Learning Commons

  • On display: International Education Week

    Thursday, November 12, 2026 | By

    During International Education Week, Brock International presents two displays in the Brock University Library featuring cultural, traditional, and historical artifacts from around the world, contributed by Brock staff and students.

    Each artifact tells a story, reflecting a personal connection to a place, community, cultural tradition, family history, or meaningful experience. Together, these items celebrate the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and connections that enrich the Brock community, while encouraging curiosity, cultural understanding, and appreciation for the many perspectives represented on our campus.

    Take a trip around the world without leaving campus! Visit the displays to discover meaningful objects, uncover the stories behind them, and explore the traditions and experiences that connect us across cultures. You might even discover something new about the people and communities that make Brock special!

     

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  • On display: Food for thought

    Thursday, October 29, 2026 | By

    display case featuring food themed artifacts

    The German philosopher, Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, wrote “Der Mensch ist, was er ißt” (“Man is what he eats”) in a 1863/4 essay.

    The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC) welcomes you to browse through its latest exhibit in the Library and at the Thistle entrance to the Learning Commons. The display explores food habits and language as a reflection of our cultural history.

    The exhibit runs to November 7, 2026.

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  • The Value of reading

    Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | By

    Book cover image from the book Yesteryear

    A recent New York Times article, “Books Everlasting,” highlights the many ways that reading happens in our modern world and the optimism of the CEO of both Barnes & Noble and Waterstones about the future of books and reading.

    Books are everywhere these days, from edgy film interpretations of classic novels like Wuthering Heights to the BookTok community on TikTok. For every article that laments the loss of reading skills, books appear to be more popular than ever.

    A new display on the value of reading in the Thistle corridor relates to two reading initiatives happening this month. First, the Wellness Book Club will have its first fall meeting on October 26 to discuss Yesteryear by Claire Caro Burke. Students are invited to sign up on ExperienceBU.

    On Wednesday, October 21, there will be an online workshop to explore reading strategies for higher education. “Reading like a Scholar” is part of the Research Ready workshop series and is open to all students.

    Heller, N. (2026). Books Everlasting. New Yorker, 102(33), 52–63.

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  • Fall Pastimes

    Thursday, October 01, 2026 | By

    This month’s Matheson Learning Commons display cases present indoor and outdoor fall pursuits courtesy of the Library’s collection.

    For the outdoor enthusiast:
    Discover local conservation areas and plan your visit.  Since 2022, the Brock Library has partnered with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) to offer NaturePlus membership passes for 7-day loan.

    For the reader:
    Browse autumnal and classic titles available for loan and see an expanded list of fall fiction.

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  • Exhibits in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

    Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | By

    Brock Library thanks Syerra Jasmin, Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre Operations Supervisor for this blog post. Visit the exhibit in the Matheson Learning Commons and at the Thistle entrance until October 5.

    Members of the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Metis and Inuit Student centre team have created library displays to highlight the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The displays contain various cultural objects, along with books about the Residential School System, and the Calls to Action. Books on display are available for check-out at the Phyllis Webstad library located in TH145.

    Supporting the exhibit is the James A. Gibson Library’s featured collection Reconciling the History of the Residential School System in Canada.

    On Wednesday, September 30 Hadiya’dagénhahs is hosting two Every Child Matters lacrosse games at Alumni Field, a women’s match at 4:30 p.m. followed by a men’s match at 7 p.m. Both games will include drummers, an opening address followed by a land acknowledgement and the raising of the Every Child Matters Flag on the field, and half-time performances.

     

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  • Welcome to Brock and the Library

    Tuesday, September 01, 2026 | By

    Welcome and welcome back!

    This month, library exhibit cases are brimming with information about services and resources for new and returning users.

    View the cases at the Thistle entrance to the Library to learn about our Teaching & Learning librarians and the services they provide such as one-on-one support, and in-person and online workshops. Find out about the services offered to support your work with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and discover a cool treasure from the Archives & Special Collections department.

    The Learning Commons display cases guide the viewer to all the library resources needed for a successful start to the term including the basics of Omni, how to request books from other libraries, room-booking, printing, finding course readings, and wellness resources for loan.

    Welcome to Brock and the Library runs until Friday, September 18.

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  • Brock to the world and the world to Brock, one book and pdf at a time

    Monday, July 06, 2026 | By

    In 2025 Brock Library’s Interlibrary Loan Team sent over 6,400 items from our collection to partner libraries across the province and around the world. In return, our users received 6,930 books and digital files to support their coursework, research, and teaching.

    A new exhibit in the Learning Commons highlights the global (and local) impact our dedicated staff make on a daily basis.  Among the details we’ve included, you can read what your colleagues have to say about this service, get answers to your frequently asked questions, and read the charming thank-you notes we receive from across the globe. The exhibit runs to the end of July.

    Learn more about borrowing from other libraries on the library website.

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  • On display: National Indigenous Histories Month

    Wednesday, June 03, 2026 | By

    Members of the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre set up a display at the Thistle entrance of the Library highlighting First Nations, Métis and Inuit cultures and histories. This display marks National Indigenous Histories Month, and Indigenous Peoples Awareness Week.

    The display includes a variety of items including Wampum belts; a drum and rattle; beaded gloves and moccasins; seal and rabbit pelts; various Métis sashes; Inuit embroidery and carvings, and a variety of other tools and handcrafted items.

    Members of the Brock University and wider community are invited to a week full of learning, reflection and crafting during Indigenous Peoples Awareness Week, hosted by the Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre beginning June 23rd. Students, staff, faculty and community members can visit brocku.universitytickets.com to see a full list of events and reserve their tickets now.

    Be sure to follow Hadiya’dagénhahs First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Centre on Instagram and Facebook to be the first to hear about events, news and updates.

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  • On display: the works of Howard Engel

    Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | By

    Canadian mystery author, Howard Engel

    In 2022, the Archives & Special Collections in the Brock University Library acquired the personal library of Canadian mystery writer Howard Engel. Engel was born in St. Catharines and many of his books are set in Grantham City, a fictional pseudonym for where he grew up.

    Howard Engel has been termed by some as the father of Canadian mystery. From 1980 to 2015, Engel wrote 21 books, including 14 featuring Detective Benny Cooperman, his most famous character. Engel is credited with bringing international legitimacy to Canadian mystery writing and was a founding member of Crime Writers of Canada, inspiring new writers to take on the craft.

    When we opened the boxes from his estate, we found working copies, first prints off the press, and many of Engel’s books in various languages from across the globe. On display are selections from this collection, along with more details about Howard Engel, including the medical condition that threatened to end his writing career.

    Howard Engel items available for loan from Brock University Library.

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    Categories: Archives, Learning Commons, Main

  • On display: Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

    Thursday, April 30, 2026 | By

    A cardboard castle represents Germany in the Modern Languages, Literature, Cultures display

    “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”  ― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad.

    The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures (MLLC) welcomes you to browse through its latest exhibit in the Library and at the Thistle entrance to the Learning Commons. The display exemplifies the languages and unique cultures explored by students in our courses. May your curiosity be piqued! Perhaps some of the questions rooted in the history of these cultures will be raised by the materials on display.

    The exhibit runs from May 4 to 22, 2026.

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