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Law Library Closed Canada Day

By elimwong on June 25, 2024

The Law Library will be CLOSED for Canada Day on Monday, July 1 Happy Canada Day!

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Revisiting the Y2K bug through open collections

By Lauren W on June 25, 2024

Remember the year 2000? As the clock ticked closer to midnight on December 31st, 1999, the world was preparing for the potential chaos of the infamous Y2K bug. In this week’s blog post, we’ll take a trip down memory lane and revisit some materials in our open collections that are related to the Y2K crisis!

Y2K bug – was it a real problem?

The answer is yes. The Y2K bug, also known as the millennium bug, was indeed real. As the year 2000 approached, there was widespread concern over computer systems and software because many used only two digits to represent the year, assuming the first two digits were “19”. This raised fears that when the year 2000 arrived, these systems would misinterpret it as 1900, potentially causing malfunctions in various systems. This concern led to a significant effort by companies and institutions worldwide to address the Y2K issue, with millions being spent on fixes and upgrades to computers and systems.

“Y2K Upgrade starting $499”, from the Ubyssey March issue 1999

Even institutions like UBC were not exempt from this undertaking:


UBC Reports, March issue, 1999  


UBC Reports, November issue, 1998

Having a designated Y2K coordinator, to a certain extent, really reflects the seriousness with which the institution approached the issue:

UBC Library Bulletin, 1999

However, not everyone viewed the issue with the same level of seriousness. Many approached it with humor, believing that nothing significant would occur. For example, in the December 1999 issue of “432”, a bi-weekly publication of UBC Science Undergraduate Society (UBC SUS), there was a satirical article that downplayed the Y2K panic, suggesting that nothing catastrophic will happen and that people’s concerns were overblown.


432, December issue, 1999

Advertisements also took the opportunity to humorously play on the Y2K theme:


Discorder, December issue, 1999

But did anything really happen?

Yes, but nothing too catastrophic. For example, radiation equipment at a nuclear power plant in Ishikawa, Japan, experienced a malfunction, but the facility’s backup systems prevented any danger to the public. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that preparations for Y2K began ahead of time, which likely contributed to the absence of significant disruptions.


An announcement made by the Kinesis team regarding their survival of the Y2K scare, from the February issue in 2000, Kinesis

So, will there be another crisis?

Potentially yes. The “year 2038 problem” poses some concern, stemming from the limitations of 32-bit processors and the systems they operate. These processors are the backbone of computers, responsible for numerical operations and program execution.  When the clock strikes 03:14:07 UTC on 19 March 2038, computers reliant on 32-bit systems to store and process date and time data will encounter difficulties with the transition. Similar to the Y2K bug, these computers will struggle to distinguish between the year 2038 and 1970, which marks the starting point from which current computer systems measure time.

However, most of the computer systems today have already transitioned to 64-bit processors, which are not affected by this issue. In other words, upgrading or replacing the remaining 32-bit systems in time should mitigate the risk of a crisis similar to the Y2K bug.

We hope you’ve enjoyed revisiting this iconic Y2K bug era! Thank you for reading.

References

Rutledge, K., McDaniel, M., Teng, S., Ramroop, T., Sprout, E., Hunt, J., Boudreau, D. & Costa, H. (n.d.). Y2K bug. National Geographic Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/Y2K-bug/

Thomas, M. (2019, December 31). The millennium bug was real – and 20 years later we face the same threats. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/31/millennium-bug-face-fears-y2k-it-systems.

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Meet Rochelle Mazar, Assistant Director, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC Library

By Library Communications on June 25, 2024

Rochelle Mazar joined UBC Library in 2021 as the Assistant Director of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC). She recently served as the Acting Head of X̱wi7x̱wa Library from November 2022 until December 2023.

After working in Ontario and New York, Rochelle brings her experience in librarianship, academic engagement, faculty development and instructional technology from previous positions at the University of Toronto Mississauga and the University of Rochester. She joined UBC Library in search of a role that resonates with her values and interests: “I was looking for a job and a place that I would love, with people who are kind and good, and doing work that I felt was aligned with my values.”

