I would like to extend my warmest wishes to all SIM students, alumni, staff, and faculty for a happy Holiday season. It’s hard to believe that the Fall term has gone by so quickly, and that we will be having the SIMSA holiday party this Friday. I hope that you all have a relaxing break with your friends and family and that any travels will be smooth and safe. For those of you who celebrate them, Happy Hanukkah, Kwansaa, or Christmas.
All the best,
Louise Spiteri
Visiting Reference Librarian and Visiting Assistant Professor
University Library
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Position Available: The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. This is a 100%-time, twelve-month, limited term appointment. The position may become permanent at a later date.
Duties and Responsibilities: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks a highly-motivated individual to provide reference and research services and supervise, train, and mentor twelve Graduate Assistants (approximately 4 FTE). This position requires a diverse set of skills encompassing the development, provision, evaluation and marketing of services to support reference in an academic environment; the use of instructional technology; and the ability to learn and adapt to rapidly changing technologies. The individual selected for this position will have experience in, and enthusiasm for, providing a wide range of services directly to library users utilizing a variety of in-person and online methods.
Applicants should enjoy challenges and be able to handle fluid situations. Individuals must be self-directed and also be able to work effectively in a team environment. Reporting to the Head of Reference, Research, and Scholarly Services (RRSS), the Visiting Reference Librarian is responsible for supervising Graduate Assistants (GAs) in RRSS and providing direct reference services to users in person, via telephone, and online. Evening and weekend hours required. S/he provides individual, classroom, and group instruction in academic library research strategies and information literacy skill development.
Specific responsibilities include: Provide reference services both online and in person, through a variety of service points and consultations; Supervise, train, and evaluate RRSS GAs, and coordinate GA project portfolios; Coordinate the development and maintenance of professional-level instructional materials including RRSS LibGuides and Help pages that assist users with the research process; Develop and teach instruction sessions, including workshops for the Library’s Savvy Researcher instruction series; Monitor and provide ongoing quality review of in-person and online reference services; Provide group and individual reference training and professional development sessions, and identify areas for development of same; Serve on Library- and Campus-wide committees, task forces, and working groups; Other duties as assigned depending on background, experience, interest and emerging needs in RRSS and the University Library.
Qualifications:
Required: Master’s degree from an ALA-accredited library school or equivalent by start of employment; Experience providing reference services at a public service desk in an academic environment; Experience leading large group instruction; Track record of collaboration and positive contributions in a team environment; Demonstrated commitment to excellence in customer service; Experience working with diverse populations; Excellent communication skills.
Preferred: Supervisory experience; Formal classroom teaching experience; Experience training faculty, students and/or staff in professional development workshops; Experience developing Web content; Experience developing online instructional materials and/or learning objects; Knowledge of emerging technologies and their application to library services; Evidence of professional development, research, and/or service activities.
Environment: The University of Illinois Library at Urbana-Champaign is one of the preeminent research libraries in the world. With more than 13 million volumes and significant digital resources, it ranks second in size among academic research libraries in the United States and first among public university libraries in the world. As the intellectual heart of the campus, the Library is committed to maintaining the strongest possible collections and services and engaging in research and development activities in pursuit of the University’s mission of teaching, scholarship, and public service. The Library currently employs approximately 90 faculty and 300 academic professionals, staff, and graduate assistants. For more detailed information, please visit <http://www.library.illinois.edu/>. The Library consists of multiple departmental libraries located across campus, as well as an array of central public, technical, and administrative service units. The Library also encompasses a variety of virtual service points and “embedded librarian” programs.
Salary and Rank: Salary commensurate with credentials and experience.
Terms of Appointment: Twelve-month appointment; 24 annual vacation days; 11 annual paid holidays; 12 annual sick-leave days (cumulative), plus an additional 13 sick-leave days (non-cumulative) available, if needed, each year; health insurance requiring a small co-payment is provided to employee (with the option to purchase coverage for spouse and dependents); required participation in State Universities Retirement System (SURS) (8% of annual salary is withheld and is refundable upon termination), with several options for participation in additional retirement plans; newly-hired employees are covered by the Medicare portion of Social Security and are subject to its deduction.
