LIBRARY
NEWS AND UPDATES
vol 1, no. 1 Spring/Summer 2008.
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In
this issue........
*Introduction*
*About the Library*
*Library History and Big ups*
*Get Your Library Membership!!*
*Check out the new library
space!*
*Callout for Buying
Recommendations, check out what we got last Fall*
*Summer Projects - Reading
Lists*
*Kids at the Library!*
Welcome!!
Hey everyone. Welcome to
a group list that will receive info about library news and updates, callouts
for ideas and help with library projects, for suggestions on how to improve the
space for kids and mobility accessibility, buying recommendations. If
you're receiving this email, it's because sometime in the last 2 years you've
borrowed stuff and/or filled out a membership form and given us this email to
contact you about the library. Or, it's because you're in current working group
at QPIRG and this is the working group email we have for you.
"Library updates" is
new, and will be happening at the very most 3-4x per year.
If you would like to be removed
from this list, please send me an email at library@qpirgconcordia.org. It won?t affect your actual
library membership or anything else, only ensure that you no longer receive
this mass email.
About the
Library
To check out the official
library mandate that was put in place in 2005, along with any other general
info about what the library does, go to
http://qpirgconcordia.org/Sections-article1-p1.phtml
Please note that our collection
of books, videos, dvds,
audio-cassettes and zines is
currently online at
http://www.alternativelibraries.org/
It is generally searchable by
subject field in the left column, or by title keyword, or author's name in the
main column to the right. This collection is jointly shared with the
collections at the 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy and QPIRG McGill.
Library
History and Big Ups
The Library was kicking around
QPIRG since its days on 2130 MacKay. It was powered by the tireless efforts of
volunteers including former board members who were deeply committed to it, such
as Dave Battistuzzi who continued to develop it past it's move to 1420
Sherbrooke St. Like the current mandate, membership system, signage,
buying guidelines and call-number classification system that makes our library
even easier to understand and use, alternativelibraries.org began in 2005 with
the vision, dedication and hard work of just a few people, including the first
paid library coordinator at QPIRG Concordia, Lili Dao.
Library
Memberships
Did you know the QPIRG Library
has a membership system? Although anyone can come in and use the
library, and borrow stuff with a valid phone number or email address, the
benefit of actually taking a few minutes to become a "library member"
is that a membership number is assigned to your name. That way, in the
sign out book which is full public access, you can write your membership number
instead of your name for more privacy.
To take out a library membership,
drop by QPIRG Mon to Thu 2 to 6 pm, or email me here at library@qpirgconcordia.org with your name, phone number and
email and the same info for a reference person. I'll email you your
membership number.
Library
Space
The physical space of the
library changed in September 2007. The main idea was to put more things
on lower shelves, change the lighting away from fluorescents, add a computer
for general space use, and keep as many paths in the library more than 30"
wide. The second main idea was to make our zine collection more visible
and enticing, and showcase our a/v collection of over 60 titles....If you
haven't seen it recently, drop by to take a look, see our recent titles and a/v
collection, and see if anything hits you about how we can continue to improve
the physical accessibility of the space as well as its usefulness as a kids
room.
NEW
Purchases.....What do you recommend?
The library has a small budget
and generally makes bulk purchases two to three times per year.
Check out this
location
http://www.qpirgconcordia.org/Sections-article12-p1.phtm
for a list of what was bought
or donated to us in the Fall. We're one week away from the last buy
for the year (i.e.before September), please do recommend something you'd like
to see in the library next
Fall!
***NEW***
The minutes of the Board of
Directors at QPIRG Concordia are an important community tool for some
information on what goes down at QPIRG. Copies of minutes will now be
made and added to the library, possibly on a yearly basis. MINUTES OF QPIRG'S
BOARD FROM SEPTEMBER 2007 TO MAY 15, 2008 ARE NOW BOUND AND IN THE LIBRARY
AVAILABLE FOR LENDING. Call numbers are ACT QPI 2007 and ACT QPI 2008,
and they are in the "oversize" section next to the kids corner.
***NEW***
Unknown to many, the library
currently has over 200 graphically interesting, independently made, radical
zines! We're currently working on getting all of them uploaded to the
database, so you can see at a quick glance what we've got. WE'RE HALFWAY DONE SO CHECK OUT 'ZINES' AT
ALTERNATIVELIBRARIES.ORG TO SEE SOME OF THESE TITLES!
Ditto for the a/v collection:
we've currently got over 60 a/v items comprising videos, dvds, and
audio-cassettes. THESE ARE NOW FULLY ONLINE! In the library itself,
there is also a binder of all of these, alphabetized with brief descriptions
for easy browsing.
From
alternativelibraries.org, on the left hand side where it lists subjects, click
on 'audio-visual' for a complete listing of a/v material, regardless of subject
matter. Same for Zines at the bottom of the subject list: click on
'zines' for a complete listing of all zines and booklets, regardless of subject
matter.
Library
Projects – Summer Reading Lists
Reading lists were suggested by
a few folks as a new library project that could be ongoing. These were
suggestions to draft up annotated bibliographies that would be useful for a
particular topic. If some of the material isn't in the QPIRG Library, it
could be accessed elsewhere and copied as part of the reading list.
Two reading lists/annotated
bibliographies are in the works this summer: one on negotiating settler
privilege among non-Native people of Colour in regard to solidarity with local
Indigenous people, and the other on mental health and activism. Any
suggestions for stuff to read, videos to watch, awesome graphic work to
reference, relevant websites, that you think would be appropriate for these
would be greatly, warmly appreciated.
Kids at
the Library
We are currently working on
getting mobile foam flooring and mats, new kids books, and toys and crafts for
the library. If there is something that strikes you about how we can make
the library space even more kids and childcare-worker friendly, drop a line to library@qpirgconcordia.org.
Thanks for making it to the end
of this update. Have a good summer and let's stay in touch!
Peace and well wishes
Links:
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[1] http://qpirgconcordia.org/Sections-article1-p1.phtml
[2] http://www.qpirgconcordia.org/Sections-article12-p1.phtml