National Forum 2018
CFLA-FCAB National Forum
May 1 and 2, 2018
Regina, Saskatchewan
Please click here for the CFLA-FCAB 2018 National Forum Paper
The Canadian Federation of Library Associations — Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques convened its 1st National Forum in conjunction with the Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA).
Opening Keynote Bruce Walsh:
Panel Discussions:
Artificial Intelligence:
Intellectual Freedom:
Opening Keynote:
Bruce Walsh
Director, University of Regina Press
Publisher Bruce Walsh is founding director of University of Regina Press, which has rewritten the script for academic and regional publishing and is recognized for award-winning books on Indigenous scholarship, languages, and culture.
Bio
In June 2013, he launched University of Regina Press as director and publisher. The first book published by the press — Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life — was recently named one of the 25 most influential books published in Canada in the last 25 years and is the bestselling academic book published in Canada this century. The press has published four other national bestsellers since then and has won many awards, including the Sir John A. Macdonald Prize, the Governor General’s Award in History, the Clio Award, the Aboriginal Book Prize, the Great Plains Book Award, the Burt Award, and almost a dozen Saskatchewan book awards. With the goal of publishing all of Canada’s Indigenous languages and telling Indigenous stories, the press is dedicated to advancing the aims of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
Much of what he knows, Bruce learned as a volunteer. He has worked in a homeless shelter, a crisis hotline, and in community radio. He is also a long-time board member of the environmental group Canopy, which works with businesses to protect endangered and old-growth forests. A passionate believer in freedom of expression, he resigned in protest from his first publishing job at Oxford University Press after it censored the book Gay Ideas. He then brought national and international attention to Canada’s censorship practices and served two terms on the board of Pen Canada. After meeting folk artist Maud Lewis as a five-year-old, Bruce developed a love of visual art and is now on the advisory board of the Dunlop Art Gallery. The recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for work on behalf of the environment, freedom of expression, and the advancement of culture, he is devoted to community involvement.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia, he has lived across Canada and knows the country intimately. With the assistance of Indigenous staff and the input of Elders, he is committed to publishing the censored stories and languages of Canada. “Only after understanding who we truly are,” he says, “can we reach our potential as a nation.” The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation appointed him a Trudeau mentor in 2017.
“Only after understanding who we truly are, can we reach our potential as a nation,” says Bruce Walsh.
That’s the epitome of this week-long conference “Libraries: Convergence under living skies!”
What does it mean to be a gallery, a library, an archive or a museum in the world today? What does it mean to be the keeper and curator of all creation when computer programs are designed to assimilate our thinking and societal changes are rocking the very foundation of protecting the rights to partake in the sharing of knowledge without repercussion?
Bruce Walsh, founding Director of the University of Regina Press and prize-winning publisher will share his experiences as an advocate for intellectual freedom, activist for Reconciliation, and entrepreneur to explore ways in which we can move the status quo without losing sight of our fundamental role in society.
The discussion:
Artificial Intelligence – Seize the Opportunity
Brent Barron, Director, Public Policy CIFAR;
Scott Hargrove, CEO Fraser-Valley Regional Library System;
Michael Ridley; PhD. Candidate in Artificial Intelligence, Librarian, Former Chief Information Officer and Chief Librarian, University of Guelph;
Danica Pawlick-Potts, MLIS student, School of Information Studies, Western University; current co-op librarian at Guelph.
Moderator: Rebecca Jones, Dysart & Jones Associates
Artificial intelligence is positioned to be the mother of all disruptive technologies. What does this mean for libraries, and, most importantly, how do libraries seize AI to construct capacities and capabilities? Develop plans to integrate AI into daily functions? Use AI to mine our data and collections to create new knowledge and connections never before possible? What’s our role in facilitating community, corporate and campus decisions regarding the ethical and social implications of AI? How do we realistically plan for workplace implications? Work with the speakers and with your colleagues from across Canada to address these and other questions and help refine the agenda for actions the associations and every library must take.
The panel of Artificial Intelligence – Seize the Opportunity
Intellectual Freedom – Sustaining a Core Value
Dr. Mary Cavanagh, Associate Professor, School of Information Studies, University of Ottawa;
Dr. James Turk, Director, Centre for Free Expression & Distinguished Visiting Professor, Ryerson University;
Pilar Martinez, Chief Executive Officer, Edmonton Public Library;
Dr. Marie D. Martel, Professeure adjointe, École de bibliothéconomie et sciences de l’information (EBSI), Université de Montréal.
