Winter/Spring Programming: January – April 2024
* Except where otherwise noted, workshops, talks and presentations hosted at the Library Collaboratory are open to all of the Toronto Metropolitan University community.
TMU Libraries’ Collaboratory is open for access from:
April 15 – 21
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
April 22 – 28
Monday – Friday: 7 a.m. – 1 a.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED
April 29 – August 4
Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
We are closed Monday, May 20 (Victoria Day), Monday, July 1 (Canada Day) and Friday, August 2 (Civic Holiday)The Library Collaboratory is staffed Monday – Friday (10:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m.)
Be sure to check our calendar for all other scheduled programs and closures not listed here.
Workshops are offered throughout the semester, some in-person only and some online only.
Research consultations are available for Library Collaboratory members. If you are not a member, and interested in becoming one, learn more about membership here.
* Appointments for consultation may only be made by members of the Library Collaboratory.
If you are a faculty member trying to get new research off the ground, contact us about training and in-kind support.
Workshops, Talks & Presentations
January
3D Design for Prototyping with Fusion 360
Monday, January 15, 2024 | 11 am – 12:30 pm
This skill-building workshop is an introduction for researchers to learn how to design for 3D.
Participants will learn basic principles of 3D object design by using Fusion 360. These skills can be applied for future designs intended to be printed in 3D or fabricated using other technologies and methods.
No prior experience necessary.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops to the workshop, to follow along.
Fusion 360 is available here to download (free for educational purposes): https://www.autodesk.com/ca-en/products/fusion-360/trial-intake
Bringing a mouse would also be very helpful for the learning process.
THIS IS AN IN-PERSON WORKSHOP
February
Wikidata 101 (Love Data Week)
Tuesday, February 12, 2024 | 11 am – 12:30 pm
Wikidata is one of the most widely available tools freely available to us. It powers Wikipedia and links together data from all over the internet, gathering it together in one searchable space. Can it be used in your work or research? What purpose does it serve? And how can you contribute to it? How should you contribute to it?
Join us to learn about linked data, the ethics of gathering and using it in our work, and how linked data can help us to fill in blanks and gaps in marginalized subject areas.
Bring your laptop or use one of the ones provided. Get a crash course in how to create or edit Wikidata or edit on your own.
THIS IS AN IN-PERSON WORKSHOP
In the Field for Grad Students: How to do Qualitative Interviews, Start to Finish
Tuesday, February 27 2024 | 1 – 2:30 pm
Interviews. Don’t we already know how to do interviews? What’s so special about talking to people? What’s the difference between talking to someone and conducting an interview? Humans are chatty creatures and we exchange information and ideas all the time in conversation. But in research, qualitative interviews – no matter your discipline or research area – require more care, an art unto itself.
Join two experienced scholars and practitioners who have years of experience working of “in the field,” formally and informally interviewing people with different lived experiences, in a variety of settings, for a range of applications (including print publications, podcasts, radio features, documentary films and more). They offer tips, tools, and anecdotes from working in the field.
Learn about how to prepare for your own qualitative interviews, hear about recording interviews for your scholarly research and also future proofing those recordings for other forms of dissemination like podcasts and radio features. Find out about the ins and outs of interviewing folks for your research, from finding interviewees, designing questions, developing rapport, the complexities of ethics, data management, and transcriptions – and everything in between.
THIS IS AN ONLINE WORKSHOP
March
The Fabrication of Sound: Building a Quality Electric Guitar ** THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED ** NEW DATE TBD
Friday, March 1, 2024 | 11 am – Noon
In this one-hour workshop, participants will learn about how the characteristics of certain materials can affect the tonal properties of musical instruments, specifically focusing on electric guitars as the primary example
Participants can expect to learn about specific tone woods and metals that are commonly used for stringed instruments to achieve certain sonic qualities. In addition, information will be provided that will help demystify how electric guitars are constructed, along with resources that will shed light on how to build quality electric guitars with relative ease and on a budget. Participants can also expect to understand how fabrication equipment available in the TMU Libraries’ Collaboratory can be used to make custom parts for guitars and other musical instruments, which include the usage of 3D printers, soldering equipment, and laser cutters.
THIS IS AN IN-PERSON WORKSHOP
Introduction to Adobe Lightroom (Classic) for Photographic Post-Production
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 11 am – 1 pm
A two-hour workshop exploring some of the important functions and applications of Adobe Lightroom (Classic).
The first half of the workshop will provide participants with a basic understanding of the software’s interface, modules and tools for use in photographic post-production and archive management.
The second half of the workshop will provide participants with an introduction to a standard workflow using Adobe Lightroom (Classic).
During the session, participants will learn how to import, process and export a series of images using this powerful image software.
No prior experience with photographic post-production or Adobe Creative Cloud is necessary.
A free 7-day trial version can be downloaded here: https://www.adobe.com/ca/products/photoshop-lightroom/free-trial-download.html
THIS IS AN ONLINE WORKSHOP
April
Grant Writing for Grad Students: How to write convincing applications proposals for grants, fellowships, and awards
Wednesday, April 3, 2024 | 11 am – 12:30 pm
This workshop, tailored for graduate students, gives an overview of grant writing strategies that can be applied across disciplines – in academia (e.g. SSHRC), the arts (e.g. Canada Council for the Arts), and beyond. The two instructors will provide tips and tricks for writing convincing proposals, share successful examples (and pitfalls to avoid), and guide students in figuring out the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of their own proposals.
A one hour lecture will be followed by a 30min Q&A to answer your questions. Beginners and experienced grant writers are welcome and people with proposals in progress are encouraged to participate.
THIS IS AN ONLINE WORKSHOP
AI Conception to 3D Creation
Friday, April 12, 2024 | 1 – 3:30 pm
In the “AI Conception to 3D Creation” workshop, participants will explore innovative AI tools tailored for architects and designers. The session will focus on converting text-based prompts into tangible 3D models, demonstrating the seamless integration of AI in the design process.
While primarily aimed at architecture students, this workshop is also open to all 3D modeling and AI enthusiasts at TMU, offering valuable hands-on experience in the latest AI-driven design technologies.
Participants will gain practical skills in transforming conceptual ideas into physical 3D structures, bridging the gap between digital innovation and real-world application.
Participants are expected to be familiar with general or current design workflows and should come with a laptop. No specific software is necessary and all tools will be available with a link to be provided during the workshop.
THIS IS AN IN-PERSON WORKSHOP