Libraries

A students’ first instinct for finding a study space is probably to go to the library, and that is a good thought! Students pay into the libraries and their services with their tuition, and they provide a lot of resources for students in addition to their stacks, from search aids, to support staff, to rooms to book.

The Elizabeth Dafoe Library offers a variety of options for study spaces beyond the common spaces on the first, second, and third floors. If the traffic of these areas is too much, or if arriving as soon as the library opens to get a good seat is not an easy task, fear not! The library provides some wonderful options.

The second floor of the library is designated as a “quiet zone” and the third floor is home to the Icelandic Reading room. Both locations are quite spaces where students are encouraged to work silently. Being on higher floors, these rooms are away from the bustling entrance on the main floor.

In 2024, the library introduced Quiet Pods to support students who need an individualized quiet space for calls, doing an online exam, or any other task that requires silence. Quiet Pods are located on the main floor of Dafoe and can be booked for a maximum of three hours at a time. They can be booked in advance through an online sign-up form.

For other bookings, the library also offers room bookings across the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses for group study sessions located, and study carrels for graduate students and President’s Scholars.

Other libraries offer study spaces and other services, and students are encouraged to visit different libraries to find the one that suits their needs and study requirements, as different libraries will offer different technological support and study space availability. Below is a list of libraries on both UM campuses with links to information on their study spaces:

• Architecture/Fine Arts Library (206 John A. Russel Building, 84 Curry Place)
• E. K. Williams Law Library (Room 401 Robson Hall, 224 Dysart Road)
• Eckhardt Gramatté Music Library (T257 Taché Arts Complex, 136 Dafoe Road)
• Father Harold Drake Library (Room 119, St. Paul’s College)
• Neil John Maclean Health Sciences Library (2^nd Floor, Brodie Centre Atrium, 727 McDermot Avenue)
• St. John’s College Library (3^rd Floor, St. John’s College, 92 Dysart Road)
• Agriculture Building (66 Dafoe Road)
• Engineering Building (EITC E3 75B Chancellors Circle)

Other study spaces

Studying is not just limited to libraries. Although libraries offer an important space for studying, writing, and research all in the same space, sometimes all students need are a desk, a chair, and somewhere quiet.

Various faculties and departments have their own study spaces and lounges which students can use. The International Centre recently opened the Tony K. Lau Global Lounge. Located in room 541 in UMSU University Centre, this is a space for students and faculty to connect and study.

Different faculties will have different options for students. For example, the Faculty of Arts has a study space in Fletcher Argue near the Arts Students Lounge, and the School of Art allows for room bookings to support students in their studies.  Students are encouraged to reach out to their faculty or student associations to see if there are any spaces they can reserve for studying or for any other supports.

Other study spaces will pop up. Students should keep an eye out for renovations in the buildings they frequent. As the UM tunnel system was renovated, more tables and chairs were added to accommodate more options for students to study. As the UM grows, so to will its ability to help support students in their studies and their access to spaces that suit their needs.

Studying and preparing for exams can take its toll. The Student Wellness Centre is a space that students can turn to during their studies to help connect with peers and professionals for wellness support during the academic term. At the SWC, students can tend to their mental health and well-being during their studies. This space offers a break from the hectic pace of studying. After all, a key aspect of student success is a solid support system and confidence to pursue one’s studies. Student Wellness Centre hours of operation may vary during the exam period. Be sure to check their website or instagram (@healthyuofm) for hours of operation.

What is an Affinity Group?

Affinity groups bring together individuals who share a common identity or lived experience. This may include, but is not limited to, race, Indigeneity, gender, sexuality, disability, chronic health conditions, newcomer status, first-generation university students, family structures and religion. Groups may also reflect intersectional identities and lived experiences.

The group is tied to one’s personal identity rather than membership to a specific club or organization.

