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Jim Brett

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Contact Me

519-824-4120 ext. 54214
Room 113, McLaughlin Library

E-mail:
GMail:

Jim Brett

B.Sc., M.Sc. (Guelph), MLIS (Western)

About Me

I came to UoG in 1974 to pursue a degree in microbiology but ended up switching to the honours botany program. That led to grad work in plant systematics and a MSc in late 1980. After a year working on campus as a research associate in the Botany department, I went to Western, in 1983, with an NSERC scholarship in information science. The MLIS degree led me back to UoG in 1984. Over the past 28 years I've worked in most areas of the Library system — usually in connection with public services. Most recently, I've moved into the role of User services Librarian on the Discovery and Access Team.

User Services Librarian

Starting in the 2011/12 academic year, as the User Services Librarian I'll participate on the User Services Implementation Steering Committee and various working groups to provide leadership in the implementation of the User Services Review Report recommendations. Specifically, I will be involved in:

  • Developing a service philosophy, standards, and competencies for the new consolidated service point
  • Developing and delivering a training and assessment program for employees who will staff the new consolidated service point
  • Developing an institution-wide referral strategy, in collaboration with all strategic teams providing user service, from the first point of contact through to meeting their need
  • Developing a scheduling policy, procedures and framework for the new service point
  • Investigating physical renovations to the first floor of the library to improve access to services and enhance the overall user experience

Beyond the implementation of the new service point, as the User Services Librarian I'm responsible for coordinating the delivery of effective research help services for library users, as well as service delivery to distance education learners, through the Library's integrated user services desk and virtual reference service.

Selected Scholarly and Professional Activities

Presentations

"How to Succeed in an Interview." Ontario Library Association Super Conference, February 4, 2011. Presentation with Yvonne Patch (Hamilton Public Library).

"What will it Take for Immigrant Populations to Achieve Career Success?" Ontario Library Association Super Conference, February 5, 2011. Moderator of the panel discussion.

"The Art of Networking." Ontario Library Association Super Conference, February 24, 2010. Session convenor.

"New Academic Librarians: Networking to success." Ontario Library Association Super Conference, January 29, 2009. Presentation with D. Chaves (Wilfrid Laurier University) and C. Stewart (University of Guelph-Humber).

"The All Important Interview." Ontario Library Association Super Conference, January 31, 2009. Presentation with J. Kaufman (University of Guelph).

"Strategies for RefWorks Instruction." Scholar's Portal workshop, Toronto. June 12, 2007. Panel presentation.

"Scouting the Academic Library as a Workplace." Ontario Library Association Super Conference, February 1, 2007. Panel presentation with J. Soutter (University of Windsor) and S. O'Neill (Fanshawe College).

"Librarians and faculty/academic status." Guest lecture delivered in September 2005 in the University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Information Management Studies Academic Libraries class.

Publications

MacDonald, L.E., Brett, J., Kelton, D., Majowicz, S., Snedecker, K., and Sargeant, J. "Assessing Potential Health Benefits for Raw Milk Using Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Accepted for publication in the Journal of Food Protection. Vol. 74, no. 11, November 2011.

Brett, Jim and Gloria J. Leckie. "Job Satisfaction and Canadian Academic Librarians: A National Survey." College & Research Libraries. Vol. 58, no. 1 (1997): pp. 31-47.

Leckie, Gloria, J. and Jim Brett. "Academic Status for Canadian University Librarians: an Examination of Key Terms and Conditions. Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science. Vol. 20, no. 1 (1995): pp. 1-28.

Contributor. Librarians' Committee Chair's column and articles. CAUT Bulletin. 1991 to 1994.

Pal, G., J. F. Brett, T. Flemming, and M. Ridley. "Providing Electronic Library Reference Service: Experiences from the Indonesia-Canada Tele-education Project." Journal of Academic Librarianship. Vol. 15, no. 5 (1989): pp. 274-278.

Professional Involvement

  • OLA 2012 Super Conference Planning Team Co-Chair (2011/12)
  • OLA Super Conference Career Development Coordinator (2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11)
  • Member, OLA Mentoring Committee (2007 - )

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Last updated December 21st, 2011 by R.E.C. (details)