The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre has established an advisory committee to help guide its efforts with BC communities.
“I am looking forward to interesting and engaging discussions with our advisors. They represent an exciting cross section of education and community-based services,” says Sandra Singh, the Learning Centre’s Director. “As well, they bring diverse geographic and individual perspectives.”
The advisory committee, which features 25 members, will serve as a forum for discussion and consideration of the Learning Centre’s role and activities as it seeks to fulfill its wide-ranging Statement of Purpose (found at www.ikebarberlearningcentre.ubc.ca/about/charter.html).
Indeed, Singh is keen to expand the Centre’s community-oriented services. “We have an expansive and inspiring mandate in terms of supporting British Columbians, and we need to better understand what role we might play that does not duplicate existing services – such as those provided by public libraries, post-secondary institutions, and service centres or agencies – but rather enhances and supports them.”
The committee was established as a strategic point of connection between the Learning Centre, internal UBC stakeholders and the broader community. The committee is set to meet twice a year, with the inaugural gathering planned to take place this summer.
Community connections and the development of community-oriented services are vital to the Learning Centre’s mandate, as it strives to support lifelong learning opportunities for those at UBC and throughout the province.
In 2004, consultations were held across B.C. to find out what kinds of resources and services would best suit the Learning Centre’s wide range of users. Those results are now helping foster new discussions with the Advisory Committee and other community groups.
Here is a complete list of advisory committee members:
COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
Nancy Henderson, Executive Director, Social Policy and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC)
Sue Hanley, Coordinator, First Nations Technology Council
Marie Gallant, Executive Director, Community Futures British Columbia
Doug Chapman, General Manager, Financial Services, Campbell River
Paul Whitney, City Librarian, Vancouver Public Library (Co-chair, Learning City)
Nancy Levesque, University Library Director, Thompson Rivers University
Rory M. McIvor, Director, Community Futures Development Corporation of Okanagan Similkameen
Doug McLachlan, Senior Instructional Officer, Dean of Instruction, College of the Rockies
Baljit Sethi, Executive Director, Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society, Prince George
Eve Hope, Head Librarian, Hazelton District Public Library
Chris van der Mark, Assistant Superintendent, School District 54, Bulkley Valley
Andy Ackerman, Trustee, Fort St. John Public Library Board
President, British Columbia Library Trustees Association
UBC REPRESENTATIVES
Mrigank Sharma, VP Academic, Graduate Student Society, UBC
Johannes Rebane, VP Academic and University Affairs, Alma Mater Society, UBC
Ian Cavers, Associate Dean, Curriculum and Learning, Faculty of Science, UBC
Janet Giltrow, Associate Dean, Students, Faculty of Arts, UBC
Linc Kesler, Director and Senior Advisor to the President on Aboriginal Affairs, First Nations House of Learning, UBC
Michelle Lamberson, Director, Office of Learning Technology, UBC
Janet Teasdale, Director, Student Development, UBC
Jan Wallace, Head Librarian, David Lam Management Research Library, UBC
Marie Earl, Executive Director, Alumni Association, UBC
Judith Plessis, Director, Continuing Studies, UBC
Stephen Owen, Vice-President, External, Legal and Community Relations, UBC
Cynthia Mathieson, Acting Dean, Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, UBCO
Leonora Crema, Associate University Librarian, Planning and Community Relations, UBC
Ex officio: UBC University Librarian
Ex officio: Irving K. Barber
