2021 Library Symposium

Session Description:

The volume of content and information at our fingertips is larger than at any point in human history. Our access to the world has never been as convenient. Yet not all of what we can so easily access is what it appears to be– in fact, plenty of the content that makes its way across our screens every day is intentionally created to deceive us. It’s designed to grab us by our emotions and believe a lie, so its creators can make money. The internet is also chipping away at the foundation of our traditional gatekeepers of credibility, as fake news markets its way into our daily browsing. This session created by the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec will dive into some examples of fake news, discuss the work journalists do to create credible content, and reinforce the message that taking 30 seconds to examine what you see on the internet helps stop the spread of fake news.

Presenter Bio:

Hugo Rodrigues - Hugo Rodrigues is the managing editor of the Standard-Freeholder, in Cornwall, Ont. In this role, he is part of a four-person newsroom, reporting local news and sports in the communities of the City of Cornwall, United Counties of SDG, and Akwesasne. Prior to joining this team in 2014, he had been the city hall reporter for the Expositor in Brantford, Ont., and covered a variety of municipal and education-related beats at the Sentinel-Review in Woodstock, Ont. His work has been recognized by the Ontario Newspaper Awards, Canadian Association of Journalists awards, and the U.S. Education Writers Association.

Outside of his newsrooms, Rodrigues was on the board of directors of the Canadian Association of Journalists from 2005-18, leading it as president from 2011-15. He continues to volunteer for the CAJ, administering its awards program. He was also a member of the National Newspaper Awards board of governors from 2006-15. He joined the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec in order to be able to assist in sharing the #30sec message.

Outside of journalism, Rodrigues remains active within competitive lifesaving, volunteering as a technical judge and official at the provincial, national, and international level.

Session Description:

Stories. Whether about a child having a bad day or making a new friend, stories tell us about how people experience emotions and how they learn to get along. Everyone agrees that social and emotional competencies are crucial to life-long success and well-being. In this workshop, we will explore the power of picture books to support students with developing their social-emotional skills. Attendees will be provided with concrete examples of how to take part in helping students and teachers with the development of these skills. We will be diving into some of my top picks in regard to nurturing social –emotional skills in young learners and discuss what makes these books particularly meaningful for these competencies. Our school library can be a valuable resource to promote and ease social and emotional learning for both teachers and students. Librarians can play a significant role in a student’s life.

Presenter Bio:

Angélie Caissy - Elementary School Resource teacher, Saint-Vincent Elementary School, Central Quebec School Board - Mother of 2 teenagers, I am a lover of nature and an active risk taker. I seek new challenges and new learning experiences in all areas of my life. After 10 years of experience as a homeroom teacher, I have taught all cycles at the elementary level. I am now a resource teacher supporting students and teachers in the lower grades. My belief that all students can be successful academically, socially, and emotionally has driven my practice to help them with their personal challenges. I feel privileged to be part of our children’s lives and to contribute to their growth as learners and as individuals in our society. One of my deepest goals as an educator has always been to develop the love of reading in my students. I love to stay up to date with the latest research in education to better my practice, but also with the latest book discoveries and new authors and illustrators. My passion for children’s literature combined with my passion for teaching and learning has guided me to integrate story books in my daily teaching practice. Literature has helped me throughout my career to make learning meaningful and engaging for children. The most uninteresting learning goals can shine with a well-chosen piece of literature.

Presenter Bio: 

Nathalie Larivière – National Film Board of Canada / Office national du film du Canada

Having worked in the film industry for over 20 years, Nathalie has spent the last eight years promoting the educational content of the National Film Board of Canada. She tirelessly works as a Business Developer and Audience Outreach Specialist for educators and pedagogical counsellors in school boards and government departments in the Quebec, Atlantic, and French Ontario regions of Canada.

Whether the educational resources are paid or free, Nathalie is committed to giving educators the content they need in order to make their jobs easier. She believes that film is an extremely powerful resource that can maximize classroom engagement with students, helping their understanding of certain concepts and topics that would otherwise be more difficult to understand. Many of the resources and films Nathalie promotes fit into the educational curriculum.

Session Description:

In the Digital Action Plan for Education and Higher Education, the MEQ committed to support the deployment of an ebook lending platform in all Quebec school libraries. While some platforms such as Overdrive already allow ebooks lending, they offer very few French titles, and some of their features or terms of use can be complicated in an educational context. This session presents the origins of the Biblius project, and some of the technical and legal challenges encountered.

Presenter Bio:

Nancy Lusignan - Nancy Lusignan has a Master’s Degree in Information Sciences (EBSI). She worked for 6 years as a school librarian for the Commission scolaire des Hautes-Rivières where she was very involved in various projects promoting the educational use of school libraries and children’s literature. For 4 years, she led a librarians’ committee on ebooks in Montérégie. Since February 2019, she has been the project manager at Bibliopresto for the Biblius project. Collaboration is the cornerstone of her professional approach.

