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  • Professional librarian career opportunity

    Friday, September 13, 2024 | By

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    Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time, permanent position of Teaching & Learning Librarian, Math & Science and Applied Health Sciences.

    The successful candidate will join the Library’s highly collaborative Teaching & Learning department. Reporting to the Head, Teaching and Learning, this position will support the teaching & learning mission of the Library alongside a team of four other librarians. The Teaching & Learning Librarian, Mathematics & Science and Applied Health Sciences collaboratively develops tools, processes, and resources that support the department’s strategic goals, including curriculum integration. The successful candidate will lead the department’s instruction and course support within the Faculties of Mathematics & Science and Applied Health Sciences.

    Learn more about this role, and apply by Monday, October 7, 2024 at 12:01 am

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  • Who’s behind the Ask Us desk

    Thursday, September 12, 2024 | By

    The Ask Us desk is your main stop in the Matheson Learning Commons, and is staffed by the User Services & Engagement department. Services at the desk include retrieving course reserves, borrowing resources, lending wellness items, and much more.

    There are several teams working behind the scenes:

    • Course Readings; we help you with access to high-demand course materials in a variety of formats at no cost to students.
    • Engagement and Outreach; we connect you to library resources through events, displays, and partnerships.
    • Interlibrary Loan; we support your borrowing requests by sourcing items from other libraries around the world.

    Learn more about how we can help you by visiting the Use the Library page.

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  • MDGL is Open!

    Tuesday, September 03, 2024 | By

    The Map, Data & GIS Library space features group seating and cozy spots with light streaming in from skylights.

    The Map, Data & GIS Library (MDGL) would like to welcome back the Brock community for the academic year 2024-2025! After being open By Appointment Only, we will return to our regular working hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The MDGL will remain closed for weekends, holidays and intercession.  Reading Week hours will be By Appointment Only.

    Email maplib@brocku.ca for more information.

    The MDGL offers study space, computers, knowledgeable and friendly staff to assist with finding and using our cartographic collections including maps, atlases, books, digital air photos and more! We look forward to serving you.

    Welcome back, Badgers!!!

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  • Welcome Autumn, and the Wellness Book Club

    Wednesday, August 21, 2024 | By

    Do you love to hear what others have read and loved?

    Are you bursting with excitement to share the book that enthralled you this summer?

    Do you need some inspiration to read for fun (and reap the benefits!)?

    This is your opportunity to try out a new kind of book club! The Wellness Book Club is returning this fall with a new spin…instead of reading the same book, you are invited to bring along a book you recommend and tell us why you loved it.

    Join Teaching & Learning Librarian, Justine, for a gathering this fall – bring your coffee/tea and let’s chat about books. Participants will also have the opportunity to be part of a research study about the effects of recreational reading on stress levels in university students.

    Sign up here: bit.ly/autumn2024bookclub

    We will meet in October and November – dates will be announced soon.

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  • Career Opportunity, Library Leadership Team

    Wednesday, July 10, 2024 | By

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    Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time, permanent position of Associate University Librarian (AUL), Research.

    As a member of a collaborative senior library leadership team, the AUL Research will work closely with the University Librarian, other colleagues in the Library, and the wider university community to provide creative leadership in the development and implementation of the Library’s strategic priorities and objectives.

    Direct reports currently include the heads of the Collections Services, Archives & Special Collections, and the Research Lifecyle departments. The portfolio of this AUL includes leadership in the strategic development and delivery of the Library’s services advancing research at Brock including:

    • Collections Services, such as collection development, acquisitions, content management.
    • Archives & Special Collections, such as print and digital preservation, collection development & acquisitions, relationship management.
    • Research Lifecycle, such as scholarly communications, research metrics, persistent identifiers, data management, and digital scholarship.

    Learn more about the role, qualifications, etc. and apply by August 26, 2024 at 12:01 am.

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  • Library Survey Findings & Next Steps

    Wednesday, June 26, 2024 | By

    You spoke. We listened.

    In November 2023, we ran a campus-wide survey, asking the campus community for feedback on library services and resources. In January, we shared a brief note thanking you for your feedback and announcing the prize winners.

    We have taken these recent months to analyze and understand the results.

    A major finding from the survey was that, on balance, the Library is performing quite well! The majority of respondents ranked our performance high across most categories. We are gratified to hear that the Library is largely meeting the needs of the Brock community.

    We also heard that there are a number of areas where we can improve, and we take that seriously. At this time, we’d like to share with you a summary of what he heard, as well as our next steps in responding to your feedback.

    Brock University Library Survey Key Findings report.

    Biggest priorities for improvement

    • Finding a quiet place in the Library to study
    • Finding a place in the Library to work in a group

    Other areas we can improve

    • Managing levels of noise and behaviour
    • Power/ electrical outlet availability and maintenance
    • Informing you about Library services
    • Faculty members: Information resources that meet learning and research needs

    Where we are doing well

    • Wireless access
    • Accurate answers to questions
    • Help is available from Library staff when needed
    • Off-campus access to Library resources and services

    What are we going to do in response to the survey results?

    We are kicking off a number of projects, large and small.

