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Category Archives: UofGuelph
Janet Bannister and The Derry Lecture
Janet Bannister is a remarkable person. She virtually (pun intended) created online shopping with Kijiji (and took it global) and has held technology leadership roles in some of the most recognized international companies (eBay, Proctor & Gamble, McKinsey & Co.). Now she invests … Continue reading
Posted in Digital Culture, Leadership, UofGuelph
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Beyond Literacy: A Class, An Event, A Conversation
Every time I teach the Beyond Literacy course (a First Year Seminar at Guelph) I am wonderfully delighted by the students. Frankly very few of them ever buy the premise of the course (“Reading and writing are doomed. Literacy as … Continue reading
Posted in Beyond Literacy, Literacy, Teaching & Learning, UofGuelph
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Podcasts from The Social Life of Information Course
This semester (along with MJ D’Elia, Amanda Etches, and Doug Horne) I taught a First Year Seminar course entitled The Social Life of Information. With acknowledgement to John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid for the inspiration and guidance, the course explored … Continue reading
Posted in FYS, Teaching & Learning, UofGuelph
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Fundraising: the Old School Way
One of the biggest changes in the role of a senior academic administrator in recent years is the amount of time spent fundraising. It can be easily be 30% of one’s time and for many it can be considerably more. … Continue reading
Posted in Libraries, UofGuelph
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Margaret Beckman’s Fur Coat
We all know clothing tells stories; there are secrets too. This is the story of Margaret Beckman’s fur coat. Margaret was the Chief Librarian at the University of Guelph from 1971 to 1984. She hired me into my first professional … Continue reading
Posted in Leadership, Librarianship, Libraries, UofGuelph
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The Next Phase of My Professional Life
As many of you will know, I’ve been on a two year sabbatical/administrative leave. Sadly it is coming to an end in January (but I have been productive: see here, here, and here for a detailed accounting). However, I’m very … Continue reading
Posted in AboutMike, FYS, Librarianship, Teaching & Learning, UofGuelph
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I’m a Librarian
I made it. I’m now a librarian. Well, to be accurate, I’m a Librarian. Those of you who know me may be wondering, “haven’t you been a librarian for some time?” Yes, and no. Like faculty, academic librarians have ranks: … Continue reading
Posted in AboutMike, Librarianship, UofGuelph
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Scarey – Just Like It Should Be
I’ve been teaching variations of a course called Beyond Literacy for a number of years (both to first year undergrads and sophisticated graduate students). After all this time, you would think I could teach this in my sleep, and with … Continue reading
Posted in Beyond Literacy, HigherEd, Literacy, UofGuelph
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Prioritizing Academic Programs
“Most institutions can no longer afford to be what they have become.” So is the blunt, and I would say accurate, assessment of Robert Dickeson in the widely admired Prioritizing Academic Programs and Services: Reallocating Resources to Achieve Strategic Balance. … Continue reading
Posted in HigherEd, Leadership, UofGuelph
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Nose In, Fingers Out
Today I received my initial orientation session as a new member of the University of Guelph Board of Governors. Nothing better describes the role of a governor than the phase: “nose in, fingers out.” The role is to govern, not … Continue reading
Posted in BofG, UofGuelph
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