News

• Join our team as Research Data Librarian

  Tuesday, February 04, 2025 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time position of Research Data Librarian.

  Reporting to the Head of the Research Lifecycle department, the successful candidate will lend their expertise to operationalizing Brock University’s Research Data Management Strategy, following the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy, providing data instruction and consultations to Brock’s community of researchers, and building Brock’s unique collection of maps, atlases, and geodata. This role also provides a conduit between the Brock community and the external data and geospatial communities.

  Learn more about this role and required qualifications, and apply by March 6, 2025 (12:01 am).

  Tags: Employment opportunity
  Categories: Main

• Freedom to Read Week 2025

  Thursday, January 30, 2025 | By Amanda Emery

  

  In celebration of the 41st Freedom to Read Week (February 23 – March 1), we’ve put together a list of challenged and banned titles for you to read in print and online.

  Many of these controversial titles were challenged and have become classics. This includes titles such as:

  • Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
  • John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath
  • Animal Farm by George Orwell
  • A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
  • Dubliners by James Joyce

  It is widely regarded that book bans and challenges are a thing of the past, however the number of challenges continues to rise. The Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ (CFLA) Intellectual Freedom Committee, along with the Book and Periodical Council’s Freedom of Expression Committee, developed an annual survey to track challenges within Canadian public libraries. This survey began in 2007 and provides access to challenges libraries have faced to items in their collections, and to displays, programs, room usage, and computer access.

  Freedom to Read Week is an annual event which highlights intellectual freedom and encourages Canadians to defend their right to read, write, and publish freely. Browse all of the featured titles and more on the display next to the Ask Us desk in Matheson Learning Commons, or view eBooks online.

  Tags: display, Our Collections, Virtual Book Display
  Categories: Featured Collections

• Exhibit: Islamophobia Awareness Week

  Wednesday, January 29, 2025 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock Library thanks the Muslim Students Association for this blog post.

  In recognition of Islamophobia Awareness Week, a new display in the Matheson Learning Commons highlights the tragic events of January 29, 2017, when a gunman attacked the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, taking the lives of six worshippers and injuring many others. This senseless act of hate continues to deeply affect Muslim communities across Canada.

  January 29th is both a day of mourning and a call to action—a reminder of the urgent need to combat Islamophobia and all forms of hate. Through education and awareness, we strive for a future where every Canadian, regardless of faith or background, feels safe and valued. Join us in standing against Islamophobia and supporting the Green Square Campaign in solidarity with the victims, survivors, and their families

  What is Islamophobia?

  Islamophobia is defined as the fear of, hostility towards, or hatred against Islam or Muslims. It is primarily a form of religious or cultural bigotry and those who harbour such sentiments often stereotype Muslims as a geopolitical threat or a ‘source of terrorism.’

  Learn more about the Green Square Campaign and view the display running until February 1.

   

  Tags: display
  Categories: Learning Commons, Main

• Exhibit: What does self-care mean to you?

  Wednesday, January 08, 2025 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock Library thanks the Psychology and Beyond Club for this blog post. 

  Self care today means many things, such as taking the time to allow yourself to recharge, tending to your community ties and friendships, or cultivating your individual interests through hobbies or feel-good activities. It is also a powerful form of protest, choosing to reject a status quo that demands productivity and progress with no limits or pauses for wellbeing.

  This January, the Psychology and Beyond Club at Brock would like to promote and encourage self-care as the Brock community returns to campus for the winter semester. This display aims to educate our community on the value of self care and provides tips and inspiration through a colourful and cozy display. It is designed to be interactive so that anyone can scan the QR code and share their own tips and interpretations of the phrase, demonstrating the individual nature of self-care practices. The display also explores how the meaning of the phrase “self-care” has been changed or is often forgotten in today’s modern world, and has deep roots in social and political activism which stem from the writing of Audre Lorde.

  Genuine self care has wonderful benefits for the mind, body, and community!

  If you’d like to learn more about the Brock Psychology and Beyond Club, join us on Experience BU and follow us on Instagram (@brockpsychology_beyond).

  Tags: display, Student Collaboration, Wellness
  Categories: Learning Commons, Main

• Fresh Start

  Thursday, January 02, 2025 | By Amanda Emery

  

  Welcome to a new year, new term, new chapter!

  Embrace a fresh start and explore books in this featured collection that focus on overcoming burnout, getting organized, mindfulness, health eating, wellness, and more.

  • Read the newly published Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout, which helps people pursue meaningful accomplishment and avoid being overloaded.
  • Explore Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga’s The Courage to be Disliked and ask yourself if happiness is something you choose for yourself.
  • Do you use to-do lists? Check out Eat That Frog! and learn how to structure your task lists and defeat procrastination.

  Browse all of these titles and more on the display next to the Ask Us desk in Matheson Learning Commons, or view eBooks online.

  Tags: display, Our Collections, Virtual Book Display
  Categories: Featured Collections

• Career Opportunity in Library Collections Services

  Wednesday, December 11, 2024 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock University Library invites applications for the full-time position of Acquisitions Coordinator in Library Collections Services.

