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Library Lore (Issue 8)
No full textLibrary Lore | Fall 2021 / Issue 8 1
There have been many changes happening in the Library. You may have heard about the upgrades to LED lighting, or the current project
to create 24-hour study space, but did you know we’ve had a complete change in Library leadership. We’ve had to say goodbye to both
former University Librarian, Dr. Chris Nicol, and former Associate University Librarian, Wendy Merkley, leaving some big shoes to fill. As of
July 1st we’ve been pleased to welcome Dr. Harold Jansen to the Library as Interim University Librarian. Shortly after, we were pleased to
see Nicole (Nikki) Eva accept the position of Associate University Librarian.
You may be familiar with Harold and Nikki from elsewhere around campus so we wanted to take the opportunity to introduce them to
you in the context of their new roles.
Continued on page 2 - 5.
Library Administration Changes
The University Library’s physical space was officially reopened
on Monday, August 9th after being closed to in-person visits
since the end of March 2020 due to COVID-19. Visitors to the
Library will notice that renovations were undertaken during this
hiatus to create a 24-hour study space, improve lighting quality
and provide transparent partitions to ensure safe physical
distancing.
Perhaps the Library’s most significant renovation has been the
creation of the 24-hour study space on Level 10-North which
provides seating for up to 200 patrons and will hopefully be open by the time you read this, or
very soon after. The space will include a movable barrier that slides into place when the physical
Library collections and services are unavailable. Past surveys consistently found that students
were extremely interested in extending the Library’s hours available for studying and we’re
pleased to now make available this safe, well-lit 24-hour space within the Library.
Another renovation that has taken place is the installation of energy-efficient LED lighting to
replace all of the building’s original fluorescent lights. These LED lights provide better light quality,
are more eco-friendly, and require far less maintenance time dedicated to replacing burnt-out
bulbs. Lastly, the Library has installed transparent plexiglass shields at all service points where
staff interact with patrons. The barriers will help ensure that appropriate social distancing is
maintained and to reassure patrons that the Library cares about their well-being.
Now that we’ve reopened, feel free to stop in at the Library during our opening hours and see the
changes for yourself!
Library Reopening Includes Enhancements
to Physical Space
IN THIS ISSUE
Tools and Training
for Research Data
Management (p.5)
Open Access APC
Discounts and
Waivers (p.6)
Contemplation
Corner (p.5)
OA Week / Open
Data (p.6)
Open Access Policy
Initiative (p.7)
Database Spotlight
(p.6)
Library Research
Highlights (p.7 - 8)
Fall 2021 / ISSUE 8
Library Lore | Fall 2021 / Issue 8 2
Harold Jansen, Interim University Librarian
RC: Hi Harold, thanks for letting me interview you today. To get started, I was curious about was what comes to your mind when you first
think about the University Library.
HJ: I guess if I just think of a word, “helpful” is the word that comes to my mind. I’ve always felt very supported and helped in the things
that I’ve done and the library’s always been a place to help me find new ideas and sources. I have always worked closely with our subject
librarian to find things for my students, sometimes solutions for my research, but especially on the teaching side. As a place, I’ve always
found it kind of special. Libraries are exciting places to me, and that thrill has never worn off. When I was a kid growing up, in summers
- we lived probably about a kilometre and a half from our local Public Library branch - everyday I’d pick up my bike and go to the library
and fill my backpack with books and ride home and read them. And I’d do that every day all summer long. And, I remember the times
when we went to the downtown library - the big one - was very exciting! So libraries have always been about discovery and knowledge
and I don’t know that that thrill has ever really gone away. Even when I’m doing research there’s something exciting about going into the
stacks, looking through books, trying to find the books I want, and then sometimes we find that perfect book by serendipity. The one that
happens to be beside the book you were looking for. But this library, in particular, has just always been very helpful and supportive to my
work.
RC: It sounds like you’ve always been a pretty avid library user!
