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What's going on at Dalhousie Libraries

Category: General Library News

Intern Profile: Cora-Lynn Munro-Lynds

Cora-Lynn Munro-Lynds
Library intern at the W. K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library

1. What brought you to the MI program at Dal?

I was not entirely sure what this program was about until I got here because frankly, it is a hard discipline to describe. I applied because it was recommended by my thesis supervisor. It was a chance decision, but I can tell you for sure, that I do not regret it! It was the best “accidental” career decision I have ever made.

2. What drew you to the internship opportunity at the Dal Libraries?

Dal Libraries have many opportunities for library interns to specialize in specific academic fields (i.e. health sciences, law, engineering, etc.). Their internships share the intricate world of academic libraries with newbies. I chose Dal libraries because I wanted experience in an academic setting. The library is the heart of the school and can bring people from many disciplines together. It is a great environment to work in!

3. What’s your educational background?

I have a Bachelor of Arts with a combined major in history and French. I did my honours thesis on the Fisheries Household Resettlement Program in Newfoundland and Labrador.

4. What have you been doing during your internship and how has the pandemic shaped your internship?

Many others will agree, the pandemic has caused me to quickly adapt the way I work. This is not an easy thing to do. However, it showed me that I am capable of change. I can work from home and it won’t be the end of the world! And last, the best gift of all, I save money from not buying a latté at Starbucks every morning. 😊

5. What is your favourite summer activity? Or your favourite Halifax activity?

In the summer, I enjoy all things beach related! This include swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, and even mermaid swimming! I also enjoy painting and gardening.

 

Teaching  & Learning Supports at Dal Libraries

by: Deborah Hemming, Louise Gillis, & Melissa Helwig

As you prepare for fall courses, know there are many teaching and learning services and resources available through the Dal Libraries.

To make it as easy as possible for you to access our services while you work from home, we created some quick links and descriptions to our teaching and learning library services and tools. Stay home and stay safe!

Library Orientation & Research Skills Sessions
Do your students need to brush up on their research skills? Ask a librarian to provide a customized session for your online class. Whether live or prerecorded, librarians are available to teach your students about how to use the library, searching for books and articles, evaluating sources, citation styles, and more. Contact your liaison librarian to request a session for your fall courses.

As part of a library session, librarians can create complementary exercises or quizzes so students can put their new research skills into practice. If students have questions or run into issues after the session, encourage them to contact their liaison librarian for follow-up help and guidance.

The Dal Libraries website also has a collection of informative handouts to support students in accessing library materials and completing research. These cover everything from “Choosing a research topic” to “Identifying and reading scholarly works.” You can link to the Dal Libraries handouts on your course page and even pair them with assignments to provide direction for your students.

Course readings supports
Course reserves are not just for print materials. Dal Libraries Course Reserves services include providing faculty with Persistent URLs (PURLs) to our Dal Libraries’ online resources — no more broken links! Simply submit your reading lists to us and we will provide PURLs to electronic books and articles for as many readings as possible. Submit your reading lists early!

Beyond the traditional course reserves, you can chat with your liaison librarian about selecting and accessing alternatives such as Open Education Resources (OERs). OERs are teaching, learning, and research resources that are created with the intention of being freely available to users and can be in the form of textbooks, readings, and multimedia files. To learn more, check out our OER page or contact your liaison librarian.

Online Tutorials
Looking for instructional videos on topics such as accessing library resources, renewing books, using academic databases, and citing sources? The Dal Libraries has a collection of closed captioned video tutorials that address library basics and much more. Direct your students here, or link through Brightspace.

CLT, Education Literature, and ATS
Want to learn more about teaching online? Check out the Centre for Learning and Teaching‘s online panels, webinars and workshops. Material is offered by faculty with experience in online design, remote teaching and student engagement. Sign up and learn something new!

Interested in reading up on education theory and practice? Dal Libraries provides access to books, journals, and on topic databases. We have two LibGuides to help you get started: Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Resources Guide and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Resource Guide.

If you’re seeking technical assistance for Brightspace, instructional technologists with Academic Technology Services (ATS) of the Dalhousie Libraries provide live, one-on-one virtual support as well as regular training sessions on Brightspace and many of its tools.

Final tips…
Reach out to your liaison librarian and consider adding their contact info and links to subject specific LibGuides in your syllabi. Having a library contact and a tailored LibGuide can help your students get started on course assignments and research. To learn more about liaison librarians and services see our previous post, Top 5 Tips To Stay Connected from Home.

