Author Archives: Jin

And now for something completely different…

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Introducing the staff of LS&IT in a way you’ve never seen them before…

Name: Tom Belliveau
Favorite Books:  East of Eden by John Steinbeck,  The Stand by Stephen King,  Contact by Carl Sagan, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Favorite Movies: Schindler’s List, Goodfellas, The Silence of the Lambs, Saving Private Ryan, The Big Lebowski
Favorite Game of Thrones Character: The Hound
Favorite Music/Band:  Rush, Metallica, Blue Oyster Cult, Simon and Garfunkel
Interests:  NHL (Oilers), Reading, Movies, Fishing, PC Games, Philosophy
Guilty Pleasures:  All of them…all of the pleasures
Pet Peeves:  No capacity to change an opinion,  the easily offended, not using turn signals

Name: Darryl Friesen
Favorite Authors: J.R.R. Tolkien; Raymond E. Feist; P.D. Eastman
Favorite Books: The Hobbit; The Lord of the Rings
Favorite Movies: Highlander (1986); Star Wars (1977); Every James Bond film
Favorite 80’s Canadian Rock Bands: Honeymoon Suite; Glass Tiger; Platinum Blonde; Payolas
Favorite TV Shows as a kid: Magnum PI; Miami Vice; Battlestar Galactica
Favorite Video Games: Crackdown; GTA V; Rock Band 1,2 & 3; Halo 1-4 (5 sucked)
Pet Peeves: People who don’t like Tolkien; Greg Harkleman; Mac computers
Motto: “Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.”
Guilty Pleasures: Memes; Blueberry scones; Drummin’ at my desk
Fun Facts: Voted Senior Stick in High School; Won the Grade 12 Computer Science award; Started working at the UofS in my 2nd year of university

Name: Craig Harkema

I was born in a crippled canoe on the Babine. My mother was a cook and my dad a lumberjack.  My hair, black as oil from a skidder, confused and frightened the locals. They were forced to sacrifice me to the god of sound and stone under the dead spruce by the Kal Tire. Reborn as Crag Howleema, I began a journey across time and its irreconcilable spaces. There were crack climbs and slabby descents, swims in tailings ponds, reproduction and post production, sounds of hiphop and flip flops. The journey began with mining and manuscripts, rock skipping and scanning; it ends when I dam the river and outline its contours on Slack. I will retire with an eggel and espresso, cycling through the possibilities of stone carving and pecans.

Name: Jason Hlady
Fun Fact:  I am the highest rated competitive Scrabble player in Saskatchewan.  This is the eleventh nerdiest thing about me.
Career goal: to work remotely 7 months a year from on-hill ski resort lodging.  See ski-goggle tan in picture at end of season from last year.
Pet Peeve:  Spoilers of any sort.
Thing I have done in the last 7 days that I am most ashamed of:  Ordered and consumed fish and chips. From McDonald’s.  While not at gunpoint.

 

Name: Ripley Shannon Lucky
Favourite (& most formative) movie as a kid: Labyrinth
Favourite Game of Thrones character: Breanne (Except for the end of S8E4 – absurdly out of character!)
Best concert experience: Annie Lennox at SaskPlace (she might have been opening for Sting, but we all know who the real headliner was).
Favourite junk food: Dad’s Cookies Goodies Rings or those multi-coloured mini-marshmallow and peanut butter squares that are at all Saskatchewan social events.
Pet peeves: Special characters in file names and spaces in URLs. Co-workers who insist the original Battlestar Galactica was better than the 2000’s remake.
Fun Facts: Also the valedictorian of her grade 8 class (but no shoulder pads), won a Teamsters “James R Hoffa Memorial Scholarship” in 2001, was in school continuously from 1989 until 2014 and has 4 degrees (but no PhD). Totally unrelated, is about to make her very last student loan payment this month! Parents are still baffled she didn’t just finish that 4-year commerce program and get a ‘real’ job.

 

Name: Mike Moore
Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad
Favorite Movie: Goodfellas
Favorite Game: Fallout
Pete Peeves: Writing blurbs about myself.

