December 8, 2007 - Annual Christmas Brunch

GELA thanks all members of the library community who attended our annual Christmas Brunch at the Union Bank Inn.

Our guest speaker was Jalal Barzanji.

Jalal Barzanji is Edmonton's first Writer in Exile. In his native country Iraq Jalal had an accomplished literary career as a poet as well as working as a newspaper and magazine editor in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. Because of his writing, Jalal was imprisoned by the former Iraqi government for three years. Since his arrival in Edmonton in 1998, Jalal has become an active participant in Edmonton's poetry scene and has assisted numerous immigrant families while continuing to write and publish poetry in Kurdish.

Edmonton's writer-in-exile program grew out of a commitment from several Edmonton organizations to better understand the needs of "exiled" immigrant writers living in Canada, and to create opportunities for them to pursue a professional career.

The program is hosted by the Writers Guild of Alberta. Sponsors/partners include University of Alberta (Faculty of Arts), Edmonton Community Foundation, Canada Council, Edmonton Arts Council, Athabasca University, MacEwan College, Edmonton Public Library, Edmonton Journal, and Edmonton LitFest.

November 28, 2007 - Personal Competencies of Leadership

Thank you to members of the Edmonton area library community who attended GELA's fall Professional Development session on leadership. We also wish to thank Alice McNair and Dan Mirau for their excellent presentations.

While the need for leadership competencies has been widely discussed within the Canadian library community, opportunities for developing these competencies can seem inaccessible for many library staff, particularly those working in institutions with flat organizational structures. When leadership opportunities do become available, we may lack the "soft skills" that contribute to success in leadership roles.

November 1 & 8, 2007 - Bruce Peel Special Collections Exhibit Tours

GELA members enjoyed a private tour of the exhibit, "Golden Cockerel’s Polite Erotica: A Legacy of Endurance and Distinction", at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library (University of Alberta).

Featuring illustrated books from one of the great British private presses of the early twentieth century, this exhibit shows how the Golden Cockerel Press expressed its individuality and continued a tradition of fine book production against the odds. Many books feature nude engravings, which were a further expression of the owners’ ideas about bookmaking. The owners were not afraid to exercise their own tastes in the selection of designs and materials, and the enduring erotic theme increased the popularity of Cockerels with collectors. Copies of the catalogue are available ($20.00).

Visit the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library home page.

April 12, 2007 - Annual General Meeting

Thank you to all GELA members who attended or voted by proxy.

March 13, 2007 - Interviewing Strategies: The Other Side of the Table

Thank you to our panelists for contributing to this interesting evening! GELA members learned about conducting interviews and how to participate in candidate selection.

Speakers:

• Kathleen DeLong, Associate Director, Finance and Human Resources, University of Alberta Libraries
• Karla Palichuk, APLEN Program Manager, The Alberta Library
• Bernadette Welham, Manager, Human Resources, Edmonton Public Library

Topics addressed:

• constructing a job posting
• questions to ask during an interview
• working with union regulations
• checking references
• what shortcomings might be forgiven in a potential employee
• the "intangibles" of candidate selection
• when to decide to repost/reclassify the position

February 1, 2007 - Women's Reintegration Chaplaincy

GELA members gathered at the Stanley Milner library on February 1 to hear some powerful stories and participate in thought-provoking discussion with Rev. Coleen Lynch from the Women's Reintegration Chaplaincy and Siofean, a reintegrating woman who bravely shared her story about prison life, leaving prison and returning to the community. Amanda Brunke was also there to provide us with information about the private home placement program offered through the Elizabeth Fry Society of Edmonton. Members were engaged and enthusiastic to learn more about how GELA can become involved in some way either through volunteer opportunities, fundraising initiatives, or contributing in other ways.

Our next step will be a tour of the Edmonton Institution for Women. If you are interested in participating please let Kirsten know by email at kwurmann @ ualberta.ca.

• For more information about the Women's Reintegration Chaplaincy: http://www.e4calberta.org/wrc/info.html
• For information about the Edmonton Institution for Women: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/facilit/institutprofiles/edforwomen_e.shtml

December 9, 2006 - GELA Christmas Brunch with Todd Babiak

On Saturday December 9th, over 40 people gathered to celebrate the holiday season with the Greater Edmonton Library Association. An excellent brunch was provided by the Union Bank Inn and we all enjoyed the opportunity to meet old and new friends! Todd Babiak was the featured speaker and shared his thoughts about libraries and commended the Edmonton area library staff for their work. Todd read a passage from his book The Garneau Block for everyone's enjoyment. The GELA executive thanks all attendees for their support as we plan activities for the upcoming year.

