Once crowds disperse, what happens to the posters at a student protest? Where do records and materials go after a student group disbands? 

TMU Libraries has launched a new project to ensure pieces of student life history aren’t forgotten, but instead become part of the University’s legacy.

Work is underway at the Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections to promote the collection of student life and student group materials. The project teaches student groups about document management with the goal of preserving future records of the university’s student government, groups, and communities. Ultimately, the initiative seeks to maintain the legacies, voices, and narratives of the student body. 

This initiative was made possible by a generous gift from the Ryerson Centre (a now non-operational charitable foundation that had been part of the university community since 1953)

“While the Archives contains some student group material, there are gaps,” says TMU Archivist, Tanis Franco. “Student group records are an important voice in the history of TMU. We hope that this project allows student groups to consider donating to the Archives to preserve their histories.”

Through the Ryerson Centre donation, TMU Libraries’ Project Archivist Roxy Moon has started an archival outreach program. This includes personal archiving 101 workshops and guides that teach students how to use these records for research and storytelling, bridging the gap between the past and the present.

“While sorting through decades of student materials, it became so apparent how greatly students shape TMU,” says Moon. “Our goal is to promote student use of the Archives to do research, learn more about student histories, and to fill historical gaps.”

In addition to the Project Archivist, a Community Partnership position has been created, giving fifth-year TMU student Carol Mary Varghese the opportunity to work directly with the Archives. Throughout the winter term, Varghese will work with Moon, helping build relationships with current student unions and groups, encouraging them to contribute their own stories to the growing collection. 

“In archiving there is the idea of ‘passive’ versus ‘active’ collecting. This project is about active collecting–seeking out materials and building relationships with students and student groups so fewer gaps emerge now and in the future,” says Moon. 

On alternating Tuesdays and Thursdays, Moon and Varghese are settling up an information table on the main floor of the Library. “Student groups and union members, or any students, interested in contributing to the Archives can drop by,” says Moon. “We can answer any questions, and set up meetings for the next steps.”

Why does all of this matter? By documenting and preserving the history of student life, future students and researchers can bear witness to change. The Archives hold incredible stories of student advocacy, including examples like:

• The “Booxodus” of 1967: To demonstrate the need to grow the Library’s collection, the Students’ Union organized a massive walkout where students borrowed 3,000 books at once and marched on Victoria and Gerrard.
• Freeze the Fees, Student Day of Action: In the mid 1990s, as part of a tuition freeze protest, the Students’ Union President sent 30 bags of ice directly to then-University President Claude Lajeunesse’s office to call for a “tuition freeze.”

From founding essential services like RyePRIDE (now Queer Space) and the Good Food Centre to participating in global movements like the People’s Climate March and Black Lives Matter, student organizations have always been at the forefront of change.

You Can Be Part of History!

The  Libraries’ Archives is dedicated to ensuring that future generations can see the robust legacy of student contributions–but to do that, they need your help.

If you are a member of a student government, group, publication, or organization, share your records with the Archives. This will help future leaders understand how your group evolved, or  look back to conduct their own historical projects.

What to donate:

• Posters and event flyers
• Meeting minutes and reports
• Correspondence
• Photographs

Open House: Feb. 12, 12 – 2 p.m.

On Feb. 12, visit the Archives (4th floor)!  Look back through student history! Project Archivist, Roxy, and Student Archival Outreach Assistant, Carol, will discuss the importance of preserving student histories and how to archive your student group records. A selection of student and student group materials will be on display, including short promotional films made by students for the Ryerson Rural Centre–TMU’s farm from the 1970s!

 

Exhibition: Feb. 12 – March 31

Check out the history of students in action! Come visit the Archives window exhibit on the 4th floor. See materials related to TMU student history, including unique artifacts like the Inuit Legend Barbie Doll created by Fashion Program students.

Want to dig deeper? Consult the Selected Bibliography of Student Resources Available at the Toronto Metropolitan University Archives

The student group archival outreach project is more than a look back in time; it’s about ensuring that the student voice is maintained for years to come.

 

 

It’s no secret that best-selling Canadian mystery writer Louise Penny is a long-time fan of libraries. One clue? A librarian is featured prominently in her books. Reine-Marie Gamache, the wife of main character Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, is a librarian and a consistent presence throughout Penny’s mystery series. 

