Indigenous Book Club Month

June is National Indigenous History Month and marks the fourth anniversary of Indigenous Book Club Month.

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs, Carolyn Bennett, who launched this initiative in 2016, encourages the reading of books by Indigenous authors “to provide an opportunity to learn and ‎begin those difficult conversations about the stories, history and cultures which we never learned about in school.‎” (via CICON)

To honour the occasion, the Library partnered with the Centre for Teaching and Learning’s Quiet Book Club and held our first Book Talk event to highlight Indigenous authors.

Panelists presented a variety of must-read Indigenous titles:

• All the Way: My Life on Ice by Jordan Tootoo (memoir)
• Decolonizing Education: Nourishing the Learning Spirit by Marie Battiste (nonfiction)
• Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead (fiction)
• A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott (memoir)
• The Missing by Melanie Florence (young adult fiction)
• The Round House by Louise Erdrich (fiction)
• The Sharing Circle by Theresa “Corky” Larsen-Jonasson (children’s literature) 
• They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School by Bev Sellars (memoir)
• Ways of Knowing: An Introduction to Native Studies in Canada by Yale Deron Belanger (textbook)

And these titles were suggested by Book Talk attendees:

• Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King
• The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (request via NEOS)
• Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival by Velma Wallis (request via NEOS)

These books (and even more titles by Indigenous authors) are available at RDC Library. Add them to your summer reading list and check them out!

#IndigenousReads

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Fact Checking Fake News

The Associated Press has launched a new tool in their fight against fake news. In the AP Fact Check section of their website, they provide fact checking for individual stories, as well as a weekly round-up called “Not Real News: A Look at What Didn’t Happen this Week.”  If you have questions about a story you read recently, this is a useful resource to find out if it’s true.  Check it out!

RDC Library Collection

To meet the needs of students and faculty, RDC Library provides a collection of physical and electronic resources. Resources are chosen by librarians, in consultation with faculty where appropriate. The Library obtains information in the most suitable format based on availability and user needs; electronic format is preferred where it provides obvious advantages, such as remote access (from off-campus) or access by multiple users.

The entire collection is actually made up of several distinct parts:

Main Collection
This is the major part of our collection. It includes resources such as print books, eBooks, DVDs, CDs, print and online journals (both scholarly and popular), and streaming videos.

Leisure Reading Collection
Fiction and non-fiction intended to encourage and facilitate a culture of leisure reading at RDC.

Curriculum Collection
The Curriculum Collection primarily supports teacher education programs and courses in the RDC School of Education. This collection has materials authorized by the Government of Alberta for use in Alberta schools, plus supporting materials, children’s and young adult literature, and non-book items such as sound and video recordings, games, manipulatives, models, and kits.

Reserve Collection
Reserves are high-demand items available for short-term loans, such as select textbooks and course-specific readings, laptops, and other equipment.

RDC Authors Collection
Materials written or produced by RDC faculty, staff, and students are actively acquired by the Library. You can find these items on our shelves by looking for the red “Red Deer College Authors” sticker.

The RDC Library collection is also available to members of the Central Alberta community through memberships and partnerships, and to the larger library community through resource sharing agreements.

LNAP – Winter 2019

Get together and get it done! The RDC Library is pleased to host Long Night Against Procrastination (LNAP), a “study blitz” event that provides supported after-hours study space, services, and stress relief. Meet and beat your deadlines!

Healthy snacks, juice, and hot beverages will be available thanks to the generous support of the Students’ Association.

Check out the LNAP Facebook page for updates!

Use the hashtag #LNAP2019 on twitter to share your experience!

Drop-In Services

• research help
• citation help throughout the night with an APA focused session at 10pm!
• disability resources drop-in from 4pm-6pm
• writing help
• Statistics 251 tutor sessions from 8-9pm and 10-11pm
• tech help

If you plan to attend LNAP:

• bring your own water bottle and/or mug; there will be free food and hot beverages
• plan your ride home in advance
• use the Safe Walk program to get to your car or return to RDC Residence

Questions? Call the Library at 403.342.3344.

Fun Facts from LNAP Fall 2018

Open Education Week 2019 – Resource Spotlight

What is an OER?

“Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials that you may freely use and reuse at no cost. Unlike fixed, copyrighted resources, OER have been authored or created by an individual or organization that chooses to retain few, if any, ownership rights.”

–OER Commons

Started by the Open Education Consortium in 2013, the goal of Open Education Week is to increase awareness and showcase the impact of open education on teaching and learning. 

Resource Spotlight – Cree: Language of the Plains/nēhiyawēwin: paskwāwi-pīkiskwēwin

With funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, University of Regina Press offers a number of open source books for free online. Cree: Language of the Plains is an educational resource, providing a broad range of learning materials that are easily accessible to Cree language learners.

This collection includes an updated and restructured Cree language textbook, audio labs, and a workbook. The language labs are also available as podcasts, search “Cree Language of the Plains” on your podcast app.

NEOS – Blacklight Search Interface

What is Blacklight?

Blacklight is a new user interface for the NEOS Catalogue which aims to improve the user experience.

It is currently being beta tested and we would appreciate any feedback you can provide.

What’s Different?

The layout for each item record has now changed. The location of an item is now displayed on the right side and the place hold button is now located on the upper left side. A comparison of the new and old layout can be seen below.

Tips and Tricks

Citing an item
Blacklight includes a citation generator, but always double check the generated citations against the appropriate standard.

