Online Forum: A Way Forward for NLLA

As many of you are aware, our association has been more or less inactive since the start of the global pandemic. Many of you have contacted us, as former members of the NLLA Executive, to ask about the future of the association. We agree that it is time for us to come together in order to have a conversation about the future of the NLLA, and to look for a way forward. With that in mind, we would like to invite you all to an online conversation about possible next steps for the NLLA.

The meeting will take place via Webex on Wednesday, December 7, noon to 1:00 pm.  To receive the meeting link, please register online at:

https://mun.webex.com/weblink/register/rd9621ba52cc19c6973850e9415e95c5a

If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to share your thoughts and suggestions, please send your comments to Janet Goosney jgoosney@mun.ca on or before December 6th.  

Also, please note that prior NLLA membership is not a requirement in order to participate in this meeting; all interested members of the Newfoundland and Labrador library community are welcome.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Janet Goosney, QEII Library

Stacey Penney, QEII Library

Katie Lawton, Marine Institute

Emily Blackmore, NLPL

Crystal Rose, Grenfell

Therapy Dogs Part of LTAIG Conference Program

Spock will be in attendance

One of our featured presentations at this year’s Library Technicians and Assistants Interest Group (LTAIG) annual one-day conference is “Paws for Stories”with Cindy Foote and Roberta Hewitt. Roberta is the Director of Marketing and Community Relations with St. John Ambulance and as part of this role, she oversees the Therapy Dog Program, which has recently partnered with two branches of Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries to bring the Paws 4 Stories program to our province. Cindy Foote is a Library Technician II/ED ILL Manager with Mount Pearl Public Library.

The Paws 4 Stories program provides children the opportunity to practice their reading skills aloud to a SJA certified Therapy Dog. Research has shown that children who read to Therapy Dogs show improvement in their reading skills, as they feel more comfortable practicing around a loving, non-judgmental animal. Roberta will speak to the volunteer requirements to participate in Paws 4 Stories and the success of the pilot programs.

Join us on on Monday, November 20, to meet Spock and some of the other, equally adorable, St. John Ambulance therapy dogs! There’s still time to register online for this great one-day conference which is free to current NLLA members.

Nov 20th LTAIG Conference Program Announced

We are pleased to announce the finalized program for our Library Technicians and Assistants Interest Group (LTAIG) annual one-day conference on Monday, November 20.

Online registration for the conference is now open. Our LTAIG Conference is free to current NLLA members. There is also a bursary available to assist with travel and other expenses related to conference attendance.

For more information and updates please visit our LTAIG 2017 Conference webpage.

Keynote for November LTAIG Conference: Susan Cleyle

Susan Cleyle

We are pleased to announce that the keynote speaker for the annual fall Library Assistants and Technicians Interest Group conference will be Susan Cleyle, University Librarian for Memorial University Libraries.

Susan will be presenting Library Leadership Throughout the Entire Organization: Taking a Coach Approach to Help Achieve Workplace Success. This presentation will explore how to have a greater positive impact in the workplace through a series of simple tools and techniques taken from the field of executive coaching. The talk will provide interactive exercises aimed at developing communication and leadership skills.

Our LTAIG conference is free to NLLA members, but space is limited. Please register online to attend our November 20th conference which will be held at the Community Room of the A.C. Hunter Children’s Library.

Registration for our Free, Annual LTAIG Conference Now Open

Online registration is now open for our annual, one-day Library Technicians and Assistants Interest Group (LTAIG) Conference on Monday, November 20. The conference is free to current NLLA members. Not a member? Please visit our join/renew your membership page.

Upcoming Library Technicians and Assistants Conference

We are pleased to announce our 2017 Library Technicians and Assistants Interest Group Conference on Monday, November 20. This year’s theme is Celebrating Libraries! We are currently seeking presenters.

The Library Technicians and Assistants Interest Group (LTAIG) holds an annual one-day conference every fall to highlight and promote libraries in the province and the library staff who work there. Join us for a fun and informative day of conversation and networking with your colleagues across the province and the country.

The conference will be held in the Community Room of the A.C. Hunter Children’s Library located on the first floor of the St John’s Arts and Culture Centre at the corner of Allandale Road and Prince Phillip Parkway. The conference is FREE to current NLLA members. Not a member? Visit our join/renew your membership page.

Please forward presentation suggestions or general conference questions to 2017 LTAIG Conference Convener Jennifer Budden.

An Exciting Program for our May 8 Annual Conference

Our conference planning committee has been working hard to put together an exciting program for our 2017 Annual Conference at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium. Program highlights include:

• Keynote speaker and local author, Trudy Morgan-Cole
• A pre-conference social at the Marjorie Mews Public Library
• 19 talented speakers from public, academic, and health libraries
• A post-conference dinner at Merlo’s Inferno!

You can view our full program on find out about registration and more, on our conference webpage. Be sure to follow us on facebook or twitter to stay up to date. Our conference hashtag is #NLLA2017

Details of Pre-Conference Social

Join us on Sunday, May 7, from 6:30-8:30 pm at the Marjorie Mews Library for the 2017 Annual Pre-Conference Social with refreshments and snacks. Julia Mayo, Branch Supervisor, and Kristina Walters, Library Assistant, will also tell us what’s happening at the Marjorie Mews library.

Libraries both big and small are integral parts of their communities. At Marjorie Mews Public Library we feel that we fill that role well because of the staff and the attitude we have. We believe that by having ownership of our “product” and having a positive attitude about our work, there is nothing we cannot achieve. It is our philosophy; if you are not having fun (at work) you are doing it wrong. We work hard to create positive partnerships within the community with businesses, schools and other community groups. Over the years we have steadily continued to push the limits of our space, our budget and our imaginations to bring in programs that appeal to our patrons and their families.

Kristina and Julia have been working with the Newfoundland and Labrador Public libraries for about nine years. They find great satisfaction in doing all kinds of library work, from answering reference questions, coordinating adult programs and basic computer classes to early literacy outreach and children’s story time.

To register and find out more about our upcoming annual conference, please visit our webpage or contact planning committee chair, Kate Shore.

Registration for NLLA 2017 Annual Conference

Registration is now open for our 2017 Annual Conference: Survive & Thrive taking place on Monday, May 8 at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium. Please register online by May 1. Payments may be made the morning of the conference, or may be mailed to us.

The conference registration fee is:
NLLA members $50.00
Non-members $75.00

Breaks and lunch are included in your registration!

Not an NLLA member or need to renew your membership? Join or renew online. For more information, please see our conference webpage or contact planning committee chair, Kate Shore.

Change of Venue for 2017 NLLA Annual Conference

The 2017 NLLA Annual Conference will be held at the Suncor Energy Fluvarium, 5 Nagle’s Place in St. John’s. For more information, please see our conference webpage.