InsideOCULA

Remember that you can suggest a topic and speakers other than yourself. We don’t know what everyone is doing in their own universities and colleges so we need you to tell us. To make next year a great conference with great programming we need your help. Please consider submitting a proposal for a session or an idea that you’d like to see at next year’s conference.

Call for Proposals Submission Deadline – April 30th , 2007

Super Conference 2008
January 30 – February 2, 2008 Metro Toronto Convention Centre

What topics is OCULA looking for?
We are looking for presentations that reflect the challenging and exciting times in college and university libraries. This is a great opportunity to present your ideas, research or experience to your peers.

How do I submit a proposal?
If you have an idea for a session you want to PRESENT or ATTEND, please submit your idea to the OLA website at:
http://www.accessola.com/site/showPage.cgi?page=
education/superconference/sessionplan/index.html

To ensure that your submission does not get lost in the online universe, please also email the title of your submission to: gail.nichol@utoronto.ca

What if I have other questions? Send questions to:
gail.nichol@utoronto.ca or caroline.stewart@senecac.on.ca

We look forward to seeing all your great session ideas!

To start the thinking process here are some ideas. Are you working or expert in any of these areas?

* Assessment in Academic Libraries: ACRL standards, LIBQUAL, etc
* Evidence Based Librarianship
* Collaborating with faculty to integrate library resources into online/distance courses
* Federated searching: pros and cons
* Using gaming in library instruction
* A Game-Based Multimedia Approach to Library Orientation
* Graduate students: how to connect to the faculty of the future
* Information Literacy
* Anchoring Assignment Design in Information Literacy
* Applying Learning Data to Enhance Instruction: A Case Study
* Controversial views on information literacy
* Knowledge management in academic libraries
* Learning Styles
* Libraries, space and the information commons
* Designing a Library Environment That Promotes Learning
* Combating Plagiarism
* Research Aid Station: Redefining face to face reference services
* Keeping academic libraries relevant
* Designing Self Service Learning Environments
* Academic library services
* Facebook, My Space and Social Networking
* Libraries and YouTube
* Outreach using blogs, wikis, etc.
* Libraries and museums: collaborators of the future
* Special collections and their challenges
* “Student Development Theory” & recruiting peer tutors
* Usability testing of library web sites
* AND MANY MORE …..

Collegially,
Gail Nichol and Caroline Stewart
OCULA Super Conference 2008 Coordinators

A friendly reminder to OCULA members that this is the last chance to register for the Annual OCULA Spring Academic Librarians’ Dinner, providing an annual opportunity for academic librarians in Ontario to network with colleagues and enjoy stimulating talks by outstanding speakers.

Registration: http://www.accessola.com/ocula/site/
showPage.cgi?page=events/spring07_dinner.html

Registration closes first thing Monday morning, April 23rd.

Featured Speaker: James Laxer
Date: Thursday, April 26, 2007
Time: cash bar 6:30 ; dinner: 7:00 ; speaker: 8:15
Location: Dining Hall, Schulich School of Business, York University
Price: $40

Using Canada’s position in the world today as a lens, Laxer will explore how information in the age of the Internet, blogs and CNN is spun by media, governments and individuals to shape the views and perceptions of Canadians.

A political scientist, educator and prolific author, Laxer is a regular commentator on current national and global issues as they relate to Canadian interests, and frequently writes opinion pieces in major newspapers and periodicals. His current interests focus on empires past and present, Canada’s mission in Afghanistan, and the future world oil industry.

Laxer’s most recent books include Stalking the Elephant: My Discovery of America (2001), The Border : Canada, the U.S. and Dispatches from the 49th Parallel (2003), his childhood memoir entitled Red Diaper Baby: A Boyhood in the Age of McCarthyism (2004), and The Acadians: In Search of a Homeland (2006).

Hope to see you there!

The Challis Resource Library celebrates it’s 40th!

