Oh Canada: Myths and Facts about our Northern Neighbor

The 21st winter Olympics started February 12 in and around Vancouver, British Columbia, a stunning Canadian city surrounded by water and mountains. The Olympics, as always, promise come-from-behind wins, spectacular triumphs and heartbreaks, and broken records. But what else can the world’s best athletes and their fans expect from their fortnight in Canada? You may know Canadians as purveyors of sardonic, satirical humor; hockey legends; Celine Dion; universal gay marriage; high taxes; cheap higher education (thank you, high taxes); and peace. But who are Canadians, really? In this issue, we delve into Canadian identity through the eyes of a couple of Canadians in GSLIS, and on page 3 we explore some of the differences between libraries and librarians in the two countries. (Read more...)

Snapshots: Mary Bennett & Kimberly Hula

Last June, GSLIS was awarded a three-year, $455,000 grant from the government-run Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). As part of the grant, two assistants were hired to work on the project. Mary Bennett, who began in December, is the part-time technology assistant for the digital curriculum lab. Bennett has a master’s degree in computer science from UMass, Boston, and more than seven years experience as a computer consultant and software engineer.

Kimberly Hula, the project assistant on the grant, is a GSLIS student in the dual archives and history program who moved to Boston from Chicago via Missouri, Japan, and Colorado. Kimberly has also spearheaded a community activity that encourages participants to engage in one adventure a week. (Read more...)

Folks on the Move

Gerry Benoit, Lisa Hussey, and doctoral students Peishan Bartley, Abdulateef Khairi, and Falah Rashid presented two posters at the American Society for Information Science & Technology annual meeting, in Vancouver, BC while GSLIS students Myrna Morales and Derek Mosley were selected by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) to participate in the 2009–11 Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce as ARL Diversity Scholars. (Read more...)

Libraries North & South of the Border

Stephen Abram is almost always on the road. For the past seven years, as vice president of innovation for the integrated library system vendor Sirsidynix, Abram has traveled up to 25 days a month from his home base in Toronto to libraries, nonprofits, and businesses around Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world. He will continue to travel in his new job as vice president of strategic partnerships and markets for Gale Cengage Learning, the company best known as a publisher of directories and databases. Abram’s 30 years of library experience, which includes stints as president of the Special Libraries Association, the Canadian Library Association, and the Ontario Library Association, means he’s seen first hand some of the differences between Canadian and American libraries and librarianship. Over hot chocolate and samosas in a small cafe near his home in Toronto, Abram shared some of his views on the subject. (Read more...)

Online Exclusive: CEC Career Corner

Our career topic this month is the resume. Your resume is a marketing tool and must be easy to read to make a positive first impression and convince the employer to contact you for an interview. To accomplish this it is essential that your resume has a consistent format, includes keywords and significant accomplishment statements which emphasize your skills and strong work traits. Review examples of poor quality and high quality resumes to give you an extra edge in the job market. (Read more...)