Teslin Public Library to re-open

The Teslin Public Library has been closed since early Dec. 2008 due to mould.  According to a Government of Yukon news release, the library will be re-located to another building in Teslin (former Nisutlin Trading Post building) and will open in April.  After months without their library, I am sure Teslin residents are very happy about this!

OLA-SC … day one

I am at the Ontario Library Association’s Superconference today, after a full day Partnership meeting yesterday.  Lots and lots of snow (snowfall warning!) here today, kinda feels like I am home … but warmer …

Millenials

I am finding the discussions about millenials in today’s work world very interesting.  Are they really that different from me?  Apparently I am part of  “Generation X”, those born between 1950s/60s and the early to mid 1980s, (depending on the defintion used), but I really don’t see that much difference between myself and those we classify as “Generation Y”, those born between1974 to 1982 (again, depending on the definition used) and 2000.

Yes, there are obvious differences … Generation Y are digital natives and haven’t had the same experiences of life as those of us who are Gen X or boomers.  But, in the work sphere, we really aren’t very different. We all want to be respected, would like flexible work options, and are more engaged when we are challenged.

For example, I have found that all demographic groups desire greater flexibility/options with their work hours.  From the young mother who wants to have more time with her children, to the the mid-career employee who wants more time to pursue their passions (shorter work days so they will have more time to ski or kayak and options for unpaid personal leave so they can enjoy more travel)  to the close to retirement employee who wants to travel more and continue to actively participate in the work world … the same flexibility is desired.  While I have given the above examples by the age of employees, the examples aren’t limited by age-groups.  We really aren’t that different.

This time my question for you is:   is dividing us up into age-based groups and then allowing each demographic group to define (or limit) these groups by life experiences and desires any different from the statement “when I was your age I had to walk 5 miles to school … uphill both ways”?  Things are always changing, we have all lived through change. The pace of change is always changing.  What do you think?

What does work-life balance mean to you?

I have been researching the concept of work-life balance, and am a bit surprised by what I am finding.  I have always thought of work-life balance as balancing work (job) with my life outside of work (the things I must do and the things I like to do outside of work: my passions, and family).  What I am finding in the literature is many discussions of work (job) and life (only family) … no mention of passions, or what people do to recharge their batteries.  Hmm.

Basically, it seems as if the concept of “work-life” balance is recognized as balancing the demands of work with the demands of family.  I guess this surprises me because, while it is very important to balance those two spheres, one could spend all their time working at their job and on family responsibilities yet have no true balance in their lives.

One way of looking at this discrepancy could be that work-life balance is being defined as time management and not true balance.  The majority of people are trying to manage the demands on their time.  Everyone has lots of demands on their time: partner/spouse, children, parents, extended families, friends, work (the need to make a living and the requirement to do one’s job effectively while doing more with less), and more.

For me, work-life balance means balancing my work life (which I both love and need) and my outside of work life (the things I must do and my passions)…. far more than only work and family.

So, my question is, what does work-life balance mean to you?

Just too cold out … for too long

What can I say, between the holidays and the cold weather (-40C right now), I just haven’t been motivated to write. My apologies. Happy New Year!

Teslin Public Library temporarily closed

CBC Radio in Whitehorse reported this morning on the 7:30am newscast that the Teslin Public Library is temporarily closed. During the closure the mould will be cleaned up.  Hopefully the clean-up works! See OHS Canada for more information.

Follow-up: Yukon library and mould

More details.  The village wanted the Teslin Public Library to leave the building so the village could demolish the building, but … the plot thickens … the library board, the Yukon government, the village, and occupational health and safety are all trying to figure this out. See CBC for more details.

Yukon library and mould

Controversy for the Teslin Public Library in Yukon.  Mould (or “mold” for my American neighbours) is living in the basement of the building that houses the public library in the hamlet of Teslin.  While 2 other businesses have left the building to escape the mould, the public library is still open in the mould affected building.  CBC has more. The librarian has complained of ongoing headaches and fatigue.  And, on the radio this morning I heard that the Yukon Legislature was discussing this issue yesterday, and there is talk of temporarily closing the library down.  Looks like there will be updates to this story….

Yukon Library Association (YLA)

YLA has been trying out a wiki, an e-mail list, and a facebook group for our communication needs, and it looks like the wiki is the preferred method for YLA members.  I am very happy YLA is becoming more active.  As Yukon has such a small population (approx. 33,000) and is geographically remote (approx. 2000 km from Edmonton, AB), it is important that we work together and share resources and knowledge with each other.

Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute (NELI 10)

“The tenth Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute (NELI) will be held in Emerald Lake, British Columbia, from  February 26 – March 3, 2009.

The Institute’s mission is to assist professional librarians to develop, strengthen, and exercise their leadership skills so that they may be better equipped to formulate, articulate, and achieve the future changes required by libraries into the 21st century.”

As a past NELI participant, I know first-had what a wonderful experiential learning experience NELI provides for newish Canadian librarians (2-7 years of professional experience).   If you know an early career Canadian librarian who is enthusiastic, passionate, and knowledgeable about librarianship, please consider nominating him/her for NELI 10.  I credit NELI for keeping my enthusiasm for librarianship alive and well, despite my remote location and minimal professional colleagues in the Yukon (so few people in the Yukon, it is no surprise that there aren’t many librarians here).

For full details, go to: http://www.ls.ualberta.ca/neli/index.html