RDPL Blogs

I was pleased to be able to present at the 2009 CLA Conference in beautiful Montréal.  My presentation, entitled "The Library 2.0 Process Toolkit", was very well received by an audience of librarians from across the country.  It focusses on the Community Development models we use at RDPL, and the new technologies and processes from the web world that together can enhance library service to previously underserved community segments.

My presentation was developed using the new flash-based presentation software from prezi.com.  You can see my presentation here: http://www.rdpl.org/CLA2009-presentation - you'll need a flash-enabled browser.  Click on the bottom-right icons to navigate through the presentation: right-arrow to go through the presentation - back-up using the left-arrow - click on any item to see detail, and the magnifying glass with "-" inside to zoom back out.  Click on the little rectangular icon to see the presentation full-screen, and press "esc" to leave full-screen.  For more information, go to www.prezi.com. 

Please add comments below, or email me at dfrey@rdpl.org if you have any questions.

The Perspectives Series at the Red Deer College Arts Centre has brought some great speakers to Red Deer: Roméo Dallaire, Stephen Lewis, Michael Ondaatje, and many others.  This spring's speaker is Michael Geist, one of world's top authorities on privacy and copyright in the digital age.

Red Deer Public Library is a major sponsor for this event.  The issues that Geist will explore will have a major impact on our industry, and on the lives of many of our customers.

Go to www.ticketmaster.ca or visit a Ticketmaster outlet to buy tickets for this event, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2009. Check out Michael Geist's blog at www.michaelgeist.ca, or visit the PrivacyInfo site at www.PrivacyInfo.ca.

Watch for these TV ads for the new Books & Beyond media campaign for Alberta's libraries.

There are a number of vacancies to fill on the Library Board this fall.  City Council names new members to the Board each October, to begin three-year terms at the November meeting.

The Board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month, starting at 7:00 p.m.  Meetings normally last about 90 minutes.  Each Board member also sits on one of two Board Standing Committees, which meet the same day at noon and at 6:30 p.m. The Board doesn't normally meet in July and August.

Qualifications?  We're looking for people with a love of libraries and learning, connections in the community, and a commitment to intellectual freedom.  Go to this page on our website to learn more about the Library Board's Mission and Values.  We're also looking for specific skills: legal or financial expertise, previous Board experience, or experience in business, government or the not-for-profit sector. The Library Board is committed to ensuring that the Board reflects the diversity of our community.

If you are interested in learning more about being a Board member, please contact Library Board Chair Mike Todd at 403-356-2946 or by email at miket@allwestins.ca, or get in touch with me, Dean Frey, Director of RDPL, at 403-342-9102, or at dfrey@rdpl.org by email.   Time is of the essence: the deadline for applications to City Council is September 26, 2008.  

Applications and committee details are available from Legislative & Administrative Services, second floor, City Hall or fill out the online form at this page. Application forms must be returned by Friday, September 26 to Legislative & Administrative Services or by fax to 403-346-6195. Further information is available by phone at 403-342-8132 or by email at legislativeservices@reddeer.ca.

Artsparks at the Library, which provides arts programming for all, targetted to the community of persons with developmental disabilities, has been a great success. It's lots of fun watching the Movie Making Camp participants this summer.

Here are some of the Artsparks performing arts projects you can hear and see on the web:

• the Artsparks Audio Collection of mp3 files
• Artsparks TV (requires Quicktime Viewer)
• The Library Story (requires Quicktime Viewer)

Red Deer Public Library was a major sponsor for an exciting event at the Capri Hotel on Monday, April 28th. John Wood, the founder and CEO of Room to Read, spoke to more than 1,000 people at a luncheon organized by the Rotary Clubs of Red Deer. Room to Read is a nonprofit organization that "...combines the heart of Mother Theresa with the scalability of Starbucks". Wood, a former corporate leader from Microsoft, founded Room to Read out of deep concern that nearly one billion people lack basic literacy. Blessed with a solid education which was a wonderful foundation for his future, Wood started the organization as a way to give that same opportunity to children in the world's poorest countries. Wood's story is told in his book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World.

Rotary International has identified Literacy as a major focus for its excellent work in many countries around the world. Local clubs provide strong support to global literacy initiatives, but they also are very interested in making local connections as well. That's what makes this project so exciting. It provides the highest possible profile for RDPL and its Adult Literacy and Family Literacy Programs. It also provides a focus for the discussion we've had in the past few years amongst Board and staff members about getting involved with library communities in the Third World. Wood brings an exciting message that places literacy and libraries right in the centre of a major initiative to make the world and our local communities better places. That's right where we should be.

