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  • Employment opportunity

    Tuesday, October 04, 2022 | By

    a person inside a magnifying glass

    Join our User Services & Engagement team at the James A. Gibson Library as an Engagement Assistant. In this role you will:

    • promote Library services and build awareness of Library services and resources
    • initiate engagement and outreach activities
    • manage the Library’s social media accounts
    • create physical and virtual promotional / informational materials
    • act as first point of contact for users and assist with research and general inquiries

    If you are a highly creative and collaborative person with a strong service ethic, please apply on the Career Services website by October 20 at 12:01am.

    Note: Interested applicants are asked to provide a sample of their promotional work along with resume and cover letter.

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    Categories: Main

  • Food and Cookery

    Monday, October 03, 2022 | By

    Cover images from the featured collection on Food

    This month we invite you to work up an appetite and don your aprons. We have amassed a multi-disciplinary collection of books on food history, science and chemistry, culture, and cookery. Our print cookbooks feature cost-saving resources such as Budget Bytes, simple recipe collections like The Best 3-Ingredient Cookbook, and Indigenous recipes from the far North.

    In addition to the books in this Omni Collection, we recommend a closer look at the Food and Drink in History database. This primary source collection includes cookbooks, advertisements, and government documents. The collection is global in scope and covers the 16th to 21st centuries. Brock University has access to Module 1.

    Browse the October Omni collection now.

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    Categories: Featured Collections, Learning Commons

  • A day of reflection

    Friday, September 23, 2022 | By

    Residential School Survivors' Flag

    On September 30, we recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On this national day of reflection, we remember and mourn for the children and for the generations of Indigenous people hurt by the residential school system. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a direct response to Call to Action 80, which called for a federal statutory day of commemoration.  

    We also recognize Orange Shirt Day, held on this day to bring awareness to the history of residential schools and their negative effects on children’s self-esteem and well-being. Orange Shirt Day was first observed in 2013 at St. Joseph Mission in Williams Lake, British Columbia, where, in 1973, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad had her new orange shirt taken away on her first day of residential school. She never saw the shirt again. We wear orange to show our commitment to recognizing and remembering the approximately 150,000 children forced to attend residential schools, where many experienced shame, deprivation, and abuse, as well as more than 6,000 students who did not survive. 

    Learn more about the impact of residential schools by exploring a selection of books, ebooks and streaming video. 

    In acknowledgement of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are screening 11 NFB short films by Indigenous film makers in Library Classroom B. Everyone is welcome to drop in at any time during the hours of 9am and 6pm to watch, listen, learn and reflect.  

    We also encourage you to write a review for any of the films you see on the NFB website. This action is inspired by a #Next150 Challenge to engage with Indigenous cinema and continue our learning. 

    List of films (with thanks to the National Film Board) 

    Nunavut Animation Lab: I Am But a Little Woman
    Gyu Oh 2010 | 4 min 

    Inspired by an Inuit poem first assigned to paper in 1927, this animated short evokes the beauty and power of nature, as well as the bond between mother and daughter. As her daughter looks on, an Inuit woman creates a wall hanging filled with images of the spectacular Arctic landscape and traditional Inuit objects and iconography. Soon the boundaries between art and reality begin to dissolve.

    Stories from Our Land 1.5: Tide
    Ericka Chemko 2012 | 4 min 

    This beautiful short film captures the majesty of ice sculpted by wind and water. By using time-lapse imagery, Iqaluit filmmaker Ericka Chemko reveals the dynamic intertidal dance of water and ice in the Arctic. 

    Stories Are in Our Bones
    Janine Windolph 2019 | 11 min 

    In this layered short film, filmmaker Janine Windolph takes her young sons fishing with their kokum (grandmother), a residential school survivor who retains a deep knowledge and memory of the land. The act of reconnecting with their homeland is a cultural and familial healing journey for the boys, who are growing up in the city. It’s also a powerful form of resistance for the women. 

    Waseteg
    Phyllis Grant 2010 | 6 min 

    Waseteg is the story of a young Mi’kmaq girl whose name means “the light from the dawn.” Sadly, her mother dies while giving birth and, though her father works very hard to provide for his family, Waseteg is surrounded by the bitterness and loneliness felt by her sisters. 

    As a young girl, Waseteg looks for solace in nature, and dreams of the stories she’s heard in the village – including one about Walqwan, the mysterious boy living across the river. Eventually, with the gentle care of the boy’s grandmother, Waseteg succeeds in finding Walqwan, discovering the Spirit Path, and restoring love to her family. 

