I’m delighted to share the 2024 University of Waterloo Libraries’ Annual Report. It has been a year of tremendous progress toward the completion of our 2020 – 2025 strategic plan. This report features stories highlighting our work in key priority areas that lay the groundwork for the next phase in our organization’s development.
In 2024, the Libraries launched several initiatives in support of our commitments to decolonization, reconciliation, and advancing equity and inclusion. We hosted sharing circles, offered staff training on topics such as Islamophobia and neurodiversity, and continued to foster dialogue through our Anti-Racism Reads series. We co-sponsored the international IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility in Libraries & Archives) conference, with seven of our staff presenting. We increased smudging spaces in our two main locations and actively continued our work in acknowledging and contextualizing known instances of discrimination that appear in archival records. Special Collections & Archives also formally endorsed the Reconciliation Framework, developed by the Steering Committee on Canadian Archives’ Truth and Reconciliation Commission Task Force. We celebrated a significant brand refresh in 2024, bringing new style and colour to our visual presence, reflecting the Libraries’ place as a uniquely valued information resource for researchers and scholars at the University of Waterloo. As part of this project, we shifted our formal name from Library to Libraries, to reflect the interconnected network of scholarly information services and expertise that exists across our campus locations. Like many universities and colleges, Waterloo is working to adapt to the changing nature of post-secondary education in Canada and the realities of cost reductions. The Libraries are actively engaged in identifying strategic activities and ensuring our focus is on the information needs of the campus community. While we sharpen our focus, we are pursuing opportunities to integrate library information activities more deeply with the University’s strategic directions. Our current priority is developing a long-term strategic library space plan, commissioned by the Provost. Early conversations have yielded exciting ideas that situate the Libraries at the nexus of learning and scholarship here at the Waterloo. I look forward to keeping you updated on this important work. Happy reading! Beth Namachchivaya University Librarian
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University of Waterloo Libraries Annual Report
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The rise of generative AI: the Libraries provide dynamic support to learners and researchers
Research data management: a practical framework to empower researchers
Librarian and information specialist: supporting knowledge synthesis research projects across campus
Researching the past, designing the future: the Libraries support architecture students
Celebrating a lifetime connection on National Philanthropy Day
Setting students up for success: librarians collaborate with the Faculty of Engineering to develop foundational skills
Decolonizing the Libraries: an update on recent activities
Today’s research library
Engaging with our community
Catalyzing learning and research
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Growing as a learning organization
Understanding the landscape The speed with which GenAI went from a futuristic someday to a present-day reality means everyone — instructors, researchers and students — is at different levels of understanding and comfort. As a first step to provide some clarity for the Waterloo community, Kari Weaver, learning, teaching and instructional design librarian, and Lauren Byl, copyright and licensing librarian, contributed to the creation of the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Overview slide deck. This deck covers everything from privacy to the environmental impact of using GenAI and helps to answer concerns and questions when considering the appropriate use of these tools in learning and research. For Weaver, graduate students have been a particular group of interest: “Graduate students are feeling the impact of the uncertainty around GenAI from several different perspectives. With everyone still learning and the nuances of different disciplines, this adds an additional layer of stress to their experience.” In collaboration with the Writing and Communications Centre (WCC) and the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) Office, Weaver has co-hosted various workshops to explore the multiple facets of the graduate and postdoctoral scholar experience. To provide some clarity and support to students, these workshops have considered everything from integrating GenAI into the literature review process to the impact of GenAI on the graduate student supervision experience. Along with WCC colleague Nadine Fladd, Weaver will continue to explore the intersection of GenAI and graduate supervision in her research with support from a Waterloo Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) Seed Grant.
Providing new tools In 2023, the University of Waterloo Libraries were one of the first to create a library guide detailing how to cite the use of GenAI in research and academic work. However, as the use of GenAI continues to rapidly expand, the need for a more nuanced tool to consistently and transparently disclose its use became apparent. Citations focus on fixed output whereas GenAI is a fluid tool that can be used at various stages of someone’s work so something different is needed to maintain academic and research integrity. Through her work with the Standing Committee, Weaver created the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure (AID) Framework. This flexible, straightforward framework provides a structure to share enough detail to understand how and when GenAI was used in a project without creating too much additional work. Read more on The Artificial Intelligence Disclosure (AID) Framework
Kari Weaver learning, teaching and instructional design librarian
The rise of generative AI (GenAI) is changing the way people access and interact with information. As academic research libraries are a hub of information experts, they have a key role to play in how these technologies are adapted for educational and research purposes. A reflection of the complex nature of GenAI, the Libraries’ response covers many areas, from citations to copyright to negotiating resource licences, and is coordinated with other units across campus. As part of Waterloo’s Standing Committee on New Technologies, Pedagogies and Academic Integrity, progress has been made in how we support instructors, researchers and students in navigating the use of GenAI tools.
