Number 41/Spring 2007

Ex Libris Association Newsletter Inside This IssueELAELANN Update, Rehabilitate, Conserve 1 Update, Rehabilitate, Conserve: The By Erik J. Spicer Presentations at ELA 2006 Conference 4 Library of Parliament 1995-2006 By Janet Jacobson BY ERIK J. SPICER, Parliamentary Librarian Emeritus Ex Libris at CLA 2006 Gets Good Review 6 By Jeremiah Saunders If you think that the recent extensive suffer other earthquake damage as Ex Libris at OLA Superconference 2007 7 work on Canada's most recognized the library is more deeply imbedded and beautiful library was too costly, I and anti-earthquake measures were Our President’s Report 8 hope you will think otherwise after taken in belated recognition of the By Arn Bailey and Frances Davidson–Arnott reading this. Unfortunately, without earthquake zone in which Ottawa ELA Board of Directors 8 seeing videotapes of the complicated resides. hidden construction work, the cost of Information Professionals 9 more than $130 million will be hard The original library was designed in and Unionization By Mary F.Williamson to accept. But, as mere words are 1859 to be the library for the Atlantic News By Norman Horrocks 10 insufficient, please view the Public Province of Canada (the old Upper Works and Government Services and Lower Canada combined in News from British Columbia 11 Canada website 1840), once Bytown was chosen as By Sylvia Crooks (www.parliamenthill.gc.ca). the permanent capital by Queen Everything May be Different, but Has 13 Victoria in 1857 after a vigorous cam- Anything Changed? By Minakshi Sharma paign by other contenders that con- tinued long after the choice was Murray Shepherd Honoured 13 announced. Ottawa Public Library Wins Budget Battle! 14 By Marie Zielinska That the library took so long to build was due to much opposition, alleged Welcome New ELA Members! 14 graft, the cessation of work for some In Memoriam: Katherine Packer 15 years, depression, reorganization, By Diane Henderson and Nancy Williamson overspending and, of course, the sometimes distracting political efforts Book Reviews 16 to achieve confederation by 1867. A Love Of Books By Albert Bowron 17 Considering all the problems facing the library, it was amazing that it My Years as a Librarian 18 could be used for an opening ball in By Pamela Hardisty 1876! Recent Library-Related Books 20 By Jean Weihs It was a fine building on completion, but the 1916 fire that destroyed the The Songs of the Library Staff 20 Centre Block, the Library's own fire FYI...Check Out These On-Line Journals 21 Credit: Mary F. Soper. © Public Works and Government Services in 1952, and time itself, overcame the Canada. By Diane Henderson substantial repairs of the 1950s well In the meantime, the library's magnif- before 1995. (Out of curiosity I once Biography Database Coming Soon 21 By Nancy Williamson icent site on Parliament Hill, with the pulled a decorative block of sand- Centre Block and the Peace Tower stone out of a border while waiting Books by Ex Libris Members 22 attached, is now anchored more for a constable at my once private Milestones 23 securely than ever. All are less likely entrance. Of course, I put it back.) Compiled by Merlyn Beeckmans to fall off the cliff and less likely to In 1995, as Mary Soper says, “the 2

Library building was showing its age. of my first requests from members librarians and their assistants, Public Minor repairs...were no longer ade- was for a private room for members Works planners, designers, and crafts- quate...to deal with the accumulated only. This seemed reasonable to me, men. It was not therefore until March wear and tear, the ravages of weather but it had been turned down shortly 11, 2002 that the old Library building and pollution and antiquated systems. before I acted after finding a suitable was turned over to the contractors, For many years, water had been small room. At first, it was much Thomas Fuller Construction, run by pouring off the roofs and down the used, particularly by four grateful descendants of one of the two origi- walls, seeping into the masonry and members. Once three of them were nal architects. Two members of the causing it to deteriorate during freeze- appointed to the Cabinet, however, Fuller family construction team gave thaw cycles. Mortar was crumbling. use dropped and the room reverted cheerfully informative interviews on The interior of the masonry walls to library staff.) Will an increased Library videotapes. were pocked with voids. Many stones public presence truly help the func- required repair or replacement, and tions of the Library and its users? The major unseen and essential item all needed to be cleaned. In addition, was the non-blasting excavation of a the old mechanical systems made it Because of the crowds, the sliding massive pit directly under the Library difficult to control temperature and doors that earlier replaced the swing- to house a huge third basement for humidity levels..., thereby putting the ing barroom doors (in order to speed the new mechanical systems and to collections at risk...and working con- the entry and exit of tourists and help allow the ceiling heights of the two ditions uncomfortable. The roof was maintain humidity) still make it diffi- existing basements to be increased, in leaking. It lacked insulation, and air cult for staff and members to get in order to accommodate a few more and vapour barriers. The windows and out. The problem is, of course, books and new ductwork. This leaked. Exterior ironwork was deteri- the narrowness of the entryway and required the removal of the two exist- orating. The Reading Room floor was lack of another convenient entry/exit. ing reinforced-concrete basement worn beyond repair. The building floors “and excavation of 8.75 metres was falling behind...[in]...meeting cur- Before continuing with the readily (28.7 feet) of rack”. And this had to rent codes and standards for fire and visible parts of the Library renovation, be done both quietly and safely, life safety and seismic protection... we must examine the major structural especially during parliamentary ses- Failure to address each and every changes to the building essential to sions. The videotapes of this work are problem immediately would have prevent the imminent collapse of the very impressive and show a network resulted in a permanent loss of the building because of its dangerous of interior scaffolding and slim building's heritage fabric.” neglect – as so eloquently argued by columns supporting the whole inner Ms. Soper, Public Works Project and outside wall from collapse! That In addition, offices and the Reading Director for the Library transforma- the contractors were able to remove Room required reworking. To poor tion. some 4,800 cubic metres of rock from lighting, a problem from the earliest Parliament Hill without public com- days and especially the nights, were Public Works and Government plaint is a tribute to both their skill added modern cabling problems. The Services Canada (PWGSC) began and their imaginative approach to first visible computer installation that planning in 1995 and that soon real- their challenges. had proclaimed the modernity of our ized the Library would have to be services, despite the old-fashioned emptied “for practical and safety rea- The major temporarily seen, but now surroundings, had been overwhelmed sons”, yet service to Parliament had to removed, feature was the white over- by additional modern equipment and continue. To provide this library ser- coat that enclosed the Library once furniture that cluttered the Reading vice, another historic building, the old the weather vane and its base were Room. That space for public tours Bank of Nova Scotia Branch on the removed. This translucent white fabric was inadequate was not surprising, as Sparks Street Mall, required major covered the scaffolding, which inge- it was the unplanned growth of tour- renovation and outfitting to be the niously did not touch the building but ing after Centennial celebrations that acting Library of Parliament during permitted work to continue without caused this. the stabilization and repairs on interruption during inclement weath- However, the barrier that has just Parliament Hill. Similarly, work on the er. This was especially important, for been removed was put in place after historic Queen’s Printer Building on on closer examination the stonework the fire in 1952 in order to give mem- Brewery Creek in Gatineau to house condition was even worse than bers some privacy as they worked. the bindery, archives, and stored believed. Fortunately the fabric also Having virtually no staff, members items also took much time. Both pro- enclosed well-designed stable plat- came to the library personally and did jects added tremendous additional forms from which the restorers could not welcome public intrusion. (One work and strain, primarily for the safely and comfortably carry out their ELAN difficult work. The rubble fill between “What has been changed?” Naturally it Fortunately, the superb teams of each wall had settled or disintegrated, appears substantially the same, espe- Public Works and Government and much liquid grouting had to be cially to recent visitors. The most evi- Services Canada, Library of Parliament injected in order to stabilise them. dent change is the removal of the staff, and contractors worked together barrier or defining counter, which with extraordinary success – linked In addition to much exterior grouting, marked the space between the public by the shared desire to produce a there was much repairing and and the working staff. This has been building worthy of the Canadian peo- replacement of many of the various eliminated in order to accommodate ple and Parliament and one not sizes and types of stone blocks. For more visitors, but the barrier’s requiring major work for another 50 example, some 30 percent of the win- removal seems to ignore the reason or 100 years. Barring another fire, of dow stones had to be taken out and for its being there since the reopening course. Congratulations on a truly replaced. All this was a major job for after the 1952 fire – to separate the excellent job well done. J specialised workmen. And, before public from Library clientele! We will being handed back to Parliament, the see how the original configuration, a In addition to articles in the indispens- exterior stone had to be carefully working barrier now reinstalled able Ottawa Citizen newspaper, the illu- cleaned to allow it to breathe, glow, around the sparkling clean and minating, beautifully illustrated article and be more visually acceptable. repaired marble statue of young by Mary F. Soper (then Acting Project Queen Victoria, will meet today's Director, Real Property, Major Crown needs. Projects Branch, Public Works and Government Services Canada), “Our The wooden gallery floors have been Library of Parliament” in Heritage, replaced with glass, as originally in Spring 2004, pp. 4-9 was the major place, to allow more light to filter source of details. Public Works and through. As in the original building, Government Services Canada gave ELAN etched glass facings have been placed permission to reproduce the photographs. on the wooden end panels of the gal- leries and the plastic light shades In addition, some 30 audiovisual tapes replaced by glass shades that fit the borrowed from the Library, three visits to original style. New furniture has been the reburbished Library and two helpful designed to agree with the 1952 era. telephone calls – one to Lynn Brodie, Ordinary office equipment has been Director, Information and Documents banished and beauty restored. Centre Resource Service, Library of Parliament, and one to Joan Dorsay, Lighting, a problem from the begin- Program Co-ordinator, Library ning, even with the original glass gas Renovations, Library of Parliament – chandelier, has been tackled again. gave me a feel for this very major suc- Fortunately, the imaginative suspend- cessful project. These were my sources Credit: Mary F. Soper. © Public Works and Government Services ed lanterns – stylized miniature and inspiration. Any errors of fact or Canada. Libraries of Parliament put in place interpretation are doubtless mine. Many In addition to the masonry, however, during the 1952-era improvements – thanks to all involved, including Jean new and better supported and sealed have been retained. Some of the new Weihs who asked me to write. copper roofs were fitted and the exte- installations may seem somewhat jar- rior iron work and weather vane ring, however. refurbished and remounted after Again, some of the most difficult and much repainting, all creating a spec- time-consuming work is largely tacularly refreshed appearance. The unseen. This is because “To protect new exterior view of the Library may the building structure from the even surpass the beauty of the origi- increased humidity [to better preserve nal, but no one living can confirm the books] as well as from exterior this. However, the original ornamental weather, the entire building envelope slate roof and its attractive dormers [had to] be made weather-tight. New were not replaced. interior double windows” were installed and camouflaged fans It is likely that the refurbished interior mounted under the upper windows to that will be of most interest to visi- prevent condensation and the ugly tors, however. Most people ask, stains associated with it. 4 Presentations at ELA with a number of hilarious anecdotes. the previous generation of publishers Typical would be the story of how because of the risk of bankruptcy and 2006 Annual Margaret Atwood’s first novel, The the unwillingness of banks to finance Edible Woman, came to be published. new enterprises. University publishers Conference Margaret had given it to Jack a year are interested in publishing their own BY JANET JACOBSON and a half previously and he had professors’ work but not in publishing promptly put it in the drawer of his trade literature. There is little interest in This is a critical time for the Canadian desk. At a party, she mentioned that Canadian school publishing given the publishing industry according to our she didn’t just write poetry, but had small market. Publishers need to sell morning keynote speaker, Anna Porter. written a book. Jack said he would books by the unit to stay afloat. While Anna spoke about the topic Canadian love to see it, at which point Margaret international companies are interested Publishing in the Global Marketplace. said, “Perhaps you could look in your desk”. in distributing Canadian authors, nei- She has been involved in the Canadian ther they nor Canadians are interested publishing industry since the late 1960s Canadian authors have not always in investing in Canadian publishing – as editor, producer and ultimately been well known. In the late 1960s, companies. With $20,000 you can start general editor for McClelland and when Anna accompanied Jack to the a company up. Who is willing to step up to Stewart; as the publisher of Key Porter Frankfurt Book Fair to push Canadian the plate? Books, sold in 2005; and as a writer. authors, CanLit was not a hot topic at home or abroad. Awards for Canadian Change has also occurred in book- The author of three mysteries and two authors were few, and advances to selling. Big chains have made it diffi- novels, Anna recently published a retain top authors did not exceed $500. cult for independent sellers and non- memoir that she entitled The Storyteller. brand-name authors to be successful. Today, large numbers of books are Chapters and Indigo account for 50% published in English Canada. of the books sold in Canada. Over 300 Government support is available at independent booksellers have closed both the provincial and federal levels. their doors. Quebec writing is a huge industry, massively supported by the federal and These trends have made the librarian’s provincial governments. Awards for job more difficult. While more people Canadian authors abound. Canadian are using libraries in Canada than in authors, such as Farley Mowat, are on any other country, small publishers bestseller lists around the world, have cannot afford to spend a great deal of won international prizes, and can com- money to advertise new books. It fol- mand up to $250,000 in advances. lows that we, as librarians, must main- CanLit symposia are held worldwide tain the public’s interest in lesser (in Finland and Iceland, for example) known Canadian authors. and Canadian literature is taught in Speaker Anna Porter, chatting with Doug many universities outside of North The afternoon’s presentations explored Kehoe about her latest book. Credit: Frances Davidson-Arnott. America. the topic, Trends and Challenges in Collection Building: What are Libraries Anna is no mean storyteller. Arriving The publishing industry in Canada has Buying and Why? Three panelists, Scott from Hungary in 1969, she was hired changed since the early days. There Millard, Manager, Library Service, by Jack McClelland. At that time, are many more publishers in Canada Halton Catholic District School Board; Canadian publishing was not consid- than in the 1960s and 70s and they Charlotte Stewart, recently retired ered first rate. McClelland and Stewart publish 85% of Canadian authors. University Librarian (Acting), McMaster became the publisher for an entire Canadian publishers act as agents for University; and Susan Caron, Manager, generation of Canadian writers – Farley international publishers. For example, Collection Development, Toronto Mowat, Pierre Berton, Leonard Cohen, Raincoast Books is the Canadian agent Public Library, discussed their collec- Irving Layton, Margaret Laurence, for J. K. Rowling’s books, and tion development strategies. While col- Margaret Atwood – an amazingly tal- McLelland and Stewart is the agent for lection content varies with the type of ented cohort of writers. In her talk, Random House. library, all are facing an increase in the Anna’s love of the business and her purchase of e-resources. New formats personal support of her authors was Despite these successes, problems require new equipment and the techni- evident, as was Jack McLelland’s gigan- loom now for Canadian publishing. cal expertise to advise users. tic role in creating a golden era of The sector is ageing. Young people are Canadian literature. Anna regaled us unwilling to take the chances taken by ELAN For school libraries, literacy and ensure that they are appropriate for a Although McMaster now spends 75% numeracy are key issues in collection Catholic school system, and find of its library budget on electronic development. A school’s collection enough Canadian material to support resources, it must still purchase impor- policy is simply to support the curricu- Canadian content. Often, American tant print materials, such as prize-win- lum and to respond to curriculum material must be adapted to a ning books and test materials. Digital change. Scott Millard collects whatever Canadian audience. New formats archival collections of earlier print is required, from Barbie dolls and require up-to-date technologies. While journals, available on the desktop, are teddy bears to books, videos, and pic- video streaming on demand and tum- in demand, even though they dupli- tures. Suppliers include the dollar store ble books (online) are available, not cate current print holdings. Luckily, and the hardware store as well as the every school has the equipment to our Canadian dollar is strong, since bookseller. The library works with take advantage of these developments. 85% of the library’s resources are pur- teachers to develop kits needed for Library costs include the purchase of chased from the United States. curriculum support. teachers’ guides (about $150 on aver- age), cost of public performance rights New graduate programs in unique for videos ($200 per title on average), fields are being developed, while and funds for training videos ($400 on graduate enrolment in traditional pro- average). grams is increasing. Libraries need both depth and breadth of resources Given the challenges that school to support these initiatives. Graduate libraries face, it is important to main- programs vary between universities, tain and develop close partnerships making it difficult to negotiate the pur- with the public library system for addi- chase of e-books and e-book collec- tional curriculum and computer sup- tions within a consortium. port. Future trends in collection develop- Harry Campbell and Hillary Nicholls at the Annual Conference. Credit: Frances Davidson-Arnott. Charlotte Stewart noted a trend ment include the digitization of local towards increased external collabora- resources and the capturing of blogs tion among different types of academ- and wikis as library information The document Achieving Literacy rec- ic libraries. Because consortiums share resources. Charlotte predicts that, ommends library funding on a per-stu- the cost of electronic resources, indi- while organizational divisions within dent basis, depending on the grade vidual libraries may experience the library are disappearing, people level of the student. Recommended decreased autonomy and local control skilled in collection development will allowances range from $26 to $45. of their budgets. At the same time, still be required. Actual funding ranges from $10 to $12 internal collaboration between univer- per student. Additional sources of sity departments is increasing as cross- In the Toronto Public Library, collec- library funding include book donations teaching and cross-disciplinary tion development is done by more from parents, money raised by parent appointments have become more than 100 librarians and subject special- councils, and discretionary funding common. While some disciplines are ists, using publishers’ catalogues for from school principals .The Ontario well served using digital resources, the most part. The library budget is Ministry of Education occasionally sup- others, such as humanities and social $16.9 million and is used to purchase plies additional funds that must be sciences, still require a large number material for special and multilingual spent instantly. For instance, in March of print materials. collections as well as for the general 2006 each school library in Ontario collection. was given $3810 to be spent (materials New technologies have created prob- ordered and received) within two lems in the academic library. While One of TPL’s challenges in collection weeks – an unachievable goal in many younger students embrace new tech- development, as described by Susan cases. Because these funds are given nologies and are willing and able to Caron, is to expand the purchase of sporadically, it is difficult to purchase teach themselves, older users often new formats (audiovisual, e-resources items that require standing orders, require more support. Internet use has and downloadable files), new lan- such as magazine subscriptions. led to an increase in plagiarism. guages and new collections. Seventy- Other challenges for school libraries Collection specialists often find them- five percent of TPL’s collection is still in include providing relevant content, up- selves responsible for enforcing license print format, 85% of which is in English. to-date equipment, and money for agreements, particularly in regard to New genres include graphic books and specialized materials. School librarians students using robots to download street literature or “urban fiction”. The must provide materials to meet cur- whole websites. latter has Afro-American protagonists, is riculum changes, view materials to continued on page 6 6

