LLLLLETTERETTERETTERETTERETTER O O O O OFFFFF T T T T THEHEHEHEHE L L L L LAAAAAAAAAA Issue Number 149Winter 2006

Plus:Alberta Beach Wins Last Word Contest

LAA Approves New Interest Group

PAWS for a Story®: Doggone GoodReading Fun!

Finding Yourself, Finding Your Voice:Life at a Leadership Institute

Lake Superior State UniversityBanished Words List

Red DeeUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary

Red Deer College Participatesin Confluence Campus Projectp.4

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 i

The official printer of the Letter of the LAA is Econolith Press, Calgary, Alberta.

ISSUE NUMBER 149 SSUE NUMBER 149 SSUE NUMBER 149 SSUE NUMBER 149 SSUE NUMBER 149 Winter 2006Winter 2006Winter 2006Winter 2006Winter 2006 ISSN 0705-4890 ISSN 0705-4890 ISSN 0705-4890 ISSN 0705-4890 ISSN 0705-4890

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTALIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTALIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTALIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTALIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA80 Baker Cres. NW, Calgary, AB T2L 1R4Phone: 403/284-5818 FAX: 403/282-6646

Outside Calgary, call toll-free 1-877-522-5550http://www.laa.ab.ca

People P People P People .............................................................................................. 1

From the President's Desk ................................................................................................. 2

From the Executive Director .............................................................................................. 3

Red Deer College Participates in Unique New Partnership ............................................... 4

Association NewsThe "Smile" Parf of @ your service ......................................................................... 5LAA Approves New Interest Group .......................................................................... 62006 PNLA Conference Promises to be "Far Out!" ................................................. 7February 15 next deadline for Continuing Education Grant Applications ................ 7

Around the ProvinceAlberta Beach Wins Last Word Contest .................................................................. 8PAWS for a Story®®®®®: Doggone Good Reading Fun! .................................................. 9Chinook Arch and Shorgrass "SAILS" into the Future ............................................. 10Library Board Removes Membership Fee ............................................................... 10Finding Yourself, Finding Your Voice: Life at a Leadership Institute ....................... 11"Quest for Heroes" at Your Local Library This Summer .......................................... 12News from the School .............................................................................................. 13Celebrate Libraries: The 2005 NLLS Annual Conference ........................................ 1352 Ways to Use Your Library ................................................................................... 14Advocacy @ your library ........................................................................................ 15Okotoks Library Celebrates Re-Opening ................................................................. 17Grande Prairie Gets Funding for New Library ......................................................... 17Is it Gahla? Or Gayla? ............................................................................................. 18

Across Canada & BeyondLake Superior State University Banished Words List .............................................. 19Google Launches Librarian Newsletter .................................................................... 20

What's In An Acronym........................................................................................................ 21

Forthcoming Events ........................................................................................................... 23

1 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

The Peace Library System is pleased to welcomeCarol Downing to its staff as a Training and ConsultingLibrarian and Technical Services Manager. Carol hasa BA degree from Augustana University and a Bachelorof Education and an MLIS degree from the Universityof Alberta. As a former Teacher Librarian for the FoxCreek School, Carol has extensive experience inschool and public libraries and is looking forward toworking with the school and public libraries that receiveconsulting services from Peace Library System.

Congratulations to Merle Harris of Edmonton who wasone of approximately 8,000 Albertans selected toreceive the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. Thecitation accompanying the award states: “Merle Harrisis a storyteller, educator, and author who has dedicatedher life to sharing her love of reading and storytellingwith others. Merle was instrumental in setting up theParent Child Mother Goose Program in Edmonton - asuccessful program which introduces storytelling toparents and caregivers of children at risk.” Accordingto the Alberta Government web site, “the AlbertaCentennial Medal celebrates Alberta’s first 100 yearsby paying tribute to Albertans whose achievementshave benefited their fellow citizens, their communityand their province.” Merle received her award Tuesday,November 15, 2005 at the Legislature.

Tim Janewski, Director of the Fort SaskatchewanPublic Library and an LAA Director, has accepted theposition of Manager of the Forest Lawn Branch ofCalgary Public Library, effective February 1, 2006. Timhas been in Fort Saskatchewan for five years.

PEOPLE

The Grant MacEwan College LRC has had somestaffing changes this fall. Janet Day, a recent graduatefrom the Library Information Technology Program atSAIT, joined the South Campus LRC. Kat Johnstonhas left City Centre to accept a permanent position atSAIT. Kat made significant contributions to the Stu-dent Portal and SFX projects, Ask a Question, informa-tion literacy, and reference. She is greatly missed bystaff and we wish her well in her career.

The Peace Library System is pleased to welcomeKatherine Wiebe to its staff as a Training and Consult-ing Librarian. Katherine received her MLIS from theUniversity of British Columbia. She has experience asa Library Instruction Librarian at Red Deer College andwas most recently head librarian at the Rimbey Library.Katherine looks forward to using her knowledge of thechallenges faced by rural libraries to assist PeaceLibrary System’s 37 public libraries.

Laura Reilly joined the Grande Prairie Public Libraryin May as the Children and Youth Services Librarian.Most recently, Laura was with the Peace Library Systemfor three years as Technical Services Manager andTraining and Consulting Librarian. She has a Bachelorof Environmental Studies from the University ofWaterloo and a Master of Information and LibraryScience from the University of Western Ontario. Shewas an elementary school librarian in Squamish BC inthe 1990s and served as a Library trustee for theSquamish Public Library.

LAA Freedom to Read Week Contest

Freedom to Read Week is February 26-March 4 and we want to celebrate! Does your library communityhave ideas or plans to help recognize and celebrate Freedom to Read Week in Canada? If so, we’d liketo help! LAA is running a contest to see which Alberta library can come up with the best idea to celebrateand promote this event in our communities. Tell us your idea and if you are selected as the winner, we willprovide you with $300.00 to put towards your plans. The award can be used for displays, promotionalmaterials, banned materials or events and information sessions that will provide the public with a betterunderstanding of why libraries promote access to information— not censorship! Please respond to the LAAIF committee (provide email/mail address) with a letter of interest (no more than 250 words) describingyour ideas for celebration plans and how this might impact your community. Deadline for applicationsis February 5th, 2006. One award of $300 dollars will be given to the successful library as determined bythe IF C ommittee based on the creativity and community impact described in the application letter. In theevent of a tie, the award may be split between two libraries. The winner will be announced February 10th,2006. The winning library will also have a chance to share some pictures and stories related to Freedomto Read Week in the next issue of the Letter of the LAA. Questions? Please contact Connie Forst, LAAIF Chair at: cm_forst@yahoo.ca and don’t forget, the contest deadline is February 5, 2006. Apply now!

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 2

Judy MooreLAA President2005/2006

The old adage that you“can’t judge a book by itscover” still holds true.While book styles maycome and go, along witheverything at thebleeding edge, we simplycan’t make that leap. Thefollowing story illustratesthat point.

A fellow in his latetwenties recently cameinto the Main Branch ofthe Edmonton PublicLibrary wantingcomputer access. Whenasked for identification he replied “while I’ve had theroyal runaround and am sick to death of bureaucracy,If it weren’t for libraries these past few months, I don’tknow what I would’ve done”. He produced a NewOrleans driver’s license. We can only begin to imaginehis ordeal.

This library story offers a natural segue into 2006.

Pat Cavill, former LAA President, library consultantand advocacy trainer led us in a workshop following ourlast Board meeting. She reminded us that:

People pay attention to the things that theylove and value. Pat underscored theimportance of telling the library story andengaging everyone, including our frontlinestaff, to listen to our patrons tell us theimpact libraries have had on their lives.

Following on the heels of the hugely successful BeyondWords Library Campaign in British Columbia, EPLlaunched a similar storytelling contest inviting customersto write a story about how the public library haschanged their world. They received some 54 stories.Libraries across Canada are encouraged to organizesimilar contests with the hope that library websites willbe linked nationwide. For further information on theB.C. campaign, see: www.beyondwords.ca. Read theamazing personal stories re-affirming the enormousvalue of the public library in our communities.

Punch Jackson, Director, Libraries, Community andVoluntary Sector Services Branch along with BonnieGray attended our fall Board meeting. SuperNet nowconnects 70% of all libraries in our province and byApril2006, Alberta will be seen as having the most supportiveenvironment for libraries in Canada. So much tocelebrate and to look forward to!

Thanks to Anne Carr-Wiggin, 1st Vice-President whoparticipated in a telephone survey concerning theLibrary Book Rate and the proposed new shipping toollaunched jointly by Canada Post and the CanadianLibrary Association. LAA hopes to see this approachextended beyond books to include other formats.Information to support lobbying efforts to continue andexpand the program appeared in the Letter of the LAAand was circulated via TAL by the Strategic Alliance forLibrary Advocacy. Please consult the CLA website formore information and to provide feedback on theseinitiatives.

National Team Captain and LAA Past-President PamRyan reported that the 2nd Annual Canadian BreastCancer Foundation CIBC Librarians Run for the Cureheld Sunday, October 2nd saw twice the number ofparticipants from across Canada (102) as the previousyear and raised $15,659. As a first time 5km “walker”,I was overwhelmed by the spirit and camaraderie of theevent.

Happy New Year everyone! Let’s continue telling thelibrary story and make this the best year ever.

Librarians Run for the Cure! Left to right, Denise Koufogiannakis,Virginia Clevette, Judy Moore, and Linda Slater

FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

3 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Christine SheppardLAA Executive Director

I remember attending a feng shui session at a PNLAconference a few years ago. The speaker told us all thethings we should remove from our bedrooms to get agood night's sleep: TV, clock, bookshelves ... book-shelves??? We were a room full of library and booklovers, of course we all had bookshelves in our bed-rooms! We thought she was crazy.

