| Each year, the Center for Research Libraries (CRL, of which UAL is a member), purchases several collections that would be too costly or difficult for individual libraries to acquire on their own. CRL members participate collectively in suggesting collections, and then voting on which ones CRL should purchase. These collections will be available for University of Alberta community members to borrow, because UAL is a CRL member. The collections selected for purchase in 2020 are: Jin shang shi liao ji cheng: This set includes 76,000 historical documents from the Shanxi (or Jin) merchants, who were prominent during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) dynasties, and hugely influential on Chinese commerce. The documents include business letters, handbooks, deeds, contracts, regulations, and more. Zhonggue Di fang zhi fo dao jiao wen xian hui zuan: A primary source collection consisting of 1,039 volumes, entitled “Buddhism and Taoism Literature Collection from Chinese Local History Gazettes.” Methodist Recorder (London): An independent weekly newspaper examining events and current affairs within the Methodist community in Britain and worldwide. Micro reels date back to 1932. L’Osservatore Romano: The “Roman Observer” is a daily newspaper published in Vatican City. It is one of the most influential papers in Italy, and the de facto voice of the Holy See. Micro reels cover 1992-2020. Vogue (Paris): The fashion magazine that has been reflecting and influencing French images of fashion, beauty, and photography for a century. This collection includes microform reels dating back to 1988. For context, the UAL collection includes the digitized archives of Italian Vogue, and American Vogue. When it comes to French Vogue, we have recent issues through Press Reader, but we do not have access to the backfile. Vrachebnoe delo – 1925-1936: An early Ukrainian medical journal, of interest to researchers investigating medicine in the region, during the interwar period. Also in micro format. Please mention these collections to scholars who may find them useful. To learn more about borrowing from CRL, consult this page. Questions and input welcome, to csu@ualberta.ca. |