collections

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…

Students and staff use the library on the daily, in person and online. This is how…  Since 2016 Chris Chang-Yen Phillips has been the host of  Let’s Find Out a podcast which began as a deep dive into our local history.  More recently, Chris has been sharing the ins and outs of his research journey as he pursues a Master of Arts in History at the University of Alberta. I had the…

This post was written by SLIS student Kelsey Cameron Intellectual Freedom Throughout history, books have been challenged and even banned in Canada and around the world in schools, libraries, and bookstores. Today, libraries are unlikely places for this to occur due to the banning of books going against intellectual freedom as defined by the American Library Association (ALA): “Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information…

Previously relegated to the realm of gay underground publications, queer “comix” and graphic novels have come a long way over the past 6 decades. Early creators used pseudonyms to protect their identities to avoid putting themselves at risk during a time when they could be criminally prosecuted. LGBTQ activity was considered a crime in Canada until 1969, when Bill C-150 was passed into law. Depictions of gay sexuality were considered “obscene” back…

Our Rutherford Library is the proud home of the University of Alberta Library’s Education Collection. As the U of A celebrates another wonderful Pride Week, now is a fantastic time to highlight some spectacular LGBTQ2S+ Education Resources. We reached out to Kim Frail, Education & Arts Librarian extraordinaire, for her favourite recommendations and received this fantastic trove of information and goodies! LGBTQ2S+ Issues in Education Subject Guide Our library subject guides are…

As a music lover, I have always cherished the many resources the library provides for those who want to learn more about different musicians and genres. In addition to musical scores, the library subscribes to many streaming databases and has an extensive collection of CDs and LP vinyl that you can request and put on hold with your OneCard. As it is Black History Month, I sat down with Lucinda Johnston, our…

As those new to Edmonton quickly learn winter takes up a significant portion of the year. Complain all you want, but it doesn’t change the days or (shudder) weeks of extreme cold, snow storms and bone chilling winds. It has also provoked many inquisitive folks to investigate various aspects of winter. Knowledge is power and understanding is a first step towards acceptance. We’ve covered how to dress for the season, but let’s…

The University of Alberta Library subscribes to numerous databases that are core for certain disciplines, but also really deserving of wider attention. Here is just one of those gems… Our Clothing, Textiles & Material Culture subject guide is home to fashion resources. The Vogue Archive is just one of the many gems here. It features the complete run of Vogue (US edition) from 1892 to the current month reproduced in high resolution,…

Today we shine the spotlight on authors of Vietnamese ancestry. In the aftermath of the Vietnam War (also known as the American War) and the fall of Saigon in 1975 there was a great exodus and many refugees eventually found their way to Canada. By 1982 more than 120,000 had been resettled in Canada (Canadian Red Cross) – considered our largest humanitarian undertaking to that point.  Many of these families made their…