Campus and Community: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a comprehensive and major public land-grant university (Doctoral/Research University-Extensive) that is ranked among the best in the world. Chartered in 1867, it provides undergraduate and graduate education in more than 150 fields of study, conducts theoretical and applied research, and provides public service to the state and the nation. It employs 3,000 faculty members who serve 31,000 undergraduates and 12,000 graduate and professional students; approximately 25% of faculty receives campus-wide recognition each year for excellence in teaching. More information about the campus is available at www.illinois.edu.
The University is located in the twin cities of Champaign and Urbana, which have a combined population of 100,000 and are situated about 140 miles south of Chicago, 120 miles west of Indianapolis, and 170 northeast of St. Louis. The University and its surrounding communities offer a cultural and recreational environment ideally suited to the work of a major research institution. For more information about the community, visit: <http://illinois.edu/about/community/community.html> or <http://www.ccchamber.org/>.
To Apply: To ensure full consideration, please complete your candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information including email addresses for three professional references. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered. For questions, please call: 217-333-8169.
Deadline: In order to ensure full consideration we urge candidates to submit application materials on or before January 16, 2015.
Illinois is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. Illinois welcomes individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and ideas who embrace and value diversity and inclusivity. (www.inclusiveillinois.illinois.edu).
Oct. 20-26th is Open Access Week. The Dalhousie Libraries will host two events:
Differing Perspectives on Open Access: a panel discussion
Thursday, October 23rd: 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Room 224, Student Union Building
Open Access at MIT Press: OA in a large university press
Friday, October 24th: 1:00 p.m.
Room 2616, Killam Memorial Library
Both events are free of charge, and all are welcome to attend. Further details: https://blogs.dal.ca/libraries/2014/09/events-for-open-access-week-2014-2/
Also, we will be blogging daily about Open Access topics on the Dal Libraries’ blog, the LibVine.
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) is accepting applications for its Associate Fellowship program, a one-year training program for recent MLS graduates and librarians early in their career.
In the first half of the year, a formal curriculum offers exposure to library operations, research and development, intramural and extramural research, development and lifecycle of NLM’s web-based products and services and the extensive outreach and education program reaching consumers, special populations, health professionals and librarians. In the second half of the year, Associate Fellows have the opportunity to choose projects based on real-world problems proposed by library divisions and work with librarians and library staff over a six-seven month period. Successful projects have led to peer-review publications and to services that have become a regular part of library operations.
The September through August program also offers professional development and an introduction to the wider world of health sciences librarianship that may include:
Supported attendance at national professional conferences, often including the Medical Library Association’s annual meeting, the American Medical Informatics Association annual meeting and others
The Fellowship offers:
Who is eligible?
All U.S. and Canadian citizens who will have earned a MLS or equivalent degree in library/information science from an ALA-accredited school by August 2015. Both recent graduates and librarians early in their career are welcome to apply. Priority is given to U.S. citizens.
Applications and additional information are available on the Web at www.nlm.nih.gov/about/training/associate/. Application deadline is February 5, 2015. Between 4 and 7 fellows will be selected for the program.
Feel free to contact Kathel Dunn, Associate Fellowship Program Coordinator at 301-435.4083 or kathel.dunn@nih.gov
To: The Dalhousie University community
From: Carolyn Watters, Provost and Vice-President Academic
Date: September 23, 2014
Re: Åsa Kachan to become new CEO of Halifax Public Libraries
It is with great pride and a hint of sadness that I share the news that Åsa Kachan, Dalhousie’s Assistant Vice-President of Enrolment & Registrar, will be leaving the university to become the new Chief Executive Officer of Halifax Public Libraries.
