This study examines racial and ethnic diversity among Canadian academic librarians and discusses the findings of a nationwide survey. The survey posed questions related to equity plans and programs as well as recruitment practices for academic librarians from equity-seeking groups with a focus on Aboriginal and visible/racial minority librarians. It explored the needs and experiences of Aboriginal and visible/racial minority librarians employed in Canadian academic libraries by examining questions of organizational climate, mentoring, institutional support, advancement opportunities, and the roles of library associations. The findings reveal a need for more diversity awareness and training and leadership with respect to diversity on the part of academic libraries and the profession at large in Canada.
Objective – This study assessed the needs for digital image delivery to faculty members in Fine Arts at York University in order to ensure that future decisions regarding the provision of digital images offered through commercial vendors and licensed by the Libraries meet the needs of teaching faculty. Methods – The study was comprised of four parts. A Web survey was distributed to 62 full-time faculty members in the Faculty of Fine Arts in February of 2011. A total of 25 responses were received. Follow-up interviews were conducted with nine faculty members. Usage statistics were examined for licensed library image databases. A request was posted on the electronic mail lists of the Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS-L) and the Art Libraries Society of North America Canada Chapter (CARLIS-L) in April 2011 requesting feedback regarding the use of licensed image databases. There were 25 responses received. Results – Licensed image databases receive low use and pose pedagogical and technological challenges for the majority of the faculty members in Fine Arts that we surveyed. Relevant content is the overriding priority, followed by expediency and convenience, which take precedence over copyright and cleared permissions, resulting in a heavy reliance on Google Images Search. Conclusions – The needs of faculty members in Fine Arts who use digital images in their teaching at York University are not being met. The greatest shortcomings of licensed image databases provided by the Libraries are the content and technical challenges, which impede the ability of faculty to fully exploit them. Issues that need to be resolved include the lack of contemporary and Canadian content, training and support, and organizational responsibility for the provision of digital images and support for the use of digital images.
This study examines the extent to which librarians employed at Canadian universities have academic freedom protection with respect to the right and responsibility to engage in research and scholarship as part of their normal workload and the right to pursue unrestricted lines of inquiry in research and scholarship. An analysis of the terms and conditions of employment for Canadian academic librarians and the results of a nationwide survey reveal that the majority are protected by academic freedom in their contractual agreements. The findings also reveal that the inclusion of research and scholarship as part of normal workload is a challenge for many librarians, definitions for research and scholarship vary across institutions, and time constraints impede the ability of librarians to conduct research and scholarship.
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