Ex Libris at CLA Presentations at ELA 2006 Let's talk name recognition. Being 2006 Gets Good from SLAIS, I recognized the names Annual Conference of Sylvia Crooks and Basil Stuart- continued from page 5 Review Stubbs in the Ex Libris Association's BY JEREMIAH SAUNDERS newsletters. (I researched early BC written by Afro-Americans, and con- newspapers tains lots of street language. There are Every year, the Canadian Library (http://www.library.ubc.ca/spcoll/ many interests competing for the avail- Association (CLA) invites one student displays/EarlyBCnws/nwsIndex.htm) able money. The interest of those representative from each library based on an essay by Basil Stuart- seeking popular literature are mea- school to attend the conference. A Stubbs as one of my first volunteer sured against those with research inter- student is expected to help run the projects in library school). I only ests. Those who wish to browse the conference, and report back to his or quickly glanced at one of Ex Libris “best bets collection” are weighed her colleagues about the event. Association's newsletters, so I am against those who prefer to place holds (6 million holds were placed last Jeremiah reported to his colleagues at sure there are more names worth year). SLAIS, UBC – Ed. mentioning. As a young and upcom- ing librarian, I am constantly coming across references to retired librarians Availability of some multilingual mate- rials is a problem, particularly from Have you heard of the Ex Libris who still want to be involved in their war zones (such as Somalia). There is Association? The Ex Libris Association communities. At the same time, I can a large demand for information from appreciate librarians who want to is a Canadian national association for outside North America, particularly retire after years of service, and enjoy retired library and information profes- from Britain, possibly as an antidote to other aspects of life. sionals. I spoke with Ex Libris opinions expressed in American mate- Association representatives at their rials. Older materials, including clas- Finally, ELAN, the Ex Libris exhibit. sics, may no longer be in stock. Such a Association Newsletter, has a column problem does not exist for self-pub- An association for retired library pro- How I Became a Librarian. I wish lished material. fessionals? I asked if I could join. that I had known about this publica- With a quick wit, the representative tion when I was first considering E-collections are the fastest growing said that I could join the Ex Libris library school. I hope that Info*Nation part of the collection. TPL now has Association, since it is an organiza- (http://www.cla.ca/infonation), the access to 82 databases, many of which tion for any librarian who wants to CLA’s recruitment website, makes use are available in full text, including retire some day. Sign me up! of such columns because, if you Chinese magazines, interactive com- want to attract librarians, such as puter books, and e-books. TPL is We started to talk about how an myself, then it is wonderful to see launching audio books, downloadable association for retired librarians could stories from librarians with decades to an MP3 player or a computer. This benefit a new librarian, such as of experiences! J material disappears after three weeks. myself. There are three points that Downloadable videos, used mainly for come to mind: (1) as a new librarian, Reprinted from educational purposes, are also available. I enjoy seeing successful librarians http://slaistocla.blogspot.com, posted who have had long careers because June 15, 2006. Challenges to collection development it gives me something to look include licensing problems (anyone towards; (2) the association is able to CLA Conference can dial in by remote access if they capture “corporate knowledge” (i.e., 2007 have a library card number) and the the priceless experience of librarians public’s lack of awareness of new who have seen changes in terms of media. There is also a greater need for technical support for new technolo- services and tools); and (3) the asso- Ex Libris Association will be at ciation serves as a networking tool, gies, such as downloadable files. since more and more librarians are the Canadian Library Association set to retire. When I look at librarian- Conference in St. John’s, Many thanks to our excellent speakers ship, I often wonder how librarians Newfoundland from May 23 and to Beth McLean for arranging such have adapted, and the Ex Libris to 26. Be sure to stop by our an interesting program. J Association has the stories that will booth in the exhibit area for a inspire us and help us define our chat.We look forward to seeing own career paths. you there! ELAN Ex Libris at OLA grew, ELA reached out to librarians such as Lions Rotary Clubs. He is outside the Toronto region and now ready to expand the program into Superconference has members in all provinces of other provinces and invited everyone Canada except Prince Edward Island. to visit the program’s website, 2007 In outlining ELA’s activities, Jean www.fightingcrime.ca. recalled many well-known librarians As in 2006, ELA had a booth in the who assisted in getting Ex Libris off Shirley Lewis ended the ELA/FOCL Ontario Library Association trade the ground. She described a banquet session with a talk about her experi- show on February 1 and 2, at this sponsored by ELA and the Ontario ence as a volunteer with both ELA year’s OLA Superconference in Library Association at the joint and Friends of the Mississauga Toronto. The booth was staffed by Al Canadian Library (Ontario) Library. She emphasized Bowron, Arn Bailey, Doreen London, Association/American Library that fun is the greatest reason to get Doug Willford, Elizabeth Warrener, Association conference in Toronto involved and that having fun doing Frances Davidson-Arnott, Jean Weihs, that included a humorous re-enact- something that interests you is the Jim Montgomery, John Warrener, ment of the attack on Toronto during best way to volunteer. She described Mary Williamson, Mavis Cariou, the War of 1812, with ELA members her initial involvement with ELA as Nancy Williamson, Peter Mutchler, as actors (see ELAN Fall 2003). limited to attending the annual con- and Tom Eadie. Thanks to everyone ference. She later joined the board as for making the booth a success again Peggy Hiscock noted that FOCL is a chair of the Publicity and Public this year! national support group for local Relations Committee. Working with Friends of Libraries support groups colleagues to publicize ELA turned and that it promotes network- out to be pleasant and productive. ing that helps these groups Shirley then described her volunteer share ideas. She ceded most of work with Friends of the Library in her time to John Kennedy, an Mississauga, whose very active pro- RCMP constable dressed in his grams offered her a wide variety of full red-jacket regalia, who is volunteer work that used her library one of the first police officers in skills. Mississauga has a strong local- the world to work in a library. history publication program, which Constable Kennedy stated that Friends of the Library finances. As 65 per cent of prison inmates well, the Mississauga Friends advo- cannot properly read or write. cate for the library with city council- The RCMP has become so con- lors and other organizations. Currently, vinced about the importance of the organization is sponsoring visiting children reading as a defence authors for Mississauga’s special Year against juvenile delinquency of the Book, which focuses on litera- that Kennedy now runs the cy programs and the love of reading. Adopt-a-Library Literacy J Program from his office in the library. This joint project between the RCMP and the Liz Warrener staffing our booth at the OLA Superconference. Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library of Nova Scotia is picking up partners A trio of speakers was featured in a from all sectors, session at the Superconference on including national ELA Annual Conference 2007 sponsors who help February 2. It was moderated by Our next annual conference will be held on Peggy Hiscock, past president of raise money and sup- Friends of Canadian Libraries (FOCL). port for libraries. Monday, November 5 at North York Central Constable Kennedy Library in Toronto. This is your opportunity to Jean Weihs led off with an overview noted that he had the reconnect with old friends, make new acquain- of Ex Libris, describing its formation, full support of the tances, network, enjoy stimulating lectures and purpose and projects, including RCMP in involving savour a good lunch with excellent company. descriptions of some of our publica- many partners, such as Wal-Mart and other tions and historical activities. She Mark Monday, November 5 on your calendar. talked about how, as new projects businesses, and ser- were initiated and the membership vice organizations, See you then! 8

