Across Alberta’s library world: Election results (no we’re not predicting the outcome of the provincial election!), dollars and cents from the province; summed up verbosity of Alberta’s library leaders; the Oscars of ALTA…
ALTA Election Results
And the winner is Dwight Nagel from the Alix Library Board. Dwight is the President-Elect and will be installed at the AGM in Jasper. Congratulations. Dwight will join two other new Directors – Area 8 is Parrish Tung, Area 7 by Kelly Aisenstat Area 4 Diane Osberg. Martin Shields won a landslide election in Area 6 (kidding he was acclaimed) and will return for a third and final term on ALTA. The Calgary Public Library representative is Deirdre Harris. And EPL Director will be decided in April.
Two seats are still vacant; one of which is unexpected as Area 1 capably served for the past year by Jason Glabik who is moving to Calgary leaves the Area unrepresented and Area 2 vacated by the wonderfully diligent Margaret Barry. Take a look at the ALTA map for the geography for Areas 1 and 2 and consider rewarding service on ALTA. If you want to create an impact on libraries, interested in expanding your network throughout Alberta, learn how to develop increased capacity in provincial organizations – then ALTA is the answer.
Funding our libraries…the province’s share.
Dollars and cents are just one component of what creates successful public library services in Alberta. And on February 9, Minister Ron Liepert delivered the goods. The 2012-13 budget line for public library services increased from $32,323 to $32,429 (.3%). Equally important is that libraries are paramount in Goal One of the Municipal Affairs business plan
Goal One: Enhanced long-term viability and accountability of municipalities and their communities
Priority Initiatives:
1.3 Enable improved access to library resources and services by leading the implementation of government policy related to Alberta public libraries, building capacity in library organizations, and continuing to provide advice, consultation and financial support.
The complete business plan is here.
I encourage library trustees to make time to discuss the budget and its ramifications on library service at the next library board meeting.
Making Policy Live
Three years ago, the province released its Framework for the Future report summarizing what the MLA task force heard during their consultations and research around Alberta. The collective voice of Trustees were not concise and strategic at the time; however ALTA and several Trustees from public library boards participated last fall in the consultation by the PLSB to reflect on the draft policy created by the GOA. ALTA Board received the summary report in early February and it will be available on the ALTA website shortly.
“Stakeholders also believed that there was too great an emphasis on public library service in the draft policy. Representatives of both school and post-secondary libraries want to ensure that their sectors and their unique mandates (i.e., education and research) are reflected in the next version of the policy.
NEXT STEPS FOR THE INTEGRATED LIBRARY POLICY: WHERE DOES IT GO FROM HERE?
The ADM committee will revise the integrated library policy based on feedback from the September 2011 consultation. In the spring of 2012, the revised integrated library policy will be sent forward for consideration by the Government of Alberta.”
Is there concern that under the new transparency valued by Premier Redford that establishing a policy governing library services in Alberta without having it reviewed once more by the library community – trustees who are volunteer governors, library associations, library leaders who are recognized internationally as visionaries for 21st century libraries and library staff – seems to somewhat ignore transparency? But read the summary for yourself and determine if this direction reflects your and your board’s perspective of a seamless library system for all Albertans.
It’s Award Season…at ALTA
Time to recognize excellence! ALTA Board of Directors established the Award of Excellence to recognize Library Boards that have enabled and supported their libraries to provide on-going excellent service to their communities over a five-year time period. The Award is announced at the ALTA Annual General Meeting, held at the Alberta Library Conference. The award is presented to the board in its home community at mutually convenient time as soon as possible after the award is announced. Nominate your board or one you know truly reflects excellence in the 21st century library services.
Time to recognize service! ALTA Board of Directors established the Honorary Life Membership Award to recognize Albertans who have made a significant contribution to libraries and library trusteeship. The Board of Directors reserves the right to determine how any Honorary Life Memberships, if any, are to be awarded each year. One of the themes in Trustee Voice over the last two years is the volunteerism and citizen engagement component of library governors – Trustees. Who is leading library boards in 21st century governance models? Who sees the vision for libraries in an ever-changing technology driven world? Nominate that very committed governor.
Deadline for both awards is March 16.
By Kathy Ishizuka