  The Acquisitions Coordinator plays a critical role in the procurement process for Brock University Library by overseeing the ordering, receiving, and invoicing of library materials for the James A. Gibson Library, the Map, Data & GIS Library and the Archives & Special Collections.

  Learn more about this opportunity and apply by December 22, 2024.

  Tags: Employment opportunity
  Categories: Main

• Crime and Consequence

  Tuesday, December 03, 2024 | By Amanda Emery

  

  Do you have a curiosity for true crime? Are you interested in learning about justice and the legal system? Check out some of the mysterious and fascinating stories in December’s Featured Collection of books.

  • Read about the notorious ‘Georges’ communities of British Columbia and their reputation as Canada’s most dangerous city prior to World War I.
  • Explore the newly published Outlaw Bikers as Organized Crime, providing research on outlaw bikers and clubs from all over the world.
  • If you are interested in cross-border organized crime, read up on the millennial mobsters who brought chaos and the cartels to the Canadian underworld.

  You can browse the Crime and Consequence collection by visiting the book display next to the Ask Us desk in Matheson Learning Commons, or view the eBooks online.

  Tags: display, Our Collections, Virtual Book Display
  Categories: Featured Collections

• Career Opportunity

  Tuesday, November 26, 2024 | By Evelyn Smith

  

  Brock University Library seeks applicants for the new position of Resource Sharing Coordinator in the User Services & Engagement department.

  The Resource Sharing Coordinator is responsible for coordinating interlibrary loan (ILL) workflows for the borrowing and lending of physical and electronic document delivery and oversees the work of Library Assistants in carrying out their ILL responsibilities. In addition, the Resource Sharing Coordinator, provides circulation, basic copying and printing services, and reference assistance to users at the Ask Us Desk and is also a member of the library’s group of Reference Assistants who provide in-depth research help to students.

  Learn more about the role, the key skills & experience required, and apply by December 15, 2024.

  Tags: Employment opportunity, Services
  Categories: Main

• Message from the University Librarian: Library Collections Update

  Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | By nnolan

  

  November 19, 2024

  As Brock community members are aware, the university underwent an intensive budget mitigation exercise in order to reduce the operating deficit for the fiscal year 2024-2025. As a result, the library acquisitions budget was frozen at the 2023-2024 level ($5.75 million). This translates to a projected $250,000 shortfall due to the perpetual rise in the costs of library subscription prices.  

  Background 

  During the summer of 2024, the library conducted a comprehensive review of our collection expenditures. To have a balanced budget, we determined that we need to reduce spending on both journal subscriptions and books/e-books.  

  As shared in our June update, a significant structural challenge is the ‘Big Deal’ model: Major publishers bundle their catalogue of journal subscriptions into large, expensive packages.  At Brock, the Big Deals with Elsevier, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Springer, and Sage exert outsized pressure on our constrained budget, even when the data demonstrates that researchers are not using a majority of these bundled journal titles.  

  Decision and Impact 

  The outcome of this evidence-based evaluation is that we are cancelling the Springer Big Deal subscription, effective January 1, 2025. Our analysis indicated that cancelling the Springer package (~2,100 journal titles) would help us achieve the necessary savings while having a lesser impact on Brock’s research and teaching when compared to other packages. Relative to our other Big Deals, Springer has the poorest value proposition, with relatively lower usage but at a high cost.  

  As a result, the Brock community will lose subscription access to Springer publications from 2025 onwards. Researchers will continue to be able to request new Springer articles using the expanded interlibrary loan service. Open Access versions of articles can often be located using a number of alternative approaches. 

  Please note: 

  • Permanent access to all Springer journal content from 2024 and earlier will remain available through Omni and Springer Journals Online. 
  • Springer Nature journals are not impacted; these subscriptions are managed separately.   
  • The Library is currently exploring individually subscribing to a small number of high-use Springer journals. Once determined, this information will be shared on the Subscriptions and Budget FAQ page. 

  Cancelling the Springer package will achieve about half of our budget reduction target. The remaining savings will be found by reducing our spending on new books and e-books, and cancelling a number of smaller, low-use subscriptions.  

  Communication and Next Steps 

  At Senate meetings this fall, I shared the state of the collections budget and the challenging context of the profit-driven scholarly publishing industry.  We had productive discussions about the unsustainable ecosystem and the frustrations of academics worldwide. The Library continues to advocate for and support Open Access publishing as the main path to effect change.  

  We appreciate your support for the Library and your patience with this process. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at  [email protected] 

  Regards, 

  Nicole Nolan
  University Librarian
  Brock University Library 

  Tags: Budget, Collections, Research
  Categories: Main

• International Education Week, 2024

  Monday, November 18, 2024 | By Amanda Emery

  

  Explore this curated collection of books and eBooks focusing on international education and studying abroad. International Education Week (IEW) is celebrated globally on the third week of November each year. IEW highlights the importance of a globally oriented learning experience and showcases the impact that international education has on learning, research, and community.

  Brock International Education Week events, held November 18-22, are great opportunities to get involved, expand your knowledge, and connect with the world.

  Tags: Our Collections, Virtual Book Display
  Categories: Featured Collections