Daily Bulletin

The library gets a new face

Says Mary Stanley of the UW library office: "Three years ago, the University Librarians of Guelph, Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier decided to explore the benefits of purchasing the same commercial library automation system. It made sense: all three libraries needed a new network and computing environment. The UW Library's system was experiencing hardware failures due to the age of the equipment and lack of vendor support.

"Everyone in the Library has been involved in some degree with the new system. Staff have been involved in the system selection process, implementation, training, installing new workstations, etc. And now, we are ready to let our users experience TRELLIS. No doubt there will be a few bugs to work out during the summer months. Our intention is to have the kinks worked out by September when we will have the official launch."

Right now, Trellis (sorry, TRELLIS) is most visible to users as a replacement for the library's old catalogue, WatCat. But it combines the catalogues of all three universities' collections, more than 3 million titles. Students, faculty and staff can now search and access the collections of all three libraries from one system.

Stanley lists some other benefits of the new system: "It's a graphical-based system that uses Windows features; offers expanded searching capabilities; allows you to search for journal titles; provides hypertext links in the records so that you can do a new search easily on subject headings and authors; provides links to electronic journals and other online resources from the catalogue record; allows users to connect to not only the library catalogue but also to computer-based indexes and abstracts, electronic publications, and world wide web resources."

Because TRELLIS is a circulation system as well as a catalogue, users can also check their own records online -- to see what books they have out, whether books they've requested are available now, and so on. There are also behind-the-scenes "modules" of the system, of importance to the people who order and process library materials.

The library will be providing TRELLIS orientation sessions, help-sheets and online tutorials for students, faculty and staff, Stanley says. Right now, you can see the system on the library's own computers, or by a link from the Electronic Library, the existing library web page, which will eventually be replaced by a comprehensive TUG page.

High schoolers compete in French

Volunteer students, faculty and staff from the French department, along with numerous teachers from participating high schools, will conduct the interviews and mark the exam.

The overall winner will enjoy a two-week home stay in France (valued at $900) donated by The Language Workshop of Toronto. A $2,000 donation from Meloche-Monnex Insurance Brokers will provide the round-trip airfare. Second prize is a cash award of $500. Third prize is $250. Other commercial and non-commercial sponsors have donated $100 or more each to fund these prizes as well as plaques and dictionary prizes for individual county winners, individual winners in the top one third of the participants and top schools in each county.

Says Pat Aplevich, chair of the French contest this year: "We also acknowledge numerous high school teachers, school boards, colleagues, Canadian Parents for French and other companies who have also donated to the Contest to provide the $5,000 worth of prizes which will be awarded on May 21 at the 25th Anniversary Gala Awards Banquet, in the Festival Room, South Campus Hall."

Staff positions available

• Building Serviceperson 1 -- Carpenter, Plant Operations-Building Section: Must have a minimum of a Grade 10 vocational education or equivalent and Provincial trade certification. Five (5) years recent experience in custom fabrication/cabinet-making in addition to extensive experience in general carpentry, an understanding of all related tools, shop equipment and techniques. The ability to read and interpret blueprints and drawings is essential. (Qualified candidates within department)
• Apprentice (Painter), Plant Operations, Building Section: Must have a minimum of Grade 10 education or equivalent and have a demonstrated interest and aptitude to learn painting techniques and the reading of blueprints and drawings. Selection of candidates will be in accordance with Article 22 of the Collective Agreement. The apprenticeship program consists of three periods of training of 1800 hours each.
• Benefits Co-ordinator, Human Resources, USG 8/9: A University degree or equivalent education and experience. Demonstrated knowledge/experience of related legislation such a Workplace Safety Insurance Act, Human Rights and University policy/procedures. Data management experience and demonstrated skill with word processing, spread sheet applications (Excel), HTML and the World Wide Web. Enrolled in or willing to take designated courses in the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist program. Proven oral/written communications skills, ability to work in a cross-functional team environment, problem solving/analytical skills preferably with respect to group benefit plans.
• Payroll Benefits Assistant, Human Resources, USG 4: High school graduate or equivalent education and experience. Proficient working in a computerized environment (including Word and Excel) with an aptitude for accurate and detail work, including account reconciliation. Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Proven communication skills, both oral and written. Ability to set priorities and handle multiple deadlines, working both independently and in a cross-functional team environment. Knowledge of University payroll and benefits preferred. One year appointment, subject to renewal and contingent on funding.
• Receptionist, Distance and Continuing Education, USG 4: High school graduate or equivalent with some post-secondary education preferred. Proven customer service skills and office experience, preferably in a university environment. Knowledge of university policy and procedures particularly as they relate to part-time studies, distance and continuing education. Proficient computer skills including WordPerfect, Word, Excel and FileMaker Pro. Excellent communication (written and oral), interpersonal and organizational skills.

