Articles tagged with: MDGL

  • Big changes coming to the Map, Data & GIS Library this spring

    Friday, April 11, 2025 | By

    Text reading By appointment Only overlays an old map. A stylized badger, reminiscent of Boomer adorns one corner

    Starting April 28, 2025, the Map, Data & GIS Library will be shifting to a by-appointment-only service model. This means that if you need access to our collections or staff expertise, you’ll need to book an appointment in advance by emailing [email protected].

    This new model will be in place throughout the next academic year and will be reassessed for the Fall 2026. Our goal is to provide more personalized support while ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of our users effectively.

    If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out – we’re here to help!

    Contact us: [email protected]

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  • GIS Day coming November 20th

    Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | By

    Aerial photo of grasslands

    Wednesday, November 20th marks a special day in the geography world as we gear up to celebrate GIS! Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combines software, hardware, data and people to create, analyze and disseminate geospatial data and ideas around where and why things happen as they do.

    Join us this year to learn more about GIS including ArcGIS Online Analysis tools and the Esri Site License. The Map, Data & GIS Library is hosting a few online and in-person events including:

    Wednesday, November 20, 2024

    9:00-9:30 a.m.: ArcGIS Site License Q&A: This brief Question & Answer session will offer an informative conversation about the Esri educational site license. Esri is the producer of the ArcGIS suite of products including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Esri CityEngine and more! Come with your questions, leave with some answers and guidance. Registration suggested but not required. https://experiencebu.brocku.ca/event/269153 (This is an online event).

    10:00-11:30 a.m. Vector Analysis in ArcGIS Online: This hands-on workshop introduces attendees to this popular modern GIS while answering questions about the distribution of childcare centres, infant capacity, drive-time analysis, polygon enrichment (demographic data from Environics) and more! Registration is strongly recommended but experience with the software is not required. https://experiencebu.brocku.ca/event/269156 (This is an online event).

    12:00-1:00 p.m. Pizza and Cake in the MDGL: Join the Tourism and Geography Society for lunch in the MDGL where anyone can buy a slice of pizza and partake of the infamous GIS Day cake (free)!

    Visit the ArcGIS Storymap https://arcg.is/0uPbPK for more details.

    GIS Day is an annual event that celebrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and its impact on society. It typically takes place on the third Wednesday of November during Geography Awareness Week. The day provides an opportunity for GIS professionals, educators, students, and enthusiasts to showcase how GIS is used in various fields like environmental management, urban planning, disaster response, and more. GIS Day was first observed in 1999, initiated by Esri, a prominent GIS software company, as a way to promote GIS technology and its potential to solve real-world problems. Events held on GIS Day often include workshops, presentations, map demonstrations, and educational activities aimed at raising awareness about the benefits of GIS and inspiring new users to explore its possibilities.

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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 [email protected] 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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  • 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
    [email protected]

     

     

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  • Exam supports: Map, Data & GIS Library

    Tuesday, April 02, 2024 | By

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

    Looking for some quiet study space? The Map, Data & GIS Library is open 9-4 Monday to Friday and hosts a number of public PCs plus large tables for group study or comfy chairs for individual study. You do not need to reserve a desk or table and all are welcome to use our space!

    Coming soon…. an ‘unstudy’ table with puzzles, colouring pages, and origami to provide necessary distractions leading to reduced stress and healthy minds.

    Here’s how to find us. See you soon, in the MDGL! Mackenzie Chown Complex, C306.

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  • GIS scholarship opportunity

    Thursday, February 22, 2024 | By

    An ArcGIS created map showing the number of parks per municipality in Niagara

    Attention all Brock ArcGIS users! It’s time for the Annual Esri Scholarship Competition. Eligible students (current students including undergraduate to graduate with B+ Major average) are invited to submit a ~500 word Esri GIS Project Proposal with their resume to [email protected] by April 1st 4:30 p.m. A nominee will be announced by April 15th with project deliverables due by June 1st. The deliverables for the successful candidate will include a poster and report in the form of an Esri StoryMap. Prizes include $1,000 cash reward, software access, books, conference passes and more!

    Esri is the industry standard for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) across all sectors. GIS is used at Brock in Health Sciences, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, History, Literature & Language, Political Science, Earth Sciences, Recreation and Leisure Studies and Geography/Tourism.

