Milestones

Milestones

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Milestones

  • 1982: The presidents and chief librarians of five metro Halifax universities saw the potential of sharing a single automated system through a cooperative initiative. The Council of Metro University Librarians (COMUL) was formed with Dalhousie University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Saint Mary’s University, and the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
  • 1983: Presidents agree to a COMUL proposal that the Universities jointly acquire and manage an integrated automated library system to handle the ordering, cataloguing, circulation, and bibliographic control of the total holdings of the cooperating institutions.
  • 1985: Presidents agree in principle to the formation of the Novanet consortia; Novanet Interim Management Board established.
  • 1987: Contract signed for Geac GLIS system; Novanet Coordinating Committee replaces Interim Board
  • 1988: Automated system implemented; Novanet becomes a division of Interuniversity Services Inc.(ISI), an incorporated body established to provide purchasing and centralized services for Atlantic universities; Manager of Information Systems hired, with a Systems Administrator and an Operations Technician in support positions. Member Libraries Agreement signed.
  • 1990: University College of Cape Breton becomes member; Novanet Management Committee replaces Novanet Coordinating Committee to oversee both policy and systems operations.
  • 1991: University of King’s College becomes member
  • 1992: Atlantic School of Theology becomes member
  • 1993: Novanet celebrated 5th anniversary
  • 1994: St. Francis Xavier University becomes member; Novanet is incorporated April 22; GEAC Advance system implemented;
  • 1995: Executive Director position created.
  • 1997: Novanet Plan approved 1997-1998
  • 1998: Nova Scotia Community College (12 campuses) becomes member; Novanet celebrated 10th anniversary. Return Anywhere and Pay Fines Anywhere policies implemented. Basic and For-Fee services defined including the establishment of an Off-Campus Borrower patron group. After a successful trial period, Novanet Express made permanent. 3rd strategic plan approved.
  • 1999: Nova Scotia Agricultural College becomes member. Novanet Planning Meeting discusses organizational issues. Novanet hosts Geac ADVANCE Users’ Group meeting. Novanet co-sponsors reception for Dr. Roch Carrier, the new national librarian. Assistant Director (Systems) resigned after 10 years of service to Novanet. Review begun to establish appropriate future roles and structures of committees. Novanet Plan approved 200-2002. east Coast Relais Consortium (ECRC) established by CAUL/CBUA with MUN, DAL and UNB participating.
  • 2000: Novanet Governance Workshop held with representatives of Management Committee, Committee of chairs, Board of Directory and ISI Director. Novanet celebrated 2 millionth volume added to database. Task Force recommends Geac upgrade to ADVANCE 6.8. Windsor Foundation approves 50:50 matching grant of $250,000. Novanet office moves from Young St. to Bedford – Sun Life Building. Working Group on Distance Education established. CAUL/CBUA signs 2 year agreement to share services of Executive Director. ECRC goes live December 4, 2000 at Dalhousie Killam and Kellogg.
  • 2001: Novanet governance structure changed effective October 19, 2001. Novanet Policy Board replaces Novanet Management Committee and hand over system operational decision-making to Novanet System Operations Committee (NSOC) with standing committees for functional areas (Acquisitions, Cataloguing, OPAC, Lending, and IT). Chairs of functional groups are elected. Agreement reached with Canada Post for document delivery.
  • 2002: Matching funds identified for Windsor Foundation grant. Distance Education Project receives grant of $90,000 approved by HRDC Office of Learning Technologies over 2 years. The first annual Novanet Planning Day held June 7, 2002 in the Compass Room, Casino Nova Scotia. Executive Director retires June 30, 2002.
  • 2003: RFP Process to replace GEAC ADVANCE coordinated by Interuniversity Services Inc. (ISI) and the ILS Subcommittee appointed by Novanet Policy Board. CAUL/CBUA selects Sirsi “Rooms” software to create ASIN: Atlantic Scholarly Information Network – a library portal for regional access to collections. The 2nd Novanet Planning Day takes place in Antigonish May 8th, 2003.
  • 2004: Demonstrations held for three systems responding to the RFP with wide participation by the Novanet community. Board of Directors approves purchase of Ex Libris Aleph system and signs contract. Project Manager is seconded from the university community with technical lead supplied by Novanet Systems staff. Distance Education Project submits final report.
  • 2005: The 4th Novanet Planning Day takes place in Truro April 29, 2005. Novanet implements Ex Libris Aleph system, going live January 2006. Novanet libraries join ASIN (Atlantic Scholarly Information Network) of CAUL/CBUL (Council of Atlantic University Libraries) for regional federated searching with Sirsi Rooms, document delivery with Relais through ECRC, Link Resolver and other scholarly portal services.

Novanet Chairs

  • 1985-86: Novanet Interim Management Board

    • Lucien Bianchini (MSVU)
  • 1987-88: Novanet Coordinating Committee
    • William Birdsall (DAL)
  • 1988-89: Novanet Member Libraries Agreement signed 1988
    • Ron Lewis (SMU)
  • 1990-91: Novanet Management Committee
    • Lucien Bianchini (MSVU)
  • 1992-93:
    • Ilga Leja (NSCAD)
  • 1993-94:
    • Ron Lewis (SMU)
  • 1994-95:
    • Penny Marshall (UCCB)
  • 1995-96:
    • William Birdsall (DAL)
  • 1996-97:
    • Donna Richardson (TUNS)
    • Rita Campbell (Acting Chair)
  • 1997-98:
    • Rita Campbell (STFX)
  • 1998-99:
    • Penny Marshall (UCCB)
  • 1999-2000:
    • Ilga Leja (NSCAD)
  • 2000-01:
    • William Maes (DAL)
  • 2001-02: Novanet Policy Board
    • Marie DeYoung (NSCC)
  • 2002-03:
    • Rita Campbell (STFX)
  • 2003-04:
    • William Maes (DAL)
  • 2004-05:
    • Marie DeYoung (NSCC)
  • 2005-06:
    • Wayne Cole (CBU)
  • 2006-07:
    • William Maes (DAL)
  • 2007-08:
    • Donna Bourne-Tyson (MSVU)
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