On May 16, Red River College is rolling out a new Student Email system (powered by Office 365), which will enable you to access your email, contacts, and calendar from virtually anywhere. Stay in sync and on schedule with Outlook, and coordinate more effectively with classmates and Instructors. The new Student Email will not change how you send email from Learn, but it will provide additional communication enhancements to you. You’ll be sent further information regarding this change to your current student email.

Student Email will not be available from 4pm on Friday, May 13 until 10pm on Sunday, May 15 while the upgrade is completed.

Once the change is complete, students will see a different look and feel, but the general email experience will remain the same. The email addresses for all students will remain as “username@academic.rrc.ca” and all of their mail from the current Student Email system will be transferred into the new system.

Important: If students have set their student email to automatically forward to another email address, they will likely find they have to reset their forwarding in the new email system.

Support documentation for the new mail system will be located at the IT Solutions Blog (https://blogs.rrc.ca/its/help-resources/).

A project management assignment planted a seed that bloomed at the Roblin Centre’s John and Bonnie Buhler Library. Library Technician Rosemary Woodby with the support of a Program Innovation Fund (PIF)  was able to procure two six foot tall, self-watering planters. A partnership with the Greenspace Horticultural students and their instructor, Ruth Rob, supplied the plants. Using the knowledge they have acquired as part of the Horticulture Practice course, the students planned the design and layout; chose and grew the plants and on a bright sunny Apr 13^th installed them in the planters. The Reading Room’s trademark sunlight takes care of the rest.

Living Walls, sometimes called Green Walls, have sprung up in a variety of settings, both inside and out. Some of the larger interior walls are physically connected to the HVAC system to actively pull air in for better circulation. Our wall isn’t quite so complicated however, using a ‘passive system’ as illustrated by the Florafelt system (Pictured right). While the project is not without risks ranging from plant to pump failure, but the gains far outweigh them and we can expect:

• Noise reduction
• Optimizing humidity
• Improved indoor air quality
• And the Horticulture students gaining an opportunity to work in a vertical format that is gaining popularity with both interior and exterior landscaping.

Last but not least, the greenery provides some welcome relief for staff and students from the stressful periods during the academic year. Woodby and Rob hope to apply what they have learned from installing this wall and add a second next year.

Before

Image: Rosemary Woodby

After

Image: Rosemary Woodby

Image: Fatima DeMelo

With contributions by Rosemary Woodby

The assignments are piling high, money is tight, and the deadlines just keep coming. When things get overwhelming, there are small things you can do to counteract the stress in your life. Below are simple ways to reduce stress, borrowed from the book Everything You Need to Know About Stress Management (Barbee 2012, 14-16):

1. Spend 10 minutes planning and organizing your day.

2. Record specific tasks in a to-do list, ranked in order of priority.

3. Tackle demanding tasks when you are most alert.

• Make the most of your own biological “prime time.” (i.e. are you a night owl, or a morning person?)

4. Conquer procrastination.

• Make a decision now, not later.
• Turn intimidating tasks into bearable ones by separating them into sub-tasks.

5. Learn to say “no.”

• Stay in control by blocking off time for important tasks, and saying no when you know it’s more than you can do.

6. Make use of idle time.

• When you are stuck waiting you can relax with deep breaths, read, get organized, make phone calls, check your to-do list, get focused on the next task, etc.

7. Deal with interruptions.

• Leave part of the day unscheduled to allow time for the unexpected.
• Avoid distractions when you need to focus.

8. Reward yourself.

• Give yourself goals, then reward yourself when you achieve them.

Look further:

Check out Red River College’s Student Success Website for various student supports and additional info on managing stress.

For more information on other resources at RRC Library, stop by the Library desk or contact our reference staff at:

• Notre Dame Campus Library: 204-632-2233 or library@rrc.ca
• Exchange District Campus Library: 204-949-8371 or pscref@rrc.ca

February is Black History Month in Canada, and you are invited to celebrate black Canadians – their experiences, stories, achievements and contributions. Below is a collection of videos from CBC’s Curio.ca and NFB intended to help commemorate Black History Month. (Note: Red River College Library subscribes to NFB Campus and Curio.ca. Log in may be required to view these videos.)

