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What's going on at Dalhousie Libraries

Category: Featured News

Retrofit Update: Killam Main Floor Power Shutdown June 23-27

The week of June 23-27, 2025, the following spaces and areas of the Killam Library will be closed due to a planned power shutdown. The main service point desk will remain open.

Closed Spaces

  • Downie Wenjack Learning Commons
  • Atlantic Research Data Centre
  • Ko’jua Okuom
  • IT Help Desk
  • Photocopy room
  • Office of the Dean of Libraries
  • Centre for Learning & Teaching
  • Killam loading bay

Relocated Services

  • Writing Centre – relocated to the Student Accessibility Centre
  • Office of the Dean of Libraries Reception Desk – relocated to 3601 (third floor)

Services that are Open

  • Killam Library service point desk
  • Printing station
  • Accessible workstation
  • Food services: Subway and Second Cup
  • Student Accessibility Centre

New archival resource illuminates Nova Scotia’s industrial history

Newfoundland Railway: [75 ton flatcar]

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new archival resource.

The University Archives recently published a guide to the TrentonWorks fonds, a significant collection of archival material related to the TrentonWorks factory that operated in Trenton, Nova Scotia, from the late 19th century through the late 20th century.

The Archives acquired this material through donations from the 1970s to the early 2000s. While an inventory of the collection has been available for years, a recent grant from the Provincial Archival Development Program enabled the Archives to fully process the collection and publish a detailed online finding aid.

The finding aid to the TrentonWorks fonds brings together over 20 linear metres of textual records, photographs, technical drawings, and other material that documents the industrial history of Pictou County and Cape Breton. Highlights include records that document:

  • Coal mining in Pictou County and Cape Breton, and iron ore mining in Newfoundland and Brazil
  • Nova Scotia’s production of munitions and other supplies supporting Canada’s WW1 and WW2 efforts
  • The manufacture of railcars sold by Eastern Car Company and Canadian Car and Foundry Company

The TrentonWorks fonds provides extensive information about Nova Scotia’s labour history and the finances and operations of national and multi-national businesses that led the industrial development of Nova Scotia.

Explore the online finding aid here: https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/trentonworks-fonds

Email general questions to archives@dal.ca or schedule a research consultation with archivist Creighton Barrett.

 

Red Dress Day Pin Workshop

We had a full room for our Red Dress Day pin workshop, designed and hosted by Michelle McDonald. A big thank you to Michelle and also Rachelle McKay – who attended the workshop but ended up helping those of us who needed a little extra attention. Here are a few photos from today’s event.

We’re grateful to those who joined and created with us to mark May 5 – the National Day of awareness and remembrance for the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), also known as Red Dress Day.

Killam Retrofit: April & May 2025 Updates

Second Floor Closed: April 28-May 7

The entire second floor of the Killam, including the book stacks, atrium seating, and McNab silent study room, will be closed due to construction from April 28-May 7. There will be no power on the second floor.

Fifth Floor Closed During Evenings: April 28 – May 2

The fifth floor, including the Archives, Special Collections Reading Room, and GIS Centre, will close at 5:00 p.m. from April 28-May 2. Alternative quiet study spaces can be found on the 4th floor.

Downie Wenjack Legacy Space (Learning Commons): April 28-May 7

The windows (curtain wall) near the emergency exit to the courtyard in the Learning Commons will be under construction from April 28 – May 7. Access to the learning commons and Ko’Jua Okuom will not be affected.

  • Noise: Expect loud noise and vibrations in the first few days. There may be some noise and vibrations felt throughout the building as well. The final days of work will be quieter with minor interruptions.
  • Emergency Exit: The emergency exit will be available in case of evacuation.

Atrium Slate Flooring Repairs: May 12-16

  • Access: A safe path will be maintained, but some areas will be temporarily blocked.
  • Disruptions: Expect noise, vibrations, and dust throughout the repair period.
  • Closures: Atrium seating will be unavailable and restaurants will be closed during this time.

Entrance & Accessibility:

  • To minimize disruption, please use the Howe Hall side entrance whenever possible.
  • The front ramps will remain open for those with accessibility needs.
  • In case of an emergency evacuation, use alternative exits when possible.