Session Description:

À GO, on lit ! est un mouvement qui vise à promouvoir la lecture auprès des jeunes âgés de 14 à 20 ans. Cette initiative a pour objectifs : de provoquer un changement de comportement positif chez ce groupe cible à partir de leurs divers intérêts personnels et de créer un enthousiasme envers la lecture sous toutes ses formes (BD, roman, magazine, encyclopédie, etc.); d’accroître et de maintenir l’intérêt pour la lecture chez les jeunes; de faire la démonstration que ce besoin est essentiel à la réussite éducative et sociale.

Presenter Bio:

Annie Grand-Mourcel - Annie Grand-Mourcel occupe la direction générale du PREL (Partenaires pour la Réussite Éducative dans les Laurentides) et agit à titre de vice-présidente du Réseau québécois pour la réussite éducative. Souvent présentée comme une entrepreneure sociale, elle est l’initiatrice du mouvement À GO, on lit !, un projet développé dans les Laurentides et qui après moins de trois ans à une portée nationale.

Session Description:

Comics and graphic novels have gained increasing recognition in recent years as a creative medium as well as a tool for promoting youth literacy, and most libraries have dedicated space to substantial collections of graphic literature. Nevertheless, visibility for comic artists from diverse backgrounds has not always kept pace with the popularity of the medium. In this presentation, Kennedy Rooke of Librairie Drawn & Quarterly (Montreal’s leading purveyor of graphic novels for over a decade) will offer an introduction to a broad and exciting range of comics and graphic novels by BIPOC, Queer and, local creators who are enriching and expanding the form.

Presenter Bio:

Kennedy Rooke

Kennedy Rooke is the Assistant Manager of Librairie and La Petite Drawn & Quarterly and has been working in the Canadian book industry for over a decade. As a manager at D+Q they curate the selection of children’s books and oversee daily operations. Originally from Southwestern Ontario, they have lived in Montreal for six years and have been with D+Q since 2017. They are passionate about children’s literature, pop culture, and independent bookstores. Their favourite graphic novels are SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki and The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang.

Session Description:

Depuis toujours, une certaine censure des livres est exercée dans les bibliothèques scolaires du Québec. Celle-ci est pratiquée par tous, selon des critères propres à chacun, sans égard à la valeur du livre par rapport aux missions de la bibliothèque scolaire. Trop souvent, c’est le code moral personnel du censeur qui est le critère tout puissant. En créant le Prix Espiègle, les membres fondatrices souhaitent faire valoir l’audace de la littérature jeunesse québécoise, souligner la qualité d’un livre qui est susceptible de faire réagir et promouvoir ces livres auprès des élèves dans le but d’enrichir leur vision du monde. Elles sont aussi convaincues que tous les sujets peuvent être abordés en littérature jeunesse, pourvu que le traitement soit respectueux, sans vulgarité, et respecte le développement psychologique de l’enfant. 

Presenter Bio: 

Marjolaine Séguin - Marjolaine Séguin est bibliothécaire scolaire dans un Centre de services scolaire sur la Rive-Nord de Montréal. Avec ses collègues Julie Hermann, Lyne Rajotte et Anne-Marie Roy, en partenariat avec l’Association pour la promotion des services documentaires scolaires (APSDS), elle a participé à la création d’un prix littéraire jeunesse, le Prix Espiègle, dont le but est de mettre en vedette des livres audacieux, malicieux, qui osent et d’une grande qualité littéraire. Des livres dont le sujet dérange, déstabilise, remet en question et suscite parfois un malaise.

Session Description:

Eric will explore his beginnings as a teacher who started to write to inspire his students to feel confident in creating their own narratives. He traces his work and role as a teacher and writer, and the fusion of fiction and non-fiction, that inspired his students, his readers, and the inspiration that began when he was a student.

Presenter Bio:

Eric Walters - Eric is a teacher and began writing for his class to entice them to become more enthusiastic readers and writers. He has published 114 books which have been translated into 15 languages and have won over 150 awards, including 4 Red Maple, 3 Silver Birch, a Golden Oak and children’s choice awards from across the country. Most recently, The Rule of Three won the Sakura Medal – voted the favourite book of international school students in Japan. In 2014 he received the Order of Canada. Eric presents each year to more than 100,000 students across Canada and around the globe. He is the co-founder of a children’s program in Kenya (www.creationofhope.com) that provides for over 300 orphans and impoverished children in Mbooni District.

For more information about Eric visit his website at www.ericwalters.net