A cross-functional team has released a web resource that introduces new and prospective students with disabilities to the array of services available to them across Keele campus.

The Virtual Orientation to Support Services for Students with Disabilities is the result of a successful Academic Innovation Fund proposal submitted in 2012 by co-leads Catherine Davidson, associate university librarian, collections & research, and Maureen Haig, manager, Learning Disability Services. The cross-campus team comprised of faculty and staff from York University Libraries, Counselling & Disability Services and Learning & Technology Services, developed a series of instructional clips and videos that are now available on their blog and will also be linked to from multiple webpages across York’s website.

Catherine Davidson

“We wanted these resources for students with disabilities to be ubiquitously available on York’s website so the instructional clips and videos can be accessed anytime and anywhere by students who need them,” explains Davidson.

At York, Counselling & Disability Services is divided into three services each with its own separate location on campus. In addition, students can use the Assistive Technology Lab in the Technology and Enhanced Learning (TEL) building, Library Accessibility Services in Scott Library or take advantage of the Learning Commons’ research, writing and learning skills services, also in Scott Library.

The intent of the web-based orientation is to help demystify these resources and processes for students. “It’s our hope that the videos will minimize the anxiety students feel both in getting acquainted with a confusing campus and understanding where and how to ask for the support and services they need,” says Haig. “The Virtual Orientation to Support Services for Students with Disabilities is an introduction for students who might need to get in touch with our offices. It also provides them with a visual of what to expect when they arrive.”

The Virtual Orientation to Support Services for Students with Disabilities consists of a three and a half minute video Welcome Tour that provides students with the location of, and the services available through, the Learning, Mental Health, and Physical, Sensory and Medical Counselling & Disability Services offices. The video demonstrates how students can register with the various services and highlights some way-finding benefits of using York’s Safety app. The Welcome Tour also illustrates the services available through Library Accessibility Services, the Learning Commons, and an Assistive Technology Lab.

In the Virtual Orientation, students will also find instructional clips of how to use two assistive technologies, Kurzweil screen reader and Papyrus, York’s own secure web-based alternate format text delivery system.

Maureen Haig

Made in compliance with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) guidelines, the videos are closed captioned and were created with accessibility standards in mind.

Davidson and Haig solicited feedback from student focus groups to ensure the team was meeting project goals.

“This was a collaborative effort between York University Libraries, Counselling & Disability Services and Learning Technology Services and each of the partners provided essential expertise to the project,” explains Davidson. “We’d now like to partner with members from faculties and departments across campus to integrate these resources into course offerings, websites and eLearning tools.”

The Virtual Orientation to Support Services for Students with Disabilities team welcomes feedback and all opportunities to work with those interested in creating awareness for these valuable student services.

Steve Clay, the founder of Granary Books in New York City, has assembled a collection of writers, artists, and bookmakers who have worked to explore and define the correlation between verbal and visual relationships in independent publishing. Some of the featured artists and authors include, Michael Snow, Sol Lewitt, Johanna Drucker, Dieter Roth, Ida Applebroog, John Baldessari and also Jen Bervin, Tom Phillips and Timothy Ely. The artists’ books collection also includes a representative assortment of Granary’s publications produced from 1985 to present.

“The acquisition of the Granary Artists’ Books Collection is significant because these works can have an important impact on research in several different programs at York,” explains Visual Arts, Design & Theatre Librarian, Mary Kandiuk. “The study of artists’ books crosses disciplines. In the Department of Visual Arts artists are exploring making their own artists’ books, while in the Creative Writing Program writers are exploring the written form through book arts.”

The first edition of Tom Phillips’ A Humument.

 Perhaps one of the more notable works in the collection is the first edition copy of Tom Phillips’ A Humument, published by Tetrad Press in the 1970s. In 1966, Phillips purchased a canary-coloured used book, the ninth printing of the Human Document by W.H. Mallock, for three pence. He set to work artistically altering every page by painting, collaging, and cutting up sections to create an entirely new version of the book that tells the non-linear story of Phillips’ protagonist, Bill Toge. Phillips’ new book was called A Humument, and the first version of all 367 treated pages was published in 1973. Over the past 40 years, A Humument has been revised four additional times and is now known as one of the 20^th century’s best known artists’ books.

