A Library System by any other name: what I learned from being a Regional Library Director in different provinces

Despite difference in structure, support, governance and administration, libraries everywhere are organic local institutions and library administrators as well as front end staff can benefit from each other’s experiences and pick up best practices from other jurisdictions.
In addition to highlighting public library structures in Alberta, with an emphasis of the structure of the Shortgrass Library System, made up of autonomous municipal libraries, and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013, the presentation will showcase differences between library systems in Nova Scotia and Alberta. In addition, the presentation will touch on cross-ministerial initiatives recently implemented with Medicine Hat College Library Services and Medicine Hat Public Library, such as a local One Community One Card initiative and an internship for a new graduate of an MLS program shared by all three organizations.
As current CEO of one of Alberta’s seven regional library systems and former Chief Librarian for a regional library in Nova Scotia, Petra Mauerhoff offers insights into the regional differences and shared challenges faced by public libraries.
 

Slides: 

APLA presentation Mauerhoff.pdf