Connecting with the Community: The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre Advisory Committee (posted June 22, 2009)

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