About

Athabasca University Library and Scholarly Resources hosts a diverse range of digital collections that support AU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader public in research and lifelong learning.

These collections include both digitized and born-digital materials curated by the Library, reflecting AU’s commitment to open access, inclusive education, and the sharing of knowledge.

Athabasca University is dedicated to enriching the learning environment for all Albertans and global learners alike. If you have an idea for a digital collection that aligns with this mission, please contact us at library@athabascau.ca.

Currently, our digital repository includes 19 collections. We are continuously working to enhance existing content and expand our offerings as resources allow.

Our Collections

Alberta Women's Institutes – Collective Memory
Key historical and secondary sources on one of Alberta's oldest rural women's organizations, including rare digitized documents, member biographies, scrapbooks, interviews, maps, photos, essays, and more. 
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Alberta Women's Memory Project
An inventory of archival resources related to women's history in Alberta. 
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Alice B. Donahue Library and Archives
Historical photographs, audio recordings, and textual materials documenting the Town of Athabasca and surrounding area. 
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Athabasca Area Seniors' Memory Project
Oral history interviews and digitized family photographs from seniors in the Athabasca region, developed in partnership with Athabasca United Church and the Alice B. Donahue Library & Archives. 
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Athabasca River Basin Image Bank
A visual archive centered on the Athabasca River Basin.
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AU Photos
Photographs of people, places, and events related to Athabasca University. 
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Boyle and District History Book
A collection created by the Boyle and District History Book Society to preserve the family, educational, and community histories of Boyle, Alberta.
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Connecting Canadians
A multilingual newspaper archive including Croatian, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Serbian, Ukrainian, and Serbo-Croatian publications. 
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eBooks
A small pilot collection currently featuring two digital books.
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French Poetry
An audio collection of French poetry, read by Professor Vina Tirven-Gadum and Tim Tirven-Gadum.
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Miroslav Hruska Himalayan Digital Collection
Photos, films, and expedition accounts from Northern Sikkim and Nepal (1949–1954), highlighting unique aspects such as female sherpas and uncharted landscapes. 
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Imanta: Latvian Culture and History Collection
A celebration of Latvian cultural heritage, from folklore and immigration stories to community life in Alberta.
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Joint Arctic Weather Stations (JAWS)
Images from John Gilbert's collection, developed in collaboration with the Nunavut Archives, documenting Arctic weather research stations.
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Karvonen Films Natural History Collection
Wildlife sound recordings, videos, photographs, and personal archives of Albert Karvonen.
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Martha Kostuch Archives
Over 100 boxes of correspondence and records from environmental activist Martha Kostuch, covering three decades of advocacy in Alberta.
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Muskwa-Kechika Artist Camp Collection
Artwork and documentation from a five-year wilderness art program promoting environmental awareness, including contributions from Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists.
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Rocks and Minerals
A visual and descriptive guide to common rocks and rock-forming minerals.
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T.S. Bakshi Herbarium
Approximately 3,000 plant specimens collected primarily from the Athabasca and Kananaskis regions, representing over 800 species of vascular plants.
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Thomas A. Edge Archives and Special Collections
Established in 1979 and renamed in 1991 in honor of AU’s first librarian, this archive preserves the institutional history and special collections of Athabasca University.
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