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that when TMU Libraries approached Penny about supporting a Library research award for students, she was immediately intrigued. 

“A library is where I first discovered books. It’s where I learned a love of reading, where I learned to treasure the adventures, the worlds, the cultures contained in those magical shelves. Even today, if traveling and feeling out of place, I will visit a library,” says Penny.  

TMU Libraries’ Louise Penny Library Research Award, launching this semester, celebrates outstanding undergraduate effort demonstrated in a research paper (2,500 to 4,000 words) written for a course in which the student is currently enrolled.

The award is open to any TMU third- or fourth-year student enrolled in any program or discipline who maintains a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students can submit a paper that demonstrates exemplary critical thinking and excellent research skills. The submission must show effective use of TMU Libraries’ collections and resources, and be accompanied by a short reflective essay on their research and learning process, as well as a brief statement of support from the course instructor. 

Eligible students can submit their papers through AwardSpring. Three awards of $2,000 each are available to students whose work is selected by an adjudication committee. 

“It is very exciting to have an author of such calibre recognize the crucial role of libraries in student learning and the importance of research skills in writing,” says Dean of Libraries, Mark Robertson. 

Louise Penny, a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University (Radio and Television Arts ‘79), was a CBC journalist before embarking on a remarkable writing career. She has written 20 crime novels in the Armand Gamache series, many of which are New York Times bestsellers, as well as winning numerous awards. Her latest book, The Black Wolf, is listed in the Globe & Mail’s 100 most notable books in 2025. Penny holds several honorary doctorates, including one from TMU, and is a Member of the Order of Canada and an Officer of the National Order of Quebec.

The Louise Penny Library Research Award is not only a testament to Penny’s dedication to libraries, but also to her interest in supporting TMU students and their creative and scholarly achievements.

“These are vital institutions, and never more so than today, when literature is being banned, history rewritten or erased, voices silenced. Libraries are on the front line of critical thinking, of freedom of expression, of informed choice,” says Penny, further remarking that “in rewarding those who support its Library, TMU is doing a service far beyond the individual or the institution. It is an honour, a pleasure, to be part of that celebration.”  

 

For additional information, please contact TMU Libraries’ Director of Development, Joanna Beyersbergen.

Ink to Impact is a new workshop series hosted by TMU Libraries that gives researchers a behind-the-scenes look at academic publishing. Designed especially for researchers in the Humanities and Social Sciences, the series offers insights and tips on publishing and effectively sharing research. Experts from the publishing world, such as editors, publishers, and literary agents, along with faculty members, share their publishing experiences in peer-to-peer workshops. The goal of the series is to help strengthen the visibility of TMU’s research and boost its scholarly reputation internationally.

“The goal of the series is three-fold,” says Chris Kim, the Libraries’ business librarian and one of the series organizers. “The workshops and panel discussions are designed to help TMU researchers publish and share their academic work more effectively; ensure the research community can easily find and read their work; and ultimately, strengthen TMU’s reputation as a leader in global scholarship.”

Participants will learn from publishing professionals and fellow faculty members in a supportive, and collaborative setting about the challenges and opportunities of publishing.

The first phase of the series is on scholarly monographs—single-authored works that are foundational in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Monographs are vital for advancing original research and play a key role in academic career progression.

Participants will learn how to:

• Develop a strong book proposal for an academic publisher
• Understand the steps involved in publishing a monograph 
• Work confidently with editors and publishers
• Explore publishing formats beyond traditional books, such as edited collections, podcasts, or graphic novels
• Discuss fair and accessible publishing, including open-access options

TMU Libraries have long-standing expertise in publishing, sharing information, and promoting research impact. Faculty and researchers rely on the Libraries for help with research visibility, finding open publishing platforms, securing open-access grants, and using scholarly communication resources. This support has always been a main focus of the Libraries.

This series extends those resources and supports, and highlights the Libraries role as a knowledgeable partner in faculty success. 

“Because the library sits at the heart of the university, it’s an ideal place for faculty to come together, share expertise, learn more about the world of academic publishing, and increase the impact of their work,” says Kim.

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Register for the first workshop on January 21: Demystifying Academic Publishing: Insights from the Publisher’s Perspective

 

 

 

As the Fall 2025 term wraps up, please ensure any outstanding fines are paid and overdue items are returned. Students with fines more than $25 or overdues will not be able to view their grades until their accounts are cleared.

