Community

This year the University of Alberta’s Winter Closure will span from December 25, 2020 to January 3, 2021. Here is where you can find dates of closure and resumption of our library services. PANDEMIC — is the word that defines the year 2020. I know I am not alone when I say this year has been HARD. That is why I propose that we take the 10 days of Winter Closure as…

Our work has changed a lot since the pandemic began in March 2020. The library has invested in a robust online service over the past ten years, but since we began studying and working from home, those numbers have vastly increased. September is always an exciting time at the library and this year was no exception, despite being online. Students and staff alike were reaching out in record numbers. From March to…

With the majority of students and staff being advised to work and study from home, this is how our librarians are supporting online learning… Our Academic Librarian, David, is not really doing anything new. We’ve been using online materials and interacting digitally, often outside “normal” business hours, for a long time. Learning on our own through recordings of other people’s ideas is nothing new either; think of books, journals, newspapers, videos, tapes,…

It is astonishing to think that it has been nearly nine months now since a majority of library staff began working from home. It has also been nine months since a group of us began a project to capture COVID-19 numbers in Canada by working on a collective stitching project we call “Stitching the Curve”. The project aims to capture the ongoing COVID-19 case numbers from province to province, within strips of…

* Updated since provincial COVID restrictions announced on Dec 8, 2020 * We are taking a winter break and looking forward to the end of 2020 (who isn’t?) and a brighter New Year! With most University of Alberta classes starting January 11th, and with new Provincial restrictions in place, we too have adjusted our opening hours. These are the details! Curbside Pickup Service Rutherford Curbside Pickup & Book Return: NEW (Dec 10,…

It is widely known that library staff are always willing to offer helpful tips and advice…call it an occupational hazard! Lucky for us, we received such a wealth of self-care tips from our colleagues that we had to create a second part to our Fall 2020 Staff De-stressing Tips blog! To catch up on Part I, take a peek here… otherwise sit back, relax, and enjoy Part II! Eva, Information Services Specialist…

First, a giant shout-out to everyone for all the hard work done thus far in our Fall 2020 semester. We are truly proud of you! We invite you to take some time to rest, relax, and focus on a little self-care before you battle on to end this term on a strong note. Our lovely library staffers offer up their de-stressing tips in Part I of a two-part special! David, Academic Librarian…

Mount Royal University Librarian Jessie Loyer is currently on sabbatical and has been spending the last couple of months here visiting the University of Alberta. The pandemic has significantly impacted what her time here has looked like. We would like to share this interview with Jessie conducted by one of University of Alberta Library’s Indigenous Interns, Kaia MacLeod.  What’s a typical day of work for you (pre-pandemic)? What do you normally do?…

This post is written by a guest blogger, Hailey MacMillan. Hailey is a practicum student who comes to us from MacEwan’s Library and Information Technology program. She is currently working with us as a part of the Library Publishing and Digital Production Services team. Hailey’s favorite reading nook is her living room loveseat, which sits by a south-facing window. Hailey likes to read thrillers and suspense novels, but will occasionally throw in…