Library News

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05/04/11--10:05: Two Lucky Survey Winners Claim Their Prizes (chan 1857311)

Two individuals were randomly chosen to win a $25 Hospitality Services gift card after filling out the Communications Survey released by the Library at the end of the winter semester. Sarah Fay Therrien-Green, a second year Human Kinetics major and Bobbi Henneker, a third year Philosophy major both frequent the Library on a regular basis and were enthusiastic to complete the survey.

The Library is very excited about the overwhelming response rate. There were over 2500 completed surveys from undergraduate and graduate students whose input will be very useful. The goal of the survey is to explore students’ use of communication tools and communication preferences in an attempt to develop new communication methods and to improve existing methods. The Communications Department plans to use the data collected for various inititatives over the coming months.

The Library constantly aims to improve the user experience and we appreciate your help. If you have questions or concerns regarding the survey, please contact Abbey Thompson, Communications Officer, at abbeytho@uoguelph.ca.




07/15/11--10:07: Branch Research Data Centre Open for Use (chan 1857311)

The Grand Opening of the Branch Research Data Centre (BRDC) was held on May 12th, 2011 and it is now open for users. The BRDC is a great addition to the University that allows researchers to access Statistics Canada Master files in a secure environment. Researchers will have access to confidential micro-data from population and household surveys. This data will aid in understanding Canada’s social, health and economic landscape, discerning patterns and trends, and conducting quantitative analyses on numerous social issues.

The BRDC is a significant step for the University of Guelph to support research in health and sciences. Approved researchers can now access the BRDC Monday through Thursday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. For further information on applying for access to Statistics Canada Master files please contact the BRDC at brdc@uoguelph.ca or Extension 56531.




07/18/11--10:07: We're testing an improvement to Primo! (chan 1857311)

Have you ever wished that you could search for books and online journals in one step? Now you can!

Your University of Guelph Library is testing an improvement to Primo. This improvement is an add-in called PRIMO CENTRAL. This add-in enables the regular Primo you know and love to also search hundreds of millions of electronic resources. Resources searched include: ebooks, electronic journals, news articles and more!

We’re hoping that as you use the newly enhanced Primo, that you’ll take a moment and provide us with a few comments. Your feedback will help us evaluate the success of the Primo Central trial. Let us know how you feel by clicking the FEEDBACK link at the bottom of Primo.

To find out more about our temporarily enhanced version of Primo, click the FAQ link at the bottom of any page in Primo.

Please let us know what you think!

Your University of Guelph Library.




09/08/11--10:09: Successful OMAFRA KTT Grant (chan 1857311)

The Library would like to congratulate Wayne Johnston and Carol Perry for the recent grant awarded by the OMAFRA KTT programme for their Ontario Agri-Environmental Research Data Repository project.

Wayne and Carol aim to establish a sustainable strategy and set of tools for the archival storage, preservation and accessibility of Ontario agri-environmental research data. They hope to create a system that allows users to easily submit data sets, discover data sets and repurpose data sets.

The project will receive $75,000 that Wayne and Carol plan to use to hire a data manager. They have begun work on the project this summer with the goal of hiring a data manager in early 2012.

The Library is very excited to follow the progress of their project.




09/08/11--10:09: Expanding Your Reach: Electronic Thesis Submission (chan 1857311)

Electronic submission of theses is now required by the University of Guelph and is fully operational through the Library’s institutional repository, the Atrium. All theses will be published and made available on the World Wide Web through the Atrium which will be harvested and made available through the Library and Archives Canada (LAC) collections database.

As of January 2014, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) will no longer accept paper theses. The inclusion of electronic thesis submission makes Guelph’s graduate research widely available, in a timely fashion, and ensures that our valuable campus graduate work gets the exposure it deserves. Through this initiative we support Library and Archives Canada's vision of providing access to the academic research of Canadian graduate students and showcasing it around the world. Researchers from around the world will be able to access this work for decades.

