University Records Management Training

July 15, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

The Dalhousie Libraries is offering sessions to introduce individuals to the university’s new Records Management Policy and the tools and resources being developed to support its implementation.

The session will outline the policy, discuss the fundamentals of good records management practice and highlight the various records management resources available to assist you. DalCLASS, the University’s new records classification, retention and disposition tool, will be discussed.

Register for a session here: https://register-eod.dal.ca/index.php?search%5Bis_external%5D=0&startdate1=2017-07-11&enddate1=2018-01-12&search%5Bcategory_id%5D=10&filters-action=Apply

All training sessions will be held in room 2902 of the Killam Library. Here’s how to find the room: https://vimeo.com/221249919

If you plan on attending a session, please bring a laptop if you have one.

Digital Kipling Project: about the Kipling Collection

June 16, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

Spines of Kipling scrapbooks, some dating to the nineteenth century. These scrapbooks are the focus of the Digital Kipling Project.

by Roger Gillis, Digital Humanities Librarian; Diana Doublet, Digitization Assistant; and Jessica Ruzek (digital exhibit assistant)

This post is the first in a series that will highlight the Dal Libraries’ Digital Kipling project. The project involves digitizing and contextualizing the Rudyard Kipling Scrapbooks — part of the internationally renowned Kipling Collection held in the Dalhousie Libraries’ Special Collections.

The Dalhousie Libraries’ Kipling Collection has an international reputation as the most comprehensive collection of Rudyard Kipling’s publications in the world. Containing an exhaustive selection of Kipling’s literary and journalistic works, the Kipling Collection holds important research ephemera and support material by and about Kipling, including manuscripts, letters, pamphlets, original illustrations from Kipling’s works, autographs, sketches, and sheet music for poems set to music. Kipling was one of the most popular authors in the UK in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and is the author of The Jungle Book.

The Kipling Collection also contains the Kipling Collection scrapbooks: 11 scrapbooks created by notable nineteenth and twentieth century Kipling enthusiasts from England and the United States. There are seven collectors behind the 11 scrapbooks: Sir William Garth, Ellis Ames Ballard, G. D. Wells, James Todman Goodwin and three unidentified collectors. (The collectors of these scrapbooks will be explored in a future post as part of this series.) These scrapbooks are informal compilations, which preserve Kipling’s early journalistic works, as well various versions and editions of poems, short stories, and serials, many of which no longer survive in their original form.

The Digital Kipling Project team of Diana, Roger, and Jessica gingerly explore one of the scrapbooks, brittle with age.

This summer, the Dalhousie Libraries’ Digital Kipling Project team will be digitizing the scrapbooks and creating a digital humanities exhibit via the Libraries’ new digital exhibit space using Omeka, an open source web-publishing platform. The project team consists of Roger Gillis (project manager/digital humanities librarian), Diana Doublet (digitization assistant), and Jessica Ruzek (digital exhibit assistant). The team is working with digital archivist Creighton Barrett and special collections librarian Karen Smith to bring this project to fruition.

By digitizing the scrapbooks, this project will enhance the accessibility of the Kipling Collection, provide contextual and background information crucial to the scrapbooks, and will further support research surrounding Kipling. The Digital Kipling online exhibit will launch in the fall of 2017. Updates and information on the site can be found here: http://kipling.library.dal.ca

Donna Bourne-Tyson Named President of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL)

June 7, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

The Canadian Association of Research Libraries has elected Donna Bourne-Tyson, Dalhousie’s University Librarian, as CARL President for a two year-term, 2017–2019. “It’s a great honour to serve the research library community in Canada in this capacity,” said Donna. “Academic research libraries are at the vanguard of technology as the sharing and dissemination of information shifts to digital environments. It’s a time of rapid change and growth for libraries.”

Donna has recently commenced her second term as the University Librarian at Dalhousie and has been in the role since 2011, previously having served as the University Librarian at Mount Saint Vincent University. Currently, she oversees a team of 120 librarians and staff and ensures Dal Libraries meet the needs of the Dalhousie community through supporting initiatives such as open access, scholarly communications, research data preservation and learning communities.

As President of CARL, Donna will work collaboratively with 29 of Canada’s largest university libraries plus Library and Archives Canada and Canada’s National Science Library. CARL supports Canada’s research community by providing improved access to research services, promoting effective and sustainable scholarly communication and advocating public policies that enable broad access to scholarly information. CARL member libraries spend over $335 million annually on information resources to support learning, teaching and research and act as a foundation for Canadian-led innovation by providing access to knowledge, as well as preserving vital information required to support Canada’s research community.

As CARL’s president, Donna will be joining an impressive group of university leaders who have served in this role, including: Tom Hickerson, Vice-Provost for Libraries and Cultural Resources at the University of Calgary; Gerald Beasley, Vice-Provost and Chief Librarian at the University of Alberta, soon to become the Carl A. Kroch University Librarian for Cornell University; and most recently Martha Whitehead, Vice-Provost Libraries & Digital Planning at Queen’s University.

Research Data Management: a presentation from the Director of Portage, Chuck Humphrey

May 29, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

Please join us for a presentation from the Director of the Portage Network, Chuck Humphrey. The Portage Network is dedicated to the shared stewardship of research data in Canada through:

Developing a national research data culture
Fostering a community of practice for research data
Building national research data services and infrastructure

If you are planning to attend, RSVP to marlo.mackay@dal.ca

Please indicate if you would like to attend remotely when you RSVP and you will receive a link.

Document Delivery Request Forms Currently Unavailable

May 10, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

The Document Delivery request forms are currently unavailable. We hope to have them back up soon, but in the meantime, please send your requests to docdel@dal.ca.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we appreciate your patience.