But menopause was making insomnia a regular visitorso I decided to follow her advice. No TV? No problem.I've never had a TV in the bedroom. No clock? Noproblem. I don't care what time it is in the middle of thenight. I even said goodbye to my Billy bookcases andsent them to the family room. Every night, I stared atthe empty space they left behind. I wondered if mybeloved books missed me as much as I missed them.

We love books in our family and always give eachother books for Christmas. Books are so wonderful togive and receive, and you can always find a uniqueand interesting title for everyone on your list.

My Mom (who came from Ontario for Christmas, thefirst we've spent together since 1980), in the photoabove on the right, loves knitting. She got Knitting forDogs: Irresistible Patterns for Your Favorite Pup — andYou! by Kristi Porter. With three Greyhounds in thefamily, we need coats and leg warmers and booties thatyou just can't find in the pet store.

My daughter, Brandi, in the middle, loves pop-upbooks. This year, she added One Red Dot by David A.Carter and A Winter's Tale by Rober Sabuda to hercollection. These books are amazingly detailed andnothing like the pop-up books I had when I was young.That's my first grandchild, Emma, sitting on Brandi'slap (and in the opposite photo). She received manybooks this Chrismas including Robert Sabuda's Wizard

of Oz and The Night Before Christmas. Emma is onlyfive months old and already has over 100 books in herhome library!

I was the lucky recipient of several new books this year:Good Grief by Lolly Winston, 1001 Ideas for Trimworkby Wayne Kalyn, Feenie's by Rob Feenie, All Aboardfor Christmas by Christopher Jennison and Decoratingfor the Holidays by Martha Stewart.

Everyone else in the family got books too. My son,Tom, received 1001 Movies You Must See Before YouDie by Steven Jay Schneider. Tom writes movie re-views for a blog and I thought this was a must-have forhim. My daughter-in-law received Blood Memory byGreg Iles, my son-in-law Videohound’s Golden MovieRetriever 2006: The Complete Guide to Movies onVideocassette and DVD, Jim Craddock Editor, and myhusband got Revolt in the Desert by T. E. Lawrence andA Question of Loyalty by Douglas Waller. My daughter,Karen, received In Style Weddings by In Style Maga-zine. She's planning a summer wedding!

With only the mention of a single book title, I can tellyou so much about my family members and myself.What interesting books did you get for Christmas?

You must be wondering where I put all my new booksand the ones I borrow from the library. Did my Billybookshelves make it back into the bedroom?

Nope. I'm still trying the feng shui method of sleepencouragement. But she really didn't say anythingabout the books themselves (although I know it wasimplied). So my books are piled on the nightstand, thedresser, the floor ... now I have some dear friends tolook at in the middle of the night when I'm wide awake.

Happy New Year!

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Emma "reading" The Wizard of Oz.

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 4

became an RDC employee in July, and now works inthe new Library as a library assistant. Brenda isresponsible for the day-to-day library services as wellas acquisitions and cataloguing. Joanne Mokry washired as the librarian. She has a background in educationand in school libraries, and has also worked in anacademic library (Medicine Hat College). Joanne isresponsible for curriculum development, working withteachers and faculty to provide the best resources andservices, planning for library service, and libraryinstruction. Joanne and Brenda are able to provideintegrated service to students, faculty and staff from allthree partner institutions.

Confluence Campus was completed in June 2005. TheLibrary move was coordinated by a team of librariansat Red Deer College, working with library staff andadministration teams from both the public and Catholicschools. Professional movers were hired to completethe move and RDC staff were on hand to assist.

The move happened during the first week of July. Eachday for a week, a team was sent from RDC to help withthe unpacking and organization of the collection. Thisgave RDC Library staff an opportunity to see the newLibrary and to work with their new colleagues, andcreated a real sense of ownership and teamwork.

To great fanfare, Confluence Campus celebrated itsgrand opening on October 21, 2005. Hundreds ofstudents, dozens of teachers and staff, four MLAs (TyLund, Gene Zwozdesky, Lyle Oberg, and Luc Ouellette),local dignitaries, and members of all three partners’boards were in attendance.

As we move ahead, we are getting to know our newusers and looking for ways to provide the best servicesand resources to them. We look forward to what thefuture holds.

Anne Marie Watson

In 2002, Red Deer College was invited by twoschool divisions to participate in theConfluence Campus project in Rocky MountainHouse. The partners, Wild Rose SchoolDivision (operating West Central High School),Red Deer Catholic Regional Division(operating St. Dominic’s High School), andRed Deer College, envisioned a state-of-the-art, lifelong learning facility. Red Deer Collegesaw the opportunity to continue theirinvolvement in the community of Rocky MountainHouse where they had long operated a satellite campus,that increased post-secondary opportunities andexpanded access to courses in the trades.

The Career and Academic Preparation courses, taughtby Red Deer College faculty, offer adults the opportunityto upgrade their education to a high school diplomaequivalent and prepare them for post-secondaryadmission. Currently, there are about 30 RDC studentsstudying at Confluence Campus. RDC also offerscredit courses in the areas of communication technologyand apprenticeship, and trades.

In addition to offering courses at Confluence Campus,Red Deer College is involved in another important way.Red Deer College Library manages the Library atConfluence Campus, providing library services tostudents, faculty, and staff from all three partners.Conveniently located at the centre of the campus,teachers bring classes into the Library to research or todo small group work. Library classes are taught in theadjacent Library Instruction Lab equipped with 30computers. All Library computers have access toproductivity software and library resources. The Libraryalso distributes textbooks to both high schools at thebeginning of each term.

The entire library from Will Sinclair High School, theformer Wild Rose School Division high school in RockyMountain House, moved over to provide the bulk of thecollection at Confluence Campus. Going forward,,collection development will be shared by all threepartners.

Brenda Brown was an employee of the Wild RoseSchool Division at Will Sinclair High School. With thebuilding of Confluence Campus, the Library now fallsunder the umbrella of Red Deer College. Brenda

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COVER STORY

5 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Alison FaidALC 2006 Social Convenor

Conferences aren’t only about the sessions - they area great way to catch up with friends and colleaguesfrom across the province as well as meet some newones. This year, as always, your planning committeehas been hard at work organizing a selection ofopportunities for conference delegates to meet, greetand network in the wonderful setting of the Jasper ParkLodge.

The First Timers’ reception usually draws over 100delegates - that’s one of the reasons the conferencestays fresh and fun! This year, we’re planning less talkand more mixing and mingling. There will still be somegood advice about getting the most out of yourconference, but this time in the form of a handbook.First Timers will get a chance to meet each other andsome of the “movers and shakers” of the ALC PlanningCommittee. There will be a chance to win some greatprizes, learn a little about the history of the JPL andsample the lodge’s “spine tingler” martini - or somethingless potent if you prefer. Be sure to encourage any firsttime delegates you know to sign up for this one.

The Opening Reception takes place from 9.00 - 10.00(officially!) on Thursday evening. Traditionally, it

offers a chance to tour theexhibits, but of course it’salso a chance to see who’sat the conference andunwind from your journey.Dinner is served all evening,from 6 pm - 10 pm, toaccommodate late arrivals.This year, University ofAlberta Learning Services

are generously sponsoring awelcoming glass of wine anddelegates will have a chance to view

some of their friends’ and colleagues’ creations. Weknow there are wonderful hobbyists, artisans,photographers and crafters out there - and we want tohear from them! We’d like them to let us displaysomething they’ve enjoyed creating along with a littleinformation about themselves. If you fit this descriptionor know a fellow conference delegate who does, pleaseask them to contact the ALC social convener, Alison

Faid, at alisonfaid@shaw.ca or (780) 439-5758 to findout the details. We’d like everything from paper tole tofused glass, quilts to lino cuts.

Saturday night’s banquet always has a costume theme.To tie in with the conference themeof Libraries @ Your Service, thisyear it’s - aprons! We’ll takeanything from Dad’s barbecuespecial to a frilly fifties’ look.Prize categories will includethe Upstairs Downstairs Award,for best rendition of a butler orparlourmaid, the Betty CrockerAward for best 50’s retro style, the Urban Gourmetaward for the person or team who manages to pull offthe most chic chef look of the evening and the TitillatingYet Tasteful prize for the best “off-colour” apron. (Note:witty will get you more points than gritty!)

Of course, the social side of the conference will alsofeature the ever-popular Author Talks on Friday andSaturday evening (this year it’s Peter Robinson ofInspector Banks fame and Maureen Sawa, a librarianand author).

There’s the perennial sellout, the wine tasting event,and an opportunity to counteract the effect of all thisparty-heartying. This year, Richard Harvey of MetroVinowill take us through a selection of great wines, all withscrewcaps. He'll tell us the classy way to serve a bottleof wine that doesn't include a corkscrew!

Take an early morning walk or run around Lac Beauvert,offered both Friday and Saturday. Then there’s a greatdocumentary film night after the Friday night authortalk - The Take, produced by Avi Lewis, one of ourkeynote speakers, and his wife Naomi Klein.

Last, but not least, is the Saturday night dance - DJ@Your Service. Don’t be shy - conference sponsorThomson Gale will buy you a drink and you can sit onthe sidelines until they play “your song” - will it beMotown or Missy Elliot?

Alberta Library Conference is shaping up to be one ofthe best ever -- try to join your colleagues at this terrificevent, acknowledged by many to be the best provinciallibrary conference in Canada. See you in April!