Lauren Byl copyright and licensing librarian
Data literacy framework Looking to empower researchers, Eber and Muñoz Gómez took what they had learned so far and developed a data literacy framework that pulled out key skills. “A framework approach works well as it speaks to the foundation of what people are trying to do, empowering researchers to confidently navigate each stage of their project, while remaining flexible to adapt as the research landscape evolves,” says Eber and Muñoz Gómez. Over the summer Eber and Muñoz Gómez developed a pilot series of three workshops that covered foundational skills as well as two additional workshops that provided hands-on experience with specific digital tools that exemplified select stages of the research process outlined in the framework. These workshops ran over the fall term with graduate students, staff and faculty attending from across Waterloo’s six faculties, showcasing the importance of RDM skills across research disciplines. The sessions sparked an increase in consultations for both Eber and Muñoz Gómez.
As the University of Waterloo continues to dive deeper into the implementation of an institutional research data management (RDM) strategy, the Libraries are refining their approach to supporting researchers in effectively managing the data sets created during their research. To date, much of the work around RDM on campus has been focused on Tri-Agency policy changes. With the RDM strategy in place and awareness of external RDM policies increasing on campus, the focus can shift to providing practical solutions and tools to meet the needs of researchers.
Think globally, act locally RDM librarian Anneliese Eber and digital scholarship librarian Antonio Muñoz Gómez have been working closely for the last year to understand the needs of researchers in this changing landscape. Part of this work was to help organize several workshops for Love Data Week in February. With attendees from Canada, the US and Europe, these online workshops covered foundational topics such as data management planning, and data collection, cleaning and visualization. The workshops gave Eber and Muñoz Gómez a sense of where the Libraries could provide support related to RDM and digital scholarship and how they could do it. Workshops with relatable datasets, such as those from the Pokémon Go game, garnered the most interest. In May, Eber attended the International Association for Social Science Information Service and Technology conference, solidifying the idea to shift to a practical approach. “We needed to step back and look at the research cycle from a holistic perspective. Researchers are dealing with diverse, and sometimes large, data sets — they need a plan of what they are going to do with the data throughout the life of a project. Teaching core skills and providing practical tools and support for each step is something we can do,” says Eber.
Anneliese Eber research data management librarian
Antonio Muñoz Gómez digital scholarship librarian
What's next Eber and Muñoz Gómez are analyzing the feedback they received from all 2024 workshop attendees as they continue to build on a successful pilot series. This data, and their experience in developing and delivering the workshops, will inform various tools and templates they are creating to further support researchers, building out the RDM Guide as an openly accessible online resource for researchers.
Much of the support librarians provide in an academic and research environment is through consultations, instructional workshops and online learning tools. They educate and guide scholars and researchers to build the systematic searching skills required to undertake their projects. At research-intensive institutions like Waterloo, librarians also take a more active role as formal collaborators on research teams, fulfilling the role of Information Specialist on research projects. Jackie Stapleton, health librarian, recently had the opportunity to take on such a role for a research team led by Dr. Laura Middleton and Dr. Carrie Ann McAiney in the Faculty of Health. The project, “Beyond Dementia Prevention: Understanding Impact and Knowledge Gaps related to Lifestyle Interventions for People with Dementia,” was recently awarded a $100,000 Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Knowledge Synthesis and Mobilization Grant. As a librarian, Stapleton has deep knowledge of various research databases, search functionalities and strategies for developing terminology which will yield the most relevant research. These are the valuable skills an information specialist brings to the review project. In her role, Stapleton is responsible for working with other members of the team to develop and implement a search methodology, including database searching, supplemental search techniques and grey literature. “Developing a strong, comprehensive search methodology is vital to ensuring that the research team’s conclusions are based on the best available evidence relevant to the research question being asked,” says Stapleton. Not only does the research team benefit from having an expert in navigating the complex information landscape on the project, but Stapleton can gain further experience in the role of information specialist. The ripple of this partnership will be felt across campus as future research teams benefit from expertise honed with hands-on experience. — originally published on Library News, January 16, 2024
Jackie Stapleton Health Librarian
"Developing a strong, comprehensive search methodology is vital to ensuring that the research team’s conclusions are based on the best available evidence relevant to the research question being asked,” — Jackie Stapleton
Researching the past Throughout the term students built on their skills through a series of three assignments. The first two required them to research historical centres of law and power before moving on to examine existing law school buildings. Mutch led an instruction session early in the term to review the fundamentals of academic-level research, including finding architectural drawings, a challenge unique to this field of study. What is not unique to architecture, however, is the role of librarians in providing students with the tailored support they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. As students completed their first assignments and dove into their second, Mutch continued fielding reference questions from students, over email and in person. In fact, the whole Musagetes team was able to help, sharing information and working together to support students.