HJ: I remember my first library memory, I was in grade 2 or 3, and I remember having to do a report on whales. It was my first ever
research project and the first time I ever used a photocopier. My dad took me to the library, we found photos to photocopy and it was
this amazing technology! So that’s the first time I ever researched something in the library, when I was in grade 3 and it’s a really good
memory for me. So libraries have always been special. And given the nature of the kind of research that I do, a lot of it involved libraries
or a lot of archival work as a social scientist. I was looking at something historical so I spent huge amounts of time in the Manitoba
archives finding microfiche and microfilm records of things that I needed. So yeah, in a way coming into this position is really back to
what got me excited while being a student in the first place.
RC: Awesome! So what do you think the most important role of a university library is?
HJ: I guess to me it’s the service to the community and this broader academic community - but maybe that’s just my bias coming at it
from somebody who’s been part of that community and for whom the library’s been very integral, but I see that as critical. I really do
see the library’s job as supporting the inquiries of this community of scholarship that we have here through teaching and research. So
to me it’s the public service side of things, that community service that is really critical to me. I think pretty much everything we do is
always in service to that role. Information literacy has become an increasingly important part of the job as we have to serve people with
information that comes in all kinds of different forms, which wasn’t the case 20-30 years ago. So everything kind of comes down to that
fundamental thing: we’re here to serve and support this community and so that’s what I see is really critical function.
RC: Yeah, I agree. Absolutely. So, when you were first asked to assume the role of Interim University Librarian what did you think?
HJ: I was surprised. Actually it was funny, when Erasmus asked me he said “well, you can probably guess what this is about” and honestly
I did not see this coming. I joked with him because I had a library book on my desk and I said “OK, I know this book is overdue but siccing
the provost on me is probably a little bit of overkill.” To be honest, actually, my first reaction was a little bit of sadness. And this isn’t about
the Library, but I’ve formed a really close working relationship with the people I worked with in the Deans office. We’ve been through a
Library Lore | Fall 2021 / Issue 8 3
lot together: through Covid, and through navigating some really difficult things around how we’re going to deliver programs with reduced
budgets. So we’ve been through a lot, and the thought of leaving that team and the bonds we formed, actually, my initial reaction was
a bit of sadness about leaving that behind. But once I got over that I got more and more excited thinking about coming here and the
exciting opportunities that are here. And there’s obviously a number of challenges that the Library faces, like every unit on campus, but I
got more and more excited about it. So it didn’t take me long to get over like “no, no I can’t leave my people in Arts & Science” to thinking:
“I can’t say no to this, this is a really exciting, incredible opportunity. It’s a chance for me to learn about something that’s always been
a big part of my life and something that I care about.” So I was pretty excited. All my interactions with everybody in this library have
always been just incredibly positive so I have just good impressions and am excited about getting to know the people better and working
together to hopefully achieve some good things.
RC: So how do you think your experience as both a faculty member, and as the former Associate Dean of Arts and Science informs your
approach to this role?
HJ: Number one, I guess, is just because what I’ve done has always involved working with the Library, I have a deep appreciation and
understanding of how important the library is for the campus. One other thing I’ll add to that is that I also have experience of being a
father of students here, so when I talk to them I know what the library means to them. So I guess I’m very aware of how the decisions
we make affect the 30 or so of us who work in the Library full-time, but have huge implications for the thousands of students, and the
hundreds of staff and faculty members. So, I come in with a very, very deep appreciation of how important it is, and the decisions we
make here.
From the Arts and Science side, I think one of the things that I think I’ve had to learn in Arts and Science is that it is an incredibly disparate
faculty with a wide range of research and teaching. It’s huge, it’s complex. And that, I think, has helped me to understand that research
takes different forms, and teaching takes different forms. Peoples’ jobs look different. And the Library has that in spades. It’s no secret
I’m not a librarian by training and suddenly I’m put in this very strange position of being the supervisor of a bunch of librarians. But in
Arts and Science, I’ve sat on Salary, Tenure, and Promotion committees for Computer Scientists, and their standards for publication are
different than in my discipline and I’ve learned that, and learned to adapt to that very, very quickly. So I think that brings a certain degree
of flexibility. The other thing about Arts & Science is it’s huge, and it’s really demanding. Like just the scale of what we do there is massive.