Institution vs. Library
Some institutions, such as the University of Alberta, have more than one library on campus. This limiter works to restrict searches to only libraries associated with a particular institution. At Red Deer College searching by library will be the most appropriate.

Holds
Clicking on “Place Hold” will open a new tab. Return to your Blacklight search by selecting the NEOS tab in the browser.

 Access Limiters

• At Library: is the equivalent of on a shelf (not necessarily available) and indicates any physical format such as: book, video (DVD), sound recording (CD) etc. 
• Online: electronic resource (eBook,  streaming video)
• Format > Book: = (eBook/Internet AND monograph) if you want to limit your search to books only (electronic and physical) use the Format > Book. If you only want physical books use Format > Book combined with At Library
• Electronic Format (eBook/Internet): if you want eBooks select Format >Book combined with Online. This search will eliminate streaming videos.

Expert Search Advice

• Create short, simple searches with just a few terms. Use the filters (on the More Options or search results page) to limit the results.

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• You can still use Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT), but only on the More Options page. (Note that Boolean operators must be in all capitals.)

As you use the new search, please send feedback to NEOS!

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Library Information Common services during Reading Break 2019

RDC will have an extended Reading Break due to the Canada Winter Games, Feb. 15 to Mar. 3, 2019.

The Library Information Common will be open regular hours during Reading Break (except closed for Family Day: Mon., Feb. 18), and most services will be offered as usual. Connect with the Library Information Common in person, by live chat, by phone, by text message, and by email.

Library
Open; all services available (research help; citation help; technology help; faculty and copyright support; library collection)

Makerspace
Closed Feb. 15 to Mar. 1
Open Mar. 2 & 3

Academic Support

• ESL Tutoring: open; check appointment availability
• Learning Skills and Strategies: open; check appointment availability or drop in
• Math Learning Centre: open; check the drop-in schedule
• Peer-Assisted Learning Sessions (PALS): closed
• Writing Skills Centre: open; check appointment availability or drop in

Disability Resources
Open; check appointment availability or drop in

Research Common
Open; check the drop-in office hours

DSB Service Desk
Closed.

NEOS 101 – What it is and how to access

What can NEOS do for you?

NEOS is a consortium of 17 libraries in northern and central Alberta. You can use the NEOS Catalogue to search for books, specific RDC collections (e.g., Curriculum), or limit your search to a specific NEOS Library (e.g., Olds College). Staff, students and faculty of Red Deer College can borrow most library materials from other NEOS libraries.

Books, CDs and select videos belonging to NEOS libraries, including those of the University of Alberta, are listed in the NEOS Library Consortium Catalogue.

To access NEOS content you need the 13-digit barcode number from your iCard and your 4-digit NEOS PIN. If you don’t know your PIN, you can request it be sent to your RDC email.

What is the NEOS Library Consortium Catalogue?

Students, staff and faculty of Red Deer College can borrow books, CDs, and select videos from other NEOS libraries. All items can be located through the NEOS Library Consortium Catalogue. The NEOS Catalogue can be accessed from the RDC Library website.

How do I request an item from another NEOS library?

When you find an item you would like to borrow from another NEOS library, request the item by clicking the “Place Hold” button. You’ll need your 13-digit barcode (form your iCard) and your NEOS PIN to complete the request. Choose Red Deer College as the pickup location, and you’ll receive an email when the item is available for you to pick up from RDC Library.

Can I visit other NEOS libraries and borrow items?

Yes! Simply show your iCard and you will be able to borrow items (some exceptions may apply). You can also return items to other NEOS Libraries.

Member Libraries:

How long can I borrow items?

The standard loan period for borrowing from other NEOS Libraries is two weeks with the possibility of up to two 2-week renewals. If another user has placed a hold on the item you will not be able to renew it.

How long does it take for an item to arrive once it has been requested?

Items will become available for pickup from the RDC Library Desk in approximately 2-5 working days (i.e. Monday – Friday). You will receive an email (to your RDC email account) when the item is available for pickup. If you don’t pick it up within 5 days, the item will be returned to the original library.

Why can’t I access certain e-books?

Most publishers’ license agreements restrict access to electronic content to a particular library’s members, or primary users. For example, if you are a Red Deer College student, you can freely access Red Deer College e-books but will not be able to access University of Alberta e-books. Ownership of the electronic resource is displayed in the NEOS catalogue. Look for items marked “Red Deer College Access” or “Free Access.”

What other types of items can I access beyond academic resources?

Through NEOS you have access to a range of material including DVDs, fiction books, children’s books and graphic novels. Start searching and explore what is available!

Inclusion and Diversity Survey

The Library is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all learners. Unfortunately, racism, homophobia, and transphobia still exist in the world, including on our own campus. We care about making sure that every student can access all Library services, resources, and spaces without fear of judgement or discrimination.

If you identify as being from a visible minority and/or being part of the LGBTQ+ community, we want to hear from you. The Library’s Inclusion and Diversity Survey is your opportunity to tell us what your experience has been like in the Library. The survey has seven questions, and all responses will be anonymous. With your input, we can make necessary changes to our environment in order to better serve you.

Students say Library hours help them succeed

RDC students consistently identify the Library’s great hours of operation as a factor in their success (from RDC Completer Study data). Here’s some information about our hours of operation, including some facts about our popular Long Night Against Procrastination.