“I often teach A Humument in my Creative Writing and Book History courses, but I’ve always used the web-version or the trade paperback,” explains Liberal Arts and Professional Studies faculty member, David Goldstein. “Next time, I will bring my students to the archives to look at the first edition artist book. It will be a unique experience for my students – being able to learn from an original copy of Phillips’ work will definitely have an impact.”

In addition to A Humument, another noteworthy title is Tabulation by Timothy Ely. According to Granary Books, “Timothy Ely has produced a formidable body of work over the past 30 years. He is widely acknowledged as one of the pivotal figures in the revival of book art in the seventies and eighties and his unique books and bindings have been exhibited and collected worldwide. Every serious collection of artists’ books and book art should own at least one example of this extraordinary artist’s work.”

Librarians Lisa Sloniowski (far left) and Mary Kandiuk (far right) with artist and poet Jen Bervin and LA&PS faculty member David Goldstein.

Also included in the Granary Books collection are the works of poet and visual artist Jen Bervin, who gave two talks at York University on March 5 and 6 as part of the Creative Writing Reading Series. Jen Bervin’s work brings together text and textile to explore the work of Emily Dickinson.

The Granary Artists’ Books collection can be viewed at Clara Thomas Archives and Special Collections, on the third floor of Scott Library.

For more information about the artists’ books collection contact, Mary Kandiuk, visual arts, design & theatre librarian (mkandiuk@yorku.ca).

March 11, 2013

Thirty-six students – shortlisted from approximately 100 applicants – presented their research projects to nearly 300 community members at York’s inaugural Undergraduate Research Fair on Feb. 27, in the Scott Library Collaboratory.

The three dozen participants from the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS), Environmental Studies, Fine Arts and Glendon presented posters on a range of research topics to the several hundred faculty, staff, students and family members that were in attendance. The breadth of project titles included: Defining the Self Through Lobster Eating; Bad Medicine: The TB Epidemic in Canadian First Nations and Inuit; Ending Sex Trafficking in the European Union; and Exploring Food Discourse & the Social Implications – just to name a few.

“The scope of submissions was extraordinary and so was the passion and commitment of the students,” said Catherine Davidson, associate librarian and fair steering committee member. “For me, hearing the students speak about their work and also about how much they appreciated the opportunity to share the outcome of their research with the broader community was the highlight of the fair.”

During the ceremony, Robert Haché vice-president research & innovation, thanked all the applicants for demonstrating that research at York is accessible and that undergraduate students are a valuable part of the University’s research culture.

“Here at York, we value the work of all of our student researchers.  As a comprehensive, research intensive institution, York is committed to the exposure of all of our students to cutting edge research and scholarship and to making research accessible for them,” said Haché. “York is a globally recognized centre for research and a leader in the creation and transfer of knowledge.”

LA&PS Dean Martin Singer and faculty members and steering committee members Kevin Reynolds and Tara LaRose, presented the awards and honourable mentions for best lower-year project and poster (for a first- or second-year course), best upper-year project and poster (for a third- or fourth-year course) and best poster presentation. Sophie Bury, head of the Bronfman Business Library, also presented the Information Literacy award and honourable mention.

The high calibre presentations and research output from the fair participants made it incredibly difficult for the Steering Committee to select the following eight award winners.

• Jeremy Bonham, The Relationship Between the Huron-Wendat and Jesuits: Spiritual Success?, honourable mention for best lower-year research project and poster.
• Alexander Gage, Something in the Water: The American Acid Endemic, awarded best lower-year research project and poster.
• Kevin Hurley, New Production in Old Spaces: De-Industrialization and the Rise of the Micro-Enterprise Economy in Toronto’s Junction Triangle, honourable mention for best upper-year project and poster.
• Nicole Percival, Road Kill at the Leslie Street Spit: Assessing the Road Mortality Patterns in Toronto’s Urban Wilderness, awarded best upper-year project and poster.
• Maia Miller, Defining the Self Through Lobster Eating, honourable mention for best poster presentation
• Jonathan Kitchen, Towers of Power: An Analysis of Toronto’s Central Business District, awarded best poster presentation.
• Daniela Mastrocola, Whose Streets? Representations of the 2010 G20 Protests in the Toronto Star, honourable mention for the Information Literacy award.
• Emily Chicorli, Victorians Abroad: Travellers, Tourists, Adventurers, awarded the Information Literacy award.

Event co-sponsors York University Libraries and the Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation are planning to expand the fair in 2014 to encompass all Faculties.

Pictures of the Undergraduate Research Fair.

