Library news

All of us at UVic Libraries are terribly saddened by the tragic accident that killed two UVic students. Our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of all those affected.

The UVic Libraries, in collaboration with Ocean Networks Canada, Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Café Scientifique and participating researchers from across campus, presents a 2019 Science Literacy Week program of events highlighting ocean science research. Science Literacy Week is a national week-long celebration of science-based activities that highlights outstanding scientists and science communicators from coast-to-coast.

One of the challenges with email is the sheer volume. Before you know it, your in-box is jammed with a collection of important, not-so-important and not-even-close-to-being important email. Learn more.

Are you a distance student at UVic? Find out more about the Distance Learning and Research unit of the library and how we can serve you.

Explore our new book display in the International Commons on the main floor of the Mearns Centre for Learning—McPherson Library. The display will focus on a different theme each month with a selection of books from our collections that will appeal especially to our International students and serve as a gateway to our extensive collections.

Join us in celebrating the launch of our latest publication, [untitled]:The Artists' Archives at the University of Victoria Libraries, and the opening of UVic Legacy Art Galleries' newest exhibition, Object Biographies: Artists’ Lives through their Archives.

Samantha MacFarlane defended her dissertation on the same day that she won a prestigious award for designing a digital exhibit about Johnny Cash.

Learning and Research Librarians Aditi Gupta and Rebecca Raworth have developed programs that use information literacy instruction, while building cross-cultural research collaborations at UVic Libraries and the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar.

“Volatile Attractions: Saul Holiff, Johnny Cash, and Managing a Music Legend,” curated by Dr. Samantha MacFarlane, has won the prestigious Leab award from the ALA’s Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL); UVic won in Division Five (electronic exhibition).

The University of Victoria Libraries is proud to be an essential and integral part of the research life cycle at UVic. We offer two scholarships for students that recognize an academically outstanding undergraduate and graduate student.

Need a study break? Pop down to our pop-up relaxation stations on April 16 & 17, 7-10 pm. Break the monotony of exam time stress and studying. Stop by the new “Reserves” lounge on the main floor for: colouring, puzzles, music listening station, button-making, leisure reading ideas, and cookies!

Food for Fines is an annual food drive put on by the UVic Libraries. Every year we collect food, personal needs items and money in support of the Mustard Seed and UVic Students' Society (UVSS) food banks.

Through conversation and audience engagement, the 2019 University of Victoria University Librarian’s Lecture will surface tensions and explore paths towards the role of archival evidence in shaping a new vision for Canada.

Julie Paul is the author of four books: three story collections—The Jealousy Bone, The Pull of the Moon, and forthcoming in 2019, Meteorites—as well as the poetry collection, The Rules of the Kingdom. Her story, “The Expansion,” is also between covers in a sweet little chapbook.

The Digital Scholarship Commons at the University of Victoria Libraries is pleased to host author Tim McLaughlin and Dr. Dene Grigar for a Traversal of McLaughin's hypertext novel, Notes Toward Absolute Zero. Written in 1992/93, McLaughlin's work dates from the pre-web era of hypertext, when the creative potential of the medium was still largely unexplored. Dr. Grigar, director and professor of the Creative Media & Digital Culture Program at WSU Vancouver, will conduct a Traversal of McLaughlin's work; a narrated, recorded performance capturing the experience of the work on period 1990s computing technology.

The Current Periodicals are being relocated to the main stacks at their title’s call number location. Please ask at the Loan Desk if you have any trouble finding the latest issues. The Reserve Collection will be temporarily located at the Loan Desk. During the period of renovation, the silent piano will be moved temporarily alongside the wall of classroom 130. Watch for an exciting announcement about a new study space that will open in April.

Ideafest is the University of Victoria’s week-long festival, from March 4-9, of research, art and innovation. Browse the 2019 schedule to discover 40 events on campus and beyond. All events are free and open to the public, with no registration required unless otherwise specified. Come and be inspired by ideas that can change everything.