At IKBLC, Rochelle leads three teams and collaborates with library faculty and staff, UBC partners and community members. She provides guidance for programs and services such as the Chapman Learning Commons (CLC) and the Centre for Writing and Scholarly Communication (CWSC), and manages the Learning Centres’ community engagement and outreach initiatives.

Rochelle is particularly excited about the exceptional EDI work underway with the Community Engagement team in IKBLC, the workshops on “Elements of Indigenous Style” in the CWSC, and the focus on supporting neurodivergence and student community building at the CLC. “This is a caring, thoughtful, and creative group of people in IKBLC. They’re always surprising and inspiring me with their ideas for what’s next!” says Rochelle.

Rochelle also works closely with Julie Mitchell (Associate University Librarian, Teaching, Learning, and Engagement and Director, IKBLC) to oversee the building’s facilities and foster effective, welcoming spaces. She brings her passion and knowledge about design and architecture for learning spaces to co-lead renovation projects, such as the Level 2 Learning Concourse upgrades, completed during summer 2023.

In November 2022, Rochelle was happy to step in as Acting Head of X̱wi7x̱wa Library, establishing the X̱wi7x̱wa Library Hosts to support library operations, fulfilling three recruitment processes, and helping connect the X̱wi7x̱wa Library team with eager collaborators in IKBLC and beyond. She is especially proud of the Basic Indigenous Reference training initiative, inspired and driven by Karleen Delaurier-Lyle’s exceptional work and led with openness and compassion by Alex Kuskowski.

Despite her array of responsibilities, Rochelle notes that the most interesting part of her role is the people she works with.

“It’s always the people. It’s such a delight to work with everybody in IKBLC and X̱wi7x̱wa Library as well as my fellow branch heads and colleagues, who are such intelligent people with interesting experiences and goals,” says Rochelle. “The projects are also great, but I think they’re great because of the people.”

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2024 Employee Recognition Award winners announced

By Library Communications on June 24, 2024

From left to right: Amity Chiang, Dr. Susan E. Parker, Elizabeth Stevenson, and Jayne Griffiths.

UBC Library is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Stevenson, Jayne Griffiths, and Amity Chiang are the 2024 recipients of UBC Library Awards. Each year, the Library Awards Program shines a light on faculty and staff who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, innovation, leadership, excellence and a dedication to customer service through their work.

The awards were presented during the 2024 UBC Library Summer Recognition Awards Ceremony, held on Thursday, June 20, 2024.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Stevenson, Jayne Griffiths and Amity Chiang, and thank you to everyone who participated by submitting nominations.

Employee Excellence Award – Elizabeth Stevenson

Elizabeth Stevenson (Circulation Supervisor, Woodward Library) is the winner of the 2024 UBC Library Employee Excellence Award, which recognizes Library staff who consistently demonstrate their commitment to making an impact on the Library and making it a better workplace for all, through living our values and behaviors. Their kindness, compassion and respect for those above and below make them eagerly sought after as project team members or leaders.

She demonstrates the library’s values of communication, trust and respect, growth and appreciation, diversity, community, creativity and innovation through her attention to student needs and well-being, her care for colleagues and branch activities, and her commitment to furthering EDI, Truth and Reconciliation, and Climate Justice. She initiates projects and looks for ways for staff—and student staff—to participate

Unsung Hero Awards – Jayne Griffiths and Amity Chiang

Jayne Griffiths (Public Services Supervisor, Borrower Services) and Amity Chiang (Human Resources Coordinator, Human Resources) are the winners of the 2024 UBC Library Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes Library staff or teams who keep the library branches running, delivering its services, collections and operations. Their efforts help UBC Library to effectively deliver the stellar service that users have come to expect.

Jayne is a dedicated and skilled staff member whose engagement and efforts go above and beyond what is expected of her role. On a daily basis, she helps her colleagues to feel valued and inspired, while she offers feedback that is not only constructive, but delivered with plenty of humour and warmth.

Amity provides fantastic support to Heads, librarians and staff across the Library, and does so with thoughtfulness and care for everyone involved. She is generous in offering her help wherever she can, and has worked hard to improve hiring processes as they relate to EDI initiatives and student hiring.

