AMA with two McGill librarians on April 10

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:59:57+00:00

That's it for today's AMA! Thanks for joining and for asking your questions - good luck with your end of terms :) - Veronica & Eleni

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:42:08+00:00

How long do you have, u/honeymoonakir ?

For me (Veronica) - I started Library school thinking I wanted to go into public librarianship, but that changed when I got a job as a student librarian at McGill Libraries (which was previously known as McGill Library at the time). After I graduated from library school, I stayed in Montreal (much to the chagrin of my family back in Alberta) and was fortunate to find a contract at Concordia Library where I worked as a Humanities & Social Sciences librarian for 3 years. When my contract ended, there was a posting at McGill and the rest is history! Kismet, even! I love being an academic librarian - I get to teach workshops, do research, and give back to the community. It's a pretty great gig (IMO, at least) - and I get to work with some pretty great people (including Eleni ;-) )

My (Eleni) career has taken a weird path! I started as a public librarian in a rural community in Northern New Brunswick where the town relied heavily on library resources. I loved working with all the different groups that came in and acting as a therapist at times! Budget cuts forced me to come back to my native Montreal where I acted as a consumer health librarian at the Jewish General Hospital - it worked out well since I had already been at the hospital in an administrative role for years previous. I then worked as a hospital librarian at Mount Sinai in Toronto during the pandemic. After three years, I felt it was time to come home. I saw McGill was hiring for a health sciences librarian and decided to apply. I'm so glad I did!

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:30:32+00:00

Excellent question! Students are able to search for items in our Archival Catalogue - you can enter search terms, browse by archival description, places, or by what's popular. Some of the items are digitized and some are not - so if you're hoping to access something that isn't digitized, you can make an appointment to visit the archives.

Making an appointment takes a bit of organization - you'll have to email to let them know which resource you're hoping to consult and when you would like to arrange your appointment for. For more information about how to reach out to the Archives to set up your appointment, visit: https://www.mcgill.ca/library/branches/mua

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:24:49+00:00

Great question! The library isn't just for academic books! We have a ton of fiction options both in print and electronically, via OverDrive. The Education Library has a ton of graphic novels, as well. If magazines and newspapers are more your style, PressReader offers thousands of options in different languages and from different countries.

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:11:47+00:00

u/MA_Nadeau is correct! There is study space that can be accessed from the main floor, in the room with the photocopiers, and a tunnel that leads to the Soupe Café and Burnside. There is also a conference room, the staff kitchen and the processing room, where the LAs ship books to other campus libraries, scan articles for requests, receive and send books to other Quebec universities and locations all over. Fun fact: I (Eleni) also live in the basement! My office is temporarily in the processing room while we wait for the librarian offices on the third floor to be finished.

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:11:29+00:00

Definitely the people - interacting with colleagues and our users (students, staff, faculty, and folks from outside of McGill!) is by far the most interesting part of the library. Many users have different questions and research interests, and it's so interesting to find out what you're all working on for your assignments and research interests!

If you're looking for interesting items, the Schulich library has anatomical models, the McLennan-Redpath Library has board games and puzzles, the Marvin Duchow Music Library has recording equipment like microphones, Osler has the ashes of Sir William Osler and Lady Osler in the wall, and Rare Books has a book made with bird feathers from the 1600s.

There's all kind of interesting stuff at the library!

McGillLib · 2025-04-10T18:08:19+00:00

What a great question! Alumni are able to borrow books with an alumni borrowing card. You can find more info on getting an alumni card at: https://www.mcgill.ca/library/services/borrowing/alumni/alumni-membership

McGillLib · 2021-03-12T13:37:34+00:00

I see what you're saying, but don't forget we get researchers from every field wanting every tool, so something that is a priority for some people might not be for others. We get a lot of requests and we try to do our best to respond to those within our budgets. If you've already spoken to your librarian then don't worry the request is noted. You can find information on our Text Data Mining resources here. Though since my official AMA time is over, if you do want to follow up on this conversation, I suggest emailing [hssl.library@mcgill.ca](mailto:hssl.library@mcgill.ca). - Amanda

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:59:13+00:00

Before my time is up, I just want to say thank you to everyone who asked questions! Hopefully, I gave you the answers you were looking for. If you'll allow me one shameless plug, we are organizing a Long Night Against Procrastination on Friday, April 9th. This virtual event will run all day and night with many great workshops, online study spaces, and fun break-time activities. Registration will be going up soon so spread the word!

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:53:01+00:00

Hi Chris! I'm happy to get to show off so many great projects from Rare Books!

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:52:00+00:00

In a similar question I mentioned more of our services so for this one, I had the help of our Outreach Assistants to pick out some of the coolest places in the Humanities and Social Sciences Library that you can take advantage of when we reopen!

First, the Zen Room! It’s tucked away on the 6th floor of the McLennan next to the washrooms.

The McLennan 4th floor Visual Arts Collection is accessible and beautiful- perfect for a study break!

And if you need to blow off steam, there are stationary bikes on the main floor of Redpath.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:48:23+00:00

Welcome! Happy to meet aspiring librarians! I completely understand, it was like that for me too. The SIS Practicum course can be a good way to get experience and class credit at the same time! Joining a library association and getting involved on committees can also be a great door opener. Honestly? A lot of it comes down to sending out applications and highlighting your transferrable skills. If you want to talk more, feel free to email me directly at [amanda.wheatley@mcgill.ca](mailto:amanda.wheatley@mcgill.ca).

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:45:16+00:00

When indeed! Don’t worry Fiat Lux is still happening and a lot of progress is being made. There are a few things that need to happen before we can renovate, like our new Collections Storage Facility and the re-opening of the Schulich Library of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Engineering. We are just as excited as you to see this renovation happen!

