The following is a summary of University of Waterloo (UW) Library resources in support of the interdisciplinary, undergraduate programme in Canadian Studies, prepared by Michele Laing, Liaison Librarian for Architecture and Fine Arts.

Library Resources

Library Holdings

The University of Waterloo Library ’s collections for Canadian Studies are housed primarily in the Dana Porter Library. Material is collected to support teaching and research relevant for study towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Canadian Studies. The decision to purchase Library materials for this cross-disciplinary programme is the responsibility of individual liaison librarians in consultation with their Faculty Library Representatives. Original sponsors of the programme are the Departments of Anthropology, Economics, English, French, History, Political Science, Sociology, Geography, Planning, and Environmental Studies. Other Departments with an interest in the programme include Fine Arts, Philosophy, and Architecture. Selection of resources is guided by the Collection Development Policy and the Approval PlanSubject Profile for each of the disciplines involved in the Canadian Studies programme.

The Library purchases resources using two methods. Liaison Librarians, often in consultation with faculty or students, Firm Order materials based upon specific title requests or recommendations, book reviews, and publisher’s brochures. Approval Plans, based upon departmental profiles, prompt the regular delivery of materials to the library from selected major vendors. These materials are reviewed by the Liaison Librarian and may be returned to the vendor if unsatisfactory. Most Canadian materials are received via the Coutts Library Services Approval Plan. Here are some recent figures from them:

(Feb./2000)

The UW collection includes 46,975 monographs titles (Appendix I), 200,149 government publications (Appendix II), and 277 current serials (Appendix III), in subject areas relevant to Canadian Studies. Additionally, the Canadian Institute of Historic Microreproductions (CIHM) set includes 57,800 pre-1900 Canadian monographs, 25,000 titles published between 1900-1920, and 57,500 issues of 1,285 periodical titles. Holdings in the Rare Book Room are unavailable and not included in this count.

Financial Support

Due to the cross-disciplinary nature of Canadian Studies, it is not possible to provide an accurate financial accounting of the amount spent acquiring materials in support of the programme.

Library Catalogue

In 1997 the University of Waterloo , Wilfrid Laurier University , and the University of Guelph formed a library consortium called the Tri-Universities Group (TUG) to foster co-operation and the sharing of resources among the three institutions. The TRELLIS online catalogue is a product of this merger. It provides patrons with quick and easy access to collections at all three institutions, providing students at this university with many more books and journal titles for their research needs. The catalogue is available via terminals in the library, direct, dial-in access by modem, through the campus network, UWinfo, and via the World Wide Web (http://www.tug-libraries.on.ca/trellis/).

The Library's automated circulation system allows users to charge out materials during the hours that the Library is open. With the exception of the current issues of journals, reference materials, and some course Reserve readings, most library resources circulate. Materials that have low or no documented circulation are housed in a storage facility in Guelph known as the TUG Annex. Online forms allow patrons at UW to request books and journal articles from the TUG Annex facility. Delivery is guaranteed within three working days.

Web Resources

The University of Waterloo Electronic Library (UWELib)

(http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/) provides organized access to Web-based resources. The Library subscribes to a number of databases relevant to Canadian Studies including a variety of web-based journal indexes such as: (America: History and Life, Art Index, Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals, Environmental Periodicals Knowledgebase, Historical Abstracts, Humanities Abstracts Fulltext, Canadian Business & Current Affairs, Econlit, Geography, MLA International Bibliography, Philosopher’s Index, Social Sciences Abstracts Full Text, and Sociological Abstracts; an index to Canadian newspapers (Newscan); and specialized CDROM databases (Idiom, Index to Pre-1900 Canadian Cultural & Literary Magazines, Bibliography of Canadian Politics & Society). These databases are accessible from library workstations where users may print or download search results for a minimal charge. Web-based indexes allow patrons to conduct their research from computers at home and in their office or lab as well as in the library. Some indexes also provide the fulltext of selected articles in journals to which the library does not subscribe. Additionally, the Library subscribes to 4300+ full text electronic journals (http://www.tug-libraries.on.ca/ejournals/).

Internet Resources via the UW Electronic Library

UW Liaison Librarians have gathered, organized, and provided links to scholarly Internet resources by discipline as well as to other resources such as library catalogues from around the world. The UW Electronic Library discipline pages can be accessed through the URL http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/discipline/discip.html.

Library Services and Facilities

Physical Space and Hours of Service

The Library collections for Canadian Studies, with minor exceptions, are housed in Dana Porter Library. The Library is open 97 hours per week during the term with extended hours during exam periods. There are 976 study spaces and 5 study rooms available in Porter Library. A total of 41 public workstations, spread throughout the library, are available for patron use. Of these, 38 provide access to the Internet and 13 have printing capabilities. The Library also provides reader/printers for patrons using the micromedia collections. This equipment may be used whenever the Library is open.

Information Services

Reference assistance is available in person or by telephone at the Library's Information Desks which are staffed by professional librarians and specially trained library assistants. The Library also offers an electronic reference service (asklib@library) which is accessible to UW students and faculty with access to e-mail.

Liaison librarians offer course-related instruction about library research resources and are also available for consultation with individuals or small groups of students. The Library also offers general orientation programmes including tours and workshops on topics including database searching and the World Wide Web.

Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan

UW students and faculty can borrow resources from the University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University . The book and article delivery service obtains materials from the University of Guelph , free of charge, within 2-3 days of request. Students can submit requests using the Request button in TRELLIS for books, and the Web form, TUGdoc, for journal articles. Faculty may also request the delivery of library materials from Wilfrid Laurier University . Undergraduate students are expected to visit that institution in person if they need to use its collection.

Faculty and students may borrow directly from most Ontario universities under the Direct Borrowing Agreement. Faculty may borrow in person from the University of Toronto and from Quebec university libraries.

The Interlibrary Loans (ILL) Service obtains, for UW students and faculty, books, journal articles, theses, etc. from institutions in Canada and abroad. UW Library is currently underwriting the cost of this service to ensure equal, free access for all members of the university community. An online request form, available via the UW Electronic Library, facilitates this service. The Library sends the requests to other libraries electronically and most are filled in less than ten working days.

Conclusion

The Library provides a consistently high level of support to all of the departments with an interest in the Canadian Studies programme. Liaison Librarians strive to acquire appropriate resources and offer quality reference services to faculty and undergraduate students in their research and coursework. Access to the collections at the University of Guelph and Wilfrid Laurier University , advancements in ILL service, and the availability of many full-text electronic journals and databases have added to the variety and richness of resources in the UW Library collection.

Appendix I: Canadian Studies – Monograph Item Count

Appendix II: Canadian Studies – Government Publications Item Count

Appendix III: Canadian Studies – Serial Order Counts

*Please note all counts given reflect the minimum number of titles.