Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION

2010Masters Library & Information Studies Dalhousie University
1998Bachelor of Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT)
1996Masters of Arts Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto
1995Honours Bachelor of Arts with high distinction, University of Toronto Medieval Studies specialist, Fine Art History major, English minor
1985-1987Fashion Technique and Design, Sheridan College

ADDITIONAL TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS – OISE/UT

2007Special Education Specialist
2006Librarianship – parts 1 & 2
1998Intermediate History

LIBRARY MANAGEMENT

2012—Supervisor, Library & Resource Services, Waterloo Region DSB
  • Oversee library services for 120 site school board system with over 65,000 students and teachers, and 1.5 million items
  • Administer systems: SirsiDynix Horizon ILS, OPAC, WebReporter, TekData SeriesM, Snap, and others, improving usability along the way
  • Supervise staff of 16 direct reports, and develop processes and procedures for over 150 library clerks and teacher-librarians
  • Manage departmental budget of $2 million
  • Develop library and information related policies and procedures.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: LIBRARY

2010-2012Digital Projects Librarian Electronic Text Centre, Harriet Irving Library, University of New Brunswick
  • Developed and maintained open access institutional repository using DSpace platform
  • Investigated Fedora-Commons repository framework for research data storage
  • Promoted use of repository and other digital services around the university
  • Managed team of developers through range of digital initiatives
  • Wrote grants to fund and staff new projects as part of national and regional data sharing initiatives
  • Helped establish policies and protocols for project development, and data management
2009-2010Student Intern, Archives and Special Collections, Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University
  • Provided reference services in music and special collections area of library
  • Developed process for, and carried out re-appraisal of business archives
  • Produced EAD / XML finding aids for newly processed fonds
  • Appraised and processed fonds entering collection
  • Updated and managed databases and website

PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: LIBRARY

2003-2006Teacher-Librarian Windfields Junior High School, TDSB
  • Built library collection that boosted circulation by 30% each year
  • Initiated partnering program between library and subject teachers to teach information literacy skills
  • Developed and taught a wide range of literacy and computer lessons
  • Published lessons and provided system-wide workshop in integrating research skills in the wider school curriculum
2001-2003Teacher-Librarian, Wilkinson P. S., TDSB
  • Designed school library website and moderated electronic staff bulletin board to improve communication
  • Designed and taught literacy, research, and computer skills, grades K-6
  • Maintained local computer lab for instructional purposes

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: TEACHING

2010Teaching Assistant Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University
  • Taught tutorial sessions for undergraduate Knowledge Management course (MGMT2601)
  • Assessed student learning to help guide the learning process
2009Teaching Assistant (2 courses) Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University
  • Assisted in teaching interdisciplinary course (MGMT5000) for 200 graduate students from the five schools in the Faculty of Management
  • Coached teams on effective project management skills
  • Ran tutorial sessions for undergraduate Information Literacy course (INFO1602) to help solidify concepts from weekly lecture
  • Developed lessons to help students better understand the research process in a technology based learning environment

PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: TEACHING (TDSB)

2007-2008Special Education Teacher Grade 5/6 – gifted core. Bowmore Rd. P.S.
  • Developed an integrated program for split grade gifted class to meet needs of a widely diverse student body
  • Served as Report Card Administrator to aid staff of 40 teachers during implementation of new reporting software program and interface
2006-2007Special Education Teacher Grade 6, 7, 8, G.A. Brown Middle School
  • Taught core subjects to grade 6 gifted class, and Science and Visual Art to grade 7/8 gifted class
  • Focused on motivating talented but underachieving students to perform well at school
1998-2001Teacher Grade 4/5 Wilkinson PS
  • Developed and taught split grade program with integrated Special Ed.
  • Acted as IT, Equity, and Language Arts Representative

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP/MENTORING

2009-2010Chair, Information Without Borders Conference Committee, Dalhousie University
  • Organised and ran a nine member committee for the 2010 student-led conference on information management
2002-2003Teacher–Librarian Facilitator, TDSB family of schools
  • Organised and ran workshop series for local teacher-librarians to foster teamwork and share information
2001 2005Associate Teacher, OISE/UT
  • Mentored new teacher candidates in BEd program
1998-2008School Computer Resource
  • Provided local computer assistance, maintained school computer labs, and provided in-service workshops for teachers on many aspects of IT

