Congratulations to Kevin Manuel, data librarian, TMU Libraries’ Omni Implementation Lead, May Yan, librarian, Resources and Systems Integration, and Michael Carter-Arlt, specialist, Immersive Technology on receiving the 2025 Librarian Award and the Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Award.

These awards celebrate and highlight the essential, innovative and dynamic work and contributions made by Kevin, May and Michael to the Libraries, the University, staff, students, researchers and the community.

Congratulations on these well-deserved awards!
 

2025 Librarian Award

Kevin Manuel, data librarian

Kevin Manuel brings professionalism, expertise and a deep commitment to social justice to his role as TMU’s Data Librarian. As the university’s official representative to Statistics Canada’s Data Liberation Initiative, Kevin provides specialist data support for TMU researchers, locating and retrieving data across disciplines. His leadership was instrumental in establishing the Libraries’ Statistical Consulting Service. In addition to founding the Libraries’ Social Justice Collective, Kevin chairs an international effort to create an online LGBTQ+ Data Guide, and has co-authored a Canadian open access anti-racist data guide, which has prompted the data community to examine issues of EDI in data collection.

May Yan, lead, Omni Implementation and Resources and Systems Integration Librarian

May Yan’s exceptional leadership as the Omni Project Implementation Lead makes her highly deserving of this year’s Librarian Award. She coordinated a team of six librarians, sponsored by an associate dean, to successfully implement a new library management system which integrates TMU with 18 Ontario libraries. May’s strategic planning, communication skills, and profound understanding of library systems were instrumental in facilitating communication, managing project risks, and ensuring cohesive system configuration. May’s extensive project leadership experience, transparent approach, and knowledge led to the successful transition to Omni. She adeptly managed stakeholder communication, ensuring all parties were informed and engaged.
 

Julia Hanigsberg Make Your Mark Award

Michael Carter-Arlt, specialist, Immersive Technology

Michael Carter-Arlt is the Immersive Technology Specialist at Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries. He combines 3D development, web design, and 2D animation to create AR/VR applications for educational projects. Michael has led numerous innovative initiatives, including the 2023 Rumi Exhibit, in collaboration with organizations such as the Aga Khan Museum. He played a key role in establishing the TMU Libraries’ Immersion Studio, a large-scale immersive visualization environment that supports pedagogical innovation and experiential learning. His work has significantly expanded opportunities for the TMU community to uphold the University’s innovative spirit and foster community partnerships.

 

 

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) has mandated that faculty, starting January 2025, include an itemized cost breakdown of all textbooks and learning materials (required and optional) in their course outlines. The new requirement is intended to create transparency for students with regard to the cost of a course, once they’ve enrolled.

While transparency is helpful with regard to understanding costs and financial planning, the price tag of some commercial textbooks can be jarring for students. It also doesn’t tell the whole story, which includes how libraries and university partners are working to lower the cost of materials. Through open educational resources, electronic resources, ebooks and textbook collections, TMU Library is providing alternatives and options for faculty to create, use, and find course materials that will reduce financial barriers for their students.

 Join us and learn more at Open Education Week 2025

 

Keeping Courses Affordable with Open Educational Resources

Date: Mon. March 3, 2025
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: online

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) now requires faculty to include an itemized cost breakdown of all textbooks and learning materials, both required and optional, in their course outlines. Seeing high course fees can be discouraging to students.

One potential solution to keep costs down is through the use of Open Educational Resources (OER). OER are learning, teaching, and research materials that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open licence permitting no-cost access (UNESCO). By using OER textbooks available through eCampus Ontario, faculty have saved students in Ontario over $26 million dollars. 

Join the Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries, the Centre for Excellence in Learning & Teaching, and the Chang School to learn how the MCU directive will impact your teaching, and how you can leverage Open Educational Resources to reduce costs and make your courses more appealing to students. We will review how to find, adapt, and create OERs, and hear from a panel of faculty and students about their experience with OERs.

REGISTER NOW

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Affordable course materials and treats!