to contact them to lend our voice of concern. Such work Our President’s Report requires the involvement of recently retired school librarians, and we hope that, if we contact them, they will join Ex BY ARN BAILEY AND Libris. The project is already in the long-range plan of ELA FRANCES DAVIDSON-ARNOTT and needs some focusing of effort.

Having had a great 20th anniversary year, the Ex Libris This year saw the departure from the Board of several peo- Association is entering its third decade with enthusiasm and ple: Phebe Chartrand, Peggy Walshe and Marie Zielinska all energy! As you will read elsewhere in this issue, we had a resigned. Marie served for a long time and is still involved in very successful AGM and Annual Conference, organized activities in Ottawa. We thank Phebe, Peggy and Marie for beautifully by Beth McLean. We were entranced by Anna their work on the Board. Joining the Board this year are Arn Porter’s revelations and brought up to date on collection Bailey, Jan Jacobson and Peter Mutchler (having finished his development by a very talented panel. We had a highly suc- executive term). We are still looking for a vice-president cessful booth at OLA, selling a lot of our attractive new tote (president-elect), so please consider taking on this responsi- bags with the ELA logo, and have plans for exhibits at CLA, bility! Being on the Board is a terrific pleasure and not oner- BCLA and perhaps other conferences in the coming months. ous. This is a great group to work with – wonderful ideas Also, at OLA, we sponsored a joint session with Friends of and willing help. New ideas are received with enthusiasm Canadian Libraries that introduced a lot of new people to Ex and developed with intelligence. J Libris and was very well received. Our second annual event at the University of Toronto Faculty of Information Studies in This report was written by both Arn and Frances, because the February, planned and produced by Mary Williamson, transition from one president to the next is happening gradu- brought us together with students to discuss unionization of ally and a bit later this year, due to Arn’s prior commitments. librarians. The event was really good, and students expressed interest in knowing more about the subject. FIS has invited us to stage an event again next year. The upcoming tour of the Library of Parliament and the National Gallery Library in May is very exciting; it will bring members from Ottawa and outside together. Also planned, for the fall, is a tour of at least one library in Toronto – details to follow.