You can pay fines at the Circulation Desk (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or OneCard) or by phone at 416-979-2149. We do not accept personal cheques.

For questions, contact us at access@torontomu.ca. 

Good luck with your exams!

 

Ink to Impact is a new series designed to shed light on what it takes to create a successful book proposal for academic publishing. Throughout the series, participants will learn about the monograph publication process, discover effective ways to approach and work with editors and publishers, explore publishing options, and find ways to address equity and accessibility in academic publishing.

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In focus: Scholarly monographs

Scholarly monographs are essential for publishing original research in the humanities and social sciences, especially for single-authored works, and are often critical for achieving tenure and career advancement.

On January 21, 2026 at 2 p.m. join us for:

Demystifying Academic Publishing: Insights from the Publisher’s Perspective

This is the first in the Ink to Impact, academic publishing series. This session aims to demystify the publishing process by revealing what happens behind the scenes: submission timelines, editorial decision-making, and what publishers look for in manuscripts.

Moderator: Prof. Naomi Adelson, associate vice-president, Research and Innovation, Toronto Metropolitan University

Panelists: 

• Rachel Stapleton, senior acquisitions editor, University of Regina Press
• Katie Gallof Houck, senior publisher, Film & Media Studies, Bloomsbury Academic Publishing
• Sam Hiyate, founder and CEO, literary agent, The Rights Factory

Target Audience: This session is primarily designed for early career researchers in the Social Sciences and Humanities who are working on their first single-authored manuscript. However, the conversation is relevant to researchers at all career stages, including instructors, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, who are interested in understanding academic publishing from the publisher’s perspective.

Register now

 

 

In response to students and faculty increasingly expressing interest in knowing more about the research process and AI, TMU Libraries has launched a new badging program on AI Fluency. The program focuses on AI as it relates to research, information-seeking, verification, citation, and best practices for transparency.  

“The interest in generative AI workshops from TMU Library has been widespread from students and faculty,” says Reece Steinberg, head of Library Learning Services at TMU Libraries. “We developed this program to help guide participants in applying their own ethics in using these tools as the tools continue to change and grow in significance in their learning and life.”

AI tools are already being leveraged for efficiency, but students are using them to gain a deeper understanding of a topic, as well as for creative development. They use AI to quiz themselves, break down challenging concepts, and generate additional examples that facilitate understanding. Students are also employing AI to brainstorm ideas for assignments and projects, and develop custom case studies to be worked through.

Ethical use of tools is a concern, particularly when it comes to course work. Requirements on use vary from course to course, and students need to adhere to the course guidelines. Where the Libraries’ new workshops come in, is in providing guidance on transparency in use. AI can be very powerful in helping to enhance critical thinking, build problem solving and query skills 

As AI relates to the process of researching, there are tools embedded in search systems to synthesize information, answer questions, brainstorm related topics, and assist with actual search terms. Learning more about these tools and how they can assist in the research process are some of the reasons why librarians took on developing these workshops.

The two core workshops of the new badging program are: Artificial Intelligence: Delegation & Description, and Artificial Intelligence: Discernment and Diligence.

These workshops intend to help students, as well as all interested members of the university community, learn to use GenAI tools effectively and thoughtfully—or to choose not to use them at all. 

The workshops focus on building a robust, tool-agnostic skill set rather than a simple step-by-step guide. In the Delegation & Description workshop, participants learn to define overarching goals or projects, break them into tasks, and decide which ones to delegate to Generative AI. This involves gaining experience in comparing and contrasting different large language model chatbots and trying various techniques to improve GenAI outputs through effective prompting.

The Discernment and Diligence workshop focuses on critical evaluation. Students learn how to determine if GenAI outputs meet their needs, while gaining experience with the necessity of transparent use of GenAI, which includes proper sourcing and citation practices.

“We recognize students hold a wide variety of viewpoints when it comes to AI, and we see that as a strength,” says Steinberg. “The workshops emphasize transparency in use of AI and discuss practices like citation and AI use statements.”

While the program highlights a range of tools available to the community, such as Gemini and library databases that integrate generative AI, its primary focus is on cultivating a thoughtful and adaptable approach to working with GenAI. “These workshops invite students to learn practical skills while thinking about and exercising their own ethics to meet the goals they set for themselves academically, professionally and in life,” says Steinberg. 

