Category Archives: Post Archives

Freedom to Read Week Marathon Reading – Thursday, February 28th, 2013

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Freedom to Read week is approaching, so to celebrate our right to intellectual freedom in Canada and make people think about censorship, we’re co-hosting a marathon reading event! We’ll be reading from banned (and just otherwise awesome) books all day, and also helping to raise money for the One to One children’s literacy charity! Hurray!

Sign up to read something soon.

ALA @ UBC T-shirt Contest!

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Any passionate designers out there?

The ALA student group would like YOU to get involved in our most recent project! We are calling for submissions to our logo design contest, and everyone is invited to participate!

One-colour designs for a one-sided shirt are due in electronic form (please e-mail to ala.slais.ubc@gmail.com) by the end of the day on Saturday, February 16th.

The design should incorporate ALA & UBC, but otherwise, it is up to you!

Some incentive? The winning designer will receive a free t-shirt!

Ready, set, GO!

Show us what you’ve got. Oh, and have fun!

Ariel Deardorff chosen for ALA Student to Staff Competition

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The ALA Student Chapter would like to congratulate Ariel Deardorff in being chosen for the ALA Student to Staff Competition!

Each year, 40 MLIS students are chosen to assist ALA staff during ALA Annual Conference. In exchange for working four hours a day (or a total of 20 hours), these students receive free conference registration, housing, and a per diem for meal expenses. During free time, they may attend programs and participate in other conference activities.

This year’s conference will be held in Chicago, Illinois from June 27 to July 2.

Have fun and learn lots, Ariel!

Meeting Minutes | November 14, 2012

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Attendees: Chelsea Shriver, Jason Korff, Nadia Stennes-Spidahl, Yesenia Ricardo, Elspeth Olson, Nick Josten, Mary Jingleweski.

1. Approval of October 24 meeting minutes

  • Minutes were approved.

 2. White elephant book swap / bake sale

  • The date of the book swap / bake sale is November 21
  • Volunteers are needed to lead each part of the event:
    • Ysenia and Nadia will co-lead the bake sale. Ysenia will be there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Nadia will be there from 1-2 p.m.
    • Bake sale leaders should bring paper so that people can note ingredients.
  • Chelsea will create a Google doc for baked goods sign-up sheet.
  • Nick J. will lead the white elephant gift exchange from 12-1 p.m.
  • Bring extra books for people who want to participate but don’t bring their own. Cheap paperbacks are available from the book sale carts at public libraries.
  • Wrap them in anything, as long as it is opaque.
  • You can donate your book to the SIPS book drive if you receive something you don’t want.
  • Nick will bring a cigar box for collecting money.
  • For promotion it is okay to send an email to the LASSA list because it’s a school-wide event.
  • Jason will make posters for the bake sale.
  • Members should wear their ALA t-shirts or baking-related outfit.

3. Student-to-Staff Program contest

  • Deadline for the essay contest is November 15. Refer to the instructions sent by Layla on October 30. Email completed essays to Eric.

4. ALA Midwinter invitation from ALA@UW

  • There is an invitation from ALA@UW members to stay with them during the ALA Midwinter meeting, per email sent out by Layla. Take advantage of this great opportunity!

5. Treasurer’s update

  • The balance of the ALA@UBC account is unknown, but the club has some number of hundreds of dollars minus what was given to Chelsea to reimburse her for t-shirts. Jason will have a firm total once the LASSA treasurer gets back to him. 

6. Other business

  • January orientation
    • There is no way for clubs to email all the incoming January cohort, per Mary J.
    • ALA reps are needed for the Wednesday, January 2, orientation. The time is tentatively 12-3 p.m., but LASSA will confirm.
    • We will send out an email and encourage people to wear their t-shirts for the orientation.
  • In-kind donations for large events
    • In-kind donations are possible for future events. Through LASSA / AMS, we have non-profit status, so it may be possible to do cash fundraising, too, if multiple LASSA clubs join together to have one event. This will also help with cross promotion and attendance.
  • Big upcoming events to think about over the break: Freedom-to-Read Week, marathon reading event.

7. Next meeting

  • A Doodle poll will be sent out for the first meeting in January.

