UBC Library is committed to increasing and expanding services for graduate students. In 2012, Koerner Library received a grant from UBC’s Teaching, Learning and Enhancement Fund (TLEF) to create the Research Commons, where students from all academic disciplines are given access to peer-to-peer research support.
The Research Commons offers workshops and one-to-one assistance with citation management tools; two data analysis tools, for both quantitative and qualitative data; and thesis formatting to help students meet UBC’s thesis formatting requirements.
A unique program offered at the Research Commons is FIREtalks, Facilitated Interdisciplinary Research Exchanges. FIREtalks bring together graduate students of all disciplines to share their perspectives on a set theme. The sessions yield lively presentations and discussion on a wide range of topics, from neuroscience data to dance performance.
Though the Research Common’s TLEF funding ends this year, its support has solidified the need for dedicated space for graduate students at UBC Library. UBC Library is currently developing a plan to expand its graduate programs and create a dedicated learning space for graduate students.
This story originally appeared in the Friends 2015 spring newsletter.