UVic Libraries acquired a rare copy of Livres de Prieres Tissé d’après les enluminures des manuscrits du XIV au XVIe siècle. This unique Book of Hours is neither a manuscript nor a printed book, but instead, was machine-woven with gray and black silk.

Through the Victoria Foundation grant we recently received we will work in collaboration and consultation with the First People's Cultural Council, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, to begin to decolonize the Colonial Despatches by developing enhanced and revised search terms, along with a newly engineered search interface.

Husband and wife Alex Nelson (BA ’98, EPHE) and Nella Nelson (BA ’76, PDPP) are among eleven recipients of the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Awards.

UVic Professor Emeritus Werner Israel donated several early first-edition Cambridge volumes to UVic Libraries about black holes, quantum physics and relativity, along with a personal letter from notable physicist Stephen Hawking, recommending Israel for election to the esteemed Royal Society.

In honor of Professor Bishop, who died in 2016 just weeks short of his 100th birthday, UVic Libraries purchased a finely bound second edition of Robert Burns’ Poems, chiefly in the Scottish dialect, a volume that had eluded Professor Bishop, much to his regret, during a significant book buying trip to the U.K. in 1953.

At UVic Libraries, we place great value on our relationships within the campus and beyond with our role in providing opportunities for lifelong learning. This is why we offer a diversity of resources and services for students, faculty, and the wider community. With 1.3 million visitors into UVic Libraries each year, and many more that engage in our digital spaces, we are the busiest locale on campus, and an inviting and welcoming entry point into all that the University of Victoria has to offer. As we plan and prepare for the beginning of the calendar year, we reflect on some of our accomplishments in 2018,

The increasing adoption of digital research methods observed across scholarly communities presents significant opportunities for research advancement and innovation - if, that is, the resulting digital data is well managed over its lifetime.

UVic has a new agreement with Library and Archives Canada (LAC) that will strengthen existing engagements between the two institutions and lead to new endeavours to facilitate the sharing of expertise and knowledge.

The University of Victoria, the wider community, and Canada as a whole have a lot to be proud of in our students and faculty who are working tirelessly to tell the stories of those who came before so that we can be a better community today. It is an honour to be in a profession that seeks to make that work available for tomorrow.

From the 1880s through the 1950s surveyors with the Dominion Topographic Survey, the Geological Survey of Canada, and other government departments deployed an effective method of surveying the mountains of Western Canada known as phototopographic surveying. These methods left a legacy of systematic photographs with nearly complete coverage of much of the landscape, offering an unprecedented data set for researchers to analyze landscape conditions during a period of intense development and ecological transitions.

on the Verge Writing Contest showcases and celebrates emerging UVic student voices with an annual theme under the broad rubric of equity, diversity and human rights.

You have to look no further than pop culture for a bird’s-eye view on humanity’s ongoing relationship with data. Lieutenant Commander Data, an artificial intelligence and synthetic life form character on Star Trek, The Next Generation, has quite a bit in common with our new Data Curation Librarian: they both enjoy helping colleagues, and both have an affinity for data.

International Games Week is an initiative run by volunteers from around the world to reconnect communities through their libraries around the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games. Can serious games help issues of global warming? Design, prototype and test a game to save the planet!

The University of Victoria Libraries is proud to be an essential and integral part of the research life cycle at UVic. Our awards recognize and honor the contributions and achievements of all our students, enhancing the sense of personal growth and accomplishment in our academic community.

FrankenWeek is a series of interdisciplinary events celebrating the history, text, themes, and performance of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. FrankenWeek events are open to the University of Victoria's students, faculty, and staff, as well as the general public. For more information, please visit https://oac.uvic.ca/frankenreads/.

In the spirit of giving and generosity that distinguishes the UVic United Way campaign, donations of good quality used books will be accepted at the Main Loan Desk in the Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library until Dec. 1.

