From the Desk of Lucy Pana, CEO

Welcome to the new TAL Tales. As you can see, we have a new web-based format that gives us greater design flexibility. With this edition, we are also officially launching our new visual identity. And, perhaps most exciting, we are launching a redesigned website. It’s all about changing to reflect the evolving needs of our organization. "Alberta has one of the most progressive and dynamic library systems – not only in Canada, but in North America."

I would like to thank The Alberta Library staff who worked hard to make these changes a reality. In particular, I would like to thank TAL’s Digital Projects Systems Analyst Natasha Nunn, who did such a terrific job with our website redesign.

This past month it was a pleasure to see so many of you at the CLA Conference in Vancouver. It was also great to have such a strong Alberta contingent of award winners. It’s a reflection of my belief that Alberta has one of the most progressive and dynamic library systems – not only in Canada, but in North America.

Do you know what a petabyte is? On May 27-29 I had a chance to find out that (it’s equal to one quadrillion bytes of information), and a whole lot more at the Sun Microsystems Preservation and Archiving Special Interest Group Spring Meeting in San Francisco.

As a result of attending the event, I may not have become a full-fledged member of the techie club, but I’ve learned enough to fake my way past the doorman. Presentations highlighted some of the key issues and trends around preserving and storing data. It certainly provided food
for thought on where we as an organization need to go in the future.

Whether it’s a visual identity, a website or an entire area of knowledge, nothing stays the same – we continue to evolve and grow. It’s a pleasure to share this path with you.

Have a wonderful summer – and stay tuned for more exciting developments when TAL Tales returns in September.

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Download the new TAL logo

As The Alberta Library enters its second decade, its new visual identity represents the evolution of the organization – reflecting its unique and diverse culture while creating unity and cohesiveness.

Consistency is essential in creating a coherent visual identity. The Alberta Library has created a set of guidelines and principles for using the TAL, Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library and Alberta Public Library Electronic Network logos. We appreciate your cooperation in following them. If you have any questions, please contact Corporate Communications.

TAL staff will provide advice over the next few weeks to our partner post-secondary institutions on installing the new Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library logo. Our goal is to have the new logo on all sites -- including vendor platforms -- by September.

The TAL logo is available for download here.

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Alberta’s library community sparkles on the national stage

Dr. Ken Haycock and Dr. Alvin Schrader present Lucy Pana, TAL CEO with the Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship at the CLA/ACB 2008 National Conference & Trade Show in Vancouver, BC, on May 24, 2008.

The recent 2008 Canadian Library Association Conference in Vancouver turned into an Alberta affair, as members of the province’s library community were recognized with a number of major awards.

"There is a great story unfolding across the province." The Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library initiative was the recipient of the 2008 CACUL Innovation Achievement Award, which recognizes academic libraries that contribute to the advancement of academic librarianship and library development.

The Alberta Library’s CEO, Lucy Pana, was the recipient of the 2008 CLA Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship.

Margaret Law, interim NEOS manager, was the recipient of the CLA/Miles Blackwell Outstanding Academic Librarian Award.

Joanne Kemp, Library Director at Grant MacEwan College, was the recipient of the CTCL Award for Outstanding College Librarian.

Patricia Jobb, who recently retired from her position as Associate Director of Public Services at the Edmonton Public Library, was the recipient of the CAPL/Brodart Outstanding Public Library Service Award.

Merrill Distad, Associate Director of Libraries at the University of Alberta, received the CLA/YPB Award for Outstanding Contribution to Collection Development and Management.

University of Alberta School of Library and Information Studies graduate student Elizabeth Fulton-Lyne was the winner of the CLA Student Article contest.

“These awards speak volumes about the leadership and commitment to excellence within our community,” said The Alberta Library’s Board Chair, Keith Walker. “In many ways, the number of awards is remarkable. On the other hand, we’ve been hearing for years from our colleagues across North America that what we’re doing in Alberta is at the leading-edge. There is a great story unfolding across the province. We’re proud of the award recipients, and proud of everything that we have achieved together.”

