Brenda Smith, MA, MLIS (she/her)

Open Education Librarian
Associate Librarian
Contact
Phone: 250-828-5098
Email: brsmith@tru.ca
Office: HL 428
Liaison areas
Open Learning
Open Education (inlcuding Open Educational Resources (OERs), Open Textbooks, and open pedagogy)
Environment Culture & Society (Geography and Environmental Studies, Anthropology, and Sociology)
Philosophy, History, and Political Studies (PHP)
Areas of responsibility
Contact for Open Educational Resources (OERs) and Open Textbooks
Coordination of Distance, Regional, and Open Learning Library Services
Research guides
Research guides that I edit:
Selected Presentations, publications, and achievements
Selected presentations and publications
Smith, B., Harrison, M., and Roberts, V. (October 2022). Sharing the Many Ways to Design for Open Learning Through ZTC Pathway Courses. Online presentation at OpenEd 2022 Open Education Conference.
Noakes, J., and Smith, B. (June 2022). From University to Career: Textbook Launch. Online presentation at Cooperative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada) conference.
Ives, C., Bartlett, M., Dishke Hondzel, C., and Smith, B. (June 2022). CRICKET Hackathon: Co-creating an OER for Educational Developers and Instructional Designers. Pre-conference workshop at Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE). Ottawa, ON.
Smith, B., Bartlett, M., and Ives, C. (May 2022). CRICKET: An OER for Educational Developers and Instructional Designers. Online presentation for Open Technology in Education, Society, and Scholarship Association (OTESSA) in conjunction with Congress 2022 (Federation of Social Sciences and Humanities).
Smith, B., Lamb, B., Ives, C., Dishke Hondzel, C., and Bartlett, M. (March 2022). CRICKET: An OER for Educational Developers and Instructional Designers. Presentation at BCNet Connect Higher Ed & Research Tech Summit. Vancouver, BC.
Loepelmann, K., Jessel, C., Nizami, U., Roberts, V., Smith, B., Macnaughton, S., Ratcliffe, C., and Ludbrook, A. (March 2022). Zero Textbook Cost Panel. Online panel presentation at University of Alberta Open Education Symposium.
Smith, B., Monroe, K., Miller, C., and Dishke Hondzel, C. (October 2021). Embracing Open for All: Initiatives in Support of Kw’seltktnéws, Online presentation at OpenEd 2021: Open Education Conference.
Lambert, K., Meyers, M., Smith, B., and Daddey, F. (April 2021). So You Want to Build a Zero Textbook Program. Online presentation at Cascadia Open Education Summit.
Miller, C., Dishke Hondzel, C., Gaynor, K., and Smith, B. (April 2021). From Seeds to Harvest: Local Care Leads to Global Impact, Online presentation at Cascadia Open Education Summit.
Blicher, H., Smith, B., and Miller, H. (October 2019). Not Without My Librarian: Developing OER Advocacy and Community. Panel presentation at OpenEd 2019: Open Education Conference. Phoenix, AZ.
Belshaw, J.D., Martin, E., Block, T.M., Ishiguro, L., and Smith, B. (May 2019). The BC History Open Textbook Sprint. Panel presentation at BC Studies Conference. Kamloops, BC.
Noakes, J., Smith, B., Monroe, K., and Harrison, H. (February 2019). How to Herd Cats to Write an Open Textbook. Conference presentation at the TRU Teaching Practices Colloquium. Kamloops, BC.
Cullen, M.A., Blicher, H., Thomes, C., Smith, B., and Woodward, K. (April 2018). Open Educational Resources and Textbook Alternatives: State of the Art and Lessons Learned. Panel conference presentation at the Distance Library Services Conference. San Antonio, TX.
Flewelling, D., Smith, B., and Brander, L. (March 2017). British Columbia Open Education Librarians. Webinar presentation for the Ontario OER Librarian Day.
Flewelling, D., Smith, B., and Brander, L. (March 2017). Librarians and Open Education. Presentation at the BC Library Association's Academic Librarians Section's The Future Is Open: Libraries and Open Education event. Vancouver, BC.
Smith, B. and Lee, L. (2017). Librarians and OER: Cultivating a community of practice to be more effective advocates. Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learning, 11(1-2): 106-122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1533290X.2016.1226592
Smith, B., McGivern, R., and Monroe, K. (February 2017). Finding, Developing, and Using Open Education Resources. Conference presentation at the TRU Teaching Practices Colloquium. Kamloops, BC.
Daniels, C., Fields, E., and Smith, B. (June 2016). Help - I Want to Be Open!. Conference presentation at the Festival of Learning. Burnaby, BC.
Brander, L., Beyenir, S., Power, H., Williams, L., Smith, B., Madland, C., Flewelling, D., and Kirkey, J. (June 2016). Open Education Working Groups on Campus: Getting Traction. Panel conference presentation at the Festival of Learning. Burnaby, BC.
Smith, B., Fields, E., and Daniels, C. (May 2016). Help - I Want to Be Open!. Conference presentation at the BC Library Conference. Richmond, BC.
Smith, B. (April 2016). Distance Librarians and OERs: Cultivating a Community of Practice to Be More Effective Advocates. Conference presentation at the Distance Learning Conference. Pittsburgh, PA.
Miller, R., Smith, B., and Woodward, K. M. (April 2016). Leaning Into ... Open Educational Resources (OERs). Panel conference presentation at the Distance Learning Conference. Pittsburgh, PA. (invited presentation)
Ross, H., Epp, J., Smith, B., and Fields, E. (March 2016). The Role of Support Units in the Use and Creation of Open Textbooks. BCcampus webinar presentation for Open Education Week.