About the program

The program sets aside dedicated times for specific affinity groups to gather in supportive spaces for study and quiet work. These sessions are designed to foster connection, mutual support and empowerment, helping participants strengthen their sense of belonging within the UM community.

Sessions will take place in the Brown Lab at the Elizabeth Dafoe Library, coordinated by the Office of Equity Transformation. Each session will be two hours and will be facilitated by a host who will welcome participants, lead introductions and explain the format. Sessions will conclude with an optional reflection period, giving participants an opportunity to share progress, challenges or insights.

“The Affinity Group Work-on-Site Program is about reimagining spaces at UM to empower and support people to form community rooted in their personal identities,” says Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity). “We know finding time in busy work and study schedules to interact with others can often be a barrier to community building, which is why this program brings people together in an informal setting to work alongside others with shared lived experiences. We look forward to welcoming faculty, staff and students to the various sessions.”

Program details

Students, staff and faculty are all welcome to participate!

Registration is not required. Simply show up at the designated time with your work/study materials or laptop, prepared to work alongside members of your shared community.

Flexibility is built in: Individuals can arrive or leave as needed, provided that they do so respectfully and without disruption.

The Dafoe Library is fully accessible, with universal design toilets rooms. The Brown Lab has fluorescent lighting.

The program schedule is on the Affinity Group Work-on-Site Spaces webpage.

Have questions?

Find more information on the webpage, including:

• Guidelines and expectations of participants
• How to sign up to host an affinity group session
• How to share your feedback

For additional questions, accommodations or support, please contact the Office of Equity Transformation at equity@umanitoba.ca.

UM librarians offer one-to-one appointments, drop-in sessions, and both live and recorded workshops to help with research and writing components of graduate programs. Keep reading to learn about some of the resources available and problems the UM librarians can help you solve.

If you are struggling to find sources on a particular topic, a librarian can help you refine your search terms or choose the best database for your needs. For this, you can make a one-to-one appointment with any librarian or with the subject-librarian for your discipline – they have specific knowledge to help you find what you need. Librarians can also help you learn to be more efficient and effective in your searching. Talk to a librarian (one-to-one or during a drop-in session) about how to create the best search strings (if you aren’t familiar with the wonders of “AND” and “OR,” be sure to ask) and how to use filters and subject tags to their full potential.

An all-too-common frustration in the research process is finding a source that sounds perfect and then finding out that you can’t access the full article. You don’t have to deal with that frustration alone, a librarian can likely help you find an available version through the UM libraries system or can walk you through how to request it through document delivery – if there is a version to be found, the UM librarians will help you find it. Another fantastic option – install the Lean Library browser extension and find the Libraries’ licensed copy automatically!

Once the articles start to pile up, many graduate students are faced with another challenge – how to keep it all organized. Librarians can help with that too! The UM librarians can introduce you to reference management software options, including everything from setting up an account to automatically inserting citations into your word processor. If you are already using one, they can even help you learn to use it even more effectively.

Then, there is writing; UM librarians can help with that too. While there are graduate-level writing tutors available through the Academic Learning Centre to help with many facets of writing, librarians can help you find resources and examples for different styles of writing. They can also help with finding style guides or examples for lesser-known citation styles and examples for specific situations in more- or lesser-known style guides.

Along with the options of one-to-one meetings and drop-in sessions, many of challenges of research and writing are covered through numerous workshops offered by the UM libraries each term. Their ‘Graduate Student Research Series’ is specifically designed to help master’s and doctoral students with the particular demands of research and writing in these higher-level programs. These workshops cover topics like how to define your research question and do a literature review, what open access and research metrics are, how to use citation management software, and how to manage research data. Keep an eye on the upcoming workshops page to see what topics are going to be covered this term. You can also check out the UM libraries Youtube page for recorded videos of many of the popular workshop topics.

Whether you are struggling with a particular issue or would just like to hone your skills, the UM libraries and librarians are resources of near limitless potential. Check out the UM libraries site to see how they can help!