The AI Fluency program encourages students to develop critical thinking habits and ethical awareness that can be applied to any large language model chatbot. In doing so, it empowers learners to become more confident using AI, even as the tools and technologies change.

 

 

 

Take control of your money and gain foundational knowledge to manage your finances!

Hosted by TMU Libraries in collaboration with Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) of Canada, this series is designed specifically to help equip you with the knowledge and practical skills to master your personal finances. We’ll bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world responsibilities to help you to make informed financial decisions—from your time in school right into your professional career.

These workshops are open to all students, across all programs. No prior knowledge required. 

Join us for this four part series with Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada member, Dwayne Richards, CPA, CMA

Please note: all session will be recorded

 

 

 

Financial Foundations: A Student’s Guide to Canadian Banking (Tips and Secrets Smart Canadians Know)
Wednesday, November 26, 2025; 12pm – 1:30pm

• Designed for international students and newcomers to Canada, or anyone looking to understand the basics of Canadian banking and smart money management.

REGISTER

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Owning Your Financial Future: Managing Debt and Making Credit Work for you
Friday, Feb 6, 2026 from 12pm – 1:30pm

• Students looking to deepen their understanding of credit and debt while learning how to take control of their finances.

REGISTER

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Tax Essentials: What Every Student Should Know (Slay Your Taxes)
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 from 3:30pm-5pm

• Undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those earning income via part-time jobs, internships and co-ops.

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From Knowledge to Action: Crafting Your Financial Future (Building Wealth in Canada)
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 10am-11:30am

• Upper-year undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those earning income, managing debt, or planning for post-graduation financial independence.

 

TMU Libraries is pleased to announce that the 2025 Open Access Wall of Fame award winner is Dr. Kateryna Metersky.  This award honours researchers who have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring their research and outputs are open and available to all. 

TMU Libraries strives to recognize and support researchers who choose open access options when publishing their work.

This year Dr. Kateryna Metersky posted over 60 articles to our institutional repository Rshare and published two open educational textbooks supported with funding from the TMU Libraries Open Textbook grants.

Dr. Kateryna Metersky is an Assistant Professor at the Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing and Interim Associate Director of the Collaborative Nursing Degree Program at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her program of research advances equity-focused nursing and interprofessional education and practice through international collaborations, community partnerships, and qualitative and systematic methodologies. Her work centers on promoting social justice, health equity, and well-being among individuals facing social, economic, and health challenges, with a particular focus on intersectionality and positionality in population-centred care.

Dr. Metersky is an Affiliate Scientist with the Global Migration Institute at TMU and the Institute of Education Research at University Health Network, as well as with the Canadian Centre for Mentoring Research. She maintains her clinical nursing practice in general internal medicine at Toronto Western Hospital.

A dedicated leader in nursing scholarship and governance, Dr. Metersky is a Vice-Chair of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Senate, a reviewer on the Research Ethics Board, and Co-Chair of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario’s redevelopment of the Person- and Family-Centred Care Best Practice Guideline. She is also a Handling Editor for the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Health Trends and Perspectives, and reviews for over 15 peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Metersky sits on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative and has completed advanced training through the Sigma Theta Tau International Academy for Global Advocacy and the University of British Columbia’s Program for Open Scholarship and Education.

Regarding Open Access, Dr. Metersky states:

I am deeply committed with all of the research teams I lead to the principles of Open Access as a way to advance equity in knowledge dissemination. I believe that research should be freely accessible so that ideas and evidence can move beyond institutional and geographical boundaries, fostering collaboration, transparency, and inclusion in scholarship. For me, Open Access reflects the core values of nursing, which include advocacy, compassion, and social justice. By sharing my research and work openly, I aim to help democratize knowledge, amplify diverse voices and reach diverse audiences to engage meaningfully with the communities I learn from, serve, and that can benefit from my findings. I see Open Access as essential to promoting global learning, mutual respect, and collective action toward health and social equity.

Open Access materials are scholarly works that are legally available online without restrictions, allowing anyone to read the full text. Open Education involves making openly licensed educational resources freely accessible to the public on the internet.

Learn more about open access at scholarly communications at TMU Libraries

 

Liam MacKenzie recently graduated from TMU’s New Media program. In his final year of study he worked as a Special Project Lead at the Libraries’ Isaac Olowolafe Jr. Digital Media Experience (DME) Lab where he developed an art installation that combined researching archival materials and using technology resources available at the Isaac Olowolafe Jr. DME. 