Health & Safety:

  • Those sensitive to dust or construction materials are advised to use alternative entrances.
  • Air purifiers and filters will be employed to help contain dust and fumes.

Ongoing: Basement Construction March 24-May 10

Work in the basement area that began March 24 is ongoing until May 10, 2025. We will provide updates if access to other buildings is impacted. 

Thank you for your patience as we near the end of the Killam Deep Energy Retrofit Project.

 

Ready to strengthen your research skills?

Research Camp kicks off on May 12! This free, self-paced program is designed especially for graduate students, research assistants, and teaching assistants—but it’s open to all Dalhousie students, faculty, and staff.

Whether just starting your research journey or looking to sharpen your skills, Research Camp offers a solid foundation in literature searching, academic writing, information management, and the research process—from idea to publication.

The program includes:

  • Online modules on Brightspace, featuring short videos and interactive exercises
  • Live sessions (online, hybrid, and in-person) running throughout May and June

Earn digital badges as you complete modules and work toward certificates. Details about certificates are available on the Research Camp website.

Self-registration is now open! To join:

  1. Log into Brightspace
  2. Open the Academic Support menu
  3. Choose Self-Registration
  4. Find and select Research Camp 2025–2026

To sign up for live sessions, visit the Dal Libraries events calendar.

Dr. Leanne Stevens and Dr. Suresh Neethirajan Receive 2025 AtlanticOER Development Grants

The Council of Atlantic Academic Libraries (CAAL-CBPA) has announced the recipients of this year’s AtlanticOER Development Grants. These grants are intended to support educators in the Atlantic Region in adapting, adopting, creating, and curating open educational resources (OER) and increase students’ access to course materials. With funding from the Council of Atlantic Ministers for Education and Training (CAMET), the AtlanticOER Development Grant Program continues to offer 3 different tiers of funding: creation grants (up to $7,000), adaptation grants (up to $4,000), and ancillary material grants (up to $1,000).

The 2025 recipient list includes two Dalhousie faculty:

Dr. Leanne Stevens received an adaptation grant for her project to take the existing OER Introduction to Psychology & Neuroscience and integrate new content and revise existing content that centers Black and African-Nova Scotian perspectives. The team will be partnering with local experts with lived experience, disciplinary knowledge, and research expertise connected to relevant topics in Psychology and Neuroscience.

Dr. Suresh Neethirajan received an adaptation grant to adapt existing materials into a new OER that introduces the use of AI, machine learning, sensor technology, and big data in modern agriculture studies. This integration of both computer science and agricultural studies in a single work will provide a more holistic perspective on data-driven decision making in modern agriculture. The goal is to make a resource that is interactive and includes Canadian case studies, making it tailored to the learning needs of Atlantic agriculture students.

Congratulations to Dr. Stevens and Dr. Neethirajan!

Read the full list of recipients and more about their projects on the AtlanticOER Website.

Killam Retrofit: Noise Expected in Learning Commons April 28 – May 7

There will be construction with noise in the Downie Wenjack Legacy Space, also known as the South Learning Commons from April 28 – May 7.

Specifically, the glass windows with the emergency exit will be enclosed for construction. Expect loud noise and vibrations in this space and the Ko’jua Okuom in the first few days. There may be some noise and vibrations felt throughout the building. The final days of work will be quieter with minor interruptions.

Access to the Learning Commons and Ko’jua Okuom will not be affected; the space will still be available.

In an emergency, floor wardens will direct evacuees to the back emergency door and the main lobby doors by the service point.

MacRae Library Grows Agricultural Research Connections at Student Research Poster Competition

By Jaclyn Chambers Page, Copyright Librarian + Faculty of Agriculture Liaison Librarian, (refined with the aid of Claude.ai) 

The MacRae Library at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus hosted its Second Annual Student Research Poster Competition on March 12, 2025 The competition showcased innovative agricultural research from Dalhousie students and postdocs. The event featured 27 submissions—a significant increase from last year’s inaugural competition—highlighting the growing interest in agricultural research. 