UPDATE: Thurs., May 11: Access to the Document Delivery request forms has been restored. We thank you for your patience.

Dal Libraries Research Bootcamp

April 3, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

For the third year, the Dalhousie Libraries is offering Research Bootcamp, a suite of sessions designed for teaching and research assistants and graduate students. Learn effective and efficient information management techniques and literature search skills to support research endeavours.

Sessions will run from May 15–June 13 and will cover: library basics; literature reviews (searching and writing); citation tools; writing abstracts & grant proposals; copyright, open access & academic publishing; legal resources; engineering resources; PubMed and other health sciences databases; humanities resources; Canadian data and stats; grey literature; research data management; Excel; data visualization; conference posters. Complete session list and descriptions are available at http://dal.ca.libguides.com/ResearchBootcamp/2017/Schedule

Faculty can recommend the workshops to their RAs/TAs or register on their behalf. Participants can attend most sessions in-person in Halifax (various Halifax Campus locations) or via video conferencing at the Agricultural Campus or DMNB.

Event website, including schedule, session descriptions, FAQs http://dal.ca.libguides.com/ResearchBootcamp

Esri Canada GIS Scholarship and GIS Award

March 15, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

Three award opportunities from Esri: GIS Scholarship, GIS Award, and the International Young Scholars Award. Read on to learn how to apply:

ESRI CANADA GIS SCHOLARSHIP GUIDELINES

This scholarship is for a high-achieving Dal student that is using GIS technology for research purposes. The scholarship package will help support a currently enrolled student to continue his or her studies in GIS and consider it as a post-graduation career option.

Scholarship package includes:
1) A one-time payment of $1,000
2) A perpetual license of Esri’s ArcGIS software, for education and research use:
• ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced
• ArcGIS for Desktop Extensions, including: ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, ArcGIS 3D Analyst, ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst, ArcGIS Network Analyst, and ArcGIS Publisher
• One-year ArcGIS Online Organization Plan (includes 100 service credits and 1 named user)
• One year of complimentary maintenance (which provides software updates, technical support and unlimited access to e-learning courses through the Esri Training site)
3) A one-year subscription to the Esri Developer Network (EDN), which includes ArcGIS for Server Enterprise for development purposes
4) Select Esri Press Publications including:
• Python Scripting for ArcGIS
• Getting to Know Web GIS, 2nd Edition
• The Esri Guide to GIS Analysis, Volume 3
5) Two Esri Canada instructor-led training courses
6) Registration for one of Esri Canada’s User Conferences in 2017
7) A personal and editable profile

Application Package must include:
 A cover letter (highlighting GIS & RS activities)
A current CV/Resume
 An academic transcript (can be unofficial)
GIS Poster* (attach as a PDF)
 GIS Summary Report** (attach as a PDF)

Email your submission package to the Dal GIS Centre: james.boxall@dal.ca
Specify subject as: GIS Scholarship
Deadline to apply: Friday, March 17, 2017 (on or before 11:59 p.m.)

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2. ESRI CANADA GIS AWARD GUIDELINES

This award is for a student learning GIS and beginning to incorporate the technology into their studies at Dal. The award will encourage a currently enrolled student to consider incorporating GIS technology into his or her projects for their current program of courses.

Award: Student receives cash award of $1,000

Email your submission package to the Dal GIS Centre: james.boxall@dal.ca
Specify subject as: GIS Award
Deadline to apply: Friday, March 17, 2017 (on or before 11:59 p.m.)

*GIS Poster:
 Must use ArcGIS software
 Must be created only by the applicant
 Graphics be of sufficient quality for printing (300 dpi)
 Portrait orientation (24 inches wide by 36 inches high)
 File size should not exceed 10 MB

**GIS Summary Report (explains your project or research):

800–1,000 words maximum
 Can include maps and other illustrations

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3. 2017 INTERNATIONAL ESRI YOUNG SCHOLARS AWARD

This is a national competition which will be awarded to one Canadian student. If you follow the international guidelines, the same poster and summary report can be submitted to both the Dal GIS Centre (by Mar 17) and to the Esri Canada Young Scholars Award (by Apr 7, 2017).

Application package must include:

GIS Poster:
 Must use ArcGIS software
 Must be created only by the applicant
 Graphics be of sufficient quality for printing (300 dpi)
 Portrait orientation (24 inches wide by 36 inches high)
 File size should not exceed 10 MB

GIS Summary Report (explains your project or research):
800–1,000 words maximum
 Can include maps and other illustrations

Submit via: https://scholars.esri.ca/eys-application/
Deadline to apply: Friday, April 7, 2017 (on or before 11:59 p.m.)

Final Student Input & Feedback Team Meeting for 2016/17

March 2, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

We met with you earlier in the school year, in November and January. Now, let’s continue the conversation! Did we hear you?

Join us as we report on our findings from the meetings on each campus. All students are welcome, even if you didn’t make it to the meetings earlier this year. This meeting will run in Halifax and concurrently in Truro via video conferencing. Free pizza and drinks at both sites.

Tuesday, March 14/12–1 p.m.
Halifax: Killam Library, 3rd floor (LITS Conference Room)
Truro: MacRae Library, Cobequid Room

See you then!

LibGuides Are Down

February 28, 2017 Marlo MacKay Leave a Comment

LibGuides are currently experiencing technical difficulties. @springshare is working to resolve the issues. Watch their Twitter feed for updates. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Update, March 1, 7:44 a.m.: Problem should be resolved.

The LibVine

What's going on at the Dalhousie Libraries

Category: Architecture, Engineering & Planning

Digital Kipling Project: about the Kipling Collection