Representation matters. Not just on screens and pages, but in the information and data we share. Join us in the Library Collaboratory to celebrate Black History Month by learning to edit Wikipedia. Anyone can make a difference by helping to improve coverage of Black histories online.
Come for community, and learn to edit Wikipedia pages if you’re new! Optional training for beginners is offered at the start of the event. Drop in and out anytime. Bring your own laptop. A few library laptops will be available for loan.
This event is part of a larger series organized by library and archives staff and students at Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto Public Library, University of Toronto and York University. Check the Black Histories Editathon webpage to find out about more events happening in the month of February.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Statistical Consultation and Learning Specialist, Bhaswati Mazumder
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.
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.
Dr. Frank Russo accepts the 2024 Open Access Wall of Fame certificate from Associate Dean of Libraries, Lei Jin.
On Wednesday, October 23, TMU Libraries’ announced the recipients of the 2024 Open Access Wall of Fame award. The award honours researchers who have demonstrated a commitment to ensuring their research and outputs are open and available to all.
The Libraries aim is to acknowledge and support those who consider open access avenues when publishing their work.
Dr. Trevor Hart and Dr. Frank Russo, professors in the Department of Psychology, have both demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to providing open access to their research
Hart is the Director of the HIV Prevention Lab and Director of TMU’s new HOPE Centre for Gender and Sexual Minority People: the first and only Centre in Canada dedicated to combining health research aimed at understanding disparities in sexual and gender minority health, with the identification, testing, and implementation of counselling and other practice solutions for better health outcomes. He has received several awards for his advancements to research and clinical work, including membership in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), a Toronto Metropolitan University Social Innovation and Action Research Award, and membership in the international Sigma Xi Honor Society of scholars and scientists.
“I am so honoured to receive the Open Access Wall of Fame Award,” says Hart, and notes “it is important that we make our science as accessible as possible to people across the world, including people who are in lower or middle income countries who want to know the latest updates in research.” Read more
Dr. Russo is a Full Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Science of Music Auditory Research and Technology (SMART) Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University. His research in the SMART Lab investigates the neuro-cognitive, neuro-affective, and socio-biological aspects of music, speech, and hearing. Additionally, he is the Scientific Director of SingWell, a global network dedicated to singing and wellbeing. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and has received over 10M CAD in lifetime funding. His contributions have earned him Fellowships at Massey College, the Canadian Society for Brain Behavior and Cognitive Science, and the Canadian Psychological Association.
Regarding Open Access, Russo says “my commitment is driven by a belief in making scientific research accessible to all, promoting transparency, and fostering efficiency in knowledge dissemination.” Read more
The 2024 award was presented during OA Week, with Dr. Russo being available to accept in-person, prior to a talk by Dr. Monica Granados, director of Open Science at Creative Commons
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Open Access material is scholarly work that is made legally available with no restrictions so that anyone can access the full text. Open Education makes openly licensed educational resources available publicly on the Internet.
Once again, Toronto Metropolitan University Libraries is participating in a survey along with several other Canadian university libraries. The Libraries participated in previous surveys in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2019. You are welcome to visit the Libraries’ website to view the results from the previous years. As we prepare for the future, TMU Libraries need your feedback and ideas!
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and will enable us to:
understand how the TMU community perceives Library services
compare our results with other academic libraries, and
know where we need to improve
In appreciation for your time, we are also offering you the chance to win one of ten $50.00 Best Buy gift cards. If you wish to enter the draw, complete the survey and then enter your contact information at the end. Responses will be confidential and used only to produce overall summary reports that do not identify individuals. No identifying links between responses and your contact information will be retained. Participation is voluntary and results of the survey will be aggregated, analysed and a summary will be made available on the TMU Libraries’ website. Results will be used for planning and decision-making at TMU Libraries. If you have any difficulty in accessing the survey or any questions, please contact our survey team at libsurvey@torontomu.ca. The survey will be open until November 8th, 2024.
Many thanks for participating! Sincerely, Mark Robertson Dean of Libraries Toronto Metropolitan University
This year, the Library building celebrates its 50th anniversary, a milestone marking an opportunity to reflect back and look ahead to the next fifty years.
In 1974, the Library building—designed by Webb Zerafa Menkes Housden Partnership (WZMP), the same firm that designed the CN Tower (also under construction in 1974!)—opened at the corner of Gould and Victoria, becoming a new landmark for the university.
Discussions for the building began in the late 1960s, with construction beginning in 1972. The brutalist style architecture, which embraced ideals of simplicity and functionalism, complemented the egalitarian function of the library as a place to access information, while also highlighting modern ideas and new ways of thinking. The design was not only forward thinking, it also embodied the creative, scholarly, and practical work happening at the institution and within the Library.
Images courtesy of TMU Archives & Special Collections, RG 122.10.93
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1970s
When it opened, the Library was called the Learning Resource Centre, and the building was shared with faculties and departments. Throughout the 1970s the Centre (Library) grew, acquiring collections and resources that addressed the needs of a growing academic institution.
