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
To the Board of Trustees of the Pembina Trails School Division:
The Manitoba Library Association (MLA) would like to address concerns in relation to the 2024-25 draft budget proposed for the school division.
In the “Draft Budget 2024/25 At A Glance” document it is stated that the Division’s Board has added 58.5 FTE teaching positions. However, the additional FTE positions have come by redeploying “internal resources” into classrooms, which includes redeploying middle years and senior years teacher-librarians.
MLA recognizes that the Pembina Trails School Division finds itself, alongside many other school divisions throughout Manitoba, in a difficult financial position due to years of inadequate provincial funding and imposed restrictions for raising revenue through local property taxation rates. However, the MLA is concerned that in deciding to redeploy teacher-librarians into classrooms, many of whom only work part-time or half-time hours, that student access to needed library resources and services will be adversely affected.
The teacher-librarian role in schools is crucial for student success as this specialized role provides schools with a trained staff member who is effectively able to manage curriculum-supported materials within the respective library space and who is able to provide direct supports in the form of reader’s advisory services, information literacy training, and fostering research and information technology skills.
The MLA strongly encourages the Division to reconsider the redeployment of teacher-librarians into classrooms, as we believe this decision will only create negative outcomes for students by depriving them of access to needed library resources and services.
Richard Bee, MLIS
Manitoba Library Association
Director-at-Large, Advocacy
At the February 15, 2024 meeting of the Manitoba Library Association board of directors, there was a motion to approve a value statement and code of conduct for membership. The motion was approved unanimously.
When applying for or renewing MLA membership, members will now need to accept the value statement and agree to the code of conduct.
You can read the value statement and code of conducthere.
To showcase the interesting and important work being done by libraries across the province, MLA interviews one library worker every other month about the unique work they do in order to deliver library services to Manitobans.
In January we talked with KC Bateman, Library Technician and Academic Integrity & Copyright Officer at the Assiniboine Community College Library in Brandon. In addition to the many responsibilities of her position, KC and her colleagues have been tackling the ongoing challenges (and opportunities) faced by those using AI in academic research. Read on to see how KC balances her role in teaching students about AI from both her perspective as a Library Technician and the College’s Academic Integrity Officer.
Can you tell us a bit about your library system or branch? Is there anything unique or unusual about it?
I work at the Assiniboine Community College Library and we are located in the Victoria east campus in Brandon. What might be unique about us is that we service not only this campus but a dozen or so ‘off campus’ or revolving sites.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about your work?
My job is unique in the way that I spend more time in the classroom with students than most other academic library technicians. The beginning of each term at the college is the busiest time for me and I spend a lot of it not only in classrooms here at the Brandon campuses, but all across Manitoba. I give presentations to the students that help them become familiar with post-secondary research, library services, citing, and academic integrity and artificial intelligence. These sessions not only give students a good head start on their post-secondary journey, but also introduce them to at least one person in the library which opens they door for them to be a little more comfortable in seeking out our assistance. I feel like these sessions are vital for our off-campus sites as students there can feel isolated and like they don’t have the same access as our Victoria Ave E. campus students. I like to deliver as many of those sessions in person as possible to better convey the message that we are always ready and willing to help out in remote areas as much as we can.
What is something happening at your library that you’re excited about?
Our library has been navigating the challenges of Artificial Intelligence. Our Library Manger and I spent this past summer learning about introducing students to AI that can help with their research, and how to detect the use of it in instances of academic misconduct. We’ve coordinated sessions for both students and staff on all things AI and brought in a lot of material on the subject. We were even featured in our local newspaper for our work on and with AI. Also, and this is mostly a brag on the work of our Library Manager, Josh Seeland, we’ve been able to keep up or be one step ahead of most other institutions when it comes to creating policy and guidance on academic misconduct where AI is involved.
What is a challenge you’re currently facing?
As much as I’m excited by what our library is doing with Artificial Intelligence, it has also presented a challenge with how students approach research and assignment completion. This past term especially, we’ve seen questions about how to find information go way down and academic misconduct shoot up. Being the college’s Academic Integrity Officer as well as a library technician, I sometimes end up being involved in both sides of the issue. My sessions are set up to help students understand the line between positive and helpful use of AI in hopes of misconduct prevention but when misconduct does happen, either the Library Manager or I are often involved. Trying to find a balance between these roles can be a challenge.
