Polar Libraries Colloquy Blog: 22nd Polar Libraries Colloquy

How the colloquy hours this week have flown by this week with interesting presentations. Day 5 was no exception.

The morning plenary session 10 began with a presentation by John Gilbert a former radio operator and arctic veteran who has been instrumental in collecting photographs, memorabila and documents from those who have served in the joint (Canada & US) weather stations. Edward Atkinson, Nunavut Archives acquired this their first digital collection and Steve Schafer, Athabasca University Library, is working to provide access to the collection in ContentDM. This collaborative project is called JAWS - Joint Arctic Weather Stations.

Shelly Sommers (Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research/INSTARR) a solo librarian, described how a joint exhibit with neighbour library - National Snow and Ice Data Centre/NSIDC resulted in new connections and interest with new users. An inspired storyteller, information scavenger hunt and database searches linked to the contents of the exhibit were all part of the event.

Each year the PLC Colloquy group photograph is taken. The weather cooperated and before the morning coffee break we headed outside the Telus Centre for a photoshoot.

Plenary session 11 contained two papers by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). David Walton introduced us to his bibliometric study of trends in science publications. Using data from Web of Science and the publications list of the BAS, David analyzed the production by countries who take part in antarctic research and compared their output and citation rates from the 1970s to the present across subject disciplines. This work will be continued using the Antarctic Bibliography.

David Hyett, Head of Information and Records Management, described the project to create an open archive repository for the scientists who are funded by NERC (Natural Environment Research Council) using ePrint software. All scientific output funded by NERC must be deposited in an OAI archive. The NORA archive provides this depository for postprints and grey literature. Authors self deposit and verify publisher permissions in SHERPA's Romeo database http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo.php NORA can be viewed at http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/

After lunch, plenary session 12 focused on media. Lindsay Johnston (University of Alberta Library) reported on an ongoing study to analyze the media portrayal of the welfare of polar bears in North American newspapers. The research team used Survey Monkey for their content coding and as the librarian on the project team Lindsay was instrumental in providing search strategies and information resources for the work.

Mary Katherine Jones (University of Tromso) reviewed the international media coverage of the 2007 Arktika Russian expedition to the North Pole. This expedition planted a Russian flag on the seabed and claimed the Arctic as Russian.

David Walton began the PLC closing session with a personal summary of the week's events. Having fun, meeting old friends, making new ones and exchanging information are at the heart of the PLC Colloquy. Many new groups and project initiaives have begun at this meeting and the challenge is to continue with these collaborative efforts in the years until the next colloquy.

PLC Steering Committee group photo.

The next PLC will be held in 2010 in Bremerhaven, Germany. Marcel Brannerman provided an overview of the conference venue and places the visit in Bremerhaven.

Heather Lane, incoming PLC President summarized on behalf of all attendees their appreciation of Sandy Campbell and her team's wonderful arrangements and organization of the PLC Colloquy.

The day ended with dinner and the outcry auction. Auctioneer David Walton amused and engaged diners, and all items were sold to the highest bidder amid laughter and good company.