Archive for September, 2012

NOMINATION OF AFRIAMSLIC CHAIRPERSON AND SECRETARY

To all Members of Africa Regional Group of  IAMSLIC.

Last year during 37th IAMSLIC Conference and 5th AFRIAMSLIC conference it was agreed that we hold elections during the ODINAFRICA workshop, where at least 25 members of the group will be arround. The information was communicated to all members in November 2011 via our mailing list. Now the ODIN MIM are meeting in Nairobi and we are holding a back to back meeting with AFRIAMSLIC. Kindly send in your nominations for people you would like to be chairpeson or secretary to the group. Elections will be held on Friday noon East Africa Time.

Please feel  free to send in your comments.

Submitted by

 

Edna A. Nyika

Outgoing Chairperson

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Call for voluneers to join a Task Force on the IODE initiative for establishement of a joint IAMSLIC-IODE Group of Experts on Marine Information Management (IAMSLIC/IODE GE-MIM)

 Dear colleagues, 

At the First IAMSLIC Business Meeting in Anchorage Mr. Peter Pissierssens, Head of the IOC Project Office for IODE, and Ms. Linda Pikula, Chair of the GE-MIM, presented a proposal for the establishment of a joint IAMSLIC-IODE Group of Experts on Marine Information Management (IAMSLIC/IODE GE-MIM). As stated in the proposal, through the establishment of the group the following mutual benefits can be achieved:

 -          IAMSLIC will have access to high-level policy makers at the national level to communicate needs and priorities of marine librarians;

-          IAMSLIC will be able to connect with IODE national coordinators for marine information management who are currently not IAMSLIC members;

-          IODE will have direct access to a global marine librarian community;

-          IAMSLIC and IODE will have a joint mechanism to develop and implement global marine information management services and products;

-          IAMSLIC will be able to raise its international profile through the participation of IOC and its IODE in international events.

 The full text of the proposal can be found in the Section for the Committee on IOC-IAMSLIC MoU on the IAMSLIC website: http://www.iamslic.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/proposal-joint-iamslic-iode-gemim.pdf .

 The proposal was briefly discussed at the Second Business Meeting and a decision was made to appoint a task force to further discuss this initiative and come out with recommendations for the Executive Board. We are now looking for volunteers from all regional groups who would like to be a part of the task force group and is prepared to actively contribute to the discussion. Please let me know by Friday, September 21st, if you are interested to join the group.

 Thank you and best regards,

 Maria Kalentsits

IAMSLIC President

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Friday, August 31, 2012: Final Day

Well, for the diehards, Friday was the fabulous field trip to the Portage Glacier. I suspect that the tours are scheduled on the following Friday rather than the preceding Saturday to get us all to stay a bit longer.  Thursday’s presentations & business meeting were a bit thinly attended.

But we did get to sleep in a bit on Friday though not much longer as the lovely breakfast buffet still closed down at 9 am.  I successfully slept in until 730 am rather than my usual 530 am.  Was very nice.  The 21 adventurers gathered in the hotel lobby to once again board the Magic Bus (truly the name of the tour company) with driver Steve who was with us for most of our excursions.  We took the Seward Highway down along the Turnagain Arm looking once more for beluga whales and dall sheep.  A few more clouds and a bit of rain didn’t dampen our spirits.

The first stop was Mt Alyeska with a tram ride to the top of the mountain for spectacular views of 7 glaciers.  We got to share the Glacier Express restaurant with a group of junior high school students who had trekked up the mountain rather than riding the tram.  They take physical education very seriously in Alaska.  Some of the boys in the group we suspect were daring each other to talk to Sally T.  The reindeer sausage combo seemed to be the most popular choice among our group, but others may chime in with their choices. Back down on the tram, we wandered about the Hotel Alyeska for a bit before boarding the bus to our next stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  Bison & Muskox & Bears, oh my.  Plains bison, wood bison, muskox, elk, caribou, baby moose, brown & black bears, eagles, owls & (my favorite) lynx.  We all got some good pictures of the wildlife and the caribou entertained us by having a bit of a tussle, locking antlers and all that.

