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BC Library Conference 2016

May 11–13, 2016

Richmond, BC

T13: The DReSS Detectives

Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 1:45 PM–2:30 PM PDT
Westminster 3
Session Description

The DReSS Detectives

The purpose of this presentation is to share a case study about a trial collaboration between an academic library, academic department and a community organization, and to inspire librarians to seek collaborative opportunities with community partnerships that involve non-traditional collections.

Who’s involved in the case? The KPU Wilson School of Design History of Fashion students and faculty; The Vancouver based Society for the Museum of Original Costume (SMOC) and volunteers; and The KPU Library and Design Liaison Librarian/Archivist

What is the Opportunity and Motive to participate? The DReSS detectives aka students in the School of Design’s History of Costume course need access to historical garments and research materials. In turn they can offer their expert descriptive knowledge/vocabulary and conduct investigative research on historical garments – not just the facts, but the story behind that facts, too!
SMOC, a Vancouver based volunteer run organization needs help researching, cataloguing and digitizing its collection, and in return can offer access to physical artifacts and in doing so, provide an experiential research opportunity to fashion design students.
The Library wants to enhance access to physical and digital collections in a very distinctive way in order to remain relevant to design students as well as the community at large, and can offer research materials, space, equipment, digitization and cataloguing expertise.

Come to this session to discover more on the who, what, where, when and why…. and once the case study has closed, the final verdict!

Speakers

Denise Dale, MLIS, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Library
Biography

Denise Dale is the School of Design Liaison Librarian and Archivist at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She has been co-collaborating on projects involving access to physical and digital historical garment collections with Shirley Calla, Fashion Design and Technology instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
Through her liaison work and collaborative projects, Denise has expanded her traditional librarian skill set to include knowledge of historical clothing, fashion and design, clothing collection care, preservation, digitization and description. Denise is also the author of 2 books: At Your Fingertips! A Household Filing System that Works for You, and At Your Fingertips in the Office.

Shirley Calla, M.Ed., Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Wilson School of Design
Biography

Shirley Calla is currently a faculty member with the KPU Chip and Shannon Wilson School of Design, after an extensive career as a fashion designer. She recently completed her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction emphasizing Creativity, Collaboration and Critical Thinking. Her research confirmed an international movement toward the further recognition of dress archives as a critical part of the social sciences. In collaboration with KPU Librarian Denise Dale they have initiated creative access to physical and digital historical garment collections for experiential learning and research opportunities with students in the Bachelor of Design in Fashion & Technology.

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