MLA and the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers are pleased to announce a new award in support and recognition of Manitoba libraries hard work to uphold library values of intellectual freedom while at the same time reflecting their community’s need for inclusive and diverse library spaces.
This annual award will give 15 books from Manitoba publishers to an individual or library whose service, passion, and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is outstanding among their peers.
This individual or library will have demonstrated strong resolve in upholding human rights, inclusivity and equity in library access for their library or in the library community at a local, regional, provincial or national level.
The Award will recognize ongoing work or an outstanding accomplishment at a point in time.
The Manitoba Library Association is pleased to invite members to its Annual General Meeting:
Thursday, April 18, 6:00 PM Central Time, online over Zoom
This meeting will be followed by a meeting of the incoming and outgoing Board members at 7:00 PM Central.
Please register for receipt of AGM package and Zoom link. Only registered members are able to vote, please visit our website if you need to renew or purchase membership.
We will be electing for the following Board positions:
These are important and challenging times for libraries in Manitoba – your peers need you! Get involved as a member by putting your name forward for the board, by joining a committee, and/or by supporting the work of the MLA with a membership as we continue to promote and support our incredible libraries and library staff members in this province.
Supporting the MLA helps our ability to support libraries and library workers in our province, we are all the stakeholders!
Being a member of the MLA Board provides excellent opportunities to:
meet and network with others in the community,
gain valuable skills,
build your professional portfolio, and
contribute to your profession.
The Manitoba Library Association welcomes nominations for the following positions on the Board:
Vice President
Treasurer
Membership Director
Director at Large – Advocacy
Library Technicians Division Chair
Trustee Division Chair
Position descriptions are available online. Additional information on position responsibilities, expectations or benefits of serving on the Board is available by emailing president@mla.mb.ca.
Nomination Process:
You may nominate someone who is willing to stand as a candidate for an above position, or you may nominate yourself. Please send an email to president@mla.mb.ca and include:
Name of nominee
Contact information of nominee
Election Process:
Elections will take place at the Association’s Annual General Meeting on April 18, 2024. The roster of nominees will be presented to members and there will be a call for additional nominations from those present at the meeting. Voting will take place after which the Association’s members will accept the slate of new Board members
The Manitoba Library Association is looking for an Office Manager. The position description can be found below and the deadline for applications is April 8, 2024. We are excited to hear from all of those interested in joining our organization!
Office Manager – Description
The Manitoba Library Association provides leadership in the promotion, development, and support of library and information services in Manitoba for the benefit of MLA members. MLA membership is open to the library and information community and the citizens of Manitoba. The guiding principles by which we operate are to create opportunities for collaboration & partnership, inclusivity & acceptance, active dialogue with all stakeholders and a sense of community. We are a strong and proactive organization that effectively serves the professional interests of its diverse membership.
Reporting to the board of directors and working collaboratively with the board, staff, and various committees, the office manager is responsible for maintaining and optimizing the administrative operations of MLA and general office management. The incumbent would also provide administrative support to committee members and the program coordinator to actualize the work of workshops and conferences. The Office manager will work in accordance with the policies of MLA and in support of the outcomes as defined in the Strategic Plan. Supporting, facilitating, training, and liaising with committee members, and partnering with other organizations is critical to a successful organization that benefits its general membership. So too is the need to work in close collaboration with the board of directors on all operations, including program and project activities as they relate to the current strategic plan.
Duties of the Office Manager
Administrative Support
In collaboration with the Secretary, manages and maintains association records, meeting minutes, memberships, correspondence, official documents, and reports.
In collaboration with the Communications Committee and Webmaster, manages facilities, equipment, and communication platforms.
In collaboration with the Board, regularly updates the association’s handbook and website.
Attends the physical office at minimum twice monthly, and ad hoc as needed, for mail collection or meetings.
Provides administrative support organizing events and conferences.
In collaboration with the President and Vice-President, coordinates scholarship and awards selection process, and ensures disbursement.
Works in close collaboration with the MLA Executive to sustain operations of the association.
Builds a positive culture and member focused association in collaboration with the board.
Financial
Manages and reports on the association’s financial resources and prepares for an annual audit.
Supports banking, insurance, and financial management processes to ensure efficiency.
In collaboration with the Board Executive, administers grants, sponsorships and funding from a variety of sources.
Develops, with the treasurer, an annual budget.
Assists the Treasurer in pursuing new funding opportunities.
Membership
Serves as primary contact point for MLA members, relaying messages to the Membership Director and other members of the Board as required.
In collaboration with the Board, ensures that the general membership is informed of important/relevant issues.
In collaboration with the Membership Director, manages donor and member databases.
