2007 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES Edition

in Focus FALL 2007 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES edition

THIS ISSUE

2 Message from the Director

3 Faculty News 6 Convocation Celebration Alumnae honoured 8 International Initiatives 9 Student News at Convocation Celebration 2007 14 Alumni News

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Canada Post Corporation Publications Mail Agreement 40613662 SCHOOL OF Dear Alumni and Friends, INFORMATION STUDIES NEWSLETTER he 2006/07 academic year has again been full of Tnew developments and interesting events at the School, and many of our students and professors Fall 2007 have made us proud with their impressive achievements. You are reading what is probably our longest Editor newsletter ever published and you should know that Susann Allnutt we are reporting only a fraction of all the news! Perhaps, this year, it is appropriate to mention Editorial Advisor collaboration as an important focus of our activities. Helen Dyer For example, in May the School hosted the annual conference of the Canadian Association for Information Science, co-chaired by Professor Kimiz Dalkir from McGill and Professor Writers Clément Arsenault, from the École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information Susann Allnutt (EBSI), Université de Montréal. It was a great success. The School sponsored the guest France Bouthillier speaker, Dr. John L. King, Associate Provost for Academic Information, University of Leanne Bowler Michigan, who gave an excellent talk titled “Epistemic infrastructure and the rise of the Charles-Antoine Julien Knowledge Economy.” We had another opportunity to collaborate with our EBSI col- Andrew Large leagues, as we participated in a Research Day, during which, for the first time, many profes- Peter McNally sors from both schools discussed their current research projects, with the promise that further collaboration will follow. In addition, the School hosted a forum on Human Computer Photographers Interaction, thanks to my colleagues, Professor Jamshid Beheshti and Professor Catherine Susann Allnutt Guastavino, who organized it. A number of McGill professors from computer science, psy- Owen Egan chology, electrical and computer engineering, educational and counselling psychology, inte- Catherine Guastavino grated studies in education and music attended the forum and discussed the possibility of Fiona Tam developing a joint program. I believe that these attempts to break barriers between schools Lewis Wosu and disciplines are very important for our future development, and are indicative of the contribution that our School can make. Design The academic year ended with an important change: a new name for the School, Content and Collaboration approved by various university bodies. To better reflect the diversity of our teaching and Solutions research domains and the broad spectrum of issues that our students and professors are dealing with, we are now the School of Information Studies (SIS). With master’s students Your comments and specializing in archival studies, knowledge management, and librarianship, doctoral stu- inquiries are welcome. dents receiving fellowships to examine information-related and library problems, and pro- Please direct them to: fessors receiving research grants to study collective learning, virtual environment, visualiza- [email protected] tion of taxonomies or metadata, to name a few topics, the SIS community is also chang- ing. Another important change is the establishment of a new student prize: the Teresa Cover: Troide Prize of Excellence in Information Studies. It was created this summer through the Salwa Ferahian, France generous support of Professor Lars Troide, in memory of his wife, Teresa, an MLIS gradu- Bouthillier, and Marilyn ate who worked as an information specialist. Berger. Sometimes, however, change means that some of us will have a new life (do I sound jealous?). This will be the case both for Professor Mittermeyer, who will retire in Photo by Fiona Tam December, and Professor Beheshti, who was recently appointed interim dean for the Faculty of Education (no I am not jealous!). I am sure that you will join me in wishing School of them all the best. Enjoy your reading! Information Studies McGill University 3459 McTavish Street Montreal, Quebec H3A 1Y1 France Bouthillier, PhD Director

McGILL UNIVERSITY FACULTY NEWS

ssociate Professor Jamshid Beheshti ssistant Professor Catherine Guastavino, a member of a network of 28 A has been named interim dean of the A researchers from McGill University and the Université de Montréal, received Faculty of Education for a term commenc- $604,363 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for her involvement in the ing September 17, 2007 until May 31, project Laboratory for BRAin, Music and Sound (BRAMS): The Biological 2008. The former dean, with whom Prof. Foundations of Music. Professor Guastavino's contribution involves the study of Beheshti was serving as associate dean human interaction in an immersive virtual environment. Professor Guastavino has (Administration), has left the University to also been named the associate director (Scientific Research) of the Centre for take up a position at the University of Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT). CIRMMT London. is quickly establishing itself as one of the major centres of excellence in the science ______and technology of music, with a unique team of scientists, technologists and musi- cians working in collaborative projects. CIRMMT includes Quebec researchers in ssistant Professor Kimiz Dalkir science, engineering, medicine and music from four institutions: McGill University, received $123,000 from the Centre A Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, and the CÉGEP de francophone d’informatisation des organisa- Drummondville. tions for a two-year project to diagnose and evaluate the tools used to identify, promote and assess the effectiveness of collective learning processes at Oxfam-Québec. The project involves surveying practices of the not-for-profit organization in a number of countries in Asia Pacific, South and Central America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. ______rofessors Andrew Large and Jamshid P Beheshti were granted $151,348 by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for their project: Visualization Models of a Hierarchical Taxonomy in Children’s Web Portals. Their study will investigate how a hierarchical taxonomy might best be visu- alized within a web portal to facilitate rapid and accurate retrieval of relevant web pages by young students. It will involve the active participation of elementary school students in the design process, using a model called “bonded design,” developed Graham Lavender, MLIS I student, in the Multimodal Interaction Lab. by the researchers in an earlier project. ______ssistant Professor Eun Park also the most effective ways of managing data the area of HIV and AIDS. The project A received $100,800 from SSHRC for sets that draw on photo-voice data and to will be done in collaboration with James her project: Giving Life (to data) to Save develop, test and implement protocols for McGill Professor Claudia Mitchell from Life (in the age of AIDS): Meta-analyses meta-analysis. It should advance the study McGill University and Professor Naydene through Digitization of Visual Data in the of the development of digital archives for de Lange, from the University of KwaZulu- Social Sciences. The study seeks to explore health/education research, particularly in Natal in South Africa.

