AALT Technician: the Journal of AALT by Alberta Association of Library Technicians

AALT TECHNICIAN “The Official Voice of Library Technicians in Alberta.” ISSN 0703-5276

Volume 37, Number 1

Winter 2010

IN THIS ISSUE: AALT SPOTLIGHT Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Program: Personal Reflections

Wavy Gravy: An Adventure in Google Wave

Secret Lives of Library Technicians … Joel Nielson

LEED

Happy Chinese New Year!

Rocky Public Library Books to Go! Program

AALT on the Move: From Zoolights to the Bright Lights of Edmonton

AALT FEATURES AALT Conference Update

Proof-reading Tips and Grammar Basics [part 2]

Media Advisory: Alberta Reader’s Choice Award

Cross Canada Update

Under the Covers: Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

Calendar of Events

AALT BUSINESS Journal Advertising and Submission Policy

Editor’s Notes

AALT: Committees & Volunteers

AALT Contributors

President’s Comments

AALT: Mission & Purpose

AALT: Membership Form

Board Highlights & Group Reports

AALT: Board of Directors

The Journal of the Alberta Association of Library Technicians

SUBMISSIONS POLICY All article submissions are accepted at the discretion of the Journal Editors’. All articles must be submitted as a .rtf, .txt, or .doc file and may be subject to editing as the Journal Committee sees fit. Articles may be held for publication in a future issue, (in the same calendar year) of the AALT Technician. Questions or concerns regarding this submission policy can be directed to the Journal editors’ @ journal@aalt.org. DISCLAIMER All views & opinions expressed by contributors are the sole opinion of the author & do not necessarily reflect the opinions of AALT.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR THE SPRING ISSUE IS: April 10, 2010 SUBMISSIONS CONTEST Winners cannot be current members of the Board of Directors or the Journal Committee. CONTRIBUTE TODAY! Turn that great idea you had into an article and share it with everyone! Have an article you would like to see? Send us your request. Comments or questions about any content? Want to join the Journal Committee? Send your ideas, requests, questions and comments to: journal@aalt.org

ADVERTISING POLICY All copy for advertising is accepted at the discretion of the Communications Group Chair, who reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Products are not tested and listings do not imply an endorsement. Payment, Rate Changes, and Cancellations All advertising must be paid in full before your advertising campaign begins. Payment can be made by credit card (VISA and MasterCard) through our online registration system or by cheque. All advertising purchases are non-refundable. AALT reserves the right to change our advertising rates at any time. Rates will not be retroactively applied to any prepaid advertising. AALT reserves the right to terminate any advertising for any reason. If such termination occurs, we will refund your account a prorated amount based on the time that already served. Cancellations before payment is received will be subject to a 15% cancellation fee. ADVERTISING RATES Advertisements must be received prepaid three weeks prior to the release date of the desired issue and must be camera ready. The cost for advertising in the AALT Technician per issue is as follows: ♦ Full Page ♦ Half Page

$100.00 $50.00

♦ Quarter Page $30.00 ♦ Business Card $25.00

The AALT Technician is published quarterly: Fall, Fall, Winter and Spring. AD PACKAGE OFFERS Get better value with your advertising dollar by purchasing one of the following package deals: ♦ Platinum Package – 4 months on the ORS page, AALT Members Only page, and the Library Associations Directory page plus a half page ad in 4 issues of the AALT Technician - $399.00 ♦ Gold Package - 4 months on the ORS page and the AALT Members Only home page, and a quarter page in 4 issues of the AALT Technician - $295.00. ♦ Silver Package - 4 months on the ORS page and the Library Associations Directory Page, and a half page in 4 issues of the AALT Technician -$250.00. ♦ Bronze Package – 4 months on AALT Members Only home page and the Library Associations Directory Page, and a quarter page in 4 issues of the AALT Technician $200.00. TO PLACE AN AD To place an advertisement on our web site or in the AALT Technician, please contact the AALT President-Elect at presidentelect@aalt.org. The inclusion of an advertisement is up to the discretion of the AALT Communications Group and will fall under the AALT advertising policy guidelines.

BEGINNING WITH THE SUMMER 2009 ISSUE, THE AALT TECHNICIAN IS PUBLISHED ELECTRONICALLY ONLY

AALT Technician Winter 2010

EDITORS’ NOTES

JOANNE SHUM & REA GOSINE

We interrupt my regularly scheduled evening information desk shift, to bring you this important winter editorial of the AALT Technician… Happy 2010 my fellow library technicians! A new year, new start, new everything! Usually, I do the New Year Resolutions thing but not this time because I never stick to it. I’m just going to fly by the seat of my pants and see what happens (although, that hasn’t turned out too good in past either). One of my goals this year is to head back to my parents place and finally clean out what used to be my bedroom. I’m thinking a full out room clean is in order because I’ve amassed so much stuff/junk over the years. In the spirit of our theme for this year’s conference Rebuild, Renew, Recharge, I’m hoping that most of my discarded stuff will find a new home with either Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Throwing it in the garbage will be a last resort and that will be if stuff is horribly worn out, ripped or too damaged beyond repair. I hope everyone had a great Christmas break surrounded by family and friends if the family was too far away to visit. I’m still trying to figure out where the rest of 2009 went! I went home to Edmonton for the holidays and while it was great to be home, something about 10 days of the usual family gettogethers/dinners/parties/chaos made me glad to be back in Calgary after it was all done and over with. What’s the next big holiday on my agenda? Chinese New Year in which it’s usually not a request to come home but more like a direct order to return home. This year, it happens to fall on February 14th and it’s also the Year of the Tiger, so Gung Hay Fat Choy to everyone as well because by the time this issue is published, Chinese New Year will have passed. We are four months away from the Annual Conference and I know of at least three presentations being presented at the Carriage House Inn, May 27 – May 30, 2010. (I know because the presenters happen to be my co-workers at SAIT!) I’m super excited to hear Will Ferguson speak. I absolutely love his book “How to be Canadian”. I actually gave a copy of this book to a friend (who wasn’t a Canadian) before he got on the plane and told him to it would give him a better understanding of Canadians. He emailed me afterwards and said that he couldn’t stop laughing and wondered if half the stuff in there was true. I didn’t say yes but I didn’t say no either. Anyways, back to the evening information desk, there’s a line forming and I’m pretty sure I know what the lineup is for! We now return to my evening information desk shift, already in progress… … Joanne