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

2007-2008Treasurer, Board of Directors, Scaramella Early Music concert series
  • Maintained and reported on financial records for group
  • Assisted in organisation and operation of concert series
2004-2008President, Toronto Early Music Players Organisation
  • Organised 10 monthly music workshops annually featuring Canadian and international presenters for 35 member organisation
1999-2005Newsletter Editor, Toronto Early Music Players Organisation
  • Edited and produced biannual newsletter to share members' stories and news

SELECTED INTERNET DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

RiverRun, UNB's Institutional Repository
  • Managed the repository including technical aspects and content building, adding 20,000 items in the first year,
  • Hired and trained students to assist in development,
  • Liaised with deans and faculty to promote open access initiative.
Connell Memorial Herbarium
  • Initiated and oversaw project to digitise vascular plant sample vouchers in high-resolution for web access,
  • Reworked metadata for 45,000 records to conform to the Darwin Core Metadata Standard,
Federated Search
  • Developed project to federate searching of UNB’s many digital resources across multiple platforms and server locations and to highlight collections,
  • Configured Google Search Appliance to crawl accross 35 disperate collections.
Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Language Portal
  • Managed development of complex aboriginal language site involving local and international stakeholders, featuring community sourced data.
Women Social Activists of Atlantic Canada
  • Oversaw development of faculty publication online, including advising on copyright issues, web usability, design, and copy editing.
History of Education in New Brunswick
  • Initiated and implemented refurbished digital publication of this important local primary resource.

PUBLICATIONS

Allen, G. (Oct. 2009). Measuring the Value of Library Services: An Outline for Nova Scotia. [Consultative Report] Library Boards Association of Nova Scotia.
2004-2007Regular Music Review contributor, American Recorder Magazine
2004Co-author, Teaching New France Through the Research Process. TDSB Library department

PRESENTATIONS

2011Allen, G. & Stepelfeldt, K. Renovations at the Roach Motel. Canadian Library Association, Halifax 2011.
2010Allen, G., Dorey, J., Leinberger, A., & Georgopalis, R. ACA@School. Panel discussion, Association of Canadian Archivists conference, Halifax 2010.
2009Allen, G. Measuring the Value of Library Services: An Outline for Nova Scotia. Presentation for Nova Scotia Council of Regional Librarians.
2004Allen, G. Teaching New France Through the Research Process. TDSB Library dept. Summer Institute.

AWARDS & HONOURS

Leadership Award, Dalhousie School of Information Management 2010
Canadian Library Association/ACB Dafoe Scholarship 2008
Graduate Studies Scholarship, Dalhousie University2008
The Professor George Metcalf Scholarship, Victoria University 1998
Faculty Scholar (Dean's List), University of Toronto1993-95

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT

Council of Atlantic University Libraries communication committee2011-2012
CLA Conference program selection committee2011-
Treasurer, Association of Canadian Archivists, Dalhousie student chapter2009
Student Representative, Curriculum and Continuing Education Committee, School of Information Management, Dalhousie University2008-2010
Report Card Administrator, Bowmore Rd. PS2007-2008
Equity Representative & Technology lead, Windfields JHS2003-2006
Information Technology Representative, Wilkinson PS1998-2003
Member, Association of Canadian Archivists2008-2011
Member, Ontario College of Teachers1998-2009

COMPUTER SKILLS

Operating systems: PC and Mac platforms

Databases: DSpace, Fedora-Commons, MS Access, FileMaker Pro, ArcView GIS, SirsiDynix Horizon, LimeSurvey

Content Management Systems: Drupal, Joomla!, Wordpress

Office Tools: MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, Open Office

Knowledge Management: FirstClass communication systems

Graphics: Adobe Photoshop

Web design: HTML, CSS, XML, XSLT, Oxygen

LANGUAGES

Reading knowledge of Latin, Old English, Middle English, German, French

Last updated: April 2012.

The image on this page is from a photograph of the print The Wave (1970) by Inuit artist Simon Tookoome from my collection.