The “Smile” Part of @ Your Service - TheSocial Side of the Alberta Library Conference 2006

ASSOCIATION NEWS

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 6

Angela Kublik, Youth Services LibrarianWhitemud Crossing Branch, EPL

While many of the best stories begin, “Once upon atime…” this story began a little over a year ago.Kathleen Pine, Manager of Edmonton Public Library’sChildren’s Division, mentioned that she was workingtoward forming an interest group of the LibraryAssociation of Alberta, which would focus on theunique issues and topics that library staff working in thearea of children’s and teen services deal with on a dailybasis. I thought it was a wonderful idea, and offered tohelp her develop a proposal to submit to the LAABoard.

Our first step was to gather some information. To thatend, we wrote to other provincial library associations inCanada asking them to share information with us aboutwhat the children’s divisions of their associations doand how they are structured. We received severalreplies that gave us lots of ideas about directions thatthe interest group might eventually take.

Next, we sent out a survey to gauge interest across theprovince. The surveys were sent to children’s librariansin medium and large libraries, and each regional librarysystem graciously forwarded our survey to all of theirpublic libraries. We received 37 completed surveysfrom a wide range of library staff working in both ruraland urban libraries of all sizes, and from staff whospecialize in children’s and teen services as well asgeneralists who are interested in learning more.

Based on the survey responses, we developed thefollowing mandate and action plan, which was submittedto the LAA Board and approved:

MANDATEThe Children’s and Teen Services Interest Group willpromote and encourage the development andenhancement of children’s and teen services in publicand school libraries in Alberta through various avenuessuch as the sponsorship of workshops at the AlbertaLibrary Conference, articles in the Letter of the LAAand training.

ACTION PLAN FOR FIRST YEARThe first year will be one of planning and exploration:a time for the interest group to further explore potentialavenues and directions. These may include a listservfor members and developing online trainingopportunities. An inaugural meeting of the interestgroup will be held at the 2006 Alberta Library Conferencein Jasper and the meeting will include a planningsession for the group. In addition, we hope that articlesconcerning library services to children and teens willbecome a regular part of the Letter of the LAA.

This is just the beginning of the story. We hope that theinterest group will become a sounding board, a forumfor sharing, as well as a means of professionaldevelopment for staff working in the area of children’sand teen services. We would love to hear from anyonewith ideas, comments, or questions, as well as fromthose who would like to get involved. Please join us inApril at the Alberta Library Conference for the inauguralmeeting of the Children’s and Teen Services InterestGroup and help us to write the next chapter of this story.

In the meantime, please feel free to contact eitherKathleen, who has kindly offered to chair the firstmeeting, or myself: akublik@epl.ca, kpine@epl.ca.

LLLLLAA's ApprAA's ApprAA's ApprAA's ApprAA's Approoooovvvvves Nees Nees Nees Nees New Interw Interw Interw Interw Interest Grest Grest Grest Grest Groupoupoupoupoup

The Power of the Library Card ...A young mother with a small baby came in to purchase a library card. She had recently moved toAlberta from Saskatchewan, and was shocked to find out she had to pay $8.00 for a membership,as they do not pay in Saskatchewan. During her visit she realized she had locked herself out of herhome. After several calls to local businesses, we finally realized that no one was able to come andunlock her door. We finally reached a company from the nearest city, who said they would come,but not for several hours and for a $50.00 fee. The young mother decided to go home with her babyto see what else she could do. A few minutes later, she called to let me know that she had “brokeninto” her own home. Her tool of choice?...Her library card. She said the card bent just perfectly andshe was able to slide it under the latch and open the door. She said she was really glad she paid forher new card, as it turned out to be much cheaper than a service call. Maybe not the kind ofinformation every burglar should know, but it just goes to show you that libraries open doors. Literally.Kelly Huxley, Onoway Public Library

7 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Connie ForstLAA PNLA Representative

The semi-annual board meeting of the Pacific NorthwestLibrary Association (PNLA) was held in Federal Way,WA on November 4-6, 2005.

Plans are being finalized for the PNLA Conference inEugene, Oregon from August 9-12: Common Spacesand Far Out Places: Libraries in the Pacific Northwest.

It’s no wonder Eugene enjoys a national reputation asone of the most livable cities in the country. Nestledlike a gem between the majestic Cascade Mountainsand rugged Oregon coast, Eugene is that rare kind ofplace where small town charm and big city sparklemesh perfectly to form a real community. With athriving and eclectic arts scene, informed and activecitizenry, world-class sporting events, and unsurpassednatural beauty, Eugene truly offers something foreveryone.

Eugene is also noted as being a home to alternativelifestyles, with reminders of the 1960s seen throughoutthe city. The Oregon Country Fair, held in late July, isa combination of outdoor musical festival andrenaissance crafts fair, with lots of 60s overtones

2006 PNLA Conference Promises to be "Far Out!"thrown in. The outdoor Saturday Market features artsand crafts, food booths and music. Held each Saturdayfrom April to mid-December, it’s a good place to shopfor unique craft items.

So dig out your clogs and flowered headbands andhead down to Euguen in this summer. For moreinformation about the conference please contact JasonOpeno, conference coordinator, atjopeno@cityofsalem.net. Also be sure to check out thePNLA website at www.pnla.org/events/conference06/index.htm for more information about the conferenceas it becomes available.

Also stay tuned for news about the next PNLALeadership Institute. The final details are being workedout for the Institute which will be held October 22-27,2006. The Institute is designed to provide opportunitiesfor emerging library leaders in the Pacific Northwest tocultivate their leadership skills and potential. Libraryleaders come in all forms and may be support staff orlibrary school graduates. If you are an emerging leaderserving in any capacity in a library in the PacificNorthwest and have a desire to network with otherleaders and increase your skills, this Institute is for you!Within the next few weeks, information concerning theapplication procedure will be made available.

You are invited to submit applications for LibraryAssociation of Alberta Continuing Education Grants.The deadline for applications is February 15th, 2006.Grants provide financial support for continuing educa-tion activities in order to advance library service in theprovince of Alberta. Preference will be given to thoseactivities carried out in Alberta. Individual awards willnot exceed $500. Applicants who have not beenawarded previous LAA assistance will be given firstconsideration.

Applications will be considered in the following threecategories: Category 1: Subsidy to enhance libraryexperience; Category 2: Subsidy to pursue furtherformal library training; and Category 3: Subsidy toattend conferences, workshops and seminars. Formore information and links to forms, please see:w w w . l a a . a b . c a / c o n t i n u i n g _ e d u c a t i o n /education_grants.cfm

Applications must be received by the deadline ofFebruary 15th, 2006. We look forward to seeing yourapplications! Successful applicants will be asked toprovide a write-up for the Letter of the LAA.

We would like to congratulate Melissa Williscroft onbeing the recipient of the Fall 2005 Continuing Educa-tion Grant. Melissa has received $500 that will gotowards her final year of the Library and InformationTechnology Program at SAIT. We wish Melissacontinued success as she finishes her studies andembarks on her library career! Don’t forget…LAA members belong to the PartnershipEducation Institute!Register AT THE MEMBER RATE for teleconference,online, and in-person courses!See www.thepartnership.ca/cgi-bin/site/showPage.cgi?page=education/calendar.html for de-tails and to register.

February 15 Next Deadline for Continuing EducationGrant Applications

AROUND THE PROVINCE

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 8

Linda CaskeyAlberta Beach Municipal Library

The Alberta Beach Municipal Library came intobeing in when a group of residents got together andformed the library in 1979. It was located in twosmall rooms in the Alberta Beach Agliplex.

In 1989, the library celebrated its 10th Anniversaryand we became members of the Yellowhead RegionalLibrary. As our memberships and collections grew,we were struggling in our small space. In 1996 theAlberta Beach Community League came to us andoffered us their building. It is a large community halland located right on main street in downtown AlbertaBeach.

What a boost for us! We now had the space for newshelving, we were able to add more books, andpurchase computers. In 2002, Linda Caskey cameon board as our librarian and is still with us today. Weoffer story hour, computer literacy courses, summerreading programs and a book club.

We have a very active Friends of the Library Societywho do fundraising for us, allowing our collection tocontinue to increase. As we are a summer village, wecater to many visitors from throughout Canada and theUnited States who come in to read their email and takeadvantage of our many services. We also have manysummer residents from Edmonton and surroundingarea who are with us during the summer months.

This fall with our services increasing we have found itnecessary to hire another full time person. Wewelcomed library technician Carol Dumont inSeptember 2005.

In September of this year, Linda received an emailfrom Yellowhead Regional Library informing us of acontest we could enter called The Last Word. Shediscussed this contest with a library board member andsaid “Wouldn’t that be amazing to win $20,000 worth ofAlberta related books for our library!”

It was then decided that we would choose what wethought was the best Alberta related book ever published(Alberta: 100 Years A Home), then our board memberwould enter our library in the contest.

We were so thrilled to receive word from EdmontonPublic Library manager and LAA President Judy Moore

that our library had won one of the four $20,000collections! There was so much excitement in ourvillage as Linda and the library board members spreadthe word of our fortunate win.

With the greatly appreciated help from Kim McKee andthe Yellowhead Regional Library, our fantastic newcollection arrived at our library on October 24th. It waslike Christmas in October as we loaded in the booksand opened box after box from the various Albertapublishing companies.

This summer we joined in the celebration of Alberta’s100th Birthday and put together a public display ofAlberta related books. We had no idea how small ourcollection actually was until we received the over 850books to add to it!

We look forward to making a new display showcasingthe new arrivals for our patrons, and as well havingthese great books available to all of the TRAC memberlibraries throughout Alberta.

On behalf of the Alberta Beach Municipal Library,Board of Directors and the citizens of Alberta Beachwho will benefit greatly from this award, we would liketo thank the The Library Association of Alberta, theEdmonton Public Library and the Book PublishersAssociation of Alberta for making this amazing additionto our collection possible.

Alberta Beach Wins Last Word Contest

YRL employees Norma McNiell, left, and KimMcKee, delivered the $20,000 colllection.