We’ll start where our assignments usually start – you are given a set of instructions telling you to find sources and write your paper. Sounds simple enough in theory, right? Well sometimes it is, and that is great, but when it’s not, take a breath and explore the different ways the UM libraries can help. A great place to start is the Learning Support page, which outlines many of the resources and services offered by the UM Libraries. If you already have a particular question or challenge you are looking for help with, here are some of the specific ways the UM Libraries and librarians can support you.

If you are new to doing research, consider making a one-to-one appointment with one of UM’s librarians for support on how to search for sources. They can help you get familiar with the UM Library system including the basic “library search” (like google but better for research), as well as the various databases available. UM librarians can also help you understand the types of sources to look for based on your assignment requirements (what is peer-reviewed anyway?) and how to use filters to make finding them easier. This will help to ensure that, once you find the perfect source, it really is the perfect source.

If you would like to do your research more efficiently, librarians can teach you tips and tricks to streamline your search. Not all search terms are created equal, and a librarian can help you figure out the best search terms to use to find the topics you need. They can also help you understand and filter the information provided for each source to help you quickly determine if a source is right for you and what you are working on.  

If you are looking for something on a more obscure topic, it might sometimes feel like no one has written anything that covers what you need. That is the time to find your subject librarian. Subject librarians are not only research experts but experts in a particular field and so will be best able to help you with everything from knowing which database to start in to helping dig up more niche information.

If you find the perfect source but can’t seem to access the document, reach out to any of the UM’s librarians either through a one-to-one appointment or through the online chat, Ask Us. Through the mysteries of the libraries (or perhaps knowing where else to look or how to use Document Delivery), there is a pretty good chance the librarians will be able to help you out.

Whatever aspect of research you are working on, UM librarians are excited and ready to help. You can find them through the online chat, one-to-one appointments or drop-in sessions – more information on all of these can be found on the UM libraries website.

The sharing circle will take place twice in Winter Term: Wednesday, January 22 and Thursday, February 13 at 3:00 p.m., both in Gaa-maamawabing – Gathering Place (Rm 322) in the Education Building. Snacks and drinks will also be provided.

Claire Settee has been an intern at UM Libraries since 2023 while she works on a Master of Library and Information Studies. She is Anishinaabe, Cree and Scottish, with family ties to Fisher River and Hollow Water, and has lived in Winnipeg for most of her life. With the Indigenous Reading Circle, she wants to create a dedicated time and space for Indigenous students to talk about what they are reading with each other.  

“Sometimes in classes, everyone is trying to discuss at once and then you’ll have an idea, but the discussion goes a different way, and you don’t get the chance to say your thoughts. But you still want to talk through your ideas with someone,” Settee says. She hopes the Indigenous Reading Circle can be that outlet. “I want people to know that they have something to say, and they should practice speaking up and sharing their ideas and questions.”

The Indigenous Reading Circle will be kept small for a more intimate and less intimidating discussion experience, and participating students can bring anything they are reading, from a novel they’re enjoying to something they’re reading in class that they find confusing. Settee will facilitate the hour-and-half-long discussions and use her expertise to provide information on relevant library and campus services and resources but is also open to seeing how the group evolves. She hopes participants will meet other Indigenous students, discover new resources, and get excited about reading.

Register for the Indigenous Reading Circle.

For any questions about the event, contact Claire Settee.

1. INDIANS ON VACATION by Thomas King

Recommended by Shirley Delorme Russell, Indigenous Librarian Intern 

“Thomas King is Cherokee from the U.S. but has lived in Canada most of his adult life. Indians on Vacation is pure comedy. Along the way, you will learn some ridiculous Indigenous humour!” 

2. TIED UP IN TINSEL by Ngaio Marsh

Recommended by Aurora Tetrault, Library Assistant, Music Library 

“I highly recommend Tied Up in Tinsel by Ngaio Marsh. The author has created wonderful characters, and her plots are intricate and intriguing, to say the least. Her descriptions of people, places, and events give the reader a vivid and historical perspective of the times and her writing style is so pleasurable.”

