EDUCATION
2010 | Masters Library & Information Studies Dalhousie University |
1998 | Bachelor of Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE/UT) |
1996 | Masters of Arts Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto |
1995 | Honours Bachelor of Arts with high distinction, University of Toronto
Medieval Studies specialist, Fine Art History major, English minor
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1985-1987 | Fashion Technique and Design, Sheridan College |
ADDITIONAL TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS – OISE/UT
2007 | Special Education Specialist |
2006 | Librarianship – parts 1 & 2 |
1998 | Intermediate 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.
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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: LIBRARY
2010-2012 | Digital 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
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2009-2010 | Student Intern, Archives and Special Collections, Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University
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- 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
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PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: LIBRARY
2003-2006 | Teacher-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
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2001-2003 | Teacher-Librarian, Wilkinson P. S., TDSB
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- 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
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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: TEACHING
2010 | Teaching Assistant Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University |
- Taught tutorial sessions for undergraduate Knowledge Management course (MGMT2601)
- Assessed student learning to help guide the learning process
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2009 | Teaching 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
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PUBLIC SCHOOL EXPERIENCE: TEACHING (TDSB)
2007-2008 | Special 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
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2006-2007 | Special 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
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1998-2001 | Teacher Grade 4/5 Wilkinson PS |
- Developed and taught split grade program with integrated Special Ed.
- Acted as IT, Equity, and Language Arts Representative
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PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP/MENTORING
2009-2010 | Chair, Information Without Borders Conference Committee, Dalhousie University |
- Organised and ran a nine member committee for the 2010 student-led conference on information management
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2002-2003 | Teacher–Librarian Facilitator, TDSB family of schools |
- Organised and ran workshop series for local teacher-librarians to foster teamwork and share information
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2001 2005 | Associate Teacher, OISE/UT |
- Mentored new teacher candidates in BEd program
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1998-2008 | School Computer Resource |
- Provided local computer assistance, maintained school computer labs, and provided in-service workshops for teachers on many aspects of IT
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COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
2007-2008 | Treasurer, Board of Directors, Scaramella Early Music concert series |
- Maintained and reported on financial records for group
- Assisted in organisation and operation of concert series
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2004-2008 | President, Toronto Early Music Players Organisation |
- Organised 10 monthly music workshops annually featuring Canadian and international presenters for 35 member organisation
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1999-2005 | Newsletter Editor, Toronto Early Music Players Organisation |
- Edited and produced biannual newsletter to share members' stories and news
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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.
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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,
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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.
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Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Language Portal |
- Managed development of complex aboriginal language site involving local and international stakeholders, featuring community sourced data.
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Women Social Activists of Atlantic Canada |
- Oversaw development of faculty publication online, including advising on copyright issues, web usability, design, and copy editing.
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History of Education in New Brunswick |
- Initiated and implemented refurbished digital publication of this important local primary resource.
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PUBLICATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
2011 | Allen, G. & Stepelfeldt, K. Renovations at the Roach Motel. Canadian Library Association, Halifax 2011. |
2010 | Allen, G., Dorey, J., Leinberger, A., & Georgopalis, R. ACA@School. Panel discussion, Association of Canadian Archivists conference, Halifax 2010. |
2009 | Allen, G. Measuring the Value of Library Services: An Outline for Nova Scotia. Presentation for Nova Scotia Council of Regional Librarians. |
2004 | Allen, 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 University | 2008 |
The Professor George Metcalf Scholarship, Victoria University | 1998 |
Faculty Scholar (Dean's List), University of Toronto | 1993-95 |
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Council of Atlantic University Libraries communication committee | 2011-2012 |
CLA Conference program selection committee | 2011- |
Treasurer, Association of Canadian Archivists, Dalhousie student chapter | 2009 |
Student Representative, Curriculum and Continuing Education Committee, School of Information Management, Dalhousie University | 2008-2010 |
Report Card Administrator, Bowmore Rd. PS | 2007-2008 |
Equity Representative & Technology lead, Windfields JHS | 2003-2006 |
Information Technology Representative, Wilkinson PS | 1998-2003 |
Member, Association of Canadian Archivists | 2008-2011 |
Member, Ontario College of Teachers | 1998-2009 |
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.