Data and Digital Scholarship

The University of Toronto Scarborough Library is thrilled to announce the third cohort of the Sophia Hilton Library Storytelling Fellowship. This initiative program continues to foster a vibrant community of storytellers who explore and celebrate diverse cultural narratives through innovative and creative means.

The Fellowship is designed to support students in developing their storytelling skills, with a focus on Tamil cultural heritage and community engagement. This year, we are proud to welcome three exceptional fellows who bring unique perspectives and a deep passion for Tamil culture and storytelling.

Meet the 2024-25 Library Storytelling Fellows

Bhavana Akilan

4th year student

Major in Neuroscience, Minors in Psychology and Health Humanities

Bhavana draws inspiration from the Tamil poet Kaniyan Pungundranar’s quote, “Yaadhum oore, yaavarum kelir,” which translates to “people everywhere are my kith and kin.” She aims to reflect on renowned Tamil literature through the lens of present-day youth experiences. Bhavana aspires to use devised theatre to co-create characters based on lived experiences, advocating for mental health awareness among second- and third-generation immigrant Tamil students through her work in the Fellowship.

Jyotshana Chaileyndrachankar

3rd year student

Major in Human Biology, Immunology, and History

Jyotshana’s deep-rooted passion for Tamil culture and storytelling is evident in her extensive background in Tamil cultural arts. She has performed classical dance, played the Veena, and participated in various storytelling workshops. Jyotshana aims to preserve and promote Tamil heritage through innovative storytelling and performances, collaborating with like-minded individuals to celebrate Tamil culture.

Amari Lukshmi Sabeshan

2nd year student

Neuroscience specialist

As a second-generation Canadian with Sri Lankan roots, Amari is dedicated to sharing the beauty of Tamil culture. She believes in promoting Tamil culture through artistic performances, including Bharathanatyam, a South Asian dance style. Amari seeks to use various media to depict classic Tamil stories, fostering cultural appreciation and understanding within the Scarborough University community.

The Sophia Hilton Library Storytelling Fellowship not only provides leadership experience but also helps fellows gain a deeper appreciation for Tamil culture while building lasting connections. We look forward to the innovative projects and contributions from this year’s fellows.

For more information about the Library Storytelling Fellowship, please visit our information page, or view past Fellows project in our Digital Tamil Studies project.

As we prepare for another inspiring academic year, the library is reaching out to share the latest developments in Research & Digital Initiatives (RDI). Whether you’re a seasoned researcher or just dipping your toes into the digital waters, there’s something here for everyone.

What’s in the Library Dispatch?

• Cutting-Edge Research Tools: Discover resources that can enhance your scholarly pursuits.
• Data Support Initiatives: Unleash the potential of your research data with the library.
• Innovative Collaborations: Explore exciting partnerships and interdisciplinary projects.

Have questions or feedback? Reach out to our Associate Librarian Research & Digital Initiatives. You can also reach out to your Liaison Librarian to learn more about any of the items listed below.

Request Data & Digital Literacy Workshops 🎓

As you plan for the fall semester, consider partnering with the library to weave data and digital literacy workshops into your course. Your students will thank you! Plus, it’s a fantastic opportunity to empower them with essential skills for the digital age.  

New Resource Alert: Sage Data 🌐📊

The library has purchased access to Sage Data, an all-in-one data discovery hub. Explore, visualize, and share meticulously curated data from over 550 U.S. and international databases. Whether you’re an independent researcher or a classroom trailblazer, Sage Data empowers you. 

Access Sage Data online! 

Writing a grant and need a data management plan? 💰

The DMP Assistant is a national, online, bilingual data management planning tool developed by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (the Alliance) to assist researchers in preparing DMPs (Data Management Plans). This tool is freely available to all researchers and develops a DMP through a series of key data management questions, supported by best-practice guidance and examples. 

Check out the DMP Assistant online!

Sophia Hilton Storytelling Fellowship – Applications Open! 📚💡

Calling all folklore enthusiasts! Encourage students with a passion for cultural documentation to apply for the Scarborough Library Storytelling Fellowship. They’ll immerse themselves in Tamil folk culture, host captivating events, and get paid! The next info session is on Friday, September 6, from 12-1 p.m. ET. 

Don’t miss out—applications are due by September 15!

Celebrating the Campus 60th 📣

Discover the rich tapestry of U of T Scarborough’s past through the Memory Project. Immerse yourself in digitized materials—student newspapers, captivating images, and insightful interviews—that chronicle our campus history. 

