ISSN 2369-4939
Volume 3 Issue 8
August 1, 2017
 


Hello everyone,
  
It's the middle of summer and southern Saskatchewan has been in a heat wave for weeks. Plus I don't think Regina has received rainfall for a month. But I shouldn't complain as summers always seem so short.
 
In addition to regular ongoing projects, SLA Office staff and association committee volunteers are starting work on the One Book One Province for 2018. The One Book Committee drafted a report with recommendations and it was subsequently discussed and endorsed by your board of directors. Amy Jo Ehman's book, Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens has been selected and details are forthcoming. Suffice to say that there are some great programming ideas based upon the book!
Read more 
 
Spring 2017 Crisis for Saskatchewan Public Libraries
 
By Michael Shires
President, Saskatchewan Library Association
Collection Development and Liaison Librarian, University of Regina
 
The Fall 2016 issue of ELAN had an article about the crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries. Source.   On March 22, 2017 the Government of Saskatchewan tabled its budget for fiscal year 2017-2018.  One of the biggest budget cuts, percentage wise, was to public libraries.  The Ministry of Education announced that 100% of operating grant funding ($1.3 million) to the province's two largest municipal library systems (Regina and Saskatoon) would be eliminated.  Additionally, seven of eight regional library systems would have a 58% reduction of $3.5 million in operating funding from the government.  Funding for the Pahkisimon Nuyeʔáh Library System (PNLS) in Saskatchewan's North remained unchanged at $974,000.   Source: Ministry of Education Budget Backgrounder.   Reaction to the news was immediate.   A huge groundswell of grassroots-led emergency advocacy led to the government reversing its decision one month later.
 
 

Summer Social
Photo Credit: Judy Nicholson
On July 19, 2017,  around twenty librarians and friends  gathered at the Fireside Bistro in Regina for over two hours of networking, visiting, and  sharing food and beverages.  This was a great turn-out and  enjoyable evening.  Thanks to the attendees from Regina Public Library, Archer Library,  SaskPolytech (Moose Jaw), Provincial Library and Literacy Office, Legislative Library, and SLA board and staff, as well as a few retired librarians who participated in the Concerned Citizens group during the "library crisis". The event also provided an opportunity for those gathered to say adieu to Gerry Burla (from Provincial Library and Literacy Office) who is leaving Regina to take a position as Legislative Librarian in Yellowknife. All the best Gerry!  
 
Committees are still short a few members and we hope to get started in September.   Please consider joining a committee .

CFLA-FCAB
CFLA-FACB is marking the end of the first year of their operation and the first anniversary of the membership of SLA in this national organization.  The accomplishments and progress of the fledgling organization are detailed here

CFLA-FCAB Appoints Katherine McColgan as Executive Director
The Canadian Federation of Library Associations/Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA-FCAB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Katherine McColgan as Executive Director commencing August 8, 2017. Ms. McColgan succeeds Kevin Brennan, who has served in an interim role as CFLA-FCAB's Senior Project Executive since June 2016.
Meaningful Access to Information To Leave No One Behind: Launch of the 2017 DA2I Report
The  International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), in partnership with the  Technology and Social Change Group at the University of Washington (TASCHA), launched today the first  Development and Access to Information (DA2I) Report at  The New York Public Library, during the United Nations High Level Political Forum. The full report is available here.

An Invitation
You are invited to a free database webinar! Learn more about Gale PowerSearch with Provincial Library and Literacy Office (PLLO). Gale PowerSearch is a single search solution that lets you cross-search Gale databases. Quickly locate online articles, books and multimedia files.
 
The Multitype Database Licensing Program (MDLP) subscribes to many databases through Gale, such as: General OneFile, InfoTrac Students, Expanded Academic ASAP and the Gale Virtual Reference Library and now you can search them all at once.
 
Learn how to:
  • launch Gale PowerSearch;
  • locate publications by subject; and,
  • use Topic Finder.
 
This webinar will be presented by PLLO staff over Adobe Connect on August 17, 2017 from 1:30 - 2:15pm. Please register for this event
 



Culture Days is having a summer registration promotion

Congratulations to the successful applicants for Culture Days grants: 
Bengough Public Library, Moose Jaw Public Library, Weyburn Public Library, Maple Creek Public Library,East End Public Library, Gravelbourg Public Library, Alex Robertson Public Library (La Ronge), White City Public Library, Duck Lake Public Library and Turtleford Public Library.
A complete list of projects can be found here.

Even if you didn't receive a grant, you can still post your Culture Days projects on the Culture Days website.

