By Krisha Mehta, Special to McMaster University Library

Working at Thode library has exposed Jenna Owen to different experiences and points of view.

As someone who spends a big part of her days at the library, Owen is constantly looking at new books, whether they be related to her classes or simply something she is interested in. She also finds herself conversing with different people every day, especially about possible career paths.

By Krisha Mehta, Library Communications Student Assistant

Katie Sonier is using her research skills to build a better experience for other researchers at McMaster University.

Sonier is on the context, input, process, product assessment team with the Digital Research Commons Pilot. The pilot project is focused on improving access to digital research services, software, and training to ultimately improve digital research for the entire McMaster research community.

By Krisha Mehta, Library Communications Student Assistant

McMaster University Library has given Ali Fikirkoca a sense of belonging. 

As an international student from Turkey, working at Mills Memorial Library has helped Fikirkoca improve his English proficiency by interacting with a diverse range of people.

By Sara Laux, Faculty of Humanities

Earlier this summer, the United Kingdom marked the 75^th anniversary of a significant chapter in the history of the Caribbean diaspora: the 1948 docking of the SS Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in Essex.

By Krisha Mehta, Library Communications Student Assistant

Poornima Goudar is making lives easier through communication, collaboration, and connection.

Goudar, who is entering her third year of honours life sciences, has worked at Thode library as a student assistant since September 2021. Her role involves circulating materials through the library, answering questions at the help desk, and directing people to where they can access resources. Currently, she is also becoming trained on the equipment such as the 3D printer and vinyl cutter at Thode Makerspace.

By Matt Ines-Leroux, McMaster media relations, with files from Tina Depko, McMaster library

A collaboration between McMaster University and Ukrainian researchers has collected firsthand accounts of war from more than 1,500 civilians affected by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The project was motivated by media coverage that lacked voices of ordinary Ukrainians impacted by the war, says Victor Kuperman, professor of linguistics and languages at McMaster.

By Krisha Mehta, Library Communications Student Assistant

Matthew Aksamit is bringing a creative vision to promote self-directed learning at McMaster University.

Aksamit is currently in their fifth year of English & cultural studies. They started working as a library ambassador in September 2022, then moved to the LinkedIn Learning ambassador role in spring 2023.

By Krisha Mehta, Library Communications Student Assistant

Shruthi Viswanathan is someone who wants to make a positive impact on McMaster University’s community.

As a student assistant with Library Accessibility Services at McMaster library, Viswanathan says she is dedicated to raising awareness on the need for accessibility, bringing equal access to resources, and improving these resources on campus.

How are post-secondary institutions addressing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning?

This question was at the centre of a working lunch that brought nine high school teacher-librarians and educators from the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board to Mills Memorial Library on May 26.

By Krisha Mehta, Library Communications Student Assistant

Veronica Larrazabal Zea brings her creative ideas to life to help students with their university transition.

As a library ambassador at McMaster University Library, Larrazabal Zea appreciates the idea that libraries provide knowledge and resources without a profit focused mindset.

“To be able to promote the variety of resources and engage with a wider audience is very important to me,” she said. “It is what libraries are made for – to help people.”