3. NINE PRINCES IN AMBER by Roger Zelazney

Recommended by Allison Erhardt, Library Systems Specialist 

“If you are looking for a fantasy realm with unlimited possibilities to escape to, Amber is for you. The battle between Order and Chaos, following the Pattern, defeating evil — this fantasy series has it all.  Each book in this five-book series is on the shorter side, but together, with the second set of five books, makes for an epic read.  There is a set of three prequels too, if you get through the first ten! But start with your first step on the pattern and you won’t turn back.”

4. JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë

Recommended by Candice Lewis, Library Supervisor 

“I came very late to Jane Eyre, thinking it was stuffy and old-fashioned, so I had not given it a try.  If you have never read it, you will be so pleasantly surprised; and, even if you have, please give it a re-read.  I discover something different every time, plus the prose is sublime.”

5. LOST & FOUND by Kathryn Schulz

Recommended by Justin Fuhr, Science Librarian 

“Kathryn Schulz’s memoir recounts not only the loss of her father but how she found the love of her life. This is a story of loss and of finding yourself and the people who become close and significant to you. Schulz is a master of the written word, and you’ll find you can’t put this book down!” 

6. BLEACHERS by John Grisham

Recommended by Cody Fullerton, Acting Head, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Division 

“This book is short, easy to read, and very thought-provoking. It centers on high school football players who come back together 15 years after graduation to bury their former coach. As they discuss the glory days, they struggle to decide if they love or hate him. I’ve read this book many times and it had a notable impact on me as a teenager.”

7. EVERYBODY WINS: FOUR DECADES OF THE GREATEST BOARD GAMES EVER MADE by James Wallis

Recommended by Elliot Hanowski, General Librarian 

“This will be an enjoyable read for anyone who likes playing board games and wants to know more about their evolution. It’s insightful, humorous and well-illustrated!”

8. THE WEIRD SISTERS by Eleanor Brown

Recommended by Heather Bidzinski, Head, Archives & Special Collections   

“This book is about three sisters who ‘love each other [but] just don’t happen to like each other very much.’ The title reflects the family connection to all things Shakespeare; the father is a famous Shakespeare professor, and the sisters are named after famous Shakespearean women.  It’s a fun read about family coming together unexpectedly in a crisis.

9. LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott

Recommended by Samuel Plato, Learning and Instruction Support Librarian 

“This book is wholesome, heartbreaking, and riveting throughout. With a story beginning just before Christmas in the early 1860s, you can spend your holiday break falling in love with the March sisters and follow along as they balance their dreams for themselves with their responsibilities to each other. And you can see the stage adaptation running at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Company now until December 14!”   

10. SONG OF INCREASE by Jacqueline Freeman

Recommended by Claire Settee, Indigenous Librarian Intern 

“This is a feel-good book that opens your mind. The audiobook includes ambient bee humming sounds. Not just for bee people, an accessible read for those with any level of apicultural knowledge.” 

UM Libraries locations are open for study during exams, with group and individual study spaces available at various library locations across Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. For quick online help, chat with library staff on Ask Us, open until 9:00 p.m. weekdays and 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekends. 

All UM Libraries locations will be closed December 21, 2024 – January 1, 2025.  

UM’s librarians have worked hard to provide a plethora of resources for students. Whether they are first-year students getting used to the kind of work expected of them in the university, or graduate students grinding away at their dissertations, the library has helpful guides to guide students on the right track. UM Libraries have an online writing guide which explains the various aspects of academic writing, from identifying peer-reviewed sources to understanding the ins and outs of how scholarly information is communicated. This includes concise tips sheets to understand different kinds of assignments, especially unconventional or heavy assignments such as annotated bibliographies, theses and dissertations, and critical reviews.

