Seneca Polytechnic
AC-10: Support for Research

Over the past seven years, Seneca Libraries has transitioned to a 92% digital collection. With a current collection in excess of 187 databases, over 578,000 eBooks, 100,000 steaming videos, and 50,000 print resources, Seneca Libraries collection is well established to respond to a demand for sustainability research. Seneca's collection acquisition, maintenance and weeding guidelines provide clear sustainability procedures, including recycling appropriate titles to international dissemination organizations such as Better World Books. Within many of the 60 Seneca Libraries research Subject Guides, created using LibGuides by Springshare, are links to specific sustainability resources. Several examples of Subject Guides highlighting sustainability resources include: Environmental Sciences, Fashion and Business. Librarian Liaisons work closely with faculty to support curriculum development and highlight print and digital resources which complement and enhance research, beyond prescribed texts. Searches conducted through the Seneca Libraries AskUs service, indicate numerous questions received on sustainability issues, across a wide variety of subject areas, from students working on academic assignments. The learning objects are built to support multimodal and hybrid teaching and learning, in collaboration with the Teaching and Learning department, enabling research access to resources 24/7. Examples include our digital literacy Sandbox and our faculty Open Educational Resources Guide to promote improved access to resources as well as less paper and less expenditures for textual resources. Seneca Archives plays a role in supporting sustainability research, through specialized collections and liaison work that identifies, preserves and makes available for use, the documentary heritage and special collections of Seneca College. This service collects inactive records of long-term educational and informational value produced by the departments and faculties of Seneca, as well as the records of individuals and organizations closely associated with the College. The Archives' resources are open to the Seneca community and external users for the purposes of research, teaching, publication, and general interest. Seneca Libraries Digital Repositories, include digitized samples of student work from multiple programs, School of Fashion extensive collection as well as a unique art collection and photostock. Seneca Libraries, through leadership and collaboration with the Colleges Ontario Libraries (CLO) provincial consortium, has introduced The Learning Portal, providing easy, 24/7 access to an additional wide array of resources to support research across the Ontario community colleges. Seneca Libraries' vision, mission and values, support the overarching strategies and objectives found in Seneca’s 2017-2022 Strategic Plan, including to promote sustainable literacy through multiple innovative services and collaborative partnerships.