It’s Canadian Library Month! Enter the NLLA Book Face Contest by uploading your Book Face photograph to social media (either Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) with the hashtag #NLLAbookface. Prizes will be drawn throughout the month of October for some sweet, sweet library swag!
What is a Book Face?
It’s a photograph where the cover of a book lines up with a person’s face or body, creating a funny/cool/cute/terrifying result!
Last spring the much anticipated Ernst and Young (EY) report on the Provincial Information and Library Resources Board (PILRB) was released. The Newfoundland and Labrador Library Association (NLLA) saw many gaps in that report, which left more questions than answers. The association has expressed concerns with this report when it first came out. However, one major EY recommendation with which the NLLA agreed was the need for a multi-year plan that detailed how to resolve existing challenges in the underfunded PILRB.
The much anticipated response from PILRB to the EY report, the first Future State Plan, has now been released and is currently with the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development awaiting budgetary approval.
The Future State Plan is a multi year approach to fixing the system and starts with a 1.7 million increase. This is not new funding; it is a restoration of funding provided to the PILRB prior to funding cuts in 2013. As the plan indicates, these additional funds are essential in order for the PILRB to increase library hours and staffing throughout the province; and to invest in new books and library resources.
The NLLA believes that the Future State Plan is a great start, and we hope to see our provincial government invest in the future of libraries in Newfoundland and Labrador, by first accepting all budget recommendations outlined in this document.
The NLLA will review this document extensively and respond with further inquiries and thoughts in the coming weeks.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Library Association recognizes and would like to commend all those involved in the substantial work that went into the Future State Plan. We look forward to engaging in collaborative discussion on the future of public libraries in the province.
The program for our 2018 Annual Conference: Smooth Sailing through Rough Waters on May 7 is almost finalized. We currently have over a dozen talented and inspiring speakers scheduled from public, academic, and provincial libraries and community organizations. You can visit our conference webpage for more details.
Have you registered yet? Online registration is open, plus we have a conference bursary available to assist you with attending this year’s conference.
Online Registration is available for our 2018 Annual Conference: Smooth Sailing through Rough Waters. Our conference takes place on Monday, May 7, at the Newfoundland & Labrador Housing & Homeless Network Provincial Learning Centre in St. John’s.
Conference registration fee is $50.00 for NLLA members and $75.00 for non-members. An optional post-conference dinner will be held at Piatto Midtown (not included in conference fees).
We look forward to seeing you this year!
The NLLA is pleased to announce the second year for the Conference Bursary for our 2018 Annual Conference: Smooth Sailing through Rough Waters. This bursary will be open to all members of the NLLA currently residing in Newfoundland and Labrador. The bursary can be used for travel expenses, accommodation and conference registration. Funds will be awarded on an as-needed basis. Please read our bursary guidelines for more information.
To apply, please complete our application form and submit it to Bursary Committee Chair, Melissa Feaver (melissa_feaver@hotmail.com). The deadline for applications is April 16, 2018.
The NLLA is pleased no further cuts were announced for the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries’ operating budget and that the amount is back to its pre-2016 budget of $11.3 million. We are especially thrilled that Minister Kirby confirmed that the closing of 54 Public Libraries is officially off the table and is instead optimistic that new libraries will open.
This is a big relief to library workers and supporters throughout the province and beyond. From the moment the budget came down in 2016, there was an outpouring of support for libraries and a real fight to make sure something so unfathomable would not happen. The unmeasurable support and determination to prove the value of public libraries actually lead to a reprieve until a review could be completed.
Once the review was complete, an uncertainty for the Public Libraries has continued to linger, so the news that mass library closures is “shelved” is a fresh breath of air. The NLLA is so thankful to its members and the community at large for the magnificent advocacy work and the determination to save the Public Libraries.
Even with this good news, the NLLA is still concerned about the current level of funding. According to the EY (Ernst & Young LLP) Review, NLPL is 42% below the national per capita average, and is not enough to sustain the province’s library system. This review gave several recommendations on funding, and the NLLA remains confident that this, along with the other areas highlighted in the EY Review, are being investigated further by the Provincial Information and Library Resources Board (PILRB). The NLLA looks forward to assisting with consultations, planning and researching the ‘Way Forward’ for the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Library system.
The 2018 Annual NLLA Conference will take place on Monday, May 7. This year, our theme is Smooth Sailing through Rough Waters.
The tough economic times happening in our province have hit libraries hard. Our budgets have been slashed, our workforces reduced, and libraries are doing even more with less than ever before. However, despite such uncertainty, libraries are thriving because of the commitment and dedication of library workers in Newfoundland and Labrador. We continually strive to ensure that our communities have access to information, technology, and resources for learning, and to build and share collections that support and preserve the history and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Our theme for this year’s conference is Smooth Sailing through Rough Waters. This theme acknowledges the difficult times for libraries in our province, and points toward how we come together to recognize the needs of library workers as well as the community members who patronize our unique workplaces.
How is your library navigating these rough waters? How are you collaborating with colleagues, asking new questions, or developing new solutions to continue serving the needs of library users in our province? How are libraries managing stress in the workplace, and how are we caring for our users and each other in this time of economic turmoil? Whether you are in a public, academic, school, or special library, our theme relates to the work that you do. What does Smooth Sailing through Rough Waters mean to you?
We are seeking proposals for the following presentation types:
The deadline for proposals is Friday, March 30. Please submit your proposal using our online form and remember to include:
For questions or comments, please contact Emily Blackmore (eblackmore@nlpl.ca) or Janet Goosney (jgoosney@mun.ca) of the 2018 NLLA Conference Program Committee.
