IM Public Lecture: Heather O’ Brien (University of British Columbia)

January 5, 2017 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

The Information Management Public Lectures give attention to exciting advances in research and professional practice. The topics are diverse reflecting the importance and global extent of Information Management in today’s society. The lectures are open to all members of the Dalhousie campus and surrounding community. Click here for the full schedule. We encourage you to attend in person, but if that is not possible you can access a recording on our website following the lecture. Live streaming is not currently available.

Learning in Digital Information Spaces: What is the Role of User Engagement?

Heather O’Brien
University of British Columbia

Lecture Details:

Thursday, January 12th, 2017
11:45am-12:45pm
Room 3089, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

Abstract: User engagement, a quality of user experience, is characterized by the depth of an actor’s cognitive, temporal and/or emotional investment in an interaction with a digital system. Recent emphasis on user engagement suggests that the need to engage people with and through technology has never been more paramount: failure to do so may result in lost revenue for e-commerce and search engine companies, and access to/engagement with technology may impact social relationships, civic engagement, health, learning, and so forth. Yet there is a lack of empirical evidence linking user engagement with such personal and societal outcomes in information interaction studies. Of particular interest in this research is the outcome of learning: information consumers continuously clarify information needs and goals; interpret, evaluate and analyze information; and incorporate new insights into their existing knowledge base. This talk will report on two studies in online news and reading environments that have examined the relationship between user engagement and learning. These studies demonstrated the challenges with assessing learning in dynamic digital information spaces, the role that content and system characteristics play in fostering engagement and learning, and the need to critically probe the relationship between UE and learning in information interaction.

Biography: Heather O’Brien is an Associate Professor at the iSchool, University of British Columbia, where she teaches and researches in the area of human information interaction. Dr. O’Brien is best known for her work in the area of user engagement with technology, where she has contributed numerous publications, including two recent books, Why Engagement Matters: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives and Innovations on User Engagement with Digital Media (edited with Paul Cairns, 2016) and Measuring User Engagement (authored with Mounia Lalmas and Elad Yom-Tov, 2014), as well as the User Engagement Scale (UES), an experiential questionnaire that is used internationally to understand digitally mediated user experience. Her current research, supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada and UBC’s Hampton Fund, is exploring the intersection of user characteristics (interest, cognitive load, affect, topical and technological expertise), tasks, and learning within exploratory search environments.

IM Public Lecture: Louise Spiteri (Dalhousie University)

November 17, 2016 Talha Hashmi 1 Comment

In the Readers’ Own Words: How User Content in the Catalogue Can Enhance Readers’ Advisory Services

Louise Spiteri
School of Information Management, Dalhousie University

Lecture Details
Thursday, November 24th, 2016
5:35-6:35pm *embedded in the class INFO 5500: Information in Society
Room 1011, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

Abstract: This session will discuss the findings of two studies conducted to explore user-generated content in public library catalogues, and its potential contribution to readers’ advisory (RA) services. The session will explore how user content, in the form of tags and reviews, provides a rich data set that connects to traditional RA access points. Further, the session will discuss the creation of three taxonomies for memory, emotion, and mood based on user content, and the use of these taxonomies to enhance discovery and the reading experience.

Biography: Dr. Louise Spiteri is Associate Professor in the School of Information Management, where she teaches courses in the areas of the organization of information, metadata, knowledge management, and records and information management. Dr. Spiteri’s research interests include social tagging, folksonomies, web-based discovery systems, and taxonomy design

What do libraries mean to you?

October 31, 2016 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

October is Canadian Library Month. During CLM, libraries and library partners across Canada raise awareness of the valuable role libraries play in Canadians’ lives. This year’s theme was “A Visit Will Get You Thinking”. Libraries are vital community hubs, and it is safe to say most of us have needed and used a library at some point in our lives.

In honour of CLM, we asked members of our community to tell us, “What do libraries mean to you?”.