The Board and committees continue to thrive, with every- ELA Board of Directors 2007 one doing something new and interesting. The Biography Project Committee is working hard under the direction of Nancy Williamson. ELAN continues to provide us with excel- Executive lent news and articles, and Newsletter Committee members Arn Bailey, President are always on the lookout for contributions. Our Website Jean Weihs, Recording & Committee is continually improving the ELA website and the Correspondence Secretary electronic list. The Publicity Committee keeps up with estab- Doreen London, Treasurer lished activities, such as conference exhibits, as well as Jean Wheeler, Membership Secretary bringing us new treats, such as our tote bag. We are very Frances Davidson-Arnott, Past President fortunate to have so many keen and intelligent members. But remember, there’s always room for more members who Nancy Williamson, Archivist want to contribute! Activities in all parts of the country are encouraged. The Board and Executive are most willing to Board Members help get any ideas off the ground. Patricia Appavoo Jan Jacobson Because of his background in school libraries, Arn hopes to Shirley Lewis revive a committee that would in some way (probably in a Beth McLean letter to the Ontario Minister of Education) support the need to revitalize school libraries, whose budgets and staffs have Jim Montgomery been seriously cut in recent years. Ontario’s People for Peter Mutchler Education would be an ally in this undertaking. The state of Phyllis Platnick school libraries is not solely an Ontario problem. There are Liz Warrener groups across the country working to the same end (notably Mary Williamson the Canadian Coalition of School Libraries), and we will try ELAN Information schools, is most likely in courses on Mary Williamson, fine arts bibliograph- management. And yet, anyone who er retired from York University Professionals and considers taking a position in a library Libraries (who replaced Vivienne should ask about the union situation, Monty on the panel), gave an academ- Unionization because the answer may influence ic librarian’s point of view. In 1976, BY MARY F. WILLIAMSON, with Jim their decision. York faculty and librarians negotiated Montgomery and Arn Bailey their first union contract, among the In whatever union they find them- earliest in Ontario. For librarians there The Dean’s Tea at the University of selves, librarians are invariably a were big changes – some of them Toronto’s Faculty of Information minority. Whether they are academic opposed by managers – but they drew Studies, on February 28, was co-spon- librarians in a union of faculty mem- librarians into the scholarly life of the sored by Ex Libris Association and the bers and librarians, or public librarians university. Among the new responsibil- FIS Student Council. When the guests in a civic employees union, they ities and privileges were collegial gov- arrived, they tucked into cheeses, inevitably have to shout to make their ernance issues such as peer review of grapes and home-baked goodies pro- voices heard and to ensure that their and awarding research and conference vided by ELA and had an opportunity interests are addressed in negotiations. grants, and naming department chairs. to purchase T-shirts and bags. And, of course, academic freedom – The first speaker the ability to speak your mind freely. was Rob Rolfe, The requirements for a continuing Library Division appointment – a form of tenure – vary chair and a mem- from those of faculty members, who ber of the are not tied to a 35-hour week. Areas Executive of librarians’ work that are appraised Committee of include research and publication, per- Toronto Civic formance and teaching, university ser- Employees Union, vice, and participation in professional Local 416 (CUPE), and/or scholarly life. One issue being representing 2300 negotiated at the moment is “full-time Toronto Public reduced load”, attractive to librarians Library workers near retirement. and about 7000 City of Toronto Some academic librarians find their outside and hous- responsibilities as colleagues of faculty ing workers. As a members too oppressive. Others ELA President Arn Bailey and FIS students listen to speakers. women’s profession, appreciate that opportunities to do Credit: Frances Davidson-Arnott. librarianship has tra- research, publish and build expertise ditionally been undervalued and its could never have been achieved with- Assistant Dean Judy Dunn welcomed practitioners underpaid. By joining out their union. students, ELA members and visitors. with other library workers, and outside Past-President Frances Davidson-Arnott civic workers who are largely male, In the discussion that followed the also welcomed everyone and, for the librarians in the Toronto Public Library speakers, Joan Winearls, map librarian benefit of students, explained the mis- have benefited from CUPE’s immense retired from the University of Toronto, sion of Ex Libris and outlined a few of bargaining power. After the 1998 City noted that the University of Toronto our programs. of Toronto amalgamation, efforts Faculty Association would have more focused on harmonizing librarians’ power if it were a union. Faculty and In Mary Williamson’s introduction, she salaries across the newly enlarged city librarians can opt out of association noted that it isn’t easy to find informa- and concluded only in 2004. The latest membership. Librarians can achieve tion about collective bargaining in agreement has a “no layoff” clause, an permanent status but not tenure. A Canadian libraries. Roma Harris, a pro- issue that has been librarians’ biggest strike by support staff some years ago, fessor at the University of Western concern. One outstanding issue is the in which librarians were caught Ontario, understated the case when new Toronto Public Library job spe- between managers and library assis- she wrote, “There is not a great deal cialization. Its lack of recognition irri- tants, created long-standing bad feelings. of material available in the library liter- tates children’s librarians and Toronto ature on the subject of labour rela- Reference Library staff. However, the tions”, which, if taught in library union is pressing for knowledge-based advancement. continued on page 13 10 Norman HORROCKS, Professor Dalhousie University. Dr. Matthews Atlantic News Emeritus and Adjunct Professor, was president of the Canadian School of Information Management, Association for Information Science Dalhousie University, was inducted as (CAIS), a member of the National an Officer of the Order of Canada by Research Council's Advisory Board on Her Excellency the Right Honourable Scientific and Technological Michaelle Jean at Rideau Hall on Information (ABSTI) and a visiting February 9, 2007. At a one-day con- professor in the Department of ference on March 3, organized by the Library Studies, University of the West students at the Dalhousie School of Indies, Jamaica. He was also very Information Management, Dr. active in the work of the Dawson Elizabeth Kelley (Dalhousie School of Printshop (see Events below). BY NORMAN HORROCKS Business Administration) gave the inaugural lecture in the Dalhousie- William Hue “Bill” McCURDY Janet COATES-MASON, Library Horrocks Leadership Lecture Series. (1934-2005), well-known as the head Manager, Petitcodiac Public Library, The School is launching an endow- of the Halifax printing business Albert-Westmoreland-Kent Regional ment fund to support scholarships for McCurdy Printing and founder of Library, N.B., retired after 24 years students with leadership potential. Petheric Press in 1967 – which pub- in the region. She was replaced by lished works of Maritime interest and Cathy MacDONALD of the Moncton Mark LEGGOTT, new university also the Nova Scotia Historical Public Library. librarian at the University of Prince Quarterly (1971-80), a forum for local Edward Island and previously univer- historians to publish their research – Dorothy Louise COOKE (née sity librarian at the University of was memorialized by Patricia Dobson), a University of Toronto Winnipeg, was the recipient of the Chalmers (University of King's library science graduate, died on Outstanding Alumni Award from the College Library) in The Dawson December 27, 2006 in Halifax, aged Dalhousie University School of Printshop Newsletter, vol. 7, January 90. She began her library career at Information Management Associated 2007, pp. 7-9, with a cover photo of Dalhousie University library in 1957 Alumni Association. Bill at a printing press taken by and retired in 1981 as university Bertrum MacDonald (see also Events librarian. In 1966-67, she was presi- Margaret Elizabeth BURNS below). dent of the Atlantic Provinces Library MARTIN, former head of Adult Association. After she retired, she Services at the Spring Garden Road Terry NIKKEL was appointed direc- published Nova Scotia Variant Place Library in Halifax, died on December tor of information services and sys- Names and An Index to Acadiensis, 5, 2006. She was 77. She obtained a tems at the University of New 1901-1908. BA from Trinity College, University of Brunswick, Saint John, on October 2, Toronto and a BLS from the same 2006, with responsibility for the David CUMBY resigned after 23 university. She was a librarian with library and the campus's Information years as chief librarian, Eastern the Halifax Public Library for nearly Technology and Instructional Counties Regional Library, Nova 37 years, having previously been a Technology departments. Terry has an Scotia. He is now pursuing a M.Div. cataloguer with the Harvard College MLIS from University of Western degree at Acadia University, in prepa- Library. She wrote two books on Ontario and an MBA from Dalhousie ration for entering the pastoral min- Nova Scotian historic buildings. University. His previous position was istry of the Atlantic Baptist Churches. head of Systems at Dalhousie Frederick W. MATTHEWS, former University Library. Richard ELLIS, Memorial University professor at the then School of of Newfoundland, will step down Library and Information Studies at Patrick B. O'NEILL, professor of as university librarian on August 31, Dalhousie University from 1972 to speech and drama at Mount St. 2007, when he will take a year's 1984, died February 20, 2007, aged Vincent University, died on April 27, administrative leave. 91. Born in Carbonear, Nfld., he 2006, while attending a conference in obtained a B.Sc. (Honours) in chem- Ireland. A Canada–U.S. Fulbright Florence “Claire” HENDERSON istry at Mt. Allison University and a Scholar in 2005 specializing in CHURCHILL (née Archibald), who PhD in physical chemistry at McGill Canadian theatre history, Dr. O'Neill worked as an assistant librarian at University. After a research career at was a founding member of the Nova Scotia Technical College and Canadian Industries Limited (CIL) in Association for Canadian Theatre later at Mount Allison University Montreal from 1941 to 1959, he Research. His research in Canadian Library until her retirement in 1975, became manager of CIL Information material at the British Library in died on February 11, 2007, aged 96. Services (1959-1968) before moving to London led to the publication of the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in Checklist of Canadian Copyright London, England and then joining Deposits in the British Museum, 1895- ELAN Atlantic News Stephen Lewis at the 2006 APLA torical maps and cartographic continued from page 10 Conference and decided to join the archives.” Her activities reached far Adopt a Library program sponsored outside the library as well, in local 1923, 5 vols. in 7, 1984-89. His by CODE. (CODE is a Canadian char- historical societies, the Maritime papers have been deposited in the ity with an emphasis on developing Museum, Alcuin and bibliographic MSVU Library Archives. partnerships to promote literacy. It societies. In her retirement she co- was formerly known as the Canadian founded Marco Polo Books, which Jennifer RICHARD, Acadia Organization for Development she ran from her own home. She University Library, is editor-in-chief of through Education.) Through the was much loved for her hospitality a new, open-access, peer-reviewed Island libraries network, the provin- and generosity and, as Peter Ward, journal Partnership: The Canadian cial library service and the Robertson Professor of History and now Journal of Library and Information Library of the University of PEI joined Practice and Research, published by Holland College in sponsoring a University Librarian, wrote, for “her The Partnership: The Provincial and library at the Frewoyeni School in curiosity, her rich knowledge, her Territorial Library Associations of Ethiopia. One of the objectives is to collegiality, her wish to help”. She Canada. The first issue can be seen at encourage library use by women and will be sorely missed. www.partnershipjournal.ca, and the girls. editor-in-chief can be reached at [email protected]. Another of our Ex Libris Eric STACKHOUSE, chief librarian of members, Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library, retired UBC was the 2006 recipient of the Nova News from School of Scotia Library Association's Norman Library, Horrocks Library Leadership Award, British Columbia Archival and presented at the NSLA/Library Boards Information Association of Nova Scotia Joint Studies pro- Conference in Halifax on fessor Lois September 30, 2006. BY SYLVIA CROOKS Bewley, was honoured by Lois Bewley. Credit: Sylvia Crooks Events The BC library com- the B.C. Library Association at a spe- munity and Ex Libris cial reception in February. BCLA The Dawson Printshop, which for lost one of its most 25 years has been housed in renamed its fund to support libraries esteemed and active Dalhousie University’s Killam Library facing censorship challenges the Lois and was established as part of the members in the M. Bewley Intellectual Freedom School of Library Service (now the death of Anne Defence Fund. A past president of School of Information Management), Yandle on December 12, 2006 in both the B.C. and Canadian Library has been transferred to the Nova Vancouver, at the age of 75. Anne Associations and recipient of those Scotia College of Art and Design held BA and B.Com. degrees from associations’ highest awards, Lois University. The Printshop was Trinity College, Dublin and a MLS Bewley was acknowledged by BCLA launched with funding provided by from McGill University. She was head “for her efforts over a long and dis- the husband of an alumna of the of the Special Collections Division of tinguished career (and beyond) to School, the late Professor Robert the UBC Library from 1964 until her ensure that intellectual freedom McGregor Dawson of the Dalhousie early retirement in 1991. issues remain at the core in the work English Department and his family. of libraries, library staff and library Over the years, the Printshop After emigrating to Canada from her associations”. Professor Bewley acquired a number of examples of native Northern Ireland, Anne graduat- taught at SLAIS from 1969 to 1988. printing presses and equipment for ed from McGill Library School in 1961 hand binding. Non-credit courses in and, shortly after, came to UBC. As hand printing, hand binding and her colleague Frances Woodward An exciting, collaborative library ref- paper conservation have been offered wrote, “Anne was responsible for the erence service called AskAway was and will continue at NSCAD. The development of the many fine collec- inaugurated in British Columbia in larger premises in downtown Halifax tions, including British Columbia and promise a greater use of the the fall of 2006. With the support of Canadian history, early children’s liter- Printshop in the years ahead. the B.C. Ministries of Education and ature, and for encouraging her col- Advanced Education, publicly funded Holland College Library staff were leagues to build the manuscript collec- academic libraries and all public impressed by the talk given by tions, University Archives, and the his- libraries across the province are 12

