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The LibVine

What's going on at the Dalhousie Libraries

Category: Featured News

New! Sign in to Borealis Data Repository with your Dal Credentials

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On September 20, Dalhousie’s data repository (Dalhousie Dataverse @ Borealis) enabled institutional logins. This exciting development means you can log in with your Dalhousie credentials – so you have one less password to remember!

To make the switch, follow these steps:

  1. Select Dalhousie University from the Your Institution drop-down menu.
  2. Follow the instructions to log in via Dalhousie’s authentication page (single-sign-in).
  3. Enter your standard account details when prompted.
  4. Review the terms of use.
  5. Click the Convert Account button.

The Borealis help menu provides additional step-by-step guidance on switching from a standard to an institutional account.

Please contact the Research Data Management Team at data.management@dal.ca if you have any questions.

Free Two-Part Workshop – Make an Orange Shirt Day Pin

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In recognition of and preparation for Orange Shirt Day and the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation on September 30, Dal Libraries presents a free two-part workshop to make Orange Shirt Day pins.

Instructional Support Technician Michelle McDonald, a beader from Sipekne’katik, is offering a two-part, in-person beading workshop where participants will learn how to bead their own pin.

  • Free! All materials are supplied.
  • Sign-up required: You must commit to attending both workshops in person in the Ko’jua Okuom at the Killam Memorial Library.
  • Beginners welcome! It is also very helpful if you have sewing or embroidery experience.
  • Tools to bring: (Suggested) Due to the bead size, it may be helpful to bring a pair of magnifying glasses.

When? September 21 & 28, 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

REGISTER NOW!

GISciences Centre’s Lunchless Learn Series: Fall 2023

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What is a Lunchless Learn? It’s a hands-on tutorial, held around lunchtime, open to all on campus – without the food!

A GIS, or Geographic Information System, is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analyzing and displaying data relating to positions on earth’s surface. In other words, it’s an easy and fun way to look at the world differently.

This series will give you a taste of what GIS is and how it can be used. These sessions are meant to be self-contained. After the intro session, take only the topics that are important or of interest to you.

This year, the Lunchless Learns are being taught using two different software packages – ArcGIS Pro and QGIS. ArcGIS Pro is currently the leading commercial GIS Software that is available only using the Windows platform. QGIS is an open-source software that is available across many platforms (the demo is shown on a Windows platform).  The content of both sessions is the same, only the software is different.

In order to run the ArcGIS Pro sessions, you will need to use either a Dalhousie Windows machine (in the library or lab), have the software downloaded on your own machine, or run it on VLab (ArcGIS). If you are not familiar with VLab, please read about it prior to the start of the session.

To run the sessions in QGIS, you must have QGIS loaded on the machine you’ll be working on – download the QGIS software.

Please register for each session you are interested in. In advance of the session, you will receive an email containing data that you will need to use during the session.

Killam Library Opening at 12:30 p.m., Friday, September 1

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Facilities must replace the sewer lines in the Killam building. This work is scheduled to start at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, and crews will work overnight to finish by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 1. Water will be shut down and the Killam Library must be closed during this 15-hour period.

The Killam Library will open at 12:30 p.m. Friday, September 1. 

 

Please note: The Archives & Special Collections Reading Room and the GIS Center will remain closed for the day. Virtual service is available for the GIS Center by appointment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can be booked online.

Systems overhaul of Dal’s biggest library to shrink environmental footprint

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Starting today, the Killam Memorial Library is embarking on a deep energy retrofit that will continue into early 2026. When it’s done, most users won’t notice a difference. But the planet will.

The Killam retrofit project is projected to reduce both energy and water consumption by more than 50 per cent. It will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2,100 tonnes of CO2 — the equivalent of removing 700 cars from the road.

As a deep energy retrofit, the project aims to achieve greater energy efficiency by looking at the whole building and incorporating upgrades and maintenance to multiple systems at once.

Work is starting today (May 15) in the Downie Wenjack Legacy Space. Work in that area should be completed before the start of the Fall term in September, but the space will remain closed until then. This closure includes the Learning Commons, IT Help Desk, Hardware Services, Ko’jua Okuom, Writing Centre, and the Atlantic Research Data Centre.

Help Desk staff and services will be available at the Killam Library Service Point throughout the closure.

The project will continue into early 2026 as building systems are replaced within each area. The plan is to complete the work space by space, so that closures are avoided during busy and important times, such as midterms and exams.

For specific closure announcements and updates: follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

For project updates: visit the Killam Library 2023‑25 Retrofit Project webpage.

 

Research Summer Camp

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Are you a graduate student, research assistant, or teaching assistant looking to develop your research skills? The Research Summer Camp is a comprehensive program that will take you through the research process from literature searching and writing all the way to publication. The program is open to any student, faculty, or staff member at Dalhousie, but is specifically tailored to graduate students.