Smith, B., and Jhangiani, R. (February 2016). Improving Access, Pedagogy, and Outcomes with OER. Conference presentation at the TRU Teaching Practices Colloquium. Kamloops, BC.
Lussier, K., Smith, B., and Read, S. (February 2016). Mentoring the Department Chair. Conference presentation at the TRU Teaching Practices Colloquium. Kamloops, BC.
Lussier, K., Smith, B., and Read, S. (February 2016). Mentoring the Department Chair: Creating a Community of Support. Conference presentation at the Academic Chairpersons Conference. Charleston, SC.
Jhangiani, R., Morong, G., Smyrl, S., Smith, B., and DeVries, I. (November 2015). Open Textbooks and Open Educational Resources. Conference presentation at Opening Up TRU. Kamloops, BC.
Daniels, C., Smith, B., and Jhangiani, R. (May 2015). Academic Librarians and OER: Access, Advocacy, and Activism. Conference presentation at the BC Library Conference. Richmond, BC.
Lalonde, C., Belshaw, J., Jhangiani, R, and Smith, B. (May 2015). Building an OPEN Community. Plenary session panel discussion at TRU Open Learning Faculty Member Workshop. Kamloops, BC.
Haggarty, P. and Smith, B. (October 2014). Evaluating Open Access Journals. Presentation for TRU Library's Open Access Week activities. Kamloops, BC.
Smith, B. and Drolet, J. (May 2014). Immigration and the role of employers: A knowledge synthesis project. Conference Presentation at the National Joint Social Work Conference (Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) and the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE-ACFTS)) in conjunction with the Congress of Social Sciences and Humanities. Brock University, St. Catherines, ON.
Nilsen, C., and Smith, B. (May 2014). Online Mapping. Preconference workshop presented at the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education (CNIE) Conference. Kamloops, BC.
Drolet, J., Sampson, T., Burstein, M., Smith, B., Gredling, A., and Pasca, R. (2014). The role of employers in bridging newcomers’ absorption and integration in the Canadian labour market: A knowledge synthesis project. Prepared for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Retrieved from Pathways to Prosperity: Canada website: http://p2pcanada.ca/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2014/03/The-Role-of-Employers-in-Bridging-Newcomers-Absorption-and-Integration-in-the-Canadian-Labour-Market-A-Knowledge-Synthesis-Project.pdf
[Annotator]. Library Services for Distance Learning: Sixth Bibliography. (2013). Association of College and Research Libraries Distance Learning Section. Retrieved from: http://dlssixthbib.wordpress.com/
Gaynor, K., Nilsen, C., Rennie, E., and Smith, B. (February 2010). Teaching Information Literacy, Not How To Find Stuff. Poster session presented at the TRU Teaching Practices Colloquium. Kamloops, BC.
Gaynor, K. and Smith, B. (August 2008). So, What’s In It For Me? How The TRU Library Can Make Your Job Easier. Conference presentation at the Tech IT Up! Conference. Kamloops, BC.
Gaynor, K. and Smith, B. (August 2007). Because There Is Confusion, There Is The TRU Library Reference Services – Providing Library Research Assistance In An Online World. Conference presentation at the Tech IT Up! Conference. Kamloops, BC.
Gaynor, K. and Smith, B. (August 2006). More Than Dusty Old Books: Libraries & Technology In The 21st Century. Conference presentation at the Tech IT Up! Conference. Kamloops, BC.
Smith, B. (December 2005). Providing Reference Services to Diverse Populations in a Small University Library. Conference presentation at the Academic Librarians in Public Service (ALPS) Conference. Vancouver, BC.
Selected achievements
Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries (COPPUL) Outstanding Contribution Award, 2022
BCcampus Award for Excellence in Open Education, January 2020
TRU Distinguished Service Award (Faculty), 2019
TRU Students Union Award of Excellence - Student Advocacy Award, 2018
TRU Open Learning Champion Award, 2016
Collaborator, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Grant. Knowledge Synthesis Grant on Skills Development for Future Needs of the Canadian Labour Market: Immigration, 2013.
- Principal Investigator: Julie Drolet, Associate Professor, Social Work, University of Calgary (Edmonton, AB); Adjunct Professor, Thompson Rivers University.
Implemented Summon, Serials Solutions' discovery layer system, 2012
Implemented RelaisILL, interlibrary loan management system, 2010
Integrated the former BC Open University's and the University College of the Cariboo's distance library services to create TRU's Distance, Regional, and Open Learning Library Services, 2006-2007
Implemented OpenILL, an open source interlibrary loan management system, 2004
Selected committees
Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Distance and Online Learning Section (DOLS) Discussion Group Committee, Member, 2022-
UN SDG (United Nations Sustainable Development Goals) Open Pedagogy Faculty Fellowship Program, Leadership Team, Member, 2021-
Open Education Talks, Organizing Committee, Member, 2021-
Open Education Conference, Program Planning Committee, Member, 2022
Open Education Conference, Program Planning Team, Member, 2020 and 2021
BC Open Education Librarians (BCOEL), Chair, 2018-2019; Member, 2015-
Thompson Rivers University, Open Education Working Group, Chair, 2018-2021; Member, 2021-
Thompson Rivers University, OER Development Grant Steering Committee, 2017-2022
Thompson Rivers University, University Promotion & Tenure Committee, Member, 2018-2022
Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries, Resource Sharing Community, Inaugural Co-Chair, 2020-2021
Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Distance Learning Section (DLS) Communications Committee, 2014-2018