Award recipients and members of the Alberta library community at the CLA/ACB 2008 National Conference & Trade Show.

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Digital Library progress report to government

The 2008 Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library Progress Report will be officially delivered to the Alberta Government this week.

TAL Board Chair Keith Walker, CEO Lucy Pana and Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library Chair Ernie Ingles are scheduled to meet with Alberta Advanced Education and Technology officials on Friday, June 27, to deliver the report.

In addition to progress-to-date on the initiative, the report also features video highlights from the official launch last September, featuring Premier Ed Stelmach and Advanced Education and Technology Minister Doug Horner.

The report will be mailed to participating institutions over the next few weeks and posted on The Alberta Library’s website.

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Metadata: Behind the scenes in the digital world

by Merrill Kemp, Digitization Project Coordinator

Have you ever wondered how Google pulls up those thousands upon thousands of ‘hits’ every time you enter something in the search box? While it may be true that some sites pay for the privilege of coming up on the first page, that’s not the whole story. What Google (and all other search engines, for that matter) use is called “metadata.” Metadata is essential because it is what allows your computer to retrieve the information you want. Entire books are dedicated to the many intricacies and uses of metadata. Luckily, it is not necessary to know the myriad details in order to successfully use it.

Commonly described as “data about data,” Metadata acts as a sort of bibliographic record for digital ‘objects’ (an information resource – i.e. a website, an image, a document). There are different types of metadata: descriptive – for discovery, identification and selection of the object; administrative – for managing the object; linkage – which keeps track of the relationships between objects and structural – the ‘glue’ that holds multi-layered objects together¹.

There are many different metadata schemas; we will look briefly at the two chiefly used by libraries.

Dublin Core

Dublin Core is the most popular metadata schema used in libraries. In 1995 OCLC held a workshop looking into the matter of there being no real standards to organize and retrieve diverse digital objects. During the workshop a multidisciplinary team (which included representatives from libraries, archives, museums etc.) created a data set for the purpose of retrieving items off the Web. The resulting element set was given the name Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) and is now an internationally recognized standard for digitization.

The Colorado Digitization Project (now called the Collaborative Digitization Project) began when the public libraries, museums, archives and historical societies of Colorado joined together to make their collections available and accessible on the internet. One of the major difficulties they encountered was that while libraries had well developed cataloguing and indexing standards, the other disciplines were not as advanced. The different groups collaboratively examined the different standards being used by the different disciplines. The final outcome of their analysis determined that the metadata schema that best fit all of their needs was Dublin Core. Dublin Core is flexible and adaptable enough to accommodate the disparate needs of the different disciplines.

The Dublin Core Metadata Element Set consists of 15 elements. They are: Title, Creator, Subject, Description, Publisher, Contributor, Date, Type, Format, Identifier, Source, Language, Relation, Coverage, and Rights. Each element is repeatable as required, or omitted. By using these elements, a computer is able to “harvest” the data and retrieve the desired file / image / document.

METS

METS, or Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard, is used to encode descriptive, administrative and structural metadata for objects in a digital library. Developed as an initiative of the Digital Library Federation, it is maintained by the Network Development and MARC Standards Office at the Library of Congress². It is used by libraries, archives, galleries and others for their digitization projects.

METS is used for internal management of the digital objects. For example, if you have scanned a document that is ten pages long you will have ten different files – one for each page. No matter the complexity of an object, METS brings together all the pieces so that the user can see the object in its entirety. It also provides the technical metadata that is needed in order to migrate the data to new technologies. This makes permanence of the object in the future certain.

A METS document contains seven major sections. They are: METS Header, Descriptive Metadata, Administrative Metadata, File Section, Structural Map, Structural Links and Behaviour³.

