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The LibVine

What's going on at Dalhousie Libraries

Category: General Library News

Document Delivery “new-look” request form and account interface

Starting today (October 19), users of the Dalhousie Libraries’ Document Delivery service will notice a “new-look” request form and account interface.  The newly minted interface is cleaner and clearer than its predecessor and it is hoped that patrons will enjoy this new way to interact with this popular service.  Login and have a look here  (login the same way as you did before with your barcode from your Dal ID card being your login and the last four digits of your phone number being your password, and remember, you need to have registered your card at the Library).The old forms will still work for the foreseeable future so no need to worry about changing any bookmarks right away.

We always appreciate feedback on this or any other aspect of the Document Delivery Service and invite you to contact us at (902) 494-3612 or by email at docdel@dal.ca.

 

Open Access Week 2015

Open Access Feature

Today marks the first day of International Open Access Week (October 19-25).

Wondering what Open Access Week is and why it matters to Dalhousie students and faculty?

Open Access Week provides an opportunity for academics and researchers to continue to learn about the potential benefits of Open Access, to share what they’ve learned with colleagues, and to help inspire wider participation that will make Open Access a new norm in scholarship and research. (from the Open Access Week website)

The principles of Open Access are founded on ideas of public access to publicly funded research, author rights, availability of educational resources, and affordable access to materials for educational institutions. The Dalhousie Libraries are pleased to be using these principles to bring the research activities of Dalhousie to the world.

 

As part of Open Access Week, Dalhousie Research Services and the Dalhousie Libraries will be presenting two information sessions for Dalhousie researchers.

Open Access

General information on researcher responsibilities and Dalhousie supports

Wednesday, October 21st
1:00 to 3:00pm
Room 3H1, Sir Charles Tupper Building

This event will be available for distance participants at the following URL:  http://dal.adobeconnect.com/drs/

Please try to connect before the session to make sure your required software (Flash Player) is up-to-date.

RSVP for this session by October 20th to Sara Lavender at sara.lavender@dal.ca


Data Management Planning

Official launch of RDP Assistant, the research data planning tool from Portage, a project of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries

Thursday, October 22nd
1:30 to 3:30pm
University Hall, MacDonald Building

This event will be webcast via livestream at the following link https://livestream.com/accounts/12469673/events/4408658

RSVP for this session by October 20th to Sara Lavender at sara.lavender@dal.ca

You can also follow @DalLibraries on Twitter to stay up-to-date on everything Open Access.

University Archives Launches Free “Pilot” Archives Document Delivery Service

The University Archives is very pleased to announce a new free digitization service to increase digital access to archival material held by the Dal Libraries: the Archives Document Delivery Service.

For the next six months, the Libraries will test a new service where Dalhousie students, faculty, and staff can request free digital copies of archival material found in the Archives Catalogue and Online Collections. Consortia members and external researchers should continue to refer to the reproduction services and fee schedule document on the Archives website.

How Does the Service Work?

Dalhousie students, faculty, and staff can request digital copies of analog archival materials found in the Archives Catalogue and Online Collections. Digitization requests can be submitted online using a new “Archives Request” form available when you log into the Document Delivery Request Form:

archivesrequest

Users should consult the Archives Catalogue and Online Collections to find files and items of interest.

When a request is received, Archives staff will work with Document Delivery staff to:

  • Determine if the request can be fulfilled
  • Prepare the file(s) for digitization
  • Digitize the file according to the University Archives digitization standards
  • Create a high-quality, fully-searchable (with some exceptions for illegible and/or handwritten text) PDF or high-resolution JPEG image
  • Send users a link to download the file(s)

The service is very similar to the electronic delivery of journal articles requested through Document Delivery.  But it is limited to archival material held by the Dalhousie Libraries. Please note that the actual archival materials will not circulate. The service will provide digital copies.

Where Can I Find Help Using the Archives Document Delivery Service?

Staff in the University Archives can provide assistance searching the Archives Catalogue and completing the Archives Request form.

You can visit the Archives and Special Collections Reading Room on the 5th Floor of the Killam Memorial Library between 11:00 and 5:00, Monday-Friday.