    A short story about dreams, courage, identity, creation and embracing our Elders, Waseteg showcases Phyllis Grant’s signature style of bold lines, bright colours and simple movements. The film is beautifully narrated by legendary filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. 

    Vistas: Dancers of the Grass
    Melanie Jackson 2009 | 2 min 

    This short film presents a stunning display of a stop-motion animation as it vividly depicts the majesty of the hoop dance, a tradition symbolizing the unity of all nations. 

    Stories from Our Land 1.5: Inngiruti – The Thing that Sings!
    Nyla Innuksuk 2012 | 5 min 

    This short documentary filmed in Pangnirtung features 2 elders reminiscing about the dances held in their community 50 years ago. One of the elders is master accordion player Simeonie Keenainak, and soon he’s making toe-tapping music with his instrument. In this celebration of the pleasures of music and dance, Keenainak plays for the enjoyment of friends, family, and the community at large. 

    To Wake Up the Nakota Language
    Louise BigEagle 2017 | 6 min 

    “When you don’t know your language or your culture, you don’t know who you are,” says 69-year-old Armand McArthur, one of the last fluent Nakota speakers in Pheasant Rump First Nation, Treaty 4 territory, in southern Saskatchewan. Through the wisdom of his words, Armand is committed to revitalizing his language and culture for his community and future generations.  

    The Mountain of SGaana
    Christopher Auchter 2017 | 10 min 

    In The Mountain of SGaana, Haida filmmaker Christopher Auchter spins a magical tale of a young man who is stolen away to the spirit world, and the young woman who rescues him. The film brilliantly combines traditional animation with formal elements of Haida art, and is based on a story inspired by a old Haida fable. 

    Breaths
    Nyla Innuksuk 2016 | 4 min 

    In this evocative short documentary, Inuk singer-songwriter and humanitarian Susan Aglukark weaves together stories of artistry, family, and belonging as she explores the complex cultural shifts of the last 50 years of Inuit life. Turning her lens on the turbulence of colonial transition, director Nyla Innuksuk examines the forces that shaped Aglukark’s voice and how that voice is now being translated for a new generation of Inuit artists. 

    Produced by the National Film Board of Canada in co-operation with the National Arts Centre and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards Foundation on the occasion of the 2016 Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards. 

    Shaman
    Echo Henoche 2017 | 5 min 

    This animated short tells the story of a ferocious polar bear turned to stone by an Inuk shaman. The tale is based on emerging filmmaker Echo Henoche’s favourite legend, as told to her by her grandfather in her home community of Nain, Nunatsiavut, on Labrador’s North Coast. Hand-drawn and painted by Henoche in a style all her own, Shaman is the first collaboration between the Labrador artist and the NFB.  

    Stories from Our Land 1.5: If You Want to Get Married… You Have to Learn How to Build an Igloo!
    Allen Auksaq 2011 | 5 min 

    In the spirit of the 1949 NFB classic How to Build an Igloo, this short film records Dean Ittuksarjuat as he constructs the traditional Inuit home. From the first cut of the snow knife, to the carving of the entrance after the last block of snow has been placed on the roof, this is an inside-and-out look at the entire fascinating process. 

     

     

     

     

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    Categories: Learning Commons, Main

  • The Wellness Book Club returns with an in-person option this October

    Friday, September 23, 2022 | By

    A scene of autumn leaves, pumpkins, and books

    Registration for the Autumn Wellness Book Club is now open.  Reading fiction has so many benefits for emotional wellbeing, from reducing stress to better sleep!  This term, we will be reading Delia Owens’ 2021 novel Where the Crawdads Sing.   

    Described by the New York Times Book Review as “a painfully beautiful first novel that is at once a murder mystery, a coming-of-age narrative and a celebration of nature,” the book was also a feature film this past summer.   

    The Book Club will be hosted by Liaison Librarian, Justine Cotton, who is passionate about sharing the positive impact of reading and discussing books.  You can contact her with any questions at jcotton@brocku.ca  

    Meetings will be held in-person in October (with an option to meet virtually, if preferred).  As a part of the Club, members may choose to participate in a research study on the benefits of reading “for fun” on stress levels in university students. 

