Spring - University Library - University of Saskatchewan

in Librariis
FROM THE
DEAN’S DESK…
A Dean’s working week is always filled with interesting activities
and this was certainly the case on Monday, February 9 when I had
the opportunity to speak at the luncheon meeting of the U of S
Retirees Association on the topic of change in libraries. These days,
few would deny that transformative change is well under way in all
types of libraries, in all parts of the world. What is less frequently
talked about is why libraries currently need to respond to a diverse
and complex set of external factors impacting client expectations
for different collections, services, and facilities, or risk
obsolesces. Traditional library service models that
were developed in response to the print paradigm
are economically unsustainable in a digital
age. Working out when and how to move to a
different service model, based on a recognition
that the digital paradigm is now dominant,
brings many challenges to the library
profession.
Locally, the university’s commitment to
the on-going strategic development of
the campus library system remains very
strong. As one of eight institutional
SPRING 2015
Photo Credit: University of Saskatchewan Library, University Archives & Special Collections,
Courtney Milne fonds, “Meadow Bouquet,” Cypress Hills, Saskatchewan, 1986, image 217-262.
priorities, the capital steering committee, chaired by the provost,
is exploring options on how best to respond to the following:
massive changes in scholarly communications and publishing;
the opportunities provided by new and emerging technologies;
growing and diverse demands for differently configured learning
spaces; and, storage options for low-use print collections.
In early March, we marked a small but important milestone in our
local transformative change efforts when we celebrated the recent
renovations to spaces at the Veterinary Medicine Library. My thanks
to everyone within the library, facilities management, and the
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) who were involved
in bringing this small but important project to realisation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vicki Williamson, Dean
Dean Vicki Williamson has established a From the Dean’s Desk Blog
to communicate more directly with the campus community, and you,
our donors. Visit the Dean’s blog: http://library.usask.ca/librarydean
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Music in Saskatchewan
Supporting Student Learning
Renovations Unveiled at the Veterinary Medicine Library
University Library Aboriginal Art Website Launched
Upcoming Exhibition Schedule
library.usask.ca
Music
in
S A S K AT C H E WA N
The Music in Saskatchewan exhibition brought together a number
of musical perspectives, which reflect the diversity and rich history
of the province. Items from the Saskatchewan Music Collection and
University Archives and Special Collections were featured, including
musical recordings, musical scores, photographs, musical instruments,
and pieces of ephemera. A listening kiosk was set up in the exhibition
space, allowing visitors to hear musical examples to accompany the
physical displays. Representative works highlighting various musical
genres were featured, including examples by folk, traditional, dance,
popular, hip-hop and indie musicians. Examples from various points
in the history of music production could be seen, including reel-toreel tapes, 45s, 78s, 33-1/3 rpm records, 8-track tapes, CDs and digital
recordings and even a player piano roll.
These musical artefacts paint stories about local history, notable
events and prominent members of the community. Items from the
library’s historical sheet music collection reflect scenes from the
early-to-mid-20th century with illustrative covers and musical lyrics,
touching on topics related to wartime efforts, prairie landscapes and
community milestones. Community dance halls and concert halls
came to life with the music of well-loved performers such as the
Exhibition Curator Carolyn Doi, with
musicians Eekwol and Theresa Sokyrka
Trimble Tones, Humphrey and the Dumptrucks, and Smilin’ Johnie
and his Prairie Pals. The musical tradition in the province is similarly
just as vibrant today. Saskatchewan is home to many award-winning
artists, from the rock and roll music of the Sheepdogs to the country
hits of Brad Johner. The music of Aboriginal and Métis communities is
just as diverse, featuring traditional sounds of powwow, round dance,
peyote, traditional flute and hand drumming.
The exhibition closed with a public reception, featuring several guest
speakers and musicians. David Bindle (Special Collections Librarian)
spoke about Alberta Slim, a depression-era musician who made a
name for himself on local radio, and eventually built a following as a
travelling musician and entertainer. Two performers came to the stage
to share stories and music. Eekwol’s hip hop songs talked about the
importance of community, education and leadership, while Sokyrka’s
folk sound touched on the importance of place and home. It was a
treat to see the library exhibition space come to life with this live music
by two prominent members of the arts community. The event finished
with the launch of the Saskatchewan Music Collection website (smc.
usask.ca), a digital music collection featuring access to a growing
number of musical albums from the province.
SUPPORTI
STUDENT LEARN
I am very pleased to share that the 2014-2015
award recipients for the Linda Fritz Scholarship
for Library Assistants, and the Edna Jen
Warrington Bursary for Student Library
Assistants, have been announced.
Established in 2002, the Linda Fritz Scholarship
for Library Assistants was developed to
recognize academic excellence of students
pursuing an undergraduate or graduate
degree at the University of Saskatchewan
and have worked for the University Library.
Librarian Emerita Linda Fritz retired in 2008,
and we celebrate and appreciate her continued
association with the University Library as one
NING
of our active donors. This year, I am pleased to announce that Sudheej
Krishnan is the recipient of this scholarship. Sudheej is currently
enrolled in a Ph.D. program specializing in forensic mental health.