AALT Technician Winter 2010

March - really? It’s rapidly approaching (and may have already hit by the time you’re reading this). The Olympics are half over and despite my best intentions I’ve been sucked into watching (go Team Canada!) It seems like since 2010 hit it’s been nothing but go go go. January flew by in a flurry of meetings, classes and event preps. My organization’s big event of the season happened early in February and all I can really remember is a lot of work and some crazy outfits (our gala theme was A British Rock ‘n’ Roll Invasion and there were quite a few Austin Powers impressions!) And here we are. I’m just now slowing down and realizing that somehow the first two months of the New Year are gone. Spring is coming up (officially on March 20), and don’t forget to set your clocks an hour ahead on March 14 for Daylight Savings Time. I finally remembered to renew my AALT membership this weekend (and if you haven’t done it yet, what are you waiting for?) Looking ahead, spring also means the annual AALT Conference! Have you started planning to attend? Check out the official website (www.aalt.org/conference) for updates and announcements. I could rave about Will Ferguson being a keynote speaker – but Joanne has already done that. There are 2 other fabulous keynotes, Sheri-D Wilson & Simon Rose, both Alberta authors and advocates. It’s shaping up to be great event and we hope to see everyone there! The Spring issue of the AALT Technician is your last chance to be entered into a draw for a free Conference Package! Get those ideas for an article percolating, the submission deadline is April 10th. Send your articles, comments & feedback to journal@aalt.org. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy this Winter Issue offering. … Rea

AALT Professional Development Bursary Interested in taking a professional development course or attending the AALT annual conference but are wondering whether or not you can afford it? Apply for the AALT Professional Development Bursary! Open to AALT personal members who are graduates of a recognized library program or LIT / LOA students. For bursary details: http://www.aalt.org/forms/PDBursary.pdf AALT Technician Winter 2010

AALT: COMMITTEES & VOLUNTEERS 2009/2010 Board Committees Executive Committee Kim Martin, President - Chair; Allison Stewart, President-Elect; Lynda Shurko, Member-at-Large Administration Group Kim Martin, President - Chair; Sarah Stephens, Membership Director; Lillo Lesko, Treasurer; Dianne Guidera, Board Appointee Communications Group Allison Stewart, President-Elect; Melanie Belliveau, Marketing Director ; Rea Gosine, Journal CoEditor; Joanne Shum, Journal Co-Editor; Janine Petty; Web Team Director Professional Development Group Lynda Shurko, Member-at-Large – Chair; Janell Bauer, Conference Co-Chair; Nancy Scott, Conference Co-Chair Director Chaired Committees Conference Committee (conference@aalt.org) Nancy Scott - Co-Chair, Janell Bauer - Co-Chair, Leanne Gosse, Dianne Guidera, Colleen Rowe, Marilyn Segall, Jane Huber, Meera Mitra. Journal Committee (journal@aalt.org) Rea Gosine – Co-Chair, Joanne Shum – Co-Chair, Beth Vandenboogaard, Joel Nielsen, Shawna Manchakowsky, Suyun Chen, Marketing Committee (marketing@aalt.org) Melanie Belliveau– Chair, Deb Cryderman, Chris Gartner, Leanne Gosse, Jonathan Wainwright Membership Committee Sarah Stephens - Chair, Normita Coralejo, Laura Somerville Web Site Committee (webteam@aalt.org) Janine Petty – Chair, Charmaine Sipe, Colleen Rowe, Cynthia Beuselinck, John Neild, Jonathan Wainwright, Lynn Blain, Marnie McFarland, Mike Wareman, Shalena Brown Additional Committees Alberta School Advisory Committee Carol Fowler – AALT Representative

AALT Technician Winter 2010

CONTRIBUTORS TO THE WINTER 2010 ISSUE: Joanne Shum: “Under the Covers: Beyond the Shadow by Brent Weeks” [p.34] - Joanne is the current coeditor of the AALT Technician and is a Library Technician at SAIT in Calgary. Rea Gosine: “LEED” [p.19] - Rea is the current co-editor of the AALT Technician and is the Database & Website Administrator for Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA). Kim Martin: “AALT On The Move” [p.30] - Kim is the current AALT President and the office manager at J&W Plumbing. She is a regular contributor to the Journal and a past editor. Lilla Lesko: “Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Program: Personal Reflections” [p.9] - Lilla is the current AALT Treasurer and is the Senior Public Service/Collections Assistant at Herbert T. Coutts Library at the University of Alberta. Karen Paquette: “Rocky Public Library Books To Go! Program” [p.26] - Karen is the Library Manager at Rocky Mountain House Public Library Joel Nielson: “Wavy Gravy: An Adventure in Google Wave” [p.11] - Joel is a member of the Journal Committee and a cataloguer at Parkland Regional Library. Tamara Abram: “Proofreading Tips & Grammar Basics” [p.14] - Tamara is the Inquiries Clerk in the Adjudication Unit of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, and a past AALT President. Suyun Chen: “Happy Chinese New Year” [p.20] - Suyun is a member of the Journal Committee and is a Library Clerk at Norquest College The AALT Journal Submissions contest is open again for another year! This year we’re running TWO contests: 1. Each article is entered to win a prize for the issue submitted for. 2. All entries up to & including the Spring 2010 issue will be entered into a draw for a chance to win a FREE registration to the AALT Conference May 27 – May 30, 2010 at the Carriage House Inn in Calgary. Deadline for submissions to the next issue of the AALT Technician is April 10, 2010! We look forward to hearing from you!

CONGRATULATIONS TO TAMARA ABRAM! WINNER OF THE FALL 2009 DRAW FOR A $25 CHAPTERS GC!

AALT Technician Winter 2010

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS

BY KIM MARTIN

Today’s message brought to you by the letter R for Remembering Remembering… what a difficult activity that can be. Is it because we are out of practice? After all, telephone numbers are kept in speed dial, email addresses magically appear in your email as you type in a person’s name, and locations are programmed into Garmins or other navigational devices to direct you or in my case, misdirect you. Sometimes we even find ourselves trying to remember what we were trying to remember and I don’t think that’s just age talking either! Perhaps we are just too busy to sit down and take a leisurely stroll down memory lane, or to deal with those little details that we’ve put off. I must confess that I drive our AALT Journal Co-Editors wild when I fail to remember their deadlines, for which I am most apologetic by the way! That is what inspired me to write about “R is for Remembering”. Remembering to acknowledge the people in our lives, both personal and professional, is something we seldom actively do. I always say that if you could read my thoughts, you would know that I’m always thinking of you. But for the life of me, I’m hard pressed to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard or telephone to ear to let them actually know that I am truly thinking of them. I could learn from my sister-in-law who is doing something new this year for birthdays. Instead of sending a card, she is calling everyone and using the time to catch up and reconnect with family and friends. Is this what people did before email, ecards, Facebook, and Twitter? How often does a year slip by before we find ourselves at the AALT conference once again, getting reacquainted with colleagues, some of whom live right in the same city. The Prince George library technicians noticed this pattern themselves and now try to get together on a fairly regular basis. Kudos to them and a lesson to us all! The AALT Board of Directors has noticed this networking gap as well and has been working on organizing a variety of social events throughout the year to offer a relaxed and social networking opportunity for all library technicians. The first event organized was the Calgary Zoolights on December 29, 2009. Although the group was small, a great time was had a by all! Watch for future events posted on the AALT Facebook site, website and on the AALT listserv! Remembering the people who have made an impact on the library and library technician landscape in Alberta and beyond is another activity that we need to do. It was with mixed feelings that I learned of Karen Labuik’s retirement from the RISE Project. Karen was the recipient of the 2003 AALT Advocacy Award and has always been a positive supporter of library technicians. As much as she will be missed, I do wish Karen all the best in her new adventure teaching English in Turkey.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

