[Originally published on the Library Renovations Blog on October 8, 2019] 

With the need to reduce the size of our stacks, the Library needs the help of faculty. 

What does faculty involvement look like? 

Faculty will be hearing from their subject librarian. You may be asked to review spreadsheets or check carts of books. 

What do our timelines look like? 

We will be weeding the collection between October 2019 and February 2020. Faculty members will have 2 weeks to review deselection decisions. 

Why is the library removing books from the collection? 

There are several reasons. 

• The upcoming library renovation will begin to address the substantial space deficit within the Library. Spaces for collaborative learning, research support and new technologies, as well as for contemplation and quiet study, are high priorities for students using the library, and space needs to be created to accommodate these evolving needs. 

• The Library’s mandate is to build a strong undergraduate collection, guided by curriculum. In order to maintain its relevance, the collection must be curated to support evolving university curricula. 

What will happen to the deselected books? 

Weeded material will be offered to Better World Books (BWB) first (at no cost to the University). BWB donates a portion of the proceeds of material they sell to a charity of our choosing. We are still investigating acceptable and environmentally friendly options of disposing of material that is not taken by BWB. 

Why aren’t we using off-site storage? 

An option that was considered and rejected is moving material to off-site storage. Off-site storage was rejected at this time because: 

• We can remove material from the collection without impacting access to material needed to support our programs. Sixty-two percent of the print collection has not circulated in the last 5 years. Also, the physical collection comprises only 19 percent of the total library collection (physical and digital). 

• The cost of off-site storage could be significant. 

What criteria are we using to make decisions? 

This will depend on the subject, but some of the main factors being looked at include condition, age, disciplinary emphasis on physical monographs, relevance to the curriculum, and past use. 

If you have any questions please contact your subject librarian or Karen Keiller at keillerk@macewan.ca 

[Originally published on the Library Renovations Blog on October 8, 2019] 

In preparation for Phase 1 on the renovation of the John L. Haar Library, we will need to reduce the size of the print collection by approximately 25,500 volumes (or 10 percent). Print books, DVDs and bound journals will be removed based on several factors, including condition, age, disciplinary emphasis on physical monographs, relevance to the curriculum, and past use. Librarians will be consulting with faculty throughout the process. This work will be done between October 2019 and February 2020. 

The renovation will begin to address the substantial space deficit within the Library, exacerbated by two previous campus library consolidations, and the forthcoming Alberta College Campus library consolidation. 

The Library’s mandate is to build a strong undergraduate collection, guided by curriculum. In order to maintain its relevance, the collection must be curated to support evolving university curricula. In addition, spaces for collaborative learning, research support and new technologies, as well as for contemplation and quiet study, are high priorities for students using the Library. 

The Phase 1 project plan written by Prime Consultant Architect DIALOG has determined the need to reduce the space occupied by shelving by approximately 25 percent in order to facilitate changes that include building a quiet reading room on the third floor and significantly improving east-west circulation through the library, within the Library footprint. The Library has determined that this translates into a 10 percent reduction in physical collections prior to construction commencing in May 2020. 

The steps the Library will take to mitigate the reduction of the print collection: 
•    We will no longer keep the bottom shelf empty 
•    We will reduce the space for collection growth we have been keeping on every shelf. 

[Originally published on the Library Renovations Blog on October 8, 2019] 

This past year a study for the renovation and expansion of the John L. Haar Library was developed through an iterative and collaborative process with Facilities Management and Operations, University Library staff, students, partners and other stakeholders through a series of workshops and "pop-up" events on campus. 

Many issues and concerns were identified, from needing more bookable study rooms, acoustics (noise!), access to power, and the need for more variety of seating. 

Now the details of the plan are being developed with construction starting in May 2020. 

This space will include updates and the planning. 

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me: 

Karen Keiller 
Dean of the Library 

keillerk@macewan.ca 

We’ve got lots of things to say about our services and spaces, so we’ve made a place on our website to do that! 

Library News is a space where you can find out about library events, new services, our people, and our collections.  

We’re excited to share more information about what the library can do to support you and your research. Here are 3 examples to get you started: 

1. Use our Subject Guides to get started on your research. These guides give you access to databases and key resources relevant to your subject area. Working on an English paper? Try the English Subject Guide! 

2. Need help finding sources? Have a question about your library account? There are several ways to get in contact with us; start with our Help page. 

3. When citing the great sources you’ve found, check out our Citation Guides to make sure you’ve got your formatting down. 

Questions? Contact us at library@macewan.ca