It is wonderful to see one of our university’s most able and accomplished leaders taking the reins of such an important and vital public institution in our community. I have no doubt Åsa will bring the same vision and leadership she’s shown in her 10 years at Dalhousie to the Libraries at a key moment in their history, with the new Halifax Central Library set to open this fall. It is my hope this will present some exciting new opportunities for Dal to collaborate with Åsa, and the Libraries, in the future.
The work of Åsa’s team in the Registrar’s Office (over 120 staff in four service locations) spans the entire Dalhousie experience, from the first time students think about coming to Dal to their walk across the stage at Convocation to receive their degree. By listening to our students and being attuned to their needs, Åsa has led a number of critical transformations including revamping our entrance scholarship program to offer more renewable bursaries and consider broader criteria like leadership and community service, as well as improving front-end customer service in the Registrar’s Office. Chief among her accomplishments is the growth in the university’s student population: Dalhousie is more than 4,000 students stronger than when Åsa started, but also more national and international than ever before. It’s fair to say that without this expanding and broadening of our student enrolment, achieved through a reshaped recruitment operation, many of Dal’s achievements of the past decade would not have been possible.
Åsa would be the first to note her accomplishments were team efforts, enabled and supported not only by her own staff but by partners in Faculties, departments and service units all across campus. There is no doubt, though, that her inspired leadership and passion for our students’ success will be greatly missed. Thankfully, she leaves behind a very talented team, with Mairead Barry, Deputy Registrar & Executive Director of Enrolment Services, set to serve as Acting AVP Enrolment Management & Registrar effective November 1 until the search for Åsa’s successor has been concluded.
Please join me in congratulating Åsa on her exciting news and wishing her well at Halifax Public Libraries.
Carolyn Watters
Provost and Vice-President Academic
From Bertrum MacDonald: With sadness, the School of Information Management shares news of the death Dr. Louis G. Vagianos, the founder and Director of the School (1969-1970).
During his career at Dalhousie University, Dr. Vagianos also held the senior positions of University Librarian and Vice-President (Administration). He returned to a leadership role in the School in 1994-1995 when he served as Interim Director between the directorship of Dr. Mary Dykstra Lynch and Dr. Bertrum MacDonald. Louis Vagianos was instrumental in establishing the innovative vision of the Master of Library Service (now Master of Library and Information Studies), which emphasized systems thinking along with the broad relevance of professional information work across organizational types. Forty years on, his breadth of vision influenced the design of the mid-career Master of Information Management program as a complement to the MLIS. He was an inspirational instructor who advocated and encouraged “outside the box” thinking. As a consequence, graduates left Dalhousie to make a mark in the field of information management in Canada and around the globe.
Perhaps the terms of the Vagianos Medal – which was established in 1990 in his honour and which terms he helped to write – best sums up his creative outlook on life. The medal is awarded each year at convocation to “a graduating student who combines the capacity for blending originality with practical thinking and the courage to seek solutions to professional problems outside of the mainstream.” Louis Vagianos emulated these characteristics in all his endeavours and the School of Information Management is indebted to his vision for the fields of information management and librarianship.
In addition to the memorial option noted in the obituary below, alumni and friends of the School may wish to honour Dr. Vagianos by making a donation to the School’s Memorial Fund here (under “Read more about the SIM Memorial Fund”).
OBITUARY:
VAGIANOS, Dr. Louis George –
(May 8, 1933 – July 24, 2014)
We celebrate the life of Louis George Vagianos, whose journey began in Weirton, West Virginia in 1933 and ended in Toronto on July 24, 2014.
His parents left Chios, Greece for the United States during the Depression in search of a better life. He always credited the extraordinary library and education programs in Cleveland in the 1940s and 50s with opening up his mind to what the world has to offer, and fostering a life-long love of music, theatre, books and art. In addition to his many professional accomplishments, he was a patron of the arts his whole life and made frequent trips to New York to enjoy its music and theatre scenes, Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera.