What are you reading/watching/playing right now?
I’m a sucker for a good fantasy novel. I’m currently reading House of Roots and Ruin by Erin A. Craig. It’s the second book in a series and both have been fantastic.
We’re always looking for more library workers to feature each month! Are you doing something interesting at your library that you want to share, or you know someone in the province that is? Reach out to us at communications@mla.mb.ca.
The Canadian Federation of Library Associations/Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA-FCAB) still needs Manitoba Library Association’s nomination for our Prairie Representative for the 2024 CFLA-FCAB Board of Directors.
Please consider putting your name forward or encouraging a colleague to stand for the nomination!
WHO MAY BE NOMINATED
Article 32 of The Federation’s By-laws specify the Board composition. In order to be nominated, a candidate must be a member in good standing of a member organization of the Corporation. Because the Federation represents associations it is important that nominees effectively represent and are connected with the association(s) they represent.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD
The CFLA-FCAB Board is responsible for the strategic and professional direction of the Federation. It establishes strategic priorities and maintains oversight over the activities, finances and governance of the organization.
Board members are expected to make themselves available for regular teleconference meetings (currently held monthly). Business will be conducted in between meetings by email and teleconference.
HOW DO I NOMINATE A CANDIDATE?
An authorized signatory or designate of the Member organization will nominate in writing the candidate to the CFLA-FCAB Nominations Committee. Please complete the form on page 5 found in the full document found here: Nomination Form (page 5)
Send your nomination to Michael/Michelle Rogowski, Executive Director (mrogowski@cfla-fcab.ca) for CFLA-FCAB.
Attention members! Another great training opportunity for you!
These workshop sessions will be presented by Laurelle Harris, Equitable Solutions
March 4, 2024 (10 am – 12 pm via Zoom) Introduction to +Anti-racism and Equity
March 18, 2024 (10 am – 12 pm via Zoom) The Library as a Site for Social Justice – Putting It All Together: Supporting Equity
Training is FREE for MLA members – there is an option to sign up for membership to get the training for free – otherwise it is $20 per person/per session.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
– Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail
Libraries play a critical role in our democracy – particularly when it comes to intellectual freedom. In a free and democratic society, censoring information simply because it doesn’t align with any one group’s cultural, religious, sexual, or political beliefs is an affront to our shared equality as citizens. Such attempts at censorship are not only undemocratic but can also foster hate and inflict real harm on real people because of the implied messaging that some are less worthy of full participation and representation in our society.
In a defining moment, the John E. Robbins Library at Brandon University became a center for upholding this freedom when a motion to censor LGBTQ+ materials was being deliberated within the Brandon School Division Board of Trustees.
As part of a meaningful response to this challenge, the University’s Gender and Women’s Studies department launched a three-part speaker series on the topic of LGBTQ+ inclusion, in collaboration with the Library, and with funding from the Margaret Laurence Endowment. The Library’s Gathering Space served as a modern-day agora for keynote speakers such as Professor Melissa Adler, from the University of Western Ontario, Dr. Robert Mizzi, Canada Research Chair in Queer, Community and Diversity Education, and poet Michael V. Smith to express the importance of queer literature and representation in our society. With hateful acts such as the École Polytechnique massacre and, more recently, the multiple stabbing incident that took place at the University of Waterloo in mind, extra measures were taken to ensure the physical safety of speakers and attendees. The Library, in essence, became an active site for defending not only intellectual freedom, but freedom of speech, equity, diversity and inclusion as well.
In addition to the speaker series, the commitment to intellectual freedom and solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community was further inscribed in the Library’s physical and virtual space as a sustained response. A display of juvenile challenged books, general information about challenges to books and magazines, and news clippings outlining the events leading up to the speaker series and ultimate triumph of the LGBTQ+ community was created by Stacey Lee, Metadata and Collection Management Librarian and Natasha Ofwono, Library Assistant. A “Challenging Books” Libguide mirroring the display was also launched.
