We have something for everyone: book launches, presentation, workshops and more.
Join us as we honour significant events and milestones in women’s movements and look to the future. Students, staff, faculty and community members are welcome to attend. This is an opportunity for learning, growth, healing and connection.
Our events bring in notable experts, academics and community members. When available, information on upcoming events, exhibits, book launches and more will be listed here! Come meet local and visiting authors from various areas of gender, sexuality and women’s studies and learn about the exhibits and past events that Nellie has been proud to support.
Zine-Making Workshop: Celebrating Black Joy & Love
Date: Friday, February 7, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Founders College 204
To commemorate both Black History Month and Valentines Day, the Nellie Langford Rowell Library will be hosting a Zine-Making Workshop that will be centered around Black Joy and Black Love. We welcome faculty, staff, students, and the broader York community to join us in learning more about zine-making and to make your very own! Bring your friends and enjoy a day full of creativity! Supplies will be provided; however, folks are welcome to bring their own supplies.
Please indicate your attendance by completing our Zine-Making Workshop Registration Form!
Proposal submissions for the Nellie Library’s 4th Annual Undergraduate Student Conference & Poetry Slam are now open!
Date: Friday, March 7, 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Founders College 204
This year’s conference promises to be an inspiring celebration of student creativity, critical thought, and intersectional approaches and storytelling. We invite undergraduate students from all disciplines to showcase their unique projects which reflect feminist, anti-racist, intersectional, interdisciplinary, and or/ decolonizing perspectives.
Students selected will present a project they are currently developing, or one they completed in Fall 2024 or the previous academic year, followed by a Q&A period. Whether it’s a research paper, creative or visual project, this is your chance to showcase your work and connect with peers!
Submissions may include, but are not limited to: Written assignments, posters, poetic presentations, storytelling, visual or audio projects. The Conference will be followed by the Poetry Slam! We encourage students to share their creative works that inspire and challenge.
Submit your proposal via Conference Application Form.
We look forward to receiving a diverse array of submissions that push boundaries, challenge norms, and ignite meaningful conversations.
Drop-In Book Sale
Date: Monday to Friday
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Founders College 204
We have an incredible selection of donated books across various genres, most related to gender, feminist, and women's studies for very affordable prices! Many of the books we have are by female authors, are out of print or in danger of being challenged or banned in conservative states due to their subject matter. Many are donated by professors here at York from their private collections, so you can take some of their favourite literature home!
Whether you're an avid reader, a casual browser, or looking for the perfect gift, our book sale promises something for everyone. We are excited to bring together book lovers from all walks of life.
Prices range from 50¢ to $3.
Upcoming Events
Past Events
Annual Events
![A woman stands in front of a podium that bears the YorkU logo. She speaks to a seated audience.](https://www.yorku.ca/laps/nellie-library/wp-content/uploads/sites/271/2021/05/Persons538x303.jpg)
Persons Day
Through the efforts of women's groups, October 18th, Persons Day, is historically significant. Women were given the right to vote in Canada under the Women's Franchise Act on May 24th, 1918, but they were not legally considered persons until October 18th, 1929. On this day, they were given the right to be appointed to Senate.
Persons of Asian heritage were restricted from voting until January 1st, 1947, Inuit until 1950, and other Indigenous peoples until 1960, so long as they surrendered their status and treaty rights under the Indian Act.
![Three racially diverse women are sitting, posing, and smiling at the camera.](https://www.yorku.ca/laps/nellie-library/wp-content/uploads/sites/271/2021/05/IntWomensDay538x303.jpg)
International Women's Day
March 8th is international Women's Day is a day, a time for international solidarity among women and for global awareness of women's rights. It is a day to celebrate the gains women have made and to call for the changes that are still needed.
![A group of five women walk in a line with their backs turned to the camera and arms around each other.](https://www.yorku.ca/laps/nellie-library/wp-content/uploads/sites/271/2021/05/Remembrance538x303.jpg)
Day of Remembrance
December 6th is the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women and women identifying persons. This day is in memory of 14 women - engineering students and staff - who were murdered in an act of explicit violence against by against engineering students at École Polytechnique in 1989.
![Four women stand talking in a hallway dressed in business attire.](https://www.yorku.ca/laps/nellie-library/wp-content/uploads/sites/271/2021/05/AnnualConference538x303.jpg)
Our Annual Conference
The Nellie hosts an annual undergraduate student conference to showcase interesting and unique projects in the form of written papers, poetry presentations, storytelling and visual art, which are engaged with feminist, anti-racist, intersectional, interdisciplinary and/or decolonizing approaches.
![Two hands cup a lit candle. The light from the candle is the only light source and illuminates the cupped hands while the background is dark.](https://www.yorku.ca/laps/nellie-library/wp-content/uploads/sites/271/2021/05/SinSVigil538x303.jpg)
Sisters in Spirit Vigil
In Canada, October 4th is a time to remember the history and continued pattern of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Each year, this vigil brings communities together to remember the missing and murdered sisters, mothers, aunties, and grandmothers who have been taken by in this systemic social justice issue.