The Killam Library will be closed on Monday, August 24 due to a planned power outage. The outage is necessary to perform an urgent repair on one of the main electrical feeds coming in to the building.
If you need access to a library space (study room or computer) that day, you can book time in the Wallace McCain or Kellogg Library learning commons. We apologize for any inconvenience.
by Sarah Jane Dooley, Louise Gillis, & Melissa Helwig
We miss you and we are here for you!
Despite our physical locations being closed many of our services are available online, like access to thousands of e-journals and e-books. Start your search here: https://libraries.dal.ca.
For the most up-to-date information regarding our spaces, remote services and collections, please keep checking back here: https://libraries.dal.ca/covid-19-updates.html
To make this as easy as possible for you, we created a Top 5 Tips to stay connected with us while you work from home. Stay home and stay safe!
Tip #1: Ask a Librarian
Did you know you have a personal librarian? Each program and faculty at Dalhousie has a subject librarian. You are welcome to email them directly at any stage of your research process. Your librarian is ready to help you and is accessible by email or by remote research appointment.
Start with the Subject Guides to search for your librarian by name or by subject area. Or go to Ask Us to contact your local library.
We are also still providing services such as LiveHelp (via chat) and Brightspace and IT HelpDesk assistance at support@dal.ca.
Tip #2: Subject Guides
Overwhelmed or unsure at where to start with electronic resources? Try a Subject Guide. These curated collections of subject specific resources are an excellent starting point for your research. They highlight relevant databases, useful journals, e-books and more. Still stuck? Your librarian’s contact details are listed too!
Tip #3: Register your DalCard
Why should I register my DalCard with the library? It allows you to access Document Delivery (see below for more important details). It also allows you to look at your library account info online and check due dates. Currently due dates are being adjusted in alignment with potential opening dates/times. See the online registration form here: https://libraries.dal.ca/borrow/library-cards.html
Tip #4: Document Delivery
How do I access journal articles and book chapters that Dal Libraries doesn’t have or that I can’t currently access in print?
Document Delivery (aka Interlibrary Loan) is a free service that delivers journal articles and book chapters to you electronically. Even though some of our physical spaces are closed, this service allows you to order items we might only have in print or might not own at all.
You can use the patron request (aka order form) from the Document Delivery page or check our YouTube tutorial on using Getit@Dal to access Document Delivery. To log in you need to have your DalCard registered at the library (see above). Your login is the barcode on your DalCard and your username is the last four digits of the phone number associated with your library account. To learn more about Document Delivery services during COVID see our recent Dal News article.
Tip #5: Book Pick Up & Drop Off
Where do I pick up my books?
Curbside Pick Up is now available! Circulating materials from the Dalhousie Libraries are once again available to Dalhousie and King’s faculty, staff, and students. Fill out the form and choose to pick up your books at the Kellogg, Killam, MacRae, or Sexton Libraries. This service cannot provide access to materials from other Novanet institutions at this time.
Where do I return my books?
All due dates have been moved to September 30 and will be reassessed as needed. This applies to Dalhousie items, as well as material borrowed from universities and colleges throughout Nova Scotia and from Mount Allison.
If you would like to make a return, the Killam Library’s book return is open 24/7! Use it to return material from any of the Dal Libraries. Note: If you are self-isolating, please do not return items.
Effective immediately, libraries in the Novanet consortium, including the Dalhousie Libraries, will no longer charge late fees on most loaned items. This change will persist at all Novanet libraries after the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.*
“One of the core values of libraries is providing equal access to information. We recognize library fines pose an equity issue by creating a financial barrier to accessing information. Fines also contribute to student debt,” says Suzanne van den Hoogen, Novanet chair.
The majority of each Novanet library’s collection — regular, general loans — are the items that will no longer accrue overdue fines. High-demand items, such as materials on course reserve with brief loan periods and equipment such as laptops may continue to accrue overdue fines to ensure the punctual return of these items for the benefit of all users. Library users are encouraged to ask staff at the Novanet libraries they visit to learn more about which materials are fine free.
To encourage the timely return of materials, library users will still receive courtesy reminders if their books are past due. Materials that are not returned will be considered lost and replacement fees may be charged. Please consult your local library for specific policies.
