Spring is a time of renewal, when people often make plans and set goals for the coming year.
This was certainly the case for the heads of the Canadian Council of Information Studies/Conseil Canadien des sciences de l’information (CCIS-CCSI) and the Directors of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), who met in Toronto from May 13-14.
Under the theme “CARL’s Workforce: Human Resources in CARL Libraries,” the joint meeting was intended to strengthen the relationship between the two communities, and to clarify the changing circumstances and settings in which they operate.
CARL represents Canada’s 29 largest university libraries, as well as two federal library institutions, while the CCIS-CCSI brings together the Deans and Directors of all the Canadian Library and Information Schools.
Outgoing CARL President Gerald Beasley gave opening remarks, followed by iSchool Dean and Professor, Seamus Ross, who provided the educational context for the meeting. Dr Ross described the current landscape for library schools, and spoke about the major issues facing such institutions. “We need to develop a values-based approach to library and information sciences education and professional practice,” he urged.
The rest of the day’s schedule was packed with other activities and discussions.
In the afternoon, the heads of the CCIS-CCSI convened separately at the iSchool. The group held a roundtable talk regarding the challenges facing member schools, and also brainstormed about new curricular directions for programs and courses. The vision, mission, and strategic objectives of the CCIS-CCSI were also key topics of conversation.
The discussion among the CCIS-CCSI heads continued at the iSchool the next morning.
The meeting lasted two whirlwind days, and the insights and sense of common purpose that it fostered among representatives of the CCIS-CCSI and the CARL will surely endure for the coming year and beyond.