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 3 Diane Mittermeyer

ssociate Professor Diane Mittermeyer will be retiring on January 1, A2008. It seems like only yesterday, but in fact it was in 1980 that she began her teaching career in the School, while completing her doctorate at the University of Toronto.

For 25 years, virtually every graduate of the Strongly committed to public librarianship, par- School took Diane’s required Research Methods ticularly in her native province of Quebec, Diane course. In addition, many alumni have taken her has undertaken major research projects, received courses in such diverse fields as Public Libraries, significant grants, and published important studies. Children’s Literature and Services, Marketing, and She has also become an important advocate and Information Literacy, among others. Her dedica- well-known voice in English and French, whose tion in coordinating the Practicum resulted in articles and interviews have appeared in a wide scores of graduates having an enriched practical range of newspapers. She has been heard and seen experience as part of their McGill careers. on radio and television. Diane’s concern for raising the quality of both A graduate of the Université de Montréal, in Librarianship and Education for Librarianship is both Arts and Librarianship, Diane’s bilingualism well known. She served as Canadian representative was much appreciated, particularly her assistance to on the American Library Association’s Committee me and other colleagues in translating or finding on Accreditation between 1992 and 1996, has been the right French word. Of course, we reciprocated a member of accreditation teams to various schools, with assistance in English! chaired McGill’s very successful 1995 accreditation We wish Diane well in retirement, and expect process and served as the School’s acting director in to hear that her energy and enthusiasm are finding 1996/1997. She has also been president of the new frontiers and accomplishments. We know that Canadian Association for Graduate Education in her love of dancing will continue unabated!! Library, Archival, and Information Studies, and of l’Association des bibliothécaires du Québec/ By Professor Peter F. McNally Quebec Library Association. BLS’65, MLS’66, MA’77

Nineteenth Century Virtual Village launched in 21st-Century City

n a sunny afternoon in June 2006, artists, actors and even a dance troupe, and Orepresentatives from academe, indus- was coordinated by Charles Cole, BA’78, try and government gathered at the MLIS ’89, a research associate in the Montreal offices of Virtuel-Age School. The project was supported by International, a high-technology company $638,400, primarily from Heritage specializing in virtual reality simulations, Canada, but also with contributions from get audience is elementary school students, to mark the launching of “A Journey to the McGill University and Virtuel-Age. but it can be used by anyone via the Web. Past: A Quebec village in the 1890s.” This The virtual environment allows users The entire production is available in interactive virtual environment was the to explore a virtual village (based on the English and French, and the sub-titling of result of twelve months’ intensive design real Quebec village of St-Hilaire), to enter the characters’ dialogue in both languages and development by an interdisciplinary individual buildings, to interact with virtu- makes it accessible to users with hearing team led by Professors Jamshid Beheshti al characters from the late 19th century, disabilities. Those fortunate enough to and Andrew Large from McGill and and to participate in several history games. have been invited to the launch party were Professor Kevin Kee from Brock Links to websites enable users to retrieve able to go back more than a century in University, in collaboration with Virtuel- supporting documentation, and learning time as they “walked around” the virtual Age. The team included programmers, his- resources with lesson plans and assign- village, enjoying real food and wine pro- torians, information scientists, teachers, ments can be downloaded. Its primary tar- vided for the occasion!

