L i b ra r y C o n n e c t i o n s UFV Library Newsletter    Patti Wilson takes over as University Librarian for 2013 Shelf reading in Abbotsford Holiday reading December 2012 Message from As I write this column, I am packing up my UFV office in preparation for a one-year educational leave, which starts in January, 2013. Patti Wilson has been appointed interim University Librarian to cover my absence, and library staff, services, and everyone we serve will be in very good hands throughout the year. After 24-plus years of working at UFV without a break, I am looking forward to the opportunity to take time away to focus on a project and reflect on where UFV’s library services have come from, and the direction in which we should take them to best serve our regionally-based, teaching-focused, primarily undergraduate institution. When I speak to colleagues within UFV, most are surprised that I haven’t taken a sabbatical or educational leave prior to now. These kinds of leaves are routine and expected in most universities. But when I move out of the academic realm and meet with people in the community and in other parts of my life, many are amazed. Paid leaves for research, study and education are not common in most sectors. We are fortunate to be working in the post-secondary environment, and particularly at UFV, where such leaves are not reserved for faculty but are available to all. This year – 2012 – has seen four of the library’s long-serving employees retire. The library is still working through the hiring of replacements and, in some cases, the hiring to replace the people who replace the retirees. There will be more on these new faces in this and subsequent newsletters. But getting back to the retirees, all have plans for this next stage of their lives. Retirement doesn`t mean that they will stop being engaged; it`s only the field of their engagement that has changed. The renewal and rejuvenation that comes from retirement will give these women new energy that they can now apply to the things they love to do, just as my leave will give me new energy to bring to my role of University Librarian when I return in January 2014. May this holiday season bring renewal and rejuvenation to all of you. Best wishes for a very happy 2013. Kim Isaac University Librarian 2 Kim Isaac “This highlights the strengths of the individuals involved and gives people opportunities to take on new challenges.” —Kim Isaac, page 5 The University of the Fraser Valley Library publishes Library Connections in pdf format on the library website, monthly, during fall and winter terms. This issue was produced by the library newsletter team: Mary-Anne MacDougall, Patti Wilson, Shawnna Pierce, Heather Compeau, Selena Karli and Lisa Morry. Contributors to this issue: Kim Isaac Lisa Morry Feedback? maryanne.macdougall@ufv.ca heather.compeau@ufv.ca Thanks to students Chantel Watt and Alex Kwiatkowski for taking a break from their studies to pose for our cover photo. Inside 3 Library Connections 4 Patti Wilson takes over as University Librarian for 2013 6 Christmas reading list Reference requests librarians get: "I came to steal a pen." 4 Checking it twice: shelf reading in Abbotsford By Lisa Morry AcquisiƟons tech Marlee Clingan reads the shelves in Abbotsford. An Educational Technology Services staffer thought we were having a party when we broke for pizza in the Abbotsford staff lunchroom in building G on a Wednesday afternoon. “We’re shelf reading,” University Librarian Kim Isaac told her. “What’s that?” asked the ETS staffer. “It’s making sure the items on the library shelves are in the right place,” Kim told her. That’s probably the best explanation for the term “shelf reading.” It takes a team of people, including volunteers from other UFV libraries, to sit, bend, stretch and kneel, while examining the labels on every item in the library. It can take an entire afternoon to read one section of the stacks, depending on the thickness of the books, how easy or hard it is to see the labels (some are on the side of the item, rather than on the spine facing out) and whether the items are in good order or in a mess. That doesn’t sound like fun, does it? It’s a necessary exercise and a December tradition when things slow down at the end of the fall semester. Rather like Santa making his list and checking it twice, naughty or nice, everyone takes a turn and we read the shelves. University Librarian Kim Isaac goes on e Pa Wilson takes the helm, while othe University Librarian Kim Isaac checks out some reading material in preparaƟon for her upcoming educaƟon leave. Library Management team Follow carefully here. There are major changes in our library staffing profile for this year. Patti Wilson will be the interim University Librarian during Kim Isaac’s education leave in 2013. Currently the Collections Librarian, Patti is responsible for a $1.1 million acquisitions