Different faculties and disciplines will have different expectations regarding citation styles, formatting, or types of relevant sources. Navigating these aspects of courses and assignments and knowing where to find further information can be quite a feat. Fortunately, UM Libraries has subject librarians who can help students in specific disciplines. Students can consult with these librarians to get help understanding the expectations of their assignments, find relevant sources, and learn how to properly use those sources in their written assignments. University 1 Librarian Sarah Clark highlights the utility of meeting with subject librarians, “Student appointments are really important because often times, the initial question a student has can lead to related questions about their assignment, and deeper discussions about writing and research. This often provides an opportunity to mention services or resources the student may not have known about or considered before.” Visiting a subject librarian at the start of their assignment can help students work efficiently and avoid confusion or common pitfalls. For those seeking support, Clark points to the importance of consulting librarians directly: “if students have any questions about research or using the Libraries, I’d encourage them to contact their subject librarian either through email or by booking an appointment.”

In her capacity as a librarian, Clark supports the ARTS 1110 course by hosting in-class workshops to discuss information literacy. For new students, this exercise is crucial for instilling confidence and knowledge on how to navigate libraries. “There is often no way to know what students’ prior learning experiences look like,” stresses Clark. “Providing consistent information literacy instruction at an earlier stage of students’ university experiences can help set them up for success. They can become confident with resources, strategies, and techniques that they can apply and reuse in so many different courses and contexts going forward as their research needs evolve.”

The Elizabeth Dafoe Library offers Drop-in Study Sessions with librarians and writing tutors in the Brown Lab (Room 110) on Wednesday and Thursdays from 1:00-2:00 p.m. No registration is required, and these are opportunities for students to work on assignments and ask questions to hone both their research and their writing.

Students can find more information on writing and research skills through workshops offered by UM Libraries in the Fall and Winter terms. These workshops are divided in different series and students are encouraged to find the series that applies to them. For example, Library Essentials is for new students; meanwhile Graduate Student Research supports graduate-level writing and research.

UM Libraries are more than just study spaces or stacks upon stacks of books. UM’s librarians, and all the resources they have curated over the years, are key players in a student’s studies. Understanding that the library is more than just a place for research, but also a space to share knowledge and for students and librarians to assist students to succeed in their studies.

Academic integrity is the commitment, by students and the university, to upholding a set of six values explained defined by the ICAC.

Many students understand academic integrity as simply avoiding plagiarism. While properly citing sources is an important aspect of maintaining honesty in the university, academic integrity encompasses behaviour as well. Showing respect to peers and faculty, for example, is integral to academic integrity. The goal, ultimately, is to create an environment where ideas can be shared freely and developed in a way that students have the opportunity to learn.

UM has a procedure for academic misconduct which seeks to uphold academic integrity amongst the student population. The policy identifies forms of academic misconduct, disciplinary action, and the investigative procedure if academic misconduct is suspected. The university defines academic misconduct as “any conduct that has, or might reasonably be seen to have, an adverse effect on the academic integrity of the University,” which includes plagiarism, cheating on quizzes, tests and exams, inappropriate collaboration, duplicate submission, and academic fraud. For complete definitions please consult UM’s student academic misconduct procedure.

There are resources students can consult to help maintain academic integrity, including those for proper referencing and citations as well as throughout the writing process. Citation Guides are published and maintained by the UM libraries. For students unsure what style to use, consult the course instructor and, when in doubt, speak to the appropriate subject librarian. They can not only help find information, but also ensure it is properly cited. The library also offers numerous drop in study sessions and workshops to hone students’ writing, research, and study skills.
Tutoring and study group sessions available through the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) are collaborative resources that can help students organize their ideas, build skills and increase academic self esteem. The ALC also offers workshops on academic success and academic integrity. All these resources exist to help students, and turning to them early is a good way to prevent a last-minute crunch when meeting deadlines.