This is only a very brief look at two Metadata Standards. For more in depth information try the following sites:

BCR CDP PDF file on Dublin core
(Bibliographical Center for Research / Colorado Digitization Project)

METS overview and tutorial
available through the official METS website.

Using metadata is a vital part of any digitization project, and it is equally important to make certain you are using the right schema to ensure the long-term future of your digital objects.

¹ Caplan, Priscilla. Metadata Fundamentals for all Librarians. American Library Association, Chicago, 2003. pp 3 – 5.

² METS overview and tutorial,
http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/METSOverview.v2.html, accessed on June 13, 2008.

³METS Official Website, http://www.loc.gov/standards/mets/mets-home.html,
accessed on June 13, 2008.

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Tell Me More, language learning software will benefit new Canadians

By Marian Enow, Language Learning Software Project Coordinator

Auralog’s Tell Me More is the language learning software now delivered by The Alberta Library and available in public libraries across the province. This software will help new Canadians learn English and provide literacy support to people in their own communities.

Personally, I was especially excited by the impact this program will have for new immigrants. As an immigrant myself, I understand the challenges of the language barrier. I was born and raised in Mogadishu, Somalia, and came to Canada in the late 1980s with little knowledge of English. I started ESL classes immediately after my arrival. I was living with Somalian friends, and unfortunately living with Somalians did not support practicing English.

My sisters arrived in Canada almost two years after me, and they did not speak English either. We attended ESL classes, and the only time of the day we were speaking or communicating in English was at school. If we had access to a program such as Auralog’s Tell Me More, learning English would have been easier. Users are able to use this software in the privacy of their own homes, without judgment and with the endless patience of a computer.

I am now a post-secondary graduate with a Masters in Library and Information Science. Although learning English was a struggle and stressful, it was also attainable. If I had access to a program such as Auralog’s Tell Me More, my journey would have been way easier.

Benefits of Tell Me More include 24/7 access via the Internet, self-paced learning and a range of skill levels from beginner to advanced. Other languages that can be learned with the software include French, Spanish, German, Italian and Dutch. A 24/7 online advisor is available to answer questions.

Other benefits of the program include:

• Listening comprehension lessons, which allow users to become increasingly familiar with words as they hear them.
• Pronunciation practice in which the software repeats the word to the user as many times as needed. Also, the program encourages the user to practice saying the words, and then measures the correctness of the user’s pronunciation.
• A fun, interactive interface that can be set in your native language. Learning tools and exercises like fill in the blank, word searches, listen and write, dictation, cultural text and phonetics ensure all learners benefit.

A marketing plan to promote the language learning software across Alberta is scheduled to begin this fall. Click here to see The Alberta Library news release.

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Rethinking the value of public libraries

We all know the value of public libraries. Now one of Canada’s leading communications agencies is joining us as a strategic partner in our campaign to spread the word.

Rethink was founded in 1999 by Chris Staples, Ian Grais and Tom Shepansky. This past year Rethink was honoured as the top creative agency in Canada by Strategy Magazine’s Creative Report Card.

The Rethink team was successful in a recent public library campaign agency review. The campaign, funded by the Alberta Public Library Electronic Network, will help increase the user base of libraries and raise the profile of libraries as a source of valuable and accurate information.

“Rethink impressed us on a number of levels,” says APLEN Director Karla Palichuk. “The core belief of the agency is that a great idea can change everything. That’s the kind of approach that we’re looking for.”

Watch for details on the fall campaign in early September.

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Netspeed 2008

To assist library staff and trustees in keeping pace with evolving technologies, The Alberta Library hosts Netspeed, a conference for librarians, technical staff and trustees to explore new technologies in a highly connected world.

Netspeed 2008 takes place October 22-24 at the Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe Hotel in Edmonton. The tentative Netspeed program release date is July 2008. Please check the Netspeed website for updates and registration information.