“Through my life, libraries have been a partner. Growing up in a small town in Southern Ontario, my local library in Ancaster provided my first exposure to the wide range of books available. Trips to the library fueled long summer days spent reading. In high school I started to explore various libraries in the big city of Hamilton, and was amazed at the tools I could find to support my research. At Queen’s the library not only became my study place, but I was exposed to primary sources through the archives. In Toronto I worked in a corporate library, a whole new type of library to explore, and also frequented the public and academic libraries in my neighbourhood. Once my daughters were born, I saw libraries again with new eyes, as I watched them explore, play and learn. Libraries have been a partner through all these stages and changes, stimulating my curiosity, facilitating my learning, and providing recreation. They are a central part of what I consider community.” – Sandra Toze (SIM Director)

“Libraries to me mean a sort of sanctuary, where I know the rules, and can feel at home, no matter where I am in the world. It’s a place to find information, use a computer, or just avoid the rain for a few minutes. A library accepts me no matter how confused I am, how small my question is, or how foreign I sound. It’s a home away from home.” – Lucille Kiester (Liaison Librarian, WK Kellogg Health Sciences Library)

“Libraries mean many things to me, but above all knowledge and freedom. With the rapid changes in technology and society we have seen over the past few decades and the challenges that have come with them, I am grateful we have institutions like libraries that support both the right to know and freedom of expression.” – Lori McCay-Peet (SIM Professor)

“Especially in rural areas, libraries mean access. They’re community hubs that facilitate access to and the exchange of information in so many ways, especially for individuals for whom barriers may exist such as economic, health status, language, or digital literacy.” – Carlye Stein (1st year MLIS Student)

“Libraries, academic and public, to me have always been a home away from home. As a young immigrant I remember spending time at the libraries made me so happy that I could forget how much I missed not having my family around, at least for a short time. While I was still new to Canada, the libraries were among the first places that I immediately felt accepted and welcome. I could access the internet, books, magazines, newspapers, and a happy place all at the same time. Once at a library I still always feel that only the sky is the limit.” – Zara Palevani (2nd year MLIS Student)

IM Public Lecture: Matthew Novak (Saint Mary’s University)

October 27, 2016 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

The Information Management Public Lectures give attention to exciting advances in research and professional practice. The topics are diverse reflecting the importance and global extent of Information Management in today’s society. The lectures are open to all members of the Dalhousie campus and surrounding community. Click here for the full schedule. We encourage you to attend in person, but if that is not possible you can access a recording on our website following the lecture. Live streaming is not currently available.

Comparing Field Data Collection with Commercial Datasets in Mapping Urban Area

Matthew Novak
Saint Mary’s University

Lecture Details
Thursday, November 3rd, 2016
5:35-6:35pm *embedded in the class INFO 5500: Information in Society
Room 1011, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

Abstract: A wealth of data is needed to properly understand and manage the complexity of urban areas. Using Halifax as a case study, this talk examines the benefits and issues of securing data on urban retailing from commercial providers or collecting the data through field work using smartphone technology. Attention is paid to smaller, independent stores since many commercial datasets may overlook these establishments. The talk concludes with a discussion of incorporating the data into a Geographic Information System (GIS) for use in managing and analysing the spatial component of the information.

Biography: Mathew Novak is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Geography and Environmental Studies at Saint Mary’s University. His research focuses on the development of the urban landscape, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map processes and patterns of urban change. Underlying his research is the understanding that the built environment is shaped by and simultaneously a shaper of human activity; the urban landscape can be read as an indicator of human culture and modified to influence activities of its inhabitants. His current research is looking at changes to the inner-city landscape of Halifax, which is experiencing a rash of new condominium developments and reinvention of inner-city retail districts.

IM Public Lecture: Elizabeth De Santo & Lea Senft (Franklin & Marshall College)

October 13, 2016 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

The Information Management Public Lectures give attention to exciting advances in research and professional practice. The topics are diverse reflecting the importance and global extent of Information Management in today’s society. The lectures are open to all members of the Dalhousie campus and surrounding community. Click here for the full schedule. We encourage you to attend in person, but if that is not possible you can access a recording on our website following the lecture. Live streaming is not currently available.

Presented by the School of Information Management, the Environmental Information: Use and Influence research program, and the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance

Evidence and Public Engagement in Conservation Planning: UK and Global Biodiversity Examples

Elizabeth De Santo & Lea Senft
Franklin & Marshall College (Pennsylvania)

Lecture Details:

Thursday, October 20th, 2016
11:45am-12:45pm
Room 3089, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

How can stakeholders inform public policy? With increasing attention being given to evidence-based decision making, at least in Canadian political rhetoric over the past year, what can be learned from recent experience at national and global levels? What role does information fulfil in decision-making processes? In this lecture, two speakers from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania will draw on their studies to illustrate how stakeholder engagement and information exchange have played out in British and global conservation planning. They will outline recommendations for strengthening the use of information in public policy decisions.