On a sad note, we say a different goodbye to two of our own colleagues, Mary Warren and Debra Jowett, both of Edmonton. Mary was a Grant MacEwan graduate (Class of 1995) and the library technician for years at the Strathcona High School. Debra was a very familiar face with AALT, taking an active role on the Board of Directors and on many committees. Deb was also a Grant MacEwan graduate, Class of 1988. Another passing which will be felt throughout the library community is that of Alan MacDonald of Calgary. When Alan retired from the University of Calgary in 2003, his official position was Special Assistant to the Vice President (Academic) and Provost, and Senior Advisor to the Directors of Information Resources and Information Technologies. On behalf of the AALT Board of Directors, and our membership, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the families of Mary Warren, Debra Jowett and Alan MacDonald. Remembering, some final thoughts…  Remembering who you are and the profession that you have contributed so much to, gives you the focus to succeed.  Remembering to renew your AALT membership gives our association strength in numbers and a louder voice.  Remembering that marketing yourself, your library and your library services is the name of the game once again and something that we must all do in order to catch those elusive budget dollars and the support of administration.

• Remembering to register for AALT Conference 2010: Rebuild, Renew, Recharge allows AALT the resources to provide future topnotch professional development opportunities and puts you into direct contact with other library technicians.

• Remembering to speak up to let the AALT Board of Directors and the membership hear what you have to say. This is how we built this organization to begin with and what gives us our reason for being.

• Above all, remembering to be thankful for volunteers, good health, family, friends, great library budgets, and miracles, whatever they may be. This is something that we should all do on a regular basis. Until we meet again I, for one, will work on remembering to remember, especially the next journal deadline! Take care and happy reading!

AALT Technician Winter 2010

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL AWARENESS PROGRAM: PERSONAL REFLECTIONS BY LILLA LESKO Recently I participated in a four part Aboriginal cultural awareness program. The program was developed for the University of Alberta Libraries and there were approximately 20 participants from seven University of Alberta Libraries. The goal of the program is for Library staff to achieve a deeper understanding of traditional knowledge and to build a closer relationship with Aboriginal people and communities. A practical application of the program is to better assist and interact with University of Alberta Aboriginal students at the Library service desks and elsewhere on campus. I was very pleased to be chosen to participate in the program and came to the program with very little knowledge of Aboriginal ceremonies and traditions. The four parts of the program corresponded with the four seasons of the year. The first part was to honour spring and to introduce the program and the elders who would be guiding and teaching us about Aboriginal culture and traditions. Each part of the program began with introductions and the presenting of gifts to the elders. There was a smudging ceremony to cleanse and purify the body, mind, and spirit, and a sacred pipe ceremony. The smoke from the ceremonies connects participants to the spirit world of the ancestors and creator. We were introduced to the importance of Aboriginal protocols and to the meaning and significance of the smudging and sacred pipe ceremonies. The elders told us about events from their lives and their ancestors, and how they gained knowledge over a lifetime of learning from their elders. There was a sharing circle where each of us gave a brief account of our family background, and what we hoped to gain from the program. The second part of the program was a two day retreat to honour summer. On day two we drove to the Kapaysahwin Sweat Land Traditional Knowledge Camp near Sandy Beach, Alberta. There were several tipis set up on the quiet peaceful camp. It was a wonderful place to reconnect with nature and spirituality. We had an orientation to Sweat and learned about the purpose, protocols and what to expect in the Sweat lodge. The elder explained that the Sweat is a purification process for cleansing and healing and a means to connect with the spirit world and the creator. Sacred rocks are used for healing in the Sweat lodge. There are four rounds, and each round is followed by a twenty minute break where participants can leave the lodge and cool off outside. The Sweat lodge is like a giant lung and the four rounds are for cleansing and healing the body, mind, emotions and spirit. The Sweat lodge is a low dome shaped structure completely covered by hides or blankets. I was quite apprehensive about experiencing the Sweat and I sat very close to the “door” so I wouldn’t feel too claustrophobic. It was completely dark inside the lodge and I could only see the fiery glow from the red hot rocks. The first round was difficult for me as I felt very hot. To cope with the heat I sank to the ground and breathed in mother earth and prayed. AALT Technician Winter 2010

I also kept a towel over my head and face to be shielded from the hot steam when water was poured over the rocks. I was very relieved when the signal was given to open the flap and we could go outside. I also felt happy that I completed the first round. The second round was soothing. I was in the moment. The third round went very quickly and I enjoyed listening to the singing and music. The elders explained before the start of the Sweat that the songs are from the spirit world and the music is ancient with sacred rhythms. The fourth round was peaceful but tiring. After the rounds were completed food was shared and offered to the ancestors. The third part of the program was to honour autumn and we had a two day retreat at the Kapaysahwin Sweat Land Traditional Knowledge Camp. On day one we had a review of the program, a sacred pipe ceremony, ceremonial meals and teachings on protocols and sacred ceremonies. During the evening there were stories, drumming and Round Dance. On day two we had a morning smudge and teachings on preparations for Sweat. The Sweat took place for several hours of the afternoon, and was followed by a delicious ceremonial meal of chicken and bison stew, bannocks and lots of fruit. The highlight for me was spending a night in a tipi with a fire in the centre to keep warm. What struck me as a city dweller is how far removed I am from nature by being cocooned in artificial light both day and night. As I gazed up at the starry night sky and admired the Milky Way I realized that it had been years since I saw a star-filled sky. After unrolling our sleeping bags and settling in for the night one of the elders came into our tipi and lullabied us to sleep by singing beautiful songs of healing. It was a very peaceful, memorable evening. The fourth part of the program was to honour winter and to review and give thanks for the completion of the program. We had an opening prayer and smudging and then we had a sharing circle where each of us either asked questions about Aboriginal culture and traditions or summed up our experiences, insights and thoughts about the program. We listened to sacred drumming and the elder explained that the drum is like the heartbeat of the mother. There was a recap and overview of the three sessions and a very special pipe ceremony was followed by a feast. In conclusion presentations were made to the elders and we received certificates and beautiful handmade gifts. I am truly thankful for being a student of this enriching and rewarding program and having the opportunity to experience and learn about Aboriginal culture and traditions from gifted elders. I also enjoyed bonding with colleagues outside of the office environment. I encourage everyone to take advantage of courses, programs and seminars to learn about Aboriginal traditions and culture. This knowledge provides a greater appreciation and understanding of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Nations and MĂŠtis and helps strengthen ties to Aboriginal communities and people.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

