Author

Amy Southgate

Amy holds a BA in Religious Studies from the University of Calgary, and a Library Information Technology diploma from SAIT. She can be found slinging books, in handmade outfits, at the Rutherford Library.

    New Subject Guide | Free Online Resources

    by Amy Southgate
    written by Amy Southgate

    Have you ever found yourself knee deep in researching a topic online when you come across something that sounds like a perfect fit, and then –BAM! –You run into a paywall? There is nothing worse than being so close yet so far from the information, or content, you need. Not everyone is able to, nor wants to, pay access fees or subscriptions, so what can you do?

    Good news intrepid learner! There is a growing movement among academics, libraries and others to make high quality information freely available! The trouble with finding these awesome resources is that it’s often buried in search results that prioritize for-profit companies; or obscured by swaths of disreputable sources. Luckily we are here to help with a new library guide full of Free Online Resources!

    The guide covers important definitions of different kinds of free online resources before moving on to seven pages of awesome resources divided by type. 

    Cortical neuron stained with antibody to neurofilament subunit NF-L in green.
    Available through Wikimedia Commons.

    Journals and Articles connects you with search engines and collections of millions of academic journals and articles covering a wide variety of subject areas. 

    Books collects repositories, publishers and university presses that make eBooks freely available – plus a free audio book distributor. 

    Media  reveals music, images and videos for your entertainment, or to use in your own creative projects without the pesky royalties. 

    Courses empower lifelong learners to explore new subjects or grow their skill sets with free classes from experts. 

    Data helps you come to your own conclusions and enhance your research with datasets from governments and researchers. 

    Self Help Legal Resources empowers you to untangle complex legal concepts and make sound decisions about important life decisions. 

    Open Educational Resources presents resources for teaching classes or for self study.

    OER Commons is one example of an OER platform linked to from our guide

    As you can see self-education never needs to stop, and can’t be thwarted by paywalls (or pandemic related library building closures)!

    What do you want to learn about? Remember you can always Ask Us for help finding free online resources to suit your needs.

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  • L’ACTIVISME POUR LE FUTUR DU NOIR

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    Cette année, nous avons adopté une approche différente du Mois de l’histoire des Noirs à la bibliothèque, en recadrant notre attention du passé vers un avenir pour les Noirs. La route vers un avenir pour les noirs peut sembler longue et impraticable, mais il y a lieu de garder de l’optimisme! Cette collection présente des œuvres sur les mouvements militants contemporains qui peuvent servir à la fois de carte et d’inspiration sur…

  • Activism for a Black Future

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    This year we have been taking a different approach to Black History Month at the library, by shifting our focus from the past to looking towards a Black Future. The road towards a Black Future can seem long and impassable, but there is reason to embrace optimism! This collection features works on contemporary activist movements that can serve as both a map and inspiration on our journey towards an equitable society. Activism…

  • LES COMPÉTENCES ACADÉMIQUES REQUISENT POUR UN SEMESTRE EXCEPTIONNEL

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    Septembre est le début d’une nouvelle année académique, apportant les mêmes opportunités pour la réflexion, le renouvellement de soi et de nouveau défis. Cette année est peut-être l’opportunité pour vous de développer votre stratégie d’étude et vos compétences en écriture universitaire. Développer de bonnes stratégies d’étude et des technique d’écriture vous aidera non seulement durant cette année scolaire, mais aussi tout au long de votre parcours universitaire et professionnelle au delà des…

  • Academic Skills for an Awesome Semester

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    September can be like an academic new year, with the same opportunity for reflection, self improvement, and goals. One area for potential new school year resolutions is study and writing skills. Developing strong study skills and a polished writing style will not only help you this year, and the rest of your post secondary journey, but also your life and career beyond the University of Alberta. This year in particular, with most…

  • Folk Fest at Home

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    Even though our favourite festivals have been canceled this year, Edmontonians are keeping the Festival City spirit alive with socially distant celebrations. This weekend would have been the summer mainstay, Edmonton Folk Music Festival (EFMF). The festival has gone online this year with The Hill at Home, but we also found some ways to get folky with library resources! The University of Alberta Library has many digitized collections, including the Edmonton Folk…

  • National Indigenous History Month: ebooks

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    We are pleased to be celebrating National Indigenous History Month throughout June with a series of blog posts featuring some great resources from our collection that can be accessed online! This week we have a selection of ebooks in a variety of genres for you to enjoy. Non-FictionThese non-fiction titles will introduce you to indigenous-settler issues in Canada and cover important, often mentioned, concepts. Indigenous Writes : A Guide to First Nations,…

  • Black Lives Matter Resource Recommendations

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    As we witness the recent events happening in the United States and Canada, we stand in solidarity with our community against racism. Over the last few days people have been searching for answers, particularly, many non-Black people are wondering what they can do amidst this tumultuous time. One of the best things people can do is educate themselves on the issues and history of anti-Black racism, civil rights, and anti-racism. This is…

  • 4th Annual Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover: Asian Authors

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    UAlberta Libraries Annual Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover event starts October 28! Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover is an annual event hosted by the University of Alberta Libraries that aims to shed light on underrepresented groups. As a twist on regular book displays, books are wrapped in brown paper and teaser keywords are written on the front. This wrapping symbolizes the marginalization of the group, and puts the…

  • Celebrating Black History Month at the University of Alberta Libraries

    by Amy Southgate
    by Amy Southgate

    The University of Alberta Libraries are celebrating Black History Month all through February with displays at several libraries! Stop by one of the libraries to learn some Black history, or pick up a great book. Scott Library is focusing on medical milestones for Black History Month. The display will also feature profiles of pioneers in medicine and the healthcare field. La Bibliothèque Saint-Jean veux mettre en vedette des documents sur des événements…

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