pooling personnel to provide “live Association. The program has been navigate the website, to submit on- chat” reference service seven days a accredited continuously since 1963. line card applications, renew and week. Even the smallest public hold catalogued items, and access libraries in the province are taking Dr. Luciana Duranti, a professor in their loan reports. They can also advantage of this virtual reference the Archival Studies program at request Chinese-language e-mails for service, which is free to patrons. The SLAIS, has won three major awards notices about holds and other library academic and public library streams in the last year. She was awarded the matters. are administered separately but share UBC Killam Research Prize as well as T Douglas College Library has set the same name. The Province has the Jacob Biely Faculty Research up a Living Library program, where provided $530,000 in start-up funding Prize, described as “UBC’s premier students can “borrow” their own and will contribute $350,000 annually research award”. In March 2006, she Living Library person who has exper- to the program. The service is prov- received the Emmett Leahy Award, tise in a certain subject area for a 30- ing to be very popular, judging from considered to be the most prestigious minute in-person meeting in the cam- the over 1000 questions that were award given to an expert in the field pus cafeteria. Subject areas are listed handled by the public library stream of records management. Dr. Duranti, on the college’s website and cover a alone during the month of January. who joined the SLAIS faculty in 1987, wide range, including such non- has spearheaded the international scholarly topics, as sea kayaking, InterPARES research project in elec- stained glass, adoption, fundraising, With the emphasis on cooperative tronic records management, which gourmet cooking, proposal writing, activities in its strategic plan for involves more than 100 researchers and immigrant life experience. J libraries, the B.C. Public Library from a total of 25 countries. Services Branch is providing both start-up and ongoing annual funding to form library federations, includ- Other interesting developments and ing the Kootenay Library Federation activities in B.C. libraries: of 18 libraries and the North Coast T The BCLA’s First Nations Interest Library Federation of seven libraries. Group is sponsoring a First Nations When you Move Both these federations were founded Communities Read program in B.C. in mid-2006. Participating libraries to promote aboriginal authors, pub- benefit from reciprocal borrowing, lishers and stories. It is supported by Please remember to send your group purchasing, shared collections, the federal Department of Canadian new address to: shared programming and shared pub- Heritage and the B.C. Public Library Ex Libris Association lic relations. Services Branch of the B.C. Ministry Faculty of Information Studies, of Education. Six public libraries have University of Toronto already received grants from the Dr. Peter Ward, who has served as BCLA to take part in the program. 140 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3G6 interim deputy university librarian at T Castlegar Public Library has set the University of British Columbia up the Teen Advisory Board to help since December 2005, was appointed select books for the Youth Collection, university librarian effective March to plan and present programs, and to 17. He replaced Catherine Quinlan, write reviews for the library’s web- university librarian since 1997. site. The board is made up of teens Professor Ward joined UBC’s between the ages of 12 and 15. Would You Like Us Department of History in 1973, and T Coquitlam Public Library is has served as department head and offering Live Homework Help to Expand ELA’s associate dean in the Faculty of Arts. between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., Sunday His research centres on Canadian through Thursday. Students can get Programming? social history and the history of help by either chatting with or text health in the modern west. Dr. Ward messaging library tutors. A donation or bequest to Ex is a graduate of the University of T As part of its activities to serve its Libris helps us broaden and Alberta and Queen’s University. multicultural (especially Chinese) increase our activities. All The MLIS program of UBC’s School community, Richmond Public of Library, Archival and Library now offers Chinese transla- donations are tax deductible. Information Studies (SLAIS) has been tion on its website. This allows re-accredited by the American Library Chinese-speaking patrons to easily ELAN Everything May be As I flipped further, I came across a Information Professionals list of courses offered in 1899: cata- and Unionization Different, but Has loguing and classification, bibliogra- phy, accessions, reference, loans, continued from page 9 Anything Changed? bookbinding, shelving, selection of Arn Bailey, retired head librarian of BY MINAKSHI SHARMA books, library economy, and library museum. I recalled that, in my first East York Collegiate in Toronto, spoke on behalf of school librarians. You cannot step twice into the same year at library school, I enrolled in the He pointed out that school librarians, river, for other waters are continually following courses: information and its first of all, must have teaching qualifi- flowing in. Heraclitus, BCE 500. social contexts, information technolo- gy applications, management of infor- cations and classroom experience. The school principal may be unaware While working at the Inforum, the mation organizations, bibliographic of the difference between an MLS and Integrated Library and Information control, on-line information retrieval, a teacher’s Library Certificate. As con- Studies Laboratory at the University of information resources and services, troller of the purse strings, he or she Toronto, I occasionally come across research methods and evidence-based allots a secretary or assistant to the interesting materials that pique my health care for information profession- librarian. Holding an MLS is not nec- curiosity. For instance, I recently came als. Except for the last one, are these essarily factored into salary. It is the across the State University of New courses really that different from the union that determines such matters as York’s Library School Summer Course ones offered in 1899? As Irene Peter hours, preparation time and pensions. calendar, published in April 1899. Not said, “Just because everything is differ- Depending on the kind of school, surprisingly, the first name that I saw ent doesn’t mean that everything has teacher–librarians in Ontario are as I opened the booklet was Melvil changed”. members of different teachers’ associ- Dewey. He was identified as secretary ations that all fall under the Ontario of the 1899 library committee. I was Looking ahead a hundred years from Teachers’ Federation. The OTF works coaxed into reading further. As I now, I wonder if people would be with the provincial Ministry of scanned the pages, wilting with age, I surprised by the library curriculum in Education on curriculum change and felt like I was travelling back in time. the early 21st century. I also wonder professional development. Two questions surfaced in my mind: if, after graduating, I myself will be How much has librarians’ education surprised by the courses that I was In informal chat between students, changed in over a century? What dif- required to take. Everything may be faculty and ELA members after the ferences would I find within the palm- different in the future, but will any- talks, a suggestion was made that a sized booklet, with its mustard- thing change? J session on information professionals coloured cover and yellowed pages? Minakshi Sharma is a first-year stu- and unions be pulled together in a FIS course, so that students could be As I continued to read, the brochure dent at the Faculty of Information better informed. proudly stated, “New York led all the Studies, University of Toronto. J states in caring for that education which can be given to the people at large only through public libraries, by Murray Shepherd Honoured establishing in 1838 the district library system, an example followed by 20 Ex Libris member Murray Shepherd, who other states”. Furthermore, the librari- retired three years ago after three decades as an’s educational role was proudly the University of Waterloo's university librarian, highlighted: “… education can be was honoured as a conference room in the given to the people at large only Dana Porter Library was reborn as the Murray through public libraries….” I suppose C. Shepherd Learning Lab. “Prior to his retire- that some things will never change, ment”, a library announcement notes, since librarians continue to play “Shepherd played a key role in attracting fund- instructional roles and teach informa- ing from the Harold Crabtree Foundation to tion literacy to library users. I also transform the room into a learning lab with suppose that, in the late 1800s, modular furnishings, state-of-the-art equip- libraries may have been the only edu- ment, and the necessary infrastructure for cational institution in a community, wired and wireless capabilities”. while today, libraries play only a sup- Adapted from an article in the UW Bulletin porting role Credit: Maureen Shepherd. to the public school system’s lead. (online), November, 2006. 14 Ottawa Public Library gy, knowledge of various media peo- celebrated Canadian author and jour- ple, and boundless enthusiasm nalist Patrick Watson and raised Wins Budget Battle! inspired all board members to con- $40,000 for the Ottawa Public Library tribute to the campaign as much as Foundation. The money will support they could. children’s literacy programs, adaptive BY MARIE technologies that expand access to ZIELINSKA, FOPLA Another project that Lori carried out information and materials for physi- Board Member was a giant used book sale on the cally challenged people, and Sparks Street Mall, in the heart of improvements to the Ottawa Room To understand the Ottawa, to support OPL’s Every Child (the local history collection) at the importance of this Ready to Read program, initiated this victory, we must Main Branch of OPL. J fall in Ottawa libraries. The sale was step back in time to organized by the Friends in co-opera- 2000 and the amalgamation of the tion with CBC Radio and TV, which City of Ottawa. At that time, a num- provided space in their building and ber of small libraries, on the outskirts publicity. During the five-hour sale, of the city in particular, had limited $9300 was raised for the program. resources and minimal permanent Nine thousand books left after the staff supported by volunteers. After sale were sent to Africa for literacy amalgamation, it became necessary to programs, through the East African integrate those libraries into the City Student Association at Carleton of Ottawa system, improve their ser- University. vices and, of course, adjust salaries to those of City employees. This created Another important fundraiser was the a back-pay debt of almost $1.5 mil- 11th annual Literary Gala, which took lion, which the city wanted OPL to place on November 27. It featured cover from its regular budget. To squeeze such an amount of money from an already tight operating bud- Welcome New ELA Members! get would have had a devastating result on Ottawa’s library services. An 2006 advocacy campaign was started in Salima Anandjit (Scarborough, Ont.) the fall of 2006, after the election of a Barb Carr ( Kingston, Ont.) new city council. On February 27, Jim Gillespie (Nepean, Ont.) the victory bells rang when Council Phyllis Goldman (Toronto) approved OPL’s budget as submitted, Elizabeth Hanson (Bloomington, IN, U.S.A.) plus funds to cover the back-pay Janet Jacobson (Ottawa) debt. Siu-Yuen So Kwan (Toronto) Jocelyne LeBel (Edmundston, N.B.) Friends of OPL (FOPLA) played a Barbara J. Lee (Sundridge, Ont.) very important role in the advocacy Leslie McGrath (Toronto) campaign. City councillors were con- Mary Louise Mills (Hammonds Plains, N.S.) tacted personally whenever possible; Sheila Pearl (Truro, N.S.) all citizen consultation meetings were Lorna Reevely (Toronto) attended by members of the FOPLA Board; articles were published in the Prince George Public Library (B.C.) local press; and special cards were distributed to FOPLA members and bookstore users to send to the mayor 2007 and councillors. The cards stated that Sue Adams (Antigonish, N.S.) libraries are a core service and must Rose Dotten (Toronto) be adequately funded. The soul of Tom Eadie (Peterborough, Ont.) this campaign was the chair of the Sandra Hodgson (Toronto) Friends Advocacy Committee and Nancy Kellett (Toronto) current President of FOPLA, Mrs. Lori Marilyn Kogon (Toronto) Nash. Her organizational skills, ener- Margaret A. Moreau (Omemee, Ont.) ELAN In Memoriam: to further the application of technolo- vived by her daughter Marianne. She gy in library operations and library will be remembered not only by fac- Katherine Packer, education through her teaching and ulty, students and her many friends research. She taught in the areas of and associates as a distinguished 1918-2006 organization of information, subject practitioner, teacher and administrator, BY DIANE HENDERSON AND analysis, automation of library and for her determination and dedica- NANCY WILLIAMSON processes, documentation methods tion to library and information science and statistics. To support her research, in general and to FIS and its goals Katherine Packer (née Smith) was she received grants in the social sci- and achievements in particular – but born in Toronto on March 20, 1918. ences, including a Canada Council mostly for her lively intellect, warm She attended the University of grant for research into user reaction personality, sense of humour and Toronto from 1937 to 1941, graduat- to microform catalogues. Katherine’s friendship. J ing with a bachelor’s degree in mod- academic publications focused on ern languages. Following her master’s developments in librarianship and studies in library science, she received library education in Canada and the her AMLS from the University of impact of changing technology on Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1953. She library catalogues and their users. Her began her career in librarianship as a contribution to the University of rare book cataloguer at the William L. Toronto included work on numerous Clements Library from 1953 to 1955. academic committees in her faculty, In 1956, she and her family moved to in the School of Graduate Studies and Winnipeg, where she worked at the in the university at large. She was University of Manitoba Library as a also active in professional associa- cataloguer until 1959, when they tions, both nationally and internation- returned to Toronto. Continuing in ally, as chair of the Ontario her cataloguing specialty, from 1959 Association of College and University to 1963 she served as catalogue infor- Libraries in 1965 and 1966 and on mation librarian at the University of committees of ALA (1965-1969) and Toronto, then became head cata- CLA (1964-1979). She served on com- loguer at the newly established York mittees of both the Federation inter- University Library. Her next appoint- nationale de documentation (FID) and ment, as chief librarian of the Ontario the International Federation of Library College of Education from 1964 to Associations (1975-1981). 1967, provided the administrative experience for her future teaching Following her retirement in 1984, career at the University of Toronto. Katherine had more time to devote to her interests in community, environ- Katherine’s career as a library and mental and social causes, both in information science educator began Toronto and at the family cottage on with her appointment to the then Stoney Lake. She was for a time presi- School of Library Science in 1967. Her dent of the Deer Park Ratepayers career developed progressively and, Group and active in other local com- in 1979, she became a full professor, munity organizations. She and her Contributions and then dean from 1979 until 1984, husband established, at York Welcome when she retired as professor emeri- University, the Packer Endowment in tus. In 1975, she was awarded a doc- Social Justice, which includes a visit- torate by the University of Maryland ing professorship, lectureship, and The Newsletter Committee wel- and, during her academic career, graduate and undergraduate awards. comes articles, news items, and received several awards, including the In 2000, Katherine was elected to the ideas that you think would be CLA Howard V. Phalin/World Book Board of ELA, co-chaired the of interest to Ex Libris mem- Recruitment Committee and was then Graduate Scholarship for Library bers, for publication in ELAN. Science (1972) and the University of membership secretary until 2004. Michigan Distinguished Alumnus Please send them to Liz Award (1981). Katherine died in Toronto on October Warrener (see the last page of 9, 2006. She was predeceased by her this issue). Thanks! From the beginning, Katherine strove husband William (Viljo) and is sur- 16

often feel positive, even Canada. It is published in English and Book Reviews relaxed, and spend a lot French editions and, with its earlier vol- of time. They are also umes, is the most comprehensive single r e