4 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES McGILL UNIVERSITY TEACHING AWARD

rofessor Kimiz Dalkir was Phonoured, at the May 2007 convocation, with the Distinguished Teaching Award of the Faculty of Education, McGill University, for her outstanding teaching in the area of Knowledge Management. She is seen here with Principal Heather Munroe-Blum. PROFESSOR COLLOQUIA 2006-2007 EMERITA

Professor Emerita Effie C. Astbury, BA’38, BLS’39, will celebrate her 91st birthday on December 9, Also in the fall, Mr. Doug Rimmer, Assistant Deputy Minister, Library and 2007. Since 1990, she has been Archives Canada, made a presentation on living at the Griffith-McConnell the country’s new and unique knowledge Residence in Cote-Saint-Luc, a sub- institution. urb of Montreal. She continues to The winter Colloquia series hosted a lecture by Professor Tefko Saracevic, from read copiously, and has a particu- the School of Communication, lar fondness for mysteries. After Information and Library Studies, Rutgers serving for several years as Chair University. The talk, entitled “Information of the McConnell’s Residence Science: Where does it come from and his year, we hosted several colloquia for where is it going?” highlighted his perspec- Council, she has recently become Talumni, students, McGill faculty and tives on the evolution of information sci- residents’ representative on the staff and the general public. ence, its future development and its ramifi- Griffith-McConnell’s Board of In fall 2006, Andrew Dillon, dean of cations with other disciplines. Directors. I know that alumni and the School of Information at the To round out the year’s colloquia, Ms. University of Texas at Austin, spoke on Hélène Roussel, Directrice générale de la friends join with the School’s faculty, “Information as process and the architec- diffusion at the Bibliothèque et Archives staff, and students in congratulating ture of information studies,” a discussion nationales du Québec (BAnQ), spoke on Professor Astbury and extending of the meaning of information in a digital the successes and challenges experienced at best wishes for the future. age. Dean Dillon is pictured here with La Grande Bibliothèque of Montreal since Director France Bouthillier. it opened in 2005. By Professor Peter F. McNally

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 5 CONVOCATION CELEBRATION

HONORARY DEGREE s. Lise Bissonnette, M President and Director- General of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec (BAnQ), was awarded a Doctor of Letters honoris causa at McGill’s May convocation, for her outstanding achievements in literature, journalism, and public library service.

A SPECIAL THANKS t the Convocation Celebration, Director France Bouthillier gave special thanks to two A dedicated alumnae for their support of the School and their longtime work as volunteers with the McGill Thank-a-thon. Seen here with France Bouthillier are Salwa Ferahian, BA’80, MLS’83 (left), Public Services Librarian, McGill Islamic Studies Library, and Marilyn Berger, MLS’83, Head of the McGill Blackader-Lauterman Library of Architecture and Art.

6 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES McGILL UNIVERSITY Once again, the School celebrated with the spring graduates on May 30.

Graduate Chenzhu Bai with Prof. Jamshid Beheshti and Prof. Peter McNally Graduates Katherine Barrette, Jill Boruff, Genevieve Hillsburg and Melanie Sucha

Graduates Jennifer Prins and Melissa Tomecz Prof. Diane Mittermeyer and PhD graduate Ping Li Graduates Martina Plejic and Rui Miao

PhD graduate Michael Sutton with his supervisor, Graduates Krista Woltman and Tania Aldred Honorary Doctorate recipient Mme Lise Bissonnette Prof. France Bouthillier and graduate Stephanie Simard

Prof. John Leide with graduates Andrew Hankinson and Martina Plejic Graduates Neli Petrova, Matthew8. Garsia and friend with lecturer Joy Bennett

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 7 INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES

Summer Institute in School Librarianship 2007

his past May, three MLIS graduates from the School made the long-distance Ttrek from their home country, Indonesia, to help facilitate the Summer Institute in School Librarianship, a program for lecturers from Indonesian universities. Marwiya, MLIS’04, Alfida, MLIS’05, and Nur Yudi, MLIS’05, and the program’s coordinator, doctoral candidate Leanne Bowler, introduced 15 visitors

Students at a secondary school in East Lombok, to the principles and practices of school librarianship. The participants currently Indonesia, welcome Leanne Bowler to their school. teach in the education and library science departments of the state Islamic universities in Banda Ache (Sumatra), Banjarmasin (Borneo/ Kalimantan) and Mataram (Lombok). The participants visited several local school libraries in the Montreal area where they met school librarians, teachers and support staff, volunteers and students. This aspect of the program helped to bridge the gap between theory and practice and was greatly appreciated by our Indonesian guests. Literacy continues to be a challenge in Indonesia and placing more emphasis on school libraries is one way to tackle the prob- lem. Not only do the participants in the Summer Institute of School Librarianship hope to develop new educational programs in school librarianship in their respective universities, but they are also aiming to raise their country’s awareness as to the important role that school libraries play in the educational process. To assist them in this project, two follow-up workshops were held in July and August 2007, in Indonesia. Again, they were led by Leanne Bowler and facilitated by Marwiya and Alfida. Three librarians from Padang State University, Sumatra, Indonesia also visited the School in July and August. Januarisdi, MLIS’93, Planning and Development Librarian, was here as a visiting scholar, accompanied by Yunaldi, the Head of the University Library, and Nelwati, the library’s Senior Classifier. They pursued a program of independent study and research focused on Electronic Librarianship and Information Literacy, to help them in implementing online services in their institution. Padang State University Summer Institute in Librarianship participants has 21,000 students and a library staff of 75. at McGill University