Date: Tues. March 4, 2025
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.
Location: 2nd floor (main floor), TMU Library

Calling all students! Stop by the main floor of TMU Library on March 4 between 1 – 2 p.m. to learn more about the Library’s electronic and open educational resources that can help you save money!

And grab a cookie…

DROP IN

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Other events happening in Ontario and across Canada:

• Canadian Coalition for Affordable Learning, eCampusOntario: Working together to support accessible and affordable learning
• Events all Month at University of British Columbia
• Events at University of Calgary: Open Education Talks Every Wednesday Throughout March

 

Join us in celebrating Black History Month!

Check out the following upcoming events.

Black Histories Wikipedia Edit-a-thon 

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Black Studies Library Tour

Date: February 25, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

To mark Black History Month, the TMU Library is be hosting a Black Studies Libraries tour.  The tour includes: an overview of the Black Studies library guide, which showcases key scholarly and community resources, a presentation about geospatial and data resources for Black Studies, and a visit to the virtual reality Immersion Studio showcasing its use by Black Studies instructors. The tour ends at the Archives and Special Collections (ASC) where participants will be introduced to unique pieces from  the ASC collections.

REGISTER

 

 

 

International Love Data Week (Feb 10 to Feb 14) raises awareness about the importance of data science and the management, preservation and ability to access data. Every year a new theme is chosen to highlight issues and new ideas in relation to data. This year, the theme asks the question: Who’s data is it, anyways?

Throughout the week of February 10, 2025, TMU Library will host a series of workshops that address this question, while providing students, researchers and faculty the opportunity to explore resources, new services and data expertise available at the Library.

Love Data Week is an international event; you can check out events happening all over the world here. 

Register now for Library workshops:

Introduction to Scholars GeoPortal Online

Scholars GeoPortal is a geospatial data infrastructure that allows users to search, discover, visualize and download spatial datasets including vector data (GIS shapefiles), aerial images and orthophotography, open data, and historical digitized maps. Join GIS & Map Librarian, Dan Jakubek for a demonstration of this valuable web mapping application to learn about gaining access to a variety of geospatial data resources. This session will demonstrate the functionality of the geoportal and highlight the key data resources available within. 

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SimplyAnalytics for Consumer Research

SimplyAnalytics is a powerful tool. As a data mapping application, it can give you valuable insights into consumer behaviour and demographics. Whether you’re looking to narrow down your target market for a new venture or determine the viability of a business idea by understanding your consumers, this workshop will equip you with the skills you need to leverage SimplyAnalytics for your market research.

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Diversity Data Sources for Canada

Finding data about the diversity of the population in Canada can be challenging without knowing the terminology used in surveys, especially since they change over time. Please join Kevin Manuel, Data Librarian at Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries, for an information session on how to find anti-racism data and LGBTQ+ resources. In this presentation as part of international Love Data week which is themed ‘Whose Data is it Anyway’, Kevin will share online guides that he has contributed to developing that provide information about how to find data about Indigenous, LGBTQ+ and racialized peoples in Canada. 

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Whose (Wiki)Data is it Anyway? Ethics & Consent in Cataloguing People, Places & Things

Wikidata is one of the most open and widely available data tools. It powers Wikipedia and links together data from all over the internet, gathering it together in one searchable space. Can Wikidata be used in your work or research? What purpose does it serve? And how can you contribute to Wikidata? How should you contribute to it? Should you contribute to it at all? 

Join us in discussion, to learn about linked data and how it can help to fill in blanks and gaps in marginalized subject areas, while getting a 101 crash course in using and creating Wikidata items. This workshop is framed within the context of ethically gathering data with and without consent, the power of language, terminology and authority files.

Bring a laptop and join the group or work on your own. Stay for the whole session or drop in when you can!

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Getting Acquainted with R and RStudio Online

This is a hands-on introduction to R, a free software environment for statistical computing. Before learning about scripting and syntax in R, this will help beginners orient themselves with R and RStudio, open data files, get required packages, and save their work. We will also talk about how to utilize the rich documentation and strong community support for R when looking for help while learning and troubleshooting. No prior knowledge of programming is required.

