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Convergence of Knowledge and Culture: Calgary's Design for the Future

Tom Hickerson

Vice Provost, Libraries and Cultural Resources, and University Librarian
University of Calgary

12 February 2009

8:30-9:30 a.m.
Coffee & Pastries

9:30-11:00 a.m.
Presentation and Discussion

OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.
Kilgour Building—Auditorium
6565 Kilgour Place
Dublin, OH 43017-3395

This presentation is free and open to the public.

After more than 20 years in universities, Tom Hickerson (Vice Provost and University Librarian) arrived at the University of Calgary in 2006 ready to implement his vision of what a research library should be. Bringing together libraries, archives, museums, and the university press for the benefit of scholars, Hickerson is building a 21st century research facility in the heart of campus. The Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL) will house a "collection of the future" integrating access to traditional print, museum, and archival materials with digital and three-dimensional objects, media formats and onsite broadcasting and telecommunications. Technology will be the vital foundation of the building, providing users with the tools to synthesize information in all formats and create new knowledge. An organic facility that produces unexpected learning outcomes, the TFDL will feature collaboration across campus and beyond, a converged organization, and new and traditional content that will meet the research, pedagogical and social needs of current and future generations of scholars.

Come hear about Tom's strategic plans and learn how the TFDL will embody a new campus prototype for learning, teaching and conducting research.

Background information

The University of Calgary is one of the top research-intensive universities in Canada. It has a sponsored research revenue of $282 million, with total revenues exceeding $800 million. Located in Calgary, Alberta, it is a public university with 24,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students.

Prior to joining the University of Calgary on August 1, 2006, Tom Hickerson had an extensive career Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he was the Associate University Librarian for Information Technologies and Special Collections, and the Director of Digital Library and Information Technologies. During his time at Cornell, he directed an innovative manuscripts and archives program for several years and then expanded that role to include the rare books departments, bringing a new division together in a newly built special collections library. He also had general responsibility for digital library development and library systems management, which included the initiation of a successful electronic publishing program.

At the University of Calgary, Tom is Vice Provost of Libraries and Cultural Resources, and University Librarian. Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) brings together the University Library, Archives and Special Collections, The Nickle Arts Museum, and the University of Calgary Press. LCR develops, preserves and provides access to large collections of print, digital and three-dimensional objects, and archival materials. This unique organizational structure provides a key strategic advantage to researchers and makes information—regardless of format—readily available.

Additional information

About the University of Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/about/

University of Calgary Libraries and Cultural Resources
http://lcr.ucalgary.ca/

University of Calgary Taylor Family Digital Library
http://tfdl.ucalgary.ca/

You are welcome to attend this presentation in person or remotely via WebEx. Registering in advance allows us to plan sufficient refreshments and to alert you if for any reason the lecture needs to be rescheduled. Advanced registration is encouraged, but not required.

Please RSVP by e-mailing disbrowk@oclc.org or calling OCLC Research at (614) 764-6073 indicating your name, affiliation and telephone number.

Maps to OCLC are available here.

A recording of this presentation will be made available online at www.oclc.org/programsandresearch/dss/ . Additional information about the Distinguished Seminar Series can also be found there.

A printable version of this announcement is available at: www.oclc.org/programsandresearch/dss/pdf/hickerson.pdf (.pdf: 112KB/1 p.).

Remote access

The audio and slides of this meeting will be broadcast live online. If you are unable to attend the event in person, you may attend online via WebEx. To ensure sufficient access is available to the online presentation, please e-mail disbrowk@oclc.org or call OCLC Research at (614) 764-6073 to indicate you will attend online. Be sure to indicate your name, affiliation, and e-mail address.

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