Library Update - Fall 2010
Library
- Friends of the Library Lecture - The Library hosted its annual Friends of the Library lecture in September, this year featuring three-time Olympian Beckie Scott. Scott's talk entitled
Visions of Excellence: How the Strength of a Dream and the Power of a Team Took on the World provided a behind the scenes review of the Vancouver Games, and covered her involvement in the International Olympic Committee and her thoughts on clean sport.
- Primo - The Library launched an upgraded version of its catalogue and discovery tool Primo this fall. The upgrade provides significant improvements in Primo's design and functionality, characterized by a cleaner and easier-to-use interface and more efficient delivery of search results.
- Doors Open - Special Collections participated in Waterloo Region's "Doors Open" event this September. Following the theme of “Made in Waterloo Region,” the Department showcased an on-site and virtual exhibit to highlight the history of some of the manufacturing companies in the region that have closed their doors for good.
- Waterloo Librarians and the G20 - Waterloo librarians delivered an “Ask-a-Librarian” service to delegates and the media during the G20 summit in Toronto this summer. The service was coordinated primarily by Annie Bélanger, Head of Information Services and Resources at the Dana Porter Library, and was staffed by librarians at Waterloo and from other academic libraries across the country. The service was provided within the Canadian Digital Media Network’s social community "G20Net" and was powered by Open Text software.
- German Canadiana in Ontario Bibliography - Dana Porter Librarians Helena Calogeridis and Jane Forgay recently launched the German Canadiana in Ontario Bibliography (GCO), a new open access resource to help researchers identify sources relating to the experiences of German speakers and their descendents in Ontario.
- Library Day 2010 - The campus community celebrated Library Day on October 27. This annual event is the Library's opportunity to show appreciation to Waterloo students, faculty, and staff.
- Allan Bell, Associate University Librarian for Information Technology Services - The Library bid a fond farewell to Allan Bell, Associate University Librarian for Information Technology Services this September. Allan began a new position as Director of Digital Initiatives at the University of British Columbia Libraries.
University
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David Johnston Installed as Governor General of Canada - David Johnston departed the University of Waterloo on October 1st after more than 11 years as University President to become Canada's Governor General. The Waterloo community proudly bid Johnston farewell, thanking him for his incredible leadership. Waterloo bestowed a double honour on Johnston by naming the university's research and technology park and a new international student award after him. Johnston was also recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the fall convocation. The search for Johnston's successor is in progress.
A recent news release describes David Johnston's contributions to the University of Waterloo in the following way:
"During his 11-year tenure at Waterloo, His Excellency oversaw unprecedented growth in the university’s reputation, teaching and research resources, as well as its leadership capabilities. He is credited for putting the university and the surrounding region on the national map as a centre for talent, ideas and innovation through his vision of a knowledge capital that raised the sights of Waterloo to aspire to world leadership.
He also demonstrated the value of collaboration among academics, government, philanthropists and business to boost community building and economic development."
- Feridun Hamdullahpur Appointed as Interim President - Waterloo's board of governors named Feridun Hamdullahpur as Interim President, effective October 1. Hamdullahpur previously served as Provost and Vice-President Academic. Geoff McBoyle, the Associate Vice-President Academic and former Dean of Environment, will fill Hamdullahpur's role as Provost and Vice-President Academic until a new University President is appointed.
- Campaign Waterloo Closes - Campaign Waterloo closed in sync with David Johnston's departure. The fundraising campaign, initially targeted at $260 million, raised more than $600 million for the university since it was launched in 2004.
- Principles of Inclusivity Campaign - Waterloo launched its Principles of Inclusivity campaign in October with a talk by Sondra Thiederman, PhD, a leading speaker and author on diversity and bias in the workplace.
- Engineering 5 Building - Waterloo celebrated the grand opening of its new $55-million Engineering 5 building, which contains a world-leading student design centre and an electromagnetic radiation laboratory.
- World-class Energy Research Centre - Waterloo opened its new Energy Research Centre in October which will support research and technology development in energy conversion. University of Waterloo professor Claudio Cañizares was appointed as the inaugural Hydro One Chair in Power Engineering
- Athletics Department Announced Football Education Initiatives - Waterloo's Athletics Department announced plans to build a sustainable football program that upholds the integrity and values expected of student-athletes competing for Waterloo. The football team was banned from competition in 2010-11 because of banned substance issues with the team.
Administrative Assistant
Last Updated: October 27, 2010
