Over the years, McGill University has acquired a leading position in the Canadian research arena. With this innovation-driven environment in mind, the McGill Library has subscribed to the complete package of SAGE e-resources, equipping students, researchers, and faculty with an expansive reference collection; research methods journals, videos, and texts; and content emphasizing critical thinking, data analysis, and computational tools.
source: https://sk.sagepub.com
For a brief outline of the resources available and links to the databases, read the following:
SAGE Books: hosts titles on topics across the social sciences. It includes academic and supplementary titles that contribute to the knowledge base of students and researchers, foundational books in core areas of research and debate, accessible student references, and numerous practical professional titles in education. The SAGE Book platform allows you to search by Discipline or Content Type, making research all the more streamlined.
SAGE Journals: supporting both gold open access publication and green open access archiving, the database covers e-journals in areas of business & management, communication & media studies, humanities & social sciences, health, psychiatry, nursing, pharmacology and neuroscience.
SAGE Knowledge:cross-media platform for SAGE books, business cases, research and video content for the social sciences.
SAGE Research Methods: provides material to guide users through every step of the research process. A methods library with more than 1000 books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos by academics from across the social sciences.
SAGE Skills Business: self-guided content for students to learn essential business skills in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership, organizational communication, professionalism, and data analytics.
SAGE Video: platform for educational video content across key social, behavioural, and health science disciplines. Includes closed-captioning and selected audio description. Content is cite-able with searchable transcripts, custom clip creation, embedding options.
All the resources cited above can be accessed through your McGill Library account. Simply sign in with your institutional (McGill) email, and from the Library Homepage go to ‘Databases A-Z’ under ‘Find’. You may type ‘Sage’ in the database search bar, or alternatively, click on ‘S’ to be taken directly to a list of the databases.
You may direct any related queries or general questions through email to us at hssl.library@mcgill.ca.
Over the last two years, McGill Library has acquired several new documentaries (new to the library that is) on a range of subjects, from globalization to refugee stories to Indigenous tattoo art. All of the films (and one TV series) on this list were requested by faculty and teaching staff from sociology, anthropology, and social work. Some lucky students watched these films as part of their courses, but they deserve a chance to be viewed by a wider audience.
Each time I clicked play on one of these films, to test the sound and quality, I found myself wishing I could watch it all the way through to the end. Documentary films let people tell raw and powerful stories – personal and political stories – that can both educate and entertain. Consider taking some time before the busy school year starts to watch one (or more!) of these films, or any of the many films we have access to through McGill Library.
Every summer the patients and staff of the La Borde Psychiatric Clinic stage a theatrical performance. Focusing on the 1995 production of Operetta, this fascinating film reveals the porous boundary between sanity and madness. Philibert’s unobtrusive observations force us to re-examine conventional assumptions about what is normal and what is not. ~ from the catalogue record
More than a dozen men and women of different Asian backgrounds speak frankly about their lives as members of a minority within a minority. They speak about coming out, homophobia, racism, cultural identity and the ways that being gay and Asian have shaped who they are. ~ from the distributor’s website www.twn.org
A fascinating look into the lives and thoughts of seven Queer Canadians of South, East, and Southeast Asian backgrounds as they look back on ORIENTATIONS, a 1984 documentary in which they featured. How have they changed? And how has the world around them evolved and changed? ~ from the distributor’s website www.twn.org
Prominent Chinese writers recount their own lives and literary careers, which allows the film to weave a 70-year spiritual history of the Chinese people. ~ from the Kanopy website
With breathtaking emotional honesty, this tender, funny, and powerful portrait of transgender comedian Julia Scotti explores the unrelenting courage and humor it takes to be Julia. ~ from IMDB
Follows the stories of LGBT refugees and asylum seekers from Africa and the Middle East as they flee persecution in their countries of origin to seek better and safer lives in the U.S. ~ from IMDB
Filmed on location in Salvador, Brazil (the last city in the Western Hemisphere to outlaw slavery) and Harlem, NY (an international stronghold of the African Diaspora), Many Thousands Gone draws parallels between a summer afternoon on the streets of the two cities. ~ from the catalogue record
