No. 488 - August 10, 2022

  • Coming Events:

    - FIMS Homecoming Human Library

  • Important Dates:

    - Friday, August 12, 2022 - Last day of classes for FIMS graduate programs
    - Monday, September 5, 2022 - Labour Day holiday (FIMS offices closed, no classes)
    - Thursday, September 8, 2022 - First day of classes for FIMS graduate and undergraduate programs

  • Awards & Accomplishments:

    - Andy Cowley
    - Amanda Jenkins
    - Hugh Samson

  • Publications & Presentations:

    - Selma Purac
    - Anabel Quan-Haas
    - Jinman Zhang

  • In the Media:

    - Isola Ajiferuke
    - Alissa Centivany
    - Alison Hearn
    - Joanna Redden
    - Sarah Smith
    - Luke Stark

  • News from the FIMS Graduate Library:

    - New FIMS Graduate Library Director
    - Call for Student Library Assistants (2022-2023 Academic Year)
    - Library Hours
    - Course Reserves for Grad Programs
    - Photocopy Bank

  • Next Issue:


Coming Events


FIMS Homecoming Human Library
Friday, September 23, 2022
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cohen Commons, John Labatt Visual Art Centre
Description: Join us for a Homecoming Human Library event! Designed to break down barriers around challenging topics, Human Library events offer the opportunity for one-on-one conversations that will broaden your understanding and provide deep intellectual engagement. Professors from the the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the Faculty of Information & Media Studies will serve as “books” for this event. Alumni and friends can select “books” for conversation. Each “book” will give a brief introduction to stimulating questions currently being asked about their topics – and then alumni and friends are free to ask questions. For more information and to register, visit the Alumni Event page.


Important Dates


- Friday, August 12, 2022 - Last day of classes for FIMS graduate programs
- Monday, September 5, 2022 - Labour Day holiday (FIMS offices closed, no classes)
- Thursday, September 8, 2022 - First day of classes for FIMS graduate and undergraduate programs


Awards & Accomplishments


MLIS student Andy Cowley was revealed as this term's winner of the Spirit of Librarianship award, while LIS PhD student Hugh Samson was named winner of the Fantastic FIMS award. Both awards are given out each term by the MLISSC. See past winners.

Amanda Jenkins, MA Media Studies candidate, successfully defended her thesis Instagram Influencers and their Youngest Female Followers on August 3.


Publications & Presentations


Assistant Professor Selma Purac presented a paper titled "Hares, Horror, and Silence" at the Creaturely Fear: Animality and Horror Cinema conference, which was held in Sheffield, UK on July 21-22.

Professor Anabel Quan-Haase and Media Studies PhD student Jinman Zhang presented the following tutorial on July 18:

Zhang, J. and Quan-Haase, A. (2022). WeChat: Methods and best research practices (Tutorial). The 12th International Conference on Social Media & Society, Online.


In the Media


Research projects from professors Isola Ajiferuke, Alissa Centivany, Alison Hearn, Joanna Redden, Luke Stark and Sarah Smith were featured on the FIMS website in an article titled "FIMS projects supported by the Strategic Priorities Funding program," published in July.


News from the FIMS Graduate Library


New FIMS Graduate Library Director

Melanie Mills joined FIMS as an Associate Librarian and the incoming Director, FIMS Graduate Library, on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022. Melanie comes to FIMS after serving as Director of Library & Learning Services at Huron University College for six years, and twelve years as an academic librarian with Western Libraries. Melanie looks forward to working with FIMS faculty, students, and staff in the weeks, months, and years to come. Pop by the Library to say hello!

Call for Student Library Assistants (2022-2023 Academic Year)

Each year, the FIMS Graduate Library hires a handful of LIS students to work part-time in public service and project-based roles. Currently enrolled students who have completed, or who will complete LIS 9003 by the end of August 2022 and who are keen to gain hands-on experience in a small, special academic library environment are encouraged to contact Melanie Mills (melanie.mills@uwo.ca) directly. Eligible candidates must be available to work on-site, part-time (evenings and/or weekends) through the Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 academic terms. Students who meet the above criteria are encouraged to submit a current resume and brief statement of interest as soon as possible by emailing Melanie, with the email subject line: 'Grad Library SLA Role, Expression of Interest'. Only those candidates selected for an information interview will be contacted. Thank you.

Library Hours

Summer Term Hours (until Wednesday, September 7th)
Monday - Thursday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Fridays, 8:30am - 1:30pm

Fall Term Hours (beginning Thursday, September 8th)
Monday - Thursday, 8:30am - 7:00pm
Fridays, 8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturdays, 1:00 - 5:00pm

NB: The Library is closed Sundays and designated University holidays.

Course Reserves for Grad Programs

If you are teaching in the Fall term, please forward course reserve requests to fimsreserves@uwo.ca, or stop by the Graduate Library's service desk with your course outline and library staff will be glad to help!

Photocopy Bank

Please recycle your unwanted articles in our photocopy bank. Drop them by the service desk and we'll file them for reuse!


Next Issue


The Grad Bulletin is your source for news, announcements, and events pertaining to FIMS graduate programs. Submissions from the FIMS community are always welcome and may be sent via e-mail to fims-communications@uwo.ca.

This is the final summer issue of the Grad Bulletin. The next issue will be published on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. The deadline for submissions is noon on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.