Greater Edmonton Library Association

GELA Memberships: Time to Join or Renew!

Thank you to all current and former members of GELA. We have appreciated your membership and hope you consider renewing for 2020/2021. Your participation allows GELA to offer valuable programming and networking opportunities as well as the ability to advocate for and facilitate literacy and skills-based programming in correctional institutions.

We recognized that our community was experiencing much upheaval at the end of our membership year (March 31), so the GELA Exec decided not to solicit membership renewals at the height of the pandemic. However, with the upcoming virtual GELA AGM (currently scheduled for Thursday, October 15) and other planned events in the fall, we are now looking for members for the rest of the association year. 

Please visit the membership page on our website where you can pay online via PayPal or by cheque mailed with the completed membership form. 

GELA 2019-2020 Executive & Board Reports

The GELA 2019-2020 Executive Board Reports are now available for viewing.

Please email gelaedmonton@gmail.com if you have queries about anything in these reports.

We look forward to seeing you at our AGM later in 2020.

GELA AGM Postponed to Fall 2020

Thank you for being a GELA member this past year, we truly couldn’t do anything without you and your continued support! 

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and with an eye to the health and safety of our members, your GELA executive has decided to postpone GELA’s AGM until sometime in the Fall. Because of this, any current GELA Executive members whose terms would have been up at the end of our membership year will remain on the executive until we can hold our AGM and bring new executive members on board. If you were hoping to be on the executive for this new GELA year, please watch for a call for executive members in the Fall. 

While we need to postpone our AGM, we still want to update you on everything that GELA did this past year, so we will be sending you the written reports that would normally go along with the AGM – watch for it at the end of April. Please note that because the year-end financial statement needs to be given in-person, it will have to wait until the AGM, but there will still be a financial overview in the Treasurer’s written report. 

As we embark on our next year, GELA looks forward to continuing to bring our information community closer together by engaging the professionals in our field with students and newly graduated professionals to share knowledge and excitement for what we do, even in trying times. 

We hope that you are all keeping well and taking care of yourselves in the new circumstances we’ve all found ourselves in.

NAHLA-GELA Resume Writing Workshop – Mar 4, 2020

The Greater Edmonton Library Association (GELA) in partnership with the Northern Alberta Health Libraries Association (NAHLA) will be offering a Resume Writing Workshop to assist local students, new graduates, and professionals to improve their resumes. The event is free to attend for GELA and NAHLA members. Memberships can be obtained at the event.

Where: EPL Strathcona Branch Program Room
Date: March 4th, 2020
Time: 6:30-8:30pm (please arrive by 6:20pm)
Food: Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.

Workshop attendees will rotate between three optional stations: 

• Have your resume reviewed by an experienced professional 
  • Note: Please submit a sample resume in advance via the RSVP form, and bring a paper copy with you to the workshop
• Engage with other attendees about their experiences 
• Review resume tips and materials

We are also looking for library and information professionals to act as resume reviewers. We welcome resume reviewers of all experience levels, though hiring experience is appreciated. 

To attend this resume-focused evening and have your resume reviewed or to volunteer as a resume reviewer, please RSVP by Friday, Feb 28.

Please email gelaedmonton@gmail.com with any questions.

GELA prison project orientation – Jan 30, 2020

The next Greater Edmonton Library Association (GELA) Prison Libraries Project orientation has been scheduled. We ask all potential volunteers to attend an orientation session. Current volunteers are also always welcome!

When: Thursday January 30,  7-8pm
Where: Room LB-13, Coutts Education Library (Basement), U of A

The session will provide you with a perspective on what it’s like to volunteer with us, as well as some of the challenges and opportunities inherent in the work we do. What will be covered:

1. GELA prison project’s history and ethos
2. Current activities and programs
3. Potential volunteer opportunities

*Note: If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Jan 27, 2020 via email to gelaprisonproject@gmail.com. If there are not enough attendees to run the session, it will be postponed. We offer this orientation every few months.

GELA Prison Committee Indigo eGift Card Fundraiser

The GELA Prison Project is continuing a successful fundraiser from last year with Indigo Books.  When you Buy an Indigo e-Gift Card through our fundraising page, 20% of your purchase is donated to the GELA Prison Project!  What a great way to start your Christmas shopping and supporting a great cause at the same time.

The funds raised through this initiative goes towards enabling our Storytime Project, in which inmates are recorded reading storybooks, and then a copy of the recording and the book itself are sent to their children. We are 100% volunteer run and funded, and we are grateful for every donation big and small. Thanks so much for your support!

GELA Speed Networking!

The Greater Edmonton Library Association (GELA) invites students, new graduates, and other interested community members to sign up for our Fall 2019 Speed Networking event.

DATE: Wednesday, November 6th, 2019
TIME: 6:00pm-8:00pm
LOCATION: Program Room, EPL Strathcona Branch (8331 104 St NW).

Mix and mingle with experienced library and information professionals, invited from public libraries, academic libraries, special libraries and more. This is your opportunity to ask them about their daily work, their professional interests and priorities, or their career paths. You might discover aspects of the library and information field you’d never considered!

Our goal is to encourage connections and dialogue between experienced LIS professionals and students/new graduates/emerging community members. The event will be set up with professionals at tables and attendees rotating at 15 minute intervals. There will be icebreaker questions to get discussions started. Light refreshments will be provided. 

We have space for up to 35 participants. If you’d like to attend please submit the RSVP form by Monday, November 4th, 2019.
Please email gelaedmonton@gmail.com if you have any questions.

GELA Walking Tour and Dinner

Join us for a walking tour of NorQuest College’s – Singhmar Centre for Learning, followed by dinner!

The tour starts at 5:30, and dinner at 6:30. Meet in 2-180, on the second floor of the Learning Centre.

After the tour, we will walk to a cafe / restaurant, as yet TBD. Optional RSVP here: https://forms.gle/TGjzvmUvjwr9Nah79

Call for LIS Professionals for 2019 Speed Networking Event

Seeking LIS professionals to participate in GELA’s Fall 2019 Speed Networking Event scheduled for Wednesday, November 6th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm, at EPL’s Strathcona Branch (8331 104 St NW). 

Our goal is to encourage connections and dialogue between experienced LIS professionals and students/new graduates/emerging community members.

Sign up to share your experience and provide guidance to emerging LIS professionals. What does day at work look like for you? What are your research interests and goals? What interesting projects are you engaged in?

LIS professionals will meet attendees who will move between tables at 15 minute intervals. There will be icebreaker questions to get discussions started, and light refreshments will be provided.

Please let us know if you’re interested in participating by completing our GELA Speed Networking Sign-up form.

Annual GELA Student Mixer

Mid-terms are over, and there’s still reading week to come…time for some fun! Join us for GELA’s annual student mixer.

Date: October 17 (Thursday)

Time: 5.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Location: GRETA 10141 109 St /  www.gretabar.com/yeg

Please note, this is a Student-only event. 🙂