In this talk award winning graphic designer Robin Mitchell Cranfield will introduce the culture of typography. Treasures and Tea brings together the campus and the community to explore and share highlights from Special Collections and University Archives. Refreshments follow the informal talks.

Paywall: The Business of Scholarship is a documentary which focuses on the need for open access to research and science.

The Personal Librarian Program is designed to introduce first year UVic students to the many resources, tools and services available at UVic Libraries.

Ann Hansen is author of Direct Action: Memoirs of an Urban Guerilla (2001) and a member of EPIC (End the Prison Industrial Complex).

Nyoka is a biotech start-up founded by Paige Whitehead, a UVic Microbiology and Environmental Studies student.

The Digital Scholarship Commons assists faculty, students, staff, and the wider Victoria community in learning digital tools and digital research methodologies. We are an interdisciplinary space open to all and encourage cross-disciplinary conversations. We are interested in sparking opportunities for students and faculty from various disciplines to come together and talk about their work.

UVic Libraries and the Centre for Biomedical Research are hosting this event as part of Science Literacy Week September 17-23, 2018. A week-long celebration of science and space in Canada presented in partnership with the Canadian Space Agency.

During Canada’s Science Literacy Week, visit the big screen digital and 3D exhibit, as the UVic Libraries celebrates the life of former Chancellor and champion of Canadian and BC ecology, Ian McTaggart Cowan. Also visit Special Collections to browse Cowan’s original hand written field notes and browse his extensive BC/Canadian ecology photo collection.

Orient Expressions: Asian Book Arts from UVic Libraries' Special Collections. Curated by Ying Liu and Tad Suzuki.

A film production company, EFM3 Productions (VAN) Inc., will be shooting on location in front of the Mearns Centre for Learning – McPherson Library on Friday, August 17. They are shooting the TV movie “An Emma Fielding Mystery: More Bitter Than Death.” Crews will be onsite from 8:00am with shooting expected to begin at 2:30pm. Filming will only take place outside the library. The company will be onsite until the early hours of Saturday morning, August 18. Please be aware that there may be disruption or small delays to staff and library users coming and going from the building during active filming.

Graduate Students doing research in Science or Engineering topics are invited to an evening of food and drink as part of Science Literacy Week.

Announcing our latest title, an open access academic text: Global Corruption: Law, Theory & Practice, by Prof. Gerry Ferguson.

Announcing our latest title, an open access academic text: Web of Performance edited by Monica Prendergast and Will Weigler

In 2013, the University of Victoria Libraries launched its publishing imprint and released the first in an ongoing series of award-winning publications devoted to our special collections and university archives. Prepared for publication by General Editor Christine Walde, Grants and Awards Librarian at the University of Victoria Libraries, these open-access volumes support the Libraries' commitment to dynamic learning and vital impact.

Secretary General of the Chinese Local Chronicles Guidance Group (中国地方志指导小组) and President of the Chinese Local Chronicles Association, Dr. Ji Xiangde will speak about the local chronicles, a unique type of resources for Chinese studies. The compilation of local chronicles is a tradition which has lasted for hundreds of years in China. Till now there exist more than 8,000 titles of local chronicles before the Qing dynasty and over 35,000 modern titles. The talk will focus on the origin, history, development, format change and how these sources can be used by researchers.

Volatile Attractions: Saul Holiff, Johnny Cash, and Managing a Music Legend is a digital exhibit featuring materials from the archives of Saul Holiff, the Canadian manager of one of the most iconic figures in American music history: Johnny Cash.

University of Victoria Libraries’ 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient and Victoria-born internationally best-selling author David Day will speak about fantasy literature, focusing on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.

What's happening? The Curriculum Library collection is moving to the McPherson Library during May 2018. Want to know more?

Inba Kehoe, copyright and scholarly communication librarian at UVic Libraries, is the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Open Education from BCcampus.

Librarian Christine Walde, who specializes in grants and awards, has won the 2018 BC Academic Libraries Section (BCALS) Outstanding Contribution Award.