Lots of changes happening at RDPL. At the end of March we shut down the Dawe Branch for renovations, and later this month, we'll be opening the Lion Plaza express Branch. But what about the Adult Literacy Program, a fixture at Dawe for many years? Read this article for the latest information:

Red Deer Public Library's Adult Literacy Program is on the move. On March 31, the doors will close at our Dawe Centre location and open again on April 21 at our temporary location at our Lion Plaza Branch.

The Adult Literacy Program has been in Red Deer for over twenty years and is funded by Advanced Education and the Red Deer Public Library. Students of our program are adults who want to improve their literacy skills. Our mandate is to serve Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents. Many are newcomers to Canada who would like to improve their English language skills.

The program is designed to assist adults in the areas of: reading, writing, speaking, listening and math. Volunteer tutors work one-on-one with students on topics of the student's choice, at a pace tailored to each student's needs.

Most of our volunteers spend two hours a week making a difference in another person's life. The pairs meet at a time that is mutually convenient, usually at the Dawe Library, though sometimes at another public place. We provide training and ongoing support to our tutors.

If you are interested in making a difference in someone's life, empowering them with skills and confidence, consider volunteering with us. If you or someone you know, would like help with reading, writing, pronunciation and/or math please stop in and see us at Lion Plaza. For more information, please phone 346-2533, visit us at Unit #2 7710 - 50 Ave., or email us at adlit@rdpl.org.

During 2007 the Library spent the second of its $135,000 Library Service Grants (LSG), a funding project of Alberta Municipal Affairs & Housing's Libraries Branch.

Read this report on the projects, services, and programs that were made possible thanks to this initiative.

Many thanks to the Minister and staff of the Department for making these funds available. Thanks also go to our local MLA Mary Anne Jablonski and former MLA Victor Doerksen, for their support in making new provincial funds available to public libraries.

The Library broke new ground in the past two years thanks partly to this grant program. The Library has created a more interactive suite of programs and services based on Community Development principles: social justice, participation, equality, learning and cooperation.

Finally, thanks should go to the Library Board for their help in planning LSG programs, and to the Library Management Team and staff for making everything happen.

Join Chris Turner for a presentation on his world travels in search of positive responses to the environmental challenges we face.

This event, in the Snell Auditorium next Thursday evening, January 31 at 7:00 p.m., is a presentation by Rethink Red Deer, RDC Green Campus, and Sustainable Red Deer. Admission is free.

Chris Turner, by the way, is also the author of Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation.

"Starting in 2008, The City will consult with residents to produce a long-range sustainability plan for Red Deer but we can all start today, right now - why wait?" - from the City of Red Deer's Inside Out: get the document here (PDF format).

The environmental challenge in Inside Out is for each of us to get started with small things, as we begin to think about the big picture of planning for a more sustainable Red Deer.  We're doing that here at Red Deer Public Library: small things like recycling office paper, newspapers and discarded books; and using recycled materials in our children's programs.  We're also implementing slightly bigger ideas: replacing old light fixtures with more efficient ones, and building sustainability into our revitalized Dawe Branch.

It's nice to know that we can do small things together that are more environmentally sustainable.  Borrowing books, CDs and DVDs is one of the best ways of doing the reduce/recycle/reuse thing.  Donating your books to the Friends of the Library is a great way to reduce clutter at home and help out the Library at the same time.

Now that you're thinking of coming to the Library, come on down on the bus.  Or why not hop on your bike - it's not that cold out!

Let me know how you think Red Deer Public Library can do more for our environment - leave a comment.

I'm in Monterey, at the Internet Librarian 2007 Conference.  Yesterday I gave a presentation entitled The Library 2.0 Process Toolkit, which was well received.  Here is the PPT file.

Last night we said goodbye to three Library Board members: Suzanne Alexander-Smith was on the Board for 6 years.  Nancy Batty is retiring after 7 years on the Board (and 3 as Board Chair).   Colleen Nederlof served for 4 years. 

Here they are with their shiny new Gold Cards, and Library Board Chair Mike Todd.  Suzanne will be staying on the Library Council (which manages our partnership with Red Deer College Library) as a member from the community at large.

Thanks so much to these fine people for their hard work and imagination on behalf of the community!