The latest news from your partners at OCLS
JUNE 2017
OCLS Gets 100% Grade from Ontario College Libraries 
By Thomas Guignard, Director of Services, OCLS  
L-R back row: Coralee Leroux, Salman Syed, Nicole Morgan, Stacey Boileau, Tina Chang, Virginia Roy, Nathan Howard, Thomas Guignard. L-R front row: Siobán Linnen, Jan Dawson, Mari Vihuri, Gail Strachan, Alex Eykelhof.

As part of OCLS's ongoing process to develop performance metrics and value indicators for our stakeholders, we distributed our yearly customer service survey to the college libraries earlier this year. The designated HLLR member from each college was asked to rate their overall satisfaction with OCLS. 21 of the 24 HLLR members responded to the survey, all indicating they were either very satisfied or satisfied with OCLS's services in general, amounting to an overall customer satisfaction score of 100% as per our established metric!
 
All of us at OCLS are thrilled with this result and we would like to express our gratitude to the college libraries for trusting us to run services on their behalf. We're proud of our high satisfaction rating and the fruitful collaboration with the colleges. We won't rest on our laurels but are committed to continue offering exceptional customer service while pursuing our strategic objectives of achieving cost savings, reducing duplication, and building capacity and equity for college libraries to enhance student achievement. 
100_ customer service satisfaction infographic
Excerpt from the testimonials received through the survey:
 
"OCLS provides incredible expertise and support to help the collective college libraries achieve much more than we could ever accomplish on our own."
 
"OCLS's role in delivering library services to our students and faculty is central."
 
"The cost savings with our collective bargaining power and OCLS's contract expertise are among the best collective initiatives I have seen in the college community."
 
"The services provided by OCLS enable me to redirect my funding for new strategic initiatives and directions. Thank you OCLS for your great support and high level of customer service!"
Universal Design: One Size Does Not Fit All
By Rachel Caldwell, Manager, Client Services & Operations, Conestoga Library
 
When the Conestoga Library (Doon campus) underwent renovations in 2015,   MMMC Architects were tasked to create a vibrant space that supports collaborative and contemplative study. This resulted in the implementation of universal design applications that seamlessly address the myriad of study styles, needs and diversity of our clients.

  • Aesthetically Practical: Implementation of wayfinding film applied to our glass-enclosed rooms and application of carpet patterns incorporated interior design elements with the level of contrast required for clients with low vision or other visual impairments.
  • Height Matters: From small to tall, wheelchair and height accessibility were considered with all aspects of the renovation, from our consolidated service desk to student study tables and millwork.
  • Variety is Key: Different meeting room types and study table options allow our clients to conduct work individually or collaboratively, while seated, standing or even lounging close to the floor. In addition to standard task chairs, other seating options provided include bar-height, club, bench and beanbag. To accommodate diverse body types, approximately 80% of our study chairs are armless.
  • Wired for BYOD: On average, our clients have at least 2.8 devices connected to the college's network that requires power. MMMC incorporated access to over 500 individual power sources throughout the space, including the installation of Steelcase Thread in our Learning Lab.
Conestoga Library Study and Collaborative areas

While there are always set standards to follow, successful
universal design involves flexibility and options. Through our efforts with MMMC, our space is a place of inspiration that supports learning, excellence and success at Conestoga.

Conestoga Library Work Rooms
Bringing Permitted Uses to the User: CLEAR Integrates with EDS
By Coralee Leroux, Electronic Resources and Services Coordinator

CLEAR logo 
The CLEAR Local Steering Committee and OCLS are pleased to announce the launch of the CLEAR's discovery layer integration with EBSCO's EDS. Colleges participating in OCLS's   CLEAR Local opt-in service  and using the EDS discovery layer will now be able to integrate permitted uses information for licensed electronic resources into EDS search results.
 
The EDS integration was part of a project to provide permitted uses information at the point of consumption, bringing CLEAR data to users as they search their library's discovery layer. The goals of the project were to design a simple, visual method for communicating permitted uses that is also accessible, while providing a link back to the full CLEAR record for those needing more details. The resulting integration is the result of partnerships with EBSCO, Scholars Portal, and Loyalist College. To ensure the end result met the needs of students, faculty, and library staff, the integration underwent onsite usability testing at Loyalist College, as well as two accessibility audits by OCAD's Inclusive Design Research Centre.
 
OCLS is working with CLEAR Local colleges to roll out the integration in their discovery layers and will provide training on set-up and configuration. The steering committee and OCLS are also working on integration with ProQuest's Summon discovery layer, with an estimated time frame for completion set for late May or early June.
Publication Alert 
Did you know that the Ontario college libraries published their research report "Online Learning, OERs, and the Changing Role of College Libraries"?

Commissioned by HLLR and OCLS in 2016, the report identifies current and future trends in online digital learning and open educational resources (OERs) and how they impact the Ontario college libraries, both singularly and collectively. The report was made public to coincide with 
Open Education Week, which ran March 27-31. The report is available for download from the  OCLS website.  
Staff Profile: Lydia Tsai
 
OCLS welcomes Lydia Tsai as Information Technology Systems and Services Coordinator. Lydia holds a Masters of Information degree from the University of Toronto and was the 2012-2013 recipient of OCULA's New Librarian Residency award. She has worked as a librarian in the Ontario college system for 5 years, with her most recent position being Metadata Librarian at Seneca College. Lydia is passionate about library technology and user experience design. She has experience leading and coordinating digital projects and enjoys working on committees to achieve shared goals. She brings strong technical skills, a collaborative mindset, and a dedication to providing exceptional customer service to her role at OCLS.
 
Rosemary Kavanagh Memorial Endowment
By Corinne Abba, AODA Coordinator, George Brown College
 
Rosemary Kavanagh
Rosemary Kavanagh was a friend, colleague and accessibility champion who contributed significantly to the advancement and understanding of the impact of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) for Ontario's college libraries.
 
To celebrate Rosemary's commitment to accessibility and her support of diversity, equity and inclusion, the Ontario Colleges Library Service (OCLS) and the library leadership represented by the Heads of Libraries and Learning Resources (HLLR) have endowed a fund to send college library staff to the annual Guelph Accessibility Conference. Fittingly, the theme this year is "Becoming a Catalyst for Inclusion."
 
The AODA Endowment Committee received several applications and are pleased to announce that Jennifer Vanderburg from Algonquin College was selected to attend the conference May 30-31, 2017. Jennifer's submission focused on the diverse aspects of accessibility, discussed the range of barriers related to the library, and demonstrated concrete ways in which her attendance at the conference would be beneficial to both her library and her institution. Congratulations Jennifer!
 
Together we honour Rosemary's life and work with this endowment.
Ontario Colleges Library Service 74 Gervais Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1Z3 1-800-268-5560
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