WAVY GRAVY AN ADVENTURE IN GOOGLE WAVE

BY JOEL NIELSON

Every year introduces a new web application for the struggling Library 2.0 advocate to keep up with, and 2009 was no different with the premiere of Google Wave, Google's brand new communication platform. But just what exactly is Google Wave and what does it set out to do? The amount of copy written about the program is massive, but even now there is considerable difficulty finding a definitive answer. The program is still in the middle of a closed beta test, so for the millions unable to gain access to hands-on experience with the program the waters are murkier still. However, through strenuous searching, backbreaking groundwork and exploitation of powerful connections I obtained an invitation to test the program, and I am here to report my findings to you today. The magnificence of the knowledge I shall bestow upon you! Will you shiver away from the light, huddled and chained around your fire quivering at shadows on the wall? Or will you break those chains, grasp the light in the palm of your hand, then stand tall and shake the pillars of Heaven? *cough* Okay, yeah, I'm devolving into extreme hyperbole in a sad attempt to hide the fact that in spite of my hands-on experience I'm still just as lost as ever. But I do take comfort in the fact that I'm not alone. Seriously, the first message I always see from people new to service is "... Now what? What's the point of this?" The pre-release for Wave touts it as a merge between instant messaging software, collaborative wikis, social networking, and email. And when you open it for the first time... it looks just like an email application, only a lot less intuitive. It was only until I did some background research and heard one of the programmers describe it as "e-mail if e-mail were invented today" that the program was finally given some shape in my mind. See, a wave is like an e-mail. Except you can add and subtract people from the e-mail as you see fit. Oh, and instead of an endless train of CCs and Re:s that e-mail conversations between groups of people devolve into, there's one main e-mail that everybody reads. Replies to the e-mail are written on the e-mail and flippity flappity floo I'm not making sense anymore. That's what any human description of Google Wave boils down to, sadly, lips flapping in the wind trying to make a coherent sound.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

Another facet of Waves are the extensions, which are little programs you can add to a wave which do funky things like play Sudoku, add a map to plan events and trips, tell you the weather and so on. These will ultimately build upon each other until we have another web application to play Farmville and Mafia Wars on. Snark aside, these can be quite useful. Imagine making a wave with all your family members with a map that shows exactly where they need to go to drop off the ransom money! Well, I no longer need to imagine that! You do, though. And I have nothing but pity for the people of yesterday. I'd offer you a hug but it takes at least two showers, a bath, and two bottles of Fast Orange to wash the stink of ancient history off. So, I hoped you enjoyed our little tour through the nuances of Google Wave. Yep, that’s right, hoped. No, I’m not going to explain my use of the past tense. Now I’m off to experience the joys of Google Buzz! When will this forsaken social networking stop?

Visit wave.google.com for more information!

AALT Technician Winter 2010

The Alberta Association of Library Technicians Presents . . .

The 36th Annual AALT Conference May 27th to May 30th 2010 Calgary, Alberta Featuring special guests: Sheri-D Wilson - Since founding the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival in 2003, SheriD has worked at quantum velocities to present one of the most respected Spoken Word Festivals in Canada. Driven by the passion to connect people, voices and ideas she founded/ organized SWAN (Spoken Word Arts Network) and is the Program Director of the Spoken Word Program at Banff Centre. www.sheridwilson.com Will Ferguson - is among Canada’s bestselling authors, eh! Best known for his humour books about Canada, Will Ferguson is a celebrated and award-winning author whose work is published in over 30 countries around the world. Having written such books as Canadian History for Dummies and Why I hate Canadians, Travel, History, Fiction and Humour make Will Ferguson a wickedly funny and aggressively patriotic Canadian. www.willferguson.ca Simon Rose - A local author, instructor and avid soccer fan; Simon Rose is an author of six science fiction and fantasy novels for children. He is an advocate of deaf literacy and is coordinator for the Calgary Children’s Book Fair and conference. He has had the honour of being a juror for multiple children’s literacy awards and has been nominated himself for several of his books. www.simon-rose.com

More information will be made available @ www.aalt.org AALT Technician Winter 2010

PROOFREADING TIPS & GRAMMAR BASICS … CONTINUED BY TAMARA ABRAM

AALT Technician Winter 2010

This is a 3 part article. Look for part 3 of Proofreading Tips & Grammar Basics by Tamara Abram in the Spring issue of the AALT Technician AALT Technician Winter 2010

THE SECRET LIVES OF LIBRARY TECHNICIANS … JOEL NIELSON BY JOANNE SHUM In this edition of the Secret Lives of Library Technicians, we meet up with Joel Nielson. Joel is a 2007 graduate of the MacEwan Information Management and Library Technology Program and former classmate of your two co-editors. Joel is currently employed at the Parkland Regional Library as their cataloguer. Joanne managed to catch up with Joel via email to ask him several thought inducing questions. It’s hard to believe it’s going to be three years now since we graduated from the Library Tech program! Where are you working these days? What are you doing? When I’m not saving war orphans from man-eating tigers, I catalogue books for the Parkland Regional Library. It’s not the most exciting job, but by Jove, those books don’t measure themselves, and there’s an old lady out in Rimbey who can’t sleep if she doesn’t know if the new James Patterson is 23 cm or 24 cm. Sometimes they make me make coffee too! What made you decide on the Library Technician program? A career aptitude test decided I’d be best in the library or archives field. That’s pretty much it. I wish I had some heart-warming story about how I had been bathed in the loving rainbow of knowledge refracted through the prism of a benevolent librarian, and that I wanted to spread some of that joy myself, but I’m afraid it’s as blisteringly simple as that. And considering it would take approximately 200 years to get an MLIS, the Library Technician program seemed like the best way to go. I know what you mean about the MLIS program. I’m still considering going that route but it’s a big decision to make. Was the program what you expected? Pretty much, yeah. Some courses were more enjoyable than others, but I could see why they were necessary for the most part. I really don’t know what else to say.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

