Member article: CLA 2013
This year’s Canadian Library Association conference was held in Winnipeg, May 29th to June 1st. This was my 3rd CLA conference in this city. Even though I’d been there before, there are always places yet to be explored…so I did one of the library tours, visiting the Manitoba Archives and the Manitoba Legislative Library (the closest thing to “law” I could find in this conference). The archives include those of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Entering the legislative building was all the more interesting having seen a documentary on TV about the Masonic influences. As an added treat we got to see, for a few minutes, the house in session although only several MPPs were present.
The opening ceremonies kicked off with the usual reception in the exhibits area. It’s here where I had a delightful conversation with Archambault. And I thought they just did music…
Opening keynote – Cory Doctorow spoke about how everything now is computers…cars, planes, convention centres! He focused a lot on digital rights management and said: “It’s not information that wants to be free…people want to be free…Information says stop anthropomorphizing me!”
Pan-Canadian Data Collection – Apparently Canada lacks national data re public libraries that could be used for advocacy and to track things like summer reading programmes.
FrankenLibraries – A CLA conference wouldn’t be complete without a Steve Abram session! He talked a lot about things digital but mentioned that “how & why” questions are best handled by library staff. Another observation he offered was that millennials read four times what boomers do. Interesting.
Great Debate – This is always fun! “Be it resolved that librarians in libraries are no longer needed.” It might be best I don’t report the result except that library support staff ended up looking pretty good J
LTAN meeting – Despite the early hour (7:30) on a Friday morning, we had a good turnout for the Library Technicians and Assistants Network meeting that includes not just the few techs and instructors at the conference but also draws from the local community and the provincial library technician’s association. There was much discussion about the proposed accreditation task force, financial assistance for techs to get to conferences and possible session topics for next year.
Plenary – I entered this session late but still heard three of the CLA members who are actively involved in the International Federation of Library Associations. Victoria Owen, now chair of the Copyright and other Legal Matters Committee, mentioned that “if we can’t borrow internationally, we’re all impoverished.” Ingrid Parent, IFLA president, who has been called “Queen of Librarians”, mentioned that we need to “think globally, act nationally, deliver locally.”
RFID – I was hoping for some useful info here that could apply to special libraries but this was about how two big public libraries implemented RFID to achieve automated materials handling, allowing staff to do other stuff. (They did, however, find some lost items in the process!)
Learning lounge – “Good enough” information was Maggie Weaver’s little session in the exhibits. Actually, this was probably the most relevant to my situation. In fact, she got the idea from someone in a law firm! Maggie emphasized the concept of being “disintermediated” by Google. Rich business info happens face to face.
Production mode: the renewed service model in action at LAC – There were two gentlemen from Library and Archives Canada who were still emphasizing their intent on going digital. They want to get out of AMICUS and as of September they’ll be a lender of last resort. I posed the question that if they were the only location for a book in Ottawa…and that my lawyer needed it now…would I still have to look all over Canada to find it elsewhere? Their answer: yes…the onus is on me to do that. (Soon after returning to work…that very scenario happened! I had to get a document from a law firm in Toronto rather than just borrow or get a “digital” copy from down the street! )
Library Technician Perceptions on Preparedness in Alberta – The best part of this session was a very inspirational video of working techs talking about various aspects of their jobs.
AGM – Again this year it seemed eerily smooth…very little discussion…despite all the cost issues within the association and cutbacks in the government libraries amongst other concerns.
Reception at Winnipeg Millennium Library – This beautiful, brand new public library (much like the new one in Montreal) is connected via the Skywalk to the convention centre. I was more enchanted by the music of the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra than by the party!
CLA Networks meeting – Again, at the early hour of 7:30…only a few die-hard souls showed up at this Saturday morning meeting! I think it was supposed to be all the network moderators in attendance at the conference…but obviously many had had a good time at the party the night before!
Battle Decks – Maggie dragged me off to this session saying it would be fun! It was delightful!!
Hot topic – Ernie Ingles is on an expert panel of the Royal Society of Canada looking at the future of libraries and archives. He’s the only librarian. Apparently the group is non-sponsored, objective and independent.
CLA Town Hall – This is where the discussion took place! There’ll be a task force reviewing the conference to possibly look at smaller, cheaper venues. Peter McNally suggested meeting with other national associations. And of course there’s always the need to boost membership…
Beyond bars – The Manitoba Library Association has a prison library committee. They spoke about the inmate librarians and the information needs of the prisoners. Some prisons restrict what can be read such as no “True Crime”.
Closing keynote – Rebecca MacKinnon, author of the book Consent of the Networked spoke about the internet and surveillance. (interesting considering the news about the NSA lately)
If all goes well, I plan to attend next year’s conference in Victoria.
Kathy Heney,
Member,
Ottawa Chapter / Section d’Ottawa