries. Classroom reading required in order to benefit from this
teachers will also find it useful. text.
The stated purpose of this book is The authors’ and editors’ qualifi-
“to help educators develop coteaching Reviewed by Linda Fritz, Special cations are noteworthy. All three
strategies to ensure student achieve- Collections Librarian, University of editors are professors of law as well
ment.” The intended audience Saskatchewan Library, Saskatoon, SK, as experienced directors or heads of
includes elementary school teacher- and Andrea Snyder, Teacher, well-respected law libraries in the
librarians who want to develop their Coronation School, Cambridge, ON. United States. The book contains
understanding of teaching basic reading an introduction and10 chapters on
skills, educators interested in best !!! different aspects of law librarianship,
practices in instruction, and what all written by experts (mainly directors
the author describes as “preservice Law Librarianship in the of law libraries and professors of law).
teacher librarians.” The book was Twenty-First Century This text is a welcome addition
written as a result of the No Child Roy Balleste, Sonia Luna-Lamas and to the field. After a hiatus of nearly
Left Behind Act, and is primarily Lisa Smith-Butler, eds. Lanham, MD: 10 years, a new work that addresses
focused on an American audience. Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2007. 229 pp. all of the changes to law librarianship
The large-format book includes with index and biographical descriptions was long overdue. The individual
seven strategies for teaching mean- of the contributors, US $55.00, cloth, chapters provide readers with a concise
ingful reading, including lesson plans ISBN-10: 0-8108-5881-9; soft cover, overview of topics unique to law
for children at different levels. These ISBN-13: 978-0-8108-5881-7 librarianship, such as the history of
strategies have already been endorsed law librarianship as well as interna-
by the Ontario Department of tional law and government docu-
Education and have been tested in ments. Topics on standard library
classrooms throughout that province. operations as they apply to the law
ALA provides a supplementary library are also discussed. These
website for those who want to pursue include collection development,
the strategies. public services, technical processing,
The book is geared toward the administration, technology and
teacher, and discusses the benefits of consortia. Each chapter is well
collaboration. The underlying documented with numerous references
impression, though, is that the to support the research.
teacher-librarians the author has
This book also highlights how and Buffalo, SUNY, summarizes the The Readers’ Advisory Guide to
why law librarianship has changed in major trends and events in the Nonfiction
the last decade. In the past, there United States during his 60 years of Neal Wyatt. Chicago, IL: American
was a significant gap between infor- involvement in librarianship. Library Association, 2007. 318 pp.
mation access in the legal environ- with index, US $48.00 soft cover,
ment and that found in libraries gen- ISBN-13: 978-0-8389-0936-2
erally. The increased availability of
online resources has narrowed this
gap. Law librarianship, which used to
be viewed as a branch of the study
and practice of law, has become more
of a branch of librarianship in the 21st
century. In addition, law librarians
must now balance a mastery of legal
materials with an understanding of The book’s 10 chapters cover
the latest technologies. What remains changes in core activities (cataloguing,
unique about law librarianship is the reference, management, etc.); types Readers’ advisory guides really ought
fact that law librarians have the of libraries (public, school, academic, to come with a “read at your own
responsibility of providing service to special, Library of Congress, and risk” warning, given the inevitable
both specialists in the field (e.g., presidential and state libraries); swelling of the reader’s own “books
judges and lawyers) as well as to methods of library cooperation; I want to read” list. Such is the case
the general public, since the law federal funding in the U.S.; library with this book and its listings of
continues to govern every aspect of associations; diversity in staffing hundreds of appealing titles.
our lives. (women and black librarians, etc.); Neal Wyatt, a respected readers’
This readable, well-organized library buildings and preservation of advisory expert and the editor of
book succeeds in achieving all of its materials; education for librarianship Library Journal’s “Reader’s Shelf,”
objectives. I would highly recommend and library literature; prominent has jumped onto the non-fiction
it to all types of law libraries as well leaders, which includes 50 brief RA bandwagon with a volume that
as to academic libraries that support biographies of prominent Americans explores a theoretical framework for
library and information studies associated with libraries; and a approaching this service, reviews a
programs. summary that deals with major range of individual types of non-fiction
events and developments, current (from true crime to travel to food
Reviewed by Wanda Quoika-Stanka, challenges, and the future status of and cooking), and provides a host
Research Services Librarian, John A. libraries. The appendices include a of useful tips and tools for RA
Weir Memorial Law Library, 12-page chronology, an 8-page practitioners.
University of Alberta, Edmonton. bibliography and a 23-page index. The challenge of readers’ advisory
This book is highly recommended service is that it is, to use one of
!!! for libraries used by students in library Wyatt’s terms, “slippery.” While we
can try to provide a structure, readers’
programs and as a reference resource
Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty in large public libraries. advisory will always be more of an
Years of Challenge and Change, art than a science, given its basis in
1945-2005 Reviewed by Jean Weihs, Principal the unique relationship between one
George S. Bobinski. Lanham, MD: Consultant, Technical Services Group, individual reader and one individual
Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2007. 205 pp., Toronto. book. In her opening chapter,
US $40.00 hard cover, ISBN-13: 978- Wyatt proposes a methodology for
0-8108-5899-2, ISBN-10: 0-8108-
5899-1
!!! considering non-fiction works from
an RA point of view. She deserves
credit for even attempting such a
George Bobinski, Dean Emeritus task, and the chapter makes for
of the Department of Library and dense reading. The result is a mixed
Information Studies, University of success – the discussions of type and