Meeting Minutes | October 24, 2012

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Attendees: Chelsea Shriver, Jason Korff, Nadia Stennes‐Spidahl, Nora Kitchen, Alice MacGougan, Yesenia Ricardo, Caroline Crowell, Matt Ruen, Elspeth Olson, Nick Josten, Amber Saundry, Kaitlyn Sparks, Eric Meyers.

1. Approval of October 3 meeting minutes

  • Minutes were approved.

2. Events

  • Game Day (ASIS&T): The event will be held December 3 at Storm Crow at 6 p.m. There is space available, and Nick would like to cross-­‐promote the event, sending invites out through both the ALA and ASIS&T listservs.
    • December practicums starts that day, so people may not be able to attend.
  • Freedom to Read Week (BCLA/CLA): BCLA would like to do something for Freedom to Read Week in February. They haven’t met to start organizing, but would like to collaborate with ALA. o Judy Saltzman will be involved. She is a good resource and has connections at public libraries.
    • Participating in a BCLA event is a good opportunity to make contacts and put something on your resume.
    • Planning will begin in November before people start to leave, and Nick will head up the organizing committee. Chelsea, Jason, Nadia, Nora, Amber, Caroline (maybe), and Nick signed up to be on the committee.
    • One possible idea is to make banned book trading cards
  • Banned Book Week video (recap): Everyone, especially Kaitlyn the editor!, did great job, and the video looked nice.
    • External mics will be important in the future for better audio quality.
    • The video didn’t make it on the Banned Book Week playlist, but it was on the SLAIS webpage, and ALA@UBC did distribute it.
    • Next fall, the group can get more of a head start and produce a more professional video.
    • Eric has access to good A/V equipment through SLAIS and his projects.
  • White elephant book swap / bake sale:
    • What is it? Anyone can participate, but last year it was mostly ALA members. Participants bring in wrapped books so no one knows what they are, and books are swapped.
    • A bake sale sign-­up sheet will be made available so people can indicate what they will be bringing. Bake sale is donate what you want.
    • Chelsea will send out a Doodle poll (with date in the last couple of weeks prior to end of term) to determine the date, but it is usually Tuesday or Wednesday (11 a.m.-­2 p.m). Eric advised against it being scheduled on Thursday, November 22, as that is the day of Convocation.
    • Some options for buying cheap books for the swap include: public library branches cheap book sale carts, Koerner book sale (this happened last year, but not sure if it will happen this year, too).
    • If SIPS is doing a book drive again this year, people can donate their books to the drive if they end up with books they don’t want.
  • ALA Midwinter Meeting:
    • The resume workshop they are offering seems like might be valuable.
    • The meeting is January 25-­29, 2013, and at $65 for a student member, it’s about as cheap as it gets for a conference.
    • It may be possible to stay with ALA@UW people, and Elspeth will be in touch with them about that.
    • The schedule isn’t currently online.
    • Read email from Ariel Deardorff, whose dad is a librarian at the University of Washington: Basically he said that midwinter used to be primarily committee meetings, and “programming” wasn’t allowed. Now, however, many committees meet virtually so there are more discussion sessions. He said that the annual meeting is definitely more interesting, but given that midwinter is in Seattle it is probably worthwhile. I took a look at the sessions scheduled and it seems like there is a lot going on. I will probably attend.
    • It might be possible to get a group deal on transportation or carpool. About four people at the meeting said they might attend. Caroline will likely have a car.
    • Eric reminded the group about free readers copies available at the meeting.
    • Also, Carol Tilley who will be a speaker at the ALA midwinter will be giving a colloquium talk on January 30 (on comic books), and Eric hopes ALA@UBC will promote the event, there will also be an opportunity go to lunch with her.
      • Speaking of colloquiums: Next Wednesday (October 31) there will be a colloquium talk on scrapbooking in the Victorian era called “What the 99 Percent Read, and What They Did with It, a Hundred Years Ago.” Eric is also looking for students to attend lunch with the speaker, Ellen Gruber Garvey.
      • On October 24 there is a panel called “Engaging Youth With Indigenous Materials in Libraries and Classrooms” on how to select and use indigenous children’s materials. It is geared toward professionals in the field and will be in the Dodson Room. The panel will feature Allison Taylor-McBryde, Debra Martel, and Jan Hare.
      • There are also lots of good speakers coming up next term, so look out for them.

