Promotional graphic for Archives Alive speaker series. Text reads: The Ideal Book; Introducing the Doves Press and Bindery Collection at McMaster University. The text is accompanyied by a photo of a book with an ornate binding and cover. Image includes logos for McMaster University Libraries, McMaster University Alumni and Archives Alive.
The popular Archives Alive series returns Sept. 25, 2025.
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The first Archives Alive event of the academic year celebrates a milestone acquisition at the William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections. 

“The Ideal Book: Introducing the Doves Press and Bindery Collection at McMaster University” is set for Sept. 25, 2025 at noon EDT.

The online lecture will be led by Bronwen Glover, McMaster’s archives and book conservator; Myron Groover, archives and rare books librarian, and Ruth-Ellen St. Onge, distinctive collections cataloguing librarian. 

Due to illness, the Lloyd Reeds Map Collection will be closed on Monday, September 8.


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Saumiya with shoulder-length black hair wearing a black T-shirt and black and white skirt stands smiling outdoors in a park on a cloudy summer day.
Saumiya Balasubramaniam is the 2025-26 Mabel Pugh Taylor Writer in Residence at McMaster University. Photo by Colin Czerneda
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Saumiya Balasubramaniam has felt a passion for writing since her youth, but becoming a mother was the catalyst for pursuing it as a career.

Teresa with long brown hair and a blue shirt, Arnav with short black hair, a black shirt and glasses, and Jane with short black hair, a black and grey shirt and glasses, stand together behind the services desk in Mills Memorial Library.
Teresa, left, Arnav, centre, and Jane work as student assistants at the services desk in Mills Memorial Library.
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McMaster University Libraries are hiring students to fill a variety of roles for the 2025-26 academic year. 

The job opportunities, ranging from library student ambassadors to archives and research collections student assistants, are now posted to Mosaic through McMaster’s student work program. Details on applying can be found below under the “How to apply” section. 

A volume of the Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers lays open to a page with a detailed illustration titled Agriculture Labourage.
A volume of the Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers at McMaster University Libraires.
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The William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections has acquired a complete first-edition set of one of the most important publications to emerge from 18th century Europe. 

The Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers, edited by Denis Diderot with help from Jean le Rond d’Alembert, has been described as the supreme work of the French Enlightenment. 

Public printing will be unavailable from 3pm-5pm Friday July 25th in order to perform a software update.


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On July 23, 2025, the Libraries' Digital Experience team will perform planned maintenance work on the libraries' servers, starting at 7:00 am and ending at 9:00 am. The maintenance work will focus on applying general system updates. During the maintenance window, there will be some interruptions - and, at most, two outages - to the libraries' many public-facing systems, including the library website.

Omni and off-campus access, however, will not be affected during the maintenance period.

Thank you for your understanding and apologies for any inconvenience caused.


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Various chapbooks with different coloured covers lay on top of one another.
A selection of items from the Contemporary Chapbooks and Small Press Ephemera Collection at McMaster University Libraries.
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The William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections is known for its expansive catalogue of rare books and various archives, but the department is also doing important work by preserving contemporary items within its collection. 

In 2024, the university libraries’ archives and research collections began allocating funding to create the Contemporary Chapbooks and Small Press Ephemera Collection. 

Gillian Dunks, collection development archivist at McMaster University Libraries, is responsible for maintaining and growing the collection. 

A person walking past the exterior of Mills Memorial Library surrounded by green trees on a sunny summer day.
A student walks by the exterior of Mills Memorial Library on a sunny summer day.
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Did you know that students, staff, and faculty have access to McMaster University Libraries and its resources during the summer? 

"We’re open, and ready to serve the McMaster community,” said Crystal Mills, head of access services. “The university libraries have materials, equipment, and specialized spaces to help with academics, and to encourage users to explore a variety of interests.”

Below are 10 cool things the McMaster community should consider checking out at the university libraries this summer. 

Book displays and collections 

McMaster University Technology Services have a planned network maintenance window for Saturday, July 12, between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm. The planned work is expected to last between 30-60 minutes. The library website and other library web properties and systems will be impacted; disruptions and outages are expected.

Off-campus access and the Omni library catalogue will not be affected, however.


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