Louis was a man of many gifts and professions. His journey took him from Cleveland, where he grew up and went to college; to Providence, RI, where he was Assistant Librarian at Brown University; to Halifax, NS, where he was University Librarian at Dalhousie University, oversaw the building of the Killam Library, was instrumental in the founding of the School of Library Service, served as Vice-President, and then moved into the role of Executive Director of the Institute for Research on Public Policy; and to Montreal, QC where, as Consultant to the Rector, Vice-Rectors and a number of departmental directors at Concordia University, he advised on or managed a variety of university-wide projects. While in each of these positions, he taught, and accepted freelance projects that captured his interest, such as the design of several university libraries, public policy research and extensive political speech-writing. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Prince Edward Island.
Louis was an original who marched to the beat of his own drum. A gifted leader, administrator, but most important to him, mentor, he touched the lives of countless students and professionals over the course of his life and career. He was dedicated to the world of ideas, and the notion of living according to a set of shared values that he was always keen to discuss, define and redefine. An idealist, he led by example, and charged us all to leave the world a little better than we found it. He certainly did his part.
Louis’ inquisitive and generous spirit will continue to support and guide the people he touched, especially his wife Joey, daughter Andrea (Zis), granddaughter Antonia, brother Van (Karen), nephews and niece Tom (Patty), Michael (Laura) and Christina, and his many valued friends across Canada and the United States. We are grateful for the meaning he brought to our lives and will remember fondly the hours we spent enjoying his “philoso-phunculizing”.
Louis requested to be cremated and there will be a private family memorial service.
The family thanks Dr. Wells and everyone at the Odette Cancer Centre and Transfusion Clinic, Sunnybrook Hospital, for their extraordinary support, and invites donations in lieu of flowers to the Centre in Louis’ memory: www.sunnybrook.ca/foundation.
Attention MLIS grads:
Job description https://chroniclevitae.com/jobs/0000836518-01 (or see below)
To apply, applicants will need to visit https://jobs.astate.edu
Contact:
Sherry Eskridge, Outreach Librarian
322 University Loop West Circle
P.O. Box 2040
State University, AR 72467
870-972-3577
| Deadline | August 08, 2014 |
| Date Posted | June 24, 2014 |
| Type | Administrative |
| Salary | Commensurate with experience |
| Employment Type | Full-time |
Arkansas State University (Astate) is recruiting applicants for the position of Assistant Systems Librarian in the Dean B. Ellis Library. Astate, a federal contractor, is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.
The Dean B. Ellis Library is seeking an energetic and proactive Assistant Systems Librarian who enjoys a challenging, innovative and change-oriented environment. Reporting to the Systems Librarian, the Assistant Systems Librarian will be responsible for duties including keeping Library in-house and externally available resources current and functioning, troubleshooting and replacing defective hardware, resolving software problems, installing and upgrading new software and hardware as needed, recommending hardware and software for purchase, and developing custom scripts and applications to assist with workflows and the effective provision of library services.
Required qualifications include a master’s degree from an American Library Association accredited degree program or equivalent academic credentials; knowledge of library systems hardware, software, trends, and practices, through experience or coursework; excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to balance priorities, and to set and meet deadlines; evidence of attention to detail; and strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
Arkansas State University is a public, multi-campus higher education system with enrollment in excess of 22,000 students. The Jonesboro campus has a diverse student body with an on-campus enrollment eclipsing 14,000; through outreach via web-based instruction and the upcoming establishment of a campus in Querétaro, Mexico, the university is making a global impact. A-State educates leaders, enhances intellectual growth and enriches lives in Jonesboro, Ar. A regional metropolitan city with a population of more than 68,500, Jonesboro is located 70.8 miles northwest of Memphis, Tenn. Today, the institution has more than 70,000 alumni.
This position is located on the Jonesboro campus. Visit https://jobs.astate.edu for detailed information and to apply for position A00168.