And don’t forget to think beyond the library: there are many academic supports for your students when it comes to learning.

 

 

Featured Products: Anatomy.TV & Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy

by Jackie Phinney

As faculty, staff, and students prepare for online teaching and learning this fall, the W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library has been hard at work evaluating our online teaching and learning resources. One area we have focused on is our online anatomy tools, and while we already subscribe to a popular product called Anatomy.TV, after consulting with faculty and instructors, we have added a subscription to Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy.

The Dalhousie Libraries has subscribed to Anatomy.TV for quite some time, and there are some updated features that you may find helpful for teaching or completing coursework. The viewer can look at 3D models or real dissections of the human body, and see specialized imaging using ultrasound or MRI. Images can be broken down to see only the skeletal system, and from there you can add layers to include the nervous system, muscular system, and more.

Anatomy.TV is designed to be interactive, so hovering over sections displays the name of that structure. Images can also be rotated to see all angles, and certain structures can be isolated within that region to get a detailed explanation of what you’re seeing. Images can be downloaded and included in lectures, or links to specific images can be created and posted in Brightspace. Anatomy.TV can be accessed off-campus using a Dalhousie NetID and password.

Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy contains high-quality videos of real human specimens that have been dissected, with voice-over explanations of what the viewer is seeing. There are videos for every region of the body, and viewers can easily navigate to different sections and chapters as desired.

Acland’s has an A-Z index that helps find specific videos fast, along with a helpful glossary that explains the interpretation of the Greek, Latin, or Arabic anatomical structure names. The videos also contain a full transcript as well as closed captioning, and links to videos can be posted to Brightspace. Acland’s Video Atlas of Human Anatomy can be accessed off-campus using a Dalhousie NetID and password.

If you’d like more information on using these products as an anatomy instructor or as a student, feel free to contact the W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library at kellogg@dal.ca. We are happy to discuss these products, along with the many other health sciences resources that are available to you through the Dalhousie Libraries.

The Dalhousie Libraries Are Here for You! Top 5 Tips To Stay Connected from Home

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.

Most Overdue Library Fines Have Been Eliminated!

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: Three Dalhousie Libraries Spaces Have Reopened 

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. 

  • If you want to use a printer, please book a time slot for a computer, even if you don’t require the entire three-hour time slot.
  • You will receive an email to confirm your booking has been received and an email when your booking is confirmed.
  • You must bring your DalCard to gain entry to the space.
  • The wearing of non-medical masks is strongly recommended and will be mandatory by July 31.
  • Furniture in the spaces has been adjusted to encourage social distancing. Library staff will perform some cleaning between time slots.
  • If you want access to materials from the Killam Library’s collection, please continue to request items through the Curbside Pickup service.

Record Your Lectures on Studley Campus 

 

Starting Monday, June 29, faculty and instructors can record lectures on Studley Campus:

How to book a room for recording lectures:

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.) 

 

 

 

Proquest Ebook Central unavailable Saturday, June 27

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.

 

 

Possible Issue with Database Links

Over the next few days, you may encounter some broken links on the Database tab (the fourth tab on the search box on the Libraries’ landing page) or on the database search page. We are working to minimize the risk of our users encountering any broken links, but if you do encounter one, please use Novanet to access the database. Instead of selecting the “Database” tab in the search box, make sure the “Novanet Basic Search” tab is selected when you do your search (please see image below).

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and we hope to have the issue resolved soon.

How Long Do I Keep This Stuff? New records management webinar

Over the past few months, the way we work has changed drastically.  If you’re working from home, one area you may be wondering about is how to store administrative records. The Dal Libraries’ Records Management Office can help! We have expertise in:

  • identifying administrative records
  • explaining how records should be stored
  • ascertaining how long different types of records are to be retained
  • knowing what to do after the records are no longer required
  • managing email and shared drive content
  • assisting with identifying what information is a record (and what is not)
  • providing guidelines and resources to help organize and clean up email accounts

Please join us for a new records management webinar called How long do I keep this stuff? DalCLASS can help with that!

We’re offering two session of the webinar, designed to help you figure out what information is a record that has to be retained (in accordance with the Records Management Policy) and what can be securely shredded or deleted. We’ll cover:

  • How to navigate DalCLASS and figure out what to keep
  • When to get rid of files and why
  • Records management resources

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 1–3 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams (you will be sent a link after registering.)
Register now  (This session is full, please register for the wait list or for the session on July 22.)

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 1–3 p.m.
Location: Microsoft Teams (you will be sent a link after registering.)
Register now

 

 

 

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