The Library did not have enough nominations this year to award the Leadership from Within Award or the Innovation Award. A minimum of three nominations in each category is required for adjudication to occur. Congratulations to this year’s Library Recognition Award winners!

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Meet Kyla Terenzek, recipient of the UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research

By Library Communications on June 20, 2024

About the prize

The UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research is a way to showcase students’ effective and innovative use of library services, information experts and resources provided by the UBC Library. Applications for these prizes also provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their information-seeking experience, showcase their research beyond the classroom, and promote scholarship excellence at the undergraduate level at the University of British Columbia.

The Prize was established by UBC Library to encourage more and deeper use of its resources and collections, to advance information literacy at UBC, and to promote academic excellence at UBC.

Q: Could you tell us a little bit about your project?

This project was inspired by my wonderful experience in BIOL 342 where I was encouraged to study blue mussels for a class project. I immediately felt very connected to the group of species since I live on an island where a massive number of mussels died during the heat dome of 2021. After the heat dome, I noticed that there appeared to be a difference in the numbers of mussels that were lost around the islands where I completed the study based on how much direct sun they received when the tide was out during the heat dome. More bare patches occurred where mussels had once occupied the rocks on south- and west-facing beaches and rocks compared to east and north. Given that three closely related species of marine mussels are found on BC’s coast, two of which are known to be invasive and have higher heat tolerance than the indigenous mussel species, I wondered if there would be more surviving heat tolerant non-indigenous mussels on rocks and beaches that faced south and west. I also wondered if this was the case, if the new mussels that recruited to the south and west facing rocks and beaches would be more likely to be invasive since mussels can be more likely to settle near adults of their own species.

The results of my study surprisingly showed that all the mussels on the islands were indigenous but also found significant differences in shell size based on the cardinal direction the beach and rocks faced, and a significant difference in mantle pigment colour based on the amount of seaweed canopy coverage over mussel beds in the islands. Both mantle pigment and shell shape have been related to selection pressure, which could be interesting for future investigations.

Q: What does winning this prize mean to you?

“This reaffirms the immense value in connecting with UBC Library and its incredible resources and staff, faculty and mentors at UBC.”

I am extremely grateful and honored for this award and experience. This reaffirms the immense value in connecting with UBC Library and their incredible resources and staff, faculty and mentors at UBC. I am beyond grateful for the knowledge and support of my supervisor for this project, Professor Celeste Leander. I could have never imagined having such an amazing and inspiring research opportunity in my undergrad.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

I’ve come to love the strange and wonderful world of mussel biology through this project and hope to continue to study blue mussels after my undergrad and continue to work to help tell their story. Because of the complex life histories of invertebrates, it can be difficult to understand how organisms such as blue mussels may respond to climate change over time, so participating in continued monitoring and research would be a rewarding way to participate in their conservation and building coastal resilience. I have participated in community science projects in the past and hope to I hope to pay forward the incredible support that I have been given at UBC through similar projects in the future.

Q: Do you have a favourite research spot at UBC Library?

“Being able to connect with UBC Library’s resources online, as well as in person, allowed a research project like this to be accessible even through a very stormy winter where it was difficult to make it to the mainland by boat.”

My favorite library research place is virtual since I live quite far from campus. Being able to connect with UBC Library’s resources online, as well as in person, allowed a research project like this to be accessible even through a very stormy winter where it was difficult to make it to the mainland by boat.


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New Books at the Law Library – 24/06/18

By elimwong on June 18, 2024

LAW LIBRARY reference room (level 2): K3230.R45 G66 2021
G.S. Goodwin-Gill & J. McAdam, The Refugee in International Law, 4th ed (Oxford University Press, 2021).

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Organic Farming Industry Overview

By KylaM on June 14, 2024

Organic Farming Industry Overview KylaM

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New Canadian Open Access Legal Citation Guide

By elimwong on June 12, 2024

There’s a new Canadian legal citation guide, and it’s open access! Launched in June 2024, the COAL-RJAL Guide is for everyone who cites legal materials and it incorporates feedback contributed by reviewers from Canadian courts, law firms, law journals, law societies, and law schools. The English version of the Guide is available now and the French version is coming soon. Explore the Guide on CanLII for writing, editing, or teaching, and provide your feedback. https://canlii.ca/t/7nc6q

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Meet Norman L. Kwong (林佐民): A Remarkable Chinese Canadian Icon

By Lauren W on June 11, 2024

Norman L. Kwong’s path to becoming a significant figure in Canadian sports and society as a Chinese Canadian speaks volumes about resilience and breaking barriers. In this week’s blog post, we will explore his remarkable life, including the challenges he faced and the success he achieved.