Thanks to the generous support of the UVic Campus Sustainability Fund, UVic Libraries is pleased to announce it is now lending out bicycle locks to the community. This service fulfills an important role of supporting clean, alternative forms of transit to campus. Students and faculty who forgot their lock at home can visit the Circulation Desk in the Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library. Ask us and check out one of our new Kryptonite Evolution locks.

The UVic Libraries will host a pop-up display of new books on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the McPherson Library. From March 21-22, 2018, drop by the McPherson Library as we engage the community in dialogue for the 5 Days of Action.

UVic Libraries is honoured to be hosting the Canadian Jewish Experience: A Tribute to Canada 150 exhibit.

Ideafest is UVic’s week-long festival of research, art and innovation, running from March 5–10, 2018. This year’s festival features over 40 outstanding events on topics ranging from climate change and chamber music to Indigenous law and antibiotic resistance. All events are free and open to the public.

Curious about creating surveys but don’t know where to start? Come to the “Online Survey Tools” workshop and learn about what tools are out there, how to use them, and where to find helpful resources! No registration required.

At UVic Libraries, we place great value on our relationships within the campus and beyond with our role in providing opportunities for lifelong learning. This is why we offer a diversity of resources and services for students, faculty, and the wider community. With 1.3 million visitors into UVic Libraries each year, and many more that engage in our digital spaces, we are the busiest locale on campus, and an inviting and welcoming entry point into all that the University of Victoria has to offer. As we plan and prepare for the beginning of the calendar year, we reflect on some of our accomplishments in 2017.

Show and tell us how the library inspires you and enter an Instagram contest to be eligible for prizes.

Zotero is an awesome free research tool that helps you stay organized, save time, and cite easier.

Donate your new or used good quality books and support the United Way!

Have you ever wandered through the library with a question? These five-minute welcome videos will make you familiar with the library and our key services. Even better, it may be available in your mother tongue. With support from our student volunteers, we have seven videos in frequently-used languages on campus: Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.

Citation trouble? Are you used to working with APA but now you have to cite in Chicago or IEEE? Maybe you're having trouble referencing a video or a website. We're here to help!

National Geographic Adventurer of the Year Award recipient and UVic alumna Julie Angus (MSc ’01), is known for being the first woman to row across the Atlantic Ocean from mainland to mainland. Julie is a best-selling author who has co-produced two award-winning documentaries all the while continuing to embark on epic adventures, publishing photos and articles along the way. Join us for a presentation and discussion about her life as an explorer, scientist and writer as well as hear about her latest ground-breaking adventure.

Renovated grad students space with new furniture and more seats is coming soon!

Do libraries and archives need a makeover? In the ever-changing world of technology and trends, cultural institutions are continually reinventing themselves to increase their visibility and maintain their relevance. On Nov. 2, a free public event presented by UVic Libraries in partnership with the Greater Victoria Public Library and Royal BC Museum will explore the important role that galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM) play in today’s society.

The University of Victoria Libraries is proud to be an essential and integral part of the research life cycle at UVic. Our awards recognize and honor the contributions and achievements of all our students, enhancing the sense of personal growth and accomplishment in our academic community.

Check out our new food policy online or ask us at any desk. Garbage and recycling stations are on every floor with composting in the BiblioCafe.

Now is your chance to see and experience the world of Ian McTaggart Cowan, the “father of Canadian ecology.”

**NEW** May 8, 2017: Community members and Alumni may borrow Curriculum Library items. Loan periods extended for UVic borrowers too!

The University of Victoria Libraries is proud to be an essential and integral part of the research life cycle at UVic. Our awards recognize and honour the contributions and achievements of all our students, enhancing the sense of personal growth and accomplishment in our academic community.

University of Victoria Libraries invites the community to an open house to learn more about the newly unveiled online exhibit VictoriatoVimy.ca, and to view archival and rare print collections about the First World War.