The Library offers free Electronic Thesis & Dissertations: Hands-on submission workshops once a month. To sign up for a session, visit REG at http://www.uoguelph.ca/studentaffairs/reg/. For further questions, please email lib.research@uoguelph.ca.




01/10/12--09:01: Steeves Selected as Acting CIO and Chief Librarian (chan 1857311)

Catherine Steeves, who has held the position of Associate Chief Librarian for the University of Guelph since 2004, has been appointed Acting CIO and Chief Librarian by the University Provost, Dr. Maureen Mancuso. This position is effective as of January 1, 2012.

In addition to her strong commitment to the profession of Librarianship, having served on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Library Association and past board member of the Ontario Library Association, Catherine holds a strong IT background and demonstrates strong leadership skills. Steeves holds an MLIS from the University of Western Ontario and a BA from McGill University. Her past experience includes working as the ITS Operations Manager and Government Documents Librarian for the University of Alberta Libraries.

She has been a participant in and facilitator for the Northern Exposure to Leadership Institute (in 1999 and 2002 respectively) and has also attended the Harvard/ACRL Higher Education Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians. Most recently, she completed the ARL Research Library Leadership Fellows Program which provided her with the opportunity to explore research library leadership, within the context of rapid change in higher education and research, by engaging directly with University leaders and senior administrators from a diverse set of organizations across North America. Catherine also played a significant leadership role in the transitioning of the University of Guelph Library to its new team-based service model.

Catherine can be reached at csteeves@uoguelph.ca.




01/12/12--09:01: Library Signage – Wayfinding to Help You Find Your Way (chan 1857311)

Tell us what you think. Recent student surveys revealed the need to improve signage in the Library. In response, the Library underwent a major signage renewal project to assist with wayfinding for students, faculty and staff.

Although new signs are in place, the project remains in progress. We want to know what you think - are there areas that still need improvement? Are the signs clear, easy to read and easy to understand? Please provide comments and feedback to libcomm@uoguelph.ca.

We value your opinion and hope to use your feedback to provide a clean, efficient and consistent signage system throughout the Library.




01/27/12--09:01: Writer's Workshop - Find Your Perfect Match... (chan 1857311)

Whether you’re interested in fiction writing, magazine writing, tweeting or scientific journals, there is a session suited for you at the Writers’ Workshop. The workshop sessions are designed to provide hands-on, practical tips and instruction for a wide variety of writing needs.

The Writer's Workshop is a two day event on February 23rd & 24th open and free to all students, faculty, staff and alumni. The greater Guelph community is also very welcome to attend these sessions at a cost of $30 per session or $50 for a day pass. We do strongly recommend that you register early for sessions you wish to attend as seating is very limited.

Visit the conference website for a full list of the available sessions along with a brief biography of the session leaders.

If you are interested in leading a workshop, or you have comments or questions, please contact us at: libcomm@uoguelph.ca

Thank you for your interest in the Writer's Workshop, we hope to see you at the event.








02/03/12--09:02: Step Right Up - William's is Here to Stay (chan 1857311)

The word is out and users have chosen to keep William’s Coffee Pub in the Library. In partnership with Hospitality Services, the Library released two recent surveys for Library staff and students to discover whether users would prefer Starbucks over William’s.

The surveys were open for a week and both had very good response rates. Ninety-eight staff members completed the survey and over 53% prefer William’s. Obviously, many staff members use the services of William’s on a regular basis and wanted to voice their opinions.

Along with staff responses, over 1700 students completed the survey. Clearly students make up a large portion of our user group and 62% prefer William’s, while only 34% prefer Starbucks and 5% have no preference.

Both the Library and Hospitality Services continue to work together to better meet the needs of Library users. The Library is enthusiastic about the decision to keep William’s and encourages individuals to provide continuous feedback. Please contact libcomm@uoguelph.ca with comments or questions.




02/06/12--09:02: Black History Month - Free resources from ProQuest (chan 1857311)

In honour of Black History Month, ProQuest is making some of its history resources freely available during February. These resources relate mainly to black history in the United States.