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Research Collaboration in Data Science Online

In this talk we will be presenting a research collaboration between environmental science researchers from Toronto Metropolitan University and data science students from Carleton College, MN. Presenters will share their experiences and learning from the project, followed by an open discussion with attendees on best practices in data science collaboration. We hope to offer (and collect) general insights on data sharing, code sharing, annotations, version control, as well as challenges and opportunities.

 

Other Data-Related Events in February

Intro to Research Data Management:
Thurs., Feb. 20
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

Intro to Depositing Data:
Thurs., Feb. 27
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

 

 

 

The TMU Library has launched a badging program providing students with an opportunity to showcase proficiency in new research, scholarly publishing and digital skills acquired through Library workshops.

“Hard work outside of the classroom deserves to be recognized,” says Reece Steinberg, head, Library Learning Services. “This program also provides the opportunity for students to showcase competencies in skills that employers and graduate schools look for.”

The Library introduced research and scholarly publishing badges in the fall, while the Library’s DME digital skills program was launched last spring.

The badges, endorsed by TMU Library, recognize the development of particular skills acquired through specific Library workshops. 

The research skills badge is earned through taking workshops that address essential library skills, systematic and literature review essentials, strategic scholarly reading, and Zotero citation management. 

The scholarly publishing badge consists of workshops that cover copyright, open access publishing, research data management, research impact tracking and developing a scholarly profile.

The completion of both badges provides the fundamental groundwork for understanding the research and scholarly publishing process.  

The Library’s DME badges help students build digital literacy skills that can assist them in their creative scholarly work or practice. These badges include: sewing machine fundamentals, laser cutting fundamentals, and 3D printing basics.

“The badges allow students to seek out activities, develop skills, and showcase them on LinkedIn,” says Steinberg. “They also provide opportunities for students to be recognized for the work they’ve put in outside the classroom to advance their creative, scholarly, research knowledge and practice.”

Learn more about the program and badges.

Register for Library workshops.

 

We hope everyone is having a successful exam period. The fall term is almost complete!

• Please clear any outstanding fines and return overdue items as soon as possible. Head to the renewals page to see if you have overdue items or a fine of $25 or more. Students with fines of $25 or more will not be able to view their grades until their accounts are cleared.
• All fines can be paid to TMU Libraries at the Circulation Desk either by VISA, MasterCard, American Express or with your OneCard. TMU Libraries also accepts credit card payment by phone. Please call: 416-979-2149. We do not accept personal cheques.

If you have questions or concerns about fines or overdue items, please contact LibrariesCirculation access@torontomu.ca

TMU Libraries now offers a new tool, SciFree, that helps search for journals covered by current publisher open access agreements (transformative agreements) available through library subscriptions. SciFree simplifies navigation and helps you explore the growing number of pilot open access agreements that are available via our consortial licences negotiated on TMU Libraries behalf by CRKN. The tool indicates whether journals are fully covered by open access fee waivers that cover Article Processing Charges (APCs), offer APC discounts, or are not covered.

Search by journal title, ISSN, or keyword to check if the journal you plan to submit to is included in our current agreements. Results also show the default open access license and whether the journal is fully open access or hybrid (a subscription journal with both open access and paywalled articles).

These discounts and fee waivers are available to TMU-affiliated corresponding authors, including faculty, instructors, post-docs, and current students.

If your chosen journal is part of a full fee waiver open access agreement, the fee waiver will automatically be applied when your paper is accepted. You will, however, receive an email from the publisher requesting you to select a Creative Commons licence option for your article after acceptance. Your final typeset paper will be published Open Access by the publisher. 

Other ways to publish your work Open Access at TMU is by using RShare, the university institutional repository, hosted by TMU Libraries. Most subscription journals already allow you to self archive (deposit) for free an after peer-review version of the journal article subject to some conditions. 