Proper etiquette dictates that rubies are both the traditional and modern gift to present for a 40th anniversary celebration. Instead, the library received a diamond. Well, Emily Post may not have approved of the gift we received, but our Director, Laraine Tapak, was more than willing to forgive the faux pas. You see, our diamond wasn’t just any diamond, in fact, it was even more valuable (to us) than the Hope. Ours was Diamond and Schmitt Architects – retained to develop drawings for a renovated Library Learning Commons. And if diamonds are a girl’s best friend, well DeBeers move over because we just made a new one. The announcement came in late February that the project for the major library renovation was a go, and that the planning, renovation and move was to be completed by the end of August. The clock immediately began ticking.

After much debate, many a late night~early morning, too much coffee, a handful of Tylenol, and a trip or two back to the drawing board, the plans are close to final. The work is scheduled to begin immediately after classes end this May. The library will remain in its current central location as it symbolically fits into a bigger college vision for a state-of-the-art, open learning space “Commons.” Plans to-date show the renovated library on two levels and divided into three major zones- a Quiet Zone, a not-so-quiet Social Zone and finally, a Group Study zone. Other staff favourites include a new information literacy/teaching classroom fully equipped with laptops, new shelving and furniture, group study rooms and most importantly light. Yes, three of the four walls will be comprised of glass. Beautiful open, reflective glass. As a result, we will be forced to say goodbye to our well-worn 60’s “learning bunker” look. A look that has raised many an eyebrow and elicited many a comment from incoming faculty and students during the last twenty plus years. Retro-chic or not, brick, brown, orange and blue just don’t convey state-of-the-art facility. Who says 40 is too young for surgery?

Needless to say, this summer will be interesting and might be comparable to a “While You Were Out” episode. Again, everything must be completed before the students return in September, and we haven’t even ordered the shelving… Always the optimist - we are scheduled in late August to host our annual Start Smart program in the new teaching classroom. Wish us luck and we’ll let you know how it all goes down in the next issue…

Finally, etiquette also dictates, the beverage of choice for this particular celebration, a birthday, and a makeover, is champagne. And I’m sure we’ll be much needing and raising a glass or two in the fall for our grand opening.

Cheers from Confederation

posted on behalf of Lisa Jack

Sophia Apostol has accepted a contract position as Information Services Librarian at Seneca College, Seneca@York Campus.  Sophia’s past library experience includes working as the Eastern Canada Sales Manager for YBP Library Services, a co-op position with the University of Guelph, and a co-op position with the Ministry of Forests in Victoria, B.C.  Sophia graduated from Western in December 2005 where she coordinated the Mentorship Program initiative.

Marg Sloan has been appointed as a Research & Instructional Services Librarian in The D.B. Weldon Library, effective April 2nd, 2007. Marg received an Honors BA in Sociology and her MLIS degree from Western; her subject background will bring much needed support to the Social Science faculty, students and staff served by Weldon. With a long history working with Western Libraries - most recently as the Clinical Outreach Librarian in the Taylor Library - Marg is already fully immersed in the culture of Western Libraries.

Kim McPhee has been appointed as a Research & Instructional Services Librarian in The D.B. Weldon Library, effective April 2nd, 2007. Kim received an Honors BA in Psychology, a BEd and a MLIS degree from Western. Kim has had prior experience working with the Research & Instructional Services team at Weldon as a co-op student. Kim’s previous professional experiences are broad, including various teaching and librarian roles.

Bruce Fyfe has been appointed as a Research & Instructional Services Librarian (term appointment) in The D.B. Weldon Library, effective April 2nd, 2007. Bruce received his BA and MA (both in Political Science) as well as a MLIS degree from Western. Though Bruce is new to the profession of academic librarianship, his experience as a graduate student and also as a Manager of The Grad Club on campus has provided him with a unique and thorough understanding of campus culture.

Sandra Hodgson has been appointed to a contract position in Western Archives to address backlogged work associated with Leaders in Learning, the on-line listing of the publications of faculty and staff.  Sandra is a recent Western MLIS graduate.
Margaret Martin Gardiner
Western Libraries