characterization are accessible, Social Networking: The Essence of vation to address such challenges as
while other aspects suffer from a lack Innovation generational knowledge flows and to
of clarity, particularly in terms of Jay Liebowitz. Lanham, MD: improve the effectiveness of merged
defining and differentiating such Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2007. 136 pp., or acquired organizations.
concepts as narrative and story line. US $35.00, soft cover, ISBN 0-8108- Dr. Liebowitz has organized the
The methodology may well be 5857-6 information in a very readable form
daunting to even experienced readers’ and has provided a useful index. One
advisors, let alone novices. quibble: it is unfortunate that the
The sections on individual genres explanatory figures in chapters four
of non-fiction are helpful and, for each and six are too small to serve the
genre, provide useful information: purpose for which they were included.
discussion of what readers enjoy in
the books, characterization of types Reviewed by Eileen Goltz, PhD,
of books in the genre, benchmark Librarian Emerita, Laurentian
books to suggest, and listings of often University, Sudbury, ON.
elusive resources and awards. Some-
what less helpful are the extensive, Dr. Jay Liebowitz is a full professor
un-annotated bibliographies at the in the graduate division of business
end of each section, given that a and management at Johns Hopkins
simple author/title listing is of limited University, Baltimore, Maryland. He
informational value to readers’ advisors. is the author of 30 books and many
Wyatt caps the book with a articles about intelligent systems,
quintet of practical appendices on knowledge management and infor-
topics ranging from how to create a mation technology management.
non-fiction subject guide to ways for Although entitled Social
readers’ advisors to track their own Networking, this book is primarily
reading experiences. concerned with social network
While Wyatt focuses on analysis (SNA) and is a how-to book
non-fiction readers’ advisory and directed toward business and the
emphasizes its differences from fields of military and civilian
fiction readers’ advisory, she is at defence, science, medicine and Write That Book
her most visionary when she begins education. It should have a place in Serena Williamson, PhD
to explore the concept of whole any library catering to these fields.
The first three chapters relate Write That Book provides practical
collection readers’ advisory. Further techniques to find your title and
consideration of this avenue may to the development of personal
chapter outline and to create a
well be the next step in the revital- knowledge networks and the linking
template for your book. This book
ization of readers’ advisory service, of social networking to innovations will inspire, encourage and support
and it is to be hoped that Wyatt in strategic intelligence created from you to write, publish and tell the
will be an active contributor to this the synergy of knowledge manage- world about your book.
direction. ment, business intelligence and
competition intelligence. Dr. Serena Williamson, the Book
Reviewed by Louise Reimer, Head, In the fourth chapter Coach, helps people identify why
Humanities & Social Sciences Library, Dr. Liebowitz introduces SNA and they want to write a book, clarify
University of Alberta. shows how this tool provides insights their ideas and help develop a writing
into the brokering roles individuals plan and clear timetable to get their
book written and published.
!!! assume in an organization. The
chapters following enlarge on analysis, 128 pages • ISBN: 0-9735207-1-X • 2004
present case studies, and suggest • paperback • $23.00 • CLA members
applicable software systems. In the $ 20.00 • 06-WRITE • Shipping, handling
final chapters the author advocates and taxes not included.
the use of SNA to encourage inno-
800 m Ahead Small Public Libraries in Canada
The Town of Stonewall, Manitoba
Ernie Ingles &
Carrie Chelsberg
The community of Stonewall, located