Moderator: Jeff Barber, Library Director and CEO, Regina Public Library
Intellectual freedom has long been recognized as one of librarianship’s core values. It is the underpinning of access to information, relates to the concept of academic freedom that is regularly being challenged within universities, and is semantic to journalism’s freedom of the press. Is the role played by libraries on intellectual freedom changing? Ideally, what should this role be? Can – and should – libraries be neutral? Work with the speakers and with your colleagues from across Canada to address these and other questions and help refine the agenda for actions the associations and every library must take.
Panel of Intellectual Freedom – Sustaining a Core Value
In addition to partnering with SLA, this week long event will also host the spring membership meetings of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC).
For information regarding our partners meetings, please visit the following websites:
Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL)
Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC)
Saskatchewan Library Association (SLA)
Information on the May 2, 2018 CFLA-FCAB National Forum can be found in the menu below.
Program at a Glance
Join thought-leaders for a day of discovery and discourse to inform national policies and practices regarding artificial intelligence and intellectual freedom.
Be a part of CFLA-FCAB’s Inaugural National Forum. As the lead-in to the Saskatchewan Libraries Conference, the Forum is carefully designed to blend informative sessions with challenging roundtable conversations that will result in a National Forum Paper and Key Actions for the CFLA-FCAB member organizations to embrace. Be a part of Canada’s national library landscape.
Registration includes welcome reception, breakfast, lunch and banquet dinner and refreshment breaks.
Tuesday May 1, 2018
7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception (sponsored by Library Bound)
Wednesday May 2, 2018
7:15 a.m. Breakfast
8:30 a.m. Welcome
9:00 a.m. Keynote: Bruch Walsh, Director, University of Regina Press
10:00 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Artificial Intelligence: Seize the Opportunity
12:00 p.m. Lunch
1:45 p.m. Intellectual Freedom: Sustaining a Core Value
3:15 p.m. Break
3:40 p.m. Key Outcomes: Refining our Collective and Individual Agendas
4:30 p.m. Close of the Work Sessions
5:30 p.m. CFLA-FCAB Banquet and Mary Donaldson Memorial Lecture: David Chalk
The Mary Donaldson Memorial Lecture is kindly sponsored by Regina Public Library and Dr. John Archer Library, University of Regina.
Presentations
Please click the title to view a PDF of the presentation.
Intellectual Freedom: Sustaining a Core Value
Presentation by Dr. Mary Cavanagh
Intellectual Freedom, Freedom of Expression by Dr. James L. Turk
Table Notes from Sessions
Exhibitor, Advertiser and Sponsor Prospectus
Join us at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Convention Centre, Regina SK
The conference theme, Libraries! Convergence Under Living Skies, encourages libraries of all types from across Canada to work together to identify commonalities, share experiences, build on success and plan together for our shared future.
We invite you to participate in this milestone event as an exhibitor, an advertiser, or a sponsor!
Early Bird Pricing is available to February 25, 2018 and the deadline for all Exhibitors is March 15, 2018 or until space is filled. All advertising and sponsor information for the Program Supplement must be submitted by March 10, 2018. Major sponsors ($8000 +) must have their sponsorship submitted by January 20, 2018 to have their logo on the conference bag.
Accommodations at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre for SLA rates close on April 2, 2018. Reservation information is available here http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/groups/personalized/Y/YQRCCDT-LIB-20180429/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG.
Exhibitors will have many opportunities to connect with delegates throughout the day on both May 2nd and May 3rd. Not only is the Exhibit Hall located within close proximity of the “hub” of conference activities, but other exhibitor themed events will be happening throughout the course of the day:
- Five minute vendor lightning round sessions will be available at a nominal fee following breakfast on Thursday, May 3rd;
- Lunch with the exhibitors on both Wednesday,May 2nd and Thursday, May 3rdy;
- Exhibitor social from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.on Thursday, May 3rd with the Passport Game – door prize draws
There will also be a variety of sponsorship and advertising opportunities available to suit every budget. An Exhibitor, Advertiser, and Sponsor Prospectus is attached below..
Prospectus with Booth Map
Agreement for Exhibitors, Advertisers, and Sponsors
Please visit the conference site at:http://saskla.ca/programs/conference for updates.
We are looking forward to seeing you there.
2018 Program Committee
Chair, Alix-Rae Stefanko (Chair, CFLA-FCAB)
Lise Brin (Canadian Association of Research Libraries)
Rebecca Jones (Ontario Library Association)
Nancy MacKenzie (2018 SLA Conference Program Chair, Saskatchewan Library Association)
Katherine McColgan (Executive Director, CFLA-FCAB)
Sarah Stacy (Library and Archives Canada)
Additional Reading
“Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know” by Jerry Kaplan
Questions or Comments?
If you have questions, comments, or are interested in participating in this effort, please contact us!