President's Report

President

 

It has been a very interesting year serving APLA as your President. My focus has been primarily in three areas: advocacy, member initiatives and collaboration building. The resulting accomplishments could not have been achieved without the tireless dedication of your APLA executive. These volunteers have a true passion for the profession and for “giving back.”  I would also like to acknowledge Memorial University and its unwavering supporting of my volunteer work with APLA. They have been very supportive over the past year.

 

 

Libraries and Librarianship have never stopped changing. Issues like copyright, digital rights management and even the governance of THE Canadian library have impacted our profession over the past year. On behalf of its members, APLA has submitted letters to government on the issue of Bill C-61 (copyright), the CRTC (net neutrality and the internet) and finally the NRC (cuts to CISTI.) Issues such as these will continue to arise and members are encouraged to bring them to the attention of the executive. As the voice of the region for library professionals, it is critical that APLA work with its members and other associations, like CLA, ASTED and CARL to form a united voice.

 

APLA has also advocated fundraising for libraries in less developed countries. Today, Our Grow a Library Committee is supporting the work of CODE and has adopted a library in Ethiopia.  The committee, convened by Donna Bourne-Tyson will be very actively fundraising throughout the APLA Conference and all APLA members are encouraged to participate in this great initiative. For more information, check out the Grow a Library link on the APLA website. http://apla.ca/grow.

 

 

We have had a very successful first “electronic” year with the Bulletin. This move is good for the environment, supportive of open source publishing and fiscally beneficial to APLA’s bottom line. I would like to thank Donna Bourne-Tyson (2007/2008 APLA President) for her vision and leadership that saw us transition from paper to electronic. It literally saved our bacon. And we now have gone from paper to a fabulous online, open source publication. I would also like to Stacey Penney and Dianne Taylor Harding, our previous Bulletin editors, who shouldered the transition and made it all work. Our new editors Ian Gibson and Jane Duffy are doing a great job getting the Bulletin secured in its electronic form. Finally, I would also like to thank Ruth Cordes for her tireless work as Advertising Editor. Ruth secured all advertisers over to the electronic format and handed the reins over to Kelli Wooshue.

At last year’s OGM, I indicated my desire to create new professional opportunities for APLA members. This year, saw the creation of a 2009 conference registration grant for library support staff. This grant was very well received by the membership and hopefully will become an annual award.

 

The APLA Executive allocated $400 to support the Interest Group convenors with professional development opportunities.  This allocation has been very well received and hopefully will spark more interest with the IGs.

 

 

APLA supported the acquisition of water bottles to help promote the association at functions hosted or supported by APLA. These lovely water bottles have the logo, the name and the website address for APLA predominantly displayed. Not only do they get the message out and promote APLA, they are also environmentally friendly.

 

 

This year marked a significant change for the APLA website. Hardware age began to create issues for our server housed at Mount Saint Vincent University and it was time to move our website to a new home. The University of Prince Edward Island graciously agreed to serve as host. I would like to thank both institutions for their support. Stan Orlov also stepped down as our website administrator and on behalf of APLA I would like to acknowledge and thank Stan for all his work over the years. Larry Tweed joins us as our new administrator and he is doing a tremendous job. The new content management system for the website is Drupal and it has given us a much needed facelift. Our website is now modern, hip and most certainly happening!

 

 

The APLA Conference marks a time for members to come together, renew old friendships, and discuss library issues.  I would like to thanks this year’s conference Committee, chaired by Debbie Costello. The program looks fabulous and I know the conference venue will be great. I would also like to thank the 2010 Conference Committee for their work. Terry Nikkel and his team are working hard already to make sure the conference in St. John is well planned. And believe it or not, plans for the 2011 conference in St. John’s have already started. Erin Alcock will be APLA’s conference convenor for that conference.

 

Organizing a conference for over 200 delegates (not counting vendors) is a huge undertaking! Many thanks to everyone for helping with this critical member benefit!

 

One of the nicest things about being involved with the APLA Executive is the recognition of individuals within our association who make a difference. Many awards are announced at the APLA Conference and since my report first appears in the Pre-Conference Bulletin, I won’t give the winners’ names away. Come to the OGM and the Merit Award Banquet at the Conference to hear this year’s winners.  

 

I would like to thank all the Committees for helping APLA recognize worthy events and individuals.

 

 

As a regional association, APLA has a responsibility to work with other provincial associations within the Atlantic Provinces on matters of interest. The NSLA approached APLA some time ago about a joint membership. This has since expanded to the NSLTA and discussions with NLLA. Each association takes a small reduction in the membership fee and the member gets the benefits of both associations. This collaboration is good for the entire region. Further discussion regarding these joint memberships will occur at the OGM. 

 

 

The Partnership is the informal association of provincial and territorial library associations. As APLA President, I attended two Partnership meetings. When this group of association Presidents, Vice Presidents and Executive Directors get together, things happen - things that have enabled every library within the country to have access to critical professional development tools.  This has included the now famous Education Institute. This simple idea of pushing teleconference training sessions to the desk of the learner has been very popular since its inception. The APLA Continuing Education Committee, chaired by Erin Alcock, contributes sessions to this program. I encourage all APLA members to think about what professional development topics they would like covered by the EI. I would also like to encourage APLA members to consider presenting a session with the EI. There are many great ideas coming out of the Atlantic region.  

         

The Partnership has also provided an open source, peer reviewed journal entitled the Canadian Journal of Library and Information Practice and Research. APLA’s very own Jennifer Richard has been instrumental in the creation of this journal and serves as the Journal’s Chief Editor. http://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/perj/

 

A new initiative underway with the Partnership is a certification pilot. I sat on the Committee formed to review the feasibility of such a program and the Partnership enthusiastically endorsed moving forward. It is now a pilot within the Library Association of Alberta. Based on the model used in Australia, this is a portfolio based program which will hopefully be available to the country within the year.

 

Spring marks the change in the APLA Executive. I would like to extend a hearty APLA welcome to Sarah Kilfoil, incoming VP New Brunswick, Ann Smith, incoming VP Membership and Sarah Gladwell, incoming VP/President Elect. On behalf of APLA, I would like to thank outgoing executive members including Ruthmary McPherson, outgoing VP Membership, Nadine Goguen, outgoing VP New Brunswick, Secretary Lynn Somers and Past President Donna Bourne-Tyson.

 

 

This was a transition year for APLA. We have accomplished many things but there is much more to do especially in the areas of recruitment and professional development initiatives.  President Moses will take the Association forward. I know his energy and enthusiasm will produce great things. Along with the rest of the 2009/2010 APLA Executive, it should be a great year!

 

Many thanks for allowing me the opportunity to give back to the profession as your President!

Mille mercis de m’avoir accordé l’occasion de redonner à notre profession en tant que présidente !

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Susan Cleyle

APLA President 2008/2009