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ORC and Public Libraries: Partners in Promoting Awareness for Alberta Students

By Diane GallowaySolowan, Online Reference Centre Program Coordinator

The ORC (Online Reference Centre) is a collection of online reference resources that has been made available through a grant-in-aid from Alberta Education to The Alberta Library. Now entering its seventh year of operation, this collection of online databases supports the kindergarten to grade 12 (K-12) curriculum in Alberta schools. To access this collection at www.learnalberta.ca students and teachers need to know their school district user ID and password. This information can be accessed three ways: by"No other province provides access to online reference resources for all students and teachers." contacting the school principal, contacting the Help Desk at Learnalberta.ca or by logging in to a school computer and going to the website.

In 2001, students and teachers had access to five online databases through the ORC. As of September, 2008 Alberta Schools will have access to 19 licensed databases. The success of this project is due in no small part to the licensing expertise of The Alberta Library and the continued financial support of Alberta Education.

Public libraries/librarians can play a role in helping students learn about how to access information through the ORC. School libraries, if they exist, generally close at the end of the school day. Many students opt for a trip to the public library to complete homework or research for school projects. It is here where public libraries can step in. Because the ORC resources are available 24/7 online, students can access them from public library computers. This presents some difficulties as public libraries do not have access to the user ID and password information students need. On the other hand, many principals and teachers are still not aware of the wealth of resources at hand for their students.

Here are five things public libraries can do to help students find and use ORC resources:

• Contact the school principal and ask that students be made aware at the school level what their school district user ID and password is. Describe for the principal the position you find yourself in and explain that the ORC resources have been made available to support students in their school assignments. This not only raises the principal’s awareness, but also that of students, teachers and parents.
• Make yourself aware of resources available for students through the ORC. Some of them may also be available through your public library. If you are already familiar with any of these resources you are a step ahead. Here is a list of licensed resources students presently have access to in the ORC:
  • eLibrary Elementary
  • elibrary CE Canada
  • SIRS Discoverer
  • History Study Centre
  • Proquest Learning Literature (Proquest)
  • Amazing Animals
  • New Book of Knowledge
  • Lands & Peoples
  • Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia (Grolier/Scholastic)
  • Science Resource Centre
  • Opposing Viewpoints Critical Thinking (GALE)
  • Teachingbooks.net (Teachingbooks)
  • World Book Kids
  • World Book Online Reference Centre (World Book)
    In September 2008 Alberta students will also have access to the following resources from EBSCO:
    
  • AP Source
  • Canadian Reference Centre
  • Canadian Points of View
  • Novelist Plus
  • Novelist K-8 Plus
• Understand that the ORC resources are selected with a strong curriculum fit for K-12. For example, searching for information in the ORC databases is a skill required of the ICT (Information Communications Technology) curriculum for all students. Students are required to research information from a variety of viewpoints as part of the Research for Deliberative Inquiry section of the new Social Studies curriculum for all grades. Better still, gaining these research skills early helps prepare students for post-secondary libraries.
• Free training is available to help public librarians become better acquainted with the ORC resources. This can be accessed in two ways: 1) Make a request to the ORC Coordinator to provide training at a professional development day or 2) Ask the ORC coordinator to help you register for free webinars offered by the ORC product vendors.
• Request free promotional materials for ORC resources from the ORC Coordinator. These take the form of posters, bookmarks, etc suitable for K-12 audiences.

Remember, the ORC is unique in Canada. No other province provides access to online reference resources for all students and teachers. The ORC has been a real success story for Alberta Education and The Alberta Library. Your help in continuing to raise awareness of the resources and the site are invaluable.

If you have further questions, please contact me, Diane GallowaySolowan by email or phone 780.414.0805 ext 229.

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Library Q & A - Fort Saskatchewan Public Library

Angela Kublik, Director of Fort Saskatchewan Public Library tells us what her library is up to.

