Fulbright Scholar Jill Woelfer will be speaking at Vancouver Public Library next week on her research into homeless youth and library use. Jill is a PhD student at the University of Washington, where her research has focused on the role of information systems and technologies in the lives of homeless young people in Vancouver and Seattle. Jill spent her Fulbright year in Vancouver at the UBC iSchool, in support of her research into the activities of Vancouver youth. She is speaking on Tuesday, November 20, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. In her one-hour talk, she will represent the results of her findings as it pertains to Vancouver and specifically, Vancouver Public Library. Aimed at VPL staff, the talk has been opened to the public. Please RSVP to debra.mcgerrigle@vpl.ca, indicating which presentation you wish to attend. You can read more about Jill and her work at http://dub.washington.edu/people/jill-woelfer.
Bralorne Reading Room (SLAIS Lounge) and SLAIS Gallery – November 14 and 15 (All Students)
The Bralorne Reading room (SLAIS Lounge) and SLAIS Gallery will have large poster boards displaying faculty and student research posters to celebrate the construction of the Roberta F. Greig Research Laboratory on November 14 and 15. Tables and chairs will be moved around causing limited areas for study. You are welcome to use the Kitimat Lab in case you need to study. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.
Friday Fun Post (All Students)
Some interesting and entertaining links:
Tablet proliferation is driving e-reader sales down. Way, WAY down: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/28/ereaders-future-tablets_n_2035666.html
Square Trade performs drop tests and water tests on the iPad 3, Nexus 7 and iPad Mini: http://youtu.be/HbHomq4QwIk (note: Square Trade is a product protection firm – ‘nuff said, but still fun to watch!)
Disney buys LucasFilms, and instantly affects Darth Vader’s holiday plans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUbH1SEsqiE&feature=b-mv
Ten Geeky Gadgets (it says that librarians will love, but these will appeal to all iSchoolers!):
http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2012/ten-geeky-gadgets-librarians-will-love/
How Is Facebook Addiction Affecting Our Minds? Awesome infographic from Mashable: http://mashable.com/2012/11/03/facebook-addiction/
Finally, an entertaining Public Service Announcement called Follow the Frog: http://boingboing.net/2012/10/24/an-epic-nonprofit-psa-follo.html
Interviewing + Your next Career Move (All Students)
Both sessions take place in the Graduate Student Centre, 6371 Crescent Road.
Registration is now open for:
Interviews with Impact
Wednesday, Nov 14th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
For a complete session description, please visit http://www.grad.ubc.ca/about-us/events/7720-gps-career-services-workshop-interviews-impact . You may register at: https://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1f64
Your Next Career Move: It Starts With You!
Friday, Nov 16th, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
For a complete session description, please visit http://www.grad.ubc.ca/about-us/events/7783-gps-life-career-series-your-next-career-move-it-starts-you . You may register at: https://www.surveyfeedback.ca/surveys/wsb.dll/s/1g1f65
Call for Proposals: BC Library Conference 2013 (MLIS, DUAL, PhD)
The BC Libraries Conference is May 9th to 11th, 2013 at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond BC. The 2013 theme is “Are We There Yet?” With all the discussion about change and transition in the library community these days we hope that this theme lets us poke a bit of fun at ourselves and at the same time lets us take some risks and speculate about what the future brings.
In 2013 we are planning on some Saturday sessions that are 45 minutes long. In the past sessions have usually been 75 minutes in length.
The 45 minute sessions will give us an opportunity to feature more sessions that are “TED Talk” in nature. Our hope is that an individual, or perhaps two people, will present on ideas that are still in the development stage or on programs and service that are new to the library community. The hope is that by focusing on the beginning of an idea or plan there will be lots of energy and speculation about where things might go. We think these sessions will help us meet the overwhelming response from the survey saying that people want to hear about innovative, creative and original ideas…and not necessarily about what has been done.
Survey responses also indicate that members are interested in hearing people who are not directly connected to the library community, but who are grappling with similar ideas, services and transitions. If you know someone, or an organization, that is engaged in work or approaches that may be interesting to the library community, perhaps approach them and encourage them to submit a proposal. Or email me the information and I will take the suggestion to the Program Planning Committee to pursue and follow up with the contact.