budget for print, electronic, and multi-media materials. Patti earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree in Library Science from the University of Alberta before she was “marooned” here in 1993. Patti has also taught reference classes in UFV’s Library and Information Technology program. With Patti moving to Kim’s position for 2013, the library management team decided to divide up her responsibilities, which include creating and maintaining library databases. Her position also requires an intimate knowledge of this university and the library’s internal procedures. AcƟng CollecƟons Librarian Mary-Anne MacDougall Sue Kleiv (leŌ) takes over as acquisiƟons tech Reference and InstrucƟon Librarian Diane Cruickshank AcƟng University Librarian Paƫ Wilson educa on leave, Collec ons Librarian 5 er staff take on new challenges Liz Hughes with a copy of the new cataloguing rules. Technical Services team There are big changes to the technical services team too. After June Reedman’s recent retirement, Sue Kleiv takes on the tech-in-charge position in Acquisitions. A UCFV/UFV/Fraser Valley College acquisitions tech for 20 years, Sue formerly worked in the Fraser Valley Regional Library system and filled in as tech-in-charge here in 2005. With Sue taking over in June’s old position, Marlee Clingan, a UFV library tech grad, comes to us from h-in-charge while Marlee Clingan (right) is a new face in acquisiƟons. Kwantlen Polytechnic, where she worked in circulation, interlibrary loans and acquisitions. Marlee has also Therefore, current the Information Services Librari- worked at the Fraser Valley Regional Library in circulaan, Mary-Anne MacDougall will take on the title of Col- tion and reference and at Canada Revenue Agency Lilections Librarian, and be responsible for budgeting, brary, where she also did acquisitions work. selection, collections policy and supervising the Acqui- Cataloguing sitions department. Liz Hughes is the new tech-in-charge in cataloguing, Reference Services Librarian Diane Cruickshank effective January 1st. Liz has 17 years of cataloguing will take on the technical database administration reexperience in the UFV/UCFV environment and has a solsponsibilities from Patti’s position and part of Maryid knowledge of cataloguing rules and standards, best Anne’s reference duties. practices, and internal systems and procedures. Liz has We are posting a one-year term reference and inbeen actively engaged in learning everything she can struction librarian position to fill in Diane’s position. about the upcoming change from AACRII to Resource Taking this approach “highlights the strengths of the Description and Access, readying for the transition to the individuals involved and gives people an opportunity to new cataloguing rules in 2013. take on new challenges,” said Kim. Stay tuned. It should be an interesting year. Ho Ho Ho! with exams finished, it’s Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill “Chosen as the winner for Canada Reads 2009, The Book of Negroes weaves together fiction and the realities of slavery into a powerful, haunting tale of one woman's extraordinary life.” (CBC Books) Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry “Rohinton Mistry’s titles include Tales From Firozsha Baag, a collection of short stories, and A Fine Balance, a novel. Mistry's first novel, Such a Long Journey, received several awards, including the Governor General's Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book. It was also shortlisted for the Booker Prize and for the Trillium Award.” (Bowker Author Biography) 2012 Scotiabank Giller winner 419 by W “Will Ferguson is the author of several oirs, including Beyond Belfast, Hitching and most recently the humour collectio novels include Happiness™, Spanish F nated for both an IMPAC Dublin Award wealth Writers Prize, and a three-time cock Medal.” (Scotiabank Giller 2012) 7 s me for a li le Christmas reading from the library Will Ferguson award-winning memg Rides with Buddha, on Canadian Pie. His Fly and 419. Nomid and a Commonwinner of the Lea- 2009 Scotiabank Giller shortlisted The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels 2008 Scotiabank Giller winner Through Black Spruce by Joseph Boyden Saints of Big Harbour by Lynn Coady “Lynn Coady ‘s Strange Heaven won the Dartmouth Book Award in 1999, the Atlantic Bookseller's Choice Award in 1999, the Air Canada/Canadian Author's Association Award for Most Promising Writer Under Thirty in 1998, and was shortlisted for the Governer-General's Award for Fiction in 1998. Her title, Play the Monster Blind, won the Canadian Author's Association's Jubilee Award for a short fiction collection in 2001, was shortlisted for the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour in 2000, was shortlisted again for the CNIB Award, and The Writer's Trust Award in 2001.” (Bowker Author Biography)