Left to right: Venkatraman Manikandan, Yashan Dhaliwal, Nandhini Krishnamoorthy (Photo by Elaine MacInnis) 

Following careful evaluation by students, faculty, and community members, three researchers were awarded prizes for their outstanding work: 

  1. First Place ($100): Nandhini Krishnamoorthy for “From Waste to Growth: Harnessing Compost CO₂ in Greenhouse Agriculture” 
  2. Second Place ($50): Yashan Dhaliwal for “Bimodal Data Analysis for Early Detection of Lameness in Dairy Cows using Artificial Intelligence” 
  3. Third Place ($25): Venkatraman Manikandan for “Unlocking Poultry Vocalizations – Artificial Intelligence for Welfare Monitoring and Sustainable Farming” 

The competition invited agricultural researchers at all academic levels—from undergraduate to postdoctoral—to submit research posters. During the evening event, participants engaged with attendees in one-on-one discussions about their research. Attendees evaluated each presentation using a standardized rubric, with the three highest-scoring posters receiving prizes. 

The variety of research presented is a testament to the exciting possibilities of agricultural research as students rise to the challenge of climate change, harness the power of artificial intelligence, seek to protect and improve the health and well-being of plants and animals, and more. Key themes included: 

  • Climate Change Adaptation: Several projects explored carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas mitigation, and sustainable farming practices 
  • Artificial Intelligence Applications: Multiple researchers leveraged AI for animal welfare monitoring, communication analysis, and farming optimization 
  • Plant and Animal Health: Innovative approaches to disease prevention, nutrition, and well-being for various species 
  • Sustainable Resource Use: Converting agricultural waste into valuable products and developing eco-friendly materials 

Dalhousie librarians Erin MacPherson and Jaclyn Chambers Page organized and hosted the competition with the support of Elaine MacInnis, Head of MacRae Library and Associate Dean, Library Services.  

The organizers would like to extend their gratitude to the students, faculty members, and community members who came to support our student researchers, including Dean of Agriculture and Campus Principal, Dr. Heather Bruce, and Faculty of Agriculture Associate Dean Academic, Dr. Dian Patterson.  

Special thanks to Alison Brierley, former Dalhousie Libraries multidisciplinary intern for designing the event marketing material, Michael Vandenburg, Dean of Libraries, and Elaine MacInnis, Associate Dean Library Services and Head of MacRae Library, for their continuing support of this event. 

Full list of poster submissions: 

  • Bao Ho Dinh: From the assessment of forest biomass to carbon sequestration under climate change crisis: a comparative study of Daklak (Vietnam) and Atlantic Canada 
  • Bolappa Gamage Kaushalya Madhavi: Effect of Hydro-Thermodynamic Processing (HTD) on the Physicochemical, Techno-Functional, Nutritional, and Structural Properties of Protein Isolates from Defatted Camelina Meal 
  • Bubacarr Jobarteh: Carbon-Smart Poultry – Leveraging Satellite Data & Artificial Intelligence for Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Canadian Farming 
  • Hanqing Bi: Evaluating the impact of Environmental Enrichment on Turkey Behavior and Activity Levels Using Accelerometer Data 
  • Cullen MacDonald: Developing novel anti-browning agents from defatted wheat germ 
  • Damith Costa: Enhancing haskap (Lonicera caerulea) anthocyanin utilization: Development of a scalable extraction and stabilization Process. 
  • Devasena Mahesh: Effect of wood preservatives on soil and plants 
  • Kappeeran Venkatesan: How Climate change shapes the future of Late Blight Disease? 
  • Koushika Kumaresan
  • Mackenzie Tapp: Adapting the Cool Farm Tool for Net Zero Poultry Farming in Atlantic Canada – A Survey on Poultry Farms in Canada 
  • Marianna Rampaul: Insights into the frontline antiviral defence of Northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis 
  • Mayuri Kate: AI–Powered Bovine Communication ~ Enhancing Sustainable Livestock Farming 
  • Nandhini Krishnamoorthy: From Waste to Growth: Harnessing Compost CO₂ in Greenhouse Agriculture 
  • Prajesh Padmanabhan Jagannathan: Accelerating Climate Action – High Resolution Methane Mapping in Canadian Poultry Farms 
  • Prakhar Talwar: Waste-to-Biofuel: Innovations in Thermochemical Valorization of Agricultural, Forestry and Plastic Residues 
  • Rosemarijn van Schaik: Pen Optimization for Farmed Mink 
  • Savio Augustine: Survey of the traditional plants used by Mi’kmaq people in and around Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus 
  • Senari Wijesooriya Arachchige: Development of antifungal-biodegradable mulch film for controlling verticillium wilt in strawberries 
  • Shreya Rao: Advancing Dairy Cow Management Digital Twin Technology for Precision Nutrition 
  • Shubhangi Mahato: Dairy DigiD ~ A Deep Learning-Based, Non-Invasive Biometric Identification System for Dairy Cattle Using Detectron2 
  • Shuqiang Zhang (Reimagining Dairy Cow Well-Being through Video-Based Pain Detection) 
  • Sibi Parivendan: Social Dynamics in the Digital Pasture: Advanced Vision-Based Tracking of Dairy Cow Interactions 
  • Sukhjinder Singh: Triboelectric Nanogenerators For Smart Agriculture Technologies 
  • Venkatraman Manikandan: Unlocking Poultry Vocalizations – Artificial Intelligence for Welfare Monitoring and Sustainable Farming 
  • Yashan Dhaliwal: Bimodal Data Analysis for Early Detection of Lameness in Dairy Cows using Artificial Intelligence 
  • Yiru Wei: Bridging Health and Sustainability: The Role of Traditional Health Beliefs in Food Consumption 
  • Zohreh Fazelan (Insights into the American lobster defence mechanisms against Anophryoides haemophila infection)         