a short drive north of Winnipeg, was
founded in the 1800s. Due to the
amount of limestone in the area it
became a major limestone production
centre. Stonewall is described in a
1901 publication of the Manitoba
Board of Trade (The Stonewall District:
A Desirable District for Mixed Farming)
as “one of the cleanest and healthiest
villages in the whole of Canada.”
This same turn of the century publi-
cation bragged that the town had
“ . . . a fine school, four churches,
four general stores, four hardware
stores, three hotels, two butcher
shops, the Bank of Hamilton and
Leslie’s private bank . . . a bakery, The Stonewall Library, located in a beautiful, historical limestone building
three confectionery establishments,
drug store, tailor shop, three livery shop, law office, lumber yard, green- stipulations was that the builders also
barns, four blacksmith shops, jewelry house, etc.”. Indeed, Stonewall was plant trees, many of which still exist
the place to settle. Two elevators along 2nd Ave North, adding to the
and two newpapers no less! It was a beauty and character of the town.
happening community. The community soon flourished
Fast Facts The town of Stonewall was with the growth of the limestone
founded in 1878 by Samuel Jacob industry. Limestone was formed in
Library circulation: 97,335 Jackson, who bought the land on the area about 450 million years ago,
Bookmobile circulation: 39,144 which the town is situated. Jackson when the entire region was covered
Patron count: 37,114 had originally come to the area as by a warm tropical sea called the
Collection size: 81,000 part of a survey crew from Ontario Ordovician Sea. This sea was filled
Head Librarian: Darlene Dallman and fell in love with the landscape. with snails, cephalopods (cuttlefish,
Library region membership: South Jackson was a strong promoter of the squid and nautilus) and other
Interlake Regional Library community. He encouraged people shellfish. It was the shells of these
Website: www.sirlibrary.com to settle in Stonewall by giving them creatures that formed the layers of
sites to build houses on. One of his limestone.

The limestone industry involved
the building of large quarries where
the bedrock was blasted to reveal the
layers of limestone. This limestone
was then broken into smaller pieces,
which were heated in large kilns to
over 825 degrees Celsius. The product
of this heating process was a white
powder known as quicklime or lime.
Lime is one of the oldest and most
commonly used chemicals and can
be found in plaster, paper products,
pottery and paint, to name just a few
uses. The giant kilns still exist today
and can been seen in Stonewall’s
Quarry Park. The blasted bedrock
was also used as a building material Volunteer and past branch librarian, Dorothy Murray; head librarian, Darlene Dallman and
for many of the buildings in Stonewall, children’s programmer, Joan Ransom
including the post office.
of Teulon which recently acquired a she has a “fabulous” group of people
Growing needs new library. working at the library and they have
Today, the limestone industry The Stonewall library was origi- all helped to make it what it is today.
is long gone and the quarries have nally housed in a storefront and then She wants to make the library the
been made into a park, but the town moved to the post office. The post best it can be and works with her
is still flourishing. Agriculture is office was not operating at that staff to do just that.
now the predominant industry in location anymore, but the building The library’s collection contains
the area. As you drive through will forever be known as “the old about 81,000 items. People frequently
the streets of Stonewall, past well- post office”. It is a beautiful, historical bring in book lists from the newspaper
manicured lawns and gardens, the building located right in the centre of or a title from another source and
pride people feel in their community town. The library has been located ask the library to order it. Darlene
is evident. there for the last 14 years. often complies with these requests so
The Stonewall library is located The library serves a local popula- that she can offer patrons the items
on the main street of Stonewall, tion of approximately 4,000 people they want to read and also keep the
and despite the pioneer boosterism with an additional 10,000 from the library collection current. She finds
referenced earlier, it was not region. Of these, 5,828 people hold that these efforts help library staff get
established until 1967 as part of the library memberships. The library to know patrons better, and people
South Interlake Regional library operates with 10 staff as well as are very appreciative.
system, the system serving the numerous volunteers who help out
surrounding Rural Municipalities with various duties throughout the Making reading fun
of Rockwood and Rosser. The year. Darlene Dallman, the head The library in Stonewall offers
library system has grown over the librarian, has worked at the library the community it serves a wide
years and now includes the town for two and a half years. She says variety of programs, services and

