Annual Activities Report
2006-2007
The Instructional Resources Unit (IRU) continued to build local capacity to improve teaching and learning, focusing on the following major activities.
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Selection, acquisition, and cataloguing of learning resources, provision of print and electronic access to IRU collections, as well as reference and information assistance. The IRU provided library services in support of K-12 curriculum implementation, Appropriate Educational Programming, the Aboriginal Education Strategy, diversity and equity education, educational research, and professional learning to address K-12 educators' needs.
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With more than 9,000 active registered clients, staff fielded 21,475 queries, catalogued over 8,940 new items and circulated 111,572 resources. Forty-four Inter-Library Loans were completed for departmental staff. Sixteen programs of instruction were presented to 310 teachers and teachers in training in the IRU and 11 displays and programs of instruction were presented externally.
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The IRU acquired over 610 audio-visual items and other non-print titles including resources recommended for Social Studies, English as an Additional Language and Sustainable Development.
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Media duplication rights both for VHS and DVD formats were acquired for the 2006/07 year for CBC News in Review.
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IRU's web site was actively visited by 3,419, 428 clients and visitors using its educational rich information, including fulfilment of 600,948 successful requests for specific web pages. The Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC), as the IRU's main gateway to educational resources, served over 1,151,792 users. IRU served over 30,000 registered visitors to the Virtual Education Information Service, providing them with full text journals and E-Books online.
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Acquisition, cataloguing, and dissemination of resources identified through the Western and Northern Canadian Protocol and Manitoba Reviews of Learning Resources.
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New and revised bibliographies and catalogues included: Celebrating Music: A Selection of Resources in the Instructional Resources Unit, January 2007; Classroom Assessment to Maximize Student Learning, February 2007; Inclusive Schools, February 2007; Integrating Technology in the Curriculum, February 2007; New Teachers, August 2006; and Substance Abuse and Addictive Behaviours, February 2007.
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Application of emerging technology both for electronic collections and patron services, improving the virtual library accessibility to all Manitoba K-12 educators and department staff to support current awareness and information needs, including electronic bibliographies and new acquisition lists as well as provision of OPAC Shared View, E-Books.
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Provision of copyright clearance through the Schools%CanCopy Pan-Canadian Agreement 1999-2004, was extended on August 26, 2004, as well as copyright information assistance and workshops. Development through the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), of a framework for a national digital copyright policy, which was recommended to the federal government for the revision of copyright law. In response to Access Copyright filing a tariff for K-12 education with the Copyright Board for $12.00/student/annum, the CMEC filed as objectors both to the level of the tariff and to retroactivity. The case will be before the Copyright Board on June 12, 2007, with a decision by the Copyright Board expected in December 2007. The "Canadian Copyright Information" website was updated and expanded.
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Provision of efficient and effective delivery for new School Programs Division documents and other education literature, to specified groups and individuals in schools and Board offices via monthly bulk mailings. Approximately 825,000 items were distributed through bulk mail services.
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Provision of support services are provided to school libraries, including reference and collections assistance, consultations, reviews of new and renovated school library facilities, cataloguing information through the Internet to over 100 school libraries in Manitoba.
For the complete Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth Annual Report 2006-2007 visit: http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ar_ecy_0607/