We hope that session proposals will consider the theme “Are We There Yet?” and perhaps talk about some of the changes libraries are experiencing, what libraries are evolving in to, what we are all learning in the process, and what we want to learn now and in the future. Feel free to be speculative, and free to share best practices. Be daring, take a risk and share your thoughts, ideas and wonderment about the road ahead.
Proposals are due by December 11th, 2012.
To submit a proposal for the 2013 British Columbia Library Conference please access the form here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BCLC2013
Faculty, Students Alumni Featured in the News
Several members of our UBC iSchool community have been making the news lately. Faculty member Victoria Lemieux is featured for her work in visual analytics in the current issue of Innovations, the newsletter of the UBC Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Sciences. The article is titled “Tools for Thought: Using Visual Analytics to Gain Insight into the Deluge of Data,” by Mari-Lou Rowley.
An paper written for LIBR 504 Management has been published as a peer-reviewed article in the Fall 2012 issue of PNLA Quarterly. Sarah Fallik, Devin Soper and Kaitlyn Sparks wrote “Green Libraries on the Cheap,” examining inexpensive but effective measures resulting in greener libraries. Sarah completed her MLIS requirements over the summer and will be conferred her degree in November, while Devin and Kaitlyn are in their final year of study in the MLIS program. PNLA Quarterly is the official publication of the Pacific Northwest Library Association.
Finally, Kevin Read, who completed his Dual MAS/MLIS program this summer and will be conferred his degrees at Convocation later this month, is featured as one of the four 2012-13 Associate Fellows who have joined the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, MD. The highly competitive program prepares information professionals for future leadership roles in health sciences libraries and in health services research.
Ubyssey Article Examines Library’s Changing Role
UBC’s student newspaper, The Ubyssey, takes a look at how the UBC Library is changing as it transforms into a collaborative learning and research space. The article, “Turning a Page: The Changing Role of the University Library,” examines a number of issues that are driving the changes, from increasing pressures for study space and a recognition that print resources are languishing to soaring demand for electronic resources.
Ph.D. Information Session For Master’s Students (All Programs)
Have you considered doing a Ph.D. in the future? Are you curious about what it would mean to be a doctoral student at SLAIS? What can you expect in terms of funding and research?
Join us for an informal information session about the PhD program in library, archival and information studies at UBC. Edie Rasmussen, chair of the Doctoral Studies Committee, and Rick Kopak, who teaches in the doctoral program, will be on hand to answer questions and discuss why you might want to take your studies at SLAIS to the next level. Students from all programs and at any year level are welcome.
Monday November 19
11-11:45 a.m.
Trail Room
FIREtalks: Join the interdisciplinary conversation – proposal submissions (All Students)
UBC Research Commons invites you to submit your proposals for 5 minute presentations for the following upcoming FIRE Talks:
Sustainable Practices: 29th of November at 4:00 pm
Submit Proposals by: 15th of November 2012
Join the Discussion: http://elred.library.ubc.ca/libs/dashboard/view/3327
We all have a responsibility to promote a sustainable society for future generations, but how do we promote it through human rights or cultural continuity? Do corporate governance, or environmental conscientiousness support sustainability? As graduate students, the opportunities to engage in such initiatives are many; so, we want to hear about your experiences and opinions about sustainable practices. What do you have to say about sustainable practices?
Care and Healing: 16th of January at 5:00 pm
Submit Proposals by: 2nd of January 2013
Join the Discussion:
Can we only heal individuals or is possible to heal entire cultures? Are scientific and holistic approaches to care and healing necessarily mutually exclusive? Is preventive always better than restorative care? As graduate students, many of us are involved in care and healing, and we can think about these terms in many different ways. Present your ideas, research or opinions at the first FIRE Talk of 2013!
Submit your proposals for any of these talks at:
http://koerner.library.ubc.ca/services/research-commons/fire-talks/proposal-submission-form/
Announcement: Roberta F. Greig Research Laboratory – Wednesday, November 14th (All Students)
SLAIS Students are invited to celebrate the construction of the Roberta F. Greig Research Laboratory.
Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Time: 11:15 am – 1:15 pm
Location: SLAIS Gallery in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Suite 470, 1961 East Mall
Pizza and Pop will be provided.
Roberta F. Greig Research Laboratory will serve as an area for faculty and students to conduct research activities using modern audio-visual and computer equipment. Please come and join us to see posters on current SLAIS/iSchool research.