Do you have resources to contribute? Reach out to us and be part of preserving our legacy!

Library Focus Groups: What does Research Mean to You? 📅

The University of Toronto Libraries’ Research Supports Task Force is running a series of focus groups for faculty and graduate students between now and September to help understand how researchers think about their work, how they plan and undertake their research from start to finish, and how they use the library.  

There will be a focus group held on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus on August 22nd, 2024, from 1:00-2:30pm coffee, tea and treats will be provided! 

Register online to be part of the conversation!

Keep an eye out for our next Dispatch in October.

After months of dedication and creativity, the UTSC Storytelling fellows invite you to attend their performance of "The Land of the Golden River".

On March 28, join us at 6:30 p.m. in 1265 Bistro (lower level of the Student Centre), as they bring this enchanting epic to life right before your eyes. 

Through the guidance of Dr. Brenda Beck, the fellows have prepared dramatic monologues to honour the oral folk epic told by skillful bards. 

Don't miss this chance to enjoy a night of storytelling. Save your seat now. 

We look forward to seeing you on March 28!

Introducing the faces behind this year’s U of T Scarborough Library Sophia Hilton Storytelling Fellowship: Thara, Sanah, and Akshayaa. These remarkable individuals are the heart of the UTSC Library Storytelling Fellowship 2023-24.

Under the guidance of Anthropologist Dr. Brenda Beck, Thara, Sanah, and Akshayaa will be exploring the Legend of Ponnivala to life. For the oncoming eight months, these Fellows will be diving deep into the world of storytelling, with creative freedom to explore mythical and symbolic themes. The stories will be recorded for the UTSC Library’s Digital Tamil Collections.

We will share the final spring performance information as it comes together through the course of the fellowship and look forward to seeing you then.

From July 25-28 2023, UTSC Library was a proud host and sponsor (with Carnegie Mellon University Libraries and the University of Prince Edward Island’s Robertson Library) of IslandoraCon 2023.

This conference brings together an international community of librarians and technologists that contribute to the Software Project “Islandora,” an open-source digital asset management system used by galleries, libraries, archives and museums to support digital asset management and preservation.

Islandora powers the digital scholarship projects of the library such as the Memory project, community-partnership initiatives such as the Digital Tamil Studies project and Faculty research projects such as Arab Women’s Writing and Scarborough Oral Histories.

“Publishing open-source software tools allows other institutions to benefit from the work that is done locally to support collections, digital scholarship, and research data management,” notes Chief Librarian Angela Hamilton.

“Our collaborations with the Islandora community are part of the way the library fosters Inclusive Excellence. Among other things, students working through the library’s Emerging Professionals program benefit from Islandora’s network of international memory institutions and service providers.”

Over four days of training and programming, forty developers, librarians, Faculty members and service providers gathered to share software tools and strategize for the future of Islandora.

Associate Dean of Libraries of Digital Strategy at Simon Fraser University and Islandora Foundation Board chair, Mark Jordan, says:

“We are grateful to the University of Toronto Scarborough for hosting us this week. By working together across institutional borders, we can support our individual institution’s commitments to making the research produced at our institutions accessible.”

The UTSC Library is proud to announce the launch of our new Learning Objects Catalogue in celebration of Open Education Week, March 6-10, 2023.

Furthering the library's commitment to Open Education Resources (OER), LEARN is a repository with a mission to collect, catalogue, and preserve a wide range of Learning Objects created at the UTSC Library in order to highlight the pedagogical tools that are being created and share resources with internal partners and external colleagues.

LEARN will allow for the ongoing sharing and repurposing of objects for teaching and learning. You can find videos tutorials and workshop materials on data literacy, data visualization, video editing, audio editing, and many more commonly sought after lessons provided by the UTSC Library.

All of the materials found in LEARN are openly licensed and revised prior to inclusion for accessibility compliance by members of the UTSC Library team. Feel free to reuse them, repurpose them, or remix them. 

Start browsing the collection.

Join us at Open2U March 10th and attend Exploring Open Resources to find out more about LEARN and other open repositories and directories. 

Learn at Your Own Pace

Our course is designed for students to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. With a range of modules covering topics such as cleaning data, sorting, and pivot tables, you can choose the areas you need to focus on most.

Easy-to-Use Modules

Our Data literacy Series is open to everyone and is easily accessible through U of T's learning platform, Quercus. With both Google Sheets and MS Excel used in the course, it extends the reach of the library's data literacy instruction into the community where access to Microsoft products may not be available.