 

 

Name: Jennifer Murray
Favorite book(s): The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings, Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot: And Other Observations by Al Franken, Bossypants by Tina Fey
Favorite movie(s): Willow (1988), Steel Magnolias (1989), Jurassic Park (1993), Shawshank Redemption (1994), Deep Blue Sea (for the Samuel L. Jackson + shark scene alone), any Star Wars movie released before 1984
Favorite TV show(s) as a kid: Family Ties, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Cheers
Best remake(s): Battlestar Galactica (2004), Star Trek (2009)
Favorite junk food: Rock Salt & Vinegar chips by Hardbite
Guilty pleasure: A & W
Pet Peeve: people who get upset by armpit hair on women
Fun facts: Valedictorian of Grade 8 class (including shoulder pads), worked with RCMP and VPD on the Robert Pickton case, won two bronze medals at the 1989 Jeux Canada Games for rowing

Name: Chris Pockett
Favorite Fantasy Characters: Balthier & Fran, Haseo & Ovan, Caith & Zojja, Ichigo, Kirito & Sinon, Neku & Shiki, Drizzt Do’Urden & Guenhwyvar…
Favorite Games (or series): Pokemon, Guild Wars, .hack, Kingdom Hearts, Dungeons & Dragons, The World Ends With You, Magic: The Gathering…
Favorite Recipe to Bake: Pies (mostly apple or pumpkin though varies), crisps (predominately apple though mixes with rhubarb, strawberry, raspberry, pear are fun), and sweet bread loaves (lemon poppy seed, red velvet [with beet], cinnamon swirl, chocolate zucchini)
Pet Peeves: Bad code or design in computer programs.
Fun Facts: I’ve got a pair of ferrets named Ashera & Nyx along with my cats Zoe (grey) and Maya (orange) {both in the picture} and Rytlock. I also prefer tea to coffee and usually drink tea from Timmies or loose tea from home.

Name: Joel Salt
Favourite Song(s): A Day in the Life by The Beatles, Light of the Moon by Joel Plaskett
Favourite Television Show(s): Frasier, classic Heritage Minutes
Favourite Movie(s): Chimes at Midnight, The Princess Bride, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Half-Nelson
Favourite Grammatical Construction(s): the Oxford Comma
Favourite Book(s): Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock, 1 Henry IV by William Shakespeare, A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews, Sarah Binks by Paul Heibert
(Not so) Fun Fact: Won award for best attendance in primary school.
Fun Fact: Recently found a 7-year old Magic Gift Card while packing up house to move. Went to throw it out, but nostalgia wouldn’t allow it. Good thing, as it is worth $850!

Name: Laura Stewart
Favorite authors: Elizabeth George, Louise Penny, Jussi Adler-Olsen, Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)
Favorite movies: Music Man (1962), Singing in the Rain (1952), Casablanca (1942), Laura (1944 – no, that’s not the year I was born!)
Favorite TV shows: currently Love it or List it Vancouver, Masters of Flip (what’s up with shelving books backwards?)
Favorite places: British Columbia, Michigan, Mackinac Island,  San Francisco, Hawaii, McNally Robinson (or any bookstore), HOME
Favorite junk food: popcorn and more popcorn
Guilty pleasure: Purdy’s Coconut Fudgie bars (yum)
Most thrilling fun fact (or most unlikely person to): catch a foul ball at a major league baseball game. Yes, it’s true! August 10, 2010, Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers vs Tampa Bay Rays. To quote my astonished daughter “You caught the ball!”

Name: Karim Tharani

Fun Fact: LS&IT’s (quite possibly the University’s) only employee who has not watched a single episode of Game of Thrones.

Pet Peeve: Unnamed LS&IT team members going on and on and on… about Game of Thrones right outside my office!

Guilty Pleasure: Waiting for those rare days when Craig is not in his office and stealing from his self-branded jar of unsalted mixed nuts.

Please note that conversation outside of Karim’s office door no longer happens. We heard his message loud and clear. We now make sure to stand inside Karim’s office for these conversations so he isn’t left out 🙂

Name: John Yobb
Favorite Books: “Why Do We Sleep” by Matthew Walker, Science fiction from the 40’s and 50’s
Favorite Movies: Matrix, THX1138
Video games that have taken over my life at some point: GTA5, Skate 3, Quake II
Favorite Food: Dates with chocolate and an ice coffee
Activities: Biking, Building stuff, Horticulture, Walking dogs while listening to podcasts
Dependents: Luke and Anna (human), Victor, Rosie, Scooter (Canine)
Fun Facts: Spent a few decades skateboarding and snowboarding. My first wife Liv Marken also works in the library.