I really notice my email box is much more manageable, so right now that actually feels like a relief. But I think it’s given me the ability to
process a lot of things quickly and get up to speed quickly, just because you don’t have a choice a lot of times. There’s just so much to
deal with all the time and it’s relentless.
I was worried about things like doing Professional Activities Reports mostly, when I’m not a librarian by training. But what does research
for Librarians look like? But figuring that out is not much different than, for me than trying to understand what research for Biochemists
look like, and how is that different from somebody in Modern Languages. In Arts and Science, I’ve sat on promotion cases and had
to weigh in on both those things already. So you just start to learn, and try to understand the norms and expectations of different
disciplines. You try to understand them on their own terms.
RC: Interesting. My final questions is, your appointment is just for one year, so I was curious if you have goals for this year, what are they?
HJ: I think one really big goal for me is to help foster a sense of community because I’m struck by the fact that we’ve all been working
apart for a year and a half and it’s tough. So I think building that, as we get used to being around each other again, that’s really important
for how I work. I really do believe in the importance of community. That’s partly why my initial reaction leaving Arts & Science was “no,
no,” because I really come to care about the people. For me, people are what makes a university work, what makes an academic unit
work. So for me a really big thing is to help to foster that re-invigoration of community. I think that’s important. I think the other thing,
in a very practical sense we’ve been very focused, rightfully so, on the pandemic, but the thing that we’re obviously dealing with are the
significant budgetary challenges that we have. And so, one of the things I’d like to look at - and, I’m certainly going to be the last one to
claim I have the answers - but I’d like to begin a process where we ask “are we using our resources, are we organized, in the best possible
way given what we’re under?” We faced a lot of budget cuts and then we shut down our physical operations for a year and a half, so I’m
not sure that the reality of all the staff cuts and budget cuts that we faced have been experienced directly. So that’s something I’m hoping
to work through and hopefully with Nikki’s help I’d like to take a close look at whether there are other models we should be examining.
It’s a big process and one where I have a lot to learn because I first need to learn how it is we do things. That’s a process I’d like to kick off,
and I really need everybody’s input on that. I’m sure everyone has ideas on “are there things we could do better or differently” and I think
one of the important things we need to ask ourselves is “are there things we should stop doing?” I’ve seen a real tendency for us to keep
piling on more and more things but as our resources go down that becomes harder and harder and so I think asking questions: “what are
the things we’ve done that maybe we just can’t keep doing?” “What’s most important to us?” “What’s less important to us?” I’d like to begin
asking some of those questions - that’s a real goal for me as well.
RC: Great, well that’s it. Is there anything else you’d like to add in?
HJ: No, other than to say that so far it’s been really positive. It’s been almost two months now, which is weird to think, but everyone’s
been really, really, helpful and kind and as I’m seeing more and more people over the summer the place is starting to feel more alive, and
that that’s been really exciting to see. So I’m looking forward to meeting everybody and getting to know their work better and hoping to
try to be a positive and helpful presence. The success of this place is not me, it’s all of you, and my job is trying to help make that happen
to the best that I can.
Library Lore | Fall 2021 / Issue 8 4
Nicole Eva, Associate University Librarian
RC: Nikki, you started at the U of L library in 2008, so I’m wondering what your early impressions of the university library were and
whether or not any of those impressions have changed over the time that you’ve been here.
NE: My initial impression was that it was really beautiful here. I was struck by the beauty of our location and by the architecture on
campus at the time. I just thought it looked really cool. We had beautiful views out of our library windows and the campus was really nice
and the library, the design of it, I thought was really cool. Even though I found it incredibly confusing and I was lost the first few days here!
