Orientation Now & Then

Library table at Discover McGill (Molson Stadium), 2019Library table at the McGill Street Fair, 2010Library Ice Cream Social, 2017McGill Services Fair, McLennan Library Building, 2011Amazing Library Race, 2013Library table at McGill Parents Tent, 2017Principal Heather Munroe-Blum meets student navigators at the Library's "Meet the Stars" Orientation event, 2008Photo booth at the Library's Ice Cream Social, 2018Library table at Discover McGill orientation event for grad students, 2017Touch table featuring Library Quiz, 2017Library Ice Cream Social at Macdonald Campus, 2019Parents Tent Breakfast at Schulich Library, 2007Library tour, 2014

Orientation activities at McGill Library come in all shapes and sizes. Over the years the Library has participated in “meet & greets”, tours, workshops, scavenger hunts, tabling events, ice cream socials, service fairs, games, photo booths…even physical exhibits for war veterans (see The McGill Daily article from 1945 below). Some spaces and policies may have changed (e.g. stack access has definitely opened up since 1938, see The McGill Daily article below) but one thing has withstood the test of time – Library staff members have always been around to help people find what they need.

In 2020, the Library’s orientation activities including workshops took on a virtual form. A new LibGuide, Library à la Maison, was created as a one-stop shop for virtual resources. In addition, the rare books and special collections unit ROAAr created three interactive games that allowed users to explore library spaces, places, and collections from the comfort of their homes.

Although programming large scale, on-site events is not possible for the Fall 2021 term, the Library’s Orientation Committee along with Humanities & Social Sciences Library’s Outreach Assistants Vanja Lugonjic and Maya Willard-Stepan decided to bring some fun to new and old students alike with a colourful, information-filled Welcome Handbook that is sure to be a staple for those wishing to access basic orientation information, wellness resources as well as tips & tricks to help you get started at the Library. Find the Library’s Welcome Handbook on our orientation page, access it online, or view it below. La rentrée can be overwhelming…especially this year. We hope our orientation efforts help as you begin to explore the Library’s extensive collections, resources, and spaces.

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