Feb. 25, 2013

Thirty-seven students from four faculties will present their research projects at York University’s first multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Fair, Wednesday Feb. 27, from 11am to 1pm, in the Scott Library Collaboratory (second floor).

More than 90 undergraduate students from the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Environmental Sciences, Fine Arts and Glendon submitted applications to participate in the fair that is co-sponsored by York University Libraries and the Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation. Next year the fair will include all faculties.

“The underlying intent behind the Undergraduate Research Fair is to demonstrate to undergraduates that they too can participate in research, that research is accessible and is not solely the domain of faculty and graduate students,” explains Catherine Davidson, associate University librarian and a member of the fair steering committee. “The sheer number and high calibre of applications received tells us that undergraduates got that message and that they are eager to take part and showcase their achievements. It wasn’t easy for the Steering Committee to arrive at only 37 short-listed finalists.”

The finalists will present their research in a market-place style poster session from 11am to 12pm. At noon, four monetary prizes will be awarded. Two $500 awards will be presented to the students who prepared the best lower-year project and poster (for a first or second-year course) and best upper-year project and poster (for a third or fourth-year course). An award of $500 will also be granted to the student who designed and animated the best poster presentation at the fair.

The final prize, a cheque for $600, is an inaugural award presented by York University Libraries to the undergraduate fair participant whose project best exemplifies good practices in library research and information literacy. Information literacy encompasses a set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze and use information, and has a particular focus on the development of a critical engagement with information and the information-seeking process. In establishing the Information Literacy Award, the University Libraries celebrate undergraduate students’ library research achievements.

University Librarian Cynthia Archer encourages the University community to support these outstanding undergraduate researchers. “The students at York are exceptional. Please drop by the Collaboratory in Scott Library to talk with these budding scholars about their research projects. The Undergraduate Research Fair is a wonderful informal learning opportunity as well as an important venue to recognize the quality of student scholarship at York.”

The fair is open to the York community as well as to family and friends.  Light refreshments will be served. For more information, visit the Undergraduate Research Fair website.

 Feb. 8, 2013

Whether you’re looking to design or refine an app, link hardware to software or create a program prototype, Steacie Library’s first Dungeon Hackfest will be the perfect place for computer programmers, coders and computer aficionados to collaborate.

Steacie Science and Engineering Library will be hosting the Dungeon Hackfest on Feb. 21, from 9 to 5:30pm in the library’s basement computer lab. The event is open to all York community members.

Hackfests have become increasingly popular in computer science and engineering circles and Steacie Library’s Dungeon Hackfest will follow a typical model of collaborative coding and computer programming in the spirit of open source innovations. Participants will be encouraged to discuss their “hack” ideas, consult with each other and draw upon differing areas of expertise.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided to all registered participants. For more information, contact Science Librarian Sarah Shujah, at sshujah@yorku.ca.

York University Libraries are pleased to announce the arrival of a significant collection of microfilmed records from the archives of the Black United Front (BUF) of Nova Scotia. These records complement York University Libraries’ rich and diverse collections of print and electronic material relating to African-Canadian social and political history, and social reform movements. This unique microfilm collection can be found in the Microtext area on the first floor of Scott Library (see the catalogue record).

The Black United Front of Nova Scotia arose from a “family” meeting of over 400 representatives from black communities across the province held in November 1968.  Championed by founding members such as Dr. Burnley “Rocky” Jones, now an internationally recognized lawyer and social justice activist, the BUF began as a grassroots social reform organization that was dedicated to campaigning for black equality and political and economic empowerment. Led in its early years by an Interim Council, the group worked to secure provincial funding and was formally incorporated under the Societies’ Act in 1970. It was later governed by a Provincial Council comprised of elected representatives from black communities throughout Nova Scotia, and formally operated until the mid-1990s.    

Reflecting on the history of the BUF, noted poet, scholar, and former BUF member George Elliott Clarke remarks, “The BUF was born of two contradictory ambitions: 1) the communal need to confront white racism aggressively and campaign for black equality and 2) the governmental desire to blunt black radicalism and revolutionary energy by turning ‘activists’ into social workers. These conflicting aims and mandates led to decades of strife between BUF administrators and members, and between the organization and community interests and non co-opted activists.” Still, says Clarke, “The group served an important ‘change’ agenda, almost despite itself”, and consequently, “no responsible account of black political insurgency during this period can be undertaken without detailed reference to its history.” 