    More details: https://scholars.esri.ca/profile/?uid=Brock%20University
    Student FAQ: https://scholars.esri.ca/students/faq-students/

    Submissions and questions should be directed to Sharon Janzen, [email protected] in the Map, Data & GIS Library, MC-C306

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  • International Love Data Week comes to Brock

    Tuesday, February 06, 2024 | By

    Image showing hearts and charts

    Join the Map, Data & GIS Library for events celebrating International Love Data Week 2024 (February 12-16). A variety of workshops will explore queer data, scraped data, geodata, census data, and more. The Brock University community can learn more about the events and is encouraged to sign-up on ExperienceBU.

    Nicole Stradiotto, Data Services Librarian says, “Love Data week is a chance for the Brock community to highlight the importance of data literacy and to highlight the variety of creative ways that researchers can use data.”

    For more information contact [email protected]

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  • Thank you for your feedback

    Monday, January 15, 2024 | By

    Five speech bubbles on a background of numbers and graphs

    The Library wishes to express a heartfelt thank you to the Brock community for taking the time to respond to our 2023 Library Survey.

    We were thrilled to receive approximately 3,900 survey responses, including over 3,270 students, 160 faculty, and 450 staff. Your feedback included over 890 comments. Over the coming months, we will be reviewing and analyzing the survey data. This summer, we will share a summary of the results including our intended next steps to respond to what we heard from you.

    Congratulations to the lucky winners of twelve incentive prizes:

    • Grand prize winner of Bose Headphones: Mohamad E.
    • $100 Visa gift cards: Natalia J., Zahra A., Hillary G., Juhwan O., Simone L.
    • Someday Books Gift Certificate valued at $50: Nathan D.
    • Locker prizes: Deana T., Skylar B., Bhavleen D., Lian Y., Chidinma O.
    Some winners of the Library survey incentive prize draw.

    Pictured above are seven of twelve incentive prize winners. From the left, Simone L., Mohamad E., Hillary G., Chidinma O., Juhwan O., Skylar B., and Nathan D.

    If you have a specific, time-sensitive concern (or compliment!), the Library is always open to hearing from you via our online feedback form.

     

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  • GIS Day Buzz

    Tuesday, October 31, 2023 | By

    Two maps of Port Weller East in St. Catharines showing land use changes from 2006 to 2020

    Wednesday, November 15th marks a special day in the geography world as we gear up to celebrate GIS! Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combines software, hardware, data and people to create, analyze and disseminate geospatial data and ideas about where and why things happen as they do. Join us this year to learn more about GIS and specifically ArcGIS, the industry standard for mapping technology. The Map, Data & GIS Library is hosting a variety of events including:

    Wednesday, November 15, 2023

    10-11:30 a.m. GIS for Faculty and Staff: A 90 minute workshop introducing attendees to the Esri site license and ArcGIS software options for research, teaching and administrative tasks. Registration recommended.

    12-1:15 p.m. Pizza & Cake in the MDGL: Join the Tourism and Geography Society (TAGS) for lunch in the MDGL where anyone can buy a slice of pizza ($$) and partake of the infamous GIS Day cake (free)!

    1:30-3:30 p.m. GIS for Brock Community: This 120 minute session will introduce students, faculty and staff to GIS with a hands-on component. Attendees should bring their own device to engage fully with the session. Registration recommended.

    Further to the Brock GIS Day festivities, interested parties can take advantage of the FREE online GIS Days Conference hosted by Western University Libraries. The conference runs from Nov. 13-16, 2023. Check out the schedule and register today!

    Brock representations at the GIS Days conference includes:

    Tuesday, Nov. 14, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Introduction to ArcGIS Online by Sharon Janzen

    Thursday, Nov. 16, 11 a.m. HGIS Lightning talk by Rebecca Nickerson

    Questions? Contact [email protected] (Map, Data & GIS Library, MC-C306)

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  • GIS Day is coming …

    Monday, October 30, 2023 | By

    It’s that time of year again when we start planning for GIS Day! November 15th will mark this eventful day for all users of GIS technologies. We will have presentations, contests and displays as well as tutorials, pizza ($$) and CAKE (FREE!). Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 15, 2023 and stay tuned for details.

    GIS stands for Geographic Information Systems and broadly represents the technology behind analyzing and creating map products. There are many departments using geospatial technologies for research and teaching at Brock University: Geography & Tourism Studies, Earth Sciences, Health Sciences, Political Sciences, History, Modern Literature & Languages, etc. If you haven’t tried giving a spatial context to your work, perhaps it’s time to explore the options available.

    Follow us on Instagram for up-to-date information.

     

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