For more information about the competition, please contact the MacRae Library at macrae.library@dal.ca 

Your Guide to Health Research: Databases and Support at Kellogg Library

The Kellogg Health Sciences Library provides access to reliable and trustworthy information and data to support teaching, learning, and research in health, medicine, and dentistry. Our collection includes top bibliographic databases such as MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and more.

In addition to providing access to these resources, our health sciences librarians offer guidance and instruction on advanced search techniques to help you get the most out of these databases.

Key Biomedical Databases

A thorough search often involves multiple databases, as no single resource indexes all the world’s literature. Below, we highlight two of the largest biomedical databases and how to access them.

Embase

Embase is a comprehensive biomedical database with strong international coverage. It indexes over 45 million records from more than 8,400 journals, including unique non-English content. Embase is available to the Dalhousie community through our libraries subscription. To help you navigate this resource, the Libraries offer an 8-minute tutorial on Embase search techniques.

MEDLINE

MEDLINE, produced by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) in the USA, indexes more than 37 million records from over 5,600 journals. Dalhousie faculty, staff, and students can access MEDLINE through two search interfaces:

  • PubMed: A free public interface supported by the NLM and NIH. Check out our short intro video for getting started with PubMed.
  • Ovid MEDLINE: A subscription-based interface with additional search features. Watch our short intro video on getting started with Ovid MEDLINE.

Please note: If one of these search interfaces is disrupted, try using the other or switch to an alternative biomedical literature database such as Embase.

Access Issues and Alternative Resources

If you experience difficulty accessing a library information source, please report it using our Report a Problem Accessing E-Resources form. While we work to resolve issues, it may take time, so it is important to know about alternative sources for your teaching, learning, or research.

Disruptions can occur due to vendor updates, technological issues, or changes in funding and support, either from the publisher or the university. If a particular database is unavailable, try switching to a different interface or using another biomedical database.

Providing access to reliable health information is a core value at Dalhousie Libraries—especially in times of uncertainty. We are committed to ensuring you have the resources you need.

Get Help from a Librarian

Health sciences librarians at the Kellogg Library are graduate-trained information professionals who specialize in helping students, faculty, and healthcare practitioners find and use high-quality research.

They provide expert support for:

  • Conducting advanced literature searches.
  • Navigating and evaluating clinical guidelines, medical literature, and research data.
  • Supporting evidence-based healthcare decisions and health professions education.

Librarians play a key role in helping healthcare practitioners make informed decisions, supporting trainees in their learning, and facilitating robust research to support the health of our communities. For personalized assistance, contact us at kellogg@dal.ca.

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