9 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Betty KienholzLouise Bailey Lindsay

PAWS For A Story® is an animal-assisted readingmentor program designed to encourage the joys ofreading in an effective and comfortable way. Children’sreading experience is enriched through the assistanceof handler and companion animal teams, who havebeen screened, trained and registered by the PetTherapy Society of Northern Alberta.

In October 2003, the Pet Therapy Society began PAWSFor A Story®, following a successful pilot project in anEdmonton elementary school. In this program, childrenhave the opportunity toexperience individual readingtime with trained pet therapyvolunteers and their dogs. Inthe school setting, theprogram is used to enhanceliteracy education and helpchildren improve theirreading skills. In the librarysetting, the programemphasizes having some“doggone good reading fun”.

The Pet Therapy Society wasvery pleased to officiallylaunch PAWS For A Story®

during Read-In Week, October 2003, in partnershipwith the Edmonton Public Library, at the WhitemudCrossing Branch. Since that time, over two hundredchildren have participated in ten programs, at six librarybranch locations. Each child has a fifteen minute one-on-one reading session with a dog and volunteer handler/literacy mentor. The programs, offered to children six totwelve years old, typically involve two to four literacyteams, depending on space available in the library’sprogram room. Every effort is made to avoid having thedogs in the public areas of the library (except theprogram room) and signs are prominently displayed,alerting the public to the presence of dogs in the library.

The success of PAWS For A Story® is evident in theunique encounters among children, dogs and handlers.The relaxed rapport that develops quickly amongparticipants is a joy to observe. Whether a young childis reading a picture book to a papillon or a pre-teen isreading a chapter book to a collie or cocker spaniel, thedelight can’t be missed. It’s amusing to see some dogswatch the page while others stretch out for a tummy rub.

No matter how the dogs listen, the children invariablyreach out to pet or stroke their furry four-leggedfriends. The handlers play an essential role providinga listening ear and interactive support, as the childreads. Children are encouraged to check out anybooks they don’t have time to finish.

Libraries are excellent partners for PAWS For AStory®, with library program rooms the perfect venueand library book collections the perfect resource.Feedback from parents, who often observe from afar,has been very positive. Many have expressed delightand surprise that such a reading program exists. It’snot unusual to see little preschoolers with their faces

pressed against the programroom windows, wishing theywere six years old andreading. Edmonton PublicLibrary staff have provided aprofessional and enthusiasticwelcome to the Pet TherapySociety volunteers, humanand canine. Dog loversamong the staff often slipinto the program room for afew minutes of pet therapy,in the midst of a busy libraryafternoon. Enthusiasm forthe program continues witha seventh branch offering

one of the upcoming programs in the spring of 2006.

As librarians formerly on staff at Edmonton PublicLibrary, it has been our privilege to pioneer thepartnership between the Pet Therapy Society ofNorthern Alberta and the library. As members of thePet Therapy Society, it was personally rewarding tovolunteer with our therapy dogs, Frosty and Piper, inthe inaugural program held at Whitemud CrossingBranch. At present, we coordinate the ongoing PAWSFor A Story® programs, offered at EPL, on behalf ofthe Pet Therapy Society.

Further information about PAWS For A Story® isavailable at www.pettherapysociety.com. Details ofthe programs at Edmonton Public Library can be foundat www.epl.ca.

Submitted on behalf of the Pet Therapy Society ofNorthern Alberta.

PPPPPAWS FAWS FAWS FAWS FAWS For A Storyor A Storyor A Storyor A Storyor A Story®®®®®: Dog: Dog: Dog: Dog: Doggggggone Good Rone Good Rone Good Rone Good Rone Good Reading Fun!eading Fun!eading Fun!eading Fun!eading Fun!

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 10

Chinook Arch and Shortgrass "SAILS" into the Future

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WELLNESS – Occupational Health & Safety solutionsincluding ergonomics, indoor air quality, stress, andeven personal wellness

For more information, please visit our website www.legacylibraryservices.ca

or contact Sandi Tough9 Linwood Crescent, St. Albert, Alberta T8N 1P6ph: 780 459 3577 or 877 459 3577, fax 866 411 9123

sandi@legacylibraryservices.ca

We look forward to working with you!

LegacyLibraryServices

Chinook Arch Regional Library System andShortgrass Library System are pleased to announcethe signing of a “Co-ownership Agreement” for aSouthern Alberta Integrated Library System (SAILS).

SAILS will be the major computer system which willprovide automated services to the public librarypatrons and communities in southwest and south-east Alberta.

The rationale for establishing the co-ownership ofcomputer hardware and software is to: 1. Improve library services to patrons and com-

munities 2. Increase cost efficiencies 3. Improve our technical support capabilities

Library Systems are corporations formed by munici-palities to facilitate sharing resources between librar-ies and providing support services like purchasing,cataloguing, delivery, and computer services.

The Board Chairs of the two systems, Bonnie Law forthe Chinook Arch Library System and Leif Andersenfor the Shortgrass Library System, signed the Co-ownership Agreement on November 23, 2005.

Seated, left, Bonnie Law, Chinook Arch Chair, LeifAndersen, Shortgrass Library System Chair; stand-ing, left, Maggie Macdonald, Chinook Arch CEO, andHarold Storlien, Shortgrass Chair, at the signing of theSAILS agreement.

The Drayton Valley Municipal Library Board, with thesupport of the Town of Drayton Valley and BrazeauCounty, announced that effective September 01, 2005membership at the Drayton Valley Municipal Librarywill be free to all residents of the Town of DraytonValley and the County of Brazeau.

The Board has taken this bold step to honour the lateGovernor General, Lois Hole, and to commemorateAlberta’s centennial. The late Governor General was apassionate supporter of Libraries and in particular, anadvocate of barrier free and equitable access.

“Giving free library memberships to all members of thecommunity is a wonderful idea, and like you, I believeit should become standard practice throughout theprovince,” the Hon. Lois Hole said.

It is therefore a fitting tribute to her legacy that in thiscentennial year we start the next century of thisprovince’s history with free membership to the Libraryfor our residents. The Library Board is very consciousof the fact that access to information is very importantto a literate and informed public. The elimination ofmembership fees removes any barriers to usage andencourages greater participation.

Library Board RemovesMembership Fee

11 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Tiina (Burns) PaysonManager, Highlands Branch, EPL

Libraries are an invaluable community resource. As domany others who work in libraries, I believe thatlibraries are an essential service and necessary on thelarge scale to the continuing development of democracywhile at the individual level they provide a chance forempowerment through literacy. It is through servingthe community at large that I seek to develop communitycollaborations and networks through team-building,leadership and sharing my passion for libraries andlibrarianship, for community and literacy. How doesone begin to achieve such lofty goals?

Approaching problems from a leadership perspectiveaffords one the chance to seize opportunities, be acatalyst for change in a manner that inspires others tofollow, while building a positive and inspirational workenvironment. I’d seen it happen, read about doing it,and now wanted to get some practical tips and pointersas to how to make leadership happen for me. I hopedto begin my journey to finding the answers at the PNLALeadership Institute.

At the institute I found that people of every Myers-Briggs personality type were represented but despitethe diversity of approaches to being in this world, Idiscovered that we all shared the common bond ofpassion and dedication. It was wonderful to discoverothers who were as passionate, as excited, as drivenabout library service and how they are delivered as Iam. My passion was not only accepted, it was celebrated.I found my Voice and my courage to use it on behalf oflibraries and library customers.

One of the mentors, Ann Symons, spoke about theimportance of finding your Voice as a leader - and usingit. She used her Voice to speak about the importanceof letting your passion show in your voice, in yourwritings, in your interactions with others. She

encouraged everyone present to chose their passion,identify their issue, articulate their values, and then,speak up! I became determined to use my Voice toshare my passions and find a deeper involvement withthe community that my library branch serves.

I used the opportunity while attending the PNLALeadership Institute to develop visioning and leadingskills, and, in learning how to apply them, to inspire,empower, lead, and role model appropriate behavioursand approaches to being of service to one’s chosenorganization. After attending the Institute I returned tothe Edmonton Public Library having learned a greatdeal about how to be a more effective manager andleader. I returned knowing more about who I am andhow I appear to others. Most unexpectedly, along theway I also discovered a way to be comfortable withwhat I found out about myself.

Since attending the Institute, I have been promoted toLibrary Branch Manager, asked to chair a communitycollaboration dedicated to mapping the social needsand resources of North East Edmonton, invited to joina working group dealing with community issuessurrounding prostitution in the community, and askedto be part of an advisory group for widening access toadult literacies in North East Edmonton. I believe thatsome of these requests happened because peopleheard the passion in my Voice and responded positivelyto it.

I discovered at the Institute that it is through deeperknowledge of the self and a more thoroughunderstanding of others that true leadership can beachieved. You can lead from any level of anyorganization by using your Voice to share your passionsand your values.

It’s been an exciting and wonderful year since I attendedthe PNLA Leadership Institute, and it all started withwanting to learn more.

Finding Yourself, Finding Your Voice:Life at a Leadership Institute

Those Storytime Kids…I had one little boy in storytime that was just a hoot. He was 4 years old and LOUD! One day as I was readingthe children a story book this little boy yells out, “My Mom ran over my cat today and killed it!” What was Isupposed to do, so I looked at him and said, “Liam look at this great picture.” The only thing I could think todo was to distract him. And it worked! None of the other kids caught on, they were just so interested in thepictures.