Black Soul (NFB)

“Martine Chartrand’s animated short dives into the heart of Black culture with an exhilarating trip through history. Watch as a young boy traces his roots through the stories his grandmother shares with him about the events that shaped their cultural heritage.” – NFB website

Book of Negroes (Curio.ca)*

“Based on the award-winning novel by Lawrence Hill, The Book of Negroes depicts the extraordinary life journey of Aminata Diallo, an indomitable African woman who cuts a swath through a world that is predisposed to underestimate her. Kidnapped by slave traders in West Africa and subsequently enslaved in South Carolina, Aminata must navigate her way through the American Revolution in New York, the isolated refuge given to Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia and the treacherous jungles of Sierra Leone, before ultimately securing her freedom in England at the dawn of the 19th century.” – Curio.ca

*Part of the Black History Month Collection on Curio.ca.

Journey to Justice (NFB)

“This documentary pays tribute to a group of Canadians who took racism to court. They are Canada’s unsung heroes in the fight for Black civil rights. Focusing on the 1930s to the 1950s, this film documents the struggle of 6 people who refused to accept inequality. Featured here, among others, are Viola Desmond, a woman who insisted on keeping her seat at a Halifax movie theatre in 1946 rather than moving to the section normally reserved for the city’s Black population, and Fred Christie, who took his case to the Supreme Court after being denied service at a Montreal tavern in 1936. These brave pioneers helped secure justice for all Canadians. Their stories deserve to be told.” – NFB website

The McCurdy Birthright (Curio.ca)*

“In the 1980s, Howard McCurdy was a feisty Member of Parliament from Windsor, the first black NDP MP and the only black person in the House of Commons at the time. He became known for his interest in civil rights, for people of all races and colours. It’s a passion he inherited from many McCurdys before him. The McCurdys settled in Amherstburg 150 years ago and became leaders in the struggle for equality. Nasa McCurdy Jr. was a church leader and a school trustee, a man at the centre of the oldest black community in Canada. He became an important figure in the Underground Railroad movement, helping black slaves escape from America.” – Curio.ca

*Part of the Black History Month Collection on Curio.ca.

Read more:

• Black History Month: An interview with Lawrence Hill (Canadian Museum of Human Rights)
• Black History in Canada (Canadian Encyclopedia) 

The month of February is all about affairs of the heart. This Valentine’s Day, while you are taking time to remember your sweetheart, always remember February is the month where the Heart and Stroke campaign asks you to remember the perils of heart disease.

February is Heart Month

Heart disease and stroke take one life every 7 minutes, and 90% of Canadians have at least one risk factor. Heart Month is the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s key opportunity to reach millions of Canadians in February and alert them to the risks of heart disease and stroke. Volunteers are the face and the voice of the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Heart Month is a critical time when we depend on you to share our message.

In February, the “Heart and Stroke Foundation”  began a national canvassing campaign. The success of this program depends on its 100,000 volunteers, who make friendly, personal requests to their neighbours and online networks. Volunteers canvass for donations through the month of February, to support life-saving research and raise awareness of heart disease and stroke within their communities.

Notre Dame Campus Windows Display

Look for a “Heart” themed display in the showcase window just outside the Notre Dame Campus Library. As well you can check out some related items in our Library Collection. We have placed several of these items in our Notre Dame Campus window display.

With a well-deserved break fast approaching, we at RRC Library want to wish you all of the best in the holiday season and in the new year to come. Below are some highlights of the beautiful Christmas decorations put up by the Library staff this year. Enjoy!

Holiday Wreath at EDC Library

 

Christmas Tree at EDC Library Entrance

 

Christmas Display Behind Circulation Desk at NDC Library

 

Christmas Tree in NDC Library Sitting Area

Polar Bears at NDC Library

Christmas Light Display at EDC Library

 

Book Tree at NDC Library

CBC and NFB produce the best in informative documentaries and news reports that probe deeper into subjects that matter most to Canadians. The flood of Syrian refugees coming to Canada is a recent concern for Canadians. This blog post lists documentaries that provide a thoughtful investigation what it means to be a refugee (Syrian or otherwise).

CURIO: Syrian Refugee Crisis: Lessons from Vietnamese Boat People 

CURIO: Syrian Refugee Crisis: Lessons from Vietnamese Boat People

As desperate migrants from the Middle East and Africa make their way across Europe, many in Canada are reminded of another refugee crisis that hit close to home. In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Canada took in 60,000 refugees, at the time often called the “Vietnamese boat people.” CBC reporter Judy Trinh was four years old when her family fled from Vietnam.

CURIO: The Journey from Syria to Canada 

CURIO: The Journey from Syria to Canada

Danny Ramadan fled war-torn Syria in 2011 and eventually came to Vancouver in September 2014.