His project looked at local and campus 2SLGBTQ+ history while exploring ideas of fragility and permanence. MacKenzie worked with TMU Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections staff to discover archival campus records and student newspaper clippings that had reported on 2SLGBTQ+ campus events, and used resources available at the Libraries’ Isaac Olowolafe Jr. DME to etch articles onto hard acrylic material. Through the process of researching and etching these articles, MacKenzie’s project examined the fragility of history and the need to preserve the past. The project is on display at the Libraries’ Research Help.

Here’s what Liam had to say about the project and utilizing the Libraries’ resources to bring it to fruition.

Where did the idea of exploring 2SLGBTQ+ history on campus through the archival student newspaper articles come from? 

This was one of the projects I completed as a Special Project Lead at the Libraries’ Isaac Olowolafe Jr. DME during the summer. The idea of the project came from my personal interest in 2SLGBTQ+ history. I think it’s very important to learn from queer history as a queer person. I didn’t know much of local queer history so this project allowed me to research that.

 

How did the idea for printing articles on acrylic sheets transpire?

My background is in photography, and I’m interested in alternative ways of print-making. I learned the technique of laser cutting acrylic in my New Media program and I’ve been waiting for a proper project to utilize it. I think that the fragility of a lot of important institutions, and their history being at mercy at certain people in power, inspired me to take the idea of fragility and translate these pieces onto a more robust material, such as acrylic.

 

How did you discover the old student newspaper clippings?

The team at the Archives told me about an article from 1963, an artifact that they show on their Pink Library Tour. Then I went through archived On The Record, Ryersion, Eyeopener issues and collected various articles about queer and trans stories. I selected the ones I laser cut based on input from the DME team and the Archives.

 

How did the resources, expertise and opportunities at the Archives and Special Collections and at the DME help you bring this project to fruition?

The Libraries’ Isaac Olowolafe Jr. DME has a lot of great tools and equipment, and I was very lucky to be able to use them throughout my degree. My favourite piece of equipment is the laser cutter. Additionally, the DME team really elevated my project with their input and knowledge. I was lucky to have their support. 

It was also great to go through the Archives and see the evolution of reporting, attitudes, perspectives, and ideas through student reporting and world events, which was readily available for me to use. The Archives team was super helpful and gave a lot of great advice for this project.

 

Have you done other projects like this? 

Yes, I have done plenty of work with archival materials and laser cutting prints! The majority of them have been assignment work. I made a series of portraits that I photographed and laser cut on mirrored acrylic. I’m proud of those.

 

Will you continue to build on this project?

I want to! It would be great to include more of the series that I collected, collect more series, and laser cut them to the accurate sizing of the articles. I have a lot of ideas for this project, but I would need to secure funding for the project’s evolution.

 

Liam MacKenzie’s work is currently on display at Research Help

 

TMU Libraries is hosting an Open Access Week talk “Who Owns Our Knowledge?  A look at the draft, Revised Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications.” This year’s speaker is Mark Swartz, the Visiting Program Officer of Open Science at the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL).

International Open Access Week is a global event held annually in October to raise awareness of the benefits of Open Access in the academic community.

This year’s theme is “Who Owns Knowledge?” — which, in part, asks how academic communities can reassert control over the knowledge they produce.

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, join Mark Swartz, visiting program officer for Open Science at the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL) to learn more about the draft, Revised Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications and possible solutions that CARL is discussing to help institutions manage the new requirements. 

 

About Mark Swartz

Mark is a Visiting Program Officer for Open Science with the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL). Mark Swartz is also the Scholarly Publishing Librarian at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. In this role, he manages the university’s Open Access journal publishing program and institutional repository, while also overseeing grant programs that support book subventions and the creation of open educational resources. Mark’s research focuses on the evolving role of libraries in supporting open publishing and protecting user rights under the Copyright Act. His interests include open access, open data, OERs, the public domain, and privacy. Currently, he focuses on the surveillance systems underpinning commercial scholarly publishing and the implementation of secondary publishing rights in Canada. 

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8142-1613

Faculty and graduate students are encouraged to join us and learn more about how open access can help academics find a wider audience for their research.

 

Register