The Musagetes Library is a central hub at the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture, providing specialized support for architecture students. Professor John McMinn worked with library staff in previous terms and saw firsthand the expertise they could bring to the classroom to support students. As McMinn was preparing for a second-year studio course, focusing on law and architecture, he knew he needed both Architecture and Fine Arts Librarian Stephanie Mutch as well as geographic information system (GIS) specialist Katie Brightwell to come into the class to teach his students: “In a period when habits of research are at risk of being limited to quick hits on a phone, it’s important to have the active support of library staff and dedicated workshops to build students’ skills, knowledge and in-depth research capabilities.”
Designing the future As students shifted to their final individual projects, they went from researching existing buildings to designing their own. To do this, they needed to consider factors such as building materials and the landscape of the proposed sites. To support the students’ learning, McMinn brought in Brightwell to introduce them to GIS, a computer system that uses location data in many ways, from creating maps to analyzing a location. For this assignment, GIS helped students create a site plan, outline the context of their proposed locations and detail how things like flood plains or rail lines were considered in their designs. As GIS is a new concept to many students at this level, Brightwell continued to support students after the classroom session ended, answering questions and helping them find the GIS data they needed to complete their assignments. An academic research library has the resources students need but also the expertise to empower them to confidently navigate the complex modern information landscape. Exactly what that looks like is different depending on the field of study, from architecture to history, but the common factor is the library. We are here to help.
Stephanie Mutch Architecture and Fine Arts Librarian
Katie Brightwell geographic information system (GIS) specialist
Lynn Dramnitzki fondly remembers her father working during her childhood as a custodian and facilities staff person at the University of Waterloo. When the time came for her to consider universities, there was no question about where she wanted to go. As a Sociology major at Waterloo, Lynn enjoyed her time on campus. Attending talks, author readings and evenings at Fed Hall were just as impactful as her studies as she navigated university life and learned about who she was. She completed her undergraduate degree, transformed by a passion for learning. In 1988, Lynn moved to Toronto to pursue a law degree. While there she met Jon. They returned to Kitchener in the 90’s and were soon married. Throughout the years, Lynn and Jon attended University events and socialized with faculty and staff in the community, particularly through Lynn’s involvement with Scottish country dancing. The couple also donated to the University, as giving back and supporting students was important to them. During the pandemic, Lynn became aware of a previously unknown benefit of being a Waterloo alum: she still had access to many resources from the University of Waterloo Libraries! Lynn remembers wandering down the aisles of Dana Porter Library and pulling books from the shelves that caught her eye. That sense of wonder has stuck with her: “I believe libraries are critical to education. They are at an intersection within a university community — they are a place you can go to discover knowledge on any topic.” As Lynn and Jon considered their next gift to the University, this love of the Libraries came back to Lynn, coupled with their desire to help as many students as possible. While walking around the Libraries and seeing the students studying for hours, they noticed the chairs at Dana Porter. While the Libraries’ facilities team puts heroic effort into maintaining the chairs, some look like they could be the same chairs from Lynn’s student days at Waterloo. Thinking back to how hard her father worked all those years to create an inviting environment for students, Lynn and Jon decided to make a gift to the Libraries to buy furniture so students could be comfortable as they focus on their studies. Recently Lynn and Jon visited Dana Porter Library to see the new chairs their gift helped purchase. They were thrilled to witness first-hand how their gift supports students. Alongside this excitement, they have also been getting to know library staff and the expert support they provide students and researchers — a wonderful side benefit of being donors and library users. — originally published on Library News, November 15, 2024
“I believe libraries are critical to education. They are at an intersection within a university community — they are a place you can go to discover knowledge on any topic.” — Lynn Dramnitzki
Dr. Cecile Devaud, associate chair of Graduate Studies, and professor Dr. Michael Benoit, both in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering (MME), were developing a pilot course to provide students with a solid foundation in research skills as part of a competitive skillset. It was important for them to collaborate with other experts on campus.
