The University of Alberta Indigenous Centre

University of Alberta First Nations Library Initiative

May, 2006

Version 2

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 2 University of Alberta First Nations Library Initiative

The University of Alberta Library, as a component of, and contribution to the emerging University of Alberta strategy on ‘Aboriginal Engagement’ is engaged in a multi-faceted initiative to enhance the capability and capacity of First Nations colleges in Alberta. The components of the initiative include library and information automated systems, print resources and enabling services to seven Alberta First Nations colleges. (See Appendix I.)

The first and foundation component of the initiative is the introduction, for the first time, to First Nations colleges, their students, faculty and staffs and their surrounding communities a state-of-the-art information management system, linked by way of the NEOS Library Consortium (see Appendix II) to the University of Alberta Library. Each and every day, multiple times during the day, these First Nations learners will be linked through a portal to the University as the host of their primary information, knowledge and learning resources. They will be able to support their programming and information/knowledge seeking requirements with access to resources hitherto unimagined in their current models of library service. In addition, the introduction of this infrastructure will permit these institutions: to take part in key provincial post-secondary library initiatives; to easily link to established provincial post-secondary institutions; and, to dramatically enhance their current learning environments.

In addition, the initiative includes, with private sector partners, a significant enhancement of print collections of scholarly resources—at no cost--compiled from a host of contributing University presses. And, as opportunity permits, the initiative will include some upgrading of the physical library spaces within the colleges by way of redundant University of Alberta shelving, and related equipment.

Background

Statistics Canada predicts that in ten years the number of aboriginal people in their twenties entering the Canadian Labour Market will grow by 40% - four times greater than that of the general population. At the same time, Alberta is experiencing an unprecedented economic growth and is already affected by serious labour shortages, particularly in the field of oil and gas exploration, which is so crucial to our province’s continued prosperity. These labour shortages, expected to reach over 100,000 workers by 2015, drive the need for an increased number of post-secondary graduates at every level. Universities, colleges, and technical institutions are responding to meet industry demands by increasing their enrolment capacity and providing more scholarships to potential students. And, whatever programme of study is required, timely access to library and information resources is essential.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 3 The University of Alberta Library has a tradition of making available its wealth of resources to all residents of the Province and to foster a knowledge environment that encourages learners to achieve their educational potential. Indeed, that has been a key mandate since incorporation in 1906. Meeting the needs of First Nations students has been more recently identified as a particularly important challenge and is identified as a priority in the recently published Senate Task Force on Student Engagement: A Shared Responsibility.

Alberta’s First Nations colleges are disadvantaged in terms of access to learning resources. While these institutions try their very best to offer a supportive learning environment, they have been unable to provide materials of the breadth and currency that information intensive programmes demand. Whether scholarly journals or books, current building codes, or technical manuals, or any other of a myriad of programme supporting documentation, these institutions struggle to access appropriate resources. The University is proposing to extend its own library automated systems—and by extension access to its library resources, and the resources offered by way of the NEOS library consortium--to provide the necessary services to First Nations colleges. When these resources are provided electronically, they can be constantly updated and easily accessed over the Internet. This should ensure that these students will have access equal with other provincial post-secondary learners to an increasingly knowledge-rich learning environment. In addition, the University Library building upon its extensive relationships with vendors, booksellers and publishers will work to link academic print resource suppliers with the colleges with the intent of improving in situe print collections.

Enablers

Alberta is supremely fortunate that the government has invested in the capacity to transmit electronic resources by way of the Alberta SuperNet. While First Nations colleges are challenged to take advantage of this new broadband capacity, all are either now connected or will be shortly. The University of Alberta Library is working with these institutions to upgrade their capabilities so students and communities will be able to take advantage of diverse learning resources.

The University of Alberta Library has met with the executive of FNAHEC, the First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium, and confirmed their partnership in a University of Alberta based library consortium.

The University of Alberta has long seen aboriginal education as one of its important responsibilities. This is demonstrated by our 35-year history of offering off-campus courses and programs in collaboration with aboriginal communities in Alberta and the far north. With the advent of larger information-sharing initiatives, there is an even more pressing need to address the current inequities and bridge the gap between the capacities of First Nations colleges and other Alberta post-secondary institutions.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 4 Finally, and of considerable importance, is the recently announced Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library. This province-wide visionary initiative will mean that all Alberta post-secondary learners, whether urban or rural, apprentice or graduate student, have access to a wide range of electronic resources from their institutional libraries and remotely, to wherever and whenever they require them. From the beginning, First Nations institutions have been included in the vision, as that was the hope of the late Lieutenant-Governor, Her Honour Lois Hole. It is vital that the colleges have the technical library infrastructure and skill sets to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Campus Alberta vision, which is at the core of Alberta’s post-secondary learning strategy, encourages collaborations between institutions and their stakeholders to promote transferability and equitable access to all Alberta learners. While some of the province’s First Nations colleges are already working with larger provincial institutions to offer the training that industry requires, the potential of these collaborations would be dramatically enhanced if all students had access to suites of relevant electronic resources.