8 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES McGILL UNIVERSITY STUDENT NEWS

The First Montreal LIS PhD Symposium

o close, yet so far. Most of us travel Slong and far to attend academic conferences, hoping to meet people working in our field of study, but we often barely know those working in our own backyards. On March 23, 2007, the SIS PhD students were proud to welcome PhD students from the University of Montreal EBSI program to the first Montreal LIS PhD symposium. The group of more than 20 doctoral students spent the entire day together and enjoyed 10 oral presentations, five research posters, lunch provided by SIS, and a final cocktail at Thomson House. This impressive 90 per cent participation rate and comments from attendees suggest the activity was worthwhile and will be repeated in the future.

By Charles-Antoine Julien, PhD students at the LIS Symposium. PhD student and symposium organizer

IN THE NEWS

Janis Dawson, MLIS’09, was sponsored by the School of DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS Information Studies, MLISSA and the Canadian Library Association Vincent Larivière, a doctoral student at SIS, received a three- to attend the annual CLA conference in St. John’s, NL, in late May. year fellowship of $105,000 from the Social Studies and Two other master’s students, Brenda Labelle, MLIS’07, and Tania Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). The funding will Aldred, MLIS’07, were assisted with travel costs to present at the enable him to pursue his study on the bibliometric analysis of Educating Women/Women’s Education in the Post-Secondary the contribution of graduate students to the advancement of Context Conference and the Association of Canadian Archivists scientific knowledge. Annual Conference respectively. In addition, doctoral students attended ASIST, IASTED, ICKM, and ISIC conferences, among Leanne Bowler, BA’80, MLS’82, MEd’00, and Lorie Kloda, others, with SIS travel support. BA’98, MLIS’01, both received fellowships from the Fonds québécois de la recherche sur la société et la culture (FQRSC). Amy Buckland, MLIS’08, has been named co-editor of the Library Student Journal. In taking up this challenging (and volunteer) task, she is being assisted by a number of SIS students: Trudi Wright, CANADIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE MLIS’08, as a Section Editor, David Pickup, MLIS’09, as a Web Editor, and Lydia Dawe, MLIS’08, as a Proofreader. The In 2007, at the Canadian Library Association Conference Library Student Journal aims to publish the best papers from Library in St. John’s, NL, Director France Bouthillier and Professor and Information Science students worldwide, and to serve as a forum Peter McNally hosted a small group of alumni to a supper for discussion of LIS education, training, career paths, and future at the Gypsy Tea Room. trends. It uses Open Journal Systems, an open source journal editing The 2008 CLA conference is in Vancouver in May and system developed by the Public Knowledge Project to support Open the School intends to host an event for alumni at that time. Access publishing. You can learn more about it at If you’re interested in attending the alumni get-together, www.librarystudentjournal.org/index.php/lsj please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 9 Our First Specialization Graduates 2007

In 2007, we graduated our first students who had chosen one of the three new specializations now offered in the MLIS.