Devaud and Benoit’s experience working with Science and Engineering Librarian Ryan Ball had given them a good sense of the information expertise and instruction on advanced research skills that the Libraries provide; when the syllabus for ME 738: Engineering Practice, Research Methods, Ethics and Professional Development for MME Graduates began to take shape. Approaching Ball to collaborate was a natural next step. Once Ball read the list of topics, he immediately saw how the Libraries could be a strategic partner in the development and execution of this course. “The Libraries have a range of expertise so this was a great opportunity as a subject librarian to partner not only with an instructor, but with functional specialist librarians as well, to bring students a cohesive experience that will provide them with a strong foundation and support them throughout their studies and in their careers,” says Ball. Ball brought in Anneliese Eber, research data management (RDM) librarian, and Rachel Figueiredo, entrepreneurship librarian, to put together a series of lectures aligned with the proposed syllabus and assignments. The lectures built on each other to present a clear picture of how the Libraries support researchers at every stage of the research process. As fall approached, Benoit finalized the syllabus with Ball, Eber and Figueiredo set to cover literature reviews and generative AI, responsible data collection and RDM, and patents and commercialization, respectively. “Planning these workshops with the librarians was an enriching experience for me as the course instructor,” shared Benoit. “Their professionalism, adaptability, and enthusiasm in engaging with students was remarkable. They understood the specific needs of engineering graduate students and tailored their content accordingly, which made the sessions not only informative but also engaging.”
Collaboration at each stage
Rachel Figueiredo entrepreneurship librarian
Ryan Ball Science and Engineering Librarian
Tailoring to the student experience Ball attended several of the lectures to ensure a consistent presence, connecting with students for a deeper understanding of the course as it evolved. He shared early feedback with Eber and Figueiredo as they developed their lectures for later in the term, ensuring relevant and impactful content responsive to the needs of graduate students. This integrated planning process also allowed further collaboration. Figueiredo teamed up with members of Velocity and the Waterloo Commercialization Office (WatCo) to instruct students on intellectual property, including strategies for finding relevant patents to better understand the commercial potential of their research.
What’s next As the course pilot concluded, participants described the experience as a resounding success. The class, including the librarians’ components, will become a mandatory course for all future MME graduate students in MASc, MEng and PhD programs. Reflecting on the collaboration, Benoit shared, “The librarians’ ability to weave real-world examples into the technical content kept the students captivated and made these sessions highly relevant to their future careers. The workshops served as a critical reminder of the broader skills necessary for success in the engineering field and I am confident that our students will carry these lessons with them throughout their professional journeys.” For Ball, Eber and Figueiredo, this level of integration into the classroom throughout the term allowed them to establish ongoing and trusted connections with students and showcase how the Libraries are a partner in their work, empowering their learning and research during their time at Waterloo and beyond.
The Libraries took big steps in 2024 to actively decolonize the Libraries’ activities, embed Indigenous ways of knowing in our services, and engage with the growing community of Indigenous scholars across campus. These efforts started with Kevin George (BA ‘22), Fish Clan Potawatomie/Cree and member of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation with relations at Fort McMurray 468 First Nation, who joined the Libraries as our new associate director, Indigenous initiatives. During his first year, Kevin has focused on library spaces and staff, undertaking some immediate initiatives that have already had a positive impact on the campus community.
Smudging spaces As a community hub for all students, staff, faculty and visitors, it’s important for the Libraries to provide smudge-friendly spaces where Indigenous peoples can reclaim their traditional practices and support their holistic wellness in an uplifting environment. This year, the Libraries expanded our pre-approved smudging spaces significantly, covering a range of locations, circumstances and library users, from larger spaces for groups and events to smaller bookable study rooms for individuals. In recognition of National Indigenous History Month, Kevin hosted an informative talk about smudging to share understanding of this important practice within the campus community. The Libraries’ smudging spaces are being used regularly and Kevin has received inquiries from non-Indigenous community members curious to learn more about the practice.
Kevin George associate director, Indigenous initiatives
Sharing circles Kevin has introduced monthly sharing circles with library staff, providing an opportunity for learning about Indigenous culture, in addition to building trust and relationships with each other. Staff are invited to participate in these small, focused group sessions to share their experiences and feelings, guided and supported through traditional Indigenous ways of sharing and caring. Each session includes traditional teaching, alongside the opportunity to build connection in an authentic way and on a human level. “The circles leave me feeling more interconnected with my colleagues and fellow attendees. They are not mere moments but transformative experiences that shift perspectives on community, belonging and value. Through the reciprocity of listening and sharing, we quickly learn the fundamental importance of Indigenous wisdom for our collective future,” shared Jermal Jones, associate director, equity, diversity, inclusion and access at the Libraries. The goal is to expand these circles to the campus community.