Here’s another story about the same little boy. One day while I was giving directions on how to make a craft,Liam said to me (in his LOUD voice) “My Dad is going blind.” “Oh,” I replied, “that is so sad.” “Yeah, he’s losingall his hair!”Marybeth Zelent, Beaumont Public Library

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 12

Heather ShoreCoordinator, Summer Reading ProgramParkland Regional Library

For the third consecutive year, Library and ArchivesCanada (LAC) is proud to offer to Canadian publiclibraries the TD Summer Reading Club (TDSRC) whichfosters literacy skills among children and keeps themreading throughout the summer. Each year, thepopularity of this program increases. Stemming from alocal program created in 1994 by the Toronto PublicLibrary, it is now offered in 450 public libraries to390,000 children in eleven Canadian provinces andterritories thanks to the financial support of the TD BankFinancial Group.

Through a variety of games, crafts and stories, the TDSummer Reading Club offers children (12 years andunder) a structured reading environment and rewardsthem for their personal achievements. The TDSRCpromotes the fun of reading with young Canadians andincreases their attendance at the library for the summermonths. It develops a reading culture with children andhelps them retain their schooling.

Children who register at their local public library receivea colourful kit that includes a poster, stickers and alogbook to keep track of the books they read. Thematerial is of high quality, bilingual and versatile andcan be adapted to a wide and diversified range oflibraries and communities. The free material enablesthe libraries to concentrate their time and resourcesmore on the program implementation versus itsdevelopment.

The TD Club web site, www.td-club-td.ca, supports thelibrary staff who deliver the program with all thenecessary materials. Starting in January, suggested

booklists will be published on the web site. You can usethese lists to further develop your own booklists orcollections. A Staff Manual will be made availableonline as of March. It will provide advice on localprogram promotion, activity suggestions, examplesand theme based images (ex. Certificate ofappreciation), and management tools. The web site willalso provide a fully interactive experience for kidsduring the summer months.

In order to support your efforts in promoting the programin your local libraries, to schools and to family-orientedorganizations, the program offers bookmarks andposters. LAC and your provincial coordinator will bedelivering the reading kits to your library in May,allowing you to demonstrate to children what the summerprogram is all about. Also, TD Bank will fund andorganize a national promotional campaign to raiseparents’ and children’s awareness about the importanceof reading and its impact on literacy.

JOIN THE CLUB 2006!LAC invites your public library to participate in the TDSummer Reading Club 2006.This year’s theme is:"Quest for Heroes" featuring historical and mythologicalheroes (super heroes) as well as local heroes. Theselected illustrator for this year’s club is MarthaNewbigging.

Alberta contact information:Parkland Regional Library5404-56 AvenueLacombe, AB. T4L 1G1Phone: (403) 782-3850Fax: (403) 782-4650hshore@prl.ab.ca orsgrieshaberotto@prl.ab.ca

"Quest for Heroes" at Your Local Library This Summer

School Chuckles ...While we have a good collection and excellent furniture in our school library, we have been in great needof structural renovations for several years. Our library is often used for quiet study and exam writing.One day a student was working quietly at one of our desks. All of a sudden, there was a scream. WhenI ran to see what had happened, I saw the student, still sitting in the chair but the chair legs had fallenthrough the floor! After that, half of our floor was replaced.Linda Smeland H.W. Pickup Junior High School Library

A grade two student had an overdue book that he just could not find anywhere and was very upset aboutit. One day he came rushing into the library very excited, waving his book in the air and said “ Hey - Ifound my overdone book”Marg Driechel Millet/Griffiths-Scott School Library

13 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Heidi JulienSchool of Library and Information Studies, U of A

The new President of the University of Alberta, IndiraSamarasekera, has shared her vision for the campus,which includes a “commitment to engage with all ourcommunities in order to better serve and promote thepublic good” [http://www.president.ualberta.ca/daretodiscover.cfm]. At SLIS we have long embracedthis value, and thought we’d take this column to let youknow about some of the ways in which our facultymembers engage with communities outside of theuniversity.

For example, Anna Altmann is a member of theService Awards Committee of the Association forLibrary and Information Science Education (ALISE),and a member of the Advisory Committee, InformationManagement and Library Technology Program, atGrant MacEwan College. She is also a member of theboard of directors of the Sandra Garvie MemorialFund, which administers an endowment and givesgrants for projects related to librarianship in the field ofPublic Legal Education.

Lisa Given is Vice-President & President-Elect of theCanadian Association for Information Science. Shehas recently been elected Finance Director/Secretary-Treasurer for the ALISE Board of Directors. Lisa alsoserves as a member of the Social Sciences andHumanities Research Ethics Special WorkingCommittee of the Interagency (SSHRC, CIHR, NSERC)Advisory Panel on Research Ethics.

Heidi Julien is Director of External Relations for theALISE Board, and Chair-Elect for SIG-USE (InformationNeeds, Seeking, and Use) at the American Associationfor Information Science & Technology. She sits on theEditorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Informationand library Science, and is a Board member forEdmonton’s Learning Centre Literacy Association.

Margaret Mackey is co-editor in chief of Children’sLiterature in Education: An International Quarterly, withresponsibility for all the North American publications. This is one of the major journals in the field of children’sliterature. In this role, she liaises with her own NorthAmerican board and also with the British co-editor andthe British board.

Toni Samek is also active in ALISE, convening twospecial interest group sessions (Information Ethics,and Research) at the annual conference in January2006. Toni will be Chair of the Juried Papers Committeefor the ALISE 2007 conference. Toni is a member ofthe American Library Association Intellectual FreedomRound Table Conference Sessions PlanningCommittee, and Chair of the Advisory Committee onIntellectual Freedom for the Canadian LibraryAssociation. She is a member of the Information forSocial Change Advisory Board.

Ali Shiri is on the advisory board of the CanadianTaxonomy of Human Services. The project is fundedby InformCanada to develop a pan Canadian, bilingualTaxonomy of ‘Human Services’ to be used byInformation and Referral Services across the country.

News from the School

The Northern Lights Library System Annual Conference,held September 22-24, 2005 in Elk Point Alberta, wasa great success and a real celebration of libraries. Thetheme Celebrate Libraries was chosen because ofAlberta’s Centennial and Northern Lights LibrarySystem’s 15 years of providing service to memberlibraries.

The conference offered a wide range of sessions forLibrarians, with special emphasis on topics for LibraryTrustees and Board Members. Sessions ranged fromhands-on, using the EBSCO online databases, DynixILS, spyware and computer troubleshooting, as well asbook repair and self-defense to sessions that coveredtopics such as advocacy, budgeting, collectiondevelopment, technology planning, Library Trustee

responsibilities, risk management, proposal writingand board/staff relations.

Attendees thoroughly enjoyed the opening plenaryaddress by former Member of Parliament, DeborahGrey at the reception dinner on Thursday evening,titled Never retreat, never explain, never apologize: mylife, my politics, as well as the keynote address byaward winning author Dave Poulsen at the Fridaylunch.

Please check-out the Northern Lights websitewww.nlls.ab.ca/ and click on 2005 Annual ConferenceHighlights to view some of the session highlights. Wehope to see you next year from Thursday, September21 to Saturday, September 23, where the theme will beLibraries Building Communities.

Celebrate Libraries: The 2005 NLLS Annual Conference

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 14

This list was developed by Connie Forst, VegrevillePublic Library. Feel free to post it in your library or onyour website.

Libraries aren’t what they used to be. They’re better.Here are just 52 ways your library can enrich your life.Visit your library, and you’ll see the limitless opportunitiesthat await you.

1. Get to know your librarian, and the library staff atyour library.

2. Browse your favourite web site(s).3. Plan your next vacation.4. Get your CDs, DVDs and game disks repaired.5. Scare yourself with the latest mystery.6. Pick up a video.7. Find out how to navigate the Internet.8. Listen to a classical CD.9. Prepare your resume.10. Get new ideas for decorating your house.11. Get a list of community organizations.12. Attend preschool story time with your child.13. Look up all kinds of health information.14. Research the purchase of a new car.15. Trek to another planet in a Sci-Fi novel.16. Research your term paper.17. Decide which DVD player to buy using a consumer

guide.18. Read a newspaper from another country.19. Borrow an audio book for your next road trip.20. Use the library’s resources to start a small business.21. Find a new recipe.22. Make photocopies (in black and white or colour).23. Get a book from interlibrary loan.24. Enrol your child in a summer reading program.25. Take out the latest fashion magazine.26. Trace your family tree.

27. Learn how to use an online database or thecatalogue online.

28. Fall in love all over again with a romance novel.29. Read some poetry.30. Prepare for a job interview.31. Read a large print book without your glasses.32. Let the children choose an arm load of picture

books.33. Enjoy changing exhibits.34. Learn how to plant a drought resistant garden.35. Check out an item from a special collection.36. Find out how to fix the engine on a 1985 Ford

Truck.37. Come in and find out why your library is one of the

greatest getaways to free information.38. Find a quiet spot, curl up with a book and enjoy.39. Book a meeting room.40. Learn about the history of your community.41. Looking for something new? Check out our new

arrivals section.42. Enjoy the fish in the aquarium.43. Send a fax.44. Use the microfilm reader to look at old issues of

the newspapers.45. Use email to stay in touch with friends from afar.46. Reserve books, check what you have out and

what is overdue from your home online atwww.talonline.ca.

47. Uncover events in local history.48. Find an idea for a school research project.49. Check out programs that the Library offers.50. Reserve a bestseller.51. Borrow materials to get you started on the road to

fitness.52. Bring your family to a place that you can all enjoy

together.

