InsideOCULA

Dave Hudson from the University of Guelph-Humber was the winner of the iPod Nano!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the blog during Super Conference 2008.

McGuinty Government Supports Students And A Strong Economy TORONTO — Ontario is investing in a new library and student centre at Ryerson University. The new Student Learning Centre will feature the new technologies and tools students need to help Ontario compete globally. Ontario will invest $45 million in the project. “Ontario’s highly skilled people make our province one of the best places in the world to invest,” said Premier McGuinty. “By investing in the skills and knowledge of students at Ryerson and across Ontario, we can help Ontario compete and win.” This project is part of the $1.4-billion infrastructure investment outlined in the government’s fall economic statement. The investment will help improve Ontario’s competitiveness and stimulate job creation and economic growth. “Ryerson’s new student centre is a perfect fit for this neighbourhood — it will give the school an exciting gateway to Yonge Street and help revitalize Toronto,” said Toronto Centre MPP George Smitherman. Ryerson’s new student centre will be located at the corner of Yonge and Gould Streets. Once built, the new centre could help more students attend the university. The demand for first-year spots at Ryerson is increasing faster than the provincial average. More than 30,000 students attend Ryerson in over 95 PhD, master’s and undergraduate programs.

It’s election time and OCULA is looking to fill one Councillor-at-Large position. You should receive your ballots in the mail soon, in the meantime please see information about the candidates below.

**Remember to submit your ballot by January 22, 2008!**

Anne Fullerton, University of Waterloo
I have been a frequent supporter of OCULA since 1992 as a member, session convenor and a presenter on topics from information literacy to library space planning. I have been gratfeful for the high quality of OCULA programing for Super Conference and OCULA’s ongoing contact with the membership. I want to give back to the organization and a council position would be a satisfying way to do this. I have had committee experience with WILU and the Science and Technology section of ACRL. I am especially interested in our role and support for new Librarians as well as Librarians without North American credentials.

Gina Matesic, Wilfrid Laurier University
I have been a librarian for over 8 years, most recently as the first Head of the new Social Work Library at Wilfrid Laurier University. Before this, I worked for more than 2 years at the University of Guelph-Humber as Reference and Instruction Librarian. I have been involved in other diverse and challenging library areas such as: virtual reference, distance education, IL to adult learners, evidence-based practice and learning commons experiences.
I hope to enhance learning and mentoring opportunities for librarians at all stages of their careers through my involvement with OCULA.

Marcia Salmon, York University Libraries
Before earning my MLIS from the University of Western Ontario in 2001, I earned an Honours BSc. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Toronto and a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Sheridan College. I have a total of 6 years experience as an academic librarian – one year as a Cataloguing Policy Librarian at McMaster University and 5 years at York University. At the present, I am the Serials and Electronic Resources Cataloguing Librarian at York University Libraries. Currently, I am the York University Library representative for communicating “People News” and “Around the Province” news to OCULA. I also write and edit news articles about York University Libraries for the “Spotlight on Ontario” column of Access OLA magazine. It is my hope that the members of the OCULA will elect me for the Councillor At Large position.

Lynne Serviss, Mohawk College
I am Information Services Librarian at Mohawk College. Prior to commencing my position at Mohawk I worked as a Liaison Librarian at the University of Victoria and as an Information Services Librarian at Seneca@York in Toronto. As a new librarian I bring a fresh and energetic perspective to OCULA as well as experience working both in college and university environments. I am committed to being an active and dedicated voice for OCULA.

Danielle Winn,University of Windsor
I am an Information Literacy Librarian at the Leddy Library, University of Windsor. I wish to work as part of the OCULA council as a Councillor-at-Large in order to continue my strong record of service to the profession. I am a proud alumnus of FIMS at The University of Western Ontario. As a student there, I was Chair of the Student Council, Communications Director for the Student Chapter of the Canadian Library Association, reviewer for Library Student Journal, and a regular contributor to Re: Generations- a blog designed to reach out to new academic librarians.

Shuzhen Zhao, University of Windsor
I am a librarian at the University of Windsor. I earned my MLIS and MEd at the University of Western Ontario and Brandon University. I have many years working experience in academic libraries in China, US, and Canada. As a librarian, I would like to integrate best practices learned from working in different institutions into my current work environment. As I know, OCULA provides an opportunity for academic librarians, if I can be a council member; I think I will have a great opportunity to meet librarians. I will learn more from them and contribute my expertise as well. Please consider my application, if I can join this council, I will make great efforts to do a good job for OCULA and librarians in Ontario.

The Ontario College and University Library Association is seeking nominations for the following two positions on its Council:

1. Vice President/President Elect. This is a three year term serving in the following roles: Year 1 2008: VP/President Elect Year 2 2009: President Year 3 2010: Past President
2. One Councillor-at-Large (Three year term: 2008/2009/2010)

Get involved–make a difference!

Being part of OCULA Council provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your professional expertise and experience by working with your colleagues on issues that matter to college and university librarians in Ontario and beyond. It’s also a great way to meet, network and socialize with other library professionals.

Come join us! Or, if you have a colleague in mind for either position please let us know.

Application forms can be accessed and submitted online at:
http://www.accessola.com/ocula/bins/content_page.asp?cid=61-466

***** DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15, 2007 *****

Nominees must be OCULA members in good standing.

OCULA Council represents the college and university libraries in Ontario. Councillors are elected by OCULA members by a mail-in ballot.

If you have any questions about these positions, or the role of OCULA and the Ontario Library Association, please don’t hesitate to contact Don Kinder or Cynthia Williamson through the contact information below.

For more information on OCULA, or to access its meeting minutes, newletter and blog, please visit us at:
www.accessola.com/ocula/bins/index.asp

Thank you–we look forward to hearing from you.

Don Kinder
OCULA President, 2007
dkinder@ryerson.ca 416-979-5000, ext. 6899

Cynthia Williamson
OCULA Vice President/President Elect, 2007 (President 2008)
cynthia.williamson@mohawkcollege.ca 905-575-1212 ext. 3129

Embedded: Library Experiences Deep Within the Trenches of Course Management Systems(CMS)

Monday, March 19, 2007
Algonquin College, Ottawa
Woodroffe Campus, Room T-102B-C

Registration fee: $15 + GST
register via the OLA website: www.accessola.com

Description:
Libraries are flexing their mental muscle and going where the students are. This can follow such paths as joining a project team outside of the library or taking advantage of the sexy new media available, such as the ipod, cell phone and IM to reach the student patron. With Course Management software such as Blackboard, ANGEL and WebCT being so ubiquitous it was a sensible next step for the library to explore this option as well. After all, online learners need libraries too!

Participants will enter into a discussion of the different initiatives libraries are implementing with regard to CMS. This discussion will include an overview of the ways and means library services are entering CMS; from librarians embedded in courses as teaching assistants, to the offering of library services such as ILL. Following this we will hear from those who are currently embedded and their experiences with the CMS and with faculty.

Speakers:

- Laura E. Briggs – Librarian, University of Waterloo

- Jennifer Peters-Lise – Librarian, Seneca College

- Flavia Renon – Librarian, Carleton University

A joint presentation of Algonquin College’s Department of Learning and Training Services (LTS) and OCULA (Ontario College and University Library Association).