Onward to a surprise stop at a salmon spawning area with sockeye (red) and chum (dog) fighting over spaces for redds (nests).  The sockeye were brilliant red, showing off their spawning colors. Several of the chum were quite brilliant with strips of different colors. Of course, there was also a fantastic view of a hanging glacier.

Sweeping down the road to Portage Glacier, we took a slight detour to a scenic point overlooking the lake for a couple of photos.  The wind and rain were not relenting.  We arrived at the boat landing to find a welcoming espresso stand inside where we lined up for stimulating hand warmers.  The warmth didn’t last as we were lashed by rain as we boarded the boat for the 1 hour tour.  The captain & crew drew out the suspense by taking us the long way round the lake while a Forest Ranger (not a Park Ranger) told us about the natural history of the lake and surrounding areas.   After about 5 minutes the cabin was feeling a bit stuffy, so I headed up to the top deck which I was surprised to have to myself. There were speakers upstairs as well, so I could hear the lecture quite clearly.  Finally, we approached Portage Glacier. And I know exactly the range of colors meant by ‘glacier blue’. Spectacular.  Folks finally began to brave the uncovered upper deck to get better pictures of the glacier to preserve this awesome sight for future generations. Receding at 100 yards per year, the Portage Glacier is swiftly disappearing.  We were also lucky enough to see calving as a large chunk fell off the face of the glacier. Not large enough to create a wave to rock the boat, but still quite a sight.  After passing in front of the glacier a few times, the captain took us back to the dock.  On the way, we learned that there are critters on the glacier ice.  Ice worms are small black worms that thrive in temperatures between 32 & 34 degrees fahrenheit. Touching them with bare hands will kill them from thermal shock.

Boarding the Magic Bus for the return trip, most of us were quite wet from the experience.   After we were dropped at the hotel, a smaller group headed out for dinner at (where else), the Glacier Brewhouse.  Based on the number of folks crowding the tables and bar, this restaurant is THE place to eat in Anchorage.

Once more we all bid farewell until next year in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Do you really want to miss out on the stories and adventures that await at these conferences? There’s nothing like seeing a glacier with your own eyes!

Lenora
StreamNet Regional Librarian
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
http://www.streamnetlibrary.org

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Thursday, August 30, 2012: Fifth Day

Beginning our final day of presentations, the Aquatic Commons Board briefly addressed the group on various aspects of the project and then in conjunction with Helen Wibley from ASFA, formed a panel to answer questions about participation and future direction of the Aquatic Commons.

Next up was Nancy Kraft and Linda Pikula to present on a preservation project for marine documents in a library in Vietnam.  There are some rare materials in need of conservation & digitization in the collection. Ms Kraft & Ms Pikula went on a mission to help the Vietnamese librarians come up with practical and affordable ways to preserve the collections in a marine environment with very little climate control.

After a break, the 2nd IAMSLIC business meeting was called to order. The Guin Auction earnings were announced followed by election results.  Junior President is Guillermina Cosulich from INIDEP in Argentina.   I was elected treasurer.  Thank you for your confidence in my abilities.  The meeting then moved into a discussion of the new IODE proposal to form a group of experts.  The group voted to form a task force to investigate the proposal and come up with ideas for how the joint venture could benefit both groups.  The discussion was a bit out of control, but eventually we all settled down and with no other new business, we moved on to the presentation by the next host, Jaime Goldman at Nova Southeastern University in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.  Dates are October 20-25th, 2013.  The 2014 site was announced as New Caledonia in coordination with the Pacific Islands Regional Group (PIRG).

Our free afternoon was spent shopping in various tourist traps for souvenirs to take home to loved ones, eating light lunches and talking to friends as fast as possible as we knew our time together was drawing to a close.  There were some who chose to take in other sites such as the Anchorage Museum, or hike in Earthquake Park rather than wander downtown Anchorage in the hope that meant better hotel shuttle service, only to be disappointed again.

 

Lenora
StreamNet Regional Library
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
http://www.streamnetlibrary.org

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012 : Fourth Day

After a late night return from the Seward, we were all running on fumes for the Wednesday morning early start.  Library Dean Steve Rollins addressed the group as a reschedule from Monday morning.