Building community Through the Staff Enhancement Experience Canada Grant, Kevin visited both the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria this year to explore their libraries’ work to uplift the Indigenous community. Working in a new role within the Libraries, Kevin was eager to see the path laid out before him by connecting with others working in this space longer, and to explore the similarities and differences between the different Indigenous communities, traditions and cultures. From collections initiatives to the physical design of library spaces, George came away with many ideas and a better understanding of where Waterloo is on this journey. “We’re all connected in some way; being able to share ideas and foster relationships with people doing the same work widens our support systems.”
George has already started on his next task: expanding and increasing the discoverability of Indigenous resources at the Libraries. Materials written by Indigenous people, local stories and language resources are all top of the list.
Serving a diverse campus community, today’s academic research library provides expertise and support in many areas, far beyond simply supplying books and journals for readers and researchers. Learn more about the work staff undertake behind the scenes to make the Libraries a valuable partner to all within the campus community.
In March 2024, the Libraries launched a user survey, asking members of the University of Waterloo community to share their feedback on how satisfied they are with the services, resources and expertise provided by the Libraries and which ones are most important to reaching their goals. There were some noticeable trends in the results, both in where the Libraries are performing well and where there is room for improvement. Library users feel comfortable asking staff for help and receiving reliable answers, our libraries provide an inclusive and welcoming environment, and printing/scanning/photocopying services meet their needs. Areas for improvement include finding spaces to work quietly or collaborate with others; technology facilities in our spaces; website navigation; and informing users about our services. There are already projects underway that will help address some of these areas. With the survey results now in hand, community feedback will help guide this work and prioritize upcoming projects.
Library user survey
Israel Cefrin da Silva Library web developer
Increasing accessibility of open access journals The Libraries provide open-source software that manages the entire scholarly publishing workflow for those on campus managing an open access journal. Jay Dolmage, professor in the Faculty of Arts and founding editor of Canadian Journal for Disability Studies (CJDS), works closely with the Libraries to ensure CJDS connects with its intended audience. The platform provides many accessibility options such as text and audio descriptions for images and language translations. However, there is always more that can be done and the Libraries are part of a community of developers working to improve the platform for all. Back in 2019, the Libraries implemented a simplified HTML version which removes the frame around text that appears in the regular HTML version. This change makes CJDS articles much more accessible for those using screen readers. After receiving positive feedback from the community, library web developer Israel Cefrin da Silva brought a proposal to the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), which manages the Open Journal Systems (OSJ) platform the Libraries use, that would make the simplified HTML option part of the default theme on the OJS platform. The proposal was accepted, allowing more than 40,000 journals to use this option, increasing accessibility on a global scale.
A strategic approach to alternative format services The Accessible Content E-Portal (ACE) is a provincial repository with tens of thousands of digitized materials that are made available to those with print disabilities. Initiated as a pilot project in 2012 by the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL), it provides users with direct and immediate access to any items that have been previously digitized. As a member of OCUL, our Libraries are the second largest contributor of materials to ACE. Each term our library accessibility services (LAS) team identifies a selection of items to be proactively added, including new books, top circulating items and course reserve materials, so that the information is already there for students with access to ACE. Since 2022, more than 700 items have been added by our Libraries alone. If a student or researcher does not have access to ACE or needs something that is not already digitized, the Libraries have made requests for an alternative format as simple as a single click: each entry in the library catalogue has a “request accessible format” link. Requests go directly to the library accessibility services team, who will discern the most efficient way to fulfill the request and follow up directly with the requestor. Providing users with alternative formats is not always a straightforward process, given the uniqueness of everyone’s needs and systemic barriers, but the library accessibility services team is here to help.