October 5, 2006 - GELA Party at Maverick Room & Brewery

Thank you to everyone who joined GELA executives at our Fall Party!

July 28, 2006 - The Power Within Conference

GELA was pleased to arrange a discount for GELA members to attend a professional development event featuring Dr. Phil McGraw, Po Bronson, Marc and Craig Kielburger.

May 10, 2006 - GELA Open Meeting

When: Wednesday, May 10th -- 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Where: Room 6-07 Edmonton Public Library, Stanley A. Milner Branch -- 7, Sir Winston Churchill Square

This meeting was facilitated by Pat Jobb and was designed to explore how GELA can better serve the needs of the Edmonton and area library community. Current members, past members and non-members attended. Please contact us if you have any new ideas and suggestions for GELA!

April 12, 2006 - Annual General Meeting

When: Wednesday, April 12, 2006 -- starting at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Room 6-07 Edmonton Public Library, Stanley A. Milner Branch -- 7, Sir Winston Churchill Square

The GELA Nominations Committee was pleased to present the following candidates for the Executive elections, which took place at the Annual General Meeting, April 12th, 2006.

February 26 - March 4, 2006 - Freedom to Read Week

GELA is a supporter of Edmonton Public Library's "Banned Books Café", one of their many activities in support of Freedom to Read Week. The Banned Books Café, organized by EPL's Teen Advisory Board, was held in the Centre for Reading & the Arts in the Stanley A. Milner library on March 2 at 7:00 p.m.

December 10, 2005 - GELA Annual Christmas Brunch

Our annual Christmas brunch was held at the Union Bank Inn. Our featured speaker, Linda Goyette, presented an oral Christmas card to the Edmonton library community. She recounted the interesting tale of her work with "Edmonton in Our Own Words" and told us about her latest endeavour, "Standing Together : Women Speak Out about Violence and Abuse", a collection of stories by Alberta women who have suffered abuse and violence.

This year marks GELA's 60th anniversary! In honour of this occasion, we've compiled a list of all executive members of GELA dating back to 1945. If you notice any errors or omissions, please contact our webmaster - gelaweb at gela dot ca.

Thanks to all those who helped make this event a success. Happy holidays!

November 23, 2005: GELA Professional Development Event - The Librarians' Emerging Technology Survival Guide

GELA sincerely thanks presenters, Kenton Good and Geoff Harder from the University of Alberta Libraries, for the interesting and relevant session. The presentation was full of fun multimedia, interesting websites, tips, rumours, and new technologies. Our appreciation to Edmonton Public Library for providing the meeting space and to CACUL for sponsoring this event.

November 7, 2005: Changes on the GELA executive

Kat Johnston, GELA secretary, has accepted a position in a library that will take her out of the Greater Edmonton area. Congrats on the new job, Kat! We're pleased to announce that Shannon D'Agnone, a librarian at Wetaskiwin Composite High School, has graciously agreed to take over the secretary position. Welcome to GELA, Shannon! Nice to have you on board.

May 25, 2005: Annual GELA/CASLIS Banquet

Many thanks to our guest speaker, Stephen Joyce from the School of Library and Information Studies for helping us make the evening a success. The topic of his talk was “Social Responsibility in Librarianship: What Is It, and Where Do You Stand?”

April 19, 2005: Annual General Meeting

Our 2005 Annual General Meeting was a success. Thanks to all who attended. GELA's new executive was introduced.

We would like to thank Edmonton Public Library and the Woodcroft Branch of Edmonton Public Library for their support and generosity in allowing us to use their meeting room.

We did not award the 2005 GELA Professional Development Grant as there were no applicants.

March 10, 2005: An Evening of Storytelling in Support of the Bissell Center

GELA partnered with the student members of the Canadian Library Association at the U of A and Edmonton Public library to support this very fun storytelling event for adults. "Why Should Kids Have All the Fun?" featured storytelling by Renee Englot, Gail de Vos & Merle Harris. Admission was free and donations were accepted in support of the Bissell Center.