Astate has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty, staff, and students. Astate is also committed to creating a productive workplace in which both persons and property are secure. To achieve that goal, background investigations are conducted on all final applicants recommended for employment.
– See more at: https://chroniclevitae.com/jobs/0000836518-01#sthash.fdq6bffL.dpuf
The latest issue of SIM’s newsletter Inform is now available on our website here.This issue contains stories about what our students, faculty, alumni and partners have been up to since January. SIM has much to celebrate this year including new staff, new faculty, exciting research developments, and many other accomplishments and awards.
Inform is published twice per year and we are always interested in new content, so if you have any news updates or stories you would like to see in the next issue, email them to Kim at sim@dal.ca.
Valerie Collins, a returning MLIS student, is the recipient of the 2014 Stephanie Downs Memorial Award.
When Stephanie Downs returned to Canada from the UK to become a librarian, she chose to enter the MLIS program at Dalhousie for its sense of community, welcoming faculty and Maritime culture. Diagnosed with cervical cancer at the end of her last year at SIM, Stephanie graduated with her MLIS but lost her hard-fought battle to her illness on May 27th, 2007.
Remembered for her enthusiasm, Stephanie was a “doer” and very active in school life, serving as 2005-2006 Co-Chair of SIMSA and SIM Team Captain for the 2005 Halifax “Run for the Cure”. She was also awarded the Student-to-CLA travel award to attend the 2005 CLA Conference in Calgary. This award was established by Stephanie’s family and friends in her memory.
Valerie Collins was raised in Alaska, and studied at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she completed a double major in English and German. As part of her German degree, she studied abroad for a semester in Mannheim, Germany. This was her first extended experience abroad, and it was eye-opening, especially when she realized that the academic libraries in Mannheim were using an entirely different classification system than the Library of Congress. This discovery sparked her interest in cataloguing, and methods of classifying books and other media.
After returning from Germany and completing her degree in Alaska, she decided to combine her interest in academic librarianship into another international experience. She came to Dalhousie for her MLIS degree.
Valerie serves in a number of capacities in the MLIS program. She is an executive member of both the Special Libraries Association (SLA) student chapter at Dalhousie and the School of Information Management Student Association (SIMSA). She also represents her peers as a member of the MLIS Curriculum Committee.
Valerie will continue to deepen her understanding of academic libraries and some of the challenges they face in an increasingly digital environment by working as a reference intern at the Killam Library for the coming year. Valerie also looks forward to facilitating the international student experience in the School of Information Management (SIM) and in the Faculty of Management.
Congratulations Valerie! Find more information about SIM’s In-Program Awards and Scholarships here.
Position: ETHICS REVIEW ASSISTANT
Location: Dalhousie University, Faculty of Management
Hourly wage: $20.11 per hour
Workload: 420 hours (July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015)
The Faculty of Management offers a series of courses that require primary data collection, and as such, individual student project must go through an ethics review process. The ethics review of course related student project follows similar guidelines as the Dalhousie Research Ethics Board, but it is delegated to the faculty level.
The Ethics Review Assistant will work closely with the Assistant Dean of Research for the Faculty, and with the instructors of the individual courses. The tasks include: (i) an update of the course based ethics application process during the months of July and August 2014; (ii) an explanation of the process to students in each relevant course in class and as needed on an individual basis; and (iii) the review of course based student project ethics applications (including feedback and review of revisions).
The ideal candidate will have a Master’s level degree and experience with the process of ethics application and review. A superb understanding Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans must be demonstrated. Current enrolment in a PhD program at Dalhousie University would be an asset.
To apply, please submit a cover letter along with a current CV to Dr. Dominika Wranik, 3012 Rowe Building, or electronically to dwl@dal.ca. The cover letter should mention why you think you are the ideal candidate for the position, including a description of your involvement with research and research ethics in the past. Also attach a current Tri-Council TCPS 2: CORE certificate. The deadline for applications is June 15th, 2014.