This support to students, who may have begun their post secondary education with an industry-sponsored course leading to entry-level employment, would also assist in the transferring to a program co-delivered by their local college and larger institutions, including the University of Alberta, to more specialised training at one of the province’s major schools. A student who begins their degree in a university transfer program or in a programme leading to a technical diploma will have access to the same resources utilizing the same or similar access technologies available at their provincial university, college, or technical institute of choice. At the same time, institutions who can promise their instructors access to world class resources, even while teaching in a remote or rural location, will have a substantial advantage in attracting staff. Key, however, will be the realization that their initial learning infrastructure will be made available to them via the University of Alberta.

The Initiative

The University of Alberta will extend its consortial licenses for software (SirsiDynix Unicorn Integrated Library System) and hardware to the First Nations institutions. The University commits to mentoring the First Nations college libraries and helping them develop their potential to serve the needs of their learner and staff populations. University library staff time would be dedicated to on-site assistance at each of the First Nations college sites, both in choosing and installing the requisite technical infrastructure, and in helping to build the skills required to make use of the new resources. In addition, the University Library will assist and facilitate in the cataloguing of the current aggregate collections estimated to comprise some 70,000 items.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 5 The estimated $780,000 (to be cost-shared by the Library, the Provincial Government and Nexen Inc.) investment in this program, to be shared equally, will go towards establishing the appropriate foundation of technical infrastructure, staff resources, and information literacy training. (See Appendix III.) It will benefit over 1,000 learners, instructors, and researchers at seven First Nations colleges (in the first instance) representing 12 sites throughout Alberta. Furthermore, it will also benefit the surrounding communities in which the colleges are situated, as all residents will have access to onsite use of the resources (for example electronic resources accessed by way of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library). The University of Alberta will thus be seen as establishing the foundation needed by aboriginal learners and band residents throughout Alberta, thereby increasing the potential for transfer students, graduates, and workers from these communities, as well as increasing the profile of the University.

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 6 Appendix I. List of the First Nations colleges that will be participating in this initiative and their locations.

First Nations Adult and Higher Education Consortium (FNAHEC) Schools: The purpose of FNAHEC is to provide quality adult and higher education, controlled entirely by people of the First Nations’. FNAHEC is a non-profit organization that strives for First Nations Success through education.

Blue Quills First Nations College Old Sun Community College P.O. Box 279 P.O. Box 1250 St. Paul, AB T0A 3A0 Siksika, AB T0J 3W0 Tel: 1-800-645-4455 Tel: (403) 734-3862 Fax: (780) 645-5215 Fax: (403) 264-9659 Website: www.bluequills.ca Toll Free: 1-888-734-3862 Website: www.oldsuncollege.net

Maskwachees Cultural College Red Crow Community College P.O. Box 360 P.O. Box 1258 Hobbema, AB T0C 1N0 Cardston, AB T0K 0K0 Tel: (780) 585-3925 Tel: (403) 737-2400 Fax: (780) 585-2080 Fax: (403) 737-2101 Website: www.maskwachees.ca Website: www.redcrowcollege.com

Nechi Training, Research and Health Yellowhead Tribal College Promotions Institute #304, 17304 105th Ave. N.W. 1 Poundmaker Road Edmonton, AB T5S 1G4 St. Albert, AB T8N1M9 Tel: (780) 484-0303 Tel: (780) 459-1884 Fax: (780) 481-7275 Fax: (780) 458-1883 Website: www. ytced.ab.ca Toll Free: 1-800-459-1884 Website: www.nechi.com

Additional participating institutions: Kayas Cultural College Little Red River Cree Nation P.O. Box 1165 High Level, AB T0H 1Z0 Tel: (780) 759-3912 Fax: (780) 759-3780 Remote sites include: John D’Or, Fox Lake & Garden River

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 7 Appendix II. Current list of the Members of the NEOS Library Consortium

Alberta Geological Survey Library Alberta Government Libraries (9 sites) Alberta Research Council Libraries (5 sites) Canadian University College Library Capital Health Regional Library Services (5 sites) Caritas Health Group Library Services (2 sites) Concordia University College of Alberta Library Cross Cancer Institute Library Grande Prairie Regional College Library Grant MacEwan College Libraries (4 sites) Justice Canada Law Library Kings University College Library Lakeland College Library (2 sites) Newman Theological College Library Olds College Library Red Deer College Library Taylor University College University of Alberta Libraries

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA LIBRARY 8 Appendix III. Budgetary breakdown of project funding.

2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 TOTAL Integrated Library Systems $70 $70 $80 $220 Hardware and Peripherals $80 $30 $0 $110 Record Conversion/Cataloguing $60 $60 $60 $180 Project Management/Library Consultant* $110 $80 $80 $270 TOTAL $310 $240 $220 $780

*Includes staffing, travel and training, and meeting expenses

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