“We’re making a philosophical shift from protecting the collections to sharing the collections,” says van den Hoogen. “We want our libraries to be welcoming spaces, and we understand that overdue fines can generate financial barriers for our patrons. We hope that by alleviating the stress of potentially accruing overdue fines, more people will be encouraged to borrow books from Novanet libraries.”
The Novanet consortium consists of the university and college libraries in Nova Scotia, as well as the library at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. Novanet provides students, faculty, and staff of its member institutions with access to the collective resources of all its members through a shared integrated library system with over 7 million print and electronic resources. Community borrowers can also benefit from Novanet by getting a free Novanet borrower card.
*Due dates for any materials currently on loan have been extended to September 30. Some Novanet libraries are developing curbside services for the students, faculty, and staff at their respective institutions — please check with your Novanet library for more information. Community borrowers should check with their Novanet library for the most current information about services for community members.
Update: Saturday, July 25
The Killam Memorial Library (first floor only) and Wallace McCain and Kellogg Library (CHEB) learning commons are open for limited but safe access to Dal Libraries spaces. (Please note: Booking for the Killam Library is now open with the first time slots available on Tuesday, July 28.)
A study table (Killam location only), study room (for use by one person at a time), or a computer can be booked. Bookings should be made a minimum of 24-hours in advance by completing this form. Bookings can be made up to a week in advance.
Appointments for three-hour time slots for current Dalhousie faculty, instructors, students, and staff are available. The time slots are 9 a.m.‒12 p.m. and 1‒4 p.m., Monday‒Friday. Please note: The spaces will be closed for cleaning from noon–1 p.m.
Starting Monday, June 29, faculty and instructors can record lectures on Studley Campus:
1. Submit your name and Banner number to your Associate Dean Academic to ensure you have building access.
2. Once your access to the building is confirmed, bookings for these rooms can be made through Campus Bookings. Detailed booking directions are available here.
3. Bookings will be approved by the Academic Scheduling & Examinations team in the Registrar’s Office. Technical support for the equipment in the rooms will be provided by Academic Technology Services (ATS) of the Dalhousie Libraries.
Three categories of rooms have been identified based on the equipment available in the rooms. Please note only Category 1 classrooms are currently available to book. Category 2 and 3 rooms will be available as soon as possible.
Category 1: Classrooms with the ability to record a lecture while also using the whiteboard and sharing content on a computer screen. (Available starting June 29.)
Category 2: Classrooms with the ability to record a lecture while also using a document camera and sharing content on a computer screen. (Not yet available.)
Category 3: Classrooms with the ability to record a lecture only with no ability to use additional technology beyond sharing content from the computer screen. (Not yet available.)
Beginning at 7 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, the Fulcrum platform will be unavailable while scheduled maintenance takes place. The outage is expected to last approximately 2 hours, but if services are found to be available sooner, it is ok to use them. Fulcrum hosts the ACLS Humanities ebook package.
Thank you for your patience. The publisher apologizes for any inconvenience
ProQuest will be performing maintenance on Ebook Central and LibCentral on Saturday, June 27 from 1–4 p.m. to ensure their ebook platforms remain updated and secure. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
This story originally appeared in Dal News.
by David Ryan
“When I was reading about Dalhousie, I was really impressed by its research work in robotics and machine learning, and that was what I was really interested in at the time,” she says.
Supriya, who is from Gujarat, India, has now graduated with a master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Her research project, titled: “Automated Navigation Implementation Using Generalized Computational Graph,” is an impressive body of work that has opened doors for her in the world of computer science and engineering.
What’s particularly amazing about Supriya’s story is that she managed to do all this while making a lasting impact working as a student assistant at Dalhousie Libraries.
While computer engineering and library work may seem unrelated, for Supriya it was a natural fit. “I grew up in a family which preferred reading books together and there were always tons of books around, so I found libraries very comforting,” she says. “I always appreciated library staff and when I saw an opportunity to contribute, I decided to apply.” Supriya was hired for a job in the Killam Library during 2019.
Student assistants are an integral part of Dalhousie Libraries, managing a plethora of tasks. Supriya quickly became an invaluable member of the team. “Initially, I worked in the stacks, which means I collected books from all the floors, sorted them and reshelved them,” she says. “Once in a while I’d help patrons find their books because it can get confusing sometimes.”