Joan also offers unique opportuni-
ties for the community to participate.
Storytime was once held on a school
bus, the library has had both a
Zamboni and a dump truck visit the
kids, and lifeguards from the local
pool came for a day to teach about
water safety.
Each year the library attempts to
offer three large events with specific
themes. One past event featured bats
The circulation desk
special events, many of which are who does her

featured in the town’s paper, the best to meet the
Stonewall Argus and Teulon Times. needs of the
This is just one of the many ways patrons she visits.
that the library promotes itself. Another
Of the numerous programs the popular program
library runs, one of the most unusual is the Storytime
is a puzzle exchange program, which kids’ program run
is popular with all ages, and one of by Joan Ransom,
the most popular is the bookmobile. who has become
The children’s section
The library acquired a new custom- something of a
made bus in 2000 that can hold local celebrity.
about 6,000 items. The bookmobile The program runs three times a week and another featured owls, and both
has an extensive route throughout and has an attendance of about times community members brought
the municipalities of Rosser and 250 children per month. Joan offers live animals to the library to raise
Rockwood. The bus makes 34 stops thematic programming on topics awareness about species that live in
over a three-week cycle during the such as sheep, leprechauns and the area. Such showcases have been
months of September to mid-June, ducks. Songs are incorporated into extremely popular, attracting around
visiting 10 different schools and 7 the Storytime, as well as crafts and 80 people per event.
Hutterite colonies. The visit by the a physical activity like the Hokey
bookmobile provides many Hutterite Pokey. The program is extremely Community involvement
children with their only access to a popular with families with young The community is tremendously
library. The bookmobile has its own children, and Joan always tries to important to the library. Last summer
librarian, Debbie Peterson-Began, make reading fun for the kids. the library held a session based on

the book The 100-Mile Diet: A Year
of Local Eating by Alisa Smith and
J.B. MacKinnon. The book is by a
Vancouver couple who attempt to
eat only local food (food that is
grown or harvested within 100 miles
of their home) for one year, a task
that proves to be overwhelmingly
challenging. The librarians decided
to dedicate an evening to the book
to create awareness of what was
available in the area if people were
to take the challenge. Local producers
of meat, eggs, fruit, cheese and bakery
products were showcased.
Support for the library is shown
every year at the town’s annual
Quarry Days, where the library has a
Mural depicting the adventures that can come from reading in the Margaret Green Room, home
huge book sale that is always very of story time, after school club and other special events
successful.
One of the challenges that the has high-speed Internet access and is Stonewall quarries. As well, the 1989
library has experienced over the able to use AMICUS. The catalogue movie The Challengers was filmed in
years has been related to technology. has meant that the library can “find Stonewall and several local residents
But Darlene insists that dealing almost any book” for its’ patrons. appeared as extras in the movie.
with challenging book requests has Stonewall is a unique and So if you’re ever in the Winnipeg
become easier, now that the library vibrant community with a great area, take a short drive to Stonewall
library. Not only to visit Quarry Park, Kinsmen Lake
does the town and of course Stonewall Library.
have a distinc- Who knows what will be going on at
tive history, but the library, but you can be assured it
it also has also will be an experience like no other.
some other
notable claims Ernie Ingles is the Vice-Provost and
to fame. Cuyler Chief Librarian at the University of
Goodwill, a Alberta.
character in
Carrie Chelsberg is a Research
Carol Shields’
Assistant for Learning Services at the
Pulitzer Prize
University of Alberta and a senior-level
winning novel
MLIS student.
The Stone Diaries,
The adult fiction area worked in the
All photos courtesy of Carrie Chelsberg.