Speaker 1: Elizabeth De Santo, PhD

California Dreaming: Challenges of Implementing Science-Based Marine Protected Area (MPA) Planning Processes in Different Political Contexts

Abstract: In response to direct and indirect pressures on the marine environment posed by increased development and climate change, the international community has been designating networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) and implementing marine spatial planning (MSP) in their exclusive economic zones, including offshore areas. This lecture critically assesses the role of evidence in marine conservation planning in the United Kingdom (UK), a process that drew heavily on the example set by California’s Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) planning process. Whereas the role of a science advisory panel played a constructive role and facilitated MPA planning in the Californian context, the outcome in the UK was quite different; evidence became a sticking point hampering the process. The actual designation of sites in the UK has been slower than expected, and none of the Reference Areas (e.g., no-take MPAs) recommended by stakeholder-led consultations have been implemented. Drawing on examples from the United States, Australia, and the UK, I will provide recommendations for effective science-led marine conservation planning.

Biography: Elizabeth De Santo is Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Franklin & Marshall College, in the Department of Earth and Environment. Her teaching and research focus on marine conservation and environmental governance, critically examining: (1) the efficacy of spatial approaches to conserving marine species and habitats, and (2) the science-policy interface in environmental decision-making. She is particularly interested in the challenges of effectively implementing Marine Protected Areas and biodiversity conservation worldwide. Prior to joining Franklin & Marshall College, she was a faculty member in the Marine Affairs Program at Dalhousie University. She has also held positions with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Environment Center, consultancies with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada and the Institute for European Environmental Policy, and she is a member of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.

Speaker #2: Lea Senft

A Critical Examination of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES): Improving Mechanisms for Stakeholder Engagement

Abstract: In this talk, I will critically examine mechanisms for stakeholder engagement within the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), recently established within the Convention on Biological Diversity. Tying ecosystem services to this platform is not only vital for biodiversity conservation, but also depends upon good stakeholder engagement, as well as effective global assessments. Further, this project explores lessons learned from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In particular, the IPCC’s strengths and weaknesses are examined in order to derive how IPBES can improve its approach, including stakeholder engagement. I have found that stakeholder engagement is at the early stages for IPBES, however, the organization is taking the necessary steps toward improvement. I have also seen that ecosystem services are at the forefront for IPBES, and its regional assessment plan provides more influential data for future conservation initiatives. In this talk, I will provide recommendations about areas in which IPBES can improve, drawing on the experience of the IPCC, and providing an in depth assessment of where IPBES needs to go to provide crucial conservation data.

Biography: Lea Senft is a senior undergraduate student, pursuing a Joint Major in Environmental Studies and Public Policy at Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is in her second year of independent study with Elizabeth De Santo, and has completed coursework in both American and global environmental policy.

SIMAA Hosts Another Successful Welcome Reception

October 4, 2016 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

The School of Information Management Associated Alumni (SIMAA) hosted their annual Welcome Reception and Outstanding Alumni Award presentation on Wednesday, September 28th. A time to eat, drink, and be merry, the annual event is always a warm and welcoming opportunity to connect and catch up with colleagues. Taking place in the beautiful Great Hall of the Dalhousie University Club, this year’s event was well-attended by members of the SIM alumni community in Halifax and beyond, as well as a number of current SIM students. The SIMAA Executive and guests were also pleased to welcome Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Dalhousie University’s new Dean of Management.

Shelley McKibbon, Vice Chair of SIMAA and emcee of the event, was proud to present this year’s Outstanding Alumni Award to Crystal Rose, member of the SIM Class of 2005. Ms. Rose is currently the Acting Associate University Librarian at the Ferriss Hodgett Library, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. She was enthusiastically nominated by her fellow alumni through a number of glowing letters. Upon accepting the award, she spoke to the crowd about her wide range of experiences during her time as a public and academic librarian, and also offered excellent words of advice to students and new professionals.

Many thanks are in order to the SIMAA Executive and to Marianne Hagen, Alumni Relations Officer at the Faculty of Management, for helping organize and execute a successful event. We look forward to seeing and hearing more from our alumni as the year progresses.

Written by: Leah Boulos / Photos by: Christine Cousins

IM Public Lecture: Mark McCumber (New Brunswick Public Library Service)

February 17, 2016 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

The Information Management Public Lectures give attention to exciting advances in research and professional practice. The topics are diverse reflecting the importance and global extent of Information Management in today’s society. The lectures are open to all members of the Dalhousie campus and surrounding community. When feasible, recordings of the lectures are posted for wider circulation. For the full schedule, visit the Public Lecture page of our website.

