Marigold's satisfaction survey for 2021 is now available. 

 

Your comments and hopes for Marigold are of great value to gauge the success of our services and to identify opportunities for improvement and development. Survey responses are confidential and do not point to a specific person or location.

 

This survey is designed for completion by Marigold Board Trustees, local library board members and chairs, library staff, and individuals who work in our member libraries as volunteers. Those who fill more than one role at the library - such as a board member and a volunteer - may complete the survey twice.

 

The deadline for responding to the survey is Friday, November 26, 2021. If you require more information about how to access and complete this survey, please contact Kristine den Boon or Kim Visser.

A number of guests recently toured Marigold’s new state-of-the-art headquarters facility, including Member of Parliament Martin Shields, new Marigold Library Board members, and former Marigold employees.

 

Marigold staff moved into the new 32,462 sq. ft. facility at the beginning of October; however, Covid-19 restrictions precluded hosting a formal grand opening event. On October 28, Marigold CEO Michelle Toombs, Deputy CEO Laura Taylor, Marigold Library Board Chair Lynda Lyster, and Marigold Board Vice Chair John Getz met with MP Martin Shields and his staff for a tour. The tour consisted of viewing the general offices, kitchen facilities, shared common areas, delivery bays, open office spaces, and a demonstration of the newly installed Automated Sortation System.

 

Excitement was on the rise the following week when some familiar faces arrived at the facility. Former Marigold employees Norma Hutchinson, Margaret Newton, Sandy Watson, and Nicole Dunnewold joined the staff for tea and a tour. The group was impressed with the modern look, amount of storage, and office spaces in comparison to Marigold’s previous location.

 

The new building also boasts a large shared common area. While Marigold is unable to currently host its board meetings in-person due to Covid-19 restrictions, the staff is looking forward to gathering in the space in the future. Five new Board Trustees shared their enthusiasm to attend meetings at the facility after touring the building on November 6. Luke Brennan for the Town of Crossfield, Sandra C. Murphy for the Town of Hanna, Nicholas Wiebe representing Rocky View County, Faye McGhee for Kneehill County, and Carrie Fobes, who was appointed as alternate for Kneehill County, met with CEO Michelle Toombs for a Marigold Board orientation.

 

Marigold is planning on hosting a grand opening event in early 2022.

 

Submitted by Miriam Thompson

Communications and Marketing Specialist

Marigold Library System

This is the first of three articles in which I will attempt to address the reasons for three important documents about Indigenous people here in Canada and around the world. They are the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Principals of Reconciliation, and the calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  

 

The UNDRIP, made in 2007, was the result of 25 years of research and study by the United Nations member states and Indigenous people from around the world, including many leaders from Canada.  It was adopted by all but four members of the UN, Canada being one of those who did not immediately adopt it. In 2016, Canada endorsed the UNDRIP, and in 2020 the Canadian government introduced legislation to fully implement the declaration.

 

The UNDRIP consists of 46 articles meant to provide a framework to protect the individual and collective rights of Indigenous nations across the globe. Key themes are the responsibility of governments to respect treaties and other legal agreements, to respect and preserve the languages and cultures of Indigenous nations, to promote equality and non-discrimination, and to respect Indigenous connections to the environment and their rights on their own lands, territories, and the resources found in them.

 

I have tried to avoid legal sounding language but I thought I would include article 43 as it is written because, in my mind, it reflects the spirit of the whole document.

"Article 43 - The rights recognized herein constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world."

 

Please see the link below to the full document. Although it is 18 pages long, it is quite readable.

 

 

Submitted by Rose Reid

Indigenous Outreach Specialist
Marigold Library System

The Book Publishers Association of Alberta is pleased to announce the release of the Read Alberta Catalogue, a collection of books published by Alberta publishers during the current year. The inaugural issue features over 100 titles from seventeen Alberta-based publishers.

 

Read Alberta was created to celebrate the many wonderful books published in the prairies that tell Alberta’s Story. The catalogue highlights the work by Alberta publishers and Alberta authors, designers, editors, and illustrators, in celebration of the distinct, diverse voices coming out of our province.

 

“Featuring titles across all genres, the Read Alberta Catalogue truly represents the range of Alberta-published titles,” says Kieran Leblanc, Executive Director of the BPAA. “It will be a valuable resource for booksellers, librarians, teachers, and the general public who want to Read Alberta!” 

 

The first issue of the Read Alberta Catalogue is available as a printable PDF. Future editions will be released in both print and digital formats. More information about the catalogue can be found on the Read Alberta Catalogue webpage.

 

The Certificate course on Inclusive and Ethical Leadership features 40 TEDx style sessions (10-30mins) from 50+ experts from all corners of the world covering cutting-edge research and best practices under 8 sections. This is a self-paced course in which the participants can start any time and finish by December 31, 2022.

To register or find more information follow this link.

 

The program consists of seven pre-recorded two-hour modules which may be viewed at any time before March 31, 2022. Participants will learn how building and growing a workforce that includes differing races, religions, ages, genders and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities can not only improve broad society issues but can also help companies develop novel business practices, increase revenue, and improve performance. 

To register or find more information follow this link.

 

This program includes a series of six self-paced, interactive modules filled with useful activities and videos. The program is designed to assist human resource professionals, employers, supervisors, managers, co-workers, job coaches and counsellors, autistic employees, parents, students, and anyone interested in inclusive employment to learn practical strategies on how to support all employees to be successful on the job.

To register or find more information follow this link.