and the Redpath Museum. I have complet- treated as a valued colleague really gave a ed a study on the image of archivists in context to my course materials. Another film, which was presented at the 2007 rewarding professional experience occurred Annual ACA Conference in Kingston, as part of an independent research project Ontario and I have a keen interest in to examine how storytelling and KM inter- genealogical research, how museums, sect in international development organiza- libraries and archives can collaborate and tions. provide archival outreach. My future goals Participation with the Special Libraries are to gain experience within a variety of Association student chapter at McGill has archival settings and to advocate for been an additional highlight throughout archives and the preservation of documen- my studies, offering events and networking tary heritage. opportunities for a beyond-the-classroom portrait of what it means to be a modern EMILY TOMS information professional. Through team Knowledge Management projects with fellow KM students, my experience at the School was made all the more worthwhile, and I feel that I’ve I have to admit that the decision to enter TANIA ALDRED learned as much from fellow students as I the newly-offered knowledge management have from my courses. Archival Studies (KM) stream was an easy one for me. Now that my time at McGill has come With a background in journalism, I had to a close, I’m committed to developing my I am a McGillian at heart, having complet- already developed a keen interest in learn- skills as an information professional, and ed a BA’04 in Archaeology and returned to ing how information flows between learning more about KM implementations. study for an MLIS’07 in Archives. With a groups, and exploring methods of dissemi- I hope to incorporate my strong curiosity zeal for archaeology and museums, I nating knowledge interpersonally. for new technologies with my love of writ- entered the program with the intention of I quickly learned as a journalist that when ing. I look forward to the diverse career gaining a variety of skills to help formulate putting together a news article, the best avenues that an MLIS can offer, and to my career. I have since found a passion information is often found not in the ‘offi- becoming more involved with Montreal’s within the archival field, and am hoping to cial’ account of an event, but from ordi- community of information specialists. advocate for archives in the future. My nary people who played a role. In my experience within the program has been MLIS studies at McGill, I’ve been able to well-rounded with a mix of technical, see how this type of knowledge-sharing research and social activities. By establish- can work within organizations, and I have ing the McGill Student Chapter of the taken additional opportunities to explore Association of Canadian Archivists, I was tacit communication, strategic information able to enjoy both the challenges and gathering, and organizational story- rewards of networking. The Chapter telling.The final year of study in particular helped bring a student voice to the ACA, has been a chance to tailor my projects and and promoted recognition of the archival specialize in these favourite aspects of KM stream at McGill within the larger through a practicum and an independent Canadian archival community. I have had research project. the opportunity to work for Dr. Eun Park At Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada, as a research assistant, creating literature my practicum experiences complemented reviews on metadata for visual images, the McGill’s online course in competitive teaching of metadata to LIS students, and intelligence with on-the-job activities and email management. I have volunteered at “real world” deliverables. On-site learning the Anglican Diocese Archives of Montréal in a professional environment and being

10 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES McGILL UNIVERSITY Archival Studies • Knowledge Management • Librarianship

We asked six of them, two from each specialization, to write about their experiences in the program.

ferent types of libraries out there. The skills to take this interest further. After experience I got from this School was taking a one-year break, I enrolled at tremendous - but I think the friends that I McGill in September 2005, seeking have made in the past two years really answers to some of the questions that had made it all worthwhile. All in all, I was stumped me. very satisfied with the program and the The people are the heart and soul of courses I was able to choose in my second any organization, and this School is no year, which really helped me prepare for exception. I count myself privileged to the type of career I wanted. have met so many interesting individuals I realized, after my first year, that I was during this degree, both my peers and my interested in public libraries, and even per- professors. They challenged me, patiently haps school libraries. I currently work at endured my questions, and left me with- the Cote St. Luc Public Library, and gain out absolute answers, but with the tools to tremendous pleasure from helping mem- seek them myself. bers of all ages to find the information As for long-term goals, I hope to teach they need. The variety of questions and and research in a University environment. MELISSA TOMECZ levels of knowledge that test me at the While traditional librarianship does hold Librarianship desk are really fun to take on and never some appeal, my real passion lies in boring! I hope to be able to make a differ- researching and developing new library ence in library members’ lives that will tools that will make information systems I had a BA in English Literature, having build a stronger, information literate com- easier to use through a focus on the user, graduated from Concordia University in munity. This School has given me new not the technology. This is, of course, one 2002, before I applied to the School. skills, opportunities, and of course special of the cornerstones of librarianship and From an early age I had a passion for writ- friends! If I had to do this all over again, I one lesson I’ve learned that I hope to ing stories and reading good books. I also would, but I’m glad it’s done, and excited translate to my new discipline. liked going to the library, no matter if it for the future! was the public, school, college, or university library. There was just something about entering a building that was quiet and ANDREW HANKINSON filled with a whole bunch of different Librarianship books! When I graduated from Concordia, I didn’t know what studies to I graduated from the Librarianship stream pursue, but I became interested in the in May 2007, and this fall I will be start- program for Library Studies and decided ing my PhD in music technology at to apply. McGill, where I will be researching digital From the start, I decided on technology and its applications in music Librarianship. The courses I took gave me libraries. This brings my education full a special admiration for cataloguers and circle, with my studies at the School play- also taught me that being a librarian was ing an important role in getting me to this very challenging. I developed some man- point. agement skills that I didn’t think I had, I am originally from Nova Scotia, and and learned the “behind the scenes” of earned my Bachelor of Music from Acadia what really happens in a library (from col- University. It was during my studies for lection policy to processing books). I also this degree that I became interested in learned about the wide range of users that digital music libraries, but after graduat- we might have to serve, as well as the dif- ing in 2004 I realized I did not have the

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 11 Our First Specialization Graduates 2007