Choosing Food: Exploring Consumers’ Use of Ingredient Information

Lecture Details
Thursday, February 25th, 2016 from 5:35-6:35pm
Room 3001, Kenneth C. Rowe Management Building, 6100 University Avenue

Abstract: Food labelling is designed to help consumers make better food choices. Understanding how this information is used becomes increasingly important as relationships between diet and diseases are recognized. Research on food label use has left the list of ingredients under-explored, despite its identification as an important component of the food label. As an internal cognitive process, information use during food choices is difficult to measure without influencing behaviour. This lecture will present the results of mixed-methods research designed to gain insight into cognitive and behavioural aspects of food choices. A survey measured self-reported nutrition behaviours of 518 university students. A screening tool identified surveyed volunteers likely to use ingredient information, 11 of which completed a simulated shopping task that produced rich qualitative data relating to food label information use. A theoretical approach to thematic analysis revealed that participants focused on avoidance of negatives when making food choices, employing various strategies to accomplish this goal.

Biography: Mark McCumber graduated from the MLIS program at Dalhousie in 2015. For a devoted vegetarian and conscious consumer who is eternally suspicious of our food production industries, it was the natural choice to incorporate some aspect of food security into his pursuit of the MLIS. Having become intrigued by the study of information seeking behaviour, he determined to combine this field with his natural interests, designing a study intended to explore how people use food label information when making food choices. Mark currently works for New Brunswick Public Library Services as the Public Services Librarian for the York Region. Residing in Fredericton, New Brunswick, he still reads every food label of products that he’s considering purchasing, as well as many that he is not, and is somewhat dissatisfied that he can only wear denim on Fridays and weekends.

NOTE: We encourage you to attend in person, but if that is not possible you can access an audio recording + slides on our website following the lecture (a notice will be sent when posted). Web streaming is not currently available.

Congratulations to the Information Without Borders team for their very successful 2016 Conference

February 12, 2016 Talha Hashmi Leave a Comment

By Talha Hashmi (SIM Co-op Student)

Neither snow nor construction could stop IWB 2016. Information Without Borders (IWB) is an entirely student run conference initiated by students of The School of Information Management in 2007. Over the past 9 years it has grown in scope and size, and continues to be a model of professionalism. This year’s conference continued this trend, successfully bringing together a large and diverse audience interested in exploring “Managing Health Information: Technologies and Strategies for the 21^st century”. The IWB committee lead by co-chairs Tess Grynoch and Chantel Ridsdale did an outstanding job organizing speakers that engaged their audience and informed them about how health information is being currently managed, as well as possible alternative solutions. It was refreshing to see an event where knowledge was so actively shared and discussed, both within the room and virtually (#iwb2016).

With almost 200 students and industry professionals in attendance, the 2016 IWB conference committee exceeded their expectations growing attendance by 25%. The day moved smoothly through speakers, breaks, lunch, the silent auction and a poster session without a hitch. All the speakers, including the students, highlighted the breadth of the field of health information, highlighting the challenges and opportunities. The opening Keynote speaker was Gail Crook, CEO of CHIMA (Canadian Health Information Management Association) who spoke about “Profiling the HIM profession and Information Governance” and the closing Keynote speaker was Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Public Health Officer for Nova Scotia, who spoke about “Health Information in the 21^st Century: Opportunities and Challenges”. A highlight of the day was the integration of research talks by three students Leah Boulos, Nora McGruer and Scarlett Kelly, who shared topical and interesting presentations on managing health information resources, using non-traditional channels for communicating healthcare information to individuals and the state of electronic health records in Canada. This broad spectrum of presentations allowed attendees to gain a broad exposure to the issues within the field, and provided a call to action. This added to the success of the conference.

A goal of the conference is to showcase student research. In addition to three student speakers highlighted above there was also a Student Poster Competition. The poster competition allowed students to showcase their research in progress, and gain valuable insight from the audience. The winner of the competition was SIM thesis student Zoe Dickinson, for her Poster on “Libraries, Search Engines & The Deep Web: Barriers to Visibility”.

Overall the conference was a great success due to the IWB committee’s strategic planning, organization and hard work. They created an event for like minded individuals to discuss and learn more about information management. We are sure the IWB conference will continue to grow and we hope to see you again in 2017!

Archives for Talha Hashmi

Comparing Field Data Collection with Commercial Datasets in Mapping Urban Area

Evidence and Public Engagement in Conservation Planning: UK and Global Biodiversity Examples