Holiday Hours Update for Burnaby and Vancouver campuses: Dec 29- Dec 30: 8:00 am- 5:30 pm. Dec 31: 8:00 am - 2:00 pm. Jan 1: Closed for New Year's Day. Alexander College will re-open on Friday January 2, 8:00 am- 5:30 pm.
Looking to change some bad old habits, or (perhaps) pick up a few good ones? A new year brings with it timely opportunities to invigorate our routine with new resolutions. The Library is an excellent place for you to come and gather some inspiration and resources to help facilitate personal growth and change as we go boldly into 2026. 😊
I (personally) would really love to get some personal reading done in the new year. In 2025 I only read 45 books (cover to cover). Alas, my reading list is about as long as the Trans-Canada Highway—roughly 7,800 km of good intentions. 🙃 I have some serious doubts that I’ll ever reach the end.
If you want the comprehensive list of books I read in 2025: come back with a warrant.
More Importantly!
There are some definite areas of personal growth that I’m hoping to explore at our Library, namely: learning more about decolonization, Indigenization, and what I can do as a Librarian, citizen, and friend to better support the Alexander College community (and beyond).
I am also trying to learn as much as I can about artificial intelligence (AI) and the ethical implications of this new and emerging technology as it becomes more widespread in our daily lives. If you have any recommendations about either of these topics (or any others) let us know by filling out the form here.
Going into 2026, there are two big initiatives we’re undertaking at the Library that I’m excited to share with you today:
I could talk at length about the various issues associated with the Library of Congress Classification System (LCC) and why it’s one of the most complex topics of discussion within librarianship – despite its use in most academic libraries across the continent.
In 2025, something that the Library team began undertaking is the shift towards using a new classification system explicitly for our Indigenous materials: the Brian Deer Classification System (BDC). As the team moves forward with building Alexander College’s own classification scheme within this system, there will be more information that will be given to Alexander College patrons.
The intent is that these materials will be shelved in a designated area within the Library with this new classification system in place. For those of us that are more visual learners, some imagery (to help you think about the way that this system operates) would be ripples in a pond, with community values at the center:
If you’re curious and want to chat more about this new initiative, I can be reached at r.ardron@alexandercollege.ca !
We want the Library to feel like a non-judgmental space that anyone can come to with their thoughts and questions regarding AI. Be it through booking a research help appointment (through myWConline), coming to the counter to chat with any of our helpful & friendly staff, or through scheduling an AI Literacy Workshop by emailing either of the Librarians or contacting the Library directly at library@alexandercollege.ca . We are here to support you as we all learn more about this new and emerging technology, together! 😊
In the new year, on Thursday January 22nd, I am excited to write that myself and Taylor Breckles (Sessional Instructor & ISC staff) will be facilitating an AI Literacy Workshop at the Alexander College Library, Vancouver branch, that will focus on using this new tech in academic contexts.
Attendance and participation in this workshop will qualify for a micro credential.
This year alone there were over 62,000 physical items loaned at our front counter. Not accounting for reshelving, maintenance, labelling, cataloguing, and everything else that it takes to keep things operational– this work truly could not have been done without the dedicated and hardworking staff that help keep our ship afloat. Patrons like you help make the Alexander College Library as great as it is.
This year we welcomed on a few new Library Technicians, as well as one new Librarian. The sense of community and camaraderie are what really make serving this College an outstanding experience. We really couldn’t have had as great of a year as it’s been without the AC Community’s unwavering support. 😊
Wishing you success and happiness in the New Year,
The AC Library Team
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
+1 604-435-5815
4805 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
V5H 4T6 Canada
+1 604-681-5815
#100 - 570 Dunsmuir St
Vancouver, BC
V6B 1Y1 Canada
