Articles tagged with: Services

  • Omni: the power of collaboration

    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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  • Welcome to 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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  • Brock Library services and resources highlighted in new exhibit

    New and returning students are invited to stop by and view a new exhibit in the Library and Learning Commons display cases. The exhibit features unique items from Brock’s Archives and Special Collections, the Makerspace, and Map, Data & GIS Library. A guide to study spots, research basics, and the various ways to get help from the library are also featured.  Welcome to Brock University Library runs to Friday, September 16.

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    Categories: Archives, Learning Commons, Main, Makerspace, MDGL

  • Instructors encouraged to submit fall reading lists soon

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

    To ensure your students have access to their fall course materials, we encourage you to submit reading lists as soon as possible. Ideally by August 5, 2022.  

    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.

    Questions? reserve@brocku.ca

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  • Discover your library this spring

    A new term and a fresh start on one of the prettiest campuses around! Welcome to the spring term at Brock and the Library.

    Whether you are a new or returning student or instructor, learn something new on the Discover Your Library page. Complete our popular Scholar Style quiz and receive customized services based on your answers.

    If you are on campus or live in the Niagara area, we are open from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday and 1pm-5pm on Saturdays. Stop by the Ask Us desk to kick start your research.

    For those studying at a distance, we offer hundreds of thousands of e-books and journal articles, and help is just a few clicks away with email and chat services as well as online research consultations with our librarians.

    We look forward to working with you and wish you all the best for a successful term.

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  • Faculty course reading lists requested for the spring term

    Course readings for the spring term are being processed at Brock University Library.

    To ensure your students have access to their spring course materials, we encourage you to submit reading lists as soon as possible. Ideally by mid-April.

    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.

    A note about print reserve readings:

    While we encourage instructors to continue using online alternatives, print items are accepted.

    It is important for instructors to consider the element of risk in choosing to use print reserves for your course: If strict public health measures were to resume, these materials might be inaccessible for your students. Electronic readings have the benefit of being available to students no matter the changing public health measures.

    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

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  • Welcome Back to Campus

    As some Brock students return to on-campus classes this week, the James A. Gibson Library has resumed regular hours.

    For everyone’s safety:

    • Masks are required at all times. 
    • No food permitted. Lidded drinks okay.
    • Seating has been reduced to encourage physical distancing. 
    • Capacity in group study rooms has also been reduced.

    Access to upper floors / bookable rooms / graduate spaces:

    • Individual study spots in the Learning Commons / Library main floor no longer require advanced-booking. 
    • All upper library floors have re-opened and the book stacks are fully accessible.
    • Group study rooms and the Graduate Meeting room are available for booking. The graduate study space has also re-opened.
    • Attending hybrid classes? We recommend the individual study carrels on floors 5, 6, and 7. Please use headphones. A number of individual closed study rooms are available on floors 8, 9, and 10 are available for advanced booking
    • Classrooms A & B are not available for drop-in use.

    Questions?
    Visit the Ask Us desk or email us at libhelp@brocku.ca

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  • Update on Library resources & services

    Brock Library re-opens January 6 at 9am. Here’s what to expect.

    Hours of Operation:

    James A. Gibson Library

    • Monday to Friday: 9am – 5pm
    • Saturday-Sunday: Closed

    Archives and Special Collections, Digital Scholarship Lab, Makerspace, and Map, Data & GIS Library open by appointment only. 

    Access to collections:

    The upper floors of the library are currently closed. The following services are in place to provide you with access to our print materials:

    Access to study space:

    • Students looking for a quiet space to work can book one of 50 individual study spots  on the main floor of the library. Book up to 8 hours per day and up to 2 weeks in advance.
    • Printing and copying is available.
    • Group study is not available.
    • Classrooms A and B are not available.

    Research help:

    Your Library Account:

    • When returning books, please use the drop slot in the Rankin Family Pavilion/Schmon Tower Lobby.
    • Here’s how to renew your items.

    Delivery and intercampus transfer:

    • Intercampus transfer between the main campus and Marilyn I. Walker remains operational. Items can be picked up at the MIW Security desk.
    • Departmental delivery for faculty and staff is unavailable at this time.

    Alumni and community member access:

    • Visitors are asked to complete the self-screen survey for COVID-19 risk before arriving on campus. It can be completed via web form or through the Brock Safety mobile app.
    • Check in at  the Visitor/Guest COVID-19 Screening desk in the Rankin Family Pavilion (base of Schmon Tower) or in the east entrance of the Cairns Complex.
    • Provide your proof of vaccination and confirmation from the screening survey to the screener on duty.

    Keep up to date with developments by visiting the Brock University Library COVID-19 page. Questions? Email libhelp@brocku.ca

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  • What’s new 2022?

    Welcome to the Winter 2022 term. Your library has the people and resources you can count on for academic success.

    With classes running online this month, library hours and services have been adjusted. Read about the changes and keep up-to-date by monitoring the Library Resources and Services Amid COVID-19 page.

    Have you made resolutions to try something new or, perhaps leave a habit behind? Get inspired by the Fresh Start book collection. A mix of print and online titles, topics include mindfulness, healthy eating, positive aging, friendship, and living sustainably.

    If academic improvement is on your list, explore new content for Research Help On-Demand. Learn the mechanics of research with short videos and lessons on peer-review and compiling annotated bibliographies among other must know topics for success in your studies.

    The Wellness Book Club returns this term with Liaison Librarian and Fitness Instructor Justine Cotton leading participants through a reading of Dr. John Ratey’s 2008 book Spark: The Revolutionary new Science of Exercise and the Brain. Sign up at: bit.ly/wellnessbookclubwinter2022 

    And, on the topic of wellness, Library Yoga with Liaison Librarian and Yoga Instructor Chelsea Humphries, returns this month with online sessions via ExperienceBU  and an in-person event coming later this spring.

    Best of luck on the term ahead!

     

     

     

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  • End of term resources to support students

    As we approach the end of term, the Library along with colleagues in A-Z Learning Services and Student Wellness and Accessibility Services are keen to support Brock students completing final assignments and preparing for exams.

    A-Z Learning Services has excellent guides available to help you with:

    Learning Skills Specialists are also running several online drop-in study sessions that you can visit to study with others, or get help on a specific assignment or question.

    Student Wellness and Accessibility Services offer unique sessions related to exam readiness and combatting test stress.

    Student mental health and wellness go hand-in-hand with academic success and are the focus of a new Library wellness webpage ready for you to explore.

    Finally, if you could use a little motivation download one of our new phone and desktop wallpaper designs. ⬇️

    For your phone:
    don't quit phone wallpaperYou've Got This phone wallpaper

    For your desktop:

    keep going! desktop wallpaper

    You've got this desktop wallpaper

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