n places where people source on printing and the book in e r

THE ROMANCE OF LIBRARIES r

a meet those with similar Canada that we have. Volume III lists W EDITED BY MADELEINE LEFEBVRE, WITH n interests, so it isn't sur- over 600 references that can be consult- h o A FOREWORD BY MICHAEL GORMAN J :

t prising that so many ed for more detailed histories. The thor- i d

Scarecrow Press, 2006, 208 p. e r people meet the loves of oughness of the compilation is evident C their lives there. In many ways, the sim- in its articles, its references, its index REVIEWED BY FRANCES DAVIDSON- ilarities among the stories are as fasci- and its illustrations. ARNOTT nating as the differences. From the seven separate sections, I When I saw a notice on an e-list asking This is a sweet little book but more the have selected three for brief description: for anecdotes about library romances sort to dip into rather than read from Authorship, The Publishing Trade, and for a forthcoming book by Madeleine cover to cover in one sitting. While the Readers and Libraries. Other sections – Lefebvre, a very witty and lively stories are well-written and make their Oral Tradition, The Symbolic Value of woman, I was eager to read it. Later, points clearly, the style is somewhat Books, Magazines, Religious and when I heard the wonderfully clever uniform, possibly the result of editing. Government Publishers, Printing and and very funny Bill Richardson inter- Or maybe library people write that way! Design, Scholarly Publishing, The Book view her on CBC about the book, I was The theme is clearly romance, not lust. and the Nation – are not included in hooked. The interview was terrific, and Remembering the heady days of yore, this review for space reasons. I urge you to go to the CBC website to when most of us now aging boomers listen to it (Sounds Like Canada, January were young, I had expected to read The various authors repeatedly mark 17, 2006). about more wild parties and conference World War I and II as turning points in romances. I particularly remembered the Canadian publishing and in the evolu- This book was a labour of love. The famous 1973 CLA conference in tion of books in Canada. The rise of introductory chapter, the introductions Sackville, New Brunswick when we, radio and television is also underlined, to each chapter and the concluding collectively, drank the liquor store dry – as well as the appearance of the various words are very well-written, with intelli- and the, possibly apocryphal, stories of professional and trade organizations of gent observations. The anecdotes them- booksellers chasing librarians across the publishers, authors, librarians, book- selves are organized by topic, as any university fields at night! At least one sellers and printers. Due notice is taken good librarian would do, with chapter well-known librarian told me that his of international events that had their titles such as “Bookmobile Romance”, own current relationship started with an impact on the Canadian book world. “The Romance of Academic Libraries”, illicit affair at a library conference. I wit- “Intralibrary Romance” and “The nessed many others over the years! The From 1920 to 1980, foreign publishing Romance of Library School”. The stories voyeur in me hopes that Volume Two events, notably in the U.S.A., proved a tell of romances between library work- will follow with some of the spicier sto- key element in Canadian book develop- ers in the same or different libraries, ries. ment. These generated a wide range of between workers and patrons (even in governmental and non-governmental a prison library), between patrons, and This book is recommended, and the inquiries that were conducted in between library school students. The reader might even recognize some of Canada, both federally and in several romances that defied classification are the people in the stories! It has its own provinces. They are covered in detail, as amongst the most interesting and some- website: are the rise of the leading Canadian times troubling. The landscape is broad- http://www.libraryromance.com/index.htm funding agencies, such as the Canada ly covered, with stories about people Council for the Arts, the federal and straight and gay, young and old, local Quebec book initiatives, private founda- and foreign; and about romances that HISTORY OF THE BOOK IN CANADA. tions, etc. and support efforts, such as are short or long term, old or recent. VOLUME III, 1918-1980 the Book Publishing Industry Most of the stories have happy endings, EDITED BY CAROLE GERSON AND Development Program (BPIDP) and the but some tell tales of failed romance or JACQUES MICHON various provincial grant programs. of romance that didn't quite develop University of Toronto Press, 2007, 638 p, because of distance or other complications. $85. The place of the writer is analyzed in two large subsections: Authors’ Careers There are similar situations in other pro- REVIEWED BY HARRY CAMPBELL and the Author and the Market. These fessions – lawyers loving lawyers, doc- include four case studies, which range tors with doctors or other health profes- This final volume of the $3.5 million from the role of the Canadian Authors sionals – but we are interested in our dollar study (described in ELAN Issues Association in World War II to Leslie own. The twists concerning libraries are 38 and 39) covers 62 years of the 20th McFarlane and The Hardy Boys (26 mil- often amusing and very meaningful for century. It ends when computer-based lion copies of the books in this series us and create warm feelings. Libraries information technology and the Internet are welcoming places where people were beginning to have their impact in continued on page 17 ELAN A Love Of Books ing of notables, salted with doggerel by Coles Notes, and French Canadian Edward Guest, Robert Service and Classics from Fides. Useful contribu- Walter Bowles. tions to the section are by George L. BY ALBERT BOWRON Parker, dealing with the history of Years ago, I sent a biologist friend a branch-plant publishing and the agency system in Canada as well as I hope a love of books is not complete- library discard entitled Harris on the mergers and takeovers in Central ly déclassé in this information environ- Pig, 1883. He sent it back with a dis- ment of websites and blogs. I confess Canadian trade publishing. I am grate- card from the Highland Creek ful for Parker’s analysis of what was to to such a love. Evidence can be seen in Mechanics Institute: Talks on Manures, many people a whirlwind of show- my modest living space: a reminder of 1890, by Harris. If I really wanted to manship, marketing and mergers. It is my past. free up shelf space, surely I could dis- also a useful history of the struggle to card these gems. exclude the publishing trade from the There it stands, my book collection. Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement. Accumulated over most of a lifetime, Farley and Angus Mowat, Henry Miller reflecting my interests in literature, the and Kildare Dobbs are well-represent- The section on Readers and Libraries arts, poetry, travel, with a few eccentric ed, and I have a complete collection of contains 23 contributors and articles titles linked to old friends or chance on various kinds of Canadian libraries: the publications of the Gaberbocchus five on reader’s habits, five on censor- adventures. I seldom add anything to it, Press. These are keepers, but those old but I find it hard to discard even one ship and encouraging reading of 1880 Baedeckers and that bulky file of Canadian books, and four on special tattered paperback. It’s like throwing old Canadian Library Journals have to communities of readers. These articles away a piece of my life. I say, let my be recycled. I’ll think about that next week. cover a period when the Canadian heirs deal with the leftovers when I population increased from 8 to 24 mil- have gone to the great library-in-the-sky. Finally, my well-thumbed copy of lion, and the industry expanded Count Palmiro Vicarion’s Book of accordingly. Peter McNally and Marcel I continue to house obsolete travel Limericks will remain in my collection Lajeunesse are main contributors, and guides like Europe on $5 a Day, a Delhi for its playfully obscene but humorous their articles, “Academic Libraries” and “Public Libraries in Quebec” condense road map, a colourful publication, content, for example: Welcome to Iran. Why do I keep a 1970 60 years of achievement into effective, concise narratives. map of Metropolitan Toronto? There was a young couple named Kelly, Booksellers are discussed in the sec- Years ago, at a CLA conference, a pub- Who were found stuck belly to belly, tion Distribution. Their inclusion is in lisher presented me with a luxuriously Because in their haste, recognition of the determination they bound, thick volume entitled Highlights They used library paste, showed and the problems they faced of my Career as a Library Consultant by Instead of petroleum jelly. serving book buyers throughout the Albert Bowron. The pages are of the period. It is one of the most useful best paper and are totally blank sections of Volume III. throughout. I’ll keep that one. Book Reviews continued from page 16 An important part of the History of the In contrast, The Love Poems of Irving Book in Canada project was to train Layton is a large, leather-bound, limited those doing research in book history. were sold by 1970). In discussing the More than 25 young scholars participat- edition signed by the author, with five role that the market played, fiction and ed. Their work included preparation of original lithographs signed and num- non-fiction writers are dealt with sepa- five permanent databases that record bered by Graham Coughtry. It’s beauti- rately, as are sports and children’s writ- Canadian book history. These are the ful and worth a bundle. Folio-format art ers. Of 35 Canadian writers’ groups cre- Bibliography of the History of the Book books dominate one area and are the ated after 1921, 19 were still in exis- in Canada (BHBiC), Canadian Book most cherished. Some feature splendid tence in 2005. More detailed accounts Catalogues (CBC), Canadian Textbooks reproductions by artists I have known, are available in the many references (CT), Canadian Book Trade and Library and sources listed. such as Jack Shadbolt, Harold Town, Index (CBTLI) and Canadian Imprints to 1840 (CI). How will such efforts, as Gershon Iskowitz and John Richmond. The Publishing Trade section is divided Such books enrich my memories. well as those of the editors, be used by into four subsections: Trade and future readers of these volumes and Regional Publishing in English, members of the The largest space-stealer is my five-shelf Publishing Books in French, Publishing book world in r e

collection of poetry – a passion of the for Children and Students, and The n

Canada? This is a e r r last 20 years. It is dominated by Serial Press. There are 10 case studies, challenge that a W

which include such diverse parts of the n Canadian, classical anthologies and faces us all. h o J :