1. What is your biggest current challenge?

Space. During the past few years we have done a lot of work to make the library a more inviting place: the children’s area has been renovated, the “Landmark Teen Zone” created, and 10 additional public access computers have been added (for a total of 20), thanks to a generous donation from the Landmark Group of Builders. We will also be adding a reading area for seniors later this year, but are running out of creative ways to rearrange the furniture!

Library Director Angela Kublik, Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Jim Sheasgreen and Councillor Don Westman pose with Edward Tang, President of Landmark Homes, and Landmark staff at the open house for the Landmark Public Access Computers project, June 19, 2008.

Fort Saskatchewan’s population increased by five per cent last year and our circulation increased by seven per cent, so space will continue to be an issue for our library as Fort Saskatchewan continues to grow. The Library Board is actively working with City Council to ensure the library is included in the city’s future capital plans.

2. What area is changing the fastest in your library?

The availability of new formats continues to provide challenges as we explore ways of delivering media to library users in their preferred format.

3. What idea are you most proud of over the last five years?

It is immensely gratifying for both the staff and Library Board to see how well used the children’s and teen areas are now. Just yesterday, there were six teens piled on the couch watching a movie on one of the library’s portable DVD players when I walked by.

4. Where do you see the most opportunity for innovation over the next decade?

I think the most opportunity for innovation in the coming years will be in the area of community development as we work to ensure that marginalized groups in our community are able to access library services.

5. How do you stay in touch with your clients/library users?

One of the joys of working in a smaller community is running into people who want to talk about the library at the grocery store. Of course, we also keep in touch with city residents through frequent articles in the local newspapers, newspaper ads, the library website, newsletters, an email distribution list, postings on the city’s website, as well as by participating in local events and festivals.

6. How do you stay in touch with political leaders in your community?

We keep city council and senior administration informed through presentations and invitations to participate in special events and meetings.

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TAL Profile - Helga Kinnaird, Manager, Academic Learner Services, NAIT

What is your involvement with The Alberta Library?

I have been on the TAL Board of Directors as NAIT’s representative since its inaugural meeting and have served on various committees over the years. Recently I have been more actively involved in TAL - I am beginning my third year on the Board Executive Committee as a representative of college and technical institute libraries. Also, I am The Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee, and a member of the Governance Standing Committee.

What drew you to your profession?

I did not consider librarianship as a potential career path until I began a part-time job at the University of Toronto Library during my first undergraduate year. A friend told me that the Reference Department needed someone to type foreign language bibliographies, which fit my previous work experience. So I began my career in libraries by typing and never looked back. I worked in the Reference Department in various capacities until I graduated from library school. Observing the librarians in action and enjoying my work within the Reference Department made it easy for me to decide to pursue librarianship as a career.

Who had the most influence over your career?

My husband influenced my career – it was his job that brought us to Edmonton, where I have been employed at NAIT for almost thirty years. My managers at NAIT helped shape my career by providing me with opportunities to develop my leadership skills. For example, since the mid-1990s my portfolio of responsibilities has extended well beyond the library. In addition, I have made personal decisions to fit my own goals and lifestyle choices.

What major changes have you noticed during your time with The Alberta Library?

The most obvious change is TAL’s huge growth in staff and budget and services. At the same time, familiar issues such as sustainability continue to be on our radar. The organization can look back with pride on its awards and successes but it is also taking the time to reflect on how it can improve and continue to be relevant to its member libraries. I have great confidence that TAL will continue to thrive and excel.

Why do you think libraries are important?

Libraries make a difference in people’s lives by helping them achieve their personal goals, whether it be learning how to build a fence, or earning a university degree, or relaxing with a good book. Libraries help create community.

What has been the most rewarding part of working with TAL? What have you enjoyed the most?

I remember enthusiastically describing to NAIT management all the benefits that TAL membership would bring to our students and staff. I have thoroughly enjoyed being on the TAL journey and seeing those promises fulfilled. TAL has also provided the very rewarding opportunity to network with colleagues in all types of libraries throughout Alberta.

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