The Gender and Women Studies Speaker Series these past couple of months came at a time when many were looking for a space to breathe and be around safe company. Having queer and gender diverse topics openly and passionately discussed at the library brought a lot of positive energy and the community together. The speakers brought in were all enthusiastic and inspired but were also not opposed to opening up the conversation to those in the room to share similar stories and ideas. Hearing that Melissa Adler had taken the time to watch the entire BSD Meeting from May 23rd before she came to Brandon… or Robert Mizzi breaking down common tropes in children’s books and holding them up to banned LGBTQ+ books of similar themes. Each speaker brought something that the Brandon audience was familiar with and then expanded on, provided additional resources, and their own experiences — either personal or professional. These curated presentations are essential to have available in smaller communities such as Brandon. They let us learn and come together in a healthy way.
– Aly Wowchuk, Chair, Brandon Pride
Dr. Kelly Saunders, Associate Professor Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies (Left) and Melanie Sucha, CIO (Right)Display of juvenile challenged books created by Stacey Lee, Metadata and Collection Management Librarian and Natasha Ofwono, Library Assistant.“Challenging Books” Libguide
One thing I really appreciate about the library people at BU is the dedication to supporting the *social* missions of the university alongside the scholarly ones. This is not just a “shush space” it is very much a library where inquiry and discovery is supported in all its forms for all people, even and sometimes especially when it requires events and speakers and food and debate. In a world where silent, solo study space with all the information you could ever want is just a click away online, our library embraces the physical reality of its place, its people, and the relationships and perspectives we (sometimes messily) bring to the table.
-Grant Hamilton, Director, Marketing and Communications, Brandon University
In addition to being a pillar of democracy, the John E. Robbins Library is an ever-evolving space for nurturing academic excellence and supporting intellectual curiosity. Students, scholars, and the public have access to a wide-ranging collection of expertly curated resources. Reference services, multimedia tools, information technology support and writing workshops are also accessible to patrons through the Library. The “Long Night Against Procrastination” is an event put on by the Library to encourage students to leverage these resources towards the end of term as preparation for final exams and assignments. For the event, the Library and its many services are made accessible from 7PM until 2 in the morning. Events such as this, fused with the high art, human-centered architecture, and modularity of the space make the John E. Robbins Library experience undisguisable from any of the top tier Canadian universities or “U15”.
The Curve Gallery space hosts artistic and historic exhibitions such as 100 Years of Psychiatric Nursing in Canada, curated by Dr. Beverley Hicks and Marlene Fitzsimmons, installation by Natasha Ofwono.
Laura Jacyna, Music Librarian (Left) with Melanie Sucha, CIO (Right)
The university’s Music Library offers students a cosmopolitan musical experience through its comprehensive collection of books, journals, and audio media. Musical video performances, curated by Music Librarian Laura Jacyna, are routinely screened at the Music Library. These events contribute to creating vibrant, inclusive, and social experiences for the student community. In addition to its cultural richness, at the physical level it is one filled with natural sunlight and plants – described by students as wellness enhancing space.
Supporting Indigenous pedagogy and cultural awareness are also a key element of the Library. As part of Brandon University’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, undergraduate degrees require a minimum of three credit hours of approved Indigenous content and the Library plays a critical role in preserving, acquiring, and making materials in support of this curriculum accessible to students. The Indigenous Curriculum Collection, which is geared towards K-12 teachers, also provides a range of thoughtfully curated, multi-format resources intended to support and advance culturally appropriate teaching practices. Resources on Indigenous musical traditions are also housed in the Music Library.
The John E. Robbins Library can be likened to a crossroad where democratic action, advances in pedagogy and research, and the preservation and diffusion of culture intersect. Providing a U15 experience on a fraction of the budget is another way of describing the essence of the John E. Robbins Library. Funding for the Library, when it remains static in the face of inflation as it has in recent years, spurs difficult decisions that make providing such an experience ever more challenging. When we consider all the above and the context of being situated in a small prairie city, as a library community and as citizens of Manitoba and Canada, we cannot undervalue the vital role that this library plays as an intellectual hub in the region.
The Manitoba Library Association would like to extend its gratitude to Melanie Sucha, CIO; Natasha Ofwono, Library Assistant; Laura Jacyna, Music Librarian; and Dr. Kelly Saunders, Associate Professor Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies, for their leadership and for sharing their experiences in shaping the John E. Robbins Library landscape.
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.