In-Course Integration for Instructors

Faculty can assign specific modules into their courses, where introductory data skills are required. With 10 self-directed modules on Quercus and accompanying quizzes, faculty can assign as many or as few as needed.

Earn CCR Credit

To receive co-curricular credit, students must complete the following requirements:

• Complete all 10 self-directed modules on Quercus
• Pass all module quizzes
• Submit a one-page reflection connecting what they learned about data to their personal, academic, or professional trajectory.

Start your Data Literacy Journey Today!

Sign up for the UTSC Library Foundational Data Literacy Skills Course and take your data literacy skills to the next leve. With our open and accessible course, you can learn at your own pace and earn CCR credit for your efforts. Sign up now!

The U of T Scarborough Library is pleased to announce an open call for the fourth cohort of the UTSC Library Storytelling Fellowship. This Fellowship provides up to three students the opportunity to spend October 2024 – April 2025 immersed in the art and practice of storytelling, developing skills while promoting and documenting Tamil folk culture. 

Please take note that the program has changed its structure from last year. 

Apply Here!

Application deadline is September 15, 2024.

In this Page

• Introduction 
• Commitment & Compensation 
• Role of Fellows 
• Eligibility & Application
• Submission Documents 
• Information Sessions

Introduction

Storytelling Fellows will collaborate with Library staff and appropriate partners to coordinate and host 4 open storytelling events over the year, with a focus on folk stories and performance (old and new) relevant to the Tamil population.  The final event must have a performance element either coordinated or performed directly by the Storytelling Fellows. Where possible and appropriate, these events should be recorded and added to the Digital Tamil Studies collections.  

Through these events, students will have the chance to network and collaborate with U of T Scarborough and wider community groups based on their areas of interest and focus (see: Application process). 

Commitment & Compensation

Students must commit an average of 4 hours a week to the Fellowship between September and April to receive compensation for the Fellowship. A further budget is allocated for costs related to events, such as catering or honorariums. Fellows will receive $4,000 over the Fellowship. Details of compensation and commitment will also be described in our Information Sessions. 

Role of Fellows

You will participate in the planning and execution of 4 events, collaborating and networking with members of the U of T and wider community and will host the events (introducing speakers).  

Sample events could include invited speakers on Tamil-relevant storytelling topics (specific stories or artistic practices) or workshops on special storytelling-relevant topics (elements of digital storytelling, community archiving, or promoting other performance skills).  

The events should reflect your specific interests in Storytelling, outlined in your application.  

In past years, students have focused on the Legend of Ponnivala (alternately: The Land of the Golden River) based on the collected research works of Anthropologist Dr. Brenda Beck, creating new interpretations and performances of this Tamil folk epic. The U of T Scarborough Library stewards Dr. Beck’s work on the topic, including animations and graphic novels.  

Eligibility & Application Process  

We encourage you to apply if you are interested in storytelling, community building, education and/or arts/performance. Past Fellows have represented a range of disciplines, and we ask only that you have enthusiasm for the topics and skills developed in this Fellowship.  

The UTSC Library is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where different perspectives and experiences are valued. Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply. Also, students must be registered at the University of Toronto as a full-time student, and past their first year of study at the start of the Fellowship. Priority will be given to students who are at U of T Scarborough or have experience or affiliation with the campus. 

Apply Here!

Submission Documents

• Unofficial transcripts
• CV (Curriculum Vitae)
• Statement of Interest

Submit required paperwork to dsu@utsc.utoronto.ca - deadline September 15, 2024. 

Statement of Interest

In your statement of interest, please let us know  

• your interest or connection to Tamil culture (students need not be Tamil),  
• an idea for a storytelling event or performance that would promote or document folk Tamil culture
• your relevant experience (this could include languages you know, musical expertise, or experience with storytelling/drama clubs and live performance).  
• how you believe this storytelling Fellowship will prepare you to meet future goals.   

Information Sessions

Learn more in our Zoom Virtual Information Sessions (registration required from U of T Zoom Accounts).

If you are interested in the Fellowship but cannot make an information session, or have additional questions, please contact us at dsu.utsc@utoronto.ca.

We live in a world of information, and the knowledge we share matters: it can challenge or uphold the systemic barriers that many in our communities face. This February, we invite you to join your library in making the world of information more inclusive in the Black Histories Edit-a-thon!

