Northern Alberta Health Libraries Association
TRENDS Mini-Conference

"Teaching, Research, Education, 'Nowledge, Direction, Strength"

NAHLA is delighted to announce its second TRENDS Mini-Conference! Below you will find details for the conference and registration procedures. We look forward to seeing you at the conference!

We gratefully acknowledge the Edmonton Public Library as the co-sponsor of this event!

TRENDS Sessions:

Designing Effective Questionnaires: Techniques for Health Sciences Librarians (1-2 pm)

This session will explore strategies for effective questionnaire design, including issues related to layout, question selection, and preparation for data analysis. Related topics, such as enhancing response rates and practical tips for data management, will also be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to critique and revise an existing questionnaire.

Lisa M. Given is an Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alberta. She teaches graduate-level courses in research methods, web design, indexing & thesaurus construction, and information literacy. Her research interests include individuals’ information behaviours, the social construction of knowledge, web usability, spatial analysis, and information issues in the context of higher education. Her newest research project, The University as Information Space: Exploring Undergraduates’ Information Behaviours, was awarded a 2003 SSHRC Standard Research Grant. Dr. Given is a member of the Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethic’s Social Sciences & Humanities Research Ethics Special Working Committee, that is currently reviewing the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans.

Staking a Claim in the Customer's Mind (2-3 pm)

Positioning a library service in a prospective customer's mind is the most important aspect of any marketing strategy. This lively session explores what positioning is and is not and emphasizes why marketing is a battle of perceptions and not products or services.

Della Paradis is a Branch Manager for the Edmonton Public Library and teaches marketing at the UofA School of Library & Information Studies. Della has marketing experience from diverse environments with previous experience as the Marketing & Account Manager for the Health Knowledge Network and as an Information Specialist in the marketing department of a metals and specialty materials firm.

Can I Really Be as Funny as I Feel? (3-4 pm)

You will truly be amazed at how the skills we'll share will transform your work life, your family and no doubt the planet we call Earth. In this groundbreaking session you will learn about cutting edge research on:

• the correct way to laugh - improving your technique so as to maximize physical, emotional and social benefits;
• how to apply the secret humour skills both at work and at home in order to engender unconditional positive regard for all and sundry (or at least to covertly control your environment)
• how to work humorously in a group of Information Specialists who are primarily female (but not exclusively) including librarians, library staff and others who work within a library, with departments, in a hospital, with research groups or organizations.

Darlene Blischak is a prairies-born Canadian. She was raised and schooled in Edmonton, Alberta and has chosen to make it her home as an adult. A passion for the French language led her to complete a year of studies at Universite Laval in Quebec City and a year at Universite de Strasbourg, France. At that time she travelled extensively throughout Europe, Great Britain and Morocco furthering her appreciation of other cultures.

She received her B.Ed. from the University of Alberta and taught secondary French and Physical Education in the public school system in rural Alberta for three years. Through her entrepreneurial spirit she created a desktop publishing/editing business, worked as a job finding club facilitator and produced an audiotape series. She has recently created her ideal job with the Caritas Health Group. In her capacity as Coordinator of the Grey Nuns Rehab Outreach Services, she works to foster a safe exercise environment for adults with health concerns.

Using humour, wit and compassion, Darlene persuades, cajoles and motivates people to have fun while taking action to improve their health.

For more information about the NAHLA TRENDS Mini-Conference, please contact any of our executive.

Last Update: March 15, 2004
©2004 NAHLA