    • Usability issues with study spaces (findability, noise, etc.): We will strike a team with members from across the library to directly address these concerns and propose improvements. We expect this work to begin this summer and continue into the fall term.
    • Electrical outlets: Working with Brock’s Facilities Management (FM) team, we have tested and repaired faulty outlets throughout the entire library building. We will continue to work with FM on a regular basis to repair outlets as new issues are reported. We have also begun a project to determine where additional electrical outlets are needed and will have these added over the summer.
    • Group study: We have been piloting a mobile-friendly version of our room booking software, which makes it easier to see each room’s features. You are welcome to try it out now, and we plan on rolling this new version out this summer.
    • Communication: Survey respondents indicated that their preferred way to receive library updates is via email. We will be investigating options for email updates in Fall 2024: Watch your inbox!

    In some areas, we have more to learn before we can determine how to address a problem. For example, we are considering strategies for specific input from faculty about their library resource needs.

    We will be in touch as we make progress on the projects described above.

    Again, we are so grateful to you for taking the time to respond to our survey. We look forward to making changes and improvements that respond to your concerns. We were especially pleased to hear your resounding praise for the people who work in the library:

    “Our library is a wonderful, inclusive space that (in my opinion) is very welcoming to students, staff and community members. The staff are very knowledgeable and happy to help students with any questions they may have.”

    “The library’s standout features is its knowledgeable and approachable staff. They are always willing to assist students, providing valuable guidance in locating resources, conducting research, and navigating databases. Their expertise has been invaluable to my academic pursuits, and I am grateful for their continuous support.”

    “My favourite place with my favourite people!”

    I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the 2023 Library Survey Team who led the survey implementation and supported the analysis of results: Monica Rettig (Lead), Kym Ash, Daniel Brett, Alicia Floyd, Laurie Morrison, and Tanya Sicoli.

    For any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to reach out.

    ~Nicole Nolan, University Librarian
    nnolan@brocku.ca

     

     

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  • Career Opportunity in Library Collections Services

    Tuesday, June 18, 2024 | By

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    Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time, permanent position of Collections Librarian.

    The successful candidate will be responsible for developing collection management strategies related to various resource formats including print, ebooks, streaming media, databases, and journals for the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and the Faculty of Math & Science.  They will assist in collection analysis and assessment and, alongside the Library’s other Collections Librarians, will develop a coordinated approach to collection development.

    Learn more about this role, and apply by July 16, 2024 at 12:01 am

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  • Happy Pride Month

    Monday, June 03, 2024 | By

    The Schmon Tower illuminated in rainbow colours

    We’re celebrating 2S&LGBTQ+ Pride month by:

    • sharing a curated selection of books – including non-fiction and novels – and films which take an intersectional approach to examining 2S&LGBTQ+ life and issues such as race, disability, class and politics. The collection includes e-books you can read right away, print titles you can borrow from the library, and streaming videos,
    • showcasing a related collection fiction and non-fiction from our Badger Books, and
    • providing Pride-themed colouring sheets – stop by and grab some from the Ask Us desk.

    Happy Pride Brock U.

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  • Return and Retrieval Services for IRC Materials

    Wednesday, May 15, 2024 | By

    Several shelves full of library books.

    The Library has established return and retrieval services for materials held in the Faculty of Education’s Instructional Resource Centre (IRC) on the St. Catharines Campus. The materials housed in the IRC are not physically browsable at this time but can be requested on demand. 

    Returning IRC materials 

    All returns can be brought to the Ask Us desk on the main floor of the James A. Gibson Library.  

    Requesting retrieval of IRC materials 

    Materials previously labelled with the IRC location in Omni are now identified as “Request-Only Storage”.   

    To borrow these materials, use the ‘Request for Pickup’ button (see below) and Library staff will retrieve the item for you. You will receive a notification when the item is available for pickup at the Ask Us desk in the James A. Gibson Library. We anticipate the turnaround time to be approximately 2 business days.

    Below is a screenshot of how to place a request in Omni:

    An Omni catalogue record for a Request-Only Storage item. A purple arrow points to the red Request for Pickup button.

    An Omni catalogue record for a Request-Only Storage item. A purple arrow points to the red Request for Pickup button.

    We welcome your feedback and appreciate your patience as we navigate this transition.  

    The Library will be working in collaboration with the Faculty of Education over the coming months on a project that includes an assessment of IRC materials, and a plan for integrating these into the James A. Gibson collection.  

    Questions? Contact us at libhelp@brocku.ca

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  • Exam supports: studying in the Library

    Friday, April 05, 2024 | By

    Students work in a study pod on the 6th floor of the library.

    Brock University Library offers a variety of study options which include areas for group learning and collaboration as well as quiet individual zones and silent areas. Just in time for exam season, here’s a reminder of the options available to you.

    Silent Zones: No talking please

    • Learning Commons Classroom B
    • Floor 5 Silent Study room (ST 500)
    • Floors 9 & 10 (even in the single study rooms)

    Quiet Zones: Low level conversation between individuals

    • Learning Commons Classroom A, one-person study desks, and computer areas.
    • Floors 5, 6, 7 at single study desks
    • Floor 8

    Group Zones: Low level conversation in groups

    • Learning Commons group tables and hallway seating
    • Floor 5
    • Floor 6
    • Floor 7

    Wherever you choose to study, stop by the Ask Us desk first and pick up some free ear plugs.

    Exam time often means high stress and high spirits. If you have concerns about noise, please contact us in-person at the Ask Us desk for immediate assistance.

    Beyond the James A. Gibson Library, additional sweet study spots include:

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