Early Life and Challenges


Norman Kwong (far right, front row) with high school classmates

Born in Calgary in 1929, Norman Kwong grew up in the Bridgeland-Riverside area, where his parents ran a grocery store. At that time, there were fewer than 5,000 Chinese Canadians in Alberta, mostly men due to the obstacles brought by the federal Head Tax, which made it challenging for families to reunite in Canada. Kwong’s mother was one of just five Chinese women in the province. In 1923, the government enacted the Chinese Immigration Act, commonly referred to as the Chinese Exclusion Act, effectively ceasing immigration from China. It wasn’t until 1947 that this legislation was repealed, finally granting Chinese Canadians the right to vote.


Certificate of payment of head tax by a Chinese immigrant named Chang Wing


Petition initiated by the Anti-Chinese Association in Victoria, 1880

Rise to Football Star


Kwong breaking through the defense for the Calgary Stampeders

Against the backdrop of prevalent racism and discrimination, Kwong found passion in football and joined the Calgary Stampeders in 1948, which was just a year after the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Not only did he become Canada’s first professional Chinese Canadian football player, but he also made history as the youngest player to win the championship in his first Grey Cup at the age of 18.


Caricature of the 1948 Western Canadian Senior Football Champions, Calgary Stampeders. Norman Kwong, known as ‘Norm,’ appears between Check Anderson and Cliff Kliewer

Several years later, Kwong joined the Edmonton Eskimos, where he made significant contributions to the team’s consecutive championship victories from 1954 to 1956. His outstanding performance during this period further solidified his reputation as one of the greatest players in Canadian Football League (CFL) history. Kwong also set 30 CFL records and was given the Schenley award for Most Outstanding Canadian two years in a row.


Photo of Edmonton Eskimos with the 1956 Grey Cup, winning it for the third consecutive year

Transition to Business and Community Leadership

After retiring from football in 1960, Kwong remained steadfast in his commitment to both the community and sports. He transitioned into roles such as president and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders and was part owner of the Calgary Flames during their Stanley Cup-winning years. In addition to his contributions to sports, Kwong was also a passionate advocate for multiculturalism and health and wellness in Alberta.

In 2005, Kwong made history again by becoming Alberta’s first Chinese Canadian lieutenant-governor, a position he held until 2010. Throughout his life, he received numerous honors and awards for his achievements, including induction into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada. Norman Kwong’s legacy continues to inspire generations of Canadians.


Norman L. Kwong delivering a speech at the 1975 Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief introduction to the life of Norman Kwong. All the materials shared in this blogpost can be accessed through our open collections.

Thank you for reading!

 

 

References:

O’Leary, C. (May 23. 2022). O’Leary: Norman Kwong’s legacy stands tall over Canada. Canadian Football League. https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/23/oleary-norman-kwongs-legacy-stands-tall-over-canada/.

Redmond. G. & Snyder, L. (May 28, 2021). Norman Kwong. The Canadian Encyclopedia.https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/norman-kwong.

Schwinghamer, S. (n.d.). Before and after 1923: Chinese Exclusion in Context. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. https://pier21.ca/before-and-after-1923-chinese-exclusion-context.

Simons, P. (Sep 06, 2016). Paula Simons: A legend on and off the field, Norman Kwong played to win. Edmonton Journal. https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/paula-simons-a-legend-on-and-off-the-field-norman-kwong-played-to-win.

Wilson, D. F. (May 3, 2024). Asian heritage month: Norman Kwong. The Victoria Voice.https://thevictoriavoice.com/news/asian-heritage-month-norman-kwong.

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Resources for Indigenous Entrepreneurs

By KylaM on June 6, 2024

Resources for Indigenous Entrepreneurs KylaM

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