You can also call the Reading Room at 902-494-3615 or email us at duasc@dal.ca.

We have detailed instructions on searching and browsing the Archives Catalogue. The Guide to Archival Research has more information.

What Kind of Archival Material Can I Request?

Eligible materials:

  • All private manuscript collections, including photographs
  • Publicly available university records
  • Certain university records may be made available to administrative staff

Ineligible materials:

  • Materials that exceed the definition of “short excerpt” in the Dalhousie Fair Dealing Guidelines
  • Materials with access and/or use restrictions imposed by the donor of the material
  • Unprocessed private manuscript collections that have not been appraised
  • Audiovisual materials
  • Fragile material that cannot be digitized using existing equipment in the Libraries
  • Bound manuscripts or other formats that cannot be digitized using existing equipment in the Libraries
  • Files with more than 100 pages

My Request was Cancelled. What Happened?

There are a number of reasons why Libraries staff might have to cancel your digitization request:

  • The file has access and/or use restrictions.
  • The request exceeds the definition of “short excerpt” in the Dalhousie Fair Dealing Guidelines.
  • The materials are too fragile to be scanned with existing equipment in the Libraries
  • The file contains a mix of material (e.g., textual records and photographs) that cannot easily be compiled into a PDF
  • The file contains audiovisual material and/or electronic records that cannot be scanned with existing equipment in the Libraries.
  • Some or all textual materials are bound in a way that prevents suitable preservation scans from being created with existing equipment in the Libraries.

In some cases, Libraries staff may contact you to discuss the possibility of scanning a portion of the material or to clarify the nature of your request.

How Long Does it Take to Receive a Request?

The Archives Document Delivery Service will use the existing document delivery time guidelines to measure the Libraries’ ability to fulfill free archives digitization requests in a timely manner. Members of the Dalhousie community may be accustomed to receiving scanned journal articles within a day or two even though delivery can take 2-3 weeks. The digitization process we will be testing is more complicated and time consuming and we anticipate an average request fulfillment time of 1-2 weeks.

If you have a deadline for your material please either use the “Not Useful After” calendar available on the web request form or add a note in the Notes field. You can also email the staff at docdel@dal.ca and they can check where the item is coming from and give you an estimated time of arrival.

Urgent surcharge and same day service are not available.

Can I Provide Feedback on this Service?

Yes, please! This is a pilot initiative to assess the Libraries’ capacity to digitize archival material as a free service for Dalhousie students, faculty, and staff. Digitizing archival material can be time-consuming and complex, so we anticipate a few bumps as we launch this pilot initative. Please provide feedback by emailing duasc@dal.ca.

Dalhousie University partners with Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada (LAC) and Dalhousie University will collaborate in several key areas to share expertise, knowledge, research practices, technological developments as well as proactively facilitating outreach to promote Canadian documentary heritage.

The agreement was signed on October 15 by Librarian and Archivist of Canada Dr. Guy Berthiaume, and Dalhousie University President Dr. Richard Florizone.

“It is crucial for Library and Archives Canada to build enhanced relationships with respected, like-minded institutions across the country”, said Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada. “The partnership with Dalhousie will allow us, among other things, to build upon the presence of the LAC regional service centre in Dartmouth (part of the Halifax Regional Municipality) and upon an excellent School of Information Management at the University.”

We are so very pleased to be the second university in Canada to partner with Library and Archives Canada,” says Dr. Richard Florizone, Dalhousie University President. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to share with one another the knowledge and expertise that will help support the innovative work our organizations are undertaking.”

Examples of collaborations made possible by this partnership include:

  • Undertaking exchanges of expertise (ex. Through Interchange Canada) to support the development of specific skills;
  • LAC hosting Dalhousie University students through formal work placement programs (Federal Student Experience Work Program and COOP) and tours of facilities;
  • LAC and Dalhousie University sharing knowledge and expertise through training programs and workshops;

“This is an exciting initiative that provides an opportunity for Dalhousie University, through the Dalhousie Libraries and the School of Information Management, and Library and Archives Canada to work together and share expertise and resources that exist at both of our great institutions,” says Donna Bourne-Tyson, University Librarian.