DAVID HUME Knowledge Management areas such as metadata, search technologies and taxonomy were relevant and directly applicable to subsequent projects I have What has the MLIS program done for me? and am currently working on, such as Plenty. McGill has opened doors I never developing a thesaurus for the Centre for expected. Specifically, my prospects have Security Science. widened considerably thanks to the On a personal level, it had been my Knowledge Management (KM) stream. hope that my elderly father would attend Excellent professors such as Dr. Kimiz my graduation. He did. He passed away Dalkir, Dr. Andrew Large and Dr. Eun last week, a little over two and half months Park, were all an inspiration to me person- later. I could see the pride on his face ally, helping me a great deal in my aca- when he saw me in my cap and gown. It demic and professional development. The was a long time coming and I am thankful program was a truly rewarding and satisfy- that McGill gave me this opportunity to ing experience, especially the practicum succeed. This one’s for you, Dad. segment that has helped further my career. The courses I took at McGill have also had HEATHER MCCAFFERTY The knowledge and practical experience a direct bearing on my current employ- that I gained in my two years here in the ment at the Department of National Archival Studies MLIS program are invaluable, as was the Defence in Ottawa. My position is directly encouragement and support of my profes- related to my field of study. Courses in I came to the Library and Information sors. Currently I am working as a records Studies program with a BA in History and management coordinator for the Regional an MA in Islamic Studies. I had been inter- Municipality of Niagara, in St. Catharines, ested in archival studies even prior to my ON. The courses that I took in records undergraduate degree and I looked at sever- management and in archival studies have al programs in the United States and been a great asset to my employability and Canada while deciding on the direction I to functioning in my current role with the should take for graduate studies. When the municipal government. I have been able to School began to offer an Archives stream in apply both the knowledge and the skills their Library and Information Studies pro- learned in the program. My goal is to one gram I was just finishing my MA thesis at day work in a historical archives repository McGill, while working full-time in the where I can apply both my background in McGill University Library. Working in an history and in archival studies, ideally as a academic library also sparked my interest in museum archivist. The diversity of career rare books and special collections librarian- opportunities available to me as a result of ship. This program was a perfect fit as it my MLIS studies ensures that I will always offered the opportunity to take courses in have exciting opportunities to work with both library and archival studies. archives and records in a variety of settings.

1950s NEW SCHOOL WEBSITE

We would like to draw your attention to our new website. Send your ideas to [email protected] Located at www.mcgill.ca/sis, it uses the McGill Gateway model We are also hosting a moderated mailing list for posting jobs in for an updated look. You will note there is a quick link to Alumni North America for students and graduates of the School of on the first page. Information Studies. It is for job postings only, and is not a discus- We are currently posting our newsletter there, but we would sion list. If you would like to subscribe, either to look at available like to develop this to be more responsive to our Alumni. Please postings, or to post positions as an employer, please follow the let us know your suggestions. What would you like to see here? instructions at www.mcgill.ca/sis/career/mailinglist/

12 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES McGILL UNIVERSITY New Prize for Students of the SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES

hrough the generosity of retired McGill English Professor Lars TTroide, a new prize has been established in the School. The Teresa Troide Prize for Excellence in Information Studies has been created in memory of Teresa Troide, MLIS’90, who was Information Specialist at Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways from 1995 to 2005. Ms. Troide is pictured here in her MLIS graduation photograph.

The generosity of alumni and friends of nated for fellowships and prizes provide the School continues to enrich the educa- funding for student assistantships, confer- tional experience of our students. Funds ence travel for Master's and doctoral stu- designated for School fellowships and dents, and for computing hardware and prizes are of great importance for incoming software. Each and every donation is very and in-course students. Funds not desig- much appreciated.

SCHOOL OF INFORMATION STUDIES SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRIZES

We're sure you'd like to join us in congratulating our recent scholarship and prize recipients. 2006-2007 PRIZES The total amount awarded in 2006/2007 academic year was $59,150. Albert Tabah Prize for highest 2006-2007 SCHOLARSHIPS standing throughout the MLIS program Barbara Graw Smyth Award in Elizabeth G. Hall Scholarship Margery Trenholme Fellowship Emily Toms Library and Information Studies Jill Boruff Benjamin Abrahamse Andrea Puhl Lindsay Tyler Dr. Herbert Stanley Birkett Jennifer Murray Margery Trenholme Memorial Award Bernard Anderson Ower Award Marie Lou Riberdy Award in Library Studies Stephanie Simard Andrea Puhl Saara Itkonen Marie-Chantal l'Ecuyer-Coehlo Ethelwyn M. Crossley Scholarship Margaret Downey Prize Eleanor Berry Miriam H. Tees Scholarship Shazia Ahmad Centenary Prize Eric Joly Cameron McKay Katherine Ehmann Angela Schade Virginia Murray Prize for Janet Agnew Scholarship Cataloguing Dr. G.R. Lomer Scholarships Amy Maya Kucij Patricia Keir Award Benjamin Abrahamse Matthew Flanagan Andrew Lopez Tania Aldred Elaina Lawn Anne Galler Award Trudi Wright Jean Brown Scholarship Vivi Martin Fellowship (formerly Eastern Canada Chapter Karen Biskin Matthew Geeza SLA Prize) Tara Bambrick Emily Toms

