Summertime

Over the past few years, we have written blog posts that shine a spotlight on the resources, books and music found in our collections that recognize and celebrate the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. This year, we are taking a look at comedy and Indigenous humour. Linked to years of trauma through colonisation, Indigenous people have used humour for survival. The expression “laughter as medicine”…

This post was originally published in July 2021 Planning and researching destinations for summer adventures is a favorite pastime of mine – and I usually begin early in the New Year. Nothing beats the winter blues better than curling up on a cold winter’s evening with calendars, google maps and guide books open in front of me. This year was no exception although back in January these plans were somewhat of a…

Our student colleague Lothian Taylor shares her “great escapes” book suggestions. Lothian is a student in the University of Alberta Masters of Library and Information Studies program, and also works at our library service desk and behind the scenes answering online chat questions! As 2022 was ending, and I was brainstorming this month’s book display, Edmonton was met with a cold snap. While students worked on their final exams and projects, the…

We invite you on a trip through historic Alberta as seen through the lens of the postcard photographer and the greetings written to family and friends. The Golden Age of the postcard The early 1900s was the Golden Age of the postcard. An album bulging full of collected postcards provided great shared entertainment in an era before radio or television. Cards were collected as souvenirs, or mailed ahead to announce a visit,…

“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…

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,…

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…

February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day canadian-heritage/campaigns/black-history-month What better way to celebrate Black History throughout the year than with book suggestions to add to your own reading wishlist?  In this virtual book display, we selected books published in the past couple of years that shine a light on the Black Canadian experience.  From poetry to biography,  short stories to non-fiction we hope that you enjoy these suggestions.   Poetry…

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…