What do you enjoy most about your job? Cataloguing is definitely not the most immediately rewarding job in the world. Nobody has ever won society’s admiration for doing it, and even explaining what exactly it is to the layperson can be an exercise in futility. But deep down I hope somebody is able to find a book they were looking for by any little extra work I put in. You know, writing a good summary, taking the time to find specific subject headings, that sort of thing. The sort of thing the average person would actually find use for in a catalogue. Even though all the cynical stuff I said earlier was true, I was buoyed through my journey throughout the library world by a desire to help people, a desire that I try not to openly admit. Wait a minute... As a cataloguer, you spend a lot of time in the back offices out of sight. Do you get to sit at the information desk and do reference and circulation sometimes, or does your position keep you in the back? Interacting with people? Oh goodness, goodness no! Us cataloguers are generally regarded as feral by the rest of the library population so they try to keep us away from the public as much as possible. The one time I made a phone call to one of our member libraries I was second-guessed so hard in my department I have no desire to ever do it again. What is the most interesting thing you’ve catalogued so far? The wackiest thing I’ve seen would probably have to be a piece of Marxist propaganda using Tintin characters. You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen the Captain calling for the death of capitalist pigs. Being that the library profession seems to be a predominantly female occupation, how’s it feel to be one of the few men in the library world? I often get asked this by friends who work in male-dominated fields. “Wow,” they say, “it must be awesome to work around all those women!” Little do my friends know that a prerequisite for women joining the library field is for them to either be in a committed relationship or not be attracted to me. Or, you know, a genuine interest in library work. What do you think would encourage more men to join the library field? That’s a hard question to answer. The library field isn’t on the list of options for a lot of men OR women, and that’s mostly to do with a lack of understanding or interest of the field itself. The lack of understanding is something that’s been easy to correct, and most of that is thanks to the tireless work of library advocates. The lack of interest is another thing entirely, especially if people with potential to do well in the library field are more inclined to use their skill set to make more money in other vocations.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

Got any hobbies? I remember back at MacEwan that you were into video games. You lent me Final Fantasy XII the week before finals and thereby ruined any of my study plans for that week! See, that was an unsuccessful gambit on my part to slow you down and not have to compete with you for the jobs that were available post-graduation. Now you’re going all Yomiko Readman* down at SAIT while I wade through piles of local history books. Apart from my various gaming endeavours, I study foreign languages with Japanese being my major interest at the moment, play the bass guitar -- I rock the Pixies something fierce, just ask my roommate! – and casually study Buddhism when I have a spare moment. Just before you go thinking I’m a cool bohemian dude consider the fact I can’t cook to save my life and I couldn’t hit the side of a barn with a hammer. I also enjoy abusing cliches. So yeah, still a big, giant dork. *(Editor’s Note: Yomiko Readman is the main character of a Japanese manga series called Read or Die or R.O.D by its fans, this one included, Joanne.) I didn’t know you played guitar. How long have you been playing? What’s your favourite type (s) of music to play besides The Pixies? Got any favourites that you just love to rock out on? I’ve been playing for about a year and a half, but I’ve only been playing seriously for about six months. Apart from the Pixies I dig playing some Rancid now and then. Mostly I’ve been playing scales to improve my technique. Phrigian mode forever, y’all. Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule Joel. Got any last thoughts, parting words for our readers? Don't take investment advice from squirrels. You'll never enter the markets that way.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

LEED

BY REA GOSINE

Lighted Everyday Electronic Display? Luminous Electric Energy Drill? Lots of Electronically Enhanced Dwarves? I see the acronym LEED regularly around my office and set off on a journey to discover what was so special about being ‘LEED Certified’. Turns out LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, and it’s a very big deal to have a certified LEED building. LEED is a building performance rating system in Canada that helps owners and managers make their buildings more sustainable. There are other rating systems in Canada, but LEED has moved to the forefront. LEED began in the 1990s in the United States at the US Green Building Council, and was later adopted by the Canada Green Building Council and adapted for Canadian climate, regulations and market conditions. There are various LEED rating systems that can be used depending on the type of building and construction. Generally however, it’s broken down into 5 main categories of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Each category has several different objectives for builders to try and meet; they are called credits in LEED lingo. The more credits achieved, the higher the final LEED certification level is. There are four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Once a project is complete, the applicant sends a building information package to the Canada Green Building Council for evaluation. An independent review and audit is performed to determine what LEED certification the building has achieved. Why go through this effort? There are many benefits: • Reduce negative environmental impacts • Gain competitive advantage with market proven rating system • Validate building performance with third party, independent review • Save significantly on building operation costs • Build healthier work and learning environments • Minimize risks with faster leases and less tenant turnover • Become eligible for various government incentives In Alberta there are many projects awaiting their certification, including the Lois Hole Library in Edmonton and the new WestJet campus in Calgary. For a complete list of projects that have applied for certification please visit: http://www.cagbc.org/leed/leed_projects/index.php *much of this article relies on information provided by the Canada Green Building Council. Please visit www.cagbc.org for more information. AALT Technician Winter 2010

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

BY SUYUN CHEN

The Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival as it follows the lunar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China. Different customs are followed in different areas, but most of them are similar. Before Chinese New Year, people follow traditional customs to prepare for it. Cleaning the house is the first thing that should be done before New Year’s Eve. By cleaning out the old things symbolizing bad luck, people prepare themselves for new year and new luck. The second thing that most families do is to tape the red spring couplets with hopeful messages on both sides of the doorway and replace all of last year’s New Year paintings. Parents prepare red envelopes with small amounts of cash and new red clothes for the children. After that, they rush out to buy and prepare groceries such as assorted preserved fruit and rice cakes. In the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong province, people like to go to the outdoor flower market before midnight to shop for “lucky flowers”. However, New Year’s Eve dinner is the most important event for Chinese families. No matter where they live, people always try to return home on New Year’s Eve for the family reunion. After dinner, family members stay to chat late into the night to count down the time until midnight. When the New Year arrives, families will send one or two members outside to light up the first firecrackers. If the firecrackers make loud noises and all burn out, the family celebrates because it implies luck for the coming year. On the first day of the New Year, people usually do not go to work and relax. After breakfast, kids will receive the red envelopes and run outside to show off their new clothes to their friends. Adults will also dress up, call absent family members and send out the lucky envelopes to their elders. On the second day, everybody goes to visit relatives bearing gifts and children. On the third and fourth day, friends will visit each other. On the fifth day, most people usually go back to work. Some areas keep celebrating the New Year until the last day of the month. In addition to all the celebrations for Chinese New Year, there are also some superstitions during the first few days. For example: don’t work on the first day to avoid being busy all year and don’t clean the floor or you will lose money all year. Even though the traditional celebrations have changed a lot in this modern age, the Chinese people still keep the basic customs the same. The younger generation has made some changes such as using text messages and phone calls to relatives instead of visiting or they use webcam and e-card to communicate with relatives instead of rushing home from foreign countries. A New e-year is coming soon and I am sure that many “Happy New Year” messages will take flight in the coming weeks between relatives and between friends. Happy Year of the Tiger! AALT Technician Winter 2010