Name: Michael Laurie Zinkowski (My dad’s dad was named Michael and my mom’s dad was Laurie)
Favourite junk food: Zesty Cheese Doritos, Diet Pepsi (tried for the first time at our block party in ’92, have never looked back)
Favourite food: Chicken Wings and/or Pizza
Favourite TV Shows: I love lots of TV series, but top 3 are .. The Shield, Deadwood, Game of Thrones (fell to 3rd spot after S8…Shame)
Guilty Pleasure (TV): Big Brother (only the American (summer) Edition though)
Guilty Pleasure (Food): Eating Honey Nut Cheerios out of a Salad Serving Bowl (don’t judge me! It saves me from having to go refill a regular bowl 4 or 5 times!)
Pet peeve: people that walk into my office with drum sticks and start drumming on things 🙂
Favourite possession: our 9ft tall Christmas Tree!
Fun facts: I love swimming and am happy my daughters love swimming also and will join me in the water, no matter how cold it is! As a kid I loved ALL karate movies. I’ve been playing baseball since I was 4 and still play

New Website Q & A with Shannon and Darryl

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Shannon and Rufus, her first big dog.

Darryl Friesen, circa 1982, grade 5ish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 6th and 15th the LDC hosted a New Website Q & A for employees to come ask questions, make comments, and learn about the new website. Shannon Lucky and Darryl Friesen from LS&IT were on hand to provide answers and information, but to also gather feedback from participants.

The sessions were filled with rich conversation, valuable information, and even some laughter. Below are questions, answers, and comments from these sessions. Notice that there have been a number of changes to the website resulting from the constructive exchange that took place.

Questions:

  1. Can ILL/VDX login page be reconfigured to look like new pages?
    1. Yes, but with much effort. We will have to work in collaboration with VDX to make this happen. It is on the to-do list, but there are other pressing priorities. Hopefully ready for the fall.
  2. Distance & Distributed is currently under “Use the Library,” can it also be under “Learning”?
    1. Done! https://library.usask.ca/support/learning.php
  3. How do we determine what are the “popular” tasks on the website?
    1. We use a combination of Google analytics and things that were on the How Do I? guide, with a focus on what students are doing often on our website.
  4. Do you collect data on people clicking back to old site?
    1. We sure do. Fewer than 4% click back to the old site. This number has remained fairly consistent since the new website launch.
  5. Darryl, what are your thoughts on Cascade?
    1. After a long pause to choose words carefully…from a programmer analyst perspective: limiting and hoops to jump through. However, it makes managing and editing content easy for the content managers.
  6. The search box on the top right corner of every library website page searches all of the University website pages, but it used to only search library website pages. Why this change?
    1. This is part of the template from Cascade that we can’t change. It comes from central ICT and we do not have control over it. BUT it is a Google search box so you can type in a command that will cause it to only search the Library website: site:library.usask.ca search term(s)
  7. Has the default library changed when booking study rooms?
    1. FIXED! Now, the system remembers all the choices made before being reminded to login.
  8. The “New Records” facet in USearch is very confusing. It does not clearly indicate how a record is “new”. Is this facet new?
    1. This is a new facet. We agree: it is confusing. It indicates when a record is added/updated in Primo, not necessarily new to the Library. We plan on completely removing this facet OR moving it to he very bottom.
  9. Can there be a “last 5 years” limited in USearch?
    1. this is not a standard facet setting in USearch, but Shannon will be looking into this. As a work around, there is a “Year” facet that allows you to adjust the years of publication. Setting this at “2013 to 2018” will give you the last 5 years.

Comments and various tid-bits of information:

  • The website had to be updated as old site on a version of Cascade that will soon no longer be supported.
  • The new website follows the colour branding of the University of Saskatchewan.
  • Interlibrary Loans page: not as clear/intuitive as in past, green button used to say “Create a request,” eyes flip over blue boxes.
  • “Use the Library” not intuitive.
    • This terminology was work-shopped in multiple design sessions. It is also the terminology used on other U15 websites.
  • Like the understandable language.
    • THANK YOU!
  • Thoughts and actions shaping redesign:
    • massive content clean-up
    • student centric as opposed to staff centric
    • research around purpose of a website
    • many students/researchers get library instruction, but the majority don’t: need to ensure website usable for those that don’t get instruction
  • Hours need to include Math & Stats and Writing Help (on main page)
    • You are right and we are working on this. We have added a button at the bottom of “Today’s Hours” to click through to “Hours for all services”
    • Once you click through for all services you do have to click again on the green icon by Murray Library. We recognize this is not intuitive and we are working on making this better. Way better. We thank you for your patience and please stay tuned for a new and improved hours display.