trade as the Book Publishers t modern British poets – a great gather- i d e Professional Association, Harlequins, r C 18 My Years as a variety of questions and clients. As a filming expeditions to the editorial Manitoban who knew little of Ontario work. Although the filming itself was Librarian history and politics and even less very tiring and monotonous, I about Toronto, I had a lot to learn enjoyed working in a number of quickly. I had an able and kindly, if cities, learning about their libraries BY PAMELA HARDISTY stern, advisor in Violet Hyland, a vet- and getting to know many of my col- eran of 30 years in the Toronto Public leagues in those libraries. I had partic- Growing up in rural Library. I owe her a great deal. ularly enjoyed seeing part of Manitoba with no Newfoundland and St. John’s. In ret- access to a library, Meanwhile, in 1950, the Canadian rospect, I was happy to have had the why did I first think Bibliographic Centre had been estab- chance to travel from Port aux of becoming a librari- lished in Ottawa and, in early 1953, it Basques to St. John’s on the Newfie an? Perhaps I liked became Canada’s National Library. It Bullet, Newfoundland’s narrow-gauge the idea of having all those books had two working branches: railway. available. I had become an avid read- Cataloguing and Canadiana with Dr. er, like my parents, but there was Jean Lunn as director and the After almost nine years, it appeared always a shortage of books. At the Reference Branch with Martha that the National Library building was University of Manitoba, where I first Shepard as director. The first respon- little closer to construction. The grow- had access to a library, I was a fre- sibility of the Reference Branch was ing staff was now settled in a Public quent, if inexpert, user. I decided to to be the preparation of a national Archives storage building. When the become a librarian but really knew lit- union catalogue, of the holdings of Library of Parliament advertised for an tle of their work. the principal and regional Canadian assistant librarian, I applied and was libraries. I thought that it would be appointed. When ready to attend a library interesting to be there at the library’s school, I made inquiries of McGill beginning so, in early 1953, I applied University and the University of for and obtained a reference position, Toronto. I found that McGill had becoming Miss Shepard’s assistant. almost filled its quota for that year, so I applied to and enrolled in the At the time, Ian Wees was the only University of Toronto School of other reference librarian, and there Library Science. was a clerical staff of four or five. All of the National Library staff occupied Following graduation, I worked in a large room in the Public Archives three libraries: the Toronto Public Building in Ottawa, sharing space Library’s Reference Division, the with some of the historical exhibits. Pamela at her desk in the Parliamentary National Library of Canada and the In our area, for instance, we had, in Library ca. 1963. Library of Parliament. These are some one corner, Sir John A. Macdonald’s The move from a storage building to of my recollections of those libraries desk, and there were two or three the Victorian Library of Parliament and my work in them. marble busts on top of the Library of with its carved woodwork and domed Congress card catalogue cabinets. ceiling was somewhat of a culture Because I had found the Reference shock. I did enjoy being in a library course puzzling while studying library The reference staff worked on the with an active clientele again. The science, I asked to do my two-weeks’ compilation and editing of the union librarians there were working directly obligatory practice work at the catalogue, the manuscript for which for senators and members of Toronto Reference Library. There, my was acquired largely by microfilming Parliament. At first, I concentrated on supervisor, Martha Shepard, was sym- the author entries of the catalogues of assisting the Reference Branch, which pathetic and enthusiastic. My first day participating libraries. After a month gave me an opportunity to become there convinced me that I would in Ottawa, I went on my first filming better acquainted with the reference enjoy reference work and, fortunately, expedition to Montreal where I filmed staff and the type of information by the end of the first week, I was the library catalogues of McGill being requested. This focus helped offered a position. I particularly University and the Université de me to identify possible new services. enjoyed the puzzle aspect of refer- Montréal. On returning to Ottawa, I At that time, both Reference and ence work. worked mainly on the editing of the Cataloguing staff were divided by lan- union catalogue. Varying cataloguing guage (English and French), and each On the telephone and at the practices made identifying titles had to report to an assistant librarian; Reference desk, one met with a wide involved. I found that I preferred the however, it had been decided to fill ELAN only one position with the objec- The appointment of the Reference keep up to date…find out tive of gradually making each ser- head freed me to concentrate on vice bilingual. I hoped that, by my broader responsibilities to the more…painlessly working with them, they would library and the Parliamentary Visit Ex Libris on the come to accept me and the idea Librarian. This was the first time I Web of one reference service. The had been responsible for the orga- appointment of a new bilingual nization and direction of an active Reference director, who was an library service, and I found it most The Ex Libris website is a source of more experienced able librarian, greatly stimulating. I found that my current information than ELAN, which is helped in making the service responsibilities broadened as new limited to two issues a year. Names of more bilingual, and in the intro- services were developed and I new Board and committee members are duction and implementation of became more knowledgeable. announced promptly and details of the additional services. Since we were Libraries were beginning to use Annual Conference are released as they working directly for Parliament, computers: computerization of the are made available. Not only that, the elections often changed our clien- library’s catalogue began. website provides access to historical and tele considerably. Priorities might Commercial bibliographic refer- other documents that cannot be fully change temporarily; the protracted ence services were becoming included in the newsletter, such as the flag debate, for example, kept available. I contributed to the chronologies to support the library edu- some reference librarians busy for preparation of the library’s budget cation issue of ELAN that appear only on months. Later, we set up branch estimates and its annual report. I the web. Other items of interest include libraries in buildings to which par- enjoyed planning programs for the complete list of past speakers and liamentary offices had moved. The and working with visiting legisla- topics of the past Get-Together programs, library tried always to be respon- tive and parliamentary librarians. the complete text of the 2002 program, Is sive to parliamentarians’ needs One had to be ready for changing Librarianship as a Profession Headed for and wishes. This meant that some service demands while carrying Oblivion?, and some direct links to other of the library’s housekeeping was on with routine administrative useful websites. sometimes delayed until a parlia- duties. mentary recess. Are you already an Internet user but have During my years at the not looked at the Ex Libris Association Parliamentary Library, I developed website? Its address is a much stronger and lifelong http://exlibris.fis.utoronto.ca interest in government. From my contact with members of the Or, are you comfortable with computers House of Commons, especially but not experienced in Internet use or during the early years when more have no computer at home? Take this were using the library personally, article to your local public librarians for I became more sympathetic to assistance. their problems. Or, are you computer illiterate and I think I was fortunate in my embarrassed? Relax! Your local public library career to have worked in library is ready to help and probably such different libraries, and I even has small-group or one-on-one ses- appreciate the advice and assis- sions on learning to tame the computer tance I received from my col- and the Internet. Give the librarians this leagues. J article to show them the address for the Ex Libris website. Perhaps they will help Pamela Hardisty retired in you to use the site even before you have October 1980. She now lives in finished managing the computer! Victoria, B.C. Pamela in her office with Gilles Frappier, Eventually you will find many other web- then associate Parliamentary Librarian, ca. 1975-78. sites of interest. If there are no computer instruction programs at your local library, don’t give up. Ask around, and you may well find other community agencies offer- ing such assistance. Help is nearby. J 20 Recent Library- Canadian Fiction: A Guide to Reading interest you. The Read On section is not Interests, by Sharron Smith and Maureen limited to Canadian authors and occa- Related Books O’Connor. Westport, CT: Libraries sionally non-fiction titles are noted. BY JEAN WEIHS Unlimited, 2005. xxii, 423 p., index. Our Own Selves: More Meditations for I found the following list of recent This guide to some of the best or most Librarians, by Michael Gorman. books interesting and/or entertaining popular works of fiction published Chicago: American Library Association, and/or informative: between 1990 and 2004 is not all-inclu- 2005. xiii, 224 p. sive. It is “a broad sampling that repre- The Whole Library Handbook 4: Current sents the wide spectrum of reading pos- The “more meditations” in the subtitle Data, Professional Advice, and Curiosa sibilities and enjoyment in Canadian lit- of this book reinforces the fact that it is About Libraries and Library Services, erature ... both mainstream and genre a follow-up to Michael Gorman’s Our edited by George M. Eberhart. Chicago: fiction.” The books are grouped gener- Singular Strengths: Meditations for American Library Association, 2006. vi, ally into chapters devoted to setting, Librarians, published in 1997. In this 285 p., index. story, character, language, and genre fic- present work Gorman provides another tion. The genre chapter is divided into one hundred reflections on matters that This mix of helpful or informative arti- its types (mystery, science fiction, fanta- involve or touch the world of libraries cles by various people on topics of his- sy, romance, thriller, and horror), and and librarians written with Gorman’s torical interest and of current impor- the types further subdivided into spe- usual grace and command of the tance, lists of all sorts of things, several cialities. The 113 pages of indexes make English language. This is not a book tables of statistics, chronologies, pictures it easy to find novels with a particular that one is likely to read from cover to and photographs, quotations, and content or setting. And if you enjoyed cover in a methodical fashion. Rather it humorous pieces. One might expect one of the books listed here, the is a work to be read here and there as that a handbook published by the authors have provided a Read On sec- fancy strikes or as the desire to find American Library Association and edited tion for each of the entries in which thoughts on some particular aspect of by a senior editor of American Libraries they suggest other books that might the library world arises. J would be centred on library-related matters in the United States. Happily, this is not the case; information about The Songs of the Library Staff Canadian and European libraries and a few items about other places, such as CONTRIBUTED BY JEAN WEIHS “Donkey-Drawn Libraries in Sam Walter Foss, a librarian at the Somerville, Massachusetts Public library, Zimbabwe,” are part of the mix. The wrote Songs of the Average Man in 1907. Five of these songs were about final chapter, “Librariana,” has a mixture library staff members. ELAN will publish one of these songs and the accom- of humour (e.g., a song and a joke) and panying original pictures in each of the following four issues. We start with: the off-beat (e.g., a list of haunted libraries and library button and post- The Cataloguer cards). The first three editions of this Oh joy! To see the Library staff perpetually jogging, work are also useful because ninety- And to see the Cataloguer in the act of cataloguing. seven percent of this fourth edition con- (“Catalogs—Log-books for cattle,” was the schoolboy’s definition, tains new material. A statement not to be despised for insight and precision.) Every language spoke at Babel in the books that pile her table, Language Visible: Unraveling the Mystery Every theme discussed since Adam—song or story, fact or fable! of the Alphabet From A to Z, by David And she sweetly takes all knowledge for her province, Sacks. Toronto: Knopf, 2003. xv, as did Bacon, 395p., index. All the fruit that’s dropped and mellowed since the Knowledge tree was shaken, Librarians, who have spent their lives All the ologies of the colleges, all the isms of the schools, with books, might be interested in find- All the unsorted knowledges she assorts by Cutter’s rules; ing out more about the origin and Or tags upon each author in large letters that are gluey meaning of the alphabet that is their Their place in Thought’s great pantheon in basis. The Canadian author devotes a decimals of Dewey; chapter to each letter of the alphabet O joy! To see the Library staff perpetually jogging, telling the letter’s history, complexities, And to see the Cataloguer in the act of cataloguing. and meaning in different cultures and language. ELAN FYI … Check Out Partnership: The Canadian Journal of biographies have been prepared, Library and Information Practice and and the Biographical Project These On-line Research, (http://www/partner- Committee is consulting with the shipjournal.ca) “is a practitioner’s ELA’s webmaster and the Website Journals! journal of The Partnership [The Committee. When a few more deci- BY DIANE HENDERSON Provincial and Territorial Library sions have been made, we will be Associations of Canada] published able to get the project on the road With the widespread availability and twice a year”. It aims to give mem- and add biographies as they become use of the Internet, and the high cost bers of the Canadian library commu- available. We are beginning with the of publishing in conventional paper nity an opportunity to have research past but hope to include retired and format, the on-line journal has and scholarly articles published. Its still active professionals as time goes become a regular means of publish- feature articles, on theory, research on. ing in many fields. In library and and innovations in practice, are “in- information science, two new on-line depth, peer-reviewed articles”. The database will be accessible journals published their first issues in Articles based on presentations at through the Ex Libris website and 2006. While they differ in their objec- library or library-related conferences searchable by alphabetical-name and tives and orientation, each provides are included in the Conference other indexes. Googling will be interesting and rewarding reading – Spotlight section. Also published are through the Faculty of Information be sure to look them up! notes on professional development, Studies’ computer system. We creat- profiles and viewpoints. News and ed the current entries from a variety COLAJ: Canadian Online Library and announcements, about associations in of sources that describe each Archives Journal was established in The Partnership and other matters, biographee’s personal and profes- 2005 at Queen’s University (in complete the regular contents. The sional life. To ease consultation, we Kingston, Ont.) by the Queen’s journal invites submission of articles standardized the entries. The aim is Librarians and Archivists Association. for the peer reviewed and other sec- to present the most significant facts “It is meant to complement the tions; full information is on the web- about each person and sources of library and archives journals (both in site. Feature articles in Issue 1 (with a further information. When the loca- print and electronic) in Canada and is choice of HTML or PDF format) tion of an individual’s personal intended as a forum for all issues of include “Video Streaming in the Wild papers is known, this information interest to Canadian librarians and West” by Helen Prosser, “Open will be included, as will links to archivists”. Although it is based in a Access Initiatives in India: An other locations. university, COLAJ intends to publish Evaluation” by Leila Fernandez and material on any type of library or “Libre accès à la recherche scien- To get this project off the ground, archive. Anyone who wishes to con- tifique” by Kumiko Vezina. we need your help. We want to tribute articles, notes, reviews, or involve as many Ex Libris members “any other scribblings of interest” is Quotes were taken from the respective across Canada as possible. You can invited to submit. For a history and websites. participate by guidelines for submission, see the T writing biographical entries journal’s website T suggesting improvements to the (http://library.queensu.ca/law/COLAJ. database htm). It is published semi-annually, Biography Database T correcting erroneous information with both issues of Volume 1 now T adding to material already in the available. They include feature arti- Coming Soon database. cles and reviews of books and other BY NANCY media on a broad range of topics. If you would like to help, please get WILLIAMSON The feature article in Issue 1, by in touch with Nancy Williamson: Pamela Haley, is “The Scarlet ‘P’: FIS, University of Toronto, The beginning of Public Librarians in the World of 140 St. George St., ELA’s database of Academe”. In Issue 2, Pat Warner Toronto, ON M5S 3G6 librarians and other writes on “Reserves, Electronic Phone: 416-978-7079 information profes- Reserves and Copyright in Canada” Fax: 416-971-1399 sionals is expected to and Susan Barker on “A Technician [email protected] be up and running in the next few Goes to Library School: Some weeks. Watch the Ex Libris website Thoughts on the Process of and consult the Ex Libris bulletin Becoming a Librarian”. board. As a start, a small number of 22 ELAN Books by Ex Libris Celsus Library, built in A.D. 135 at Members Ephesus, Turkey.