52 W52 W52 W52 W52 Waaaaayyyyys to Use Ys to Use Ys to Use Ys to Use Ys to Use Your Librour Librour Librour Librour Libraryaryaryaryary(One r(One r(One r(One r(One reason a weason a weason a weason a weason a week, thaeek, thaeek, thaeek, thaeek, thattttt’’’’’s all ys all ys all ys all ys all you need)ou need)ou need)ou need)ou need)

Yellowhead Offers Mini Conference for School Library Staff

Yellowhead Regional Library is pleased to present: School Libraries: the Heart of the School, aspecial one-day mini-conference for school library staff. The conference will be held at theTransAlta Tri-Leisure Centre in Spruce Grove on February 17, 2006. The mini-conference willprovide something for everyone with sessions geared for elementary, junior high and senior highlibrary staff. We are excited to have a variety of talented and vibrant speakers presenting,including Advocacy Specialist Pat Cavill as our Keynote speaker. We will also have a display ofseveral library software and book vendors. Please contact Yellowhead Regional Library for moreinformation.

15 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

issue Twelve, December 2005

ISSN 1712 - 4824

Annual Report Time@ your library@ your library@ your library@ your library@ your library® — a planfor getting started

The annual report makes a great marketing tool—it gives stakeholders an insight to your plans and activities.Your website is the best way to make your annual report widely available but if that’s not possible, then aprinted version sent to your primary audience will suffice.

Tips:Discuss your progress and priorities for 2005—include pictures of summer reading and other programsas well as information about your collection, staff, services, resources, exhibits, events, training,databases, collaborative adventures, etc.

Include a message from the board chair and director

Talk about the impact the library has had on the community, on businesses, on schools and studentsUse statistics…

- Every working day staff answered ? questions- Through our membership in Marigold, customers have access to over 11,000 online journals

and magazines

Talk about plans for the future

No matter how small your library, developing and distributing an annual report is an important componentof library service.

Thank you to Ken Haycock’s audio conference Annual Reports: A guide to best practice

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 16

Marigold Library System www.marigold.ab.ca

1-800-332-1077

The librarian must be the advocate of understanding, of freeinquiry, of finding ways to use and enjoy a new medium orformat, a new kind and style of expression, while respectingand continuing to employ the inheritance and values of theold. In that new role the librarian is bridge builder, advocateof freedom, peacemaker, and most important, seeker anddeliverer of truth in a world of partisans and liars.

John N. Berry III, Editor-in-ChiefLibrary Journal (Oct 1/05)

Advocacyseeks understanding

develops positive feeling

creates common agenda

Intellectual

Freedom

is the right of every person to seek and receive information in variousformats, from various points of viewprovides for unfettered access to all expressions of ideas so that any andall sides of an issue can be exploredencompasses the freedom to have, receive and disseminate ideas

Advocating for Freedom to Readspeak positively about the value of intellectual freedom to friends, neighbours, councillors and relativeshelp people to understand that censorship suppresses ideas and information, either through conversation orthrough a newspaper column or a letter to editorwear a button — start the conversationdisplay the Freedom to Read week poster and declaration, the CLA or LAA statement on intellectual freedomand some challenged books. Invite discussion.

More: www.feeedomtoread.ca and www.laa.ab.ca (click on Issues & Advocacy). Also in the DecemberMarigold Newsletter

"Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak just because a baby can’t chew."Mark Twain 1935-1910

"Intellectual liberty is the air of the soul, the sunshine of the mind and without it; the world is a prison …"— Robert G. Ingersoll 1833-1899

"I believe that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world."— John Steinbeck 1902-1968

Advocacy!Advocacy!Advocacy!Advocacy!Advocacy! @@@@@ your libraryyour libraryyour libraryyour libraryyour library®®®®®

• focuses on advocacy, marketing, public relations and promotion for libraries• targeted to Marigold Board, member library boards and staff• issued six times a year• invites your ideas, questions, comments and success stories

editorsKaren Labuik, Assistant Director, klabuik@marigold.ab.caCarlee Pilikowski, Communications Officer, carleep@marigold.ab.ca

17 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

Lara GrunowProgram Facilitator, Okotoks Public Library

More than 200 people wandered through the bookstacks and toured the library on November 19th as theOkotoks Public Library celebrated its grand re-opening.Over the past year the library has seen its size doublewhile adding over 1,000 new members in the last sixmonths.

"We have been both surprised and pleased by theconstant increase in usage and membership since weopened the new part of the library building in July. It’swonderful that the community is showing its supportand appreciation for the newly expanded facility in thisfashion. All areas are well used, and have been wellreceived, and we do feel that we are providing thecommunity with the best possible service," said DirectorTessa Nettleton.

The 15,000 sq. ft. new and renovated space housesadult, youth and children book collections, audio andvisual collections, a reference desk, a dedicatedProgram room, two rentable meeting rooms withkitchenettes, a 14-station public computer access hub,and a centralized circulation desk. There is also afireside reading and studying area, and a designatedTeen Zone for library users ages 12 to 17. A significantlylarger administrative space and parking lot completethe expanded facility

Okotoks Library Celebrates Re-Opening"This is a really visually attractive facility. It is brightand spacious, warm and welcoming, and placed in alovely natural setting. We incorporated as many of thecommunity’s requests and wishes as we could, giventhe financial and lot constraints. It gives me greatsatisfaction to come to work and to note the community’sobvious delight and approval for this building," Nettletonstated.

The grand re-opening, held on Saturday, November19th, started in the afternoon with ribbon-cutting andspecial activities for the public. Okotoks Mayor BillMcAlpine and Highwood MLA George Groeneveldboth attended the event. A wine and cheese eveningaffair saw speeches made by various dignitariesincluding Marigold Library System’s Rowena Lunn whoalso presented Okotoks Library Board Chair MarilynWilson with a special gift to commemorate the openingof the new facility.

Special thanks was given to the staff and volunteerswho facilitated a smooth transition into the expandedspace. While there are still a few minor details to becompleted, the library is now fully operational—havingonly closed for four days during the entire nine-monthconstruction phase.

Please stop in and visit the beautiful “new” OkotoksPublic Library located at 7 Riverside Drive West.

Like all libraries, Grande Prairie Public Library (GPPL)is kept busy with new programs and projects but 2005was a particularly important year for this facility.

The library has finally received approval for theconstruction of a new building in 2008. This project nowhas a guarantee of funding from the City of GrandePrairie and the Province of Alberta which allows thelibrary staff and board to begin considering fund raisinginitiatives which will outfit the new facility. The librarywill be part of a dynamic new facility which will featurea larger library building, an expanded art gallery and acommon space linking the two that will be used for avariety of civic, community and cultural events.

While excitement about the new building grows, thework of the library continues. Recently, GPPL unveileda children’s French collection provided by CanadianParents for French and funded with a grant from theCommunity Initiatives Program (CIP). The collectionincludes over 640 new fiction and non-fiction titles plus12 DVDs.

In an effort to keep children reading throughout theyear, the Grande Prairie Public Library follows up thepopular Summer Reading Game with its own WinterReading Program. The program, entitled Read Up aWinter Storm, was borne of a unique partnershipbetween the Grande Prairie Storm Junior A Hockeyteam who provide the prizes for each reading levelachieved. The Storm team receives financial help toprovide the program to the library thanks to thesponsorship of Grimshaw Trucking and Peterbilt.Children who register for the program receive prizes forevery two, four and six books they read. Every childwho reads six books may then enter a draw to have anexclusive skating and pizza party for their class withmembers of the Grande Prairie Storm. Approximately200 children take part in the game which runs for abouttwo months in the fall.

The library looks forward to the challenge of planningfor a new building while continuing to meet the existingneeds of the booming population of Grande Prairie andarea.

Grande Prairie Gets Funding for New Library

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 18

Linde TurnerLibrarian, Drumheller Public Library

The Drumheller Public Library, like all public libraries,needs more money than the province, the town, andthe late charges bring in. Bingo is dying out, bake salesdon’t raise enough, and standing on the street with a tincan just doesn’t cut it.

We’ve tried inventive projects. The Ugly Tie Contest,with its resulting entries being made into a quilt whichwas then raffled off, brought in some money and a lotof P.R. for a couple of years. Hit Any Key was thoughtto be the ultimate revenge on uncooperative computers,but that project died when we learned how unsafe itwas, with all the metals and chemicals we wanted towhack. Pitching cream pies or stale buns at localcelebrities was fun, but small potatoes in the moneydepartment.

When the third Friends of the Library was initiated bynew Library Board members (the other two societiesended in wrangling), the new blood was welcome.Coincidentally, Librarian Linde Turner attended anAPLAC meeting about the same time, and heard aboutthe fantastic success of Strathcona County Library’srecent “Leather Bound” event. Their Librarian SharonSiga had lots of details, was very proud of the financialsuccess from a one evening event, and was willing toshare how it was done.

Our new Friends, called the Drumheller Library Society(DLS) was interested, since it has to wait for severalyears before even applying for a casino.

Spearheaded by a tiny Armenian dynamo, formerelementary school teacher Adrine Giles, the Vice-Chairman Diane Christensen and Librarian Linde Turnerwere swept along into planning a Library Gala, afundraiser for the Children’s Centre. Who can resisthelping children?

It was a classy evening, with a decent dinner, qualityentertainment, and fundraising through Live & SilentAuctions. Invitations to Sponsor were gilt-edged cards,bearing the name of the Honourary Chairman, locallawyer Robert C. Ross, whose late wife Gaye had been

a founder of the Marigold Library System. Cash ormerchandise were sought. The principal items offeredwere original art, gallery-quality crafts, books, andsome of the usual auction fare. The items were displayedin the Library prior to the event, and it was important tohave items of varying values – not everyone can be abig spender.

In addition, tickets were sold on First Choice, a $500Travel Voucher, and a 50/50 draw. The evening was asuccess, and over $21,000.00 was raised (afterexpenses). Books, magazine subscriptions,audiocassettes, videos, new shelving, puzzles, andprogram supplies are assured for 5 years, and theSociety donated membership fees for all area youth upto age 18 who call Drumheller their home library.

