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• New Resource: Audio Ciné Films

  Thursday, March 18, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Try out Audio Ciné Films, the newest addition to the Library’s streaming video collections. It provides access to over 900 films, both new releases and older titles, with new films added regularly. Studios represented include Walt Disney Pictures, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, MGM Studios, and more. Most films have Closed Captioning, as well as French-language versions.   

  Some film highlights include: 

  • Action and drama movies like Knives Out (2019), Avengers: Endgame (2019), The Fifth Element (1997), Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005). 
  • Family films such as Frozen II (2019), Freaky Friday (2003), Moana (2016), WALL-E (2008), Hook (1991), and Coco (2017). 
  • Classic films including Taxi Driver (1976), Marnie (1964), Pillow Talk (1959), Rear Window (1954), and Rebecca (1940).
  • Classical themed favourites like Cleopatra (1934), Alexander the Great (1956), O Brother Where art Thou? (2000), and Spartacus (1960).  

  Whether you’re studying a classic film or critiquing a contemporary title, ACF probably has you covered. And if it doesn’t, try one of our other streaming video databases.

  Tags: Our Collections
  Categories: Main

• Instructors encouraged to submit spring term reading lists soon

  Friday, March 12, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Reserve request processing for the spring term is underway at Brock University Library.

  To ensure your students have access to their spring course materials, we encourage you to submit reading lists by March 29, 2021.  

  An instructor self-serve option is also available, providing flexibility to instructors who wish to do this work themselves. All self-submissions will get a final check for copyright compliance, and will then be active for students. 

  An important consideration: print reserve materials remain unavailable for spring 2021 courses.

  Several alternatives to print resources are available including the creation of course-specific online packs. The Reserves team is ready to work with you to develop these for your students. More information about non-print options is available. Liaison Librarians are also available to help you identify alternate resources. 

  The E-Textbook Challenge.

  Providing digital access to some textbooks may be hindered by the textbook publishers because most textbooks are not available to libraries in any format other than print.  Most of the major textbook publishers — Pearson, Cengage, Houghton, McGraw Hill, Oxford University Press Canada Textbooks, Elsevier Imprints, Thieme — do not sell e-textbooks to libraries. This means that for courses that have adopted textbooks from these publishers, students who do not purchase the textbook have no alternative access to the textbook contents.

   

  Questions? reserve@brocku.ca

  Tags: Faculty, Graduate students, Services
  Categories: Main

• Expansion to services coming March 8

  Friday, March 05, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Starting Monday, the Library will expand book pickup hours and resume offering bookable study spaces for students. Please note that current public health restrictions limit us to ten (10) bookable study spaces.

  This service expansion is in alignment with Brock shifting into Stage 2 of the university’s COVID-19 response framework.

  Questions? libhelp@brocku.ca

  Tags: Services, Students
  Categories: Main

• Agreement with SAGE gives Brock authors more options for publishing Open Access

  Tuesday, March 02, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock Library is pleased to share that The Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and SAGE Publications have signed a transformative agreement that will give Brock authors increased support for Open Access publishing. 

  As of January 1, 2021, Brock-affiliated authors may now publish Open Access with no Article Processing Charges (APCs) in over 900 SAGE Choice journals. Brock authors will also receive a 40% discount on APCs in SAGE’s Gold Open Access Journals. More information for authors is available here. 

  Much of academic publishing output is behind paywalls that limit who can access and learn from this research. Transformative agreements are an emerging vehicle to shift scholarly publishing towards Open Access and broader availability of this research. These agreements transform libraries’ existing subscriptions to publishers’ journals so that they include not just access to articles, but also cover affiliated authors’ APCs. This is CRKN and Brock’s first transformative agreement. 

  Questions? Read more about Library support for Open Access publishing, or email Evelyn Feldman, Collections/Liaison Librarian, at efeldman@brocku.ca.  

   

   

   

  Tags: Faculty, Open Access, Scholarly Communication
  Categories: Main

• Interlibrary Loans resuming March 8th

  Thursday, February 25, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock University Library will resume its Interlibrary Loan (ILL)/RACER service for physical books starting Monday, March 8th. Brock is joining a growing number of Ontario universities restarting this shared, coordinated service. This expands on ILL service for electronic materials, which has continued throughout the pandemic.   

  We’re pleased to finally be able to provide this critical research support service, but the realities of COVID mean that users may see delays or cancelled requests. As a result, print Interlibrary Loans will be most useful for those engaged in long-term research, rather than those with an immediate need for materials.  

  What can you expect?  

  • Print requests may be unfilled or cancelled due to library location closures and restrictions on loaning physical copies.   
  • Turnaround times will be longer due to delays with couriers and Canada Post, materials quarantine requirements, and limited staff on-site across university partners to manage mail routes and lending.  