Selected scholarly works 2024
Baby, Bincy, Annette McKinnon, Kirk Patterson, Hawa Patel, Rishabh Sharma, Caitlin Carter, Ryan Griffin, Catherine Burns, Feng Chang, Sara JT Guilcher, Linda Lee, Sara Abu Fadaleh, and Tejal Patel. “Tools to measure barriers to medication management capacity in older adults: a scoping review.” BMC Geriatrics, vol. 24, no. 1, Mar. 2024, pp. 285. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04893-7 Ball, Ryan, Rachel Figueiredo, and Kate Mercer. “Rebranding the Library Through Engineering Outreach: Three Case Studies at the University of Waterloo.” 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Jun. 2024. https://peer.asee.org/47922 Bredahl, Laura and John Aspler. “Persistent Identifiers in Canada: ORCID Use Cases and a National PID Strategy.” Bibliometrics and Research Impact Community Conference, Jun. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20671 Brown, D.G., Rebecca Hutchinson, and Carloyn E. Lamb. “A systematic mapping review of algorithms for the detection of rhymes, from early digital humanities projects to the rise of large language models.” University of Waterloo, Jul. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20723 Cefrin da Silva, Israel, Stefaniada Voichita, and Mayuri Sivakumaran. “Web Accessibility baby steps: anyone can conduct audits even with limited resources.” IDEAL Conference, Jul. 2024. https://hdl.handle.net/10012/21190 Chee, Michael, and Kari D. Weaver. “Using the Instructional Design Process to Effectively Apply UDL to OER: Considerations, Limitations, and Best Practices.” Association of College and Research Libraries, Mar. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20434 Droog, Alissa, Kari D. Weaver, and Frances Brady. “Along for the Journey: Graduate Student Perceptions of Research.” College & Research Libraries [Online], vol. 6, no. 85, Sept. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.85.6.826 Eber, Anneliese and Isaac Pratt. “Navigating Challenges & Barriers to Sharing Data in Biological Anthropology.” Canadian Association of Biological Anthropology, Nov. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14194053 Gamble, JM, Anna Bien, Joey Champigny, and Caitlin Carter. “Visualizations for communicating drug benefits and harms: a scoping review protocol.” OSF Registries, Feb. 2024. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/9AH3J Ghafurian, Moojan, Shruti Chandra, Rebecca Hutchinson, Angelica Lim, Ishan Baliyan, Jimin Rhim, Garima Gupta, Alexander M. Aroyo, Samira Rasouli, and Kerstin Dautenhahn. “Systematic Review of Social Robots for Health and Wellbeing: A Personal Healthcare Journey Lens”. Association for Computing Machinery on Human-Robot Interaction, vol. 14, no. 1, Oct. 2024, pp. 1-48. https://doi.org/10.1145/3700446 Kim, Min-Soo, Yenna Lee, Lindsay Zhao, Caitlin Carter, and Andrea Edginton. “Effect of aging on the potential drug-drug interactions between angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin).” National Institute for Health and Care Research PROSPERO, Aug. 2024. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024572132 Lemke, Ethan, David F. Johnston, Matthew B. Behrens, Melinda S Seering, Brie M. McConnell, Tejinder Singh Swaran Singh, and Rakesh V. Sondekoppam. “Neurological injury following peripheral nerve blocks: a narrative review of estimates of risks and the influence of ultrasound guidance.” Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. vol. 49, no. 2, Feb. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-2023-104855 Maximos, M., Sameer Elsayed, Colleen Maxwell, Sherilyn K. D. Houle, Ryan Pelletier, Brie McConnell, Andrew Pylypiak, and John-Michael Gamble. “Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions aimed at delabeling low-risk penicillin allergies with consideration for sex and gender.” Systematic Reviews, vol 13. no. 1, Oct. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02671-5 McKenzie, A., Karen Lochead, Kari D. Weaver, Lauren Byl, Clare Bermingham, Julie Piate, Trevor Holmes, and Scott Anderson. “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Overview” [Slide deck]. University of Waterloo Associate Vice-President, Academic Standing Committee on New Technologies, Pedagogies, and Academic Integrity. Aug. 2024. https://lib.uwaterloo.ca/online_learning/genai-overview Middleton, Laura, Vanessa Vucea-Tirabassi, Grace Liu, Jennifer Bethell, Heather Cooke, Heather Keller, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Meghan E. O’Connell, Jackie Stapleton, Ingrid Waldron, Sarah Wu, Marie-Lee Yous, Christine Aiken, William Heibein, Myrna Norman, and Carrie McAiney. “Understanding the impact related to lifestyle interventions for people with dementia: A systematic review protocol.” PLoS ONE, vol. 19, no. 9, Sept. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310690 Sharma, Rishabh, Jasdeep Kaur Gill, Manik Chhabra, Caitlin Carter, Wajd Alkabbani, Kota Vidyasagar, Feng Chang, Linda Lee, and Tejal Patel. “Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications in older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia attending memory clinics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. vol. 101, no. 4, Oct. 2024, pp. 1107-1120. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-240575 Tennant, R., Jennifer Graham, Juliet Kern, Kate Mercer, J. Mark Ansermino, and Catherine M. Burns. A scoping review on pediatric sepsis prediction technologies in healthcare. npj Digitial Medicine, vol. 7, no. 1, Dec. 2024, pp. 353. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01361-9 Wang, Shirley, Bilal Ahmed, Steven Saleeb, Caitlin Carter, Sherilyn Houle, Shinya Ito, and Andrea Edginton. “Relative Infant Dose as a Risk Metric for Adverse Drug Reactions in Breastfed Infants Exposed to Maternal Medication: A Systematic Review.” National Institute for Health and Care Research PROSPERO, Feb. 2024. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024509032 Weaver, Kari D., Kate Mercer, and Stephanie Mutch. “This Habit Is Hard to Break: How to Incorporate Different Voices in STEM Information Literacy.” Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, no. 105, Mar. 2024. https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2796 Weaver, Kari. “The Artificial Intelligence Disclosure (AID) Framework.” College & Research Libraries News [Online], vol. 85, no. 10, Nov. 2024. https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/26548/34482 Yu, Siu Hong. “Book Review for The Post-Pandemic Library Handbook by Julie Todaro.” Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association. vol. 45, no. 2, Aug. 2024. https://doi.org/10.29173/jchla29786 Yu, Siu Hong. “Development of a Learning Object on Green Chemistry as an Outreach Strategy for Climate Action.” True North Science Boot Camp, Jun. 2024. https://osf.io/dwa4h/
Baby, Bincy, Annette McKinnon, Kirk Patterson, Hawa Patel, Rishabh Sharma, Caitlin Carter, Ryan Griffin, Catherine Burns, Feng Chang, Sara JT Guilcher, Linda Lee, Sara Abu Fadaleh, and Tejal Patel. “Tools to measure barriers to medication management capacity in older adults: a scoping review.” BMC Geriatrics, vol. 24, no. 1, Mar. 2024, pp. 285. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-024-04893-7 Ball, Ryan, Rachel Figueiredo, and Kate Mercer. “Rebranding the Library Through Engineering Outreach: Three Case Studies at the University of Waterloo.” 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Jun. 2024. https://peer.asee.org/47922 Bredahl, Laura and John Aspler. “Persistent Identifiers in Canada: ORCID Use Cases and a National PID Strategy.” Bibliometrics and Research Impact Community Conference, Jun. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20671 Brown, D.G., Rebecca Hutchinson, and Carloyn E. Lamb. “A systematic mapping review of algorithms for the detection of rhymes, from early digital humanities projects to the rise of large language models.” University of Waterloo, Jul. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20723 Cefrin da Silva, Israel, Stefaniada Voichita, and Mayuri Sivakumaran. “Web Accessibility baby steps: anyone can conduct audits even with limited resources.” IDEAL Conference, Jul. 2024. https://hdl.handle.net/10012/21190 Chee, Michael, and Kari D. Weaver. “Using the Instructional Design Process to Effectively Apply UDL to OER: Considerations, Limitations, and Best Practices.” Association of College and Research Libraries, Mar. 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/20434 Droog, Alissa, Kari D. Weaver, and Frances Brady. “Along for the Journey: Graduate Student Perceptions of Research.” College & Research Libraries [Online], vol. 6, no. 85, Sept. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.85.6.826 Eber, Anneliese and Isaac Pratt. “Navigating Challenges & Barriers to Sharing Data in Biological Anthropology.” Canadian Association of Biological Anthropology, Nov. 2024. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14194053 Gamble, JM, Anna Bien, Joey Champigny, and Caitlin Carter. “Visualizations for communicating drug benefits and harms: a scoping review protocol.” OSF Registries, Feb. 2024. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/9AH3J Ghafurian, Moojan, Shruti Chandra, Rebecca Hutchinson, Angelica Lim, Ishan Baliyan, Jimin Rhim, Garima Gupta, Alexander M. Aroyo, Samira Rasouli, and Kerstin Dautenhahn. “Systematic Review of Social Robots for Health and Wellbeing: A Personal Healthcare Journey Lens”. Association for Computing Machinery on Human-Robot Interaction, vol. 14, no. 1, Oct. 2024, pp. 1-48. https://doi.org/10.1145/3700446 Kim, Min-Soo, Yenna Lee, Lindsay Zhao, Caitlin Carter, and Andrea Edginton. “Effect of aging on the potential drug-drug interactions between angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin).” National Institute for Health and Care Research PROSPERO, Aug. 2024. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024572132 Lemke, Ethan, David F. Johnston, Matthew B. Behrens, Melinda S Seering, Brie M. McConnell, Tejinder Singh Swaran Singh, and Rakesh V. Sondekoppam. “Neurological injury following peripheral nerve blocks: a narrative review of estimates of risks and the influence of ultrasound guidance.” Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine. vol. 49, no. 2, Feb. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1136/rapm-2023-104855