The filmmaker speaks with elders in various communities in Nunavut, as well as members of her own family, about traditional women’s tattooing, a practice taboo for more than a century as a result of contact with Europeans and Christianity. ~ from the catalogue record
A 13-part documentary series exploring Indigenous tattooing traditions around the world. Each episode dives into a unique Indigenous culture to discover the tools and techniques, the symbols and traditions that shape their tattooing art. ~ from the catalogue record
Weaves together breathtaking present-day footage of Kahnawake with archival photos dating back over 80 years revealing the community’s way of life threatened by the Seaway. A poetic narration in the Kanien’kéha (Mohawk) language voices the community’s connection to the water. ~ from the catalogue record
Beginning in 2014, this film chronicles two years with the Oakland Police Department, which, in 2003, was put under federal oversight for misconduct and civil rights abuses. Relations between the department and the community are explored in the wake of nationally publicized police shootings and the advent of the Black Lives Matter Movement. ~ from the catalogue record
A glimpse into what happens when globalization meets an isolated Indigenous population now surrounded by melting glaciers. This intimate documentary follows a group of young adults living in Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland and chronicles their struggles with a new world that includes longer summers, and newly acquired access to modern amenities. ~ from the catalogue record
Captured over a period of five years within 18 communities, INDIAN TIME is a personal and current portrayal of the 11 Aboriginal nations of Qǔbec, where some forty people take turns speaking, allowing for exceptional encounters and immersing the viewer – eyes and heart – in this “Indian Time”. ~ from the catalogue record
This examination of cultural and economic globalization follows the life-cycle of Mardi Gras beads from a small factory in Fuzhou, China, to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and to art galleries in New York City. ~ from IMDB
Moving between a local microcosm and the global oil crisis, H2Oil weaves together a collection of compelling stories of people who are at the front lines of the biggest industrial project in human history: Canada’s tar sands. ~ from IMDB
Nostalgia de la Luz (Nostalgia for the Light) (2010)
A documentary about two different searches conducted in the Chilean Atacama Desert: one by astronomers looking for answers about the history of the cosmos, and one by women looking for the remains of loved ones killed by Pinochet’s regime. ~ from IMDB
With Bill 96 in the works and many discussions about the preservation of the French language in Quebec, it is a good time to begin or continue learning French. The McGill Library has many resources in the collection if you’re a beginner. Below will highlight some key online resources for you to drive into student mode. Remember to make this process fun: a new language uncovers a fresh way to look and interact with the world.
This guide focuses on just the core concepts you need to communicate effectively in French. The dummies franchise has perfected the way of making you an expert in numerous topics.
Common French phrases (days of the week, numbers, letters)
Pronunciation and conjugation tips and tricks
Grammar made easy
Useful words and terms
Helpful French-English and English-French dictionaries
With Learn French in a Hurry, you’ll master le francais right away!
For Audiobooks:
The McGill Library Overdrive has a great selection of audiobooks for the French language learners. There’s also an app called Libby you can use to listen along while you’re on the metro or walking to campus.
You can use specific filters to view the whole selection, or check out these suggestions:
“In this audiobook, Paul will introduce you to the basics of the French language and guide you through 2 hours of practical, everyday scenarios that will build your confidence. A native-speaking French expert will help you to perfect your pronunciation as you progress through the course and allow you to quickly make your new knowledge work for you in a variety of practical situations.”
The hosts are really fun in this one and as they chat after each lesson you learn a little more about the culture and grammar of the French language. “Interactive. Effective. And FUN! Discover or rediscover how fun learning a language can be with the future of language learning.”
Other Resources:
A major component of learning a new language is listening to others speak it. Our collections grant access to French movies and even children’s song books, and whole albums. Immerse yourself in the language.
If you would like to find out more, learn about Quebecois-French or even just practice reading in French, the curated library guide, Ressources en langue française, from Micheal-David Miller, Liaison Librarian for French Literature, is a great place to go. You can find even more resources to start engaging in French media through different outlets.
No matter your style of learning there is something at the McGill Library for you. Grab your headphones, journal, or conversation buddies and start today.
Bon chance!
If you have any questions, email hssl.library@mcgill.ca