  Beyond ILL, we continue to support access to collections and resources through a variety of means including expanded access to digital collections (including HathiTrust) and scanning of our local print collections.  

   For the latest on how health and government guidelines affect Brock University Library services and access, visit our COVID-19 updates page. 

   

  Tags: Services
  Categories: Main

• Esri Canada Scholarship Competition returns for 2021

  Wednesday, February 24, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Sample map of shoreline erosion in the town of Lincoln. Created by 2020 Esri scholarship recipient, Meredith Caspell.

  The Esri Canada GIS Scholarship Award competition is now on at colleges and universities across the country.  The award includes software, books, training, funding and other benefits to undergraduate and graduate students who can demonstrate competent use of Esri’s geospatial technologies.

  Brock University has been privileged to take part in the Scholarship Award program for the last 8 years. For 2021, the competition will be held virtually with a deadline for applicants set for April 1^st. A cash prize of $1000 is in addition to the prizes noted above.

  Projects may include personal research, academic projects or assignments. The winning participant will be required to complete a poster or Esri StoryMap by June 1, 2021 outlining how they used ESRI’s suite of products to enhance or conduct their research. A full list of requirements and information about the application process is available from Esri.

  Want to learn more or apply? View the Brock University Institution page for Esri, or contact Sharon Janzen at sjanzen@brocku.ca

  Discover ArcGIS at Brock, view examples of GIS mapping at Brock, and get your own copy of the software under the University’s site license.

  Tags: ArcGIS Pro, Collaboration, Events, MDGL, Students
  Categories: Main, MDGL

• New hours for Book Pickup Service

  Tuesday, February 23, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock Library is happy to announce expanded hours for our popular book pickup service.

  Pickup hours are now Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10am-2pm.

  Upon arrival for pickup and after screening by campus security, please come to our Book Pickup table just outside the entrance of the library. Give us a call at 905-688-5550 x4583 to let us know you have arrived, and Library staff will bring your books out to you. Full instructions will be provided to you over email when your items are ready for pickup.

  As Brock is in Stage 1 of the University’s Response and Recovery plan, bookable study space remains unavailable.

  Questions? libhelp@brocku.ca

  Tags: Services
  Categories: Main

• Celebrating our Freedom to Read

  Sunday, February 21, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Freedom to Read Week is an annual event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm their commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed them under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

  Freedom to Read Week is organized by the Freedom of Expression Committee of the Book and Periodical Council.

  This year, we invite you to learn about FTRW virtually:

  • Timeline: 35 Years of Free Expression in Canada.
  • Eye-catching, thought-provoking posters herald the annual event. View them.
  • Learn which books have been banned throughout history and why.
  • Access to Information Infographic: What You Need to Know to Get What You Need

  Tags: Our Collections
  Categories: Main

• The Archives First Hashtag Party – #ArchivesBlackEducation

  Monday, February 08, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  The US National Archives hosts a monthly “hashtag party” that encourages archives worldwide to post an item from their collections to Twitter and Instagram. Over the past three years, diverse monthly themes have included: weather, ancestors, baking, and movies. This February, the Brock University Archives participated for the first time with the timely subject being #ArchivesBlackEducation.  We reached into our popular Rick Bell Family Fonds:

  

  This certificate was awarded to Richard Nelson Bell of St. Catharines, Ontario in 1925 giving him admission to attend the local high school.   Descended from former slaves who came to Canada after the Civil War, Richard was among the first of this generation of Bell family members to attend high school.

  More rich history can be discovered through the Rick Bell Family fonds in the Brock University Digital Repository.

  Keep an eye out for next month’s archives hashtag party!

  Tags: Archives and Special Collections, Brock University Digital Repository, Digital Exhibits, Our Collections
  Categories: Archives, Main

• UPDATE: Library Service Adjustments During Provincewide Shutdown

  Friday, January 08, 2021 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  In response to Brock University moving into Stage 1 of the University’s Response and Recovery plan, the Library is adjusting its in-person services.

  During this period, bookable study space will not be available.

  The book pickup service will continue, but with shortened hours and a new contactless model. The new hours for pickup are Wednesday from 10am-2pm. Upon arrival for pickup and after screening by campus security, please come to our Book Pickup table just outside the entrance of the library. Give us a call at 905-688-5550 x4583 to let us know you have arrived, and Library staff will bring your books out to you. Full instructions will be provided to you over email when your items are ready for pickup.

  Online library services such as scanning requests and Hathi Trust are unaffected by the shutdown. We will continue to support access to the information you need for your research and teaching.

  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at libhelp@brocku.ca

  Tags: Faculty, Services, Staff, Students
  Categories: Main