SLAte November 2014

The Newsletter of the Saskatchewan Library Association
Issue Eight
November 1, 2014

In this issue:

Letter from the President
Board News
Program News
For your information
Save the date

A Letter from the President

I don't know about your workplace, but Saskatchewan Library Week where I work was like rock 'n' roll high school. Something cool, edgy, and interactive was happening every day, in the library and online, and people loved it. From places across the Province, I also saw some great book spine poetry via social networking. It was vibrant and fun. Thank you for all your work to make Saskatchewan Library Week the great event that it is, and to bring attention to the wonderful things we do every day.

From one party, we head straight into the next. Coming up soon will be the Saskatchewan Libraries Happy Hour - library folks socializing and networking everywhere in Saskatchewan at the same time - 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, November 6th. I hope you can join us at one of the Happy Hour locations to swap ideas, have a snack, and raise a glass. To make it even more fun and capitalize on our synchronicity, feel free to send me a text message during the party (306.290.9509) or send one to a friend in another community. Or tweet about it! Whether you're in a Happy Hour location, or at your own house, or working the night-shift at the library, we can all connect live and have a good laugh. Let's make it a truly Province-wide event, whether we are in the same room or not.

It has occurred to me that as President, I get the opportunity to tell you what I am doing and what the Board is doing on a regular basis. What I miss, though, is hearing what you are doing. Here's my challenge: take five minutes and send me a message telling me about one great thing going on in your library (gwen.m.schmidt@gmail.com). Next time I write a newsletter message, I will gather up all the great things I heard and crow about you proudly.

Respectfully submitted

Gwen M. Schmidt

Board News

Saskatchewan Libraries Happy Hour

The SLA Board will be hosting member receptions in Regina, Saskatoon,Prince Albert and Creighton on Thursday November 6, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Members are invited to attend and encouraged to bring along a potential new member that might like to meet some members. Please see the attached poster Appies will be provided, beverages on your nickel!

For more information, please contact slaexdir@sasktel.net or call Judy, SLA Executive Director, 306-780-9413.

Program News

Saskatchewan Library Week October 19-25th 2014

Part 1

Who would have guessed that a provincial poetry contest would be so much fun and so well received. With more than 700 entries so far, the contest will be very challenging to judge. The entries are coming fast and furious, and from every part of Saskatchewan, every age group and every type of library! We are especially thrilled to receive so many entries from school children and that so many classrooms have become involved.

For French speaking patrons, former SLA President Robert Thomas created his own poem with Gaetan Benoit from Radio-Canada

The launch for SLW was held in Regina on October 21st at the Civic Museum of Regina and included a Celebrity Book Spine Poetry contest. Celebrity Poets included MLA Russ Marchuk, Marian Donnelly from SaskCulture, Regina City Councillor Sharron Bryce, Raquel Fletcher from Global Regina and CTV's Carey Smith. Poems were created using books from the Museum Library. A winner was determined by judges Leslie Gosselin representing our contest sponsor SaskEnergy, and Judith Krause, Poet Laureate of Saskatchewan. Marian Donnelly was declared the winner!

Two of the Celebrity Poems are printed below:

What's in a name?
The nation makers

Cornerstones
Heroes of the prairies

Canada's century

The most respectable place in the territory
Love this land
Dawn across Canada
Promise of Eden.

By Councillor Sharon Bryce

Still the wind blows
Long ago today
Fifty mighty men... and mighty women

Great chiefs and mighty hunters
The great buffalo hunt
Uphill all the way
The house is not a home

Justice must be done
The great golden plain
Entrusted to my care
As long as the sun shines and the wind blows

By Marian Donnelly

The winning poem

For Your Information

For School Libraries:

Lots of opportunities for your own PD. SSLA presents Digital Badging Read more
The Fall 2014 issue of School Libraries in Canada is now available. Focusing on the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, this issue includes an outline of extensive teaching resources from the Canadian War Museum, articles on photography in the First World War from Katherine Stauble of the National Gallery of Canada and on children's books about war from Leslie McGrath of the Toronto Public Library.

Other News:

Science Literacy Week: Read more
The new Feliciter is available. Read more
WILU Call for proposals: Read more
CLA Call for volunteers: Read more
Call for Nominations: NELI Read more
Call for Nominations: CLA Advancement of Intellectual Freedom in Canada Award Read more
The Vatican Library digitizes more than 4000 Ancient Manuscripts. Read more
The Education Institute (EI) has a full calendar of 10 sessions in November. Please check the catalogue and register. On November 20 a session entitled

Opening Doors: Developing Services for Newcomers may be of interest. Remember if you register for a session and can't attend, EI will send you a link to the archived copy to view at a later time. Note that SLA is a Partnership Member when registering.

SLA is Seeking a Representative for the Multitype Library Board

SLA is calling for nominations for a new representative to join the Multitype Library Board (MLB) for a two-year term. The SLA Board will select three names from the nominations to forward to the Minister of Education, who will then select the representative.

If you are interested you must:

be a member in good standing (that is paid up membership)
be willing to consult with the SLA Board on issues relevant to the library sector
be willing and able to attend 3-4 MLB board meetings a year (Monday to Friday)
be able to travel to Regina and /or Saskatoon for MLB board meetings
submit a short resume along with your contact information
submit your self- nomination by November 12, 2014 at noon to slaexdir@sasktel.net

The MLB, established under The Libraries Cooperation Act, provides a forum in which representatives from all types of libraries can discuss ways to co-operate and enhance library services. The MLB's vision is to develop a multitype library system in Saskatchewan in which post-secondary libraries, education libraries, public libraries, school libraries, specialized libraries, archives, and other information providers co-operate to maximize opportunities and resources. Find out more about MLB at http://www.lib.sk.ca/Multitype-Library-Board

Thank you for considering assuming this important role for the Saskatchewan Library Association. Our appreciation is extended to Michael Shires who is completing two terms in this role.

Nomination Information

Name
Address (work)

Phone (work)

Email (work)

Organization/Employer

Short Resume (library work and involvement; focus on relevant issues)

News From the University of Saskatchewan

The University Library at the University of Saskatchewan is pleased to announce Ms. Jessica Generoux as the University Library's inaugural Aboriginal Intern. Read more

Save the Date!

The Saskatchewan Library Association will be having its annual conference May 7 to 9, 2015 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Regina, Saskatchewan. Exhibitors are invited to attend on Friday, May 8. The conference prospectus will be sent later this fall with details about the day's activities and opportunities for exhibitors. Your valued contribution and participation in our conference is welcomed.

Sincerely,

Michael Shires

Chair, Exhibits Committee, 2015 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference Planning Committee

slavp_mp@sasktel.net

The 2015 Mary Donaldson Memorial Lecture will be delivered at 7 p.m. May 7, 2015 by Gabriel Scrimshaw. Read more

Watch for more details as they become available