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National Library News |
Denis Robitaille,
Research and Information Services
 National Librarian Roch Carrier with Parliamentary Librarian Richard Paré. |
Which one? The last ASTED (Association pour l'avancement des sciences et des techniques de la documentation) colloquium and convention of the century… of the millennium… which was held last October 20 to 23 at the Delta Sherbrooke. You weren’t able to attend? You had promised yourself you would, but, one thing led to another and… then it was too late! Here is a brief overview of what some 350 of your colleagues enjoyed…
The theme of the 26th Convention, "The Virtual Library: Between Reason and Passion" [translation] was meant to entice. Armed with energy, enthusiasm and expertise, the many convention delegates had every intention of making this convention a forum without a podium, inviting encounters and discussions. The National Library of Canada (NLC) was not going to let such an opportunity slip by, nor was its new National Librarian, Roch Carrier.
The word spread rapidly through the community. The arts administrator and author had worked as the head of the NLC for barely three weeks when the convention offered him his first opportunity to meet with colleagues in his brand new professional arena.
Eager to make the acquaintance of the person behind The Hockey Sweater, many delegates soon gathered around Roch Carrier. The launching of the 1999 Read Up On It campaign facilitated the first contact. Chemistry easily took care of the rest…
The convention and exhibition’s very popular opening cocktail party allowed a great many celebrating delegates to raise a glass in friendship with Roch Carrier. Did the bravest perhaps try to pry a few secrets from him about the spirit he intends to instil in the Library at the dawn of the third millennium?…
As is customary, the Library had its "showcase" amid the 50 or so exhibitors who had set up booths. Each square metre of the exhibition hall had been taken, forcing an overflow into the adjoining lobby. The crowd around the NLC kiosk was such that two, three and even four librarians had to staff it at the same time. Our Internet site’s "fan club" just keeps on growing… The many demonstrations offered were proof of this: Access AMICUS on the Web (the lastborn), resAnet, the electronic publications, etc. Indispensable, the latest CD version of Canadiana also had a place of honour among the vast array of products represented. The thrust – new technologies as tools, rather than ends unto themselves.
Roch Carrier had, in a manner of speaking, established his headquarters at the NLC booth. The delegates were frequently able to find him there, during the coffee breaks and at other times. All the winning and decidedly promising traits of our new National Librarian – his approachability, his ability to listen and his frank and direct contact – were mentioned time and again by the representatives from places as varied as Saint-Boniface, Jonquière, Rimouski and Moncton, among others.
The best was yet to come – the reception offered by the National Librarian. The room could hardly accommodate the delegates who politely jostled each other. Mr. Carrier’s innovative style was a pleasant touch; attendees were able to turn their backs on virtual reality. It was sweet revenge against the daily, humdrum routine... If Roch Carrier still needed to be convinced to reveal a few "secrets", the host accepted this friendly overture with good humour.
The 26th ASTED Colloquium and Convention, a tale of the mind… and the heart.