新年快乐中国新年也叫春节，通常是顺应着农历而定。这是中国一年中最隆重的节日。不同的地区有不同的风俗,但大体上基本相似。新年前，人们依就传统去准备过年。大扫除是必不可少的首要之事，其意在于“除旧迎新”。其次，许多家庭忙于贴春联在门墙两旁和上面，更换旧年画。同时，家长们开始准备红包，依分给对象不同而装数量不等的钱入进红包里。最后，家长们忙于购买年货，准备各类干果和年糕。在广州，人们会去逛花市，以求在除夕午夜12点前买回幸运花。年夜饭是各家庭一年中最重要的团聚时刻，不管孩子们住多远，只要有可能，他们都会赶在吃年夜饭回家，与父母兄弟姐妹团聚。年饭后，家人们围在一起，热情地聊新叙旧，温馨异常，等待新年时刻的到来。当新年时刻到来，通常每家会派一俩人到外点鞭炮。如果鞭炮响声很亮，且全部烧完，这意味着来年幸运，此家人会很开心。年初一，人们停止工作，彻底休息。早餐后，孩子们穿上新衣服，把大人给的红包收好，便开心到外面玩和炫耀新衣服去了。成人们开始家庭内部拜年，问候不能回家的亲人，并分发红包给老人，祝福他们。初二，人们会带上孩子和年货走亲戚。初三和初四，通常是朋友间拜年。初五，人们回复正常工作。有的地区把新年延续到正月最后一天，且有不同的庆典随之而来。新年不只有好玩的事，也有不可理喻的迷信习俗，例如，初一不工作，工作则会忙一年；初一不打扫，打扫则会扫财等。在现代社会，虽然传统的庆祝模式改变了，但世界各地的中国人依然保持其基本传统。现代年青人改变了庆祝模式，他们利用现代通讯工具，以发短讯和打电话来拜年；利用网络视频和电子贺卡虚拟团聚，以代替千里迢迢从国外赶回家之累。 “新电子年”即将到来，数不清的电子拜年短讯将会在天空翱翔：虎年快乐！

Illustration of children enjoying Chinese New Year by Kang Mao (original artwork) AALT Technician Winter 2010

AALT Technician Winter 2010

ROCKY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS TO GO! PROGRAM

BY KAREN PAQUETTE

The Books to Go! Program at the Rocky Mountain House Public Library is an outreach program that provides a “mini” library of picture books to day homes and daycare facilities in the community. The program provides a way of connecting with parents, children, and caregivers by bringing library service out of the library and into the community. The goal of the Books to Go! Program is to nurture and support early reading habits and to encourage families to use the library by making library services accessible.

The purpose of the Books to Go! Program is to enhance early literacy, to provide access to library services and to encourage families to become library users. There are 3 parts to the Books to Go! Program: 1) A year-round lending library providing a bookshelf and books for family day homes and daycare facilities in the community. The caregivers are encouraged to visit the public library periodically to return the bag of books and get a new one. 2) Pamphlets and information on early literacy for parents. 3) A free family library membership for the caregiver. The Library has 25 bookshelves and 36 bags of quality children’s picture books. The caregivers come to the library on a regular basis to exchange their books for new ones.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

The overall response has been positive. A new feature called Stories to Go! has recently been added to the Books to Go! Program. It consists of â&#x20AC;&#x153;story time in a bagâ&#x20AC;? and provides a flannel board story and a flannel board, a picture book, fingerplays, book lists and craft ideas. There are 20 different kits to choose from and these can be borrowed from the public library by the caregivers to enhance their existing programming. The success of the Books to Go! Program relies on partnering with service agencies in the community. By working together, we have been able to put reading materials in the hands of children. The number of books circulated has increased each year. In 2007, 294 books were circulated, in 2008, 528 books were circulated and in 2009, 456 books. The program provides a way for families and the library to work together in creating a strong link with the public library. The Rocky Mountain House Public Library used funding from the Clearwater Regional FCSS along with funds from the Provincial Service Grant and an anonymous donation to create the Books to Go! program. The program is modeled after Library Links for Life, developed at the Kitchener Public Library in Ontario. Libraries traditionally support early literacy initiatives through story time programs for babies, toddlers and preschool age children and these sessions are well attended by patrons who are already library users. Libraries also traditionally offer support to other agencies by offering free meeting room space for community based literacy programs that have the potential to bring non-library users into the library. Outreach programs, like the Books to Go! Program, take the next step in connecting with families who are unable to benefit from traditional library service.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

A love of reading and the inclination to become a lifelong library user is formed in the preschool years. Research shows the need for children aged 0 to 6 years to have sustained stimulation and attention if they are to achieve their fullest potential as adult readers. Children who have been immersed in literacy experiences that are fun, exciting and enjoyable are more likely to read later because they associate reading and writing with pleasurable experiences. The family unit provides the strongest influence in the process of becoming literate. Parents and caregivers must provide literacy experiences on a daily basis in order to lay the foundation for life long learning and success in school. Early literacy programs that support the family are essential. Libraries play an important role in supporting early literacy, especially for those parents who have not used books and language-related activities with very young children. Libraries can offer support to families by raising awareness of the services provided at the public library and by providing easy access to materials and resources.

AALT Conference Bursary Would you like to attend the AALT annual conference but are wondering whether or not you can afford it? Apply for the AALT Conference Bursary! Open to any AALT personal members who have been unable to attend the conference within the last five years. For bursary details: http://www.aalt.org/forms/ConferenceBursary.pdf For conference details: http://aalt.org/conference

AALT Technician Winter 2010

2010 AALT Conference Registration NOW OPEN! www.aalt.org/conference

The AALT Board of Directors welcomes Nadean Mercier as the Grant MacEwan University student rep - welcome Nadean!

AALT: MISSION & PURPOSE The Alberta Association of Library Technicians (AALT) is an organization dedicated to fostering and enhancing the professional image of Library Technicians through information, education, promotion and support. AALT is a non-profit organization with an energetic, dynamic and dedicated membership governed by an annually elected Board of Directors. AALT strives to:  Address the ongoing professional development needs of the membership  Ensure that a high standard of progressive, timely and appropriate education continues to be offered in the library information programs  Promote accurate information on the qualifications and capabilities of library and information technicians  Interact with other associations within the library and information field  Provide networking opportunities within an educational framework  Maintain liaisons with various organizations to support Library Technicians AALT provides an avenue for professional and personal development, interaction and communication through:  the annual Spring conference  regional professional development and social events  volunteer opportunities on committees  serving on the Board of Directors  the AALT Technician journal  the Membership Directory  discussion forums and chats  Online job board AALT Technician Winter 2010

AALT ON THE MOVE: FROM ZOOLIGHTS TO THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF EDMONTON BY KIM MARTIN

On December 29, 2009, a brave band of library technicians, friends and family took in the Calgary Zoolights. Although it was a small group, the company was wonderful and the lights amazing. It was fun to see it all through the eyes of two 3 year olds! This event was organized by the Sarah Stephens our AALT Membership Director and is the first of many social networking events the AALT Board of Directors is planning. Wasn't that cold if the flamingos were out!