So what’s changed? I now know my way around the library! This many years later, I find it a lot easier navigate; I have finally figured out
where all these stairways start and end (laughs). Then obviously the campus itself has changed quite a bit too. There’s been several new
buildings, and the views, both of the university from across the river, but also from our own offices, has changed considerably.
RC: Yeah, and now from your new office you have another new view.
NE: Yes, very slightly changed. A new perspective on life (laughs).
RC: Exactly.
NE: The library staff has obviously undergone a huge amount of turnover also, so in terms of my impressions, the people are quite
different. It’s quite remarkable the people that I started with versus the people that are in the library right now, there’s been a huge
difference in terms of number of staff as well as demographics. In the past 13 years I’ve gone from one of the youngest, to one of the
oldest!
RC: Wow! That’s cool! What a change! How do you think your experience as a professional librarian will inform your approach to
leadership in this role?
NE: Well, I think having been here for a number of years already is helpful because I understand a lot of what happens in this library. So,
some elements I’m quite familiar with; I’ve worked on the collections team for several years and that will be a big part of my new role.
So that’s helpful, and I already have a good sense of our budgets, and we’ve worked through a lot of really good processes with [the
collections] team so that is going to be super helpful for me going forward. But, I’m also now in charge of some of the areas that I have
had less familiarity with, like the technical services side of things and our internal IT team. So, it’s interesting because I feel like I have
more of a broad overview perspective of the library now then I would have when I was a rank-and-file librarian. For me, it’s personally
interesting to have a new challenge and I’m happy to morph into that role and have a broader perspective on the whole library.
RC: For sure. Ok, so following that I’m just curious a bit more about the library in particular and what you see as the core functions and
services of our university library.
NE: I think much of the Library’s core function is research assistance and collections. But there’s a lot of different elements to each of
those items. So obviously technology -- in terms of how we access the collections, and the resources that are required to do the research.
Technology has become a much more integrated part of both the collections and the research process. Research assistance has evolved
into some new areas, such as assisting people with research, data management, and Open Access options, and copyright assistance and
helping people figure out how to demonstrate the impact of and showcase their research. So there are some emerging areas that are
related to research assistance that we’re happy to be a part of. Then another core function of the library is the space. [The Library] is kind
Library Lore | Fall 2021 / Issue 8 5
of the gathering place for students, that is one of our main features, and now that we have the 24-hour study space, I think that we’ll be
able to capitalize on that even more.
RC: Yeah, that will be awesome! Do you see those core functions and services changing in the next five years at all?
NE: Well, I think they evolve, so as they have evolved already and we’re delivering them in different ways. So for example, research
assistance; obviously COVID made that go entirely online. Where we used to have a lot of people just show up at our physical desk and
ask for research assistance, now so much of that is online. And so I wonder if those kind of services will continue to just remain more
online, or if the in-person aspect will come back a little bit more. And the same with how we’re assisting faculty. You know there’s new
areas that we’ve branched into, and I probably can’t even imagine some of the new areas that we will evolve into, but I do feel like the
technology aspect of both our services and our collections, and how they’re increasingly electronic in both aspects, is probably a trend
that’s going to continue.
RC: That makes sense. Your initial appointment is for five years, so what are your goals during this time as associate university librarian?
NE: Well, continuing to adapt to new ways of serving the students, faculty, and staff. Trying to anticipate their research and collection
needs, and making sure that we can meet them in the most time- and cost-efficient way we can. We have a lot less people working in
the library right now than we have had in the past… at least since I’ve started, so we have to figure out how to be really efficient with the
work that we’re doing and make sure that we’re putting our efforts where they’re most needed. And actually, one of my top goals is to
unify the library as a whole a little bit more. I think we’ve fallen into a bit of a separation within our staffing groups, partially because of
the work that we’re doing and partially because COVID has separated us physically. So I’m hoping that we can come together as a more
unified whole in in the next bit of time. I think through COVID we quit running into the people that we didn’t work directly with, and we
are feeling like we don’t even work together anymore. It’ll be nice once we’re all together in one building and we can feel a bit more like a
cohesive group.