Requirements:
Proven experience as an Office Manager or in a similar role
Proven experience with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
Experience with reporting, budgeting and bookkeeping
Proficiency with QuickBooks is an asset
Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
Attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and record keeping
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and the ability to work as a team
Interest in and/or knowledge of libraries
High level of professionalism and integrity
Willingness and ability to join the Manitoba Library Association
This is the equivalent of a part-time position at 21 hours per week and 48 weeks of work annually (to be performed consecutively or non-consecutively), with four weeks paid vacation. The regular working hours are flexible and can be set by mutual agreement between the incumbent and the employer. Apart from necessary tasks in the Manitoba Library Association office, work can be carried out remotely. The Office Manager, members of the Board, and other agents of Manitoba Library Association (i.e. Program Coordinator) will make every effort to negotiate meeting times in a mutually agreeable manner and with reasonable notice. This is an annually funded position subject to annual funding grants and operations.
Salary: $25.00 – $30.00 per hour; 21 hours per week.
How to Apply:
Please email Cover letter and resume to president@mla.mb.ca by Monday, April 8, 2024.
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MLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to employment equity and diversity, including an inclusive barrier-free recruitment and selection processes and work environments. MLA invites applications from all qualified individuals and welcomes applications from racialized persons, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity. Feel free to self-identify on your cover letter. Preference will be given to candidates from equity-deserving groups above.
Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please email president@mla.mb.ca for any questions and concerns regarding application and accommodations. Any information received relating to accommodation measures will be addressed confidentially.
The process of cross-pollination in the natural world can help to produce bountiful gardens and crops required for healthy living. Communities can also benefit from this process, but rather than pollen, insects, and wind, it is libraries which act as a hub for exchanges that promote healthy social living. The Carberry/North Cypress branch of the Western Manitoba Regional Library is a prime example of this, where a conscious effort is made to promote a web of interaction between age groups, local organizations, and types of information.
One of the first things visitors may notice upon entering the library is the hum of a 3D printer transforming patrons’ imagination into reality. There is a steep learning curve associated with 3D printing and the library’s knowledgeable staff is eager to offer their support. This piece of technology, which was funded by the Carberry and Area Community Foundation, was intentionally placed near the entrance to educate the public that “libraries aren’t just dusty rooms full of old books,” in the words of branch supervisor, Laurie MacNevin. According to the library’s records, over 1000 3D prints were made last year alone. Conventional printing is also a popular service offered by the library. Other technologies available to patrons include telescopes, language translation devices, and even home radon detectors.
The library is anything but a dusty old room full of books. Large windows fill the space with natural light, making it an ideal environment for keeping plants. Some patrons will even winter their plants in the library and there is an array of permanently housed plants throughout the space, giving it a home-like, welcoming feel. The natural elements of the library are complemented by local works of art, which not only beautify the space but work to support connections to and within the local arts community as well.
With gardening being a popular pastime amongst patrons, the library, in collaboration with Carberry Garden Club, has setup a seed library where members from the club and the community-at-large can donate and exchange seeds. On occasion, the club also holds talks on topics such as no till gardening and winter sowing. An advantage of this form of knowledge exchange over generic information on the topic is that it is based on locally tried-and-tested methods. Gardening in the Carberry and surrounding area, for example, is known for its highly sandy soil composition, which poses a variety of challenges in terms of nutrients and drainage.
Another element of this library is its focus on nurturing critical life skills amongst the community’s younger generations; for instance, teamwork, confidence in using new technologies, communication, logic, and problem solving. Patrons have access to “Micro:bits,” which are small programmable circuit boards designed for teaching the fundamentals of coding. Like the learning curve associated with 3D printing, the library’s friendly and knowledgeable staff is keen to support patrons (typically 9 to 12-year-olds) with their exploration of these devices. How to Solve a Rubix Cube is a popular program which encourages both collaboration around problem solving and confidence in one’s own problem-solving abilities. Access to games, such as Dungeons and Dragons, also provides opportunities for developing verbal, numeracy, communication, and teamwork skills.
In addition to sowing the seeds of critical life skills amongst youth, the library also provides programs tailored towards the community’s seniors. The Reader’s Teas for Seniors provides a warm social atmosphere for patrons to enjoy refreshments while listening to a story read aloud.
Though some programs are tailored to specific age groups, they are not intended to divide them. For the most part, they all take place in a central, common area to encourage a community-of-one atmosphere. A notable exception is the all-ages Chess Club, which has helped to build bridges across generational divides in the community in a way that few other activities can.
Whatever the purpose of their visit to the Carberry branch of the WMRL, patrons are likely to discover new aspects of their community and of the information world – an experience that branch supervisor Laurie MacNevin describes as “breaking the algorithm,” which is a reference to the highly addictive echo chamber of information that is fed to us on social media based on clicks and likes.
The MLA would like to extend its gratitude to Laurie MacNevin, Branch Supervisor and Mackenzie Altenburg, Library Assistant, for their passion and commitment to creating library experiences that challenge and advance the notion of what a library is while strengthening bonds in the community.
Article and Photographs by Rustam Dow, MLA Communications Committee Member
In addition to sowing the seeds of critical life skills amongst youth, the library also provides programs tailored towards the community’s seniors. The Reader’s Teas for Seniors provides a warm social atmosphere for patrons to enjoy refreshments while listening to a story read aloud.