NFB: Tree That Remembers

NFB: Tree That Remembers

In 1992 a young Iranian student hanged himself on the outskirts of a small Ontario town. Having escaped the Ayatollah’s regime and found a new home in Canada, he could not escape his past. In this film, Masoud Raouf documents the experiences of Iranian-Canadians – former political prisoners like himself – who were active in the Iranian democratic movement and continue to struggle with the past.

NFB: Who Gets In? 

NFB: Who Gets In?

Explores the many questions raised by Canada’s immigration policy in the face of one of the world’s largest immigration movements. Shot in 1988 in Africa, Canada and Hong Kong, the film reveals first-hand what Canadian immigration officials are looking for in potential new Canadians, and the economic, social and political priorities orienting their choices.

“Poppies by Benoit Aubry of Ottawa” by Benoit Aubry  (Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)

Make remembrance more than something you feel. Make it something you do.

Each year, from November 5 to 11, Canadians join together to celebrate Veterans’ Week – this year is no different. During this week, hundreds of commemorative ceremonies and events will take place across the country to recognize the achievements of our Veterans and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

This Veterans’ Week, take the remembrance challenge. There are many ways to show that you remember and honour our Veterans. Visit the Veteran’s Week Web site for more information.

As well you can check out some related items in our Library Collection. We have placed several of these items in our Notre Dame Campus window display. Have a look when you come by, or check out the list of items here: http://library.rrc.ca/Search/Window-Display.aspx

In Flanders Fields : the story of the poem by John McCrae

Included in our window display is “In Flanders Fields : the story of the poem by John McCrae”.  In May 2015 the poem “In Flanders Fields,” will mark 100 years since it was written. This special edition book serves to celebrate that anniversary.

Over the years, John McCrae’s poem has been recited by many generations who continue to cherish the underlying message of respect for the fallen and a longing for peace.

In this book, the lines of the celebrated poem are interwoven with fascinating information about the First World War (1914-1918) and details of daily life in the trenches in Europe. Also included are accounts of McCrae’s experience in his field hospital and the circumstances that led to the writing of “In Flanders Fields.”   (Goodreads.com)

Lest we forget.

The EBSCOhost mobile app is made for the smaller screens of mobile devices, and offers the most important EBSCOHost features and functionality right in the palm of your hand.

There is also an added bonus. Once you have successfully loaded a validation key into your mobile device you do not have to enter a username and password every time you use the app.

To get started, follow the instructions below, or check out our “EBSCOHost Mobile” online guide.  You may also inquire at the Library Reference Desk for printed instructions.

 Instructions

Step 1: Get the APP

1. Download the free EBSCOhost app on your mobile device from within your device’s App Store. (Apple and Android only)

Step 2: Get the Validation Key

1. Launch your web browser, from within your mobile device or your computer.
2. Go to http://library.rrc.ca
3. Click on “Search EBSCOhost Articles” in the left-hand menu
4. Log in with your college username and password
5. Click on “Continue”
6. You should arrive at the EBSCOhost Article Search Page. Now, look at the bottom of the page (in the footer) for a link titled “iPhone and Android apps”. Note: if you are using a device that automatically simplifies pages for mobile devices you may need to select to view “full site” in order to see this link at the bottom of the page.
7. A popup will come up, asking you to input an email address.  Be sure to insert an email address that you can access on your mobile device. EBSCOhost will now send a special key to this email address.

Step 3: Load the key

1. On your mobile device, open up the email you receive from ephost@epnet.com and click on the link: “tap this authentication key”.
2. That will launch the EBSCOhost application. You will now have access to EBSCOHost on your device until the key code you’ve received has expired.

Instructions on how to use the EBSCOhost mobile application may also be be found on the EBSCOHost website, or by doing a web search for “EBSCOhost Mobile Access”.

Check out the window display at the Notre Dame Campus Library.

Ally Week is a national youth-led effort empowering students to be allies against anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) bullying, harassment and name-calling.

It is usually held in September or October, often coinciding with National Coming Out Day on October 11, and October also being LGBT History Month. The event started in October 2005 and has grown since. This year Ally Week takes place October 12-16, 2015.

The goal of Ally Week is to diminish stereotypes and exclusion while highlighting that peer support for LGBT students is stronger than the students themselves may have thought existed. People across the country can engage in a national dialogue about how everyone in and out of school can work to become better allies to LGBT youth.

Visit our the Notre Dame Campus Window Display

To increase LGBTT* awareness Library Services set up a window display at Notre Dame Campus where you can find additional information about the LGBTT* initiative at RRC. As well, the RRC Library has many LGBTT* themed items in its collection. Check out some of the items that are currently on display in the Notre Dame Campus window display.

List of Items: http://library.rrc.ca/Search/Window-Display.aspx