RC: Yeah, I agree. Now, just to wrap up the interview, I was curious if there is anything else that you’d like to add. Any parting words?
NE: I think we’ve seen some really great support of the library over the past number of years, and I feel like the library has been a valued
part of campus -- the library itself, but also the services and collections. I hope that people will come and let us know what they need
because we’re always adapting what we can do. So hopefully people feel comfortable approaching us with their needs.
RC: Thank you, Nikki.
Tools and Training for
Research Data Management
Looking for ways to learn how to manage your research data? The
following resources are freely available:
• Webinars:
⁰ Support Your Research with DMP Assistant 2.0!
⁰ Support Your Research with Data Management
Planning!
⁰ Data Summaries: Distilling Best Practices
⁰ (Some) Research Data Management Best Practices!
⁰ Reducing Risk: An Introduction to Survey Data
Anonymization
• Portage Training Guides:
⁰ RDM
⁰ Data Management Plans
⁰ Federated Research Data Repository
• Training Modules:
⁰ CIHR Research Data Management Learning Module
⁰ Research Data Management (RDM) 101
More questions? Feel free to reach out to your subject librarian or
visit our RDM guide!
Contemplation Corner
The Library would like to introduce you to our new
Contemplation Corner! If you or your students are
looking for a
The Alberta Archaeological Review (Sping, 2021)
No full textNewsletter - Alberta Archaeological Review, no. 072 (Sping 2021
flava
No full textCarex flava Linnaeuscarex jauneyellow sedgeOff trail from North York CreekT. Chisholmconiferous; game trails present1844 mAbies balsamea, Mitella breweri, Osmorhiza depauperata, Vaccinium membranaceumrare in 50x50m are
lenticularis
No full textCarex lenticularis Michauxcarex lenticulairelenticular sedgeSouth Lost Creek trailT. Chisholmshrubland; active OHV trail1819 mAbies balsamea, Parnassia fimbriata, Senecio triangularis, Epilobium hornemannii, Veronica americana, Veronica serpyllifolia25% of 1x1m are
missouriensis
No full textSolidago missouriensis Nuttallverge d'or du MissouriMissouri goldenrodNear Syncline Group camping areaD. Jakovljevicgrassland; grazing evident1492 mPopulus tremuloides, Bochera stricta, Perideridia gairdneri, Solidago multiradiata, Hieracium scouleriinfrequent in 50x50m are
aurea
No full textDraba aurea Vahl ex Hornemanndrave doréegolden drabaOff trail to Ruby and Grizzly LakesT. Chisholmbroadleaf; west facing rocky slope1773 mPopulus tremuloides, Linum lewisii, Cirsium hookerianum, Dryas drummundiirare in 50x50m are
lonchocarpa
No full textDraba lonchocarpa Rydbergdrave à siliques lancéoléeslance-pod drabaOff trail from Ptolemy CreekT. Chisholmshrubland; rocky south facing cliff1646 mPinus flexilis, Packera cana, Koeleria macrantha, Hedysarum sulfurescens, Sedum lanceolatum<1% of 1x1m are
mertensiana
No full textSaxifraga mertensiana Bongardsaxifrage de MertensMerten's saxifrageOff trail from MacDonald PassT. Chisholmshrubland; snowmelt in gully1891 mMicranthes occidentalis, Cystopteris fragilis, Silene acaulis, Smelowskia americanarare in 50x50m are
rubra
No full textFestuca rubra Linnaeusred fescuefétuque rougeTrail to Ruby and Grizzly LakeT. Chisholmshrubland; mainly narrow equestrian1661 mAcer glabrum, Castilleja miniata, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Rosa woodsii, Achillea millefolium4-10% of 1x1m are
subulata
No full textFestuca subulata Triniusbearded fescuefétuque subuléeOff multi-use trails W of O'Hagen roadT. Chisholmconiferous; abundant deadfall1513 mPinus contorta, Carex concinnoides, Arnica latifolia, Neottia cordatainfrequent in 50x50m are