Collections

Congratulations to all the 2021 Spring graduate students! Did you know that their theses are in ERA, our institutional repository? There are over 300 to explore that are open to everyone. Governor General’s Gold Medal This spring, Michelle Lavoie, as part of her PhD in Educational Policy Studies, won the Governor General’s Gold Medal for achieving academic excellence at the graduate level. At the University of Alberta, the award recognizes the doctoral…

This guest post was written by Christian Isbister who worked with our team at the University of Alberta Archives to help begin the process of decolonizing their collection. Tanisi, hello! My name is Christian Isbister, I’m a Métis librarian/archivist, and I most recently completed a contract with the University of Alberta Archives where I made some early steps towards decolonizing their collection. Here I’ll talk about some of the inherent difficulties in…

As Indigenous History Month continues, now is a great time to explore the over 500 individual items on Indigenous research in The University of Alberta’s Educational and Research Archive (ERA) and The University of Alberta media streaming repository, Aviary. The Situated Knowledges, Indigenous Peoples and Place (SKIPP) Virtual Colloquium took place in the Summer of 2020. SKIPP showcased University of Alberta scholars’ journeys into or with Indigenous-engaged research and scholarship. Streaming videos…

Are you like Monty & Ainsley and need a break from textbooks, papers, and Zoom calls? It could be time set aside the academia (for a wee scootch) and delve into some other reads that the University of Alberta Library (UAL) has to offer. Additionally, you could also explore the wonderful partnership our library has with our friends at Edmonton Public Library (EPL) through our L-Pass. The L-Pass allows current U of…

Last June, I took readers on a brief overview of some of the streaming audiovisual resources that feature media content concentrated on Indigenous peoples of North America and beyond. Now I would like to take everyone on a deeper dive into one of the resources featured in that original post: NFB Campus. Those of us who spent our formative years in Canada are probably familiar with National Film Board of Canada (NFB)…

Celebrate Indigenous History Month with us as we explore the increasingly popular genre of the graphic novel! Indigenous artists and writers have opened up the world of tribal tales, traditions and customs to a new generation of readers. Graphic novels share all the key characteristics of traditional novels but their images do the vast majority of the storytelling. Combining text and art, these books have the power to engage and through that,…

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, and to celebrate we are sharing a virtual book display featuring books by Canadian authors of Asian descent. These are just a few of the talented authors adding the richness of their experiences and cultures to the Canadian literary landscape. Time to replenish your “to read” book pile! There is a plethora of titles to choose from, and this gallery is a small sampler of…

Though it seems like it in this part of the world, Hollywood is not the centre of the cinematic universe. Most nations across the world are home to creators who use film to tell stories unique to their cultural heritage. As we turn our attention toward Asia and the incredible array of nations and people who hail from it this month, let us take some time to appreciate the diverse filmic offerings…

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…

Last month, with the help of colleagues, I created a new Wikipedia page for the Henderson’s Directories! This was a project that combined two areas of my work that I never imagined could meet! City Directories  City directories were once commonplace. In the late-18th and early-20th centuries, they helped people navigate cities and find residents & services. Today, they give us a glimpse into everyday life in the somewhat-distant past. I think…