News from Newfoundland and Labrador
Submitted by Louise McGillis
St. John’s Public Library Town Hall Meeting
Submitted by A.A. Cameron
One phase of the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries’ present Review of Library Service in St. John’s is a stakeholder consultation. The Review’s purpose is to provide recommendations for service enhancements that could be implemented within the current funding limits, and additional changes that could be achieved if increased funding was available. To determine the public’s needs and thoughts, a number of methods have been used including an in-house and a community survey, individual interviews, focus groups, and a public or ‘town hall’ meeting held on 1 December in City Hall.
Library management consultant Sandy Cameron, who is conducting the Review, facilitated the meeting attended by some 50 people. He explained the purpose: to provide a forum for all interested residents to bring to the Review their ideas on public libraries in the City, and to hear others’ thoughts. All comments were noted for study and summary in the review document. The scheduled completion date is spring 2009 - in time to present the findings to the Provincial Library Board for consideration at its annual meeting.
The great majority of the participants were regular library users and approximately half were familiar with library services in other cities and provinces. The most common needs expressed were for a downtown library and for improvements to the A.C. Hunter (Main) library, but commentary and suggestions were wide-ranging. An increased role in the literacy movement (traditional and information literacy), as well as the recognition of the essential importance of reading to help society to maintain broad-based comprehension of complicated issues were reinforced by the contributions of two speakers with learning disabilities. Their courage in bringing their needs forward was appreciated. The public library’s social and socializing role for all, from pre-schoolers to seniors, was noted, as was its support of the arts, small businesses, and informal and formal education. In that regard the need for longer hours, the desire for volunteer opportunities, and the advisability of putting the deep resources of the professional librarians to maximum use were also expressed.
The need for improved budgets for the library came up frequently, as did the corresponding roles of the Board and of the City. There was agreement among those present that social pressure on all levels of government was wanted. There was some skepticism expressed about the effectiveness of “yet another study” but Cameron was confident that there was a strong desire at the management level to make library services more responsive to users. This was supported by the St. John’s Board Chair, Alan Goodridge in his summary.
Final questions arose regarding the accessibility of the consultant’s report. Cameron could not be explicit but was certain that a Review document would be made publicly available in some form. He thanked those present, whose numbers may not have been great but whose level of participation and thoughtfulness had exceeded expectation.
Newfoundland Public Libraries
With files from Patricia Parsons
A new website committee has been formed to create a more user-friendly and welcoming online presence. The committee's work will be ongoing so check back often to see changes. The web address is: http://www.nlpl.ca/
The Corner Brook Public Library has been very busy expanding its program / event offerings. Events recently held include a "Rock Around the Christmas Tree Party"; a visit from children's author Rukhsana Khan and participation in the
"2009 Family Literacy Day - Robert Munsch World Record Event". In January, the library launched its afterschool movie program and plans are in the works for a library related Winter Carnival event, a Super Hero Day and activities to celebrate the Freedom to Read week.
The St. John's Public Libraries has launched a "Book Club to Go Kit" and currently has over 30 kits for users to check out. The program has been up and running for two months and is already proving extremely popular with library users.
Public Libraries in Central Division are currently hosting a variety of special events and programs to help patrons while away the winter blues! Many branches participated in Family Literacy Day by holding local celebrity readings, story telling sessions, literacy game shows, "book nic's" (you bring food for the mind!) and Cyber Camps. Events were well attended in all locations.
Central Division Library Board is planning some training for volunteer trustees, as a followup to that held for library staff in September 2008.
Pat Parsons, Regional Manager, says: "The Provincial Library Board has a training plan in place to ensure that all staff and volunteer library board members receive adequate training in the next 2-3 years. Central Division was fortunate to hold the first staff conference in the Fall of 2008, and next October we will hold another one for our local board trustees.
Funding was approved for many capital needs for Central Division Libraries, and several branches are receiving an " extreme makeover" - new carpet, shelving, furniture, interior painting and exterior signage". Parsons says, "It's a good year for Central Division Libraries".
Memorial University of Newfoundland Libraries
Appointments
Alison Farrell has been appointed as the new Public Services Librarian at the Health Sciences Library and Erin Alcock has been appointed as the Science Research Liaison Librarian (Biological Sciences) at the Queen Elizabeth II Library. Patrick Warner returned from sabbatical in January and has taken up the position of Special Collections Librarian.
Retirements
Michael Lonardo, a collections librarian at the Queen Elizabeth II Library who started with Memorial in 1982, will be retiring at the end of April. The Information Services Division of the QEII Library will be losing two long serving Reference Librarians this year. Both Karen Lippold, who joined Memorial in 1973 and Bernie Conran, who joined Memorial in 1980, will be retiring this year, Bernie in May and Karen in early September.
First Space Gallery at the QEII Library
"All Night Long" featuring works of the Class of 2008, Visual Arts Department, Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, MUN, Corner Brook will be on display from January
9 to April 22, 2009. In addition to this exhibit, later this month First
Space will be showing some of the work from MUN's Artist-In-Residence, Peter Wilkins.