FEBRUARY 20-26, 2005: 21ST Annual Freedom To Read Week

GELA co-sponsored the production of the play "Assembly".

Sunday February 20, 2:30 - 4:00 p.m.
Whitemud Crossing Library Branch
4211 106 Street

Presentation of the Proclamation of Freedom to Read Week in Edmonton.

Robert Corness in "Assembly", a short play by Mieko Ouchi which explores the medium of editing and censorship as a metaphor for deeper issues in a man's life. The moments and images he wants to run over again and again and savour, and the memories he would rather cut out.

A question and answer session hosted by Dr. Alvin Schrader followed.

December 4, 2004: GELA Holiday Brunch

The 2004 GELA Christmas Brunch for 2004 was a success!!

This year we tried a new location:

The Giverny Ballroom
Union Bank Inn, 10053 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton
Cost to Members and Students: $25.00
Cost to Non-Members: $35.00

GELA Members were treated to a great talk by our guest speaker, Merle Harris, storyteller extraordinaire and staunch library advocate.

November 18, 2004: Making Yourself Marketable - Successful Strategies for Library Professionals

GELA Members heard from our guest panelists about job search strategies for public, academic and special libraries.

• Linda Cook, Director of Libraries, Edmonton Public Library
• Kathleen Delong, Associate Director, University of Alberta Libraries
• Christine Gertz, Resources Coordinator, Career and Placement Services,
  University of Alberta
• Rick Leech, Manager, Provincial Court Libraries, Alberta Justice

May 26, 2004: CASLIS / GELA Spring Banquet

The CASLIS/GELA Annual Spring Banquet of 2004 was a success. Guest speaker Merrill Distad gave a wonderful talk.
Location: Papaschase Room, University of Alberta Faculty Club, 11435 Saskatchewan Drive, University of Alberta

April 2004: Annual General Meeting

Our 2004 Annual General Meeting was a success. Almost half of our total membership was in attendance; thank you all for coming out! Our new executive was elected and both by-laws proposed by the past executive were passed by the membership.

We would like to thank Edmonton Public Library and the Woodcroft Branch of Edmonton Public Library for their support and generosity in allowing us to use their meeting room.

The recipient of the 2004 GELA Professional Development Grant was Christine Bourchier. Christine used this grant to fund her travel to the 2004 Canadian Library Association conference in Victoria where she presented with Anwen Boyd. The meeting attendees joined in congratulating this worthy candidate.

February 23, 2004: READ is a Four Letter Word - Teens’ Views on Censorship

Edmonton Public Library’s
Whitemud Crossing Branch
145 Whitemud Crossing Shopping Centre
4211 – 106 Street, Edmonton, Alberta

Teens discussed books that have been challenged in Alberta. Displays of challenged materials were available for viewing.

December 6, 2003: GELA Annual Holiday Brunch

Brunch was held at the Hotel MacDonald. The menu was spectacular as always and a great time was had by all attendees! Thanks to Theo Turner for organizing this event.

November 13, 2003: Blogging Workshop

Presenters: Randy Reichart and Geoffery Harder
Cameron Library, University of Alberta
Thanks to Michael Brundin for organizing this event!

GELA would like to thank this sessions’ generous sponsors: Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL) and the University of Alberta Libraries.

May 15, 2003: GELA/CASLIS SPRING BANQUET

Special Guest Speaker: Gail de Vos
When: Thursday, May 15th, 2003, 6:00 pm - 10:00 p.m.
Where: Khazana Authentic Tandoori Cuisine, 10177 - 107 Street, Edmonton
The event was very successful and attendees enjoyed a fantastic evening of storytelling and fabulous East Indian food.

April 16, 2003: GELA Annual General Meeting

We held our 2003 AGM at the Woodcroft Branch of EPL at 7:00 pm on April 16th. Thanks to EPL for once again donating the space for the meeting, and to everyone who ran for a position. Thanks also to everyone who came out to vote. We selected the 2003-2004 executive and made plans for the old and new executives to meet to pass on the torch to the new members.

The 2003 GELA Professional Development Grant winner was also announced at the annual meeting. The winner was Sandra Anderson. The grant was used by Sandra to present a paper at the Canadian Association for Information Science at the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Halifax. The meeting attendees joined in congratulating this worthy candidate.

