On a brisk evening on February 3, CASLIS sponsored a well-attended presentation and tour of the Japan Foundation Toronto (JFT) library. The two-part presentation took place in sizable room decorated with elegant wooden panelling, livened by the presence of a volunteer donning a kimono and many friendly greetings exchanged by attendees. Prior to the presentation and tour, attendees had a chance to enjoy sushi and Japanese pastries, and to view items on display for the Origamic Architecture exhibition.
The first presentation was given by Chief Librarian Mariko Liliefeldt, who described the library’s online and onsite resources, and illustrated the positive impact administrative changes have had on library statistics. The second presentation was given by Library Assistant Natalie Chan, who described Japanese pop culture, and discussed the role that manga (Japanese comics) play in Japanese culture.
Described by Mariko as Toronto’s “gateway for Japanese information,” the JFT library boasts over 17,000 Japan-related materials in Japanese, English and French. In 2008, the library had a total circulation of 22,300 and welcomed 23,000 visitors.
Although the JFT library had experienced declining circulation and visitor numbers in years prior to 2008, administrative changes and successful efforts to better understand patrons’ information needs and interests has turned this once under-used library into a lively hub for Japanese news and culture.
Simple changes such as the extension of library hours, more liberal application requirements and borrowing limits, the holding of events and exhibits in partnership with other Japanese institutions and associations, and the creation of a Pop Culture Corner have greatly improved visiting and circulation numbers.
The creation of the Pop Culture Corner may, in fact, be one of the most successful changes made by the JFT. One of the most attractive parts of the library, the Corner features an inviting and bright interior design in the mod style. Here, visitors can peruse library material at their leisure, view cultural exhibits (such as the recent Noh Costume Display), and interact with volunteers clad in cosplay costumes—an activity which is very popular in Japan, according to Natalie.
The Pop Culture Corner collection is composed of Japanese and English language books, magazines and newspapers; Japanese pop music recordings (“J-Pop”), as well as other non-pop music; films and anime (Japanese animation) in DVD and VHS formats; and 1,600 volumes of manga (including 800 new titles that were added in May 2009 to reflect patron demand).
In Japan manga has become a ubiquitous media that reflects some of the most current trends in Japanese cultural life. Themes covered in these comics range from age and gender-related material, to historic narratives, sports and cooking. Manga has also served as cultural ambassador for Japan, as it is known and read in many countries, including those in Asia, Europe and Latin America.
In addition to a sizable collection of manga, JFT’s collection includes thousands of volumes on many subject areas, including art, history, geography, Japanese language, and the social sciences.
The attractive layout of its library, the wealth of its holdings, the exhibits and events held at its downtown location, and the opportunity for CASLIS members to network and learn from their JFT colleagues, make a visit to the Japan Foundation of Toronto a rewarding experience.
Yannet M. Lathrop
M.I. Candidate, 2011, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto
Friday, March 5, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Japan Foundation Toronto Library Tour
The Japan Foundation Toronto Library Tour, was a success. All attendees enjoyed the talk and the tour. Please check out the link bellow for a few snapshots from the event.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36772867@N04/sets/72157623537575664/
Raluca S., CASLIS Toronto Photographer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36772867@N04/sets/72157623537575664/
Raluca S., CASLIS Toronto Photographer
Sunday, February 14, 2010
CASLIS Toronto and SLA Toronto presents: Project Management 101
** VENUE and TIME change! Please note the change in venue and the slight time change below. We apologize for any inconvenience. **
Join us on Wednesday, March 10 for a joint CASLIS Toronto and SLA Toronto event
Project Management 101
Register now at http://www.caslistoronto.on.ca/!
PLEASE NOTE: Even though registration for this event is being handled by CASLIS Toronto, SLA Toronto members will also enjoy the "Member" rate for this event. When registering online, simply check off "Member" if you belong to either organization. Furthermore, both CLA and SLA students are welcome to attend the event free-of-charge, simply check off "CLA student" when registering online.
Project Management techniques are used in various settings from planning fundraisers, to the development of software applications, to government projects. Knowledge of project management techniques is critical for successful in future careers, in volunteer efforts, and for implementing personal or home projects. As special librarians and information professionals we are often called upon to manage projects; whether moving the library to a new location or deciding upon a new piece of software. In this session Kelly Lyons, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto iSchool, will provide an overview of the project management landscape, share some effective resources you can use without completing PM certification, and give pointers to those interested in exploring PM in greater depth.
Speaker: Kelly Lyons, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto iSchool
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Time: 6:00-6:30 p.m.: registration and light dinner; 6:30-8:00 p.m.: program
Location: The Hospital for Sick Children, Room 1250, Black Wing, 555 University Avenue
Registration deadline: March 3, 2010
Join us on Wednesday, March 10 for a joint CASLIS Toronto and SLA Toronto event
Project Management 101
Register now at http://www.caslistoronto.on.ca/!