In order to make sure that you receive your Culture Days "swag", please fill in your shipping information in the online form

Included in your "swag" are bookmarks:

 
S askatchewan Library Week 2017 October 15-27
Jeannie Straub has once again created dynamic graphics illustrating the 2017 theme: Libraries Matter. Posters and other materials will be sent to your library beginning end of August. For the first time, we will be introducing our poster in the Cree language which will be sent to northern libraries, schools and band schools.
Reminder: SLW grant deadline is August 15, 2017. More information can be found on the

 


Good News: 
The second selection for the Saskatchewan Library Association's One Book, One Province project is Amy Jo Ehman's  Out of Old Saskatchewan Kitchens. Illustrating the overarching theme of Tolerance and Understanding: Our Culture, Our Food, readers will be drawn to the historical, archival and cultural components as well as creating opportunities to bring together people of many cultural backgrounds. It will provide extensive options for creative partnerships, activities, and community engagement and will appeal to people of all ages.
More information is forthcoming. 
 
Name: Michael Langhorst  
Title: Branch Librarian at Reid-Thompson Public Library in Humboldt, Sk.
Professional career and activities: I taught History at Athabasca University for 15 years as a tutor. I have instructed German part time from time to time since 1991at the University of Alberta, University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. I was Produce Manager at Sobeys in Humboldt for a year and a half.   
In my spare time: Read books from Goethe area, German and English Middle Ages of the 11th through 14th century.  
Favorite books: Perceval, Buddenbrocks (Thomas Mann), The Sorrows of Young Werther (Goethe), The Canterbury Tales  
I'm currently reading: The Bourne Enigma

 
 
So long and thanks for all the Cataloguing!
Photo Credit:
 PLLO Staff 2016
Gerry Burla, Provincial Cataloguing Coordinator at the Provincial Library & Literacy Office, is leaving Saskatchewan to take up a new position as the Legislative Librarian in Yellowknife, North West Territories.

Gerry has been the Provincial Cataloguing Coordinator for close to 4 years. Prior to that, he served as the Systems Administrator- Information Management (SILS), as the Multitype Library Services Coordinator (PLLO), and as the Technical Services Librarian with Regina Public Library.

During his time in Saskatchewan Gerry has played an instrumental role in systems migration, cataloguing, staff training, and the development of provincial cataloguing standards. He has served on many committees.

Gerry's colleagues would like to offer congratulations on his new position.
 


Congratulations Brad!
Photo Credit: Briercrest College

 Brad Doerksen has been appointed to the position of Student Success Librarian at the Dr. John Archer Library effective July 1, 2017. Before coming to the U of R Library, Brad was Library Director at the Archibald Library, Briercrest College and Seminary, where he was also an instructor in History. He has been an active member of the Saskatchewan Library Association, most recently as treasurer.


 


Terri Balicki retires after 37 years
On September 17, 1980, Terry Balicki joined Wapiti Regional Library for what would become a 37 year career at the Regional Office in Prince Albert.

Initially working in a temporary position, Balicki became a full-time employee in December, 1980. She advanced over time,  ending her career with many years service as Branch Services Supervisor. She officially 'checked out' in early June after a retirement celebration thrown by her co-workers.

"I have worked with a lot of wonderful people during my time at Wapiti," Terry said. "My years there have been enjoyable."
Terry will be missed, but the Regional Office staff wish her all the best in the next stage of her life.
Regional Director Tony Murphy describes Terry's 37 years at Wapiti as a period of "very dedicated service," adding that Terry "was a tireless advocate of library services, and that she measured Wapiti services at all levels by an impressively passionate and "high level" yardstick. She takes an astonishing and inevitably irreplaceable amount of knowledge with her, and will be missed." 
    
 


  • Historical treasures discovered at First Nations University of Canada
  • Care and Handling of Photographic Materials Workshop is being held in Humboldt September 19 and 20th. More information can be found here
  • Please join the SLA WCC for a tour of the Saskatoon Branch of the Law Society of Saskatchewan Library on Thursday, September 21 at 4pm. This tour is free, but registration is required and spaces are limited.The tour will be followed by refreshments at the Bessborough's Garden Court Café (on the patio, if it's nice).Please RSVP to catherine.young@saskatoonhealthregion.ca Location:Court House520 Spadina Cres. E.Saskatoon, SK   S7K 3G7

 

          About the Library

 

 
 
Saskatchewan Library Association
15-2010 7th Ave.
Regina, SK S4R 1C2
 
Phone: 306-780-9413 or 306-780-9409
Fax: 306-780-9447
Web:   saskla.ca
 
 
SLA reserves the right to change or edit any submission or to refuse publication in its entirety.
The deadline for receipt of submissions for SLAte is the 25th of each month.


Everyone, Including Culture, Wins When You Buy Lottery Tickets

 The core funding that SLA receives through SaskCulture is part of the Lottery Trust where a percentage of every lottery ticket sold goes to support sport, culture and recreation groups within Saskatchewan. It appears that recent lottery sales are not meeting expectations, which will not have an immediate effect on SLA. However we encourage you to remind audiences and arts council members that buying lottery tickets benefits the entire community.  Saskatchewan Lotteries has also launched an app that you can download  in the App Store or Google Play. More information is available on the Saskatchewan Lotteries website.