What about artificial intelligence? There is a lot of buzz about generative AI in the university, and generally it is discouraged. This includes text and image generators, editing software, paraphrasing generators, and predictive text softwares. Actual policies and procedures will vary from department to department, instructor to instructor. Understanding the ramifications of AI and academic integrity can be complex, especially as the technology continues to develop. UM has a few guidelines to understanding AI use, but when in doubt consult with instructors or professors regarding what is and isn’t acceptable AI use.

For more information on what academic integrity looks like on campus, check out the Show Your Integrity newsletter or contact the academic integrity office at AcademicIntegrity@umanitoba.ca. Other resources can be found through the UM’s academic supports webpage.

The names on the sides of the memorial are weathered and faded now, as are the memories of the men behind them, and even awareness of the monument itself. The Manitoban published articles about it in 1949, 1951 and 1963, and it was featured in a 1994 UM Alumni Journal article about WWI memorials on campus. But little has been written since then to remind the UM community of what it represents.

Before University Centre was built in 1970, the monument had a more prominent location across from the Administration Building. Although it has not moved far from its earlier location, the area has built up around it and it is now in an isolated spot that sees very little traffic.

The 11th Field Ambulance supported the 4th Canadian Division and was at many of the major battles in the First World War. Its role was to evacuate the wounded to medical stations away from the front lines. It was dangerous work, and many were killed in action as they tried to aid the wounded.

Diary of the Eleventh, held in the Elizabeth Dafoe Library, details the unit’s mobilization and active service in France and Belgium. It was written during and after the war by members of the unit at the suggestion of their commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Heber Moshier, who was killed in action in 1918. It was donated to the library in 1955 by Christopher T. Best, who had designed the memorial and was a member of the 11th.

Photos of the officers of the 11th Field Ambulance are held in the Faculty of Medicine Archives  and Archives & Special Collections holds issues of the unit’s trench newspaper, called M & D (Medicine & Duty), which was published by the soldiers during the war . The Archives also has two artifacts from the 11th that were donated by Dr. Thomas A. Pincock on behalf of Dr. James M. Brown, who became a professor of agriculture at UM. Both had been members of the unit. The first artifact is a circular Red Cross badge that would have been worn by the soldiers on their sleeves. The second item is a strip of cloth with pointed ends and a Red Cross in the centre. A note with the item refers to it as an ‘epaulette,’ however, several WWI experts that were consulted suggest that it may be an armband.

In honour of Remembrance Day, and to rekindle the memory of the fallen, visit the digital presentation about the memorial and the lives of the men it commemorates. They were, and are, more than just faded names carved in stone. They had friends and families and hopes and dreams for the future – a future that was cut short for them.

Lest we forget.

Wayne Chan [BSc/93, BA/00] is a research computer analyst for the Centre for Earth Observation Science. He is an avid researcher who loves history and contributes stories discovered from his research.

There are numerous benefits to publishing research open access, including increased exposure and impact. Open publishing is also a requirement of many research funders, including the Canadian tri-agency funding bodies. However, UM researchers who publish their research in peer-reviewed, open access journals often bear the cost of Article Processing Charges (APCs). These charges average over $2000 per article and are dictated by the publishers.  

UM Libraries is often able to reduce APC costs by 15 to 20% and, in some cases, have the entire APC cost waived, which can save researchers thousands of dollars per article. By working with library consortia such as the Canadian Research Knowledge Network, UM Libraries has acquired APC discounts or waivers for over 9000 open access journals.  

Faculty and researchers can now search for this APC discount and waiver information using the library’s new database. In addition to searching by journal title, researchers can also use this new tool to filter the list of journals by subject area and by discount or waiver amount.  

Browse the UM Libraries APC Discount & Waiver Database. 

The promotion and support of open scholarship are essential to UM’s realization of its commitments to research excellence. UM Libraries supports faculty in publishing scholarly articles openly, making research data available, creating or adopting open education resources (OER), and in open journal publishing. 

Explore Open@UM to learn more about open access and open scholarship at UM.