2022 OCULA President’s Message
2022 was another year of taxing yet familiar challenges with COVID-19 as we persevere through an ongoing pandemic, and adapt our work and lives to a fluctuating "new normal".
Becoming the University of Toronto Music Library: Wrapping Up our 100th Anniversary Year
In 1921, the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto (which had been established in 1918) took over the operation of what was then the Toronto Conservatory of Music’s library. This month, we wrap up the series by looking back at the ways we celebrated this year.
Describing Music Materials So They Can Be Found
Music materials are unique items in the library world and must be approached in ways that consider the many different formats and content types. James Mason provides an examination of the considerations that factor into describing music materials so they can be found.
OCULA President’s Message – Summer 2022
The last couple of years have been transformative, and I invite you to take a moment now to give yourself credit for your bravery, patience, strength, resilience, and for persevering through such unprecedented adversity. You are doing a great job, and I'm proud of you.
Humber Libraries: The pursuit of enhancing staff skills with the help of a tech trio
Humber Libraries staff, like many other libraries, were faced with having to not only adjust to a new workplace dynamic but the need to quickly adapt to new technology and software.
The discourse of the game: An interview with Chris Young on UTML’s Syd Bolton collection
The Syd Bolton Collection is a new resource at the University of Mississauga that is bound to make the Library a hot spot for curriculum development in Games Studies. This interview with Chris Young (Head, Collections & Digital Scholarship) details the successes and challenges of a collection of this size.
Supreme Court finds in favour of York University
On July 30, 2021, the Supreme Court of Canada brought an end to one of the longest-running copyright sagas in recent memory when it rendered its judgement in the York University v. Access Copyright case. The case capped the debate around the rights and limits of educational institutions who are reproducing copyrighted material for student use using the “fair dealing” exception as outlined in the Canadian Copyright Act and Supreme Court cases such as CCH v. LSUC.
The chains come off: A brief history of the Performance Collection, Music Library, University of Toronto
In 1921, the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto (which had been established in 1918) took over the operation of what was then the Toronto Conservatory of Music’s library. This month, Karen Wiseman walks us through the decision-making and process of rehoming the library’s performance collection.
eCampusOntario’s Extend program now available in summer 2021
The Ontario Extend Program, a professional micro-credentialed learning program designed for Ontario’s post-secondary educators who are interested in expanding their digital fluency, is launching a Summer 2021 online offering of all its modules.
Open letter protesting the sudden laying off of four librarians at OCADU
OCULA Council protests the sudden decision to lay off four senior librarians at OCAD University as part of a library reorganization.
Co-authoring colleagues: how librarians can successfully reach out to faculty to collaborate on research
Michelle Goodridge shares strategies to help librarians approach faculty members for research collaborations.
The 99 AI Challenge – open learning at the University of Toronto
Mike Serafin shares a program from the University of Toronto Libraries that brought together members of the community to learn about Artificial Intelligence.
Transitions in uncertainty: a message from the InsideOCULA Editor-in-chief
Rob Makinson introduces the new editorial team, shares some magazine updates, and reflects on volunteerism during a pandemic.