Throughout the decade, the Centre introduced new services and outreach programs for students, and embraced innovative technologies for automation and access, becoming, for example, the first library in North America to install IBM’s DOBIS/LIBIS online computer system, which operated all circulation and inter-library loans. Media collections, digitization of resources, and new study and gathering areas helped to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations, and highlight the Centre as an ecosystem for research, learning and creative pursuits.
Over the next four and half decades the Resource Centre would become the Ryerson University Library and Archives, and now TMU Libraries. It would (and still) continue to push innovation and advances in academic library services, resources, programming and opportunities for the university community.
Image courtesy of TMU Archives & Special Collections
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1980s
In the 1980s, budget cuts loomed large over academic institutions. Despite cuts, the school continued to grow, and the Library continued to develop collections, services, and programs to meet the expanding needs of faculty, researchers and students.
The Library participated in a new network system developed by engineers at the federal Department of Communications. The network was composed of library terminals that linked to terminals in homes and other education institutions, allowing users to retrieve information from numerous connected databases.
While the system wasn’t sustainable, the Library was on the cusp of what would one day be possible: the sharing of collections across academic libraries.
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1990s
In the 1990s, technological improvements to searching and accessing information happened quickly. In 1990, two new CD-ROM terminals were installed, which, for the first time put searching and discovery of electronic resources in the hands of library users.
Just one year later, faculty and students were able to access library services and collections via the university’s mainframe, enabling 24/7 access from onsite computer workstations and homes. Library users could now search collections, place interlibrary loan requests, email research help questions, and view research guides from their own computers.
The 1990s also saw the development of the Library’s first website, providing access to the library catalogue, subject research guides, and information about library collections, hours, and services.
Image courtesy of TMU Archives & Special Collections
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2000s
In 2000, the Library introduced its first online chat service, which provided real-time online research help to the community. Users could now get immediate research help from home. In 2002, the Library pioneered a collaborative chat service together with York University and the University of Guelph, which opened up more availability for real-time research assistance. The service continues today as Ask Us, and includes sixteen libraries across Ontario.
Between 2000 to 2010, many changes to the building also took place.
Alumnus Ronald D. Besse donated one million dollars to establish the Ronald D. Besse Information and Learning Commons on the main floor (2nd floor) of the Library. The Commons opened in 2004, with 140 computer workstations that provided access to the internet, electronic resources and productivity software.
Image courtesy of TMU Archives & Special Collections
In 2007, the Library renovated the 3rd and 4th floor of the building, adding study space, including five new carrels with state-of-the-art adaptive technology for students with disabilities, and a new home for the University Archives and Special Collections.
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2010s
In 2015, after receiving a generous donation from Isaac Olowolafe Jr., the Library opened the Isaac Olowolafe Jr. Digital Media Experience Lab (DME). Housed on the 3rd floor of the SLC building, the Library’s DME opened to assist, primarily undergraduate students, in learning basic and advanced technology skills, while providing access to new and emerging technology. The DME quickly became a resource to support student learning in the classroom as well as extracurricular pursuits.
In 2017, the Library Collaboratory opened on the 3rd floor of the Library building. The Collaboratory was, and continues to be, the Library’s first space dedicated to graduate students and faculty in need of collaborative research space, access to technology and technological support. The multidisciplinary research space continues to expand access to technology, including 3D printers, a laser cutter, drones, and prototyping tools.
Image courtesy of Communication and Marketing, TMU Libraries
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2020s
In early 2020, the Law Library opened on the 4th floor of the Podium building. Supporting the new Lincoln Alexander School of Law, the Law Library became the first branch library, and along with the university name change, the Ryerson University Library became TMU Libraries.
Image courtesy of Communication and Marketing, TMU Libraries
However, shortly after opening, all services went online as the university closed its buildings due to Covid-19. The Libraries quickly adjusted, offering online programming, services, research help, contactless drop offs, and pickups.
Prior to the pandemic, plans were formulating to install an Immersion Studio on the 3rd floor of the Library, and in 2021, those plans were realized, providing students with access to an immersive space to develop projects and present research–all with the support of an immersive technology specialist.
One year later, in 2022, TMU Libraries installed a Material ConneXion collection. The 1000 piece onsite collection of material items was added to complement an online collection of 10,000 items. Students and faculty now have hands-on access to explore a variety of materials representing current trends in design, materials research and production.
Image courtesy of Communication and Marketing, TMU Libraries
The Libraries opened a Media Production Studio in 2023. The beginner level studio is the first Library space to offer podcasting, video production, and photography in support of creative research endeavors in all subject areas.
And, this year, the Libraries launched Omni, a new search tool which connects the TMU Libraries catalogue to 18 other Ontario university libraries (making, what the Libraries had explored in the 1980s – the sharing of collections – a reality), expanding access to over 25 million material items for all TMU students, faculty, researchers and staff.
What’s next…
Throughout the past 50 years, TMU Libraries has grown to now occupy ten floors of the Library building, and will soon be opening a second branch library supporting the new School of Medicine in Brampton. It has always, and continues to, push innovation in library services and resources, while meeting the needs of the university and advancing the research excellence of our community. The brutalist architecture showcases egalitarian ideals and function, while continuing to be modern and forward-thinking. The building design at the time represented a futuristic view that continues to hold.
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.