Maximos, M., Sameer Elsayed, Colleen Maxwell, Sherilyn K. D. Houle, Ryan Pelletier, Brie McConnell, Andrew Pylypiak, and John-Michael Gamble. “Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions aimed at delabeling low-risk penicillin allergies with consideration for sex and gender.” Systematic Reviews, vol 13. no. 1, Oct. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02671-5 McKenzie, A., Karen Lochead, Kari D. Weaver, Lauren Byl, Clare Bermingham, Julie Piate, Trevor Holmes, and Scott Anderson. “Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Overview” [Slide deck]. University of Waterloo Associate Vice-President, Academic Standing Committee on New Technologies, Pedagogies, and Academic Integrity. Aug. 2024. https://lib.uwaterloo.ca/online_learning/genai-overview Middleton, Laura, Vanessa Vucea-Tirabassi, Grace Liu, Jennifer Bethell, Heather Cooke, Heather Keller, Teresa Liu-Ambrose, Meghan E. O’Connell, Jackie Stapleton, Ingrid Waldron, Sarah Wu, Marie-Lee Yous, Christine Aiken, William Heibein, Myrna Norman, and Carrie McAiney. “Understanding the impact related to lifestyle interventions for people with dementia: A systematic review protocol.” PLoS ONE, vol. 19, no. 9, Sept. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310690 Sharma, Rishabh, Jasdeep Kaur Gill, Manik Chhabra, Caitlin Carter, Wajd Alkabbani, Kota Vidyasagar, Feng Chang, Linda Lee, and Tejal Patel. “Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medications in older adults with cognitive impairment or dementia attending memory clinics: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. vol. 101, no. 4, Oct. 2024, pp. 1107-1120. https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-240575 Tennant, R., Jennifer Graham, Juliet Kern, Kate Mercer, J. Mark Ansermino, and Catherine M. Burns. A scoping review on pediatric sepsis prediction technologies in healthcare. npj Digitial Medicine, vol. 7, no. 1, Dec. 2024, pp. 353. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01361-9 Wang, Shirley, Bilal Ahmed, Steven Saleeb, Caitlin Carter, Sherilyn Houle, Shinya Ito, and Andrea Edginton. “Relative Infant Dose as a Risk Metric for Adverse Drug Reactions in Breastfed Infants Exposed to Maternal Medication: A Systematic Review.” National Institute for Health and Care Research PROSPERO, Feb. 2024. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024509032 Weaver, Kari D., Kate Mercer, and Stephanie Mutch. “This Habit Is Hard to Break: How to Incorporate Different Voices in STEM Information Literacy.” Issues in Science and Technology Librarianship, no. 105, Mar. 2024. https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2796 Weaver, Kari. “The Artificial Intelligence Disclosure (AID) Framework.” College & Research Libraries News [Online], vol. 85, no. 10, Nov. 2024. https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/26548/34482 Yu, Siu Hong. “Book Review for The Post-Pandemic Library Handbook by Julie Todaro.” Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association. vol. 45, no. 2, Aug. 2024. https://doi.org/10.29173/jchla29786 Yu, Siu Hong. “Development of a Learning Object on Green Chemistry as an Outreach Strategy for Climate Action.” True North Science Boot Camp, Jun. 2024. https://osf.io/dwa4h/
May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024
Resource usage The Libraries provide access to information in a variety of formats to advance the creation, discovery and use of knowledge.
Physical books loaned:
50,561
Electronic resources accessed:
3,158,321
Course reserves accessed:
230,334
Library website pageviews:
1,139,414
Research support Library staff connected directly with users to provide research support and expertise to help them in reaching their goals.
Questions answered:
10,010
Online:
5,994
In-person:
4,016
Ask us reference services can be accessed via email, web chat, phone, text and in person.
Teaching and learning Librarians support learners and researchers by equipping them with the knowledge to navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.
Digital learning materials created by library staff:
25,817
pageviews
Number of workshops:
491
Workshop participants:
15,591
Financials
Total expenditures:
$24.8 million
Collections:
49%
Operations:
51%
Empowering learning and research
These stories provide a glimpse into the expertise and support the Libraries provide to the campus community and beyond. The Libraries staff are trusted partners in the world-class learning, research and instruction happening at the University of Waterloo. Your involvement helps drive the depth and breadth of our work; continue on this journey with us and discover more about the Libraries by connecting on social or visiting in person.
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