The second event presented a challenge: how tomarket what we needed the money for. A new CirculationCounter, and, if enough funds were raised, a Self-Checkout Stand. The new Circ Counter has toaccommodate people of all heights, abilities anddisabilities, - both staff and library users. And it has tobe designed for computers, unlike the existing knee-basher. A Self-Checkout Stand will ensure borrowerprivacy, and handle the backlog when Storytime orSummer Reading Program lineups occur. The termCirculation Services was finally selected.

To our surprise, the momentum was still there, and,with the help of volunteer Linda Rondeau, the secondevent cleared almost $18,400.00 – not quite enough foreverything, but a significant sum.

It’s a lot of work, and it requires a perfectionist on thecommittee, but it has great results, and it engages lotsof people: about 220 attended each event, sponsorswere contacted, advertisers, people were asked to putup posters, people were asked to help set-up, takedown, help the auctioneer, help at the bar, sell tickets,take tickets. People who supported the concept, butcouldn’t attend, donated cash. Those who attended,but were unsuccessful in their bids, often came laterand donated what they had allocated to spend.

Of course the Library still needs money, but it looks likewe’ll give the Gala a rest for a year.

Is it Gahla? Or Gayla?

"This year, for my New Year's resolution I joined agym. Next year my resolution is to start going."

-- Dava Krause

19 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

http://www.lssu.edu/banished/

“PASS THE SAVINGS ON TO YOU!”This “breaking news” just in: Lake Superior StateUniversity releases its 31st annual List of Words andPhrases Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness.

It was during a New Year’s party 30 years ago whenLSSU Public Relations Director Bill Rabe and somecolleagues cooked up a whimsical idea to banishoverused words and phrases. On Jan. 1, 1976, with“tongue firmly in cheek,” Rabe took his first crack at it.Much to the delight (or chagrin) of word enthusiastseverywhere, the list endures into a fourth decade.

Through the years, LSSU has received thousands ofnominations for its “all-time” list of banished words andphrases, which now stands at nearly 800. This year’slist is culled from almost 2,000 nominations receivedmostly through the University’s Web site. Word-watchers target pet peeves from everyday speech, aswell as from the news, fields of education, technology,advertising, politics, and more. A committee makes afinal cut in late December. The list is released on NewYear’s Day.

So pour out that last glass of eggnog, “hunker down”with a “person of interest” and enjoy the 2006 list, whichis guaranteed “97% fat-free.”

SURREAL – One part opiate of the masses, 13 partsoveruse. Oddly, news anchor and television small talk isbecoming more surreal. “Dreams are surreal, not dailyadjectives.” – Tracy from Murray, Ky.HUNKER DOWN – To brace oneself, in anticipation ofmedia onslaught. Trotted out in reports about everythingfrom politics to hurricanes. – Kate Rabe Forgach, FortCollins, Colo.PERSON OF INTEREST – Found within the context oflegal commentary, but seldom encountered at cocktail parties.“People with guns want to talk with you.” – Melissa Carrollfrom Greensboro, NC.COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS – A five-dollar phraseon a nickel-errand. Value-added into many higher educationmission statements. – Jim Howard from Mishawa, Ind.UP OR DOWN VOTE – A casualty of today’s partisanship.No discussion on this one; the committee just tossed a coin.— Allan Dregseth, Fargo, ND.BREAKING NEWS – Once it stopped presses. Now it’s alower-intestinal condition brought about by eating dinnerduring newscasts. — Michael Raczko, Swanton, Ohio.

LakLakLakLakLake Superior Stae Superior Stae Superior Stae Superior Stae Superior State Univte Univte Univte Univte Univererererersity Banished Wsity Banished Wsity Banished Wsity Banished Wsity Banished Wororororords Listds Listds Listds Listds List

DESIGNER BREED – Many nominators consider this abastardization of dog breeding. It may be a good line to useon angry neighbors when an un-neutered dog escapes.“When you mate a miniature schnauzer to a toy poodle, it’snot a ‘Schnoodle,’ it’s a mongrel.” – George Bullerjahn,Bowling Green, Ohio.FEMA – Dedicated to the memory of a great federal agencyconsigned to the ash heap of parody. “If they don’t doanything, we don’t need their acronym.” – Josh Hamilton,Tucson, Ariz.FIRST-TIME CALLER – Preamble often heard on talkradio. “I am serious in asking: who in any universe gives acare?” – Miguel McCormick, Orlando, Fla.PASS THE SAVINGS ON TO YOU! – Marketing catchphrase that became a lost-leader long ago. “Read: Pass themarkup along to you.” – C. W. Estes, Roanoke, Tex.97% FAT FREE – Adventures in delusion. “Still has 3%fat . . . accept it.” – Andrew Clucas, Canberra, Australia.AN ACCIDENT THAT DIDN’T HAVE TO HAPPEN –Best-laid mayhem. “This means some accidents need tohappen, for whatever reason, I can’t figure.” — ThomasPrice, Orlando, Fla.JUNK SCIENCE – Banished from the Marketplace ofIdeas. “It’s not scientists who are using this phrase so muchas the people who practice junk politics.” – Ron LaLonde,Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada.GIT-ER-DONE – (Any of its variations) It’s overdone.“There’s no escaping it. It’s everywhere, from TV to T-shirts,” says Amanda Tikkanen of LaGrange, Ind. “Pleasetell me when we’re done with this one.”DAWG – No designer breed here. Someone should wash outthis Spot. “Even parents are starting to use it!” – complainsMrs. Swartz’s Fifth Grade Class in Church Road, Va. “Thisis species confusion.” – Rob Bowers, Santa Clara, Calif.“Don’t call me ‘dawg’! I’m not your pet!” – Michael Swartz,Albuquerque, NM.TALKING POINTS – Cover your ears! “Topics which willplease those you want to impress.” – Michele Mooney, VanNuys, Calif. Joe Wonsetler of Swanton, Ohio, believes thephrase was created after PR staffers stopped attendingseminars on how to put a positive ‘spin’ on their pressreleases.HOLIDAY TREE – Many salvoes were fired during thispast season’s “war on Christmas.” At the risk of jumpinginto the breach, the committee feels that “Holiday tree” is asilly name for what most folks hold as a Christmas tree, nomatter your preference of religion. Thank goodness we allagree on the first day of winter.

LSSU accepts nominations for the List of Banished Wordsthroughout the year. To submit your nomination for the2007 list, go to www.lssu.edu/banished.

ACROSS CANADA & BEYOND

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 20

Jodi HealyManager, Library Partnership Team

At the 2005 ALA conference in Chicago, Google hosteda booth in the exhibit hall. We spent three days chattingwith librarians about Google: what you liked, what youdidn’t like, and where you saw opportunities to worktogether to help people find useful, relevant information.

In an effort to keep those conversations going, we’relaunching the Librarians Newsletter at www.google.com/newsletter/librarian/librarian_2005_12/newsletter.html.Consider it a first step toward what we hope will be along and mutually beneficial relationship. We anticipatesending it out quarterly, with the occasional specialfeature as appropriate.

The introductory issue features an article written toaddress one of the most frequent questions we’veheard from librarians: How does Google index the web,and, more important, how does it rank the results? Matt

Google Launches Librarian NewsletterCutts, an engineer in our Quality group, explains thebasics of indexing and sheds some light on some of thealgorithms we use to determine where a site shouldappear on results pages. He also suggests exercisesschool librarians can do to help students betterunderstand how Google works.

But the newsletter wouldn’t be much of a conversationif it were written solely by folks at Google. Future issueswill feature articles contributed by librarians and librarysupporters, links to library-related web sites, and updateson Google products and services that can help you inyour work. We invite you to send us (alibrarian-newsletter@google.com) your thoughts: your questionsabout Google, your suggestions for articles, and yourstories of how librarians use and keep up with technologyon the job. We’ll do our best to use your feedback tomake each issue more relevant and useful to the librarycommunity.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned.

Library Supplies • Kids’ Stuff • Book Returns AV Equipment • Computer Furniture • Seating

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Display • Security • Shelving Accessories

Library Furniture, Shelving & Supplies

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www.carrmclean.caIt’s Fast & Easy

"Every man should be born again on the first dayof January. Start with a fresh page. Take up onehole more in the buckle if necessary, or let downone, according to circumstances; but on the first ofJanuary let every man gird himself once more, withhis face to the front, and take no interest in thethings that were and are past." ~Henry WardBeecher

"New Year’s Day: Now is the accepted time tomake your regular annual good resolutions. Nextweek you can begin paving hell with them asusual." ~Mark Twain

"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We aregoing to put words on them ourselves. The book iscalled Opportunity and its first chapter is NewYear’s Day." ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

"Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, tookhis last drink and swore his last oath. Today, weare a pious and exemplary community. Thirty daysfrom now, we shall have cast our reformation to thewinds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomingsconsiderably shorter than ever." ~Mark Twain

"People are so worried about what they eat betweenChristmas and the New Year, but they reallyshould be worried about what they eat between theNew Year and Christmas." ~Author Unknown

AACL Alberta Association of College LibrariansAALT Alberta Association of Library TechniciansALC Alberta Library ConferenceALISE Association for Library and Information Science EducationALTA Alberta Library Trustees AssociationAPLA Atlantic Provinces Library AssociationAPLEN Alberta Public Library Electronic NetworkBCLA British Columbia Library AssociationCAIS Canadian Association of Information ScienceCALL Canadian Association of Law LibrariesCAPL Canadian Association of Public LibrariesCARL Canadian Association of Research LibrariesCIP Community Initiatives ProgramCLA Canadian Library AssociationCPL Calgary Public LibraryCTCL Community and Technical College LibrariesELLA Edmonton Law Libraries AssociationEPL Edmonton Public LibraryFLA Foothills Library AssociationGELA Greater Edmonton Library AssociationGMC Grant McEwan CollegeGPPL Grande Prairie Public LibraryIFLA International Federation of Library AssociationsJPL Jasper Park LodgeLAA Library Association of AlbertaLAC Library and Archives CanadaLBR Library Book RateLHLLP Lois Hole Library Legacy ProgramLISAA Library and Information Studies Alumni AssociationLISSA Library and Information Studies Student AssociationLRC Learning Resources CouncilNAIT Northern Alberta Institute of TechnologyNLLS Northern Lights Library SystemNSLA Nova Scotia Library AssociationNWTLA Northwest Territories Library AssociationPLENA Public Legal Education Network of AlbertaPNLA Pacific Northwest Library AssociationRDC Red Deer CollegeRFID Radio Frequency IdentificationSAILS Southern Alberta Integrated Library SystemSAIT Southern Alberta Institute of TechnologySALA Strategic Alliance for Library AdvocacySLA Saskatchewan Library AssociationSLS Shortgrass Library SystemSLIS School of Library and Information Studies (U of A)TAL The Alberta LibraryTRAC The Regional Automation ConsortiumU of A University of AlbertaU of C University of CalgaryYRCA Young Reader's Choice Awards

Untangle Acronyms @ your library®

21 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

The following acronyms appear in this issue or are commonly used in the library community.