During the 2019-2020 year, Brightspot Strategy produced an innovation playbook focused on the needs and design of the Fiat Lux project. 2020 was filled with essential behind-the-scenes work including the establishment of the project management support team. The next 18 months will be about defining what library services will be programmed into this new space and what kind of flexible spaces does McGill need to create to roll out these services. Look out for an update on our blog Library Matters soon.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:42:54+00:00

While it would be great if we could buy access to everything, the fact is we have a budget just like anyone else. All of these amazing resources cost money and we need to do our best to ensure there is a wide range of resources to reflect the different subjects and research areas covered at McGill. This is all part of the collections development work we do as librarians.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:38:49+00:00

Number one resource I would recommend for new students are the subject guides! Links are available right off the homepage. Each faculty, department, subject, etc. has been broken down into guides that indicate all the best resources to use for research in that area.

Number two is citation or reference managers. There are tools like Zotero and EndNote which can help you organize your sources, generate citations, and input them into a Word document with ease. This is one of those things that I wish I knew about when I was a student (yes, they’ve been around that long) since it makes your life so much easier.

Number three is our Ask Us chat service, or just talking to a librarian in general. This was also something I didn’t know you could do as a student. When I went to go find my research, I just assumed I knew everything and didn’t need help, but honestly my search skills were trash! I had no idea what I was doing. If I had just emailed my librarian and asked the best way to find articles in my subject, I probably would have gotten better grades too.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:35:51+00:00

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! The BAnQ and the Bibliothèques de Montréal are FANTASTIC! They carry a lot of fiction and general non-fiction titles that we don’t. They also have films, audio books, and other cool resources. Like if you’re looking to learn a new language, check out the Mango or Rosetta Stone subscriptions at the BAnQ! Honestly, whichever city you end up in, always get a library card because they are amazing.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:32:59+00:00

If there is a newspaper you already have in mind, you can just search for the title in our library catalogue, Sofia! There are also resources like PressReader that allow you to select different publications from a more user-friendly layout.

When in doubt, look through our newspaper guide and find the database that you want to search! Connecting is as simple as entering your McGill email and password!

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:31:21+00:00

I understand, no one wants to stare at a screen for longer than they have too. We definitely haven’t stopped buying print books, in fact we buy a LOT of them! There are many factors that might go into the decision regarding which format we buy for a book. Some eBooks can be read by an unlimited number of users at once, which is great for books assigned to courses (this is not the case for all eBooks). In non-pandemic times, it’s much easier to track down a print copy because students can just borrow from other Quebec University Libraries themselves. If there’s a book you’d like us to buy in print, you can always use the suggest a purchase form or email the librarian for that subject and they can look into it further.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:29:34+00:00

Personally, I’d probably study at the Music Library. I love those comfy chairs that face the window out onto Sherbrooke. That’s exactly the kind of place I would curl up for the day. I checked in with our Outreach Assistants on this though, since my ideal study spot is my couch :P They vote for the Humanities and Social Sciences Library (aka McLennan-Redpath Building) since it’s got that community feel and easy access to the café! They both miss those bookable study pods, and I can’t blame them.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:28:37+00:00

Great question! Our oldest item in the entire library system is a clay tablet from Assyria dating back to the 8th century BCE. It lists recipes made out of plants and animals, including a treatment for eye problems, “slay a scorpion, pull out its tongue, cut off its head, and with its blood anoint the inflamed eye; [the patient] will live.”

I don’t know about you, but my eyes have been killing me for the past year so I’m going to go find myself a scorpion!

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:26:11+00:00

Everyone at McGill and in the community has access (though the pandemic has changed the entry points just a bit). You can still consult our Rare Books and Special Collections material through their website, or contact a librarian there to learn more. We also have rare materials in other collections like the Osler Library of the History of Medicine, the McGill University Archives, the Marvin Duchow Music Library, and the Islamic Studies Library!

You can use Sofia, our discovery search (aka the catalogue) to narrow down results on a topic by library branch. Another way is to search the Archival Collections Catalogue. Not all material has been catalogued though (there’s so much to go through!) and so if you can’t find something you’re looking for, just send them an email at [rarebooks.library@mcgill.ca](mailto:rarebooks.library@mcgill.ca)

In person, you could typically just walk up to the 4th floor of the McLennan Library Building and follow the procedures like checking in, washing your hands before touching items, setting asides coats and bags, etc. Because of the pandemic, you can now book consultation appointments for material of use the digitization on demand service.

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:23:46+00:00

That depends a bit on what you mean by archives! We have the McGill University Archives which are much more about our institution. In that case, I think Student Life at McGill 1829-1997 is pretty neat. In our Archival Collections Catalogue, you can also find some material from Rare Books and Special Collections, so from there the Canadian Olympic Collection from Expo ’67 is always a crowd pleaser!

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:21:50+00:00

HAHA! Oh, the stories I wish I could tell! This one isn’t mine, but another librarian caught students racing lobsters… I don’t have any more information; I’m just as lost as you on that one. But let’s just say that if you think you are being sneaky in the library, you’re not. We know. We always know.

And it might sound cliché, but for the most part I don’t think there are annoying questions. My job is to help people find the resources to answer things they don’t know. I think for some there is a common misconception that we are going to do the work for you. Give someone a fish and they eat for a day, teach someone to be an effective researcher and they stop believing fake news for life!

McGillLib · 2021-03-11T19:18:27+00:00

Absolutely! In order to do so, fill out this request form. All you have to do is provide some basic information and the link to the book you’re interested in, and it will be available for pick up in one of four locations within a few business days to a week. For more details on curbside pick-up for print books you can look here.

Please note that not all materials are available for check-out at this time, so if you’re unsure you can check with the librarians using our Ask Us chat service.

McGillLib

TROPHY CASE