Articles tagged with: Staff

  • Library Survey Findings & Next Steps

    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
    nnolan@brocku.ca

     

     

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    Categories: Main

  • 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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    Categories: Main

  • Local nautical history highlighted in new exhibit

    Note: this post originally published by Jocelyn Titone in Seen & Heard.

    In anticipation of the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Fourth Welland Canal this August, Brock University Library Assistant Sue Sykes has created several exhibits in Library spaces that highlight some facts and history of the canals, their bridges and the ships that have passed through them.  Items were curated from Brock’s Archives and Special Collections, Archives Canada and Sykes’ own personal nautical collection. The Brock Makerspace helped create lithophanes of the Welland Canal flight locks. Items on display from her personal collection include a brass door stop and running lights from the Venitia steam yacht that was once owned by local shipping company Scott Misener Steamships; examples of shipping flags from marine carriers Algoma, Patterson and Great Lakes Towing; a model laker ship that travelled through the Welland Canal; a 1920s photo of the Port of Goderich filled with ships carrying grain; and an artifact from John A. Roebling, the Chief Engineer of the Niagara Falls railway bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge.

    The displays are located on the main floor of the Library in the Matheson Learning Commons near the Ask Us desk and in Thistle Hall next to the Library’s south entrance. Additional historical information on the Welland Canal can be found in several digital exhibits curated by Brock Archives and Special Collections: Building the Welland Ship Canal, The History of the Welland Canal — All four of Them, and The Welland Canal’s Bridges and Tunnels — The Solution to Traffic Jams for over 100 years. Ship schedules are tweeted daily by the St. Catharines Museum Twitter account, and can be found on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System Bridge Status webpage.

     

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    Categories: Archives, Learning Commons, Main

  • 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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    Categories: Main, MDGL

  • Pandemic Pastimes

    In March 2020 none of us could predict what the COVID-19 pandemic had in store, including months of extra time on our hands. Many of us in the library took to crafting, baking, gardening, dancing, doing yoga, hiking and more.

    New creations and hobbies became themes of discussion among our team, boosting morale and keeping us positive. Whether it was bread, cakes, clay or cacti, we all had something that kept us going.

    Our Pandemic Pastimes are now exhibited for you to enjoy.  Stop by to view in the James A. Gibson Library and at the entrance to the Matheson Learning Commons.

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    Categories: Featured Collections, Learning Commons

  • 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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    Categories: Main

  • Welcome Back to Campus

    Wednesday, September 8 update for the James A. Gibson Library:

    For your safety:

    • Masks required at all times.
    • Seat booking is not required.
    • Attending online lectures? We recommend the individual study carrels on floors 5, 6 & 7. Please use headphones.
    • No food permitted. Lidded drinks okay.
    • Classrooms A & B are not available for drop-in use.
    • Seating has been reduced to encourage physical distancing.

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

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    Categories: Main

  • Omni partnership pays dividends

    Brock University students, staff, and faculty can now use Omni to request shared physical resources quickly and easily from across all 16 Omni partner institutions, a collection of nearly 23.5 million resources.

    Read more about this innovative collaboration in the Brock News and learn how to make your request in just a few clicks.

    Questions? libhelp@brocku.ca

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  • Library expertise at one click

    Ask a Librarian is a collaborative virtual reference service that connects students, faculty members, and researchers from participating university libraries across Ontario with real-time library and research assistance through chat.

    Since the pandemic began, Brock and partner libraries have seen a sharp increase in questions from our respective communities. In our post-chat exit survey, we recently heard from a Brock student who noted “I love the library chat. I use it all the time and it is always so helpful. It has been a lifesaver during the pandemic!

    With online support at the forefront right now, we’ve added a new Ask a Librarian tab across our website. Assistance is now just one click away.

    Learn more about Ask a Librarian, or chat with us now.

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    Categories: Main

  • Discover your library this spring

    Brock University Library welcomes you to the spring term. If you are new to Brock, take a look at the Discover Your Library page for a quick introduction to library people, services, & resources.  Supporting you in your academic life is core to our mission.

    We have developed a number of online and in-person services and supports in response to COVID-19. Our focus is on access to electronic resources and virtual help. You can learn more about these services on our COVID-19 page.

    For new students, the shift to academic research can be a challenge, but getting assistance is easy. We offer email and chat services as well as online research consultations with our Liaison Librarians.

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

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    Categories: Main, MDGL