PLEASE NOTE: Even though registration for this event is being handled by CASLIS Toronto, SLA Toronto members will also enjoy the "Member" rate for this event. When registering online, simply check off "Member" if you belong to either organization. Furthermore, both CLA and SLA students are welcome to attend the event free-of-charge, simply check off "CLA student" when registering online.
Project Management techniques are used in various settings from planning fundraisers, to the development of software applications, to government projects. Knowledge of project management techniques is critical for successful in future careers, in volunteer efforts, and for implementing personal or home projects. As special librarians and information professionals we are often called upon to manage projects; whether moving the library to a new location or deciding upon a new piece of software. In this session Kelly Lyons, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto iSchool, will provide an overview of the project management landscape, share some effective resources you can use without completing PM certification, and give pointers to those interested in exploring PM in greater depth.
Speaker: Kelly Lyons, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto iSchool
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Time: 6:00-6:30 p.m.: registration and light dinner; 6:30-8:00 p.m.: program
Location: The Hospital for Sick Children, Room 1250, Black Wing, 555 University Avenue
Registration deadline: March 3, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Library community response to Haitian crisis
In the wake of the tragic earthquake in Haiti, many Canadians jumped to respond to the pleas for aid and cash donations. These have gone to rescue, aid and medical supplies to address the urgent needs. The CLA has joined the chorus of voices offering support for Haiti, particularly our many colleagues there.
In the January 22nd issue of the CLA Digest, the following message was sent out tour our membership:
A very sad time and our thoughts most certainly go out to the many Librarians and all Haitians who have suffered such an immense tragedy. The sights and reports out of Haiti have certainly been harrowing, and CASLIS Toronto joins the CLA in expressing deep condolences to all of those who have been affected by this tragedy.
In the long term there will also be continuing needs for restructuring and rebuilding a country which had very little to begin with, and which has even less now. Below is information (as we have it) regarding the current state of Haitian Libraries and the response by the Library Community.
By way of the Conference Directors of National Libraries, CLA also published a brief statement from Françoise Beaulieu-Thybulle, the Director-General of Haiti’s National Library
The Literacy Organization, Haiti Reads is working on the ground and currently advocates diverting funds to the immediate relief efforts, but asks those of us in the library community to keep them in mind in the future for their restructuring efforts.
This rebuilding process will be long and challenging, given the extent of the destruction. Our colleagues in Bibliotheques Sans Frontieres recently forwarded the following update to some of the Listservs:
The International Federation of Library Associations has a News and Developments Regarding Libraries in Haiti page which is dedicated to the current state and the efforts necessary in moving forward in Haiti; this is a joint project with several different organizations, facilitated by our colleagues at IFLA. The initiatives include ways in which both time and money to support this cause, as well as social media tools to stay connected to the ongoing challenges and restructuring efforts.
As well, for our members in the Legal field, the Law Library Microform Consortium is creating a special Haiti Collection:
We know that the Library Community is a caring and supportive one, so we urge you to take a look at the available programs, and consider the many ways in which you may be able to help those who have lost so much.
Eileen Lewis
CASLIS Toronto Vice-President
In the January 22nd issue of the CLA Digest, the following message was sent out tour our membership:
On behalf of our members, CLA expresses sympathy for the loss and devastation suffered by our colleagues in Haïti. Humanitarian aid is the first priority. There are many agencies in Canada that are soliciting donations for humanitarian relief efforts. Our IFLA colleagues from the Latin America & Caribbeanregion have also suggested that donations be directed either to UNICEF or to the Pan American Health & Education Foundation.
A very sad time and our thoughts most certainly go out to the many Librarians and all Haitians who have suffered such an immense tragedy. The sights and reports out of Haiti have certainly been harrowing, and CASLIS Toronto joins the CLA in expressing deep condolences to all of those who have been affected by this tragedy.
In the long term there will also be continuing needs for restructuring and rebuilding a country which had very little to begin with, and which has even less now. Below is information (as we have it) regarding the current state of Haitian Libraries and the response by the Library Community.
By way of the Conference Directors of National Libraries, CLA also published a brief statement from Françoise Beaulieu-Thybulle, the Director-General of Haiti’s National Library
The building of the National library is safe, the shelves and holdings have shifted...we will prevail ...our building is the only one standing in the whole area. I have not yet been able to locate all the personel, but half of them are safe...we keep on checking. We will keep you posted
The Literacy Organization, Haiti Reads is working on the ground and currently advocates diverting funds to the immediate relief efforts, but asks those of us in the library community to keep them in mind in the future for their restructuring efforts.
This rebuilding process will be long and challenging, given the extent of the destruction. Our colleagues in Bibliotheques Sans Frontieres recently forwarded the following update to some of the Listservs:
We have a contact with Patrick Tardieu who is an archivist in the oldest library in Port au Prince, Bibliothèque des Pères du Saint Esprit. Fortunately, he's alive and flighted [sic] yesterday to Canada. The first information we have are:
- Saint Martial College in which there is the Bibliothèque Haïtienne des pères du saint esprit collapsed
- The St Louis de Gonzague library building would be ok but very weakened
- The national Library collapsed, at least a part of it
- Most of the university libraries collapsed too
Those libraries gathered very old collections (from the 16th centuries).Several manuscripts were brought by the missionaries who came from Europe. Other have been collected in the Caraibs (notably, publications on the haitian revolutions, transcriptions of vaudou oral traditions, personal documents from the 18th centuries).