The fifteen microfilm reels of BUF records acquired by York Libraries’ represent a significant portion of the complete BUF records, which remain at the Nova Scotia Archives.  The reels contain a rich and diverse assortment of operational documents created or accumulated by the BUF, including:  minutes of the original BUF Interim Council and the Provincial Council (1970-1995); Board of Directors’ minutes;  correspondence; personal notes; newsletters; financial statements;  annual and quarterly progress reports on programs; and in-house publications such as newsletters and promotional brochures.   

The BUF records offer rich opportunities for researchers and students interested in the complex struggle of African-Nova Scotians (Africadians) and African-Canadians to confront racism and work towards equality and prosperity. Political Science Professor Karen Murray, who worked closely with library staff to help bring the records to the Libraries, notes that this unique acquisition represents an important step in helping York “to become a leader in ensuring that Black history is placed where it should be, at the centre of university curricula.” Murray hopes the acquisition will help to “bring new stories to light, to reveal the pertinence of Black history to contemporary political struggles, and to significantly advance debates about the character of Canadian democracy, past and present.” She encourages researchers and students at all levels to explore this unique collection, and is excited about the potential it offers for both undergraduate and graduate work.  In the words of George Elliott Clarke, “Scholars, dive into this archive: you have nothing to lose but your quietism!”

For more information about this resource, please contact Patti Ryan, political science librarian, (pryan@yorku.ca, x66469).

Since 2010 York University Libraries have created more than 400 additional study seats, renovated Scott and Frost Libraries, replaced almost all computers and doubled their e-book collection by adding more than 300,000 titles. These improvements to the Libraries’ spaces, collections and services are in direct response to feedback provided by York faculty, graduate and undergraduate students in the 2010 LibQUAL+ survey.

On Feb. 11, University Librarian Cynthia Archer will invite all faculty members, 2,500 randomly selected graduate and 5,000 randomly selected undergraduate students to participate in LibQUAL+ – an online survey conducted by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) that serves to assess library services, compare benchmark standards and create organizational change.

“When identifying the Libraries’ strategic priorities, we look to faculty and students to determine library developments that can have a positive impact on their research and studies,” explains Archer. “The LibQUAL+ data highlights explicit ways in which we can align our spaces, services and collections with the expectations of the community we serve.”

Spaces

York’s undergraduate students identified a need for more seats and aesthetically pleasing study areas. In response to these requests the Libraries have created an additional 435 study seats in the past three years.

In 2011 phase one of the Learning Commons renovation at Scott Library was completed and a modern, student-centred space was unveiled. The second phase of the Learning Commons renovation will begin as funding becomes available.

In 2012 the Fireside Reading Room at Frost Library was renovated to offer students a fireside seating area, collaborative work tables and computer carrels. Also last year, more than 135 new quiet study seats were added to the fourth floor of Scott Library.

Services

Many 2010 LibQUAL+ participants requested newer and faster computers. As a result, York University Libraries have made good on the promise that no computer shall ever be more than three-years-old.

 Collections

Faculty and students now have access to a collection of e-books that has more than doubled in size from 300,000 to over 600,000 titles. Additionally, in the past three years the Libraries have acquired more than 24,000 e-journals – bringing the total number of e-journal titles to approximately 72,000.

The LibQUAL+ survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and participants can enter into a draw to win one of three Kobo e-Readers.

The Libraries will receive initial LibQUAL+ survey results in May and will share final results with the York community in the fall.

For more information about LibQUAL+, contact the survey coordinator at libqual@yorku.ca.

Jan. 16, 2013

York University Libraries, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation, are sponsoring the University’s first annual Undergraduate Research Fair, to take place on Feb. 27 in the Scott Library Collaboratory (second floor).

The Undergraduate Research Fair’s Steering Committee requests instructors consider worthy research projects that have recently been graded and encourage qualified students to participate. Student applications are due by Jan. 25.

Students view the poster outlining the Undergraduate Research Fair, which will take place in the Scott Library Collaboratory at York’s Keele campus on Feb. 27

As York’s first multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Fair, participation in 2012-2013 is extended to students in the Faculties of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, Environmental Sciences, Fine Arts and Glendon. There is an intent to expand the fair campus-wide in future years.

Undergraduate students in any year of study are encouraged to submit a graded, research-based paper, project or honours thesis prepared between March 2012 and Jan. 2013, along with a 250-word abstract. Projects may be submitted in languages other than English, but the application abstract must be in English.  Fair participants will be selected by the steering committee, comprised of faculty members and librarians.