3. Student-­to-­Staff Program contest

  • The student-to­‐staff program contest process is moving a bit faster this year than last year.
  • How does the contest work? One person from our ALA student chapter will be selected to be the student-to­‐staff representative at the ALA Annual Meeting. The winner will attend the meeting, volunteer at the conference, and the award includes housing and registration costs and provides a stipend. The award does not cover airfare or meals. It is a great networking opportunity and allows the winner to see the inner workings of ALA. People who have won previously felt that it was an amazing opportunity. The meeting attracts about 25,000 people, and this year it’s in Chicago, June 22-­28.
  • The student-­to­‐staff representative is selected by an essay contest explaining why attending the ALA Annual Meeting would be your dream! (e.g. from Eric: This will do amazing things for me and my career, and I will do amazing things with it, and I will be the most amazing student‐to­‐staff person ever!) Usually the competition isn’t that heavy (generally only one entry). It is open only to people who will be students next year (graduating in May 2013 is okay, graduating in December 2012 is not).
  • ALA’s due date for selecting all of the student-­to­‐staff representatives December 19.
  • If you apply, you have to make a commitment to going. Usually the conference is the last week in June, and not during when classes are scheduled in the summer. If you have a job/co-­op/internship at a libraries, they are generally fine with you taking off for ALA.
  • There are five people who expressed interest in being selected, so it is determined that an essay competition will be held again. The deadline for submitting a one page essay is November 15. An announcement will be sent out with the instructions and the deadline.
  • Email your essay to Eric.
  • The winner of the contest will be asked to write up a blog post for the ALA student chapter blog. If you are interested in learning what it’s like to attend the annual meeting, you can read this blog post from last year.

4. Other business

  • The ALA t-­shirts have all been distributed.
  • We welcome our new treasurer, Jason, who is already working on the club’s finances.
  • There will be no co-­chair this term, but will try to find one after the new cohort arrives in January.
  • Matt Ruen with a LASSA update on the SLAIS listserv issues:
    • Basically, LASSA wants clubs to avoid sending repeated emails with lots of reminders to the LASSA Google group. It’s not that effective anyway because there are only about 75-­80 people on the list, and they are mostly the new cohort. It is by no means a complete way of reaching people at SLAIS.
    • LASSA is working with SLAIS to try to make the Connect portal more accessible for student clubs to make announcements.

5. Next meeting

  • Next meeting will be on November 14, 2012 at 11 a.m. in the Trail Room.

Meeting Minutes | October 3, 2012

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Attendees: Chelsea Shriver, Nadia Stennes-Spidahl, Nora Kitchen, Alice MacGougan, Matt Ruen, Elspeth Olson, Nick Josten, Layla Naquin, Katie Hughes, Ariel Deardorff, Amber Saundry, Kaitlyn Sparks.

1. Approval of September 19 meeting minutes

  • Minutes were approved, and it was determined that members do not mind having their attendance noted in the minutes that appear on the blog.

2. Elections for ALA@UBC executive offices

  • Jason Korff submitted his name for treasurer via email and was elected to the post in absentia. There were no nominations for the position of co-chair or other positions.
  • Members are encouraged to send Elspeth an email if they would like to be considered for a position or if there is a position that they would be interested in creating on the executive committee.

3. Banned Books Week event

  • Because of the short amount of time to organize an event for Banned Books Week, Kaitlyn proposed a virtual readout of “And Tango Makes Three.”  This involves making a video of different people reading a book that has been banned.
  • Once submitted to ALA, it takes them 72 hours to post the video on their website, and submissions must be done through YouTube. It can also be posted to the ALA@UBC blog
  • Readers are encouraged to wear their ALA t-shirt. Readers can record themselves (i.e., in PhotoBooth on a Mac) and submit the file to Kaitlyn via Skype or Dropbox.
  • Kaitlyn will keep the book “And Tango Makes Three” in her box at SLAIS for people to access.  Readers should make a note of the pages they read so that the next person knows where to pick up.
  • SLAIS has two cameras available to use, if you would like to borrow one to record your reading.
  • Kaitlyn would like to submit the video by Friday, October 5, so please record your reading and submit it to her by Friday evening.
  • ALA@UBC could possibly do something for Freedom to Read Week (Canadian equivalent of Banned Books Week) in February. Kaitlyn won’t be here next term, but another member can pick up management of the event.  We can get in touch with VPL about coordinating a Freedom to Read “read out.” Perhaps we could invite the Seattle ALA chapter to participate.