I was very honoured and excited to attend the 'Alberta Library Leadership Dinner' on January 11, 2010 to welcome Daniel Caron to Alberta, and celebrate his appointment at Library and Archives Canada. The event was held at the Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club in Edmonton. Although I missed the reception because I had difficulty locating the Club (even my Garmin was totally lost!), I still had the opportunity to network with people during dinner. Catching up with friends like Kathleen DeLong from the University of Alberta is one of my favourite activities at events like this. I also enjoy the opportunity to put faces to names as was the case with Carol Shepstone from the Mount Royal University Library, Merrill Kemp, President of the Greater Edmonton Library Association (GELA), and Leslie Latta, Provincial Archivist at the Alberta Archives. It was also a great pleasure to meet fellow library technician Kirk MacLeod from the Aboriginal Resource Centre in Edmonton. He is a second generation library technician and his library sounds Kim and Daniel very unique. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure we will be seeing an article from Kirk in a future issue of the AALT Technician. Of course one of my highlights of the evening was getting a chance to catch up with an AALT favourite, Mike Parkinson from SAIT.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

At the end of the evening, I did have the opportunity to meet and speak to Daniel Caron. Coming from an economics background, Daniel has a slightly different perspective of libraries than his predecessors and as such sees them more as a business than just a cultural necessity. I am in full agreement with his belief that libraries have to learn to market themselves more to the people in charge of financial support. We can’t just sit back and rest on our laurels with the expectation that our funding will always be there. Libraries need to be proactive and go after the funding before we lose it. On a Chris Gartner - Rocky View professional note, I will be following Daniel’s career with interest. He really seems to be focused on “getting out there” and meeting those in the library and archives fields to get input and feedback. Thank you to Ernie Ingles and Alison Faid from the University of Alberta for hosting this event. Note to self…the next time I travel to an unfamiliar location within Edmonton, I’ll be hiring a Sherpa guide to lead the way! On January 26, 2010 I had a productive meeting with Christine Gartner, Media Services Coordinator for Rocky View School Division, one of the largest school divisions in Alberta that employs library technicians. Christine was particularly interested to learn about the projects that Carol Fowler, Jean Nickel and the rest of the AALT School Library Committee have been actively involved in. We will be meeting again to see how AALT and the school division can work together to the benefit of both parties. If we are successful, AALT will consider approaching other school divisions, library systems, etc. to see how we can work together to meet the needs of library technicians in the province. Thank you to Chris Gartner for taking the time from her busy schedule to meet with me! AALT is heading back out on the road. You can catch us April 29, 2010 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Red Deer Career Expo, being held this year at Red Deer College.

Nice Kitty!

If you would like to have a AALT Board member visit your area, have AALT participate in a career or professional development event that you are hosting, or would simply like to have a face-to-face meeting with one of our board members, please contact our Marketing Director at marketing@aalt.org. Our virtual door is always open!

AALT Technician Winter 2010

Kirk MacLeod Watch the hands pal

One last group shot before the lights

Merrill and Leslie

We'd like to hear from you!

AALT Technician Winter 2010

CROSS CANADA UPDATE News From CLA The CLA Conference is in Edmonton this year. Preconference sessions and library tours take place on Wednesday, June 2. Sue Gardner; Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation is the opening keynote speaker kicking off the conference program on June 3. It was an honour to represent CLA LTIG on the Conference Program Planning Committee this year. There were so many wonderful session proposals making it very difficult to pick the best one. We are hoping that there is something offered in each time slot that will have an appeal for everyone and every library type. I am also on the Local Arrangements Committee and will be looking for volunteers. Please watch the AALT listserv and the CLA website for when volunteer applications will be accepted. http://www.cla.ca/conference/2010/ There are so many great sessions to take in at CLA, but there are also a lot of great networking events. The CLA LTIG is once again organizing the Library Technicians Supper on Thursday, June 3 at 6 pm at the Riverside Bistro in the Marriott (next door to the Shaw Conference Centre). Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great time to get together with library technicians from across Canada for an evening of laughter, making new friends and getting together with old friends. To attend please RSVP karen.hildebrandt@concordia.ab.ca by May 14. I hope to see many of you at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conference. Karen Hildebrandt; CLA LTIG Convenor

2010 AALT MEMBERSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! RENEW TODAY AT WWW.AALT.ORG AND CLICK ON MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP@AALT.ORG

AALT Technician Winter 2010

UNDER THE COVERS … A BOOK REVIEW

JOANNE SHUM

Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks (Book 3 of the Night Angel Trilogy – Sci-Fi/Fantasy) Published by Orbit Books ISBN: 978-0-316-03366-4 As is the disclaimer from the second book, beware of spoilers! Logan Gyre has escaped “the Hole” and is the rightful King of Cenaria but must fight against several large challenges: a Queen who refuses to give up her crown, a small army decimated by countless battles, and no hope. The new Godking has a plan for Midcyru. If it works all according to plan, no one will have the power to stop him! Meanwhile, Kylar Stern’s been placed in the ultimate dilemma. In order to save his friends, his country and possibly his enemies, he’s been given the impossible job: Assassinate a Goddess. The last book nicely ties up all the ongoing plots of the first two novels with a whopping 708 pages. The swords have been returned to their rightful owners as the mother of all battles occurs between the Godking and his army versus Logan, Kylar and all the allies they can gather. When the Godking pulls out his “ace in the hole” card, things look bad for Logan and company. It takes Kylar all the will he can muster to pull off the assassination of a lifetime because the person he must assassinate is the one person he loves most of all in the world. All the characters from the first two novels have their little subplots completed, some with happy endings, and some with not so happy endings. That was the one thing I absolutely loved throughout the trilogy. The novels were character driven. The characters drove the stories and plots and not the other way around. It made me want them to live all the way to the end. The mystery of the Wolf is revealed along with the whole back story of Durzo who is really Acaelus Thorne and why he was chosen to by King Jorsin Alkestes to be the original holder of the black kakari sword. I was a little disappointed with the last book of the trilogy because it was the last book and I would no longer be entertained by Kylar, Logan and the world of Midcyru. I will miss my little world of ninja assassins, smart-alecky responses and laugh out loud moments. There was one scene between Kylar and Durzo on the battlefield as they fight the monsters that the Godking released to cause havoc that had me laughing so hard because it was so typical of Durzo’s character not to tell Kylar about the other attributes that wetboys have when they are fused with their kakari swords. I could see Kylar’s reaction of disbelief to Durzo’s appearance in my head so clearly I couldn’t help but laugh. I have one little criticism for this last novel though: there were a few plots that felt a little rushed in its ending while other plots dragged on maybe a little too long. The ending was what I was expecting with one very large surprise at the end which makes me wonder if Mr. Weeks is planning another trilogy set in the future. I hope so because I would love to visit the world of Midcyru again. One last thing, a really big thank you goes out to Craig who recommended I read this trilogy. He said I would love this series and I wouldn't be able to put the books down until I had finished the entire thing. He was right! AALT Technician Winter 2010

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE - PLEASE VISIT WWW.AALT.ORG TO REGISTER TODAY!