    Sign up at: bit.ly/autumnbookclub22 

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    Categories: Learning Commons, Main

  • Resources to learn about the impact of residential schools

    Friday, September 23, 2022 | By

    Covers of titles in the residential schools Omni collection

    In acknowledgement of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are highlighting a selection of books, ebooks and streaming video to help us learn more about the impact of residential schools. We invite you to browse online as well as in person at the print book display adjacent to the Ask Us desk in the Learning Commons. 

    Additionally, all are invited to drop in to Learning Commons Classroom B on Friday, September 30 for a day-long screening of Indigenous short films. We invite you to watch, listen, learn and reflect.

    Tags:
    Categories: Featured Collections

  • Omni: the power of collaboration

    Thursday, September 15, 2022 | By

    Logos of the 18 Universities in the Omni consortium

    Thanks to the Library’s partnership in Omni, Brock students, faculty, and staff have access to over 25.3 million books from 18 universities in Ontario.

    Fanny Dolansky, Brock professor in the Department of Classics and Archaeology, shared “I really couldn’t do my research or teaching without the support of the library and having more access to print (as well as digital) resources and efficient, reliable access, makes a huge difference! Omni and other changes at the library have revolutionized student and faculty research.”

    Over the past twelve months, Brock researchers used Omni to borrow approximately 2,000 books! In the same period, Brock Library loaned out over 1,700 books to researchers at other Omni institutions.

    To request an item in Omni, login to your library account and perform a search. Omni searches across all 18 partners for that item and when it finds an available copy, you’ll be able to place a request. You can request to pick up the book at Brock or your choice of partner library. You will be notified when your book is ready for pickup and you will enjoy the same 120-day loan period.

    Search Omni to find resources that support your coursework, as well as featured collections on a variety of themes.

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  • Experience community, join the public library

    Wednesday, September 14, 2022 | By

    St. Catharines and Thorold Public Library Logos

    We love libraries! All kinds. So we are delighted to announce on-campus visits by staff from the St. Catharines and Thorold Public Libraries.

    Getting a card is easy, and free. Fill in a form, present some ID, and then you’ll be all set to borrow video games, join book clubs, experience adult craft nights, and more. Online resources such as popular magazines, audio books, streaming videos and music are also available, and offer the perfect complement to our more scholarly collections.

    Who: St. Catharines Public Library
    Where: Matheson Learning Commons (Library main floor)
    When: Tuesday, September 20, 12-4 pm.

    Who: Thorold Public Library
    Where:     Matheson Learning Commons (Library main floor)
    When:     Thursday, September 22, 1:30-3:30. 

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    Categories: Learning Commons, Main

  • Welcome to the Map, Data & GIS Library

    Tuesday, September 13, 2022 | By

    Students working in the Map, Data & GIS Library

    The Map, Data & GIS Library (MDGL) is pleased to welcome students and faculty back to campus for the 2022/2023 year! The MDGL provides users with excellent resources and services on campus at MacKenzie Chown C306 including:

    • Bookable Alienware computer
    • The Niagara air photo collection
    • Scanning, printing, and study space
    • Thousands of maps, and books from atlases to watershed plans.

    Online, the MDGL is home to the Niagara Air Photo Index, digital and historical map collections, and special exhibits such as StoryMaps at Brock University, Historic Welland Canals Mapping Project, and more. Come explore Niagara and the world from times long past to future possibilities!

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    Categories: MDGL

  • Employment Opportunity

    Thursday, September 01, 2022 | By

    Icon of a person inside a magnifying glass

    Brock University Library is accepting applications for the position of Circulation Assistant in our User Services & Engagement (formerly Access Services) department.

    The incumbent will assist students, faculty, staff, community members and other visitors in locating, using and borrowing material. Maintains library collections in good order and condition and facilitates their use. Maintains and updates records relating to library users and collections. Monitors bookings for the group study rooms. Depending on departmental needs, the incumbent will work a variety of days/shifts including day, evening, weekend and/or holiday.

    Learn more about the role, qualifications, salary, etc. and apply by September 13 at 12:01 am

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    Categories: Main

  • University Life

    Tuesday, August 30, 2022 | By

    Book cover images from the University Life feature collection

    Whether you are a new or returning student, a first-time instructor or long-tenured faculty, this selection of books will have useful insights for you.

    Browse this collection of e-books and explore such topics as:

    • writing guides
    • learning mindfully
    • diversity in higher education
    • educational administration
    • the mechanics of teaching
    • supporting student well-being
    • career development, and more.

    This collection features online and print titles. Find the print book display next to the Ask Us desk on the main floor.

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    Categories: Featured Collections, Learning Commons

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