WHAT'S IN AN ACRONYM

Letter of the LAA Winter 2006 22

Call for Volunteers - ALC Planning Committee

The Alberta Library Conference Planning Committee is looking to fill the two-year term committeepositions that come available in April 2006:

• Author Talks• Publications Coordinator

The Planning Committee meets three times a year, usually in June, October and March. The meetings arealways scheduled for a Saturday and have been held in Edmonton for the last few years. Committeemembers are expected to attend the conference and travel and accommodation are provided. TheCommittee is inviting applications from volunteers who are members of the Alberta Library TrusteesAssociation or the Library Association of Alberta.Position descriptions and the application form are available on the ALC 2006 conference web site at:www.albertalibraryconference.comPlease submit your application by March 1st, 2006 to:

Pam Ryan , ALC 2006 Co-Chair(780) 492-7324pam.ryan@ualberta.ca

ALC 2006CHARTER BUS

ROUTE:Bus leaves Medicine Hat around 6:30 am Thursday April 27th; pick up locations along the Trans Canada Highwaycan be arranged through Linda Kozakewich. Bus pick-up in Calgary between 10:30 and 11 a.m. then Canmorefor pick up, Banff for lunch, arriving Jasper around 4 pm. Returning Sunday Apirl 30th around 9:30 am.

COST:From Medicine Hat to Bassano pick-up ($180.00 return)From Strathmore, Calgary or west ($100.00 return)Receipts will be issued. A fee of $25.00 will be charged if you cancel after April 7th.Cost is inclusive – park entrance, driver costs, on-board coffee, refreshments, and light snacks.

BOOKING DEADLINE: April 13, 2006 (Book early, seats sell out quickly)

BOOKING AND PAYING:Linda Kozakewichlinda@shortgrass-lib.ab.ca Phone: (403)529-0550 ext 6 Fax: (403)528-2473

Make cheques payable to: Shortgrass Library System (by April 13, 2006)2375 – 10th Avenue S.W.Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G2Jasper Charter 2005Attention: Linda Kozakewich

23 Letter of the LAA Winter 2006

2006Feb. 1-4 OLA Super Conference. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON. For information,

visit www.accessola.com.

Feb. 26-Mar. 4 Freedom to Read Week. For information, visit www.freedomtoread.ca.

April 17 - 21 Canada Reads. CBC Radio will broadcast another edition of “the battle of books” the weekof April 17th to 21st. Host Bill Richardson will lead a spirited quest to find a homegrown bookfor all Canadians to read. Over the course of a week, five prominent Canadians will spar witheach other, casting a book off the short list every day until only one remains. The shortlist:Deafening by Frances Itani, Cocksure by Mordecai Richler, Three Day Road by JosephBoyden, Rooms for Rent in the Outer Planets: Selected Poems, 1962-1996 by Al Purdy, AComplicated Kindness by Miriam Toews. For information, visit www.cbc.ca/canadareads/index.html.

April 20 22 BCLA Annual Conference. Hilton Vancouver Metrotown, Burnaby, BC. For information,visit www.bcla.ba.ca.

April 27-30 Alberta Library Conference. "Libraries @ Your Service". Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, AB.Visit www.albertalibraryconference.com.

April 30-May 6 Alberta Education Week. For information, visit www.education.gov.ab.ca/educationweek/

May 4-6 Saskatchewan Libraries Conference. "Libraries: Value Beyond Words". Regina Inn,Regina, SK. Visit www.lib.sk.ca/sla/

May 5-9 ARLIS/NA – Art Libraries Society of North America. 34th Annual Conference, Banff, AB.Visit www.arliscanada.ca/banff2006/

May 25-28 Alberta Association of Library Technicians Annual Conference. "Strategies ..." BanffCentre, Banff, AB. For information, visit www.aalt.org.

June 14-17 Canadian Library Association Annual Conference. "Libraries Build Communities". OttawaCongress Centre, Ottawa, ON. For information, visit www.cla.ca/conference/conf.htm

Sept. 21-23 Northern Lights Library System Annual Conference. "Libraries Building Communities".For information, visit www.nlls.ab.ca/

.

President: Judy Moore jmoore@epl.caPast President: Pam Ryan pam.ryan@ualberta.ca1st VP: Anne Carr-Wiggin anne.carr-wiggin@ualberta.ca2nd VP: Connie Forst cm_forst@yahoo.caTreasurer: Rachel Sarjeant-Jenkins racsar@medicinehat.ca

Directors:Jody Crilly jcrilly@epl.ca

Contact Us at LAADebbie Feisst dfeisst@epl.caTim Janewski tjanewski@fspl.caMyra Skaronski mskaronski@epl.ca

Executive Director/Newsletter Editor:Christine Sheppard 403/284-5818christine.sheppard@shaw.caFor full contact information, visit www.laa.ab.ca

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

LETTER OF THE LLETTER OF THE LLETTER OF THE LLETTER OF THE LLETTER OF THE LAAAAAAAAAAAdAdAdAdAdvvvvvererererertising Rtising Rtising Rtising Rtising Raaaaates Eftes Eftes Eftes Eftes Effffffectivectivectivectivective Jane Jane Jane Jane January 1, 2006uary 1, 2006uary 1, 2006uary 1, 2006uary 1, 2006

Advertising rates are as follows, based on four issues per year:

Back Cover $300 per issue or $1080/yearInside front cover $270 per issue or $972/yearInside back cover $240 per issue or $864/yearFull page ad 7" by 10" $195 per issue or $702/yearHalf page ad 7" by 5" or 3 1/4" by 10" $105 per issue or $378/yearQuarter page ad 3 1/4" by 5" $ 60 per issue or $216/yearBusiness card standard size $ 40 per issue or $144/year

First measurement is width. GST will be added to the above rates.Ads that are other sizes are charged at the rate for the next larger ad.LAA members (personal, commercial or institutional) receive a 10%discount on single issue advertisements. Business card ads andannual rates are not discounted.Advertising copy deadlines: March 15, June 15, September 15 andDecember 15Camera-ready or electronic ads accepted. Back cover and inside frontand back covers may be full colour. Inside page ads are black and white.

The newsletter is printed on 80lb. Luna Matte paper.Conference exhibitors may, with their exhibit application, have abusiness card ad in the January or April issue for $25.

The editor gratefully acknowledges the following proofreaders forLetter of the LAA: Linda Cook, Edmonton Public Library; Della Paradis,

Edmonton Public Library; Karen Labuik, Marigold Library System;and Pam Ryan, University of Alberta Libraries.

Next deadline fornewsletter submissions

is March 15, 2006.

The editor welcomesarticles and letters

as well as yourcomments andsuggestions.

Please mail, faxor email to:

Christine SheppardNewsletter Editor

80 Baker Cres. NWCalgary, AB T2L 1R4Phone 403/284-5818FAX 403/282-6646

christine.sheppard@shaw.ca

The Letter of the LAA is the official newsletter of the Library Association of Alberta and is distributed by the 15thof January, April, July and October. Its purpose is to serve as a publicity and informational tool; as a forum forprovincial library issues; as an information link between associations and types of libraries; and to report on theactivities of the Board of Directors.

Submissions to the Letter of the LAA are solicited from the LAA Board and its Committees, affiliated associationsand LAA members. The Editor reserves the right to edit any submission for grammatical and spelling errors andlength. The Editor also reserves the right not to include a submission for reasons of accuracy, appropriatenessor currency. Items such as bibliographies or articles containing thinly-disguised product advertising will notnormally be included. Submissions are due by the 15th of March, June, September and December.

Please make submissions electronically to christine.sheppard@shaw.ca. The Letter of the LAA is published inthe Arial Font, size 10. Please use a single space after a period. Feature articles of 1,000-2,500 words on any topicin librarianship or a related field are welcome. We are always looking for short 400-500 word descriptions of greatideas in libraries.

The complete editorial policy is available by request from the Editor or the Executive Director of LAA.

The opinions expressed by the contributors to Letter of the LAA do not necessarily reflect the position or policyof the Library Association of Alberta.

LETTER OF THE LAALETTER OF THE LAALETTER OF THE LAALETTER OF THE LAALETTER OF THE LAAEDITORIAL POLICY EXCERPTSEDITORIAL POLICY EXCERPTSEDITORIAL POLICY EXCERPTSEDITORIAL POLICY EXCERPTSEDITORIAL POLICY EXCERPTS