Library Update - Spring 2012
Library
- Strategic Library Review – The Library launched a strategic Library Review in the fall of 2011, which is coinciding with the University’s mid-cycle review. Working groups consisting of library staff and individuals from across campus are currently conducting self-studies on the topics of Advancing Research and Scholarship, Enabling Student Success, New Skills for New Times, and New Spaces for New Times. The internal review is expected to wrap up in late spring and will be followed by an external review during the summer of 2012.
- ARL E-Science Institute - The Library participated in the Association of Research Libraries’ (ARL) E-Science Institute, which held its capstone event in January. Librarians Jennifer Haas, Kathy Szigeti, and Pascal Calarco worked with Professor Dr. Ellsworth LeDrew and his Information Services and Science Manager Julie Fridell to investigate the needs of faculty and students in e-science and e-research at Waterloo.
- Primo Central – After an 8-month trial and extensive usability testing, the Library has initiated a subscription to the web-scale index Primo Central, to be soft-launched in May.
- Library Update – The Library published its latest Library Update in February. This publication provides an overview of the Library's current activities and initiatives and includes articles on the Library’s strategic review, current and upcoming renovation projects, involvement in the Association of Research Libraries' eScience Institute, and more.
- New Spaces -
- The Warren and Mary Ober Group Study Rooms – The Warren and Mary Ober Group Study Rooms opened this April. Located on the 10th floor of the Dana Porter Library, these study rooms incorporate accessibility and universal design principles to create a welcoming and efficient study space for students.
- The Geospatial Centre – The Library’s University Map Library is relocating to the 3rd floor of the Dana Porter Library and will open its doors as the Geospatial Centre at the beginning of May. The Geospatial Centre will house cartographic material such as geospatial data, maps, air photos and will include an increased number of GIS workstations.
- Dana Porter 6th Floor Renovation – Preparations have begun for a complete renovation of the Dana Porter Library’s 6th floor. A $100,000 gift from Elise Devitt will contribute to this renovation which will include the creation of the James and Elise Devitt Group Study Room. The renovation will reflect recommendations from a recent assessment of the Library that will set the standard for changes to additional floors in the future.
- 10th IFLA International Marketing Award – The Library placed second in the 10th IFLA International Marketing Award competition in recognition of its successful buttons campaign. The first and third place winners were Tsinghua University Library and Kosteneevo Rural Library respectively.
- New Books by Waterloo Librarians - Librarians Susan Mavor and Eva Dodsworth have both authored new books on topics that celebrate their respective passions for local history and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Mavor’s book “Westmount – The Tie that Binds the Twin Cities: An Illustrated History of Westmount’s 100 Years” tells the story of one of the region’s most interesting and attractive residential neighbourhoods from its origins in 1912 to the present day. Dodworth’s book “Getting Started with GIS: A LITA Guide” is a how-to manual for librarians and others interested in learning how to use GIS technologies.
- Ingrid Thomson - The Library hosted Ingrid Thomson, a South Africian librarian visiting as part of a grant program funded by the Andrew Carnegie Corporation that places mid-career academic librarians from South Africa in short-term visiting positions at ARL member libraries.
University
- Mid-cycle Review - The University's mid-cycle review of the University’s Sixth Decade Plan continues and priorities are beginning to emerge after extensive consultation with stakeholders. The purpose of the review is for the University community to consider its ambitious goals set out in 2006, reflect on its accomplishments, realign the plan, and introduce an accountability framework with action plans and progress outcomes.
- Changes in Top Management -
- Sallie Ann Keller has been appointed Vice-President Academic & Provost for an initial term ending June 30, 2017. Keller is currently the director of the Institute for Defense Analyses Science and Technology Policy Institute, a government-funded research and development centre in Washington, D.C.
- Pearl Sullivan has been appointed the Dean of Engineering for an initial term ending June 30, 2017. Sullivan was previously the Chair of the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at Waterloo.
- Logan Atkinson has been appointed as University Secretary effective July 1, 2012. Atkinson is a former University Secretary at Carleton University in Ottawa and currently an Associate Professor in Carleton’s Department of Law.
- Chris Read has been appointed as Waterloo’s new Associate Provost, Students, following an international search. Read has been the director of the University’s housing and residences operation since 2006 and has held numerous other leadership positions across campus since arriving at Waterloo in 1999.
- Tim Jackson has been appointed as Vice-President, University Relations, effective May 1. He has filled the role of Vice-President, External Relations on an interim basis since last June.
- Kenneth McGillivray has been appointed as the University’s new Vice-President, Advancement. He comes to Waterloo from his current role of Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at the University of Southern California.
- $21 Million Gift from Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis - Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis have pledged $21 million to science and mathematics faculties at Waterloo. Including this gift, their donations to the University exceed $123 million. Previous donations include $102.5 million to establish the Institute for Quantum Computing in the Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum Nano Centre.
- Congress 2012 – Waterloo will co-host Congress 2012 of the Humanities and Social Sciences with Wilfrid Laurier University from May 26-June2. The conference is expected to attract more than 7,500 delegates from across Canada.
- Michel Gingras Awarded Killam Fellowship – The Canada Council for the Arts awarded a Killam Research Fellowship to Waterloo Physics Professor Michel Gingras. The fellowship will support Gingras' research in the area of highly frustrated magnetic materials.
- Waterloo Awarded Six Canada Research Chairs – Six Waterloo researchers were awarded a total of $7.5-million to pursue projects ranging from alternative energy storage to improved interactive audio. The latest round of funding for Canada Research Chairs puts Waterloo in the top five research universities across the country.
- School of Public Health and Health Systems – Waterloo launched its School of Public Health and Health Systems this April. The school will train “a new generation of leaders, researchers, and change agents, adept at thinking and responding to the complex adaptive systems that affect health and health care.”
- Periodic Table Project – A creative 25 x 18 wall mural of the Periodic Table of Elements was unveiled at Waterloo in April. Created to mark the International Year of Chemistry, the Chem 13 News Periodic Table features artistic interpretations of the elements in the periodic table created by students from around the world. 3M Canada manufactured the large wall mural and funded the development of electronic applications for the project. In 2006, 3M Canada also made a $1 million dollar gift-in-kind to the University of Waterloo Library to assist the Library with the implementation of its RFID inventory and security system.
- Academic Integrity Campaign – Waterloo launched an academic integrity campaign featuring the slogan “work. study. play. with integrity.” to help reinforce integrity as a central value for students and others at Waterloo. The campaign has received media attention by CBC and its messaging is being actively reinforced by departments and units across campus.
Administrative Assistant
Last Updated: April 17, 2012
