Fifty SLAIS Alumni Attend Reception at 2006 Canadian Library Association Ottawa Conference
Approximately 50 SLAIS graduates attended the alumni reception held June 16 at the Ottawa Westin Hotel as part of the CLA Annual Conference. The reception was sponsored by the School and by the UBC Arts Co-op Program and attended by alumni who spanned 40 years of graduating classes.
ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS
SLAIS Professor Ann Curry welcomed the alumni and relayed regrets from SLAIS Director Edie Rasmussen who was unable to attend. Curry then offered special congratulations to recent award-winning SLAIS graduates:
- Carole Joling (BLS 1969): Recipient of the Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services (CASLIS) 2006 Award for Special Librarianship
- Karen Cordiner (MEd in School Librarianship 2001): Recipient of the Canadian Association for School Libraries (CASL)/National Book Services 2006 Award for Teacher Librarian of the Year, and
- Arden Matheson (MLS 1981) Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL) 2006 Award for Miles Blackwell Outstanding Academic Librarian
SLAIS NEWS
Professor Curry gave a short report about recent events at the School. She noted that student numbers had increased considerably since many of the alumni had graduated, with enrolment at SLAIS over 250 students in 2005/07. As well, Curry mentioned that the number of SLAIS degree programs had increased to five – MLIS, MAS, MA(CL), MAS/MLIS, and PhD, and that a new joint MLIS/MACL was being planned.
Curry described the new Barber Centre into which the School will move in late 2007. This exciting space atop the new south wing attached to the centre block of the old Main Library will provide state-of-the-art computer and seminar space, and new classrooms within the Centre. The new quarters will allow the School to present more colloquia of interest to SLAIS students and alumni and to raise the profile of the School on the UBC Campus.
Recent changes to the MLIS curriculum and anticipated changes to the MAS curriculum were also highlighted. Responding to input from alumni, employers, current students, and recent research on LIS curricula, the MLIS curricula was completely re-organized in 2005/06 to include a greater array of courses on management, youth services, knowledge organization, and technology.
An overview of the UBC Arts Co-op program, added to the SLAIS curriculum in 2002, was also given. This option allows students to take time away from their studies in order to engage in professional work experience opportunities over a 4 or 8 month period. In the past 3 years, students enrolled in MLIS, MAS, and the joint MLIS/MAS programs have worked for public, private, and non-profit employers across Canada and abroad. Professor Curry introduced current and former SLAIS co-op students attending the reception working in the Ottawa area.
Thomas Quigley, SLAIS adjunct professor and Vancouver Public library branch manager, (MLS 1978) welcomed the attendees on behalf of the SLAIS Alumni Association. He gave special praise for the Co-op program, noted that it provided considerable benefits for both students and employers, and urged alumni to speak to Arts Co-op representative Coby Fulton about starting a Co-op program in their institutions.
For further information on the Co-op program see http://co-op.arts.ubc.ca/ or contact Coby Fulton, Arts Co-op Coordinator, 604-827-5194, or Shirley Lew, SLAIS Student Services Coordinator, 604-822-2461.
