The Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) is dedicated to the intellectual, social, cultural, and economic development of people in British Columbia. Through providing enhanced access to information, knowledge, and innovative teaching, IKBLC creates the opportunity for future generations to be at the forefront of learning.
With digital collections in high demand, the Learning Centre offers two digitization programs supported by endowments established with Dr. Barber’s gift. The BC History Digitization Program offers matching grants to BC heritage organizations to allow for the digitization of unique local historical materials, providing access to a rich set of information and images reflecting BC’s history and culture. Now in its sixth year, the program has awarded over $1 million in grants to 129 projects.
The Indigitization program supports the preservation of aboriginal linguistic and cultural traditions, the enhancement of technology skills and capacity building in BC First Nations communities. This program focuses on digitization of audio cassettes that hold important linguistic and cultural information, as well as oral history. Since 2012, ten First Nations communities have benefitted from the program.
In 2013, the Learning Centre collaborated with the UBC Centre for Community Engaged Learning to create hands-on learning experiences for students. Community-Based Experiential Learning allows students from a range of faculties to take courses with out-of-classroom components—a recent example includes Forestry students visiting Bella Coola to create a forest management plan. Another partnership is emerging with the Aboriginal Enhancement Schools Network. The Learning Centre provides funding for K-12 classroom teachers in 15 schools to encourage transition to post-secondary studies by aboriginal students.
The Learning Centre also offers the Small Business Accelerator, an online portal that provides access to resources and information for BC entrepreneurs and small businesses; free online access to over 200 webcasts reflecting a range of IKBLC’s scholarly output; and art and culture exhibits that reflect and engage with the cultural make-up of the province. The impact of Dr. Barber’s investment in community and education continues to flourish now and into the future.
To learn more about the programs IKBLC has to offer, visit their website. To learn how you can contribute, contact us at 604 827-3943.
This story appeared in the Friends 2014 Winter issue.