Congratulations Sudheej!
Established in 2012, the Edna Jen Warrington Bursary for Student
Library Assistants was developed to provide financial assistance
to students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at the
University of Saskatchewan currently working or have worked as a
Student Library Assistant at the University Library. Over many years,
Edna Jen Warrington provided distinguished service in various roles
at the University Library, retiring in 2012, but remaining a very active
supporter and donor. This year, I am pleased to announce that Joseph
Sillito is the recipient of this bursary. Joseph is currently a student in
the College of Law. Congratulations Joseph!
ABORIGINAL ART WEBSITE LAUNCHED
ING
Our Ancestors are Teachers (2004)
Kevin Pee-ace & Jerry Whitehead
The University Library is the proud owner of a
beautiful collection of Aboriginal Art. In honor
of Aboriginal Achievement Week, which
occurred this past February, we have launched
Aboriginal Art in the Library. This website
is intended to showcase the various pieces
located throughout our branch libraries. It
contains artist profiles and the locations of
their pieces.
The primary goal is to encourage the public
to discover and view the Aboriginal art for
themselves. We gladly invite everyone to take
advantage of the website, http://library.usask.
ca/aboriginal-art/artists.php and come explore
the University Library.
UNVEILED: VETERINARY MEDICINE LIBRARY RENOVATIONS
The University’s commitment to the
transformation of our library’s collections,
facilities, and services continue in the following
areas: in response to changes in scholarly
2015
communication and publishing; capturing
opportunities provided by new and emerging
technologies; meeting growing demands for
differently configured learning spaces; and,
EXHIBITION
SCHEDULE
UNIVERSITY AUTHORS 2015
APRIL - JUNE 2015
LEAD CURATOR:
DAVID BINDLE
Featuring recently published
books by University of
Saskatchewan faculty and
staff, as well as a retrospective
look at some notable works in the University
Authors collection.
ALCUIN CANADIAN BOOK
DESIGN AWARD WINNERS
JUNE – AUGUST 2015
LEAD CURATOR:
DAVID BINDLE
The Alcuin Society Awards
for Excellence in Book
Design in Canada is the
only national competition
for book design in the country. Founded
in 1965 by Geoffrey Spencer, The
Alcuin Society launched with the goal
of promoting a wider appreciation of
beautifully produced books. In 1981, the
society organized a small competition to
see who had produced the best-designed
book in Canada the previous year. From
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR
2015 EXHIBITION SCHEDULE, PLEASE VISIT:
consolidating low use print collections.
Since last summer, the Veterinary Medicine
Library has undergone renovations, and
the University Library and Western College
of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) hosted
a celebration on March 3 to mark the
completion of the capital refurbishment work.
The renovations have repurposed spaces to
provide refreshed individual and group study
areas, including the addition of carrels, tables
and chairs, soft seating, and bookable team
rooms. Congratulations to the joint college
and library project team who, together
with Facilities Management Division, have
overseen the many aspects of planning and
implementation for this project.
The University Library’s exhibit space is located on the
first floor of the Murray Library. The library will feature
the following exhibits throughout 2015:
modest beginnings it grew into the
Competition for Excellence in Book Design
in Canada, which receives more than 200
submissions every year.
photographs, letters, veterinary equipment,
talismans, magazine articles, books and other
documents. (Image used with permission
www.judywoodartphotography.com)
The University Library has acquired over
200 of these award winning books which
can be searched in our catalogue with the
title: Alcuin Society Award for Excellence in
Book Design in Canada.
THE GREAT WAR: A CONFLICT
THAT SPANNED THE GLOBE
THE UBIQUITOUS EQUINE
– HORSES IN CULTURE
August – October 2015
LEAD CURATOR:
JILL CRAWLEY-LOW
This exhibition is about the
enduring human-animal
bond that has existed since
horses were domesticated
more than 3,000 years ago. Equine beauty
and strength continues to be admired and
expressed today in the mythologies of many
cultures. The collections of the University’s
library and archives offer a wide variety
of published and archival resources to
draw on, ranging from documents about
the University of Saskatchewan horses
through horses as figures in art to items
from the Rosen Veterinary Medicine History
Collection. Media includes postcards,
NOVEMBER 2015
– JANUARY 2016
CURATOR:
PATRICK HAYES
On June 28, 1914,
a young Bosnian
nationalist in the then obscure Balkan
town of Sarajevo shot and killed Archduke
Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire. This violent but
seemingly isolated act set in motion a series
of policies that were to culminate in August
1914 in the outbreak of the most destructive
war up to that time. The struggle, called
by contemporaries “The Great War”, ended
in November 1918, after nearly four-anda-half years of fighting. It also had a great
and lasting impact on the University
of Saskatchewan. Through the use of
published and unpublished resources in the
University Archives and Special Collections
(University Library), the exhibition will tell
stories of both a global and local nature.
http://library.usask.ca/info/exhibition.php
Novum in Librariis is published quarterly by the University Library. To receive the newsletter electronically, or for any other queries, please contact Allyssa
Anton, Executive Assistant to the Dean at [email protected] or Room 156 Murray Library, 3 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A4 Tel: (306) 966-6094