The International Federation of Library Associations has a News and Developments Regarding Libraries in Haiti page which is dedicated to the current state and the efforts necessary in moving forward in Haiti; this is a joint project with several different organizations, facilitated by our colleagues at IFLA. The initiatives include ways in which both time and money to support this cause, as well as social media tools to stay connected to the ongoing challenges and restructuring efforts.
As well, for our members in the Legal field, the Law Library Microform Consortium is creating a special Haiti Collection:
On the theory of everybody doing what they can, we at LLMC have decided that the most immediate contribution that we can make is to give priority to assembling a comprehensive Haiti legal collection and bringing it online as quickly as possible. So we will be giving this project priority during the first half of 2010, and hope to have the bulk of the titles becoming available later in the year.(Full text of press release available here)
We know that the Library Community is a caring and supportive one, so we urge you to take a look at the available programs, and consider the many ways in which you may be able to help those who have lost so much.
Eileen Lewis
CASLIS Toronto Vice-President
Friday, January 15, 2010
News librarians featured in Ryerson Review of Journalism
From the latest edition of the Ryerson Review of Journalism:
With Files From... by Mai Nguyen
Google hasn’t made newspapers research librarians redundant. In fact, they’re as busy as ever, even if they rarely receive the recognition they deserve
Yours truly is quoted ...
Astrid Lange
CASLIS Toronto Listserv and Publicty
With Files From... by Mai Nguyen
Google hasn’t made newspapers research librarians redundant. In fact, they’re as busy as ever, even if they rarely receive the recognition they deserve
Yours truly is quoted ...
Astrid Lange
CASLIS Toronto Listserv and Publicty
Monday, January 11, 2010
Japan Foundation Toronto Library Tour
Happy New Year from the CASLIS Toronto executive!
Please join us for our first event of 2010:
The Japan Foundation Toronto Library Tour
Wednesday, February 3
Register now at http://www.caslistoronto.on.ca/
The Japan Foundation, Toronto, which opened in 1995 as one of 19 Japan Foundation offices around the world, is mainly funded by the Japanese government. Its purpose is to promote international cultural exchange between Japan and other countries. The library holds approximately 16,000 volumes of Japan-related prints and audio-visual materials in its collection. This spring, the JFT library opened a new Pop Culture Corner featuring popular contemporary manga, magazines, CDs and other media, which has been very popular and has brought in many new patrons.
The tour of the library and gallery will be offered by Chief Librarian Mariko Liliefeldt, 1995 graduate of FIS. “Origami Architecture” will be exhibited in the Gallery during the tour.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: 131 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1P7
Registration deadline: January 27, 2010
To get an idea of what to expect from the Japan Foundation tour, visit the blog of CASLIS Toronto's iSchool Student Liasons http://caslistorontostudents.blogspot.com/ who visited last year. Another iSchool student also blogged about the tour here:http://blog.mayyan.net/2009/10/28/japan-foundation-library.
Astrid Lange
CASLIS Toronto Listerv and Publicity
Please join us for our first event of 2010:
The Japan Foundation Toronto Library Tour
Wednesday, February 3
Register now at http://www.caslistoronto.on.ca/
The Japan Foundation, Toronto, which opened in 1995 as one of 19 Japan Foundation offices around the world, is mainly funded by the Japanese government. Its purpose is to promote international cultural exchange between Japan and other countries. The library holds approximately 16,000 volumes of Japan-related prints and audio-visual materials in its collection. This spring, the JFT library opened a new Pop Culture Corner featuring popular contemporary manga, magazines, CDs and other media, which has been very popular and has brought in many new patrons.
The tour of the library and gallery will be offered by Chief Librarian Mariko Liliefeldt, 1995 graduate of FIS. “Origami Architecture” will be exhibited in the Gallery during the tour.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: 131 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1P7
Registration deadline: January 27, 2010
To get an idea of what to expect from the Japan Foundation tour, visit the blog of CASLIS Toronto's iSchool Student Liasons http://caslistorontostudents.blogspot.com/ who visited last year. Another iSchool student also blogged about the tour here:http://blog.mayyan.net/2009/10/28/japan-foundation-library.
Astrid Lange
CASLIS Toronto Listerv and Publicity
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Holiday Social
Hello everyone and a Happy New Year!
The Holiday Social took place on December 2nd, 2009 at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. The evening was well attended and prizes were won. Please view the link below for a few snapshots taken during the event.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36772867@N04/sets/72157623156135058/
Raluca,
Photographer, CASLIS Toronto Chapter
The Holiday Social took place on December 2nd, 2009 at the Arts and Letters Club of Toronto. The evening was well attended and prizes were won. Please view the link below for a few snapshots taken during the event.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36772867@N04/sets/72157623156135058/
Raluca,
Photographer, CASLIS Toronto Chapter
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