Challenges and rewards
Her skillset grew from there. “Later on, I was working in the Document Delivery department, sorting books received in the mail to determine if they belonged to Dalhousie or another university.” Soon, Supriya took on the responsibilities of scanning documents requested by patrons, finding electronic journals in databases, shipping books, and more. “My favourite part was getting to understand a small part of how libraries operate and being able to work with an amazing staff,” she says.
Supriya says that while working at the library was incredibly rewarding, it was also very challenging. “Working while studying can be really stressful. There are so many contributing factors, such as making sure you aren’t tired during your morning classes, which can happen if you have late shifts.”
She says the end of term was the most difficult. “You have submissions in all the classes and you have to balance your time because so much depends on those 20 hours of work you need every week and at the same time not wanting to work at all to focus on your studies.”
In the end, however, Supriya sees her time in the Killam Library — and at Dalhousie — as overwhelmingly positive. “I learned so much about working in a large organization where all the departments depend on working harmoniously with each other,” she says. “Also, working in the library requires acute attention to detail. I learned how clear communication was important with the supervisor to avoid mistakes. I learned how to juggle priorities and work on multiple tasks simultaneously.” Supriya believes all these things will help her in her engineering career and is grateful to Dalhousie Libraries for her experience.
“I was very lucky to have a great supervisor, colleagues and a manager who always made sure I was taking breaks and not tiring myself out,” she says. “My classes were always taken into consideration when scheduling my shifts.”
Supriya plans to do a Ph.D eventually, but for now she’s working on an internship as a Java Developer.
This story originally appeared in Dal News.
by David Ryan
For Nicole Slipp, the discovery of librarianship was serendipitous. A few years ago, she got a part-time job at the Halifax Central Library. She had no idea it would be so transformative.“It made me realize what a great fit librarianship would be for me. I like the pace and ever-changing nature of the job, the opportunities for teaching, and the way working in a library involves helping people find what they want or need,” she says.
It was the start of a journey that led her to Dalhousie’s School of Information Management (SIM), where she has spent the last two years completing her Master of Information (MI) degree. Originally from Saint John, N.B., Nicole has a wealth of interests and a diverse background — including a Ph.D. in medieval literature — ideal for the multi-faceted field of information management. The MI program is renowned for exposing its students to new possibilities and changing their expectations.
“I didn’t expect to get so into either research data management or health sciences librarianship, but after taking elective courses in those subjects, I would be happy to work in those fields,” she says. “I also really liked archives and took both available electives in that subject. I’m a bit of a knowledge magpie, in that I will get very interested in many different subject areas as I study them.”
In addition to studying, Nicole gained valuable experience by completing an internship in the Killam Library. It was an opportunity she made the most of. “I worked part-time on the reference desk during the first and second year, and full-time on the desk and in the office during the summer of 2019. I also worked on projects like coding survey results, building LibGuides, and planning and running an escape room with my co-intern. It was such a great internship because of the variety of things we got to work on and the excellent team of librarians who supervised us in our work.”
Completing an internship with the Dal Libraries while studying full-time is a recipe for a hectic schedule. But amazingly, Nicole did even more during her time at Dalhousie. In addition to her internship, she held two other part-time jobs during the school year. “That might seem intense, and it was,” she says. “My husband, Scott, was definitely picking up the slack at home. I’m not sure how I would’ve eaten if not for him.”
On top of all this, Nicole still found time to contribute to the School of Information Management Student Association (SIMSA). “In first year, I was Special Projects Chair and this year I was Co-Chair,” she says. “Working on SIMSA, which involved coordinating student academic and non-academic events and representing out students’ interests at various levels, was really rewarding and I’m glad I got involved.”
Adapting to sudden change
Balancing work, study, and committee participation wasn’t the only challenge Nicole had to face. Her final term was disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. She and her fellow students were forced to make a sudden transition to online classes. “Not knowing that my last in-person class was my last in-person class is a bit sad, in retrospect,” she says. “It was such a sudden change.”
In addition to having her studies disrupted, Nicole had to face the prospect of a conference postponement. “My co-intern, Nicole Marcoux, and I were also supposed to be presenting at WILU (Workshop for Instruction in Library Use) 2020 with Lindsay McNiff about our escape room project,” she says. “That conference will hopefully be happening as planned in 2021 now.”