The Research Summer Camp will be offered as a series of online modules on Brightspace and live online sessions. Modules may include short video lectures and interactive exercises to help you brush up on your literature searching, writing, information management, and research skills. By registering for this program, you will have access to all of the pre-recorded modules beginning on May 15th, 2023. You also have the option to register for sessions in the program that will be delivered live (online) in May and June.

Starting in May 2023, we are also offering certificates for completion of Research Summer Camp sessions and modules. For a full list of available certificates, see the Certificate page on the Research Summer Camp website.

Registration is open now, and access starts on May 15th, 2023. To self-register for the program

· Log into Brightspace

· In the Academic Support menu, select Self-registration

· From the list of courses, find and select Online Community – Research Camp 2023-2024

To register for live sessions, visit the Dal Libraries Events Calendar: https://dal.libcal.com/calendar/events

Program website, including schedule, module descriptions, FAQs: https://dal.ca.libguides.com/ResearchCamp

Borealis Upgrade February 1st

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Borealis, the Canadian Dataverse Repository, will be upgraded February 1. The platform, including Dalhousie Dataverse @ Borealis, will be unavailable from approximately 11 am – 5 pm Atlantic Time.

This upgrade should bring exciting new features, including:

  • New standardized Creative Commons licenses
  • Improved file upload handling and messaging
  • Accessibility improvements
  • Bug fixes
  • And more

To test these features, feel free to use their demo sandbox environment.

For more details reach out to the Borealis team with questions or feedback.

The Ghost of Copyright Past: Public Domain Changes in Canada

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Public domain image: “Leo G. Carroll and Reginald Owen in the motion picture A Christmas Carol” from The New York Public Library

 

Jaclyn Chambers Page, Dalhousie University Copyright Librarian

When the calendar flips to December in Canada, you don’t have to look far to find an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol. From the Muppets to Bill Murray, there seems to be an endless collection of reimagined Scrooges. If you’re interested in reading the original, you can legally download it free of charge from several places online. What makes this proliferation of Christmas spirits possible? The work’s public domain status. 

What is public domain? 

Public domain refers to works not under copyright protection that can be used free of charge without further permissions or payment of royalties. Works can enter the public domain for several reasons, including expiration of copyright due to age.  

What is changing? 

Historically, most works entered the public domain in Canada 50 years after the death of the author/creator (see sections 6-12 of the Copyright Act for information on exceptions). Effective December 30, 2022, the terms of public domain in Canada will change to the life of the author plus 70 years. This change is necessary to meet the terms of the Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) trade agreement. It is important to note that this change will not be retroactive; works already in the public domain in Canada will remain in the public domain. 

What does this mean? 

A copyrighted work enters the public domain on January 1st of the year following the expiration of its copyright term; this means the creator must have died in 1971 for the work to be in the public domain in Canada, as of December 30, 2022. No further works will enter the public domain in Canada due to the expiration of its copyright until January 1, 2043. This means if you would like to use works created by someone who died in 1972 or later, you must abide by the terms and exceptions outlined in the Copyright Act of Canada.   

Let’s say you are interested in compiling a book that explores the works of Canadian politician Frank Underhill and former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. The change in Canada’s public domain term means that you will be able to reuse Underhill’s works without further permission since he died in 1971 (Stevenson, 2013). However, Pearson died the following year, on December 27, 1972 (Bothwell, 2021), so you would either have to seek permission from his estate or wait another 20 years to reuse his works in the book. 

Who can help me with my questions? 

Dalhousie’s Copyright Office is available to help you navigate your rights and responsibilities regarding copyright in educational and/or research contexts. Please note the Copyright Office does not provide legal advice, but general guidance for responsible practices at Dalhousie University. The copyright office can be reached at copyright.office@dal.ca. 

An online information session on these changes will take place as part of the Copyright Office’s Copyright Quickchat series on Friday, February 17, 2023 from 12-12:30pm. Additionally, the Copyright Office will hold online open drop-in sessions every Wednesday from 10am-11am beginning January 11th, 2023 if you would like to chat in person.  

 

Fortunately, the changes to Canada’s public domain do not affect the works of Charles Dickens since he died in 1870 (Collins, 2022), so you can still take a free journey with the Ghost of Copyright…er…Christmas Past.  

Visit The Public Domain Review to find more works in the public domain. 

 

References
 

Bothwell, R. (2021). Lester B. Pearson. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lester-bowles-pearson 

Collins, P. (2022, December 4). Charles Dickens. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Dickens-British-novelist 

Stevenson, G. (2013). Frank Hawkins Underhill. In The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/frank-hawkins-underhill 

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