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 13 ALUMNI NEWS

1950s Pat Riva, MLIS’86, has taken a one-year objectives for NPLS. Public Libraries in leave of absence from the McGill Libraries Nunavut are administered at the commu- Barbara (Luce) Mumford, BLS’57, reports to work at the Bibliothèque et Archives nity level through contribution agreements that her varied librarianship careers includ- nationales du Québec (BAnQ) as with Nunavut Public Library Services. ed being a business librarian at the Coordinator of the Section des monogra- Nunavut public libraries vary program and University of Western Ontario, a school phies de la Direction du traitement docu- resource offerings from one community to librarian in the Toronto Public Library sys- mentaire de la collection patrimoniale. the next, depending on the needs and aspi- tem, an academic librarian at the This is the section of the BAnQ which cat- rations articulated by local persons and University of Nairobi, a cataloguer at the alogues all Québec imprints, and produces groups. UNESCO Regional Library in Nigeria, the Bibliographie du Québec. and a school librarian in South Africa. In Johanne Lessard, MLIS’98, is currently 1988, she formed her own company Manager of Records Management and the (Zebra Page Design) and worked in the 1990s Library at Aerospace Bombardier in printing and graphics industry for 10 Montreal, and was elected President of the years. Her current activities include assist- Anne-Marie Auger, MLIS’97, is working Montreal Chapter of ARMA, the ing her husband with the research and as a freelance consultant in knowledge Association of Record Managers and publishing of his books on Africa, and management, strategic planning and orga- Administrators. For more information on maintaining five websites, among them the nizational analysis, with clients in Africa, ARMA, see www.armamontreal.org. website for the Canadian Authors Asia and Europe. Association, Vancouver Branch. Kevin Manion, MLIS’97, has accepted the In January 2007, Allan Bell, MLIS’92, position of Manager of Recruiting for became the Associate University Librarian Consumers Union in Yonkers, NY. Kevin 1980s for Information Technology Services at the moved from his prior position with the University of Waterloo. He is responsible same organization as Director of Strategic Leanne Bowler, BA'80, MLS'82, MEd'00, for providing information technology and Planning and Information Services. Before has been appointed assistant professor at systems services. Allan is also a member of joining Consumers Union, Kevin helped the School of Information Science, the Library Executive Committee, working Human Resources action teams attract new University of Pittsburgh, where she will be in tandem with the University Librarian staff to the New York Public Library. He is responsible for the specialization in services and University administrators making poli- also President of the New York Chapter of to children and young adults. cy development and strategic planning the Special Libraries Association. decisions, and dealing with budget and Christine Hiller, MLIS’87, has been collections. Adam McGrath, MLIS’98, recently mar- named Project Manager responsible for the ried Beth Evans and they have a young negotiation, implementation and manage- Lori (Band) Chasen, BA’90, MA’92, son, Owen. Since his graduation, Adam ment of the agreements relating to the MLIS’94, is working as a reference librari- has accomplished much in a relatively joint acquisition of products and docu- an at the Springfield City Library in short time. In 1998, he established and mentary services by the Québec university Springfield, Massachusetts. She is the ran a library and resource centre for the libraries. She will represent Quebec univer- proud mother of two little girls! Workplace Health Safety and sity libraries within Consortia Canada, a Compensation Commission. In 1999 he coalition of Canadian library consortia Kimberly Hammond, MLIS’93, is the wrote and published a reference guide for working together to licence electronic Director of Information Management and filmmakers for the Film Producers information resources of national interest Legislative Librarian for the Government Association of Newfoundland. Proving his and relevance. of Newfoundland and Labrador. versatility, in 2004 Adam opened a music store in St. John’s called Boogaloo Music Patrice Landry, MLS’83, currently the Ron Knowling, MLIS’96, is enjoying his (www.boogaloomusic.com). He has per- head of Subject indexing at the Swiss challenging position as Manager of the formed hundreds of times as a musician, National Library, also chairs the Nunavut Public Library Services in Baker appearing at the Junos with the St. John’s- Classification and Indexing Section of Lake, Nunavut. He is responsible for based band Great Big Sea and has also IFLA, the International Federation of planning, promoting and directing library made several appearances at the East Coast Library Associations and Institutions. services, and developing policies, goals and Music Awards. He graduated from