Ottawa loses football trophy

The CIAU announced penalties against Ottawa on April 24, saying there had been two violations of CIAU eligibility regulations in the football program in 1997:

"The two (2) student-athletes in 1997 did not successfully complete the required courses to be deemed students in 'good standing' according to CIAU regulations", remarked CIAU President, Tom Allen. "Based on the information submitted, the CIAU Executive Committee is satisfied that the problems resulted from administrative errors and in no way reflect an intention to deceive on the part of the University of Ottawa. The CIAU remains committed, however, to the integrity of interuniversity sport in Canada and must at all times rigorously enforce the rules regarding academic eligibility," added Mr. Allen.

In addition, U of O will be fined $2,000, and in 1998 and 1999 it faces additional sanctions -- the team can't be ranked in the national top ten, can't be included in television coverage for regular season games, and can't host post-season games. There will also be "audits of the eligibility operations and procedures relating to their CIAU athletic program".

The CIAU said Ottawa coach Larry Ring had been cleared of "violations" involving improper recruiting of football players and knowledge that players were using drugs. Charges of those violations, made by officials at Ottawa's athletic rival, Carleton University, led to an internal investigation that found the two violations of rules for which Ottawa is now being punished.

The whole affair comes at an embarrassing time for the University of Ottawa, which is marking its 150th anniversary in 1998. First called the College of Bytown, the university was a Roman Catholic institution until 1965. A major part of the anniversary celebration is the and Humanities, better known as the Learned Societies Conferences, which will bring thousands of academics to U of O in late May and early June.

For the rest of the fiscal year

Year-end means inventory for some UW departments, with the result that certain services will be closed to count the stock:

• Graphics copy centres will close at 12 noon tomorrow. Three of them -- Graphics Express, Environmental Studies and Davis Centre -- will reopen at 4:40 p.m. "Jobs will be handled through Main Graphics during the closure," a memo sys. "Please contact Marion Murie at ext. 3542 for assistance."
• Retail services outlets -- the bookstore, UW Shop and computer store -- will be closed Friday and Saturday. (Last week's Gazette was wrong in saying the stores would be closed Thursday.)

The department of recreation and leisure studies will hold its annual graduate conference tomorrow -- "a forum for grad student presentations", Laurene Rehman explains. "As well, two guest speakers will be on campus to share their research." The visitors are Miriam Lahey of the City University of New York, speaking on "dark play", and Don Dawson of the University of Ottawa, speaking on "the new class and the problem of leisure". The day's events take place in Matthews Hall room 1621; for more information, Rehman can be reached at ext. 3894.

The department of computer science is closed today and tomorrow for a departmental retreat -- back in the office Friday.

St. Paul's United College will hold its annual fund-raising dinner and auction this Saturday night. Tickets are $50 "and are partially tax deductible", says principal Helga Mills. "The public is invited to the pre- and post-dinner live and silent auctions, which begin at 5:30 p.m. Many of the items are related to this year's gardening theme."

CAR

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
credmond@uwaterloo.ca | (519) 888-4567 ext. 3004
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