CLA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 2007-2008
PRESIDENT PRESIDENT (CASL) COUNCILLOR-AT-LARGE
Alvin M. Schrader Richard Beaudry Shelagh Paterson
(780) 492-5372 (604) 512-1400 (416) 486-2500 ext. 7670
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
PAST-PRESIDENT PRESIDENT (CACUL) COUNCILLOR-AT-LARGE

Linda Cook Alison Nussbaumer Cheryl Stenström
(780) 496-7050 (250) 960-6612 (902) 640-2265
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
PRESIDENT (CAPL)
VICE-PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT ELECT COUNCILLOR-AT-LARGE
Susan McLean
Ken Roberts Judy Dunn
(902) 490-5898
(905) 546-3215 (416) 978-3934
[email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]
PRESIDENT (CASLIS)
TREASURER Ingrid Moisil EX OFFICIO
Terri Tomchyshyn (819) 243-2345 ext. 2567 Don Butcher
(613) 991-7188 [email protected] (613) 232-9625 ext. 306
[email protected] [email protected]
PRESIDENT (CLTA)
Lawrence Lavender
(604) 913-1424
[email protected]
CLA STAFF CONTACTS

Don Butcher Beverly Bard
Executive Director Desktop Publisher &
[email protected] ext. 306 Book Review Coordinator
[email protected] ext. 324
Brenda Shields
Member Services Valerie Delrue
[email protected] ext. 318 Membership Coordinator
[email protected] ext. 301
Judy Green
Manager, Marketing & Communications Carla Chami
Advertising/Sponsorship Manager Membership Clerk
[email protected] ext. 322 [email protected] ext. 317
Wendy Walton Maria Blake

Conference & Professional Development Officer Orders Administrator
Andy Giffen Stephanie Bowa

Webmaster & IT Administrator Program Coordinator, Young Canada Works
Telephone: (613) 232-9625 • Fax: (613) 563-9895 • www.cla.ca

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eliciter

Vol. 54 No. 2 (2008)

So whatever your quest, start here—with C SA Illustrata.

Hazard analyses on hurricanes revealed with C S A Illustrata: Natural Sciences.

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Find out how CSA Illustrata can transform your institution’s

Become a member today and take advantage of the many savings,

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Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 43

44 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 45

46 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 47

48 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Public libraries build strong communities

50 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Partial solutions d on’t work.

With extensive access and registration support as well as a plethora of up-to-the-moment

From acquisition to access, from management to evaluation –

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 51

52 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

54 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 55

... “due to small staffs, end up community.”

56 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Every workday morning, Lisa turns “The systems guy

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 57

"© Photographer: Frances Fruit <http://www.dreamstime.com/Ffranny_info>

employers. Others worry that a

58 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 59

60 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 61

62 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 63

64 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 65

technology is essential for those work.3

wishing to work in any library. LIT diploma are required to establish

66 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

are only some of the many employers Notes Teacher-Librarianship in Canada

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 67

68 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 69

70 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 71

72 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Out Front with Stephen Abram

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 73

74 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 75

Acknowledgments particularly to facilitate lifelong for customers who underwent training,

76 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008 www.cla.ca Canadian Library Association 77

The Canadian Broadcasting Act sets out the current

78 Canadian Library Association www.cla.ca Feliciter • Issue #2, 2008

completed. The organiza-

The Friendly Giant