Along with the challenges came new opportunities. “The positive side to the switch was that the last part of my internship I worked mostly for Academic Technology Services, a unit with the Dal Libraries,” she says. “I got more training on Brightspace and tools like Collaborate so I could provide some online support to instructors getting their materials online.”
The last two years have been a whirlwind for Nicole, but the ride isn’t over yet. “In July, I’ll be having a baby!” she says. “In the long-term, I’ll be looking for full-time work. It will be nice to have just one job for a change.”
With her diverse background and fascination for discovery, the future is filled with possibilities. “As long as the job involves research and helping people with their information needs in some way, I’ll be happy,” she says. “But I think my top job would be working as a librarian in an academic library.”
This story originally appeared in Dal News.
by David Ryan
If you’ve spent time in Sexton Library, you’re already familiar with Jason Lee’s friendly smile and impeccable service. What you might not know is that for the last three years, he has been working towards his Master of Library and Information Studies degree (MLIS) at Dal.Earlier this month, Jason completed his journey as part of the graduating class of 2020. With the advent of his MLIS degree (recently renamed Master of information, MI), Jason has expanded his depth of knowledge and opened new horizons.
“I’ve learned more on the management side now,” says Jason, reflecting on how his studies have complemented both his hands-on experience and extensive education. “I’ve had an opportunity to gain various perspectives. I’ve also learned to use a lot of applications, such as Github, Protégé (an ontology editor and knowledge management system) and ArcGIS (GIS software). I feel that these tools can be used to provide new services alongside traditional library services, and we’re already doing a lot of this at the Dalhousie Libraries.”
Balancing it all
The task of achieving a master’s degree while working full-time as an evening and weekend supervisor in the Sexton Library has been an arduous one. What makes it even more amazing is that Jason is also a dad. His son is four years old, and in February he and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world.
“The last semester was a big challenge for me,” says Jason. “In addition to working, I was taking two courses and was a finance co-chair of the Information Without Borders (IWB) conference. My baby girl was born just one day before the conference, so I had to arrange financial details in advance. None of my immediate family could come to help with the baby due to COVID-19 in Korea at that time.”
Jason adapted by using vacation time so he could help with the new baby while working on his courses. He also credits Dalhousie Libraries with allowing for great flexibility while doing his degree. “My evening and weekend hours made it easier to take classes, and my supervisor was very accommodating with my schedule,” he says. “I also have to thank my wife for taking care of things when I wasn’t able to.”
Jason capped off his degree with a special honour, too, as recipient of the Anne Galler Award — awarded annually by Special Libraries Association to a student from each of the three graduate library schools within the Eastern Canada Chapter region in recognition of their high achievements in a special library-related course or activity. He was nominated by the MI Awards & Scholarships Committee at School of Information Management.
An evolving field
This isn’t Jason’s first time through a graduate program, either. In 2007, he completed his master’s in Library Science degree in Korea. However, because that program isn’t accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) — a requisite for working as a librarian in North America — he realized he’d have to do a degree in Canada, too. Instead of feeling frustrated at having to do a degree again, Jason sees the process as an opportunity, especially in the constantly evolving field of librarianship.
“This has been a great refresher for what I know already, and on top of that, I’ve learned so many new things. It was an excellent opportunity to learn about new trends and technology related to the information management fields,” he says.
Having international experience has given him insight into different management philosophies and has allowed him to hone additional skills. Whereas academic librarians in North America tend to specialize in specific tasks and research fields, in Korea, they are more well-rounded. “Librarians in Korea tend to do all the jobs in a library, whereas these jobs are divided between librarians and support staff in North America,” he says. Working in a university library in Korea, he was able to master some of the skills that have made him so valuable to the Sexton Library.
Prioritizing people
While most patrons only see him behind the Service Desk, Jason spends his days filling many vital roles in the library. When he’s not providing front-line circulation and research service, he can be found cataloguing new resources, end-processing new books (and sometimes repairing old ones), filling document delivery requests, assisting with 3D printing, and more. One of his pivotal tasks is training and supervising the Sexton Library’s student assistants. This, he says, along with serving the Dalhousie community, is his favourite part of the job.
“Whether I’m working with patrons, other library staff or student assistants, the variety of people is the greatest advantage of this job,” he says.
Now that he’s completed his MLIS at Dalhousie, Jason has opened a door to even more opportunity and variety.