Participants will take a broad look at the way we give and receive  feedback. What prompts you to give it? How do you ask for it if you need it? How do you handle an uncomfortable feedback situation? Do you acknowledge – authentically and frequently? How can we all learn to focus on behaviours and actions we want to start, stop or continue - as a result of feedback?  Participants will discuss a framework that encourages a timely, direct, and high-quality feedback culture – resulting in high productivity and strong personal satisfaction.

Ottawa Public Library’s Homebound Services department worked with legal and risk management, colleagues, customers, and families to design guidelines and scripts for dealing with consent and privacy issues in the library, including a new intake process for our customers.  Our goal was to respect our customers’ independence, provide community supports, and ensure that we are also compliant with Ontario Privacy legislation. This session will briefly examine some of the major changes that were implemented and how we shared our procedures with branch staff in a large library system.

Pathways is a singing program that has been researched, designed and produced by Room 217 Foundation for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and cognitive impairment. The literature shows that neural pathways in music processing may not be lost in people with Alzheimer’s. Musical memories are stored in both parts of the brain; even when some parts of the brain are severely damaged, other parts may be able to recall music. Singing is an engaging and holistic music activity with many health benefits. Using Pathways with this population can strengthen relationships, evoke memories, spark conversations, create moments, engage people in music-making, reduce isolation, improve mood and help people express emotions. The Pathways Singing Program consists of 13 30-minute DVD episodes (in three themed collections) that feature five songs per episode, audio-only CD of the featured songs with instrumental and vocal tracks, an activity book with five activities per song, and online training. The program features an expert singing host who leads the episodes; caregivers simply need to encourage the person with dementia to participate so they can benefit from the evidence-based research that went into the program.

Having access to the law gives members of our society the tools needed to make informed decisions.  Unfortunately, access to justice has become a major issue in Canada.  Legal services have become increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible.  In a 2013 report, the Canadian Bar Association called access to justice in Canada abysmal and inequitable.  

Libraries can play an important role in improving access to justice.  A 2010 survey conducted by Courthouse Libraries BC estimated that public libraries in British Columbia receive about 35,000 legal reference questions from the public every year.  Libraries are a natural place to connect with members of the public who have legal information needs.  Join Alan Kilpatrick, the Reference Librarian at Law Society of Saskatchewan Library, for this session exploring basic legal resources for librarians.         
     
Participants will learn about searching case law, legislation, and legal resources, including CanLII and the National Self-Represented Litigants Project.  Importantly, participants will leave this session with greater confidence, knowledge, and legal literacy to assist library patrons seeking legal information or assistance.