A coordination committee composed of four members from the University and four from LAC will recommend and evaluate possible projects on which to collaborate.

MOU_LACandDal1

Dr. Richard Florizone, Dalhousie University President and Dr. Guy Berthiaume, Librarian and Archivist of Canada

MOU_LACandDAL4

Members of Dalhousie University with Library and Archives Canada

Access issues with Jstor – Update October 15

Update – October 15, 2015: This issue have been resolved. Thank you for your patience.

We are currently experiencing intermittent, site-wide problems with Jstor. Our team is working hard to restore stable access as quickly as possible. We apologize for this interruption and inconvenience.

 

Thanksgiving Hours at the Dal Libraries

thanks hours1

Monday, October 12 is Thanksgiving Day. Because it’s a holiday, some of our libraries will have reduced hours that day.

W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Killam Memorial Library
1 p.m.–9 p.m.

Sir James Dunn Law Library
9 a.m.–10:45 p.m.

MacRae Library
10 a.m.–10:30 p.m.

Sexton Design & Technology Library
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Information about the 5th floor of the Killam Library

As a result of renovations taking place in the Killam Library, the fifth floor will not be considered a quiet floor on a temporary basis.

The floor will be a “collaborative work area”, which means that quiet conversations are allowed as long as the sound does not disrupt the work of other patrons. Audible recorded sounds (e.g., music, movies or cell phone ringtones) are not allowed.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. Quiet areas can still be found on the 2nd and 3rd floors (Stack areas), 2nd floor (McNab Reading Room and Learning Commons) and the 4th (Stack area and Atrium hallways).

If you have any concerns about the noise level in the area where you are studying, you can speak to one of the staff members at the Killam Library Service Point, or reach them via text message at (902)220-5318.

Where’s the Kellogg in 2016?

Yes, you read that correctly! With a new learning commons opening, upcoming renovations, and the collection on the move, we want to make sure you know where everything will be located during the transition.

KelloggLibraryMovesTimeline

 

There will be a lot happening, so we’ve created a handy chart to keep you in the loop. When will the Kellogg be closing? When will the new Learning Commons space in the Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB) be opening? Where will I go to borrow books? The Gantt chart poster is on display inside the main doors to the Kellogg Library for you to peruse whenever you like.

Of course, staff at the Kellogg are always ready and willing to answer any of your questions about the Kellogg moves, and our services. Don’t be shy! We want to make things as simple and straightforward as possible, so let us know what you think. And if you missed our Kellogg on the Move video, here it is again

Kellogg Screen

You can also email questions to Carol Pottie (carol.pottie@dal.ca).

Dal Libraries displays Elections Canada brochures/information

Election2015BlogPost

Election Day is a mere three weeks away! To help you prepare to get out and rock the vote, the Dalhousie Libraries have set up displays in each library with brochures, postcards and posters that have information on how this process works.

The following websites also provide lots of great tips:

Something else to take note of: This year, Elections Canada has launched a pilot project to open voting centres on a number of campuses across the country:

(http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=bkg&document=campu&lang=e)

Two of these centres will be located at Dalhousie University (one at LeMarchant Place and one at the SUB). They will be open from Oct. 5th-8th and will be locations where you can get in-depth information, register to vote, and vote in an advance poll.

New sculpture at the Law Library

Have you had the opportunity to check out the beautiful new sculpture in the Law Library?

Sol is a metal and stone sculpture created in 2015 by Nova Scotia sculptor and blacksmith Brad Hall, whose forge is located in Annapolis Royal, NS. More specifically, the piece is comprised of forged steel atop a sandstone base, and its dimensions are approximately 65” x 49” x 39” (165cm x 124cm x 99cm).

It is a classic example of Hall’s work, particularly in its usage of forged metal with detail attributes that conclude or connect the carefully shaped strands of steel. As the title might suggest, it was inspired to some extent by historic sun dial designs, though it is not intended to be functional as such. The steel is intentionally rusted but stable, and this lends a timeless quality to the feeling of the piece and its materials. Not at all symmetrical, it is nevertheless intuitively well balanced, and different viewpoints reveal different interrelationships of the forms and the open spaces between them.

 

Law Library Sculpture

 

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