This new column highlights books written by Ex Libris members. We invite our members to send information about their books together with a two or three sentence annotation to Jean Weihs at [email protected].

Time Was The Window: A Family's Stories, 1800-2000 by Arn Bailey (Markham, ON, Stewart Publishing and Printing, 2005, $20.00). Established by Irish immigrants, the Ontario homestead of a fictional family, The Harrisons, is retained through a line of unpre- dictable inheritance as its setting changes from rural to suburban. Events focus on members of each generation as they labour, love, and suffer loss. Throughout, a young genealogist tries to learn these family stories and discovers patterns that involve herself. Contact arn- [email protected]. ISBN 1-894183-72-X.

All About Me, or Is It I? Beware the Wild Pronoun! by Gwynneth Heaton. Illus. with exercis- es and answers (Victoria, B.C., Trafford Publishing Ltd., 2006. 137 p. $21.00). Readers of this compre- hensive, yet amusing, reference book will never start a sentence with me again. The book will help anyone (aged 13 and above) who wants to speak or write good English and who finds pronouns confusing. For more information or to order: www.trafford.com/06-2518, or 1-888-232-4444, ISBN 1-4521-0760-5.

Our Country Series by Jean Weihs (Toronto: MOD Publishing, $11.95 each) This series tells young people about the biggest, the best, and the first that happened in each of the provinces and territories. An introduction to the land and climates, the peoples, the economies, the governments, the animals, the major cities, and the meaning of the emblems and symbols. British Columbia ISBN 1- 894461-11-8; Nunavut ISBN 1-894461-09-6; Ontario ISBN 1-894461-10-X. Order through www. modpublishing.com or [email protected] J

Credit: Sherrill Cheda ELAN

Milestones Compiled by Merlyn Beeckmans

Obituaries Jill Anderson died on November 7, 2006 in London, Ont. nature was not appreciated She was a library technician who had made many contribu- by the faculty of the Library tions to the work of OALT/ABO since 1974. School. His interests were wide and varied – the UN, vintage cars and Japanese gar- Mary Eileen Ash died on September 13, 2006 in Toronto at dens, to name a few. These were not passive concerns: he the age of 88. She worked for most of her career as senior corresponded with Kofi Annan of the UN, owned a Rolls librarian at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto. Royce and a Bentley and created a fine Japanese garden. In sum, he was a person of note, as well as a member of Ex Vicki Louise (Bisset) Casey died on September 11, 2006 in Libris. We thank Bill Morley, John’s classmate at library Toronto. She worked as a librarian at the Toronto and school, for his very valuable input.– Ed. Scarborough Public Libraries and at Metro Reference Library. She also lectured at the University of Toronto, York Barbara Joan (Ettinger) Hinton died in Edmonton on University and Seneca College. August 19, 2006 at the age of 78. She received a BA from Queen’s University (1949) and later a BLS from the Joan Schreiber Clarkson died on March 13, 2007 in University of Toronto. She became a respected children’s Toronto at the age of 77. She held a degree in library sci- librarian, making good use of folktales and puppetry. ence from the University of Toronto. She had a long and rewarding career as a librarian at the University of Toronto. Kathleen (McCreight) Hodges died in Collingwood, Ont. on October 12, 2006 at the age of 95. She spent her library Margaret (Mills) Crowther died in Newmarket, Ont. on career at the Weston Public Library, Toronto. January 8, 2007. She was a former assistant librarian at Newmarket Public Library. Barbara (Conde) Hopkins died in Vancouver on September 16, 2006 at the age of 78. She worked for many Mary (Yates) Dille died in France October 25, 2006 at the years in the slide library in the Department of Fine Arts, age of 66. She worked as a librarian in the Arts Department University of British Columbia. of the Manchester (U.K.) Library and in the same depart- ment in the Toronto Central Library. She traveled with her E. Gwenyth (Coulson) Housby died in Toronto on August photographer husband Lutz to northern Canada, Wales and 28, 2006. She had a BLS from the University of Toronto and France. worked at the Toronto Public Library.

Lisa Anne (Wallace) Filiatrault died in Waterloo, Ont. on Lanah Geraldine Hughes died in Oakville, Ont., on March November 24, 2006 at the age of 43. She received a BA 19 at the age of 89. She received an MLS from the University (1985) and a B.Ed. (1987) from the University of Western of Michigan and was a librarian at Mackinaw College. In Ontario. She qualified as a teacher–librarian in 2001 and 1971 she returned to Canada to create and lead a two-year directed the Bluevale Collegiate Library in Waterloo. diploma course in library techniques at the newly opened Sheridan College in Oakville. On her retirement, her stu- Marjorie George died recently in Hamilton, Ont.. She held dents honoured her with an award, presented annually in a BLS from the University of Toronto (1939). She worked at her name. She had many interests, such as the Oxford the Hamilton Public Library and the Ontario College of Group/Moral Rearmament (now known as Initiatives of Education in Toronto. Most of her career was spent at the Change), geneology, travel, and international and current Chatham Public Library as head of Cataloguing and assistant affairs. She was also a long-time member of Ex Libris. chief librarian. Josephine Johnson died at Lake Scugog, Ont. on February Eva Martha (Alguire) Goldspink died in Chippewa, Ont. on 15 at the age of 86. She was chief librarian of the Milton August 22, 2006 at the age of 90. She taught for four decades Public Library and the main force behind the new library as a primary specialist and then as a teacher–librarian. building.

John Frederic Hatton died on December 10, 2006 in Edith Lorine (Wong) Liu died in Toronto on September 9, Toronto. He held an MA from Victoria University (1948) and 2006 at the age of 78. She held a BSc from McMaster a BLS from the Library School at the University of Toronto University, an M.Sc. and an MLS from the University of (1954). He was chief librarian at the Defence Research Toronto. She worked for the Department of National Board and later held the same position at the Defence and Defence, the City of Toronto forensic laboratory and in the Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine. His outspoken pharmaceutical industry.

24

Milestones, continued

Anna Leah Harms won the OLA Grace Buller Scholarship Elizabeth Mary McMahon-Weaver died on February 3, for Aboriginal Peoples, which is supporting her studies at FIS, 2007 in Toronto. She was head of the Literature Department University of Toronto. at the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library for many years. Greg Linnell took the top prize and the OLBA Management Prize at the University of Western Ontario. Keith Maclean Owen Miller died recently at his home outside Bracebridge, Ont. at the age of 60. He was reared Heather Wray won the OLA Anniversary Prize at the in Wychwood Park, Toronto and amassed archival material University of Toronto’s FIS. for his book on its history. He retired early as a librarian at the University of Toronto and moved to Muskoka, where News he created an amazing garden that included his original hybrids. The Ethel W. Auster Scholarship for Doctoral Research was Mary Elizabeth Rogers died on August 23, 2006 in established by the Auster family and University of Toronto’s Peterborough, Ont. at the age of 84. She was the FIS, in memory of the late Professor Auster. teacher–librarian at Kenner Collegiate Vocational School for 20 years. The Patricia Fleming Visiting Fellowship in Bibliography and Book History was established in tribute to retiring FIS Marion Eleanor (Lawson) Seary died in early 2007 in Professor Fleming. Halifax at the age of 73. She held a BLS from the University of Toronto. The major part of her career was Back Issues of ELAN/Ex Libris News spent as a bookseller and staff trainer at the Children’s Book Store in Toronto (1974-1993). She was a member of Back issues, from Number 1 to the present, are available Ex Libris. at $2.00 per single issue, $15.00 for 10 issues, $25.00 for 20 issues, or $50.00 for the complete set. Each price Ronald Ryan Wilbert Taylor died by drowning on includes mailing costs. Special issues are excluded. September 25, 2006 in the Niagara River, N.Y. at the age of 56. He held a degree in library science from the University Send cheque/money order with your request to of Ottawa. He worked in libraries in Manitoba and Ontario. Ex Libris Association He became known as an enthusiastic geneologist–librarian, Archivist with a gift for sharing his interests. He was a faculty mem- c/o Faculty of Information Studies ber of the University of Toronto and the National Institute 140 St. George St. for Geneological Studies. Toronto, ON M5S 3G6 Inquiries may be made by mail (above) or by email to Phyllis Vair died recently in Hamilton, Ont. She was head [email protected] of Cataloguing at Hamilton Public Library from 1952 to 1966. She also worked as a cataloguer at McMaster University. ELAN Send contributions and Number 41/Spring 2007 Retirements ISSN 1709-1179 suggestions to: Liz Warrener Published twice a year by: Leona Hendry retired on January 31, 2007 after 22 years 31 Kelway Blvd Ex Libris Association Toronto, ON M5N 1H2 as CEO of the Belleville Public Library and John M. Parrott University of Toronto E-mail: [email protected] Art Gallery. 140 St. George Street Please include OLA or ELAN in the Toronto, ON M5S 3G6 subject line of your email. Deadline for next issue: Awards http://exlibris.fis.utoronto.ca Editor: Margaret Oldfield August 1, 2007 Production: Ontario Library Graeme Campbell of Vancouver won the Dr. Janet Baker Association Scholarship. He is attending the graduate program at the ELAN reserves the right to Newsletter Committee: University of Western Ontario’s FIMS. edit contributions. We use Merlyn Beeckmans, Sherrill Canadian Press style and the Cheda, Diane Henderson, Liz Canadian Oxford Dictionary. Warrener, Jean Weihs