It is recommended that you post your scholarly work to RShare when possible. Please reach out to the RShare team for assistance.

For further information about Open Access agreements please see TMU Libraries Open Access Journal publishing FAQ. 

 

 

Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Libraries is pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Helwig as the Libraries’ inaugural Head Medical Librarian.

Melissa will be joining TMU Libraries from Dalhousie University where she was Associate Dean of Research & Scholarly Communication and Head of the W.K. Kellogg Health Sciences Library. She comes to the Libraries with 18 years of experience in health science librarianship. During her time at Dalhousie she also held the positions of Instruction & Research Librarian in the Kellogg Health Sciences Library, and was periodically a part-time lecturer in health sciences librarianship at Dalhousie’s School of Information Management. Previous to Dalhousie, she was a Health Sciences Librarian at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.  

Melissa has a Master of Library and Information Science from Western University, a Bachelor of Arts from Windsor (History and Political Science), and a certificate of General Arts & Sciences from Humber College. She has published extensively and has served on a variety of professional bodies such as the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, and Canadian Health Libraries Association committees. 

As Head Medical Librarian, Melissa will be responsible for building a robust medical library branch including a rich collection of quality health and medical resources, an outstanding medical research instructional program, and student focused services customized to meet TMU’s new medical school curriculum. 

“I am eager to join the TMU Library team in working to establish a branch in support of TMU’s School of Medicine,” says Melissa. “The new School of Medicine seeks to innovate, disrupt, and drive change within the healthcare system, and I welcome the opportunity to support this exciting venture.”  

Melissa will be joining the Libraries’ leadership team, reporting to Mark Robertson, dean of Libraries while also working closely with Teresa Chan the founding Dean of the School of Medicine and medical school faculty members as they welcome the first cohort of students in 2025.

“We are extremely fortunate to have Melissa joining the TMU Libraries. Melissa brings significant expertise in health sciences librarianship and experience in library leadership roles,” says Mark. “I am excited to work together with Melissa in building our new Medical Library in support of TMU’s School of Medicine.”

 

 

 

Looking for statistical support? TMU Libraries now offers a statistical consulting service for researchers interested in learning more about navigating statistics and data analysis.

Launched in early 2024 as part of the Libraries’ Geospatial, Map and Data Centre (GMDC), the team has been enhancing services to specifically address increased requests for more in depth statistical research support.

Statistical Consultation and Learning Specialist, Bhaswati Mazumder joined the GMDC team in 2023, and works with Data Librarian, Kevin Manuel, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) and Map Librarian, Dan Jakubek, and GIS Specialist, Noel Damba to support researchers and faculty with data and statistical components of research.

The past year has acted as a soft launch as the team worked to hone the service and support a number of different disciplines and faculties. “A lot of times we see researchers coming from non-quantitative backgrounds, who are dealing with data analysis and statistics for the first time,” says Mazumder, noting “it can be quite overwhelming for them.”

Now in full swing, researchers or faculty working on quantitative research projects at any stage, regardless of experience, can get support. “We can guide people through foundational resources for statistical learning, exploratory data analysis, data collection, organization, software selection, visualization, and overall approaches to data and statistical analysis,” says Mazumder.

To book an appointment, researchers fill out a form which asks them to specify their topic–as much as possible. The team then works to triage the type of support required in order to best direct researchers to the appropriate resources and contacts. 

In addition to individual appointments, faculty can arrange guest talks, class visits, custom workshops, or information sessions.

While workshops and assistance are open to undergraduate students, the statistical consulting service provides more in-depth support for students and faculty involved in quantitative research. 

“We can help students and faculty find the best learning resources, based on individual learning needs,” says Mazumder.

Learn more about about statistical consultation and the Geospatial, Map and Data Centre

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Geospatial, Map and Data Centre

TMU Libraries’ Geospatial, Map and Data Centre is located on the main floor (2nd floor) of the Library. It offers two computer labs with specialized software including: ArcGIS, QGIS, R, SPSS for mapping and statistical analysis.