Don't worry, be happy – that’s the message public libraries in Nova Scotia are getting from politicos about the upcoming blended GST/PST (or BST) on books and magazines. The unofficial word is that some kind ... Read More »

Many librarians promote a shift from the bricks-and-mortar library to the electronic library. But as yet, we don’t know how to build a library in cyberspace, and we don’t know how library users will interact ... Read More »

Imagine that your library director has walked into your office and ordered you to dispose of the institution’s special collections. A grim and desperate scenario? Not likely to occur in your library? Wake up – ... Read More »

Recently there has been much concern expressed about the impact of superstores on smaller, independent booksellers. However I haven’t seen any mention of their possible impact on libraries. The first time I walked into one ... Read More »

Seven years of service with the Canadian Library Association gives me the distinction of being the third-longest serving executive director in the 50-year history of CLA, and the fact that one person – Elizabeth Morton ... Read More »

I once read an article on the myth of rational decision-making in higher education. The thrust of the article was not that we make bad or good decisions, but that we do what we want ... Read More »

Those who practice continuous learning are in and those who don’t are out. This is a frequent refrain these days when we talk about changes in the workplace. Some of us are more comfortable thinking ... Read More »

In preparing this short statement on copyright, I should start with my biases. I confess to the following: I’m a librarian concerned with equitable access to copyrighted material and the need for a strong creative ... Read More »

We call them “The Regulars.” They huddle outside the library entrance while the staff boot the terminals, stick the morning newspapers on rods, and share the first banter of the day before the door is ... Read More »

Why are so few people of African descent drawn to Canadian librarianship? That’s a question I ask myself every once in a while. Some of the reasons I can guess at – institutional discrimination, lack ... Read More »