Alberta Association of Library Technicians Technicians and Technology : Partners in Information P.O. Box 700, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2L4 Toll Free: 1-866-350-AALT (2258) Web Address: www.aalt.org

AALT Membership Form January 1 to December 31, 2010 Please fill in all information, but use the box provided in front of each item to indicate your agreement to have that item published in the AALT Membership Directory. Mark the box [X] if you are willing to have it published, leave the box blank if you are not.

NEW MEMBERSHIP: _____________ RENEWAL: _____________ Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________ [ ] Street Address: ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ City: _________________________ Province: ________ Postal Code: ________________________ [ ] Home Phone: ___________________________________ [ ]Email: ________________________________________________ (This address will be used for Journal delivery) Employer Name: ______________________________________________________________________________ [ ]Employer Address:__________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________ Province: ______ Postal Code: ____________________________ [ ] Business Phone: ______________________________

[ ] Fax Number: ____________________________

*Note: All current members will be listed in the directory by name and (if no other address information has been agreed to) by business affiliation and/or city & province/country. If you do not wish even this minimal listing, please mark the box below. [ ] I do not wish to have my name listed in the membership directory.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

Membership type: Personal $40.00 _______ Graduates of a recognized library and information technology program from an accredited post-secondary institution or Small Library Operation Certificate Holders (Rural Library Training Graduates). Personal members have the right to vote, hold office, and serve on committees.

Student $20.00 _______ Student of a recognized library and information technology program from an accredited post-secondary institution or Small Library Operation Certificate Holders (Rural Library Training Graduates). Student members have the right to vote, hold office, and serve on committees.

Associate $40.00 _______ Persons who do not qualify as personal members but who have an interest in library technology or information management and in the Alberta Association of Library Technicians (AALT). Associate members have the right to serve on committees. May not vote or hold office.

Institutional $55.00 _______ Libraries or persons who employ or who have an interest in library technicians. Institutional members have the right to serve on committees, and appoint an individual to have all other rights of an associate member. May not vote or hold office.

Affiliate $35.00 _______ Affiliate members are library or records management related organizations who have a professional interest in library technology or information management or the Alberta Association of Library Technicians (AALT). Where a reciprocal agreement exists a designated representative may vote but not hold office.

Type of Library: School: Elementary: ______ Jr. High/Middle School: _______ Sr. High: _________ Elementary/Jr. High_______ Jr. High/Sr. High_______ K-12_________ Special: Law: ____ Corporate: _____ Government: _____ Medical: _____ Non-profit: _________ Other: _______________ Other Library Types: Academic: _____ Public: _____ Regional Library System:_________ Other: Records Management: _____ Archives: _____ Alternative Career: ______ Student: ______ Non-Library Environment: _____ Not Currently Employed: _______ Graduate of : _____________________________________________Year: _______________________ Currently a student of: _________________________________________________________________ Would you be interested in running for a Board position?

_______________________________

Could you please tell us which union you belong to, if any? __________________________________ Please make your cheque payable to AALT and mail the payment with your completed membership form to:

Alberta Association of Library Technicians PO Box 700 Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2L4 *AALT is an unregistered supplier under section 148 of the GST Act. Membership fees are GST exempt. +For complete explanations of membership rights please consult the Bylaws. AALT respects and is committed to protecting the privacy of members. The information on this form will be input into the AALT Online Registration System. Some of the third party online services used by AALT store personal information in their databases. These third party services have their own privacy policies that may differ from AALT's Privacy Policy. The AALT Online Registration System (ORS) is covered under a specific agreement between AALT and Count Me In (CMI), the ORS service provider, which includes obligations by the service provider to protect the privacy of personal information entered into that system. Personal information collected will not be used for any purpose other than by AALT or otherwise required by law. The information is not to be accessed or used by CMI for any purpose other than to maintain the functionality of the ORS system. The Privacy Policy of CMI is located at https://www.cmiregistration.com/user/about/privacy.jxp?org=271.

AALT Technician Winter 2010

YOUR BOARD â&#x20AC;Ś WORKING HARD OR HARDLY WORKING?

Janine working with Conference

Janell, Conference Co-chair in action!

Nancy, Conference Co-chair at work!

(l-r) Rea, Lynda, Lilla, Allison & Nadean

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS & GROUP REPORTS

AVAILABLE ONLINE

Board Meeting Highlights & Group reports (Administration Group, Professional Development Group, Communications Group), will be available on the AALT website under the Members Only page http://www.aalt.org/members/index.html

AALT Technician Winter 2010

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

AALT Board of Directors 2009 - 2010 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE President Kim Martin president@aalt.org

Member-At-Large Lynda Shurko member-at-large@aalt.org

President-Elect Allison Stewart president-elect@aalt.org

DIRECTORS Conference Janell Bauer-Hurdman & Nancy Scott conference@aalt.org

Secretary vacant secretary@aalt.org

Journal Editors Rea Gosine & Joanne Shum journal@aalt.org

Treasurer Lilla Lesko treasurer@aalt.org

Marketing Melanie Belliveau marketing@aalt.org

Web Site Janine Petty webteam@aalt.org

Membership Sarah Stephens membership@aalt.org BOARD APPOINTEE Dianne Guidera board-appointee@aalt.org STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES Grant MacEwan Nadean Mercier gmc-student@aalt.org

SAIT Jonathan Wainwright sait-student@aalt.org ALBERTA ASSOCIATION OF LIBRARY TECHNICIANS P.O. Box 700, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2L4 www.aalt.org

CALENDAR OF EVENTS...

March

April

May

April 10 AALT Technician Submission Deadline! Last change to get an entry into the Submissions Contest for a Free 2010 Conference Registration! journal@aalt.org

June June 2 - 5 CLA Conference Edmonton, AB http://www.cla.ca/ conference/2010/

April 22 - Earth Day http://www.earthday.net/ March 8 - 12 Canada Reads

April 22 - 24 BC Library Conference

http://www.cbc.ca/books/ canadareads/

Penticton Trade & Convention Centre Penticton, BC www.bclibraryconference.ca/

March 27 Earth Hour

May 27 - 30th AALT 2010 Conference Rebuild, Renew, Recharge Carriage House Inn Calgary, AB http://www.aalt.org/ conference/index.php

April 29 - May 2 Alberta Library Conference

8:30 pm local time http://wwf.ca/earthhour/

Jasper Park Lodge Jasper, AB www.albertalibraryconference. com

Future Dates To Make Note Of...  April 29th - May 2nd Alberta Library Conference in Jasper AB www.albertalibraryconference.com/  May 27th - May 30th AALT 2010 Conference - Rebuild, Renew, Recharge Carriage House Inn, Calgary AB www.aalt.org  June 2nd—June 5th

CLA/ACB 2010 National Conference and Trade Show Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton AB http://www.cla.ca/conference/2010/ AALT Technician Fall 2008