Join us Feb 8, 1–2:30 p.m. EST for a kick-off panel event featuring:

• Moderator: Funké Aladejebi, University of Toronto historian and co-editor of Unsettling the Great White North: Black Canadian History - available through U of T Libraries
• Debbie Ebanks Schlums, multidisciplinary artist and PhD candidate in Cinema and Media Arts at York University
• Jonsaba Jabbi, writer, storyteller, and co-founder of Building A Black Archive (BABA)

🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/3kiVrUj

Then, every Friday in February, join your library for facilitated editing sessions on Zoom: you can learn the basics or get a refresher on editing Wikipedia and Wikidata, then write alongside others who are passionate about improving digital coverage of Black histories and experiences. No prior editing experience is required.

This event is organized by U of T Libraries, York University Libraries, Toronto Metropolitan University Library, and Toronto Public Library. We look forward to seeing you!

Editing sessions

Celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth by helping improve coverage of Black histories! Our Wikipedia/Wikidata editing sessions are every Friday in February:

📅 Fri, Feb 3, 1–4 pm
📅 Fri, Feb 10, 10 am–1 pm
📅 Fri, Feb 17, 1–4 pm
📅 Fri, Feb 24, 10 am–1 pm
🔰 No editing experience required
🔗 Register: https://buff.ly/3kiVrUj

The UTSC Library is proud to celebrate Tamil Heritage, not just in January, but year-round through our physical and digital collections, as well as unique opportunities for students. A few Tamil initiatives in the library are celebrated below!  

Kongu Nadu Collection 

Social Anthropologist Prof. Brenda Beck has dedicated her career to researching the folklore of TamilNadu. She has donated the digital versions of her research archive to the UTSC Library. The archive consists of photographs, audio, animations, comics, field notes, and  research publications.  

Between 1964 and 1966, she lived in the village of Olappalayam (ஓலப்பாளையம்), 6 miles East of the town of Kangayam in Tamil Nadu. During this time, Dr. Beck collected a wealth of primary research materials with the assistance of K. Sundaram.  

This collection, curated and described in collaboration with a postdoctoral Fellow at UTSC (Shanmugapriya) makes available images, documents, and digitized recordings describing festivals, ceremonies, and rituals. In particular, the collection of folksongs and folk tales  are distinctive to the Kongu Nadu region. Together, this collection provides a window into the cultural landscape of Kongu Nadu in the mid 1960s.

Explore the collection. 

Tamil Digital Symposium Event 

Hosted by the UTSC Digital Scholarship Unit, the Digital Tamil Studies Virtual Symposium on January 21, 2023, was open to the public and attended by individuals from across the globe!  

Digital Tamil Studies is a wide-ranging field of digital scholarship that engages interdisciplinary scholars, computing experts, and the public in the production of open research and resources in Tamil. 

This virtual event brought together our research and collections development community to promote projects and discuss the intersection of Tamil language collections and digital research.  

Presented in both Tamil and English, the symposium featured a series of speakers, as well as a workshop on Historical/Counter-Mapping QGIS.  

The recorded sessions will be made available online soon!  

Sophia Hilton Storytelling Fellowship 

The UTSC Library Storytelling Fellowship provides up to three students the opportunity to spend eight months immersed in the art and practice of storytelling. 

Our 2022-2023 Fellows, Senthujan Senkaiahliyan and Bhargavi Arora are currently planning this year’s story, to be released late-spring 2023.  

Senthujan Senkaiahliyan is a graduate student at the University of Toronto currently enrolled in the Masters of Health Administration program at the Dalla School of Public Health. He is also pursuing a masters specialization in South Asian Studies at the Asian Institute within the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. He previously completed an undergrad in human biology and socio-cultural anthropology at the University of Toronto. He works in the field of using artificial intelligence for health systems improvement and increasing access to quality and efficient health care. Furthermore he is passionate about Tamil studies exploring topics related to oral histories, generational migration patterns, and kinship relations. He hopes to promote storytelling methods to inspire Tamils in the diaspora to reconnect and preserve narratives within their own families. 

Bhargavi Arora is a psychology specialist co-op student currently in her second year. Even though she is from North India, she has always had a sense of admiration for the traditional Tamil culture which led her to learn Bharatanatyam professionally. She is a voracious reader and likes to explore classical literature from different parts of the world. Interacting with people from different cultures and learning about them is one of her favourite things to do. Bhargavi shared, “I am very grateful to UTSC library for providing this opportunity to learn from esteemed anthropologist Dr. Beck and for giving me a chance to exhibit my passion for storytelling and script-writing". 

Are you interested in storytelling? Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 Fellowship!  

Apply for the UTSC Library Storytelling Fellowship 2023-24

Interested in more Tamil collections? Check out our digital Tamil collections.