      Please click on image for bigger and clearer picture.

  • USearch functionality: more to sift through, often top 5 results not connected to search, hard to find things, pulls all editions together but does not give info on each individual edition
    • We have made a few changes to make USearch work better:
      • Re-balancing of relevance rankings: now local holdings show up higher and more frequently that things we do not own
      • Boosted book titles and database names
        • this can be problematic as databases keep getting bought out and changing names
    • It is good to keep in mind that USearch is designed to privilege academic searches. Therefore, the results are more likely to surface academic writings about Harry Potter, not necessarily the fiction book itself. It does return results differently than a public library catalogue may.

If anyone at these sessions feels that something is missing from this post, PLEASE contact Jennifer Murray (jennifer.murray@usask.ca, 966-2710).

New at the Archives and Special Collections

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The following link is a list of some of the most recent collections to be processed at the University of Saskatchewan’s Archives and Special Collections. Note that this list is not comprehensive, but is meant to give a taste of some of the materials we are currently collecting, and which provide new research opportunities for our patrons. Subjects of interest are: Printed media personalities and literary figures; University history; John Diefenbaker; women’s histories; the Fabian Society; Northern studies (in co-operation with Russia); the performing and visual arts; AIDS, same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ issues; Indigenous justice; early rural life in Saskatchewan (particularly the Borden area); World War II; plant sciences. Also a fascinating array of rare signatures from historical figures have turned up this year, well worth checking out. E-mail ua.sc@usask.ca if you would like to explore any of these collections!

Newly Processed at UASC! 

Barbara Biggs Retires

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Barbara Biggs Retires

On April 28, we said farewell to Barbara Biggs, who retired after 37 years of service to the University Libraries. The staff at the Vet Med Library had a lovely retirement luncheon for her.  We will miss the enthusiastic charm, warmth, and love she displayed to all of her colleagues, faculty, staff and students.

As Barbara retires, she will await the arrival of the first two grandchildren to her family in the fall. Barbara plans to create beautiful scrapbooks for each of the babies, and is glad to have the time to be there for these special moments.  Barbara and her husband look forward to doing a bit of travelling, and in her own words, is looking forward to reading a good book on a rainy or snowy day.

Thank you Barbara for 37 awesome years!

ReconciliAction Book Club

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The first Book Club will feature the Saskatchewan Library Association’s  March One Book, One Province program selection, The Education of Augie Merasty.  The Book Club discussion will take place with two offerings being given, one on Tuesday, May 23rd and the second on Wednesday, May 24th , right after the long weekend, from 11:45 until 1:15 (for CUPE employees, the 90 minute session includes your 30 minute lunch break), in Room 102.

This particular book is quite short (less than 100 pages) so it will not take long to read.  We have several copies available in our collection; it should not be a problem to obtain a copy.  If you haven’t already read the book, please ensure if you sign one out that you return it as quickly as possible for those who may also require a library copy to read.  This book can also be purchased in local bookstores.

This is a great opportunity for anyone who has already read, or is interested in reading this important recollection of residential school life, with learning and understanding being strengthened through discussion.

To register, please choose one of two signup dates:

May 23rd: The Education of Augie Merasty First Offering

May 24th: The Education of Augie Merasty, Second Offering

What’s Up, UASC?

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A long overdue post from the Archives and Special Collections! The following link will take you to a list of some of the most recent collections to be processed by our Unit. Note that this list is not comprehensive, but is meant to give a taste of some of the materials we are currently collecting. Our hope is that this list will prove useful for anyone fielding reference questions within the library system, as it will give some fresh ideas on what primary resources are available.

What’s that, UASC? 

What’s up, UASC?

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20161125_163551

 

UASC is excited to welcome Lisa Carpenter to our ranks. Illustrated left is a companion on her monitor. Also roughly her expression upon viewing our rows and rows and rows of boxes ;). We look forward to tackling many projects with you, Lisa. 