4. ALA t-shirts

  • Members should pick up / pay for their t-shirts.
  • It was discussed whether the club wants to order t-shirts for new members and perhaps have a new t-shirt design contest.
  • This might be of interest if the purchase could be managed differently (members responsible for placing orders for their individual t-shirts through CustomInk.com or other site).
  • Chelsea will send a “last call for t-shirts” email saying that any t-shirts not picked up by next Friday, October 12, will be made available to other ALA members.

 5. Other business 

  • UW/UBC ALA club meet-up: This is an idea held over from last year.
    • Inter-club involvement during Freedom to Read Week is a good idea as it gives some reason for collaboration.
    • A possible meet-up during the mid-winter meeting is also a possibility.
    • Specific ideas for how the two clubs might collaborate would be helpful.
    • Elspeth will get information from Mary about where conversations between UBC and UW clubs left off.
  • Elspeth will look into getting a SLAIS locker for the group.
  • Nick will talk to ASIST about collaborating on an International Game Day event.
  • Mid-winter ALA meeting:
    • Early-bird registration is still up until November.
    • Ariel’s dad is a librarian in Seattle, and she will talk to him about the midwinter ALA meeting and whether it would be useful for ALA@UBC members to go.
  • Announcements: ASIST’s first “Cool Tools for School” session is next Tuesday, October 9, from 12-1 p.m. in Terrace Lab.  Tools will be demonstrated from 12:00-12:30 p.m. and Connect will be demonstrated from 12:30 to 1:00 p.m. There is no need to register and there will be coffee and Timbits!

 6. Next meeting

  • The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 24, at 11 a.m. in the Trail Room.

Upcoming Meeting

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Welcome to the new cohort! Hope everyone is easing into the Winter term well.

The first ALA Student Chapter meeting of the term will be held this Wednesday, September 19 at 11 a.m. in the Trail Room (just off the SLAIS Lounge). We hope to plan some events for the quickly-approaching Banned Books Week, discuss vacant executive positions, and more. Please come and share your ideas!

If you have any questions, send them over. Hope to see you there!

Meeting Minutes | 20 March 2012

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1. Meeting called to order

2. Approval of meeting minutes

  • February 29 meeting minutes are approved.

 3. Marathon Reading event update

  • The event went well!  The club raised about $150 for the Carnegie Center, enough to bring in a visiting writer.
  • Raffle winners were Emily from Creative Writing, Nadia from SLAIS, Jay from Creative Writing, and Sarah from SLAIS.
  • The event in IKBLC included 10 hours of readings by 40 separate people. The event at Carnegie was a good deal smaller, but was valuable for building a relationship for future events.  In order to continue to build relationships with the community, ALA@UBC should keep an eye on events happening at VPL and participate where possible.
  • For next year, it would be good to create more energy around the event. Ideas include:
    • Adult beverages
    • A different set up / location (having the event next to the Learning Commons made things too quiet and “chill”).
    • Having the event in spring next year establishes a consistent event and allows the club to make additional connections with other groups on campus (i.e., Theatre Department).  Next year’s event could include plays, audience participation, spoken word performance, music, etc.
    • Next year’s event should also build in some time for banter / getting to know the reader / root for the reader / an explanation of the text.

4. ALA@UBC t-shirt order

  • The t-shirts will be ordered by March 22 and shipped to Emily Booth in Bellingham, WA.  Shipping should take two weeks, and t-shirts will be distributed in SLAIS once they arrive.  Members will have to pay for their t-shirt before receiving it.
  • Chelsea will send out t-shirt order link to members and Eric once more before final order is placed.
  • Club will absorb the cost of giving Eric a free t-shirt as faculty advisor.

