collections

We have a pretty extensive collection here at the University of Alberta Library. Between print books & periodicals, electronic books, journal articles, streaming video and audio, and miscellaneous kits, games and more, there’s no lack of resources to explore. As Junelle explained in her recent post, there are limits to what we have access to. Sometimes we have to cast our nets wider and borrow items from libraries outside of the NEOS…

The University of Alberta Library fields a number of different questions through our service desks and chat service. A common question that regularly pops up involves the term Interlibrary Loan or ILL for short. But what is an ILL? An Interlibrary Loan refers to an item that does not exist within the U of A Library’s holdings, nor the holdings of NEOS, which is a consortium that U of A belongs to.…

“A book is a magical thing that lets you travel to far-away places without ever leaving your chair.” Katrina Mayer Sometimes all you need for an amazing adventure is a comfy armchair and a fantastic book. With high prices at the pumps and chaos at our airports, why not discover adventure from the comfort of home? Whether planning a road trip across Canada, retracing an intrepid Viking voyage, or cycling the tour…

The Canadian Indigenous music scene is home to sounds and styles that encompass all genres. In celebration of National Indigenous History Month we are highlighting a few of the talented musicians whose work celebrates Indigenous cultures. Their music and vocals entertain but also educate and challenge us by focusing attention on crucial issues. Willie Dunn – Performing at folk festivals in the 1960s and 70s his compositions gave an eloquent voice to…

Aujourd’hui, nous nous plongeons dans le bel univers de la bande dessinée et des romans graphiques.   Appelée le “9e Art”, la bande dessinée est un moyen artistique de raconter des histoires qu’il serait difficile de raconter autrement. Il s’agit d’une forme d’art unique, où l’artiste peut s’exprimer par le biais d’images et de bulles de conversation.   Les caricatures sont le précurseur des bandes dessinées, imprimées dans les journaux et les périodiques dans…

May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, to celebrate we are shining a spotlight on MANGA, comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Genres of manga include, but are not limited to: shonen, seinen, shōjo, josei, fantasy and horror (Johnson-Woods, 2010). Our library has a wide range of manga available for you to discover. Here is a short list of manga recommendations (English translated) from my colleague and our library’s resident otaku,…

Sound the horns, bang the drums, and break out those exquisitely well-choreographed dance moves. The Winter 2022 semester is over…now what? Give your brain a well-deserved break with some enjoyable read recommendations from our University of Alberta Library Staff. Some items are in our catalogue, others are held by our friends at Edmonton Public Library (EPL). For those in our U of A community who do not have an EPL card, fear…

This Friday, April 22, is Earth Day. It is a chance for us to reflect on the planet we occupy and explore the ways we can lessen our impact on it. There are no limits to the wonders of nature. Underground, underwater, in the air, amidst the trees, miraculous organisms adapt and thrive through a host of survival strategies; not to mention the relationships they forge with other creatures they share the…

Longer days, melting snow and the end of this long… long winter gives a huge boost to our wellbeing. However… if puddle jumping and sunlight are not giving you joy this year, it could be due to stress. As we head into the final few weeks of term, exams and deadlines all add to the pressure. We have all experienced stress (especially these past two years) and have a few ideas that…