14 SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES McGILL UNIVERSITY Newfoundland’s Memorial University with Ping Fu, MA’01, MLIS’03, is now work- ence and teaching services to University his MBA in 2006 and last year accepted a ing as a systems librarian in the Integrated staff and students, but also to the staff of job with Husky Energy, running their Library Technology Services Department the hospital and the employees of the Document Management Group. at Yale University. Winnipeg Regional Health Authority in the surrounding communities. At the May Lisa Milner, BSc’85, MLIS’91, is manager Tao Jin, MLIS’02, doctoral candidate, has 2006 Canadian Health Libraries of Administrative Services at the Eleanor been appointed assistant professor at the Association Conference in Vancouver, London Public Library of Cote St. Luc in School of Library and Information Melissa and three other Hospital Montreal. Science at Louisiana State University in Librarians presented the poster: Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Competency culture: an innovative string Catherine Seaman, MLIS’92, is coordina- of pearls for delivering health information tor of the Ottawa Public Library, Alta Ping Li, MLIS’00, PhD’07, has been to nurses. This was later published as the Vista Branch. appointed assistant professor at the article “Direct to you: innovative informa- Graduate School of Library and tion services to support nurses’ continuing Information Studies at Queens College, competence in Manitoba,” in the 2006 fall 2000s City University of New York. issue of the Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association. Sulaiman Alreyaee, PhD’07, has been Karen Nicholson, BA’90, MA’93, appointed assistant professor at the School MLIS’01, is currently the liaison librarian Ron Sheppard, MLIS’01, is currently of Information Studies, Faculty of for French and Modern Languages at the director of the Parkland Regional Library, Computer and Information Sciences, at Mills Memorial Library at McMaster in Lacombe, Alberta. Immediately follow- Al-Imam University in Riyadh, Saudi University in Hamilton, Ontario. ing graduation, he became assistant man- Arabia. He is also supervising two projects ager in a division of Newfoundland’s at the university level: the E-thesis and Melissa Raynard, MLIS’02, has been provincial public library system. He then Dissertation System (ETDS), and the con- employed in the University of Manitoba moved over to another division within verting of the University journals to e-jour- Libraries system since her graduation in Newfoundland’s system. In his new posi- nals. He is a partner with a Canadian pro- 2002. After completing several contract tion in Alberta, he is responsible for a staff gramming company based in Montreal positions there, she won a permanent posi- of 30 at the headquarters of the Regional which owns and provides the BOOKATE tion as hospital librarian at the Concordia Library, which provides services to 50 pub- system, an international educational sys- Hospital Library which is a unit of the U lic and 50 school libraries. tem for high schools. In addition, he is of M’s Neil John Maclean Health Sciences supervising the International Digital Libraries. Melissa provides not only refer- Michael Sutton, PhD’07, formerly assis- Journal of Information Studies (IDJIS); the tant professor in Information Architecture first issue is planned for Fall 2007. and Knowledge Management at Kent State University, Ohio, is now assistant professor in the Gore School of Business at Westminster College, the only private, comprehensive liberal arts college in Utah. In October 2006, Nathalie Bélanger, There he designs, develops, and delivers MLIS’04, married Dr. Guy Rousseau, a Executive Leadership and Development professor in the Département de courses to graduate students within the Pharmacologie at the Université de MBA program. He is also currently Montreal. Nathalie is currently working as involved in designing a competency-based the director of Information Services in the Bachelor of Business degree completion library of the law firm Stikeman Elliott. program for mid-career professionals. Congratulations, Nathalie! Cecilia Tellis, MLIS’04, is now a law librarian in Reference and Bibliographic Information at the Brian Dickson Law Library of the University of Ottawa.

McGILL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL of INFORMATION STUDIES 15 IN MEMORIAM

Lana de Liamchin, MLS’68, Anne Yandle, BLS’61, passed away at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal on died on December 12, 2006. Born in Northern Ireland, Ms. March 9, 2007. Lana held two positions at John Abbott Yandle obtained her commerce degree in Dublin, and after College in Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue: one as chief librarian, and moving to Vancouver to work as a library assistant, she decid- the second as dean of Research and Development. She was ed to attend the McGill Library School and graduated in also a commissioner with the Immigration and Refugee 1961. Following her graduation, she worked for the Review Board. University of British Columbia Library. Anne was one of the founding members of the Special Collections Interest Group Adorée Waygood, BA’48, BLS’62, of the Canadian Library Association, and served as president passed away in Vancouver on May 10, 2007. She and her of the Council of the Bibliographic Society of Canada. With husband, Roy, lived in various places in Manitoba and in her husband, Phil, Anne founded the British Columbia 1962, Adorée obtained her MLS from McGill University Historical News, now called British Columbia History. after which she worked as a high school librarian at Churchill High School in Winnipeg and Dakota Collegiate in St. Vital, Ruth Stilman, BA’48, BLS’63, MLS’70, then as Divisional librarian for the Seine River School passed away in Toronto on Friday, February 2, 2007. District. Once retired, Adorée and Roy lived in Chilliwack, White Rock, New Westminster and Vancouver. Robert W. Reeves, BLS’55, passed away on November 10, 2006.

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