We discussed engaging new audiences, but we all looked like the same audience that has been here all week.  HAHAHA.   But seriously, the opening field of data curatorship is ripe for the help of librarians to organize, publicize and help patrons learn to repurpose data. Data is the new currency.  If libraries can become repositories for not just documents, but complete data sets, we’ll be rich. Once more we learned of the cutting edge work taking place at the Biodiversity Heritage Library & Encyclopedia of Life.  We then learned the important questions to ask when conducting a data interview with patrons looking of for our help in storing data sets.  Finally, we talked about how we can help patrons cite data and publish data sets with DOI’s embeddded in publications.  After a short break, the panel of experts convened to answer more questions from the audience about using our skills to help patrons with their data sets.

During lunch folks gathered at the Guin Auction tables to put in bids, but we extended the deadline for bidding until 1:40 pm after the PM break.

After lunch, we had brief presentations on the various posters submitted for members.  We then all walked out to view the posters and talk to the authors directly.  This segued into our PM break.  During the last few minutes of bidding at the Guin Auction, we had some rough and tumble bidding going on.  Lots of last minute bids on the very desirable items.

Following the PM break, we were given presentations by our vendors/sponsors.  Inter-Research was represented by Ian Stewart and Thomson Reuters was represented by Kristen Culp.  We love our sponsors and hope to see them all in Fort Lauderdale, Florida next year.  Their generosity and input into the program are very much appreciated.

In the meantime, assisted by Jen Walton, I gathered up all the Guin Auction items and sorted them into winning bid piles.  Just about everyone got something.  We had over 80 items this year and earned $1220 for the Guin Fund.  Again, thanks to all the members for the donation of auction items and for their generous bids and donations.

While this was going on, the Green Flash was ably moderated by Kristen LaBonte.  Lots of topics this year. I did make the session in time to see the 2009 Antarctic film winner “Legend of the Golden Roll”.  For those who attended the Belgium conference, you’ll remember this hilarious short film about retrieving toilet paper from an ice cave in Antarctica.

Ending a bit early, we all hurried out to get back to the hotel to change (or not) for the evening banquet at the Hotel Captain Cook.  Cook Inlet is the large body of water named for Captain Cook who spent quite some time looking for the Northwest Passage.

The group gathered in the lobby of the hotel and boarded the Magic Bus (our favorite form of transport as it was much more reliable and friendly than the hotel shuttle). Anyway, we arrived at the hotel and did not realize there were 3 separate towers in the hotel.  We were supposed to be in the Quarterdeck Restaurant on the top floor of tower 1.  Drifting around, the herd wandered until we found a set of likely elevators.  Well, these were the tower 3 elevators.  A brief tour of the tower 3 top floor proved fruitless, so we elevatored back down to the main floor to wander again only to find Daria & Celia waiting at the bank of tower 1 elevators to direct us to the proper location.  Mesmerized by the view, we walked in a daze to the tables and continued to stare at Cook Inlet and the various mountain ranges.  Transfixed by the play of sun & cloud, we buzzed with talk of the conference, personal stories and various small talk until the buffet was finally opened.  Once again, our palates were amazed with tasty dishes including halibut, chicken, vegetarian lasagna, new potatoes and a variety of salads. The dessert portion was beautifully displayed with a wide variety of tarts, cakes & fresh fruit.  Dinner was initially accompanied by lovely classical guitar.

However, the best part of the evening was Dr Leslie Cornick talking about the endangered beluga whales of Cook Inlet.  We were regaled with biology, tales of the endangered species act, habitat modification.  We were a bit disappointed that she didn’t have her sound file loaded so we could listen to beluga whale acoustics, but here’s YouTube video of Beethoven demonstrating sounds at the Point Defiance Zoo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvsvcnzFy-g  or here’s a sound file from National Geographic: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/beluga-whale/  I would have loved to have Dr Cornick continue. Her passion for these animals was contagious.

Finally, the dinner ended and the accordion player was set up to continue the evening with dancing and other sorts of frolic. Those of us not fully recovered from the previous late night hobbled off to find the return bus to the hotel to drop into our beds and sleep.

 

Lenora
StreamNet Regional Librarian
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission
http://www.streamnetlibrary.org

 

 

 

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