This is Halifax, looking QUITE dapper.

Just so ya know I work with the bestest CLA committee eva, and we have TWO count ‘em TWOOOO sessions accepted at the CLA Conference in Halifax in May, 2011. Yay, us!

Here are the blurbs:

1) Technology Lightning Strikes!
Saturday, May 28 from 8:30 – 10:00 am

Overloaded with information? Feeling out of touch with emerging library trends? This session will provide a one-stop shop to get you updated on library technology trends! Each ten minute lightning talk will present a key emerging trend in library technologies from a leading expert in the field. Break-out groups will continue the conversation after, so you can learn about a topic in more depth.

2) Getting on (Tenure) Track: New Professionals and Academic Librarianship
Friday, May 27 from 8:30 – 10:00 am

Thinking about academic librarianship? Worried about tenure and research? This Unconference session is geared towards new and aspiring academic librarians. Hosted by CACUL’s Re:Generations committee, a panel of academic librarians will guide this interactive session and contribute their own insights. Topics might range from CVs to subject specialization, depending on the audience’s own interests.

See ya there! Remember, 8:30 Halifax time is like 2am Ontario time! Yummmmmy!

I am participating in an “Ambassador’s Visit” on behalf of the CLA’s Re:Generations Committee at the U of T’s iSchool this week. I don’t think I get diplomatic immunity so there go my plans to commit lots of crimes.

Ambassador’s Visits are where Re:Gen Committee members go to their local lie-berry school to discuss with students the in’s and out’s of academic librarianship — how to prepare yourself for the job market, how to get interviews, and what the job is actually like. I’m co-presenting with Jane Schmidt, who is a big-wig at Ryerson University (She is Manager of the Collection Services Team there).

We’re going for a relaxed, audience-driven discussion that will hopefully give students some insights about our field and help students chill out about getting jobs. Oh, and to promote CLA! Because you should join.

Question to you, librarian people: What sorts of things did you wish you’d known before you entered the job market? What kinda tips do you think are important to inform students about?

As a part of my Re:Generations work, I’m trying to get content created for the Canadian Academic Libraries Network, which is sponsored by CACUL (Canadian Association of College and University Libraries). It’s supported by this program called Ning, which is actually sort of a cool way to display your webpages, integrate things like blogs, events, announcements, etc. into a nicely formatted interface, and create a virtual space for communities. Communities such as Canadian academic librarians.

Anyway, we’ve been working away at this little corner of the interwebs, seeing if it fits the needs of CACUL, and when I went to visit the homepage today, there was a whole bunch of new activity! People have begun joining and creating their own little groups. Yay! It’s warms the cockles of my heart when things like this get buy-in. If you’re interested in this type of stuff, check it out!