Part II: Using Arctic and Northern Sources for Information and Archival Literacy and Research

This chapter explains case studies that demonstrate successful collaboration between librarians, archivists, and faculty in the use of Canadian Arctic and sub-Arctic primary and secondary sources dating from the 1600s through the early 2020s in support of learning and research at a large Canadian post-secondary university. These library and archival resources provide windows into the past and present through which students, faculty, and researchers can look in their explorations and understandings of the North. Materials are strategically selected from the Arctic and Northern Studies collections, most notably library and archival materials from the Arctic Institute of North America and the Glenbow Library and Archives collections, with the goal of incorporating hands-on learning opportunities that raise awareness of Canada’s North. Student information and archival literacy experiences become more meaningful when primary and secondary source materials are used. When teaching elements are effectively combined in information and archival literacy sessions, primary and secondary sources from content-rich collections spark new understandings and research directions for students, faculty, and researchers.