February 24 - March 1, 2003: Freedom to Read Week

Monday, Febrary 24: Banned Book Cafe
Where: Second Cup, Stanley A. Milner Library
Guests brought their own material and also read from a selection of books that have been challenged in the past.
Musical entertainment by Poet Thugs.
Presented by: Book Publishers Association of Alberta, Canadian Authors Association - Alberta Branch, Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers - Edmonton Branch, Edmonton Public Library, GELA, Library Association of Alberta, Stroll of Poets Society, U of A School of Library and Information Studies, Writers Guild of Alberta
Event sponsors: CJSR Radio, Second Cup Café, and Vue Weekly.

December 7, 2002: GELA Annual Holiday Brunch

Where: Jasper Room, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Thank you to everyone who attended, and especially to Joseph and Carla for organizing the event. A special thank you goes out to all of our sponsors who generously donated doorprizes. Happy holidays!!

May 23, 2002: CASLIS/GELA Spring Banquet Celebrating the 25th anniversary of CASLIS, Edmonton Chapter

CASLIS put on the 2002 CASLIS/GELA Annual Spring Banquet in the Papaschase Room of University of Alberta Faculty Club. The two guest Speakers were Francesco Lai, President of the Canadian Association of Special Libraries and Information Services, and Margaret Law, President of the Canadian Library Association.

April 2, 2002: GELA Annual General Meeting

We held our 2002 AGM at the Woodcroft Branch of EPL at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 2nd. Thanks to EPL for once again donating the space for the meeting, and to everyone who ran for a position. Thanks also to everyone who came out to vote. We selected the 2002-2003 executive and made plans for the old and new executives to meet to pass on the torch to the new members.

February 25-28, 2002: Freedom to Read Week Events

Thanks to everyone who came out to take part in Edmonton's Freedom to Read Week events. Along with LAA and other local book-inspired associations, GELA provided support to the Edmonton Public Library's FTRW celebrations, including a screening of the movie Storm Center, and a panel discussion entitled "Is Freedom to Read Week Still Necessary?". GELA also collaborated with Greenwood's Books to host a GELA Members Appreciation Night, featuring an author talk given by Thomas Wharton, author of Salamander and Icefields. Thank you to Laurie Greenwood and Thomas Wharton, as well as to everyone who brought donations of books for the Bissel Center.

December 1, 2001: GELA Annual Holiday Brunch

Our holiday brunch was held in the festive setting of the Jasper Room at The Fairmont Hotel Macdonald, 10065 - 100 Street. Thank you to everyone to attended, and especially to Bernice and Marianne for organizing the event. We celebrated the start of the holidays with wonderful food, great company, and PILES of fabulous doorprizes. Hope to see you all again next year!

November 2, 2001: Project Management Fundamentals Workshop

Project Management Fundamentals was chosen as the fall event in response to requests by some members of GELA for a continuing education initiative. This workshop was meant to provide an opportunity to develop and refine skills for managing projects within and among libraries, departments in the workplace, and organizations at the institutional, regional, and provincial levels.
Thank you to Bernice and Marianne for organizing the event.

May 23, 2001: GELA/CASLIS Spring Banquet

Thank you to everyone who joined us. We hope you all had a great time and will join us again next year. We took the opportunity at the banquet to introduce the new executives of both organizations.
After a long (!) and enjoyable dinner, John Acorn, the Nature Nut, gave an engaging and hilarious presentation on the principles behind writing field guides to birds and butterflies. We will never look at "deer crossing" signs in quite the same way!
The banquet was held in the Papaschase Room of the University of Alberta Faculty Club.
Thank you to Sagebrush Corporation for their generous support!

April 3, 2001: Annual General Meeting

GELA's Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday, April 3, 2001 at 7:00 pm at the Woodcroft Branch of the Edmonton Public Library. The new executive was elected.

February 25 - March 3, 2001: Freedom To Read Week

GELA joined the Edmonton Public Library and others in celebrating intellectual freedom. On Tuesday, February 27, EPL hosted a performance of the play Shylock and on Wednesday, February 28, GELA and EPL were please to host Dr. Toni Samek's stimulating presentation on the Joy of Intellectual Freedom.

October 26, 2000: Web Multimedia Presentation

Inspired by this year's Netspeed conference in Calgary, GELA, in association with the Alberta Library and the University of Alberta presented Nuno Luzio on Web Multimedia.