The Library has other resources related to black history, such as the following collections of documents:

• Black Thought and Culture
  
• Slavery, Abolition and Social Justice
• Black Drama

For black history in Canada, try resources such as:

• Early Canadiana Online
• Canadian Newsstand, which includes a collection of black newspapers (content from 2004 onwards, but including articles on black history)




02/10/12--09:02: IP Learning Series - Dialogue and Discussions (chan 1857311)

BDO in collaboration with the University’s Research Enterprise & Scholarly Communications and the Centre for Open Learning and Educational Support proudly presents an Intellectual Property Learning Series.

When:

Feb 16, Mar 14, Mar 29 and Apr 26, 2012

Where:

McLaughlin Library Room 384

Who Should Attend:

Faculty members, Professional Staff and students, graduates and undergraduates inter-ested in integrating the IP knowledge to their Academic and Research activities.

Objectives:

To provide linkages between different aspects of IP to Academic and Scholarly activities by providing real-life case studies and fostering dialogue and discussions on IP matters that are becoming increasingly dominant and embedded in research and business mod-els..

What to expect:

This will be a fabulous opportunity for you to hear and learn from the Business/Professional experts and some of our own Scholarly Community, to make intellectual property your best academic ally.

10:30—12:00: Case Studies and Concepts presentation and Discussion

12:00—12:30: Networking Lunch

Topics will include:

Feb 16 Copyright and Fair Dealing Policy, Software and App Creation

Mar 14 Patenting Inventions

Mar 29 Canadian Intellectual Property Office Case Studies—Cell Bio Thera- peutics

Apr 26 World Intellectual Property Day—A Special Panel

Register through: http://www.tss.uoguelph.ca/registration/index.cfm

Please register a.s.a.p. Space is limited. There is no cost for Registration

Contact hsarma@uoguelph.ca for further details on this new initiative.




02/21/12--09:02: More hydro outlets being installed this week (chan 1857311)

An additional 29 receptacles (or 58 outlets) are being installed in the McLaughlin building. Work will begin Tuesday February 21st. Installation is expected to take approximately 1 week to complete. There will be an increase in the noise level for short durations due to drilling.




02/22/12--09:02: Library Releases New Strategic Plan (chan 1857311)

In its newly published strategic plan,Balance and Renewal: Library Integrated Plan 2012/13 -2016/17, the University of Guelph Library positions itself for the future by prioritizing four strategic areas of activity which were first highlighted in the Library’s first five-year Integrated Plan (2006-2010), but which we believe remain central to the Library’s mission.

These strategic goals are:

1. Transform Library Space to Support Teaching, Learning and Research

2. Enhance the Teaching and Learning Environment

3. Support the Research Community through Collaboration

4. Make our resources easier to Find and more Accessible

In order to help us achieve these strategic goals, Balance and Renewal also identifies two key strategic enablers which will provide crucial support as we enact our plan:

A) Cultivating People, Teams and Organization

B) Creating a Sustainable Path for Library Funding and Resources

Drawing on extensive consultation with our users and staff in fall, 2011, the Library has identified our new strategic goals in order to respond to core client needs - for space, learning and research support, and access to information. The Library, as an integral part of the Office of the CIO & Chief Librarian, is central to the University campus both geographically and strategically, and our mandate as articulated by our users remains the same as in years past: to enhance learning through the provision of expertise, leadership, services and resources that support academic objectives and foster lifelong learning.

Our new strategic priorities are also informed by the Library’s vision statement:

To be central to the University community as a valued facilitator, partner and catalyst for learning, research and knowledge-creation on campus.

We believe that the Balance and Renewal Integrated Plan provides a road map for the Library’s future that is responsive to the needs of our current academic users, but which also recognizes the need to continuously adapt to the rapidly changing landscapes (social and technological) within which modern academic libraries exist. Over the coming five years, we will continue to engage in dialogue with our academic community in order to ensure that we meet the expectations and obligations established in this document.