5. Bake Sale on March 21

  • The “pay what you wish” bake sale will be Wednesday, March 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Come and hang out!
  • Sign up to participate and let’s us know what you will be bringing on the Google Doc.
  • If your food includes common allergens, bring a sign.
  • Vegan treats are always appreciated.

6. ALA Annual Conference

  • Sarah Fallik, who won the ALA Student-to-Staff essay contest, will blog about her experience at the ALA annual conference either at the ALA@UBC blog or at one of the ALA’s blogs.
  • ALA’s president, Molly Raphael, recently spoke at the University of Washington, and the talk will be available online.  Mary J. will send out the information about how to access the talk.
  • The new president of the ALA student chapter at the University of Washington is Gina Kessler Lee.  Mary and Elspeth will continue the conversation with her about possibly fieldtrips.

7. Planning for fall events over the summer?

  • Plans for next year include:
    • Book swap and bake sale (end of first term)
    • Marathon reading (spring term)
    • Club members should look at the ALA site to get ideas for events to do in the fall (i.e., Banned Book Week). It would be good to start off the next term with a bang to impress the new cohort.
    • Send ideas to Mary and Elspeth via email.
    • The club should also be sure to have a presence during orientation.
  • Mary will be stepping down as president in the fall, so that is a position that will be available.

8. Meeting adjourned

 

Meeting Minutes | 29 February 2012

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1. Meeting called to order

2. Approval of meeting minutes

  • February 7 meeting minutes are approved.

3. ALA@UBC T-Shirt Order

  • The ALA@UBC t-shirt design has been selected (scripty letter design, green logo on a black shirt) and an order poll will be sent from Customink.com so that members can specify their preferred sizes.
  • Sam Mills mentioned that classmate Emily Booth commutes from Bellingham, WA, and may be able to receive the shipment. She will check with Emily abut this.
  • The order link will be sent to Alyssa Feir, who won the ALA@UBC design contest, so that we can provide her with a free t-shirt.

4. Old Business

  • Cherry Blossom / Haiku Event Update: Brigid Winter attended the first day of the Cherry Blossom / Haiku Event on February 28. Only one Japanese student attended, but five SLAIS students were there. They learned about haikus and will crown a haiku champion at the second day of the event next week.
  • Marathon Reading:
    • Everyone who has signed up for a reading slot should consider signing up twice at this point to fill remaining slots.
    • RSVP to the Facebook event and send the link to friends.
    • Elspeth will take charge of the bake sale and will have people commit to bring stuff.  People can bring savoury as well as sweet things.
    • ALA@UBC treasurer Jen approved spending $60 on gift cards. $30 will be spent for the Wednesday event at IKBLC (two $10 UBC Bookstore gift cards and one $10 Blue Chip gift card).  $30 will be spent on the Friday event at the Carnegie Center (six $5 London Drug gift cards).
    • Please make sure to hang up flyers!
    • Carrie will be at the Lillooet Room at 8 a.m. on Wednesday to set up, which hopefully will be easy. She will also type up instructions for readers / monitors. She will be in touch with Clare at IKBLC about set up and signage.
    • It is suggested that a clock is needed so that readers can keep track of time.  Judith or Caroline volunteer to bring a small alarm clock for the event.
    • It is suggested that it would be a good idea to have a water dispenser there for readers. Elspeth will check about borrowing one from SLAIS or LASSA.
    • Bring extra books in case people just drop in and want to read.

5. New Business

  • End of semester bake sale to benefit ALA
    • Last bake sale in the fall was very successful.
    • Proposed date for the bake sale: Wednesday, March 21, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
    • Possible theme: St. Patrick’s Day, literary theme, Easter egg decorating (construction paper, plastic eggs)
    • Bring an ingredient list when you have baked something so that people know what is in the baked goods. Consider making vegan and gluten free items.
    • A Google doc will be created so that people can sign up for baking.

6. Next Meeting

  • The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 20, at 1 p.m. in the Trail Room at SLAIS.

7. Meeting adjourned