“I’m excited to see this (Undergraduate Research Fair) developing and expect it will attract a lot of student attention,” says Lisa Philipps, associate vice president of Research & Innovation and fair adviser.

The fair – poster sessions presented in a friendly ‘market place’ environment – is intended to showcase undergraduate student researchers and their work. In addition to gaining valuable presentation experience and earning a chance to win an award of $500 or $600, student participants will receive a signed certificate honouring their contribution to the University’s refereed Undergraduate Research Fair to add to their resumés. Award winners may have their papers published in a journal sponsored by the Libraries and all participants will be celebrated at a reception during the Fair, which faculty, friends and family are welcome to attend.

“We hope that this new fair will support York’s goals to build an engaged university, enhance the local research culture and improve student retention by offering a forum for undergraduates to share their research outside the classroom in a cross-curricular environment,”  explains Associate University Librarian and Fair Steering Committee member, Catherine Davidson.

Visit the Undergraduate Research Fair website for information on eligibility, awards, submission requirements and an application form.

On Nov. 5, more than 2000 students taking courses at Glendon Campus received a special gift in the form of a new study area in Frost Library. Glendon Principal Kenneth McRoberts, University Librarian Cynthia Archer, York student ambassador Jaclyn Volkhammer and Acting Department Head of Frost Library Sarah Coysh, jointly unveiled the Frost Library’s first major renovation in almost 50 years.

From left, University Librarian, Cynthia Archer,  student ambassador, Jaclyn Volkhammer, and Glendon Principal, Kenneth McRoberts, cut the ceremonial ribbon and unveil Frost Library’s new Fireside Reading Room

Faculty, staff, students and donors attending the unveiling were the first to see the former “Reserves Room” transformed into a multi-modular, student-centred space. The aptly named “Fireside Reading Room” boasts a comfortable seating area nestled around a fireplace, four large collaborative study spaces and a bank of eight additional computer carrels.

In an effort to make the space more conducive to the evolving needs of York’s 21st-century students, open dialogues and student focus groups were conducted. Under the leadership of Architect Michael Guido and Project Manager Sean Thibeault, work on renovating the space began in last spring.

The Leslie Frost Library was York’s first library and has been an integral part of both the Glendon and York communities for the past five decades.

McRoberts welcomed guests to the reception with his opening remarks. “I’ve known many libraries over my life. I’ve spent a great deal of time in them and have developed a real love for libraries,” McRoberts explained. “But there’s no library that is more loveable than this one. This is a library that has really contributed to the community, which is appreciated by the community, and has a very special place at Glendon.”

Volkhammer spoke about what the renovated space will mean to Glendon’s students. “My favourite part of the renovation is the fireplace and the seats around it. Frost [Library] already seems like my home on campus – I think I probably spend more time in the library than in residence! It’s fitting that there’s a room like this. It wouldn’t seem out of place in your home.”

Archer spoke of the continued commitment by the York University Libraries to refreshing the student experience at Frost Library. “We are committed to revitalizing Frost Library’s welcoming atmosphere as funds become available,” Archer said. “The creation of the Fireside Reading Room is just a start. Our vision for Frost Library is to completely renovate the first floor so we can continue to serve a student population with diverse learning styles and technological needs.”

The first phase of the renovation was made possible because of York University Libraries’ donors.

To conclude the reception a video titled “Rediscover Frost Library” was screened. The video features Glendon alumni and Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies Professors Emeriti John Lennox ’67, J. Paul Grayson ’67, Bob Drummond ’67, and current Glendon students, Emma Price, Drew Pinkerton and Alexandra Tangorra. The six reminisce about their first impressions of Frost Library, with memories that span five decades. They discuss how the renovated space will affect a new generation of learners.

York University Libraries partnered with Learning Technology Services (LTS) to create the three-minute video that celebrates Frost Library’s past while focusing on its future. “Many of Glendon’s alumni and donors are spread across the country and the world. We knew many of them wouldn’t have the opportunity to see, first hand, the renovation that resulted from their generosity,” says Coysh. “The ‘Rediscover Frost Library’ video allows us to show our appreciation through a medium that can be easily disseminated and shared among our Frost Library supporters – on websites and through social media.”

View Frost Library’s newly renovated Fireside Reading Room. Watch the Rediscover Frost Library video or view the FlickR gallery.