Amy Putnam has stepped forward as our office’s Work Green representative, and we were thrilled to receive the below certificate.

archives-special-collections-silver-2016

Also new at UASC:

  • For those who haven’t already, definitely take the time to check out the display of Inuit art from the Norman Zepp and Judith Varga collection, now on in the Link Gallery of the Murray library
  • Also, for anyone interested, a mini exhibit of random items from the Neil Richards Collection of Sexual and Gender Diversity is still on display in the UASC reading room.

An Artful Autumn at Science Library

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September saw the Science Library walls refreshed with a new art collection. Science-themed paintings, prints and photos have been installed on all four levels. The highlight of the collection is the painting Studio Garden in Future Time by U of S alumna Alicia Popoff, a prominent member of the province’s art community. Her work has been featured in many exhibitions across Canada. Following her death in March 2015, friends of Popoff raised money to have Studio Garden in Future Time donated to the University of Saskatchewan’s permanent collection. The exhibit was commemorated by a dedication ceremony in the Geology Building on October 1, 2016. Over 80 people attended the event. Visitors are welcome to view the painting displayed just inside the entrance of the Science Library.

Did you know chickpeas, lentils, dry peas, and dry beans are an affordable source of protein, iron and potassium? They are also gluten-free and high in anti-oxidants. You will learn this and much more from our International Year of the Pulses display. While admiring the pulses, help yourself to a free pulse recipe book.

International Year of the Pulses

Our second display case illustrates Open Access literature. These materials are online, free of charge, and free of most copyright and licensing restrictions. For more information, check out the display or visit the online Open Access Guide created by DeDe Dawson, Science Liaison Librarian.

Open Access

If you’re too busy to visit the Science Library, you can still take a tour via our new video. The Science Library Welcome Tour is posted on our Science Library 101 page and on the University of Saskatchewan Library YouTube Channel. The new art installation had not been completed at the time of production, so you will have to visit the library in person to view the works. We’re in the Geology Building; find the T-Rex and you’re there!

Photos courtesy of Glenda Goertzen

What’s new, UASC?

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We have had a busy few months at the University Archives and Special Collections. While a dearth of file folders brought processing work to a brief but grinding halt, we focused on putting up some targeted displays, and catching up on odd projects.

The first new display to go up, making use of the new display cabinets was an exhibition showcasing a portion of the treasures our donors have shared with us over the past few years. These donations serve to enhance research at the university, as well as preserve local histories. Also, many are just plain interesting to look at! (Musk Ox horns or Victorian Trade Cards, anyone?).

20160726_115146That display has since been replaced with the Ground and Third floor exhibition on Women in Physics at the University of Saskatchewan, which is currently ongoing. This was an interesting exhibit to put together. Aside from dominant names such as Sylvia Fedoruk, finding materials relating to the early study of physics by women at the U of S required a lot of detective work and digging.

Female Physicist Facts:

  • Luise Herzberg, the first woman to be given any sort of a staff position in physics at the U of S is also thought to have been one of the last Jewish people to receive a PhD in 1933 Germany.
  • The first female graduate with a B. Sc in Physics at the U of S was Margaret Marshall, in 1938.
  • The first female M.Sc in Physics at the U of S was Norma Morgenroth, 1946. She acted as head of the Physics club from 1942-1943.

The Link Gallery has also seen a display rotation, with Amy Chillog’s exhibition on Robert hurleyexhibitNewton Hurley going up this month. Hurley is known for his colourful landscapes depicting the beauty of the prairies, and while the collection does feature a few wonderful examples of these, this exhibit focuses on the lesser known works. Here you will find his pen and pencil sketches of landscapes, people, flora and fauna; colourful abstract pieces, which he called “Hurleyniks”; as well as photos and other biographical memorabilia. As a fun addition, Amy has set up the ipad with an interactive art program — an opportunity to share your own landscapes and art! Highly suggest you check it out.

In sadder news, this month we will be seeing Beth Richert leave our ranks to pursue new opportunities and adventures across the water — in Scotland! She has been a valuable member of our team, endlessly patient with our quirks and foibles, and tirelessly working